Cheaper Resorts or First Class?!

[tomman710]

I need to get some opinions. I am going in December and I have been alot, but I am kinda on the fence about whether I should go cheaper and stay in a value resort especially when the discount codes come out and save money for other Disney things or should I first class it and get a moderate or deluxe, of course with the discount codes when they are available, and take up more of the funding? Throw out your opinions ... it's worth staying in a better place, save your money, it's just a place to sleep, ... etc ... So I need some opinions because I could go either way.

 

[BitO'PixieDust]

That's a load question. It depends on so many variables. We are going down over Christmas and have reservations for 6 nights at the Pop Century. It's running over $800 which is a bit pricey for a value resort. I, too, am waiting for some kind of discount rates to come out.

When they do I will look at how much a deluxe resort is and if it's not too much more than paying full price for the value resort I will switch. We like the deluxe resort because of the monorail. I find it adds to the vacation. Others will think saving money for other things more important.

It's all a matter of choice of what's important to you. I do know that if there are no decent discounts we will stick with the Pop Century.

Hope this helps:animwink:

 

[shari71]

We have always stayed at Port Orleans due to the $ and wanting to spend more. This year we got a deal on the Grand Floridian that made it the same price we pay for Port Orleans. The one big benefit I see is the monorail. With two small children it is going to be heaven sent to not have to mess with buses for two of the four parks.

One thing I really liked about Port Orleans was the food court. It had variety as well as it was open most hours of the day. I don't know what to expect at GF, but I have read there is one food area that is open 24 hours.

I guess my family spends most of the time in the park with exception of nap time and evenings so we do rely on there being something to do then. Pools are a must with us.

Like the post before, you have to take into account what matters most to you and decide from there.

 

[tomman710]

Yeah I get the different things you need to take into account and everyone is different, ... I guess I was leaning more towards a poll type question, like what does everyone else prefer ... spending more for the nicer resorts or spending less and saving money for other things.

 

[Stitch79]

Since I live in the area and have been so many times I prefer the deluxe hotels. I find myself using the hotel for more than just a place to sleep. However, if you are never going to spend time in the hotel then go for the cheaper one.

 

[lamarvenoy]

I might get jumped for this-I would not pay that kind of money to stay at a "budget" resort. You have so many other options,most important of which is what category of discount you fall into. Since you are out of FL that discount doesn't apply but if the annual passholder does you should save a bundle off any resort. The ALL-Stars to me is like a well decorated dorm complex. It is too cramped and way too loud. If you spend most of your time in the parks you may consider an off property resort. You can find a bunch of them for less than half of what you are about to pay with MUCH better accomodations( most of them off of 535 are actually closer to the parks than the All-stars). I spend the extra money usually and stay at a deluxe resort, we spend more time in the hotel or surrounding areas than we do at the parks and this makes for a much less hectic vacation for us. Another option is Hotel BLVD. I have stayed at the Wyndum Palace for less than $100 a night and that place is truely spectacular. I'd put it up against any other hotel on property for decor and service and room size.

 

[smilez4011]

I prefer the Deluxe Resorts!!!!!! Normal things like that don't matter to me, but when it comes to Disney I like to go all out and make EVERY experience as great as I can make it.

 

[Maria]

Originally posted by tomman710
what does everyone else prefer ... spending more for the nicer resorts or spending less and saving money for other things.

When I travel, I spend most of the day out of the hotel, so I am happy if my room is nice and clean, and there is a place to have breakfast. If I were celebrating a special ocassion, then I would try and stay into a moderate/deluxe hotel and use the facilities. If you are going to be mostly at the parks, then it´s not worth spending more on the room. Just my two cents.
:animwink:

 

[wdwfan65]

Did you say to stay off property?YUCK do people still do that with all the great Disney resorts.The GF does have a nice 24 hour small food court.No matter what disney resort we stay in we ask for a corner roon seems to be less noise.

 

[dliddi]

I would go moderate, I like some of the amenities that come with it, but I don’t need all as many as a deluxe, and I need a few more then the value(but that’s just me), really how much time do you spend in your room anyway? I guess you’ll have to decide, nice room or nice stuff, good luck!:hammer: :brick: :lol:

 

[tomman710]

As far as I am concerned staying off property is not even an option. It's Disney all the way for me, I'd feel like I was missing out on something the whole time if I didn't.

 

[bearboysnc]

Originally posted by Maria
When I travel, I spend most of the day out of the hotel, so I am happy if my room is nice and clean, and there is a place to have breakfast. If you are going to be mostly at the parks, then it´s not worth spending more on the room. Just my two cents.
:animwink:

My thoughts exactly. I go to my room to sleep.

The only thing "deluxe" about Disney hotels is the price. I got the same "magical feeling" at the All Stars, that I had at the Contemporary.

Disney really needs to research TRUE 4 star hotels, and modify theirs accordingly.

 

[Yellow Shoes]

Generally speaking, I would go cheaper. I would rather have more sit-down meals and souvenirs than a more $$ room.

However, it would depend on who my travel companions are. With DH & DSs, it needs to be deluxe for the queen and bunk beds.

If it were me alone, or with one child--value.
Me with someone else, like my mom--moderate.

 

[disneydawg]

Up until a couple of weeks ago I had never stayed in a deluxe. Both moderate and value always suited me fine. Last month I stayed at BWV and was blown away. For me it was the proximity to the parks that I loved so much. It seemed to make our trip easier. My vote is for first class, but its not as though the cheaper resorts would constitute slumming it, they're all quality.

 

[VacationMan]

Even Being from Chicago, we go to WDW about 1-4 times a year (Average over the past 10 years comes out to be about 3.2
visits per year... yup coming up on trip 32!!!!). We have stayed in the Deluxe, Moderate, and Value resorts on property, and have also hit the "low end"..... <YUK>.... and "moderates" off property..... As many posters have chimed in, its in what you plan. When we go alone, we usually stay just off property in a Hampton Inn, or a Radisson, (etc. etc.) or if a really good deal is going.... at one of the locations near Downtown Disney.... When taking the Gang ( Sisters Family's, Inlaws, Parents) we usually do the "moderates"... the Delux has been for usually for special ocassions.... When touring with groups, no matter what Disney Resort your staying at, its about options.... like someone getting tired and taking the disney transportation system back to their room, or park hopping with a meet-up.... Staying on Site is PERFECT for impressing the folks, or for coordinating groups with different tastes.....

BTW: Going down to WDW next week, and got the Hampton Inn Maingate East for about $44.00 a Night... Virtually identical to an "All Star", and almost as close..... Needless to say, this is going to be a "power park trip", no friends or relatives.

Just food for thought.... I also have my preferences on the Disney properties based upon their transit options, and how their bus stops run...

 

[lewisc]

Deluxe or offsite. Deluxe for good park access or off site for value.
Swan/Dolphin has a number of discounts available: Entertainment Book, AP, occupational, hotwire, labor day special. You get a deluxe hotel in a GREAT location for not much more than the price of a moderate.

 

[mrsswat]

type of hotel

:animwink: we're those people who have tried every type. For us, we've been there so many times, Disneyworld has become our place to get away from it all and relax. Therefore, lately we've been chosing deluxe, because we tend to spend alot of time at the hotel, using the pools, recreation, etc. When we go down and we know we're going to "Park" every day and not spend so much time "unwinding", we go moderate , sometimes value. We are DVC members, and the same holds true to picking out a unit. If we go for some family time and relaxation, we pick the larger units. Going to tour, studios just fine. So I agree with others who says it depends on what you're going to use your resort for.

 

[SnowWhite5669]

We've stayed at values, moderates and deluxe. In June we stayed at BC and I just booked another trip for September at All-Stars. We love them all and the fact that I booked at All-Star means that we get to stayed for 7 nights for $302 (Cast Discount) so we can really enjoy the parks, etc. We really only sleep at the resort and are out the door first thing in the morning.

 

[sigsegv]

Well, it really depends on what you do when you're there. DW and I have been to the parks many times. We still enjoy them, but our trip is about relaxing and enjoying the whole experience, not just the parks. For us, the deluxe resorts are wonderful, even compared to the other deluxe resorts around the country that we've stayed at.

That said, though, we've only stayed at a few WDW resorts (GF, WL, and BWVs, where's we're DVC owners). The moderates might be very nice too. From what I've heard (and we might be completely wrong), the All-Star resorts are not that great.

So, my advice is, if you're going to be spending every possibly waking moment at the parks (or some close approximation), then it might not be worth the extra expense of a deluxe or moderate resort. The All-Stars might not be a bad idea in this case. I've stayed off-site a few times and the difference between on and off-site is night and day to DW and me. The extra perks of being on-site are nice (E-ride nights, Extra Magic Hour or whatever it's called now -- too early for DW and me to be concerned with it ) but the
"magic" of being fully immersed in WDW is what justifies the extra cost to us. If these things don't mean much, then you can probably get some really good off-site deals and the locations of some of these places is really pretty good (especially the ones by DD).

Good luck and enjoy!

-sig

 

[Stefffe]

Originally posted by tomman710
Yeah I get the different things you need to take into account and everyone is different, ... I guess I was leaning more towards a poll type question, like what does everyone else prefer ... spending more for the nicer resorts or spending less and saving money for other things.

my personal vote....

if i had to choose between staying first class and having extra $$ to spend on the kid or myself along the way....i choose the latter...again it really is just a place to rest until you go back to the parks...and while the high dollar stuff might look better in a photograph...the chance to spoil my kiddo inside the parks just would mean more to me

again.....this is just my personal view


~stefffe~