From Moderate to Deluxe!

[real mad hatter]

Hi everyone.Well I woke up Sunday morning,sorry Kris,but it's true,last night my DW agreed to splash the cash for our 2014 vacation and this Sunday morning I've been looking at AKL & WL. Just getting a feel of those two resorts and which one I think we hopefully will end up booking.My question however is,has anyone decided after staying at their favourite moderate to go for a deluxe and after when they came home,wish they hadn't bothered splashing the bucks.? Now it will be a 14 day vacation and I reckon looking at the 2013 prices for July that the difference will be around $3.400 more for deluxe over moderate,however the dining plan on deluxe ( if it's free ) will save us approx $2.500,so it's swings & roundabouts so to speak.How would you convince me to go for it,fling caution to the wind.

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

Thanks for all your views.Yes,I agree that once you do a deluxe you might regret going back to a mod,but if we do,and I hope we do,it will be a one off.I once splashed out on a BMW 3 series and it was a dream to drive,however I now drive a Madza 6 T2S and tho it's no where near as classy as the BMW. I still love it.So Iam a great believer in at least do something you want to do once in life.At least you can say " Done That " and cheers Debs,I can also see me out in the balcony with DW & DS with a nice glass of Chardonnay singing " There's a great big beautiful tomorrow "

and you and your family SO deserve it!! Nothing beats starting and/or ending a day at Disney than sitting on your own balcony, taking in the sites, sounds and smells of your favorite place! I can actually picture you all out there, singing in unison!! I have to say GO FOR IT!!!!!

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

I've stayed at a value, 3 moderates and 3 deluxes and if you want to splash the cash it is worth it. Although I have only paid to stay at one of the deluxes,that was compliments of my parents in the 1980's, and I got upgraded to the Beach Club for free from a value. But when I actually did pay to stay at the Wilderness Lodge it was worth every penny! If I was going to be there for 14 days I would definately stay at two different resorts. Maybe you could do a moderate you haven't done before and the Wilderness Lodge.

We have stayed at WL a few times and really really enjoyed it. The waterfall is stunning and the grounds are nice to roam and the geyser is cool.

Hatter - We stay in all levels, but the deluxes are always our first choice. To us it is more relaxed because we end up spending more time at the hotel, but we have never been the commando style park folks. This may come out wrong and i truly don't mean to offend anyone because everyone's preference and finances are different, but I just like to come back to a nicer room after a long day at the parks and at Disney there is a pretty big difference and you get what you pay for. For that length of time you might want to consider splitting with 2 hotels that way you can do your favorite and try something new. I will caution you though, I think for most folks once you go deluxe it's hard to go back, lol

I totally agree with this. I havent done Disney commando style in years, no wait, in over a decade, only because my son is in his 20s, and there isnt any thing wrong with values or moderates but two things draw me to deluxes; the options of transportation and we do spend alot of time at the resort. We always do a *down day* at our resort, and head to Epcot at night. The suggestion of doing a split stay is an excellent one. Perhaps a stay at one of the wonderful moderates, followed by a stay at a deluxe of your choice, may be the perfect answer. The best of both worlds! (plus alot more wallet friendly) Use that saved up money to pay OOP for a wonderful signature restaurant dinner, or splurge on a beautiful horse and carriage ride!

 

[Gabe1]

AKL is absolutely not the place for everyone.

If you think you'd like it, you'd probably love it. But it is absolutely the kind of place that would leave people who don't care for the theme feeling disappointed. And I say that as someone who loves it.

ITA about the Contemporary. My least favorite, too. But some people love it!

It wasn't the theming. The actual hotel rooms are not any larger than the moderates and same for the bath area. The difference was the balcony. AKL is so freak'n far away from everything else too. The lobby was drop dead beautiful but seriously, how much time do guests spend in the lobby? It is a small trail area to go out and see the animals and it is nice but I'm able to take a peek at that when I go to Jiko. I'm thinking it is the location that is the biggest killer and why it has taken so very long for the DVC to sell out.

 

[real mad hatter]

It wasn't the theming. The actual hotel rooms are not any larger than the moderates and same for the bath area. The difference was the balcony. AKL is so freak'n far away from everything else too. The lobby was drop dead beautiful but seriously, how much time do guests spend in the lobby? It is a small trail area to go out and see the animals and it is nice but I'm able to take a peek at that when I go to Jiko. I'm thinking it is the location that is the biggest killer and why it has taken so very long for the DVC to sell out.

Totally agree about location of AKL,it seems to be so far from everything.

 

[disney magic 06]

Agree,Crush Dude from Ireland got a 40% off at Old Key West this year.

Yes, it was Crush Dude who pointed me in the OKW direction. And much as I love WL it is always good to try something new. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

 

[pixargal]

IMO, POR, is on par with some of the deluxe resorts as far as theming and amenities. It is not within walking distance of a theme park or on the monorail loop, which would make it a moderate. If you like the theming at POR, then I would recommend staying at the WL. The resort really is amazing. AKL is beautifully themed, but feels so isolated and their pool is not that great for a deluxe. The POR's pool slide is better. I think a split stay would be a great idea, begin at the POR and end at the WL.

 

[Obi]

agree about if you have the money, and want to try it, to go for staying at a deluxe. got to stay at a deluxe villa a couple of times. enjoyed it enough that we are now looking into becoming dvc members.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Totally agree about location of AKL,it seems to be so far from everything.

The removed location is what made the AKL feel like such a special destination to me vs. another hotel that's bunched-up with other hotels. People say the bus travel times are soooo far but if you're on a shared bus route it all comes out about the same if not only slightly longer. I think the bus rides are more relaxed. You're going away from the rest of the World to your own special oasis.

Also, I wouldn't necessarily say once you go deluxe it's hard to go back to mods or values. I don't think so. The only thing that stood out to me was the towels. The towels at POFQ were smaller & thinner than I had been accustomed to in the deluxes. But that's towels. As soon as I was dried off I was "over" that. Lol! Last May we stayed at Pop for a few nights for the first time since going deluxe & moderate. Ya know, we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was far more bare bones and not as plush but it was still a lot of fun. I'd absolutely stay at Pop again, too!

 

[Sunshineglow68]

I say DO IT!!! We stayed at WL last month and loved it. Everything about it was great. The staff, dining, pool. It was all so clean. That will be where we stay the next tme we go too.

 

[real mad hatter]

IMO, POR, is on par with some of the deluxe resorts as far as theming and amenities. It is not within walking distance of a theme park or on the monorail loop, which would make it a moderate. If you like the theming at POR, then I would recommend staying at the WL. The resort really is amazing. AKL is beautifully themed, but feels so isolated and their pool is not that great for a deluxe. The POR's pool slide is better. I think a split stay would be a great idea, begin at the POR and end at the WL.

Sounds great,but not sure how the dining plan would work as they would be two different plans.

 

[Gabe1]

Totally agree about location of AKL,it seems to be so far from everything.

And the commute is so much longer these days. The buses share with the DVC and are often filled or packed by the time it hits the hotel or worse skips the hotel and hotel guests wait some more. By the time you actually get on a bus from the hotel and truck off to the MK you have a lot of time invested making a car almost a necessity.

AKL hotel lures AK park guests in droves much like Boardwalk from DTD making transportation for guests of the hotel a real chore. While Boma and Jiko along with the animals are a draw for guests not staying at the hotel, the foot traffic certainly is not a bonus for those actually staying in the hotel, the very problem the Contemporary also has.

 

[Obi]

hatter,

sounds like, from some of your posts, that you, and the hatter clan, are going to make the ressies for wl... good choice... you'll love it!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

And the commute is so much longer these days. The buses share with the DVC and are often filled or packed by the time it hits the hotel or worse skips the hotel and hotel guests wait some more. By the time you actually get on a bus from the hotel and truck off to the MK you have a lot of time invested making a car almost a necessity.

AKL hotel lures AK park guests in droves much like Boardwalk from DTD making transportation for guests of the hotel a real chore. While Boma and Jiko along with the animals are a draw for guests not staying at the hotel, the foot traffic certainly is not a bonus for those actually staying in the hotel, the very problem the Contemporary also has.

We didn't notice any significant differences in the bus waits or travel times when we stayed at AKL in January 2010 but that was also during a typically slower time of year.

I totally agree with you on how herds of guests not staying at a resort can impact that resort's guests. We love the spacious, spa-like feel of the Contemporary rooms and the MK views are the best we've ever had. The foot traffic from guests coming to dine at Chef Mickeys makes it near impossible to get an elevator on the lower guest room floors in the mornings & evenings. The monorails are standing-room-only. It has a huge impact on the overall resort experience which is the one big issue we have with the monorail resorts.

 

[Gabe1]

We didn't notice any significant differences in the bus waits or travel times when we stayed at AKL in January 2010 but that was also during a typically slower time of year.

I totally agree with you on how herds of guests not staying at a resort can impact that resort's guests. We love the spacious, spa-like feel of the Contemporary rooms and the MK views are the best we've ever had. The foot traffic from guests coming to dine at Chef Mickeys makes it near impossible to get an elevator on the lower guest room floors in the mornings & evenings. The monorails are standing-room-only. It has a huge impact on the overall resort experience which is the one big issue we have with the monorail resorts.

I think you nailed the off season impact of day visitors to these destination resorts. The impact is not nearly as great. The Contemporary could be altered with some funding for a bank of elevators on the backside/pool area. If new elevators could be incorporated for guests only the wait time would be negligible and offer hotel guests the ability to go down to the pool without mixing with day visitors in their bathing suits, it is awkward. I had the same feeling around AKL pool area with day guests wandering about, going to see animals, it detracted from the ambiance that hotel guests pay dearly for. That is likely why I love POR so much especially the Mansions. Lovely rooms, pools and sitting areas and not hordes of day guests in common areas. You are able to leave the days hype at the parks and return to tranquil to rest up for the next day where we do it all over again.

That is why if I were to upgrade from POR and my choices were AKL or WL, I'd pick WL. Where WL does get some day visitors it isn't the volume, plus it is centrally located. With the current condition of the monorail and all the day guests on the resort run, the monorail missing from the WL is actually an asset.

 

[real mad hatter]

hatter,

sounds like, from some of your posts, that you, and the hatter clan, are going to make the ressies for wl... good choice... you'll love it!

Well we gave it lots thought and decided that if were going to do it,2014 is the year, as it will give us plenty of time to start saving.

 

[pixargal]

Sounds great,but not sure how the dining plan would work as they would be two different plans.

That is a legit concern. I can't offer any advice with the dining plan, we have never used it. But, I'm sure someone can explain how it would work going between a moderate resort dining plan to a deluxe resort dining plan. Anyone?

 

[Jo DeVil]

I had answered in the best value thread, but some of my reply is from there!
We use to stay at Mods (CBR, Dixie landings X 3, PORS X 3), then we had the chance to splash out, 14 nights at the Beach Club for Tattie Holidays, it was fantastic, walking to EPCOT and DHS, the pool, the restaurants having so many choices of how to get anywhere, Popping to the world show case for a quick pint! We then tried the Boardwalk and loved it.
It was then it happened when we had turned in to Disney resort Snobs!!!!
We love the Deluxe Dining Plan and the location of Crescent Lake makes it so easy getting to the restaurants at the resorts around there and the World showcase, and to other resorts for dining so easy, from the Boardwalk we just walk to DHS (or take the Friendship boat) and get a bus to the resort, from BCV we walked thru EPCOT and got on the Monorail. The down side to that plan was it was rude to pass the Rose & Crown and not have a crafty one!!!
We now don't feel we can go back to Mods, just the amount of time we spent having to travel by bus for everywhere (ok the boat to Downtown from PORS). We love that area so much we have just closed our DVC at BWV. So all I can say is if you stay at the Deluxe resort be prepared that you won't want to go back to the Mods, once Pandora's box is open!!!!!! It might be a little different for our state side friends but you really notice the difference when you are going for a fortnight or more.
You have been warned!! TTFN Jo

 

[Gabe1]

I had answered in the best value thread, but some of my reply is from there!
We use to stay at Mods (CBR, Dixie landings X 3, PORS X 3), then we had the chance to splash out, 14 nights at the Beach Club for Tattie Holidays, it was fantastic, walking to EPCOT and DHS, the pool, the restaurants having so many choices of how to get anywhere, Popping to the world show case for a quick pint! We then tried the Boardwalk and loved it.
It was then it happened when we had turned in to Disney resort Snobs!!!!
We love the Deluxe Dining Plan and the location of Crescent Lake makes it so easy getting to the restaurants at the resorts around there and the World showcase, and to other resorts for dining so easy, from the Boardwalk we just walk to DHS (or take the Friendship boat) and get a bus to the resort, from BCV we walked thru EPCOT and got on the Monorail. The down side to that plan was it was rude to pass the Rose & Crown and not have a crafty one!!!
We now don't feel we can go back to Mods, just the amount of time we spent having to travel by bus for everywhere (ok the boat to Downtown from PORS). We love that area so much we have just closed our DVC at BWV. So all I can say is if you stay at the Deluxe resort be prepared that you won't want to go back to the Mods, once Pandora's box is open!!!!!! It might be a little different for our state side friends but you really notice the difference when you are going for a fortnight or more.
You have been warned!! TTFN Jo

I agree somewhat. I will wait longer before I would ever stay at the values. They are just too small, too many guests and I'm one of the few that is turned off by the BIG theming of them all. Pop I could tolerate if I had to, AoA would drive me batty to look at more than a day. But I can flop between Deluxe and POR without skipping a beat especially if that means I can stay 2 weeks instead of 1, that knocks the snob right out of me. This year on my DS discount I stayed at the Coronado for the first time and I would stay again only if POR was full and contingent on being able to stay forward, I was stuck way back and found that tedious, but that happens too at OKW also. Pro's and Con's to most of my trips. Unless I traveled with my elderly Mom, I would never get the deluxe dining, too much time to wrap around ADRs, I'm a foodie however I love the park time.

 

[Todd L]

Hi everyone.Well I woke up Sunday morning,sorry Kris,but it's true,last night my DW agreed to splash the cash for our 2014 vacation and this Sunday morning I've been looking at AKL & WL. Just getting a feel of those two resorts and which one I think we hopefully will end up booking.My question however is,has anyone decided after staying at their favourite moderate to go for a deluxe and after when they came home,wish they hadn't bothered splashing the bucks.? Now it will be a 14 day vacation and I reckon looking at the 2013 prices for July that the difference will be around $3.400 more for deluxe over moderate,however the dining plan on deluxe ( if it's free ) will save us approx $2.500,so it's swings & roundabouts so to speak.How would you convince me to go for it,fling caution to the wind.

Ive gotta say, Our last few trips weve been staying at The Vills and they are Really nice But, I miss Pofq.

The other part for me anyway is that we spend more time in the room now than we have in the past. I dont know if its because we have more space or that The kids are a little older But when we stayed In moderates we were in the room long enough to sleep and take showers ...

 

[real mad hatter]

I had answered in the best value thread, but some of my reply is from there!
We use to stay at Mods (CBR, Dixie landings X 3, PORS X 3), then we had the chance to splash out, 14 nights at the Beach Club for Tattie Holidays, it was fantastic, walking to EPCOT and DHS, the pool, the restaurants having so many choices of how to get anywhere, Popping to the world show case for a quick pint! We then tried the Boardwalk and loved it.
It was then it happened when we had turned in to Disney resort Snobs!!!!
We love the Deluxe Dining Plan and the location of Crescent Lake makes it so easy getting to the restaurants at the resorts around there and the World showcase, and to other resorts for dining so easy, from the Boardwalk we just walk to DHS (or take the Friendship boat) and get a bus to the resort, from BCV we walked thru EPCOT and got on the Monorail. The down side to that plan was it was rude to pass the Rose & Crown and not have a crafty one!!!
We now don't feel we can go back to Mods, just the amount of time we spent having to travel by bus for everywhere (ok the boat to Downtown from PORS). We love that area so much we have just closed our DVC at BWV. So all I can say is if you stay at the Deluxe resort be prepared that you won't want to go back to the Mods, once Pandora's box is open!!!!!! It might be a little different for our state side friends but you really notice the difference when you are going for a fortnight or more.
You have been warned!! TTFN Jo

I had answered in the best value thread, but some of my reply is from there!
We use to stay at Mods (CBR, Dixie landings X 3, PORS X 3), then we had the chance to splash out, 14 nights at the Beach Club for Tattie Holidays, it was fantastic, walking to EPCOT and DHS, the pool, the restaurants having so many choices of how to get anywhere, Popping to the world show case for a quick pint! We then tried the Boardwalk and loved it.
It was then it happened when we had turned in to Disney resort Snobs!!!!
We love the Deluxe Dining Plan and the location of Crescent Lake makes it so easy getting to the restaurants at the resorts around there and the World showcase, and to other resorts for dining so easy, from the Boardwalk we just walk to DHS (or take the Friendship boat) and get a bus to the resort, from BCV we walked thru EPCOT and got on the Monorail. The down side to that plan was it was rude to pass the Rose & Crown and not have a crafty one!!!
We now don't feel we can go back to Mods, just the amount of time we spent having to travel by bus for everywhere (ok the boat to Downtown from PORS). We love that area so much we have just closed our DVC at BWV. So all I can say is if you stay at the Deluxe resort be prepared that you won't want to go back to the Mods, once Pandora's box is open!!!!!! It might be a little different for our state side friends but you really notice the difference when you are going for a fortnight or more.
You have been warned!! TTFN Jo

. Trust me.After spending approx $9000 ( that's thousand dollars ) on a 14 day vacation,there will be a return to the mods,PORS.