Why Deluxe Resorts

[christa112]

I totally understand that we have all income brackets on this board and what some people can afford others can't. So what is the draw to Deluxe Resorts?

I can honestly say I can't afford a Deluxe resort, not that I wouldn't kill to stay in one, but the idea of my family spending $7,000 to $10,00 on a hotel boggles my mind. I would much rather go more often and stay at Moderate or a Value than go once every ten years and stay at a Deluxe.

Please do not take any offense to the post, it was not intended to be a slam. I am just curious.

 

[Candice30]

to me it is just the standard of care and extra amenities you get at the deluxe resorts. i like having only 1 bus stop. i like that your packages from the parks get delivered to your room and not the gift shop. i like the restaurants better. i'm just much more comfortable at the deluxes.

that being said.....NO i cannot always afford it. in fact, i usually am saving for a long time to do something special like that. to me, it makes my trip more special so i work as much overtime and clip coupons as much as i can to afford it. it makes me happy so i do it.

others will certainly disagree but remember, it is your trip. if it doesn't make sense to you to spend the money and much more practical to go more often at a moderate or value then go for it. you and your family are the only ones that matter.

i am staying at a value for the 1st time this july! YIKES! i'm nervous but my budget doesn't allow it. so this is where i must stay. this trip is about the kids and not me though so they are just happy to be going.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Three children. That's why we stay deluxe. We started at the Poly and never looked back. If I tried to book DH at the all-stars now he'd mutiny.
Robin M.

 

[paladin]

Location is the main reason for us. Being able to walk back to our room after Illuminations is the biggest reason. DH won't stay anywhere else (he HATES leaving a park with the crowds at closing, and we really like Illuminations). We also spend quite a bit of time at the resort, so we love our balcony.

I have gone on several solo trips and stayed at the value resorts, and don't have a problem with them, but when I want DH to go with, that won't work.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

We did dour first trip to the Polynesian and fell in love at first sight. Since that trip, we have also stayed at Wilderness Lodge and offsite at the Doubletree in downtown Disney. This year we are actually splitting our stay between the Wildernass Lodge and the Polynesian

For us the resort is a major part of the vacation, enjoying the amenities, the food, and just quiet time (as much as you can have with 2 small kids). That being said I do understand why those who spend all day in the parks would look at what we do as nuts - but it works for us.

 

[Knavey]

A Value (POP) Review

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1718646&page=1&highlight=

A Delux (AKL) Review

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1712874

Everyones experience is different, but this is why I will only stay at delux or better from now on.

Hope this helps.

 

[kirbsam]

inside doors, great restaurants, awesome locations, exercise room, bigger rooms, views that are unbelievable, more and better transportation options.

 

[LSchrow]

we've gone to WDW quite a few times, & our focus is no longer on the parks, but on the resorts & "little things".
the theming at the deluxes appeal to us, the lobbies elegant & a great place to relax (as well as the little "nooks" to read, etc), larger & tastefully decorated rooms, less crowded, scenic places to go for a walk, a myriad of transportation options, incredible views from our private balcony, amenities (health club, spas, rental boats, surrey bikes, beautiful pool areas, etc), the variety of good restaurants & other eateries, and location, location, location.

we can spend a week in a deluxe without going to a single park, do new & fun things everyday, and come home feeling like we had a wonderful, relaxing vacation.

deluxe resorts outside of WDW cost about the same, we just enjoy having the option of going to a park in addition to our resort stay.

hth
laurie s

 

[lmhall2000]

1. 5 in our family (2 rooms at POP or moderates run more than the specials I've gotten on a single deluxe room that fits 5)

2. With our schedules and commitments (farm with animals) we don't have the time to go several times a year...we take one 10 day break and that's about all we have for vacation, the rest of our time is used for family events close by.

3. We homeschool and can travel at ANY time of the year, we have never paid more than 4k for 7-8 nights at a deluxe...food included!

4. Two of our kids have asthma and the hotels that open to the outdoors down there make it much harder on them, hotels that have inside entry to the rooms have better ways of filtering out the allergens for them.

HTH!
Tara

 

[tiger4me2]

The deluxes for me has always been location & what you get. It has taken myself & DH to work hard for the last 37+yrs & feel we deserve a change. When first married hardly went anywhere because we couldn't afford it & then we had our DS, I was still working up to when he was 7 yrs old & decide I was tired of bad babysitters or care centers. But as a family we couldn't even afford Disney back in the late 70's or early 80's only two resorts then. And when were able to go was when DH had a business trip his air & hotel was paid for so we scrap enough to go down with him & do a three day pass to MK & Epcot but staying in a rather low cost hotel after staying in a mid range when he was doing his business but his work of course won't pay if DH stayed longer natural so we had to move to a different hotel. Only two times we went to Disney until 1995 then we got to stay at the Poly concierge. From then on it been deluxes. I think after this year it might be our last trip to Disney after 25+ trips & next year will be our 40th wedding anniversary. We want to go to Hawaii where DH was station during Viet Nam. I want to see Pearl Harbor & the sites plus go to another island maybe. In our stage we like staying somewhere nice. But everyone has their own reasons for staying where they do at Disney. And I don't knock them as some on other boards have done to me staying at the deluxes. As far as I am concern it is my hard earned money & I stay where I want to & it is none of anyone's bee's wax

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

I guess for us, it was a case of staying in a deluxe (WL) for our first Disney trip ever. Our second trip involved a moderate (CBR), and it just didn't have the same feel ... we were pretty disappointed (I think a lot of that was our room location and the poor bus service).

Sometimes, I wish we had stayed at a value for the first trip ... maybe we would still be staying in a value and enjoying it.

 

[karenklo]

For us, it was location! we stayed at the CR when our boys were 3 and 10 months and the Poly CL MK view when they were 4 and 7. The location on the monorail cannot be beat since at that age the MK was where they always wanted to go. The poly was the best! We watched Wishes from our balcony in our PJ's! And since there was 5 of us, we took the babysitter with us, the free food in the lounge was a great thing! Next time we go my mom is coming so we had to get a suite, so to the CSR we go, but I will miss the POLY!!

 

[Aliceacc]

Here are our reasons:

1) We're a family of 5. That limits our choices a LOT. I was back and forth between the Family Suites and POR, but kept wishing we could somehow swing a monorail resort. So, just for the heck of it, I priced the Contemporary. Sure, it was more expensive. But in the context of the whole price of our trip, not THAT much more than the family suites. (at that point-- last August, everything I read said that the family suites were never discounted. We were getting the AAA discount at the Contemporary.)

2) We got the 40% off PIN code in the mail. The Contemporary rooms with the code weren't available for our dates, but we could save $500 with the code if we moved to the Poly.

'Nuff said!!

 

[kldmom2000]

First, we have never spent $7,000-$10,000 on our hotel. We always go during value season and will never book w/o some sort of a discount such as free dining, AAA, etc....our room portion is usually under $2500.

Second, DH and I were "spoiled" on our honeymoon in 1994 staying at the BC and we can't even fathom going "down" a hotel grade...Yes, just call us deluxe snobs

Third... DH is self-employed working 80+ hours a week. He takes ONE WEEK vacation per year and he is super stubborn He will not stay anywhere but the YC/BC Who am I to say no!??!?!

*We love the proximity of the parks from the YC/BC. We like having the convenience of just walking into Epcot and not having to deal with the bus/boat/etc....

*I have a preference for indoor corridors. Silly, I know. I just don't like having my room accessible by everyone that walks by from the outside

*There are usually more amenities @ the Deluxe including activities and more restaurant choices.

*The whole atmosphere seems nicer. We've spent one night at Dixie Landings on our wedding night and were far from impressed and I grew up going to the Ft. Wilderness cabins w/ my parents. While they are nice, it's just such a pain in the butt to get to any park We've "resort-hopped" to check out some other resorts and the only ones that remotely appeal to us are the Deluxe resorts

It's our one week a year to splurge... and we'll do it

 

[Sammie]

Queen size beds, valet service, more restuarant options, more elaborately themed resorts and pools. More transportation options.

 

[vicceja]

Deluxe Resorts - we have stayed at BC, Poly and AKL Savannah View. We visit the world 2-3 times per year and our last 3 trips we have chosen to stay at the BC because we have considered this our home resort. Reason why we choose to stay Deluxe is simply because of the proximity to the parks, service, choice of upscale restaurants, amenities and with a family of 5 the rooms are much larger and we just love the atomosphere. For us...it just wouldn't be the same without staying Deluxe. We enjoy the parks as much as we enjoy the resort activities.

 

[vbarry]

Our family only gets to vacation a week or a week and a half every year due to my husband's work schedule (farming- never get to go in the Spring or Fall and working) and I work. We also have kids in school. So with all of this...we feel we deserve it!

There are people who are at the parks from open to close. If you are one...I would stay at a value. It is not worth it to pay the deluxe resorts.

I could spend a week at a deluxe resort and not go to the parks. I guess if I had not started out staying at WL and then at the Poly...I would not know what I am missing...but I am sooo glad I did! I found a vacation spot that our entire family can enjoy. Fun for the kids and beautiful relaxing resorts for the parents!

 

[CoolPool]

Who is spending 7 to 10,000? I'm staying at GV Poly for a week and paying $3330 for 2 adults and 2 children including tickets and dining plan. Yes, I have a room discount. For $10,000 I'd be there for...how many days? We can't take that much time!

 

[pigletforever]

We like the immersion that staying in a Deluxe has. If we don't feel like going to the park there is always something going on at the hotel. I also like the Queen size beds. That is what I have at home and DH and I don't sleep well in a double. DH would say the valet service, package delivery, room service,

I can say that 4 of us are staying at WL for 11 nights and including our room tickets, and deluxe dining we are spending less than 7000.00. (if oldest DS wasn't 18 it would have been even cheaper.)

 

[Prissymouse]

Interior doors and hallways...