What perks do the resort hotels have that the value resorts don't?

[Sparkly]

Honestly, I would rather stay at a mod for a longer trip. At least for a good night's sleep.

 

[disfan4life1]

It's all in what appeals to you....my kids prefer the values because they are "fun"... When my DH and myself went alone we stayed at Coronado springs only to figure out that we left every morning by 7:30 am and didn't get back until 11-12 at night. No time to enjoy the resort... Last sept we got to our booked hotel and the upgraded is to wilderness lodge... Kids werent happy at first but got over it...We were only there 3 nights and stayed busy busy so again no time to enjoy what woulda been paid for had we paid for it... We are leaving in 3 days to head back down and this time we are staying at carribean beach compliments of our softball team. For 9 nights..I've already warned everyone that we will take time to enjoy this resort at some point.. But other than us not spending any time in the rooms I have no other excuse not so spend the money to relax better. When the kids are grown and we are alone I plan to spend the money and relax a whole lot more... Will have to save more to do it but looking forward to it

 

[Lynne M]

I think we can head off the oncoming argument here with the use of the words "for them".

Everybody has different priorities in resort choice that are right for them. One person may choose a value because they're hardly in the room. Another may enjoy the recreational activities at the deluxe resorts and hardly spend time in the parks.

Neither of these people are wrong. You poll a hundred people, you'll get a hundred different ideas of the perfect Disney vacation. So there's really no point in trashing each others' choices.

No one resort is going to suit every guest. That's why Disney has nearly 30 different resorts with a wide range of prices, themes, room layouts and amenities.

And even with that much choice, Disney resorts don't suit every guest. That's why there's even more choice in lodging outside the parks. Everything from rental homes to Motel 6s to the Four Seasons.

 

[AllieV]

The Deluxes are expensive and it's hard to justify the price if you don't make CEO or Doctor type of money. We spend a LOT of time in the room no matter where we are vacationing so we definitely get the money out of it. But the mods are also very nice and we've loved those trips. I haven't stayed Value, mostly because we discovered DVC before the Values were built, but they look on the small side for our taste. We also like having sit-down restaurants nearby.

As a kid, we'd alternate between Polynesian and the campground. I loved River Country even more than the Poly's monorail.

 

[Carriesouthard]

I'm sorry, but doesn't it say "Contemporary" in your signature?

For us, the first priority is a place that will sleep 5. That elminates all but the family suites at ASM, AOA, Fort Wilderness, and some of the Deluxes. (My son is WAY too big for the Murphy beds at POR.)

And, for the money we spend just getting to Florida, combined with the cost of park tickets, I'm not going Value or camping. I understand that it's exactly what others want, but it's not what I want. If there were a moderate that would meet our needs, we would certainly consider it.

We don't consider our resort choice to be a "waste"; it's simply our choice.

This! We are a family of 5 also. POR is too small for us. Camping/cabins doesn't appeal to us at all. Last trip was BC, this year Poly. For my family this is not a waste if money. Size and convenience are worth every penny for my family!

 

[stephmarty]

One important difference for my kids is that the mods and deluxe have water slides at the pools, the values do not.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I have a lot to think about. I do prefer deluxe hotels, but it all depends on what my budget looks like when it comes time to planning a WDW trip. Thanks again!

 

[jaykorf001]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I have a lot to think about. I do prefer deluxe hotels, but it all depends on what my budget looks like when it comes time to planning a WDW trip. Thanks again!

If you prefer staying in deluxe hotels but are squeamish about the Disney deluxe prices, you might really look at the Swan/Dolphin or maybe offsite options if that is open to you. I know everyone has different priorities with respect to accommodations so you'll have to decide what's best for you. Good luck

 

[amccu18007]

We are a family of 5 and have much more of a limited choice as to where to stay. That being said, my family would always prefer to be in a deluxe. My DH is 6'4" and a queen bed is almost pushing it. We enjoy the food choices as well as the ability to have multiple transportation options at the deluxes. We are trying POR this trip as we are taking my parents and are hopeful that we will like the resort. If not, we are in Disney and will go back to the BC/YC next time. Have a great time deciding and where ever you stay, you will be at Disney having a wonderful time

 

[Alesia]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I have a lot to think about. I do prefer deluxe hotels, but it all depends on what my budget looks like when it comes time to planning a WDW trip. Thanks again!

You might want to look into renting DVC points. I'm just starting to look into it for our next trip - We love Pop Century, but my daughter would love the pool at the Beach Club, so we might give it a shot. By renting points, we can get a studio at the BC for about the same price as a regular room at Art of Animation.

 

[witchesbrew]

If you walk up to a TS restaurant ,even in your resort, you are not going to get any better treatment than the family staying POP or the Super 8 off property.

I actually had an experience different to this. We stayed in the main GF building (club level) and we didn't have a reservation for 1900 Park Fare for dinner one night. We were able to get a table with no wait. The concierge told me they do keep a few tables available for their club level guests. Now this was back in 2008, so it might not be like that any more.

 

[Evansvillegirl26]

HOT TUB! Except the poly all the mods and deluxes have hot tubs! Values do not. Do not under estimate the value of a hot tub after a long day in the park!!!

 

[orangefan15]

The toilet paper in the Deluxes is far superior. I'm not lying.

I forgot about this. A very good point. Next time I stay in a mod, I think I'm going to include toilet paper in my Garden Grocer order... the sandpaper the resort provides just doesn't do it for me.

 

[taaren]

OP, to give you an idea since you're from Disneyland ...

GCH & DLH are both like Deluxes, while Paradise Pier is closer to a moderate, but would be a nice moderate. The values are like the motels that are a ways down the street from DLR, (not walking distance) except cleaner and well themed.

 

[Disneyland1084]

OP, to give you an idea since you're from Disneyland ...

GCH & DLH are both like Deluxes, while Paradise Pier is closer to a moderate, but would be a nice moderate. The values are like the motels that are a ways down the street from DLR, (not walking distance) except cleaner and well themed.

The only problem I have is that it seems very overwhelming to pick a hotel for WDW considering there's so many to chose from. Thank goodness I'm not going for a few years. It's a lot easier for me to chose a hotel for Disneyland considering I've stayed at all their resort hotels, and a good share of the Good Neighbor ones.

 

[Disneyland1084]

HOT TUB! Except the poly all the mods and deluxes have hot tubs! Values do not. Do not under estimate the value of a hot tub after a long day in the park!!!

NO KIDDING!!!! I really appreciate a good hot tub at the end of a day at DL. But when I get in a hot tub that's lukewarm......

 

[Disneyland1084]

If you prefer staying in deluxe hotels but are squeamish about the Disney deluxe prices, you might really look at the Swan/Dolphin or maybe offsite options if that is open to you. I know everyone has different priorities with respect to accommodations so you'll have to decide what's best for you. Good luck

Offsite? From where? I thought all the hotels surrounding WDW were resort hotels. I don't want to stay too far from the fun. Decisions decisions.

 

[aubriee]

Absolutely nothing that is worth $400.00 per night.

I agree! We much prefer Wyndham Bonnet Creek. It's considered an offsite resort, even though it is within the Disney gates and closer to the parks than some of the Disney owned resorts. In Sept I am staying in a one bedroom villa at Bonnet Creek for just $74.00 per night and then I'm staying there again in Dec for just $60.00 per night (was offered a two bedroom for just $70.00 per night). Bonnet Creek is a deluxe resort with several pools, pool slides, multiple hot tubs, restaurants, two lazy rivers, a game room, and a free mini golf course, situated around a pretty lake. Their one bedroom villas are alot bigger than the deluxe rooms at WDW and they have a fully equipped kitchen, washer/dryer, king size bed, living room with pull out couch, two TVs, a whirlpool tub, and walk in showers, facing a beautiful lake. Why would I pay over $400.00 a night for a single small hotel room? Bonnet Creek is still physically within the Disney gates and is closer to the parks than some of the Disney owned resorts. Heck, I can stay in a one bedroom condo at Bonnet Creek, cheaper than we could get a single, tiny Value resort room. We rent a car anyway, so Disney transportation doesn't draw us in at all. Bonnet Creek also has two, three, and four bedroom condos for larger families. I can hop in the car, get to Bonnet Creek, and be sipping on a wine cooler, while watching TV from my jacuzzi, while onsite guests are probably just getting on the packed buses back to their resort.

If you prefer staying in deluxe hotels but are squeamish about the Disney deluxe prices, you might really look at the Swan/Dolphin or maybe offsite options if that is open to you. I know everyone has different priorities with respect to accommodations so you'll have to decide what's best for you. Good luck

True! As a nurse I can usually get the Swan/Dolphin for about $149.00 per night (plus the resort fees). As an AP holder I could also use an annual pass discount there (or at any of the Disney resorts too). However, I still prefer booking a condo over at Bonnet Creek through a third party. I get alot nicer accommodations for alot cheaper price. Saying that, I have stayed at three of the values, all four of the moderates, WL, AKL, BW, and YC and enjoyed them, but since discovering how much we love Bonnet Creek, there is just no way I can see us ever going back to a Disney owned resort.

Offsite? From where? I thought all the hotels surrounding WDW were resort hotels. I don't want to stay too far from the fun. Decisions decisions.

The Swan and Dolphin are in the Boardwalk area, right next door to Yacht Club and Boardwalk, but are owned by Sheraton and Westin. They are sitting on Disney property, but are not Disney owned. You can walk or take a boat to DS or Epcot, but would have to take a bus to the other two parks and DTD). Wyndham Bonnet, Wyndham Grand, Waldorf Astoria, and a Hilton are over in the Bonnet Creek area (inside the Disney gates, but not owned by Disney either). I believe they all have buses to the parks and DTD (I know Bonnet Creek does), but most people just drive as it's quicker. Apparently the original owner refused to sell the land to Disney, but then eventually sold the land to someone else, and Disney built up around it. Then when I4 was built on the only open end, Disney was required to build a road into there. The only way to get into them is through Disney property. They are right behind CBR (sortof between CBR and DTD (like 5-10 minutes to Epcot and DS and 10-15 minutes to AK and MK). Depending on which way your balcony is facing you can see CBR, Space Ship Earth, or DTD. If you are high enough and facing the right direction you can sit on your balcony and see the fireworks at MK, Epcot, and Fantasmic at DS. Anyway, they are closer to the parks than alot of the Disney owned resorts. There are also a group of resorts right across the street from DTD, that are not Disney owned.

 

[DJFan88]

The moderate's are a nice compromise and we love them. Well, actually we really Love POR. Walking around it just gives you a good feeling, and lots of great QS food choices.
Never stayed value and don't want to. Have visited, but just seems too hot for me. (yes, I know FLA!) but the landscaping at the mods' can't be beat.
I love walking around and to be honest, it's my love of that that is holding me back from the deluxes' with the all inside hallways. However, I think it would be awesome to walk right to epcot and around the boardwalk so we're going to try BC this time, but as a split stay, because I just have to go to POR! We go 9-10 nights,so no prob. I get that it costs a little more, but since it's my vacation and I'm already spending money, I want to enjoy it, and if I can't envision it, or if I envision it negatively, I won't and it somehow devalues the dollars I did spend.
I'm sure you will make the right decision for you, and as the moderator said, there is really no right answer. Look at all the links to resorts and the individual threads.

 

[Aurora in blue]

We have stayed at all the moderates, AKL & WL, Pop, All Star Music and Sports. This trip we are a party of 5 and chose 2 rooms All Star Movies. Our kids are teens we used to pick Mod because of pool slide, its not that important anymore- I will miss towels at pools. One reason I prefer values is one bus stop, I know we may share with other all stars sometimes Im keeping fingers crossed that since its summer we wont share to often... I haven't found the all star buses anymore crowded than the other resorts. Although I think AKL had best bus service when we went but that was September and that is much different than mid-August. I get super impaitent circling the resort on the way to parks, it really adds 15 minutes to travel time. The large Food Court may be the most important reason for choosing a value my kids would be lost with out it. I also chose Movies because of the theme we are bringing daughters bf (who is moving out of state when we get back) and I felt All Star Movies will give us big dose of Disney and hopefully a lot of special memories.