what luxury hotel better than a mod one?

[drumflower]

I have been checking out the rates and looking at pictures and what really justifies double or triple the rate to stay at a luxury Disney hotel instead of a moderate? The rooms only look slightly bigger. The pools look better (to me) at the moderates epecially for kids. Is it just the Lobby? I know the lobbys are nicer but what else? It just seems to me Disney's idea of a luxury hotel involves just the lobby and NOT the room or pool I wanted to upgrade my stay at the end of my vacation for 2 nights from POFQ to a luxury but it seems like my family might be happier just staying put. We are not planning on going to the park the last 2 days, just relaxing at the resort especially the pool. Please tell me I am wrong! lol

 

[ducklite]

THe rooms at teh WL and AKL aren't a whole lot beigger than the rooms at PO. But the rooms at the BC/YC/BWI are quite a bit bigger, and at the CR/PR/GF they are HUGE by comparision.

If you're talking about having days off, then the pool might be a factor. Because yous eem to want a larger room, I'd suggest the Polynesian. HUGE rooms, and a great pool. Plus it's an easy walk or monorail ride to the GF or CR to check those two out, maybe do some shopiing or look around the grounds.

The AKL has the most freeor inexpensive things to do for kids around the resort, and also has a great poo, but the rooms aren't that big.

Anne

 

[drumflower]

To me it's not the size of the room but the quality. AKL is the exception, the rooms are very unique. But is seems like the quality is good but not exceptional compared to other rooms off Disney property. I am not looking for a snooting hotel or anything, but other than the size of the rooms, what are other differences in general? I really need good reasons why I should upgrade. What do I get when I spend double or triple the cost? Are the deluxe double or triple the experience? Please help me!

 

[kbkids]

I tend to agree with you. We usually stay at the moderates for that very reason. POFQ is my favorite, and for not dealing with the aggravation of moving, I'd stay put for your last two nights. There's plenty to enjoy there. My kids love that pool!! And the boatride to Downtown Disney is fun. Plus you can walk over to POR and do some of the activities over there.

The only deluxe that really appeals to me is the Poly. I love the theming there. My DD is dying to get into that pool - we eat at Ohana frequently. The only reason I could justify staying there for though would be the monorail. And, if you're not planning to go to the parks anyway, that's pretty much a mute point, unless you want to ride it to the other resorts. And - well, maybe a second point, I love watching the fireworks from Poly's beach. We always time dinner at Ohana so that we can go down to the beach and see the fireworks afterward.

But, as far as your situation, I'd stay put and get a PS for my last night for dinner at Ohana - great way to end the vacation! The money you would save on the hotel would pay for dinner!

 

[Bstanley]

Location
------------
The deluxes tend to be located closer to a park. The Cont is a 5 minute walk to the MK, the YC/BC are a 5 minute walk to Epcot, etc.

Transportation
------------------
This ties in with the location. Even if a deluxe isn't located adjacent to a park it is often serviced by more 'Magical' transportation than a bus. The Poly is the best example - you can take the monorail from the resort to the MK, or a boat. You can walk (5 minutes) to the TTC and take the monorail to Epcot. If you have little ones and need to get back to the resort for a mid-day nap that convenience of location/transportation might save you an hour a day.

Room Differences
----------------------
The rooms at the 'true' deluxes are actually much larger than the moderates (there are large rooms at the AKL, but the AKL and WL in general have rooms about the size of the moderates - but they don't cost a 'deluxe' price either). You can easily fit 5 adults into a Poly or Cont, YC/BC room. Most importantly to me the rooms at the deluxes use real Queen Sized beds - the moderates use doubles. Another big difference is that the deluxes use central ac/htg which makes the rooms very quiet compared to the moderates - which use wall units.

Amenities
------------
Health clubs, Spas, Kids clubs, more shops, etc.


Now - is that worth paying extra for? Only you can determine that. We've stayed at deluxes and moderates and will stay at both again - depends on the budget for that trip.

The pool at POFQ is quite nice - but the Poly has a nifty new volcano pool and the pool at AKL is zero entry, has a slide, and is the largest on property.

If you were going to spend 2 days at a resort without going to a park - I'd stay at AKL. The multiple savanahs full of animals, nightly story-telling, great restaurants, fantastic CMs - it would be perfect!

 

[madalex]

Personally, I think the service and atmosphere at the Deluxes are worth much of the extra cost. However, those are intangible items, which can be affected by one good or bad CM, so it may not always be that this is the case.

Location and ease of getting to parks is better for the Deluxes (although AKL may be a bit of the exception here). It's nice not to always have to take a bus to get from your resort to the parks and pretty much all of the deluxes are within walking distance or monorail or boat ride from one or more of the parks. It's also nice to walk out of the YC, for example, and have the whole Epcot resort area right there, with restaurants, shops and other great things to do right at your ingertips.

In the end though, all of the Disney resorts are wonderful, so you certainly can't go wrong with staying at a Moderate over a Deluxe, especially if the extra cost of the Deluxe is an issue.

 

[ducklite]

IMHO, yes, unless it's breaking your budget, a deluxe resort is worth the extra cost.

I like the security of inside rooms. I like room service. Health clubs. A wider choice of dining. Better locations in reference to the parks. Activities around the resort. Generally larger/better themed pools. Rooms with an actual closet rather than a hang bar. A daybed/sofa to sit on rather than a bed or often not very comfortable chair. Soap and shampoo that isn't in a dispenser on the shower wall.

The list goes on.

Anne

 

[drumflower]

I really enjoy your honest replies. It really helps. I was thinking about AKL at the end, but I think I might just stay put at POFQ. I can still do the storytelling at AKL and viewing of animals just by eating there and visiting which I plan to do anyways. I am not on a tight budget, but the budget side of me thinks paying 2 or 3 times isn't worth it if I am not going to the parks. Even if I was, you would be in the park and not enjoying the room anyways. I was hoping I was wrong and was looking for really good reason to pay the money. So I think I will just hangout at POFQ. Thank you ! I will save the money to buy souviners and eat good food! lol

 

[ptrbryant]

It also depends on how much time you'll spend in the resort. My DH and I LOVE WL because it's so peaceful and quiet to come back to after a frantic day in the parks. I believe, in general, the deluxe resorts are quieter than the others. Also, we really, really dislike hotels with exterior-only hallways. If you're in the room, you're basically stuck with the curtains closed unless you don't mind people looking in as they walk past. (lol!)
Just my two cents!
Karla B.

 

[drumflower]

Good point! So at WL your room is open to the outside?

 

[ptrbryant]

Yes! At WL, it's all interior hallways and the rooms have individual balconies. We always prefer the north wing woodsview, so we can sit out on the balcony and watch the Electric Light Pagent go by Bay Lake or just sit and relax with the sound of the water of the lake and watch the wildlife (otters!) and enjoy the woods. Frankly, it's the corridor issue primarily that has kept us from downgrading from the deluxes. If it wasn't for that, I think the theming at CBR and POR look great.
Karla B.

 

[drumflower]

Now you have given me something to think about lol Why is it so hard to make up my mind? lol Too bad there isn't a smiley that has it's head spinning because thats how I feel! lol

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We love the GF. We tried to be budget minded this year and stay at POR. We lasted less than 2 hours before we went back to GF. Not only are the rooms much larger, we didn't like the outside entry. You can't beat the convenience of the monorail or ferry boats when you have small kids.

 

[maddy]

How about a compromise ? Look into renting points from a DVC person and you get a delux at a reasonable price. For staying around the resort we love OKW. The varity of restaraunts at a delux is also a plus for us. We stay in all the types of resorts from value to DVC and we enjoy them all but the cash outlay for a delux can be sobering.

MADDY

 

[Minky]

If you are planning on staying in and relaxing those last 2 days I cant recommend staying at AKL enough!! It gives you a chance to check it out....there are a lot of activities there....if you like animals there is no better place, the lodge itself is very soothing and brilliantly themed...2 of the best restaraunts are there...they have a beautiful pool and very nice grounds. And AKL while still being a deluxe is much cheaper than the Poly or GF.

 

[ruttie]

if you have small kids I would advise againts upgrading to teh contemporary.. hile the rooms are bigger at the contemporary the standard rooms are way overpriced to me.. nothing special in the theming etc and with small kids slide at pool was kinda high etc.. s I jiust think that there is no atmosphere Now on teh other hand WL is awesome and so is AKL but we stayed at a newly remodeled PORS and the room was awesome, pool area was awesome and it was very easy to get anywhere actually easier to get on the bus than teh contemporary monorail.. The only difference o me from WL and PORS was
* WL had inside corridors shorter distance to hotel restraunts
*WL had the cubs den so we could have a little break at dinner
*WL had a balcony we could sit out on and talk read etc while the kids wound down at night watching tv etc...
oh yeah and nothing beats hopping on a boat ride around the lagoon to kill time at the WL
enjoy

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I've stayed at all classes of hotels and would go back to any of them. I've stayed at the WL (twice), Poly (twice), CR, AKL, and Swan for deluxe. I've stayed at CSR and CBR for moderates and Pop for value. I plan on going to POR in December with my 4yo son and POFQ in Jan with another son and will probably split that trip with Pop (my 11yo gets to choose the resort for the first 2-3 nights and then we'll go to POFQ for the next 2-3 nights--5 nights total).

I loved Pop for the theming--just seems Disney. The moderates are nice and a good compromise between a good price and beautiful resort with nice pools. The deluxe resorts have great amenities, but you have to decide if you will use them and what value you put on those things.

One thing that I do like about moderates is being able to park close to the room, assuming I have a car. Our walk at WL was so long!

I like switching resorts during a trip and makes me feel that I'm having more than one vacation. Yeah, it's a pain to pack up and be homeless for part of the day, but worth it to me.

T&B

 

[drumflower]

Thank you for helping me decide! I am still thinking so if you have anything to add please do!