Moderates vs Deluxe

[Bluewaves]

I am planning a little escape for the end of September start of October this year I was wondering what benefits has any one found staying at a moderate vs a deluxe resort, more specifically, Port Orleans Riverside vs either Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge so basically is it worth another $1000 to stay at one of those resorts.

 

[mouselvrmom]

I am planning a little escape for the end of September start of October this year I was wondering what benefits has any one found staying at a moderate vs a deluxe resort, more specifically, Port Orleans Riverside vs either Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge so basically is it worth another $1000 to stay at one of those resorts.

I haven't stayed at either POR or Wilderness Lodge, but I have stayed at the Beach Club.

I would say that it would be worth it to me to spend another 1000 dollars for the beach club's pool and the convenience of walking to epcot for dinner.

 

[TestTrack]

I am planning a little escape for the end of September start of October this year I was wondering what benefits has any one found staying at a moderate vs a deluxe resort, more specifically, Port Orleans Riverside vs either Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge so basically is it worth another $1000 to stay at one of those resorts.

Beach club would have a really nice pool. Wilderness lodge has the environment/grand scale.

Both have fancier restaurants and somewhat nicer bathrooms/rooms.

Wilderness lodge has boat transportation to MK. Beach club has the boardwalk to Epcot and boats to DHS.

However, the only rooms that have ever really impressed me in any of the resorts are the Contemporary's. I am interested to see what others say in this thread.

 

[RiversideBunny]

I am planning a little escape for the end of September start of October this year I was wondering what benefits has any one found staying at a moderate vs a deluxe resort, more specifically, Port Orleans Riverside vs either Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge so basically is it worth another $1000 to stay at one of those resorts.

No.

 

[tooltime]

i chose the Poly because of the third bed, bigger rooms, mono rail, resturants and of course the atmosphere.

 

[go3epcot]

I have stayed at POR, Beach Club, and WL. WL is very nice, but a bit secluded (sp) for my family's liking. Beach Club is a fantasic location (love Epcot World Showcase) and the best resort pool. POR is where my family has stayed the last 3 trips! If this is a once every 10 years trip stay at Beach Club- if you like to go to WDW more often I suggest POR. POR has the best atmosphere of the moderates and we have good food choices with a sit-down restaurant as well as the food court. The pool is fun for the whole family and we just get a great vacation (and we try to go back to the WDW every 1 1/2 years or so).

 

[durangojim]

It also depend how much time you like to spend at the resort. If you like to take a mid-day break, order room service, and take a swim, and enjoy the convience of being close to the park then I think a deluxe is for you. Also it depends on how much $1000 is to you. If it means you work an extra 10 hours then go for it, but if you have to go into debt then forget it.

 

[KnK]

We have never stayed at a moderate. We usually split between a value and WL. We love WL. My husband doesn't want to try any other place. We have eaten at all of the other deluxes, it's the only one he really enjoyes.

I've stayed at both Poly and Contempory, and WL is still my favorite.

I have tried to talk him into a moderate so we would not have to change hotels, but he loves WL to much to do it.

 

[Bluewaves]

Its not a one time or trip for 10 yrs I always end up in WDW at least once every 2 yrs If not every year. So I just was wondering if it was worthwhile to spend the extra cash and to see what everyone else thinks. I know the moderates over the values are worth it just never stayed at a deluxe might have to do it in the future but not this trip, Thanks everyone.

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

It also depend how much time you like to spend at the resort. If you like to take a mid-day break, order room service, and take a swim, and enjoy the convience of being close to the park then I think a deluxe is for you. Also it depends on how much $1000 is to you. If it means you work an extra 10 hours then go for it, but if you have to go into debt then forget it.

Oh no.. not the how much is $1000 or $320 to you.... and here we go!!:ROFLOL:

Generelly speaking it depends what you want out of the resort. If you are looking for convience to parks then the Deluxes are a must. We are DVC and are staying at the BCVs this time but from what I hear the pool there is the best on property.

 

[janni518]

I am planning a little escape for the end of September start of October this year I was wondering what benefits has any one found staying at a moderate vs a deluxe resort, more specifically, Port Orleans Riverside vs either Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge so basically is it worth another $1000 to stay at one of those resorts.

I've only stayed at AS Movies and Wilderness Lodge.

I'd say it depends on what you want out of your resort. If you are the type of people who hang out at the resort, then by all means go for a deluxe.

We're not "foodies" so we don't really care about the resaurants. Pools are nice but we can do that at home or go to one of the water parks.

What can you do to make your vacation more special with the money you save if you go moderate?

I'd say give a lot of thought to what it is you will be doing and book accordingly.

 

[dave2822]

I happen to think that there is a huge difference between deluxe and moderate. If this question was "Moderate v. Value" I'd say save the money and stick with the Value. Slightly bigger rooms and pools don't do it for me. But ... with deluxe ...

Better transportation - not just buses that seem to take an eternity in the hot sun. Monorails, boats, walkways; well worth the extra money
Non-Motel Style - Ok, so the mods certainly do not have standard motel qualities whatsoever, but I hate having to take gigantic treks outside to get to the food court or main lobby ... the air-conditioned closure of the deluxes far surpass the motel setup of the mods
Closer to the magic - Better views of both parks and resort
More food options
Better/Bigger pool

If you use your room just for crashing, I'd say go with the values. If not, and you have the $$$, go for the deluxes. Some of the moderate theming (particularly at CS and POR) are pretty great, but the increase in price between that and the values isn't worth it overall, IMHO. The deluxes are worth it.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[ClemsonTigger]

I am planning a little escape for the end of September start of October this year I was wondering what benefits has any one found staying at a moderate vs a deluxe resort, more specifically, Port Orleans Riverside vs either Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge so basically is it worth another $1000 to stay at one of those resorts.

Generally speaking, theming at Moderates is good, theming at deluxe is better both for rooms and grounds. Deluxe have concierge service if that is of value to you, they also have a better selection of restaurants on grounds (at least snack bar, casual and fine dining...some have more). Pools are bigger, and generally access to at least one park is better. (WL and AKL are a bit of an exception, but make up somewhat with extra atmosphere) WL does have direct boats to MK.

Beach Club rooms are larger than WL or POR, you also have the special pool and direct access to Epcot. My DW likes BC the best of the three (although she likes all three a lot). POR has very convenient boats to DTD.

If you don't spend much time in the rooms or on the grounds, then things pretty much even out IMHO. I am also of the ideological camp that the resort is part of the Disney experience and enjoy trying different resorts, sometimes even on the same trip.

 

[LeeSeeBabe]

If money were not a factor, I would STILL have a difficult time choosing between Beach Club and POR/FQ. PO has the ambiance of a deluxe I think, but Beach Club has the location (WS, WS, WS!)

 

[cymbaldiva]

I am planning a little escape for the end of September start of October this year I was wondering what benefits has any one found staying at a moderate vs a deluxe resort, more specifically, Port Orleans Riverside vs either Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge so basically is it worth another $1000 to stay at one of those resorts.

For me no it would not be worth it.

 

[ThinkTink721]

I am planning a little escape for the end of September start of October this year I was wondering what benefits has any one found staying at a moderate vs a deluxe resort, more specifically, Port Orleans Riverside vs either Beach Club or Wilderness Lodge so basically is it worth another $1000 to stay at one of those resorts.

I have stayed at POR & found that the service, etc. was very good.
I have never stayed at a deluxe, but my sister-in-law always stays at the GF.
From what she has described, it is nicer, but we do not spend much time at our resort, so I am not sure it would be worth the extra $ for us.
I would like to stay at the Beach Club Resort one day though!
:wave:

 

[Disney MDACK]

Stayed at the Poly and Dolphin which was great. Stayed at CBR which is also good. I'll let you know what I think of AKL and if it is that much better than CBR. I don't remember much of the poly since I was only 9 and the Dolphin rooms from what I remember were not that much better than CBR. The Blue Zoo at the Dolphin is a great resturant though one of my favorites next to spoodles.

 

[disneydudette]

We're the opposite... we can NOT justify the costs of a value vs a moderate. Moderates are just as spread out, with the same room layout with exception to the fridge and extra sink. I've found value resorts to offer a better food court, and the TS location at a moderate to be useless to our family. A pool slide is nice, but for the price difference, we can rent a fridge and add on the water park and fun option and still not break even.

Now I do personally consider the price difference of a moderate vs deluxe to be worth it, but... I do believe it depends on what type of "vacation" your looking for and the type of person you are. Since we've been down so many times, instead of doing the disney death march, we evenly balance our park time with our non-park time. We enjoy the resort just as much as the parks, especially since thats our "home" for the next 3,4,5+ nights. We like to be confindent but also comfortable in our resort choice. It's the worst feeling when you spend your vacation worrying about the room rate and whether or not it was worth it since the kids only used the pool once lol.

As for your resort choices:

I do favor the WL due to the brand new rooms, flat screen TVs, and overall location/atmosphere. I love having one main lodge with easy access to everything including the activites on bay lake. I'm not a huge fan of the boat transportation, but I actually heard you can take a bus now as well :shrug:

Beach club is ideal with the location and main pool. With the Sept heat, a nice pool break there would be ideal! Plus, factor in the evening entertainment over on the boardwark and the close distance to Epcot and MGM (er.. DHS) and it's an ideal location. I don't like how some rooms have standing only balconies, so we usually favor the Yacht Club in that regard.

Overall.. it's something you personally have to decide. We all have our special reasons for choosing a resort, but I've found that unless you just bite the bullet and book it, you'll never really know! As I said, after staying in a value (which I dreaded the thought off) I can never look at moderates the same way... which to me works out great considering how much money that saves us

Gl :wave: