Value after Delux????

[blowinbubbles]

Momx2 wrote:
"Any day at Disney is better than a day at work!"

So true.. .I"m gonna have to borrow that one! Still can't wait until my next trip. . still deciding between saving for the Poly or going for the CBR. Definitely will utilize your advice, though. . .go with what you can afford at the time. . .but just GO!

Woo Hoooo!!!!

Ann, who is sooo obsessed!

 

[crazelion]

I will go with what I can afford. That means staying a value Resort or offsite so I can go. The hotel have cost less than 110.00 dollars a night or I not staying there. It has be clean and plently of food places around it.


I go WDW, malls , US, IOA and Flea Markets I like to do it all.

 

[arminnie]

My problem with the deluxe hotels is that after I check out I think about all of the amenities that I never had time to use - hot tub, pool, balcony, room service, spa services etc. So I might as well have stayed at a Value.

I've stayed offsite, value, moderate and deluxe multiple times. Where I stay really has little impact on the quality of the trip - worst stay EVER was at a deluxe (BWI) - it was new and the service was just awful.

 

[stina]

I was very interested in this post because I was considering staying at a deluxe this year and then I thought, well, will I have a hard time going "back" to a non-deluxe after I stay deluxe. But then I realized my own Disney experience had pretty much given me the answer.

Last year I stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort after not having stayed on property since 1988. When I was a kid my parents always took us to the Contemporary and Polynesian. Now as a grown-up, with a less than grown-up budget I went for a moderate and was not just pleasantly surprised but absolutely thrilled. We had a wonderful stay at CBR and I'd recommend it to anyone.

While I was staying at CBR last fall I also visited AKL for a few dinners and became enchanted with the theme to the point that I would consider shelling out the big bucks to stay there. However, unless a REALLY amazing travel deal comes along I think I will go back and stay at a moderate again because the quality and customer service is amazing. I mean it's Disney. Customer service quality is pretty much equal no matter where you stay and that's what's important. Sure the deluxes are a more enveloping experience but some of the moderates and values have gorgeous grounds and the rooms are very nice and all the Disney special touches are there. (I'm considering CSR this year.)

One word of advice. I do think the moderates are a better choice for adults or couples visting without kids. It was just myself and my partner and we really enjoyed the romantic aspects of CBR - how spread out the property was and walking the beautiful territory. Plus staying cheaper at a moderate (and getting a great travel package) allowed us to stay longer and devote more of our budget to food and gifts.

 

[mtblujeans]

Originally posted by Twende
I guess it all depends on how much time you spend at the resort.

I agree. We live so far away and airfare is so expensive that we spend every last minute at the parks. We just return to the room to sleep and bathe. If we had a similar reason to utilize convenient transportation, such as an infant or wheelchair, that would be different.

 

[hyzdufan]

Whether it's Disney Deluxe, or Disney Value, it's still Disney. That's all that matters. You'll have a great time.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I still say consider staying outside the park. You will have the best of both worlds. Maybe it is because I have been to Disney so many times that some of the "magic" has worn off or maybe it is just that I began to realize that I like to have my cake and eat it too. Deluxe outside is the same as moderate inside. I guess one just needs to decide what the priority is. I have a friend at this moment making the same descision. I am trying to convince her that she does not need to stay in a room with Cheetos ground into the rug just to get a bar of soap with Mickey's head on it.

Unless I had the money to stay in a Disney timeshare or suite I do not think I could go back to a non deluxe. I tried it last year when we stayed on a promo at Liki Tiki and it ruined the days we were there. Yes it is nice to stay as long as you can in the parks BUT it is also nice to have a really great place to go back to also.
Disney value and moderate do not really fit the bill in that respect.

 

[photobob]

To me the most important thing is to stay onsite. I'd take a trip to all-stars over no trip at all anytime. I've stayed at value, moderate and deluxe, though I've never truly paid a deluxe rate. My only deluxe experience was last year when i got upgraded from POFQ after they announced it closing for rehab. I've never had a trip though to Disney regardless where I stayed onsite that I didn't have a great time.

 

[blowinbubbles]

I talked to my neighbor this afternoon, and she told me that when they went to WDW, that they rented a house just outside of WDW. She said that they were able to go back to the house and have lunch, swim in the pool a bit, and then go back to the parks later, rested and refreshed. And it costed them approx. 850/week!

I hate to say it, but the offsite alternatives are looking much better to me, since I'll be on a tight budget.

However. . . that speedy monorail ride to the MK is hard to pass up!

Ann

 

[goodstarr]

I have done it all. First off-site at Radisson Resort (great room, pools, distance, restaurant and price!) Then, on-site at Port Orleans (great room and distance of course, plus no need for car). then, Polynesian (great room, distance and no car. But, for the price and the fact that I really didn't utilize the amenities that I paid that price for, it probably wasn't the best thing for my budget. But it was nice to splurge). Then a vacation home rental (great expense since my mother went with us. If traveling with a group of people, a 4-5 bedroom house is a great way to save money. Great house, great price, own pool, good distance, need car. But at some villas, they provide transportation). After doing them all (and not being as wealthy as others) I would say for the person with an "average" income and wanting to save money on their WDW trip, off-site with kitchen facilities and shuttle is the best. Do it that way a few years, then every 4-5 years splurge on deluxe. Staying off-site is not a bad thing like people say it is.

 

[blowinbubbles]

Originally posted by goodstarr
<snip>
After doing them all (and not being as wealthy as others) I would say for the person with an "average" income and wanting to save money on their WDW trip, off-site with kitchen facilities and shuttle is the best. Do it that way a few years, then every 4-5 years splurge on deluxe. Staying off-site is not a bad thing like people say it is.

This is a good thing to hear. . .I'm seriously considering this for our next trip! When I was in Disney a couple of weeks ago, I talked to a woman on the bus who said she stayed at the Holiday Inn Suites, which was still $140/ night. However she said the quality was much higher than DW resorts.

I'm just concerned that if I go offsite, we'll only get a few hours a day in the parks. I can just see us going home for lunch and then not being able to drag the kids out of the pool! LOL!

Ann

 

[goodstarr]

But wouldn't you have this issue even if you stayed onsite? I know that people say to go to the parks early in the morning, go back to the room around lunchtime, then return to the parks in the evening, but that's wherever you stay. Personally, we got there when the parks opened (or a little earlier) and stayed all day. Of course, we only have one child, but we were able to do all that we wanted. The shuttles run all day long (and so will your savings$$$$$)

 

[blowinbubbles]

Now that you mention it, I seem to recall staying onsite at Universal Studios last year. . every day we came back to the hotel at around 2 p.m. with the intentions of going back to the park. . .never made it! I couldn't drag my kids out of that really cool swimming pool!

My issue is, I am so partial to the Polynesian, that I'm afraid to go to Moderate. . I'm thinking I can go cheaper offsite and keep the level of amenities!

Well, lots of time to plan and make decisions.. .I should probably stay off this computer and focus on making and saving $$$ for the next trip! Easier said than done! LOL!

Ann

 

[mrsboz]

The first couple of times we stayed at Port Orleans and loved it. Then the last three times we stay at the Dolphin and LOVED it. Last time we couldn't get the Dolphin for our whole stay so we decided that we would go to Pop Century for the first couple of days and then switch over. All of us hated Pop Century. It was like a cattle drive. The rooms were very clean and nice but just pulling up to the place you can tell that they will pack as many in as they can. If this was the only was that I could go I would - don't get me wrong but pulling up to the place was depressing. Has I never stayed at a deluxe resort maybe I wouldn't have notice and thought that they were nice????? I'm no snob either even though it might sound like it...

 

[WDW_DV]

Last summer we stayed at Downtown Disney after staying at the Wilderness Lodge the previous 2 trips. Biggest factor was the $20/night deal offered by the Courtyard by Marriott (it is now a Holiday Inn Express, I hear). Folks at some of the other DD properties that I visited with reported room rates of $40-50 for rooms and in some cases suites.

Our rate was good Sun - Thursday so we stayed there 5 nights then went to AKL for 2 nights.

Observations:

Bus transportation not quite as good, but reasonable. Bus only shows up every half hour at your hotel, but the round trips are not any longer. The bus is shared by the seven DD hotels, but still makes pretty good time because they are so close together.

Walking distance so DD shops etc was really nice because we enjoy that.

We felt like we got just as much time in the parks as we would have on-site.

Pool was nice but we didn't use it much.

Hope that helps, although I don't expect to find that $20/night deal again anytime soon.

Hope you all have great vacations!

 

[jcemom]

I've been struggling with this very same question. We stayed at AKL for 10 days this February and absolutely LOVED it. Next year it will be just DD (almost 3) and I. I had decided on WL but now the boys want to go (which will be a separate trip) and there's no way I can afford a deluxe. However, with a young child we WILL spend time at the resort, down time is absolutely necessary, as is nap time. On site is a must. I'm afraid that the values will be too crowded or noisy for my little princess to nap and go to bed at night, and to enjoy the pool. Since I will be getting an AP I'm considering POFQ if I can get AP rates.

 

[MDMOUSE]

We were just in DW in march for 10 nights. We started at the Contemporary, (we have always stayed at deluxe hotels), and were so disappointed this time that we switched to the Pop Century. It was clean, the pools were fun, and we saved thousands of dollars. We had a great time. We also had our own rental car so I can't speak about the transportation. We go 3 times a year and always spend way too much on a hotel. This trip was one of our most fun! If you keep it in perspective, you are going for the experience of the family fun in the parks. Save your money for your house, go with an open mind, and enjoy yourselves knowing that you can have a great time saving all that money!

 

[laurabelle]

I've stayed at all 4, Disney value (loud, crowded, huge!) moderate(I've only stayed at POFQ 2x, but it was quiet and lovely), deluxe (great pools, mostly nice rooms) and offsite (once, last summer, I got in on the CBM $20/night deal too, and agree with everything written about that!) We've stayed at the Dolphin with my hubby's govt. discount, but now that price has been creeping up from $129-$149 + resort fee+ tax. We've been going 2x a year and I really would like to stay longer since we drive down now (saved a ton of money doing that!). I found out about Skyauction on the Orlando board and won 7 nights at the Vistana resort, 1 br villa for $400! I don't buy into the idea that you'll spend less time at the parks if you stay offsite. We always break around lunchtime to swim, then head back to the parks late afternoon to avoid the midday crowds. We'll have breakfast and lunch in the villa, snacks and dinner at the parks. Washer and dryer in the villa, no hanging out at the laundry, seperate living room, more room to spread out, I'm tired of being cramped up for days on end. I hear the seven pools at the Vistana are great too. What's not to like?!?
You can stay for less$ and not sacrifice at all...just my $.02

 

[Chicago526]

Try finding a good deal at a moderate resort. They are (in my opinon!) nicer than the All-Stars, but only a little bit more per night.

But I do get what you're saying. I've been to WL 2x and would have a hard time going back to POR, even though I loved staying at POR (prior to WL). But if it was a choice between POR and not going, well--that'd be no choice at all!!!

What I would do is make a game of it. The "How little can we spend on WDW and still have fun" Game! Get the whole family involved, including kids. The kid that helps save the most money (like spliting a Mickey Mouse ice cream bar in the park instead of each getting one, for example) gets a prize at the end of the trip, or something like that. If you make it fun, instead of "oh, dear we have to tighten our belts so we can't to as much" then it will make the whole experiance much, much easier.