Upgrade to deluxe? I feel bi-polar

[copcarguyp71]

So we are booked at CSR in October but in doing some research I found that we can upgrade to either WL or AKL for around $740 more (for 7 days).

My question is....would you? We have stayed at WL in the past so I know what a deluxe is like but I seem to be having problems being objective on this one. I keep flip flopping in my head going back and forth between justifying spending the extra money and then the next moment thinking that it is only a place to sleep and it is money that doesen't need to be spent. I should mention that this is our fourth trip with our 9 year old DD. We have previously stayed at WL, BC, POFQ.

Thoughts?

 

[disneygirl76]

Yes, I would. I love the Deluxe resorts. Have only stayed at them until this year when we will be staying at POR. We have stayed at WL and it is lovely and a fantastic resort. I have not stayed at AKL - I think I only would with a Savannah View room and I am assuming, for that price, it is not that type of room.

But being objective - you have stayed at WL before and might like a new experience. Also, at WL, AKL or CSR, you will rely on the buses so there is no advantage except distance to the parks. Do you spend a great deal of time at the resorts? If not, then you have a strong case to just stay where you are and save the money. If you spend days at the resort, then you have a case to switch.

 

[sgtmgd]

If money isn't an issue and you can absorb the extra cost..Is go deluxe all day long...I know some folks do.t care "where they sleep" so to speak as most time is spent outside the hotels..but for us its nice to come back to the boardwalk after we're done and just relaxing and soaking up the atmosphere.

 

[ShookieJones]

I'm with you. I get this way EVERY year. it usually turns into a battle with the wife but It's all about the dough as far as I'm concerned.
They way I look it at is if money wasn't an object - I would do it of course. It's just a better all around experience.
closer to the parks, bigger rooms, nicer restaraunts, etc.
BUT money is an object so for me, so I weigh up each situation differently.
We got a good deal to stay at AKL one year. My daughter was dying to stay there so we did.
I always wanted to stay at the Poly - got a good deal so we did.
But - things are tight right now - if it's not an amazing deal (like the difference of a 2-3 hundred bucks away from what we're spending now) I wouldn't even consider it, because if you spend most of your awake time in the parks ( as you have mentioned) at the end of the day...it's just a place to rest your head.

With all that nonsense being said...I would ask yourself these 3 questions?
What's your financial situaion?
How bad do you want to stay at WL?
Could you use those 7 Benjis better elsewhere?

 

[ExtinctJenn]

I've seen a few threads like this and my answer is always the same... why spend that extra $740 on a room you'll probably not spend much time in (other than to sleep and shower) when you could spend that $740 on either extra goodies in the parks or to catch La Nouba or hit a few rounds of mini-golf, etc. etc.

 

[jlsHouston]

Well. I loved CSR. And I am staying in my first deluxe in 2 more days!! so happy!!, So I might be flipping around like you, basically it would cost you another 100 bucks a night for deluxe which isn't bad... I think I am no help with this one, also because I think at this point I would choose WL over AKL (MK area resort) if given the option BUT only if money was not a concern. Because CSR is a wonderful resort in my mind. Decisions decisions decisions...

 

[dreamfinder]

That $740 is a decent chunk of change. If it was closer I'd say its a no brainer. But how do you tour? If you really do just go back to the room to sleep and shower, then why? But if you plan on spending time chilling at the resort, then you may want to do the upgrade. But heck, $740 would pay for food for most of the trip.

 

[rsoxguy]

I upgraded once for a total of $110 for three days. At seven days, that would amount the the equivalent of about $260. One man's hundred is another man's thousand, but $740 does seem a bit much for a room that will, in theory, serve as a bed and a shower for the seven days. That money can buy a lot of other things on a Disney vacation. Personal hotel preferences aside, I would save the money for other things.

 

[righttrack]

I would say the biggest "jump" in comfort, magic, happiness is from Moderate to Deluxe. The two resorts, WL and AKL, just add so much. They feel more like resorts, so much so that you wish you had more time to enjoy them. You'd stay there if the parks didn't exist. You wouldn't in the moderates.

 

[bethymouse]

While I wouldn't mind staying at a mod or value resort, I am spoiled now w/ the deluxe. WL is great and AKL is even better! I say upgrade all the way!

 

[Beholder]

My vacation budget is broke down basically into percentages. X amount for rooms, parks, meals, etc. I do it that way to make sure I have a happy balance that works for us. If pricing starts to go outside or over a percentage, I reel it back in. I love the best we can afford at any given time, but I'd much rather have the extra money for park stuff, DTD, or that "unexpected" surprise. But if money is no object, then throw everything I said out the window and stay in the Castle.

 

[tracyandalex]

I say go for AKL if you can and if you spend time at the resort. We like to relax at the resort at least a little bit so we try to go deluxe as often as money permits. For me it is a completely different experience to stay at a deluxe. We don't buy a lot of souvenirs and we rarely eat a real lunch so we would rather spend that money on a nicer room. It really depends on what your family prefers.

 

[copcarguyp71]

I guess I am leaning towards staying put at CSR. We get queen beds which is a real plus at a moderate. I think I have to agree that if it was a couple of hundred dollars more then yes but @ $100+ more per night I can't imagine getting that much more out of it. WL and AKL are in my mind equally as inconvenient to the parks as the moderates. If it was BC and we could walk into Epcot or one of the monorail loop resorts then it would be a no brainer! Thanks everyone for your input. Still torn but nearly as badly as this morning.

 

[Britt]

I absolutely would NOT spend the money : ) CSR is beautiful, no reason to spend $700+ on a place to sleep when you're already booked for a beautiful resort!

I'd take that money and book some neat excursion you can do! FRACTAL and his son and daughter went on a REALLY neat thing where they were able to scuba dive with the marine life! I want to do that so bad...haha.

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We justify going deluxe b/c we take mid-afternoon breaks back at the hotel + try to work in at least one free day to really enjoy the hotel and the area. Plus, we also try to revolve some of our dining around where we're staying. I also feel like we spend less time in transit to and from the parks by going with a hotel well situated for at least a portion of our park touring. i.e. it's more than just a place to sleep for the night.

If we didn't have any (or as much) of this to factor in, I'd definitely be swayed by the cost difference and shift to a mod.

 

[hollywoodj]

I wouldn't do it. CSR is a beautiful hotel with an AWESOME pool, and that cost doesn't justify "upgrading."

 

[boopuff]

OMG you sound just like me! I was ready to book CSR or Riverside but my kids have always been in a moderate resort and really, really wanted to stay at one of the EPCOT area resorts. The difference was a couple hundred but I ended up booking Beach Club. (I really hope they like it!)

 

[Missymoe4]

I would save the money...

I don't think it's worth it for WL. Poly, Contemp, GF, Boardwalk....totally worth the extra money. CSR is just as good at WL and I always think that WL is not worth the name or money being called deluxe. I'm not trying to be rude with my comments, but compared to staying in a true deluxe hotel, I felt as though WL was a knockoff and the only reason why they charged more and deemed it a deluxe was due to being somewhat across from the MK.

I had the same issue last year when I DID debate WL versus Poly versus BLT. In the end we went with the Poly. We visited the WL one night and they showed us a room and upon opening the door we were happy that we paid the extra 200 to upgrade even further to the Poly. For 3 adults in a WL room, we would not have been very happy. Although the lobby is beautiful, it was so loud and busy. The pool was shoulder to shoulder. I was really shocked that they were charging so much for so little. In my honest opinion, the WL is not worth it. Perhaps the children will like the bunk bed setup? If you're into the rustic scene, that would be an added bonus as well. My issue was with having people all over the place. I like to go back to my resort and it be quiet and laid back so I can relax. I just felt as though WL was just way too busy and loud.

I'm staying in CSR myself this year. I usually only stay at the Contemp or Poly due to the proximity to the MK. We'll see how it goes; although, we are really excited about staying there.

Have a FABULOUS trip and good luck with your decision. It's so tough! In the end, it'll all work out. Besides, no matter where you stay in WDW, you're there...and that's ALL that matters!!!

 

[tracyandalex]

OMG you sound just like me! I was ready to book CSR or Riverside but my kids have always been in a moderate resort and really, really wanted to stay at one of the EPCOT area resorts. The difference was a couple hundred but I ended up booking Beach Club. (I really hope they like it!)

They have movies on the beach at night. DD3 made us stop every night to see what was on. Oh and Beaches & Cream is excellent for ice cream after the parks.

 

[lebeau]

I'll echo what others have said. Depends on your situation. But for me, I'd rather spend the $700 on something else or keep it in my pocket.