Go Deluxe & never go back?

[DrummerAlly]

Hi Everyone -

We had said that we would never stay at a Deluxe.... until we stayed at the Yacht Club.

We stayed at the YC Concierge Level (free upgrade!) for our honeymoon this July and it was out of this world. Previously, between the two of us, we had stayed at All Star Music, Pop, Port Orleans, and Caribbean Beach. I even used to think all of the people staying at deluxe resorts were out of their mind - paying three times the price and missing the wonderful amenities that $82/night gets you at ASMu.

Now I don't think we can ever go back to value or moderate resorts. Im still sticker shocked by the price of a deluxe resort vacation, but I think we'll just have to go to WDW less often.

Anyone else ever felt this way? Did you go back to the values and/or moderates? Were you just as happy as you used to be with them?

 

[captainkidd]

Yes and no.

The problem for us is, we don't want to stay away from the Magic Kingdom. I could easily stay at Port Orleans over an Epcot resort. Don't get me wrong - I love Epcot, but just didn't care for the resort area.

 

[devoy1701]

Hi Everyone -

We had said that we would never stay at a Deluxe.... until we stayed at the Yacht Club.

We stayed at the YC Concierge Level (free upgrade!) for our honeymoon this July and it was out of this world. Previously, between the two of us, we had stayed at All Star Music, Pop, Port Orleans, and Caribbean Beach. I even used to think all of the people staying at deluxe resorts were out of their mind - paying three times the price and missing the wonderful amenities that $82/night gets you at ASMu.

Now I don't think we can ever go back to value or moderate resorts. Im still sticker shocked by the price of a deluxe resort vacation, but I think we'll just have to go to WDW less often.

Anyone else ever felt this way? Did you go back to the values and/or moderates? Were you just as happy as you used to be with them?

I think it is accurate to say that once you go Deluxe, you can never go back to VALUE.

We have stayed in numerous Deluxe resorts, and we like the atmosphere and amenities much better than those at the Values. We highly dislike the amount of younger traffic, teen groups, high school bands, cheerleaders, and foreign tour groups that occupy the Value resorts. We also dislike that there are just one or 2 large pools and both are pretty loud!

Now having said that...we regularly switch off between staying at the Wilderness Lodge and staying at Carribean Beach. The Wilderness Lodge is our all time favorite resort and being a passholder, we get some amazing prices, almost down to the Moderate price level. But sometimes we're specifically looking to just get away for a quick weekend, lay by the pool or on the beach during the day, and hit the parks in the evening. Carribean Beach is spread out enough to where we always get peace and quiet at the quiet pools or laying on the beach and never feel overwhelmed.

 

[Evil Genius]

While I know the Deluxe resorts are phenomenal, the wife and I simply cannot justify the price per night Disney wants for them. Even with deep discounts I can't bring ourselves to take the plunge. We don't tend to have any desire to indulge in any of the extras the deluxes provide as we spend 90% of our time in the parks or out and about so spending that much for a bed just doesn't make sense to us.

For others...I'm sure it's great. Just not my family...give us POR or POP any trip!

 

[mickeysshoes]

Welcome to the resort snob club!!! I know how you feel. We tried 2 trips ago to save some cash and stay at the French Quater and hated every minute while on the resort property...time off the resort was great. I am trying to talk the DH into a Boardwalk area stay and it think i might have him talked him into the Boardwalk..now i need to get over the cost difference between the WL and the Boardwalk. :wave:

 

[Tiggerfanatic]

Hello, my name is Sherry, and I'm a Disney resort snob.......

There probably is a support group out there for us, but to tell the truth, I don't really want to be cured!!

Honestly, if I HAD to I would stay at a Moderate - but if a trip would require me to stay at a Value, I just wouldn't go. Period. End of story.

 

[Monty]

I guess not. I'm currently staying in a Value Resort, last time I was here I stayed at GF. I have been working my way through all the resorts and enjoyed each for its unique offerings.

I do prefer the Deluxe Resorts, but I also have fun here in All Star Sports.... :shrug:

I suppose I'm a snob because costs really don't matter rather than a snob because of which resort I'm staying at. :lol:

 

[mickeysshoes]

Hello, my name is Sherry, and I'm a Disney resort snob.......

There probably is a support group out there for us, but to tell the truth, I don't really want to be cured!!

Honestly, if I HAD to I would stay at a Moderate - but if a trip would require me to stay at a Value, I just wouldn't go. Period. End of story.

Hi Sherry and welcome to the club. We dont need a support group we have each other!!!

 

[bgraham34]

While I do prefer staying at the deluxe resorts mainly the Wilderness Lodge, I will goto the Values if the need arises. It also helps that I am a DVC member.

 

[foreverbelle]

Yeah, we stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort for our honeymoon, and then the year after we got lucky-thanks to a jar of change I had been saving for years-to stay at the Wilderness Lodge. We haven't gone back to a moderate resort since.

But I think its a matter of choice, I wouldn't object to going back to a moderate especially if it meant not going at all...I actually want to try out all the resorts. Because I think each have something different to experience and offer. I don't know about the value resort though but dif. do the moderates.

I agree it helps that I am a DVC member.

 

[_Scar]

After having the benfit of stayiong at Saratoga Springs (some hate it, I LOVE it)- I don't know how I can stay at a place without a balcony or some kind of extra ammenity like a great pool or view.

However, I am super excited to try out Port Orleans Riverside come December or whatever moderate I will be staying at

 

[dreamfinder]

Personally, I have no problem with the values. I view it as a place to sleep and thats about it. However, DW on the other hand stayed there once with me, and said no way. Moderates were much more to her liking. But then we stayed at AKL as a surprise for one night to bridge another reservation and she was hooked. She still likes POFQ, but we are now looking into DVC at AKL. In all, works out to about the same cost for our needs, and keeping the DW happy helps to keep me happy. : )

 

[zurgandfriend]

Yes I am a deluxe snob too.

My family won't stay anywhere other than a Magic Kindgdom area resort that and the fact that DW and I would kill one another if we had to share a full size bed.

 

[love disney]

I stayed at Wilderness Lodge and absolutely loved it! Favorite place to stay a WDW! HOWEVER, the way I do my WDW vacations the resort is simply a place to sleep more often than not (WL stay was an exception, we actually planned to spend an entire day at the resort just relaxing and enjoying the resort). So, unless I plan to spend lots of time at the resort itself, I will be staying at Pop Century, which I also love. I just can't justify the expense of a deluxe compared to value if I won't be spending lots of time at the resort...that money can be used for more souvenirs! So I guess sign me up as one who has gone deluxe but has no problem going back to value!

 

[preludevtec01]

LOL at the people saying that they would not go to WDW if they had to stay in a value resort. There is nothing wrong with value, mod, or deluxe resorts. They are all put there for one reason, to make guests happy. I have stayed in two deluxe resorts and would never pay put of my own pocket for what they are worth. Like stated earlier I am there for parks, attractions, and fun, not hanging out in my room and loungin at my hotel, yawn.

 

[docnabox]

Hi, my name is Jeff and I have a problem. I am a WDW deluxe resort snob too.

It all started years ago after spending many summers travelling on summer trips with my parents. Since Dad was working primarily, we needed to be close to where he worked and actualy stayed at a great Howard Johnson in Winter Park...bird gardenrs, olympic sized covered pool, playground etc. I loved that place.

Then it all started.....I got older and got into college. My mom died and my brother got his first real job. Dad didn't really care to go with us any more and so we spread our wings. About that time CBR opened. My brother thought it would be a good idea to stay on property. "Let's just do it once," he said. "C'mon, it will be fun, we'll just have a good time, that's all. Just once and then we won't do it again." Famous last words.

Sure that one trip was great...I thought I had really moved up in the world. I was staying ON property. "Hey, look at me, I am cool and get to ride the bus to the park while all you losers have to drive and park and take a tram. I am SPECIAL," I said to myself.

Then like so many problems, it grew. We moved on to newer, bigger better....Dixie Landings (yes, I still call it that, sorry PC police,) WIlderness Lodge.

When I got out of residency and started my practice, I suddenly had my own money, enough to do even more. Sure, I had been partying at the mods and WL, who blames a guy for having a little fun. But, I guess like all addictions, after a while, you need MORE! You need the strong stuff. And each time, that happened, I just kept telling myself, "It is only once, just like my brother said all those years ago."

One day, I finally did it. I was nervous....heart was racing, sweaty palms, a little light headed. I decided I was moving on to the big stuff. After all, wasn't that what all the cool kids did? With a lot of excitement and a bit of fear, I made my first reservation at the Poly. I went on a week long bender.....a mystical stupor so good it almost had to be hallucinogenic. When I came home, I crashed. I hit tough times, the withdrawal was terrible.

For a while, I kept to my word. I walked the straight and narrow. No more Deluxe for me. That Poly stuff is dang good, but man is it powerful, you know? I tried to live a normal life, go back to the basics and keep my focus. But I was hooked. You hear guys talking about how just once is enough to get you hooked forever and you think, "Nah! Not me. Never happen. Those guys are just whimps and can't handle it."

Well, here I am all these years later. Still hooked. Still craving more of my wonder drug. It makes me feel GOOOOOOOOD. I guess I am here today just to admit to myself and all that there is no going back and I sure don't want to. Give me the good stuff!

NOTICE: There will be a meeting of the WDWMagic Chapter of Deluxe Resort Snob Anonymous at 8 PM tonight. Donuts and coffee with be served.

 

[Evil Genius]

After having the benfit of stayiong at Saratoga Springs (some hate it, I LOVE it)- I don't know how I can stay at a place without a balcony or some kind of extra ammenity like a great pool or view.

However, I am super excited to try out Port Orleans Riverside come December or whatever moderate I will be staying at

I think you'll really enjoy Port Orleans Riverside. It's just a very lush and relaxing resort that really does make you feel like you're in a different place. At least the Aligator Bayou section does and in my humble opine it is one of the greatest spots on Disney property period! You can simply lose yourself in all the flora.

 

[Mukta]

Hilarious post, docnabox!

I stayed at POFQ twice when suddenly it wasn't available for my 2007 trip. Free dining was out and I wanted to go to WDW!

They told me that the Beach Club was available, so I booked it. EPCOT was my favorite park, so I was excited at the prospect of walking there.

I have stayed at the Beach Club for the last 3 trips and I consider it home.

This year, I am doing a quick solo trip and money was an issue. I am staying at a value for the first time, and I am nervous about it. I will really miss the proximity to parks that Deluxes provide.

I think I might be a resort snob!

 

[wm49rs]

Believe it or not, after having stayed at WL, BW, BC, BCV, and the YC, the only other place I enjoyed staying that wasn't a Deluxe were the Cabins at FW. We enjoyed the extra space, the relative solitude, the amenities at the Campgrounds, and since we had our own vehicle, didn't have the normal transportation concerns. Plus, we really liked having our "own" shuttle boat to and from the resort.

 

[Scooter]

I'm the worst of the worst...I'm a monorail resort snob!

I find that darn monorail so handy and fun to ride that we can't stay anywhere else than a Monorail resort. Straight to The Magic Kingdom, or straight to the Ticket and Transportation Center and straight to EPCOT from there. You can't beat it.
We have discussed staying at a moderate resort or other deluxes, but keep going back to The Polynesian and The Contemporary. We have even visited all the other deluxes to see what they have to offer but it always comes back to this: Less bus rides and more Monorail riding.(Which we Love)
At the Contemporary resort you can walk to The Magic Kingdom, which is very handy at the end of the night, and at The Polynesian Resort you can walk to the Ticket and Transportation Center and it's a short walk to the Boats or Monorail to The Magic Kingdom. It's just too handy for us NOT to stay there.
Now having said all this we have also discussed money issues and decided that, if some day, we don't have the money to stay at a deluxe resort, and it came down to a value resort or no Disney vacation, we WOULD still do our annual Disney vacations. So I guess we're not really snobs, we're just fortunate enough to be able to pay for the extra expense of staying at the Monorail resorts.