Are you a Deluxe Snob?

[durangojim]

A couple of days ago I was having a discussion with a co-worker about WDW's resorts. I was saying that we usually stay at the WL or GF almost always with an AP discount. She has stayed at AS and PORS and suggested my wife, 1 y/o son, and I stay there. I replied that we like to stay at the deluxe MK resorts because of the extras and conviniences to which she replied that I'm a "Deluxe snob". She said this in all seriousness. I'm a pretty down to earth guy who's been going to WDW since I was about 5, we didn't ever stay on property until the late 80's and only then at the Disney Village, then later at dixie landings and some others. I worked my butt of in medical school and residency so I could provide my family with a comfortable living and now I'm labled a snob becuase we like to stay at nice hotels. Has anyone else experienced something like this?

 

[col]

If all you need is a shower and a bed, then more power to you! 5000 pounds for a moderate though seems outragious. How long will you be there. We've stayed for 13 days one time at the GF with a lagoon view room and still payed less than $4000.

as ive said the all stars have everything i need. as shower so i dont stink (remeber people we all need space in the queues :lol: ) and a bed to rest and re engerise for my next day in a park. people might think im being rude or whatever but thats all i use the room for when im in WDW i dont spend most of the day in the room im up and out i do go back for a sweater and such.

it is very dear to stay in a MK resort and coz my birthday was crap last year i wanted to treat myself for my next birthday but i do agree with you £5000 plus is expensive when all i would be paying for is the view and the fireworks -but i would be in MK till closing so i would be watching them there anyway.
i will be there for 2 weeks. it will cost more with the single occupancy and its in the peak season. im fine with staying in the all stars.
by the way $4000 at the GF for 13 days is really good.

 

[barnum42]

I'm taking bets as to how long it takes before this thread gets ugly.....


(slowly backs away)....

Are any of the usual suspects in here yet? :lookaroun

 

[wdwishes2005]

I'm a deluxe snob.......

 

[JimboJones123]

I'm the opposite. I'm a Pop snob. I love the resort. I love actually having a 10 minute drive to and from the park where the family can get a little nap. It's the only quiet time I get on trips. I could afford to stay somewhere more, but just can't make myself do it. I could have 3 nights at GF or 9 at POP w/Dining plan.

The thing that really is weird to me is the MODS?!?!?!?!

What's up with that? An expensive, unthemed resturaunt that isn't anywhere near as good as any of the places in Deluxe or Parks? It's like paying double for an extra 5 inches on your table in your room and a slide in the pool. Why not take one nights of that extra money and spend it on PLUS to get the water parks too?

The thing that is weird to me is that most deluxe have EXTERIOR BUILDINGS that you have to go to anyways. It might as well be the Value at that point. At least GF doesn't have this issue. That place is all class. And I have no problem getting up in the morning and going there for breakfast. Then using the boat dock. Then going back to POP for a bigger food court for Lunch.

 

[JimboJones123]

Are any of the usual suspects in here yet? :lookaroun

I hope I'm not on that list. God bless you all for loving the places you like. If WL were $50 less a night, sign me up. I see that $50x10 going to Big Figs and Motor Boats.

 

[LizziePooh]

I will fully admit to being a Deluxe snob. I don't think it's a bad thing, though. I stayed at all different resorts all the times I went to WDW, but on our last trip we stayed at AKL, and now I'm hooked. I just felt so spoiled there, I couldn't imagine staying at a moderate or value now.
Also, I'm not rich at all, and I do NOT make that much money. First, we use the AP discount, and I work really hard to make the money for the trip. I'm going back in January and staying at FW, and I've been working overtime every Saturday to pay for it. I don't mind though, because I feel that it's worth it. Not every one thinks it's worth it to pay for the deluxe resorts, and I totally understand that. Some people would rather use that money towards something else, and I choose to use it to stay at the nicer resort.
If someone is going to insult me for that, than they can bite me.

 

[durangojim]

With my belief in equal time for both sides here is my friendly response:

1. Port Orleans Slide is AWESOME! Also Caribbean Beach has a really nice pool with a bridge over it, and water cannons.

2. Port Orleans has Boatrights Restaurant (very nice) and a food court, both themed.

3. Frogs, Salamanders, Birds, Fish...etc.

4. Lobbies? I am there on the first day and last.

5. Corridors Schmorridors! Give me the lush plantlife or well manicured lawns at Port Orleans right outside my door!

6. I have a balcony/Deck at home I don't use that often, and Disney World isn't in my back yard!

7. Port Orleans 2 Full size, and a trundle bed with plenty of room to toss all my clothes around, and have room to play with the toys I...I mean my son...bought.

8. Gift Shop in Port Orleans (and Caribbean Beach) are nice with just about everything you would need. They even have Grey Poupon!

9. Monorail is the one thing that would be nice. Other than that buses do me just fine.

10. Little Extras? Not sure what that is, unless they have the santitary paper strip over the toilet seat. I LOVE cutting those and pretending I am the mayor of Toilet Town!

11. Theming in Port Orleans is AWESOME!

I have one more number to add.

12. With the $1500 to $3000 I save on the room, I can buy that 6 ft. carved Mickey Mouse I always wanted!!!!!!

Uh oh, here's a little fuel to the flame:

1. Very true I'm sure

2. Again, true I'm sure

3. WL has ospreys and armadillos (if you want to find where these are pm and I'll tell you my secret) and fish! Frogs and salamanders can't even come close.

4. Lobbies -- if you had ones as awesome as the GF or WL you'd want to spend some time in them -- music, drinks, shops...

5/6. We have two doors on our rooms -- a front and a back, and I can sit on my balcony and enjoy the view of the lawn, or water, or pool or whatever. And if your deck at home had Disney World as your back yard, I'd bet you'd use it.

7. WL or GF 2 Queen size beds (yeah that's right, I said Queen, I mean that's like a total of 6 inches more room for the two beds, how do you like that!) -- one for my wife and I, one for all the stuff we bought, and some room in the middle for my son's crib.

8. Gift shop at the WL has totem poles you can buy, can you buy a totem pole at PO? Hmmm, I think not.

9. Monorail, monorail, monorail...read it and weep.

10. Little extras -- if you've experienced them then you'd know, like getting a white chocolate mickey mouse and a anniversary or birthday card signed by MM without even asking, or having your towels made into little animals by housekeeping, or having robes to wear or turndown service. Or my favorite -- a phone in the bathroom. That's right I said a phone in the bathroom. How many times haven't you been able to do your business becuase the room phone rang at the wrong moment, never again.

11. Theming in WL or GF is better

12. If you stayed at the allstars you'd have saved even more and could have bought a 12 ft Mickey Mouse, or most people who stay at a deluxe can still buy the statue anyway.


I hope you took the above in the spirit that it was written:lol:

 

[reptar77]

We too are Deluxe snobs. I have tried other resorts but nothing even gets close to comparing. We became DVC members because of it.

 

[KrazyKowboy]

No you're not a snob at all, but your friend may be. And a bit jealous too !

The beauty of WDW is the availability of amenities that can appeal to any tastes.

You'll notice from my signature, our little family of 3 enjoys the value resorts. We've always been pleased with our service and clean rooms. I guess you could say I'm a "value snob". I always opt for the "preferred" rooms in Calypso nearer the Melody Hall. :lol:

 

[dopey]

I'd be happy to console you, doctor, but my fee is $50 per reply.

 

[Gorjus]

First off, there are people who do not choose to work their butts off to be financially successful. And they get upset when other people are successful. If someone is rich, these people automatically pick on them and put down rather than respected and looked up to for the hard work it took to gain their success. :brick: (note: not speaking about people who work their butts off but have chosen lower paying jobs ie: teachers, social workers, etc.):sohappy:

Having said that, my friend Bob, who is very successful in his career is a deluxe only guy. But his issues come from the fact that his father was so cheap that he would drive the family up from S. Florida, leaving at 6 AM to arrive at 9 AM. The family would stay all day (MK only then). Then they would drive back late at night. He wouldn't even spend the $20 to stay at a cheap motel.

So Bob overcompensates and not only will only stay at a deluxe (mostly GF), but will only stay concierge level. :king: One time he was kind enough to treat 5 of us to a concierge level room on the weekend of the marathon. Don't get me wrong, the food in the concierge lobby and the 'complimentary' wine and cordials at the end of the night were great, but the room itself is NOT that much bigger than a room at All Star. (note: DVC...totally different story. Those places are HUGE) At Deluxe resorts, the beds are queen instead of full and sometimes there is a day bed for a 5th person, so that is nice, but instead of the bathroom being part of the room, so to speak, the bathroom is a bit separate. Other than that, the rooms are about the same.

Now, because it was marathon weekend, we didn't plan on going to the parks much, so we were able to enjoy the ammenities of the hotel. However, had it been a park weekend, I couldn't see spending $600/night just to sleep there.:hammer:

I've stayed in Deluxe (GF, WL, Dolphin), Moderate (CB, POR), Value (pop & AS), and the campgrounds. I love them all for different reasons. The only Deluxe resort I think is worth the money is Beach or Boardwalk simply for the convenience of walking to EPCOT.

Side note: October 2003: The Marlins are playing the Yankees in the World Series. We are up for our annual Food and Wine Festival weekend. Bob again chooses GF concierge level while the rest of us are at Pop. So the night of the last game, Bob invites us all to the concierge level to watch the game on the TV in the lounge there. So rather than the usual sports bar with beer and popcorn, we had a BALL watching the Fish beat the Yanks while enjoying Grand Marnier, Amaretto, Baileys, Cabernet, and Sauvignon Blanc along with cheese and cashews. :slurp:

So, to sum up, if parks, parks, parks is your thing, stay at Value Resorts. If relaxing at your resort is part of your thing, go for the upgrade. Never go into debt over your hotel though.

 

[Ralphlaw]

Time well spent

For us, staying at a deluxe has more to do with travel time and stuff to do at the resort. I do not want to spend my vacation in a bus. Therefore, being on the monorail, or out the back door of Epcot, is more important than almost anything else. Taking the monorail or a boat is an attraction in itself for us. Buses are not. Incidentally, that is one reason I will probably never stay at Wilderness, Animal Kingdom Lodge, or Saratoga Springs: too much time in the buses just to get somewhere.

To me, avoiding time wasting bus trips is more important than the thousand dollars or so that could be saved by staying elsewhere.

In addition, having nice unique restaurants and other activities in the same complex, especially if it rains, is nice.

 

[Nemo14]

For us, staying at a deluxe has more to do with travel time and stuff to do at the resort. I do not want to spend my vacation in a bus. Therefore, being on the monorail, or out the back door of Epcot, is more important than almost anything else. Taking the monorail or a boat is an attraction in itself for us. Buses are not. Incidentally, that is one reason I will probably never stay at Wilderness, Animal Kingdom Lodge, or Saratoga Springs: too much time in the buses just to get somewhere.

To me, avoiding time wasting bus trips is more important than the thousand dollars or so that could be saved by staying elsewhere.

Funny you should say that, because the one time that we stayed at the GF, our biggest conplaint was how horrible the bus service there was.....

 

[wdwishes2005]

but the only places you need to take a bus to are DTD, the waterparks, and AK.

 

[Nemo14]

but the only places you need to take a bus to are DTD, the waterparks, and AK.

and MGM. We waited for 45 minutes at the hotel for the bus to AK, so after that we decided to drive to the parks.

 

[Senderella]

I fully agree with the person who posted about a college professor encouraging a little bit of snobbery. Believe it or not, I think it's good for the soul to indulge in the finer things that you enjoy. If you've got a taste for wine, why not spend your time and money experimenting with different wines? Same with the Disney resorts. Dh & I have only ever stayed at the WL. We can't bring ourselves to go to WDW and NOT stay at the WL. It feels like home to us. We'd miss it too much. That said, we go about once or twice a year for about 9 days at a time. We really have to. We get so stressed out and fed up with "real life" (ie- the locals who have no common sense, the horrible drivers, the rudeness, bills, blah blah blah blah blah BLAH) that we have to take time out and focus on ourselves and each other. We consider it therapy. It sounds to me like the OP's coworker is jealous.

We have a friend of ours who just floors me sometimes. If any of you were to come over to my house, you wouldn't hear a peep out of me about finances. The most you might hear is my husband say "Sen, we really can't afford to go to the pancake house again tonight since we're trying to save some money for __fill in the blank__" but you'd only hear that if you were really trying to eavesdrop. This friend of ours... she is always going on about their finances and how broke they are. Granted, they charged 40 grand to their credit cards for their wedding 3 years ago.. but nobody cares. It's nobody's business but theirs. She always brings up their financial woes with me and tries to get me to talk about ours. She doesn't comprehend that we afford our Disney trips and our home and all of our other "toys" by DH's hard work. There are some weeks when he works 6-7 days a week. She tries to play off her desire to go on any sort of vacation (particularly Disney) because of how commercial it is and all of this other BS spiel she rattles off.

The way DH & I see it, we've been together 6 years. We didn't start traveling until 2005. Sure we hit San Antonio and the surrounding areas, but anyone from Texas knows a weekend trip to SA isn't exactly a vacation. We're doing our traveling and having our selfish fun before we have kids. If we want to pay for a vacation but sawing off a foot, then it's nobody's business but our own and people outside your family who try to MAKE it their business aren't exactly the sort of people you want to divulge any sort of information to. We've gotten to the point where we don't tell that certain friend of ours about upcoming vacations because she gets sullen and positively impossible to be around. We're still friends with her because her DH is a good guy. Nothing like her at all. What do ya do you know? Pick & choose who you tell about your vacations, because someone is inevitably going to try to make you feel bad for your choices. Don't allow it. It's your hard earned money and your family's happiness... not theirs. So if you want to proclaim yourself a "deluxe snob" by all means do it and don't feel badly about it.

 

[hcswingfield]

When we stayed at AK, we never had much of a bus problem to anywhere, except Downtown Disney, and that's a long ride no matter where you stay. It wasn't as good as walking to Epcot from the Boardwalk, but having a view of giraffes and zebras from the room made up for it. Plus you can't go on the sunrise safari (which is WONDERFUL) unless you stay at the AKL. But now we've been there and done that, and will probably go back to an Epcot resort far more often, just for the proximity to Epcot and DS.

 

[TikiBeckie]

I think I'm a "Moderate snob" =)

I've checked out several of the resorts from value to delux, but for whatever reason, I am completely in love with PORS. LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
HAS to be a mansion room though.

I think I am one, too! I can't really afford the deluxes yet, and I tend to not like the values so much because they are a little louder and too "kiddy" for us...I know it's just a place to sleep but DH and I make it a long trip, part of which includes enjoying our resort and pool.

I don't think you're a snob, you just know what you like and you worked hard to be able to afford it. If you ask me your friend was just a little jealous maybe?

 

[TikiBeckie]

I'd be happy to console you, doctor, but my fee is $50 per reply.

Something tells me he'll pass
:hammer:

 

[wdwishes2005]

and MGM. We waited for 45 minutes at the hotel for the bus to AK, so after that we decided to drive to the parks.

you can walk to mgm, or take the boat.