Which Resort?

[hgmom]

I'm looking for some advice. We have taken the kiddos to Disney twice since 2002 but we have always stayed at an off-property hotel for free (I worked for the Hyatt). I no longer work for them so I'm having to deal with the grueling task of finding a resort (and having to pay for it!). We are spoiled now and want to stay at a decent resort.
I was comparing prices between the All-Star resorts and the Deluxe resorts such as Wilderness lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge -- or staying off property again. My husband doesn't think we should spend the extra $$ to stay at the deluxe resorts but I think they are so nice and have so many extras for the kids. I like the idea behind the All-Star but the rooms look really small and scarce. We also wanted to do the dining package and can't do that if we decide to stay off property....so staying off property may be out all together.
Does it pay to spend the extra $$ and splurge on the deluxe resorts? We've always had a good Disney experience but we want to finally have the ultimate Disney vacation and experience this time. We are going in August for 7 nights.

Thanks!!

 

[rcraw45425]

We love the deluxes. We are staying our arrival night this trip at the Pop, a value. I'm really sweating it out, we found ourselves very disappointed in our moderate experience, but I think that was partially due to saying in one at a busy time of year. Good thingsabout the deluxes are having inside corridors and balconies, along with queen beds instead of the full ones you find in the values and moderates. Moderates and Deluxes have comp. fridges in the rooms. If you stay onsite anywhere and drive your vehicle, you receive a parking permit that does away with the $10 per day parking fee for the parks. The deluxes have childrens programs and table service restaurants, as well as valet parking if you appreciate that. They also have full room service. Have you concidered doing a deluxe and cutting your trip shorter to save money?

 

[njdisneyfreak]

I grew up staying off property whenever my family went to WDW. As a married couple, my DH and I have only stayed on property and wouldn't do it any other way. You really feel like you are getting the full Disney experience that way. It's convenient for when you want to take a break in the middle of the day. You just go back to the resort, go to the pool or take naps and then head back refreshed. Also, you can only enjoy the extra magic hours at the parks by staying on property. Of course, as you already know, the DDP is only available if you stay on property, too.

As for where to stay. . .We've stayed at the All-Star Movies and Pop Century. For this year's trip we originally booked a Deluxe resort, AKL. After much thought, we realized that the cost wasn't worth it. We still wanted a lot of the aspects of a higher end resort, but for less pay and began looking at the moderates. We finally chose POR and from what everyone says you get the most bang for your buck by staying there. So, if this helps, I would suggest looking at the moderates. If you want to save money and still get the Disney experience, go from the All-Stars or POP. Unless you plan to spend a great deal of time in the room itself, size doesn't matter a whole lot. If you do plan to spend a lot of time in the room, then a moderate or deluxe is the way to go.

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

Since you haven't stayed on property as of yet I would book the All Stars or Pop. Then take a day during your vacation to do nothing but tour the different resorts, soaking up the atmosphere of each and to do a bit of shopping. Start with the resorts along the monorail line, take the boat from Contemporary over to WL and FW Campground. Go to AKL and make ADR's for a meal at Boma's. Walk along the Boardwalk, go to BC & YC and grab ice cream at Beaches N Creme. This could possibly make your hubby want to book Deluxe on your next vacation. Be sure to check out the moderates as well. You may have to go from Value to Moderate to Deluxe. Make it a point to let him know that one day you would love to be able to say you've stayed in every resort at Disney and get him to fall in love with the different resorts by visiting each one!

 

[sue1013]

First I will say I hate the values. But I think the reason is the way we vacation. We do not do the parks from morning till night. We spend alot of time at the resort and prefer the deluxe resorts. If we vacationed as many do spending almost all our time in the parks I would probably have a different view of the values. If your family will be doing a commando type trip that you just want the room to sleep and shower in then try a value. We have stayed at the moderates a few times and thought they were much better than the values but we still prefer the deluxes.

 

[rcraw45425]

First I will say I hate the values. But I think the reason is the way we vacation. We do not do the parks from morning till night. We spend alot of time at the resort and prefer the deluxe resorts. If we vacationed as many do spending almost all our time in the parks I would probably have a different view of the values. If your family will be doing a commando type trip that you just want the room to sleep and shower in then try a value. We have stayed at the moderates a few times and thought they were much better than the values but we still prefer the deluxes.

My thoughts exactly. One spring a few years back, before we discovered codes, we booked CB, then rethought the cost and cancelled. By the time we decided to go, we wound up staying offsite. The place wasn't a dunp (holiday Inn) but we stayed in the park all day so we didn't mind as much. We too tend to not go commando, head back to resort early afternoon, go to dinner, then hit a park again in the evening when it's cooler. At that time of year, mid day in a park is, IMO, child abuse. Parent abuse too, it is so miserable everyone's tempers become short and you feel yucky.

 

[goofy4tink]

It all depends on what you feel is important in a room. Although we own DVC at BW, I still love staying at POP. My dh doesn't like POP nearly as much as I do though. So...if you really want the inside hallways, larger rooms (with sleeping for 5), more themed pools areas with slides, hot tubs, restaurants right there at the resort, then fine..book a deluxe. If you can live with slightly lower ameneties, then book a moderate. We love POR...but the others are wonderful as well. You will get the nicer pool, with slide, a table service restaurant. But, smaller rooms with double beds, and outside halls (so to speak). But, if you really don't need a table service restaurant, or a themed pool with slide or queen beds, then go with a value. Yes, the rooms are a bit smaller, but not much more than the moderates. You only get one sink vs two at the moderates. No pool slides or hot tubs.
It just depends on what you want. I can do a value and be very happy there. But, it sure is nice being able to walk to Epcot or MGM when we are at BW. That's the big plus for me....the ability to walk or monorail or boat to a park, rather than take the bus.

 

[ccigliano]

I have stayed at Coronado Springs (moderate), Old Key West (deluxe), Wilderness Lodge and WL Villas (deluxe), and Saratoga Springs (deluxe). I have been to Disney so many times now that I appreciate a deluxe more than I would have in the beginning. Fortunately CSR was the first resort I stayed at and did enjoy the experience. When we first started going to Disney we purchased park hoppers and wanted to get the most bang for our buck with the tickets so we spent minimal time at the resorts. However, now that I am a DVC member at the WL Villas and purchase annual passes - I will only do deluxes, specifically the Wilderness Lodge as I love the theming. Now that the dining plan is an option - deluxes will offer a lot more in terms of table service and counter service options. You don't want to shelp somewhere for breakfast every morning so you need to have options at your resorts counterservice restaurant that you won't get sick of. If one of you gets and annual pass you could save up to 50% of the deluxes like Animal Kingdom and Wilderness Lodge and the additional cost for the pass may be worth it. Otherwise, it really is a personal decision and depends on how much time you'll be relaxing by the pool vs doing the parks. I almost forgot - I have also done off-site at Disney (once because it was free and the other because I didn't know any better) and on-site is the only way to go. Hope this helped.

 

[CheezDoodle]

Moderates might be nice for you. They are not expensive as a deluxe, but the rooms are more spacious than a value. I really love both Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Qaurter.

 

[Mousermom]

Try the Moderates. We just got back from POFQ and loved it!! You get all the perks of Disney (Magical Express, buses, Extra Magic Hours, etc.) without the huge pricetag. POFQ has very nicely manicured grounds, fun theming, and the resort is small! Short walk from all buidings to the main areas (pool, lobby, food court, gift shop). Kids will love the pool area. Lovely boat ride from POFQ to Riverside for sit-down meal. The food court was fine for us. The boat also goes to Downtown Disney for shopping and restaurants. Very relaxing at night. I will never stay anywhere else. Planning a Land/Sea package for May, 2008. I'm driving my DH crazy already talking about it. Hope this info is helpful to you! Good Luck!

 

[MJMcBride]

I've never stayed at the Pop but here are some reviews including that one. I reviewed the CBR and OKW

http://www.mouseextra.com/category/mouse-hospitality-resort-reviews/

 

[skipperkim]

The only value I stayed at was Pop. I didn't like it. Having only one sink, one of the reasons I don't like CSR, isn't a great idea. Buses are always full. I do love POFQ, though. It's a small resort, only 7 buildings, so everything is close. It also has its own bus stop at MK in the evening. Here's a link with pics you might enjoy:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=530340&page=36

The difference in size of the rooms at WL or AKL is in the entry, so it really isn't that much bigger. The beds are queen size, if that matters, but they both only sleep 4. If you need to sleep 5, try POR (the sister resort to POFQ) AB section.

 

[TinkerKim]

We stayed at a moderate both times. I need a room for 5 so we stay at POR with the trundle bed. They also have a nice food court.

 

[KathyRN137]

Moderates are great if you can't decide between Value and Deluxe! Book now, call back when the codes come out and have your reservation ammended.

We stayed at POFQ twice and loved it!

Good Luck!

Kathy

 

[raenyny]

Everyone says they love Port Orleans French Quarter and I have to say room wise I don't feel it is any different than the allstars the atmosphere was great and I haven't tried any other moderates but I have stayed at both asmu and asmo and the rooms and beds were pretty much the same as Port. So I would either stay at value or deluxe

 

[vassar36]

I think you will love wherever you stay it is Disney after all. For my family, Last year we stayed at POP (kids then were 2 & 4) & this year we will stay at WL, but not b/c we didn't like POP. The kids loved it, but it was hard to go back and forth to the parks at night after we took an afternoon break, it just seemed so far away, and with kids being that small, an impending meltdown can occur at any time if you push them too late at night. So that is one of the main reason we are staying at WL this year, since MK is only a boat ride away if we want to return at night instead of a long bus ride. I would imagine when the kids get older we will go back to POP. Also the other big difference is that the deluxes have balconly's to relax to after the kids go to bed.
So I think you might want to think about your familes needs, and the ages of your kids, to determine your decison. And no matter what, all the disney hotels are magical...so you can't go wrong.....

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR is a nice moderate resort.