Need Advice: Splitting trip between 2 resorts (Value & Deluxe)

[Jasper Dale]

assuming that disney is going to offer the buy 4/get 3 night deal in January, my wife and i are trying to figure out the pros and cons of "splitting up our trip" by staying in two different resorts.

we were at WDW for 10 days this part march and stayed at Caribbean Beach, the first time we had stayed at a moderate. (we have always stayed at the value resorts). i really enjoyed the upgrade, especially the lighter buses and the theming of the resort.

i was planning on booking this next trip as a 10 night stay at a moderate. however, after looking at all the options, i found that it might be a better deal to do the following:

stay for 3 nights at a value resort, paying the regular rate.

then book a 7 might stay at a Deluxe resort, assuming the buy 4/get 3 deal is offered again.

here's a bit of background to help you with your answer to my questions:

this will be our 4th trip to WDW. in 2001, we went for 10 days on our husband. we were at WDW last December and again in March, so this would be our 3rd trip to WDW in 13 months. so we have pretty much gone through all four parks the past two trips, although i know there is always more to see.

however, on this trip, i think we are more likely to spend more time dining, shopping, and doing things like Hoop De Do and the Cirque show at Downtown Disney. so, for those who have stayed at the Deluxe properties, i have the following questions:

(if we decide to stay at one of the Magic Kingdom resorts, either the Poly or Contemporary or GF)

1. How much of an advantage is it to be at a monorail resort?

2. Considering we spend most of time at MK and Epcot, is it easy to go back and forth between the two easier by staying at a monrail resort?

3. Did staying at one of these resorts "enhance" your experience enough to justify the higher price for staying at a Deluxe property?

4. Are there any disadvantages of staying at a monorail resort?

5. How is the "atmosphere" of a Deluxe resort different to that of a moderate or value?

i would really appreciate any help you can give me. i estimated that it would cost about 600 dollars more split our stay between a value and a deluxe over staying 10 days at a moderate. considering that we will be going to WDW with a $1200 budget for food, souveniers, etc., would we be better off using that 600 dollars on those things rather than a "nicer resort"? thanks for all your imput!

:wave:

 

[durangojim]

You also might want to call Disney and see if there are any annual pass discounts during the time you want to go and then stay at the deluxe resort the whole time. Of course you would have to purchase at least one annual pass, but it wouldn't be much more expensive than a 10 day ticket, especially with the park hopper option. We're staying at Pop one night because there was no discount for that date, then switching over to Beach club for 7 nights and it's only costing us about $100 more per night with the AP disocunt.

 

[mitchjs]

i do the multi resort thing all the time
the last time i did carribean beach and Wilderness lodge

it lets me keep costs down a bit(just a bit) and enjoy 2 resorts that i havent been to yet

now Wilderness Logde i did on sunday night, since MK was open till 2am (EMH) and u take the boat to WL, which is a great relaxing ride
and was something i never did before

all the moderate and for that matter value restorts are basicly cookie cutters
then they ice em differntly, but inside the room, i noticed no difference from moderate to moderate... and for sure value to value.... i did all the values
i do like the vlaues...
i ONLY really use my rooms for sleep, and breakfast.....
im once i leave hotel, im not back to they closing the park, then i usually hotel hop
and do some other stuff... beaches and cream... like that

so for MK resort, i recomend Wilderness Lodge!!!
its spectacular
the little resturant by the pool, which is a neat pool too... is good
for quickies... i forget what i got, but it was yummy

i never worry about $$ when i go to WDW or DL, its just not worth it
mentally... its like WHY THE HELL ELSE DO I WORK! to go to WDW!!

im on usually 1 trip a year to wdw, im due for DL in 2010... but might do WDW again, really because of Harry Potter world... and still do DL next year

i think my next WDW will be BoardWalk and maybe coranado springs, then i can say i did all the moderates

 

[Disneyfalcon]

(if we decide to stay at one of the Magic Kingdom resorts, either the Poly or Contemporary or GF)

1. How much of an advantage is it to be at a monorail resort?

2. Considering we spend most of time at MK and Epcot, is it easy to go back and forth between the two easier by staying at a monrail resort?

3. Did staying at one of these resorts "enhance" your experience enough to justify the higher price for staying at a Deluxe property?

4. Are there any disadvantages of staying at a monorail resort?

5. How is the "atmosphere" of a Deluxe resort different to that of a moderate or value?

i would really appreciate any help you can give me. i estimated that it would cost about 600 dollars more split our stay between a value and a deluxe over staying 10 days at a moderate. considering that we will be going to WDW with a $1200 budget for food, souveniers, etc., would we be better off using that 600 dollars on those things rather than a "nicer resort"? thanks for all your imput!

:wave:

I love the deluxe resorts, so if you can swing them, that's what I would recommend. Are they worth the extra money? Yes. But - if I couldn't spare the money on that trip, I'd absolutely stay at a value or moderate, and still have a great vacation.

1. I think the monorail resorts beat them all. Having the monorail as an additional transportation option, beats all other options. It really adds a Disney feel for me.

2. Having said that, the Epcot resorts are great too. If you think you'd spend more time there, I'd look at Beach Club or Boardwalk. Walking in the back of Epcot - awesome!

3. My stay at the Contemporary was one of my best vacations. Walking to Magic Kingdom, catching the monorail when we didn't feel like walking. The views. Loved it!!! So much we just bought points at Bay Lake Towers!

4. No.

5. That's a hard one. I think the theming and feel of deluxe resorts are amazing. The pools are great, the landscaping, the views, and the list goes on.

 

[durangojim]

We've stayed at many of the deluxes and our favorites are the Beach Club due to its proximity to Epcot and amazing pool, and the Wilderness Lodge due to its incredible theming, relaxing atmospher, and proximity to MK. GF used to be one of our favorites, but as room prices have gone up (we've always stayed in a MK view room) and service has gone down (unfortunately) it's harder and harder to justify its price even with a discount. Monorail resorts are very convenient but IMO only significantly more so than others when you have children as it's much easier to wheel a stroller on to a monorail than fold it down for a bus. You don't have to worry about that. If you stay at a monorail resort, chances are you'll still be taking a bus to Epcot, because otherwise it will take just as long, if not longer, to complete the resort loop and switch at the Transportation and ticket center, unless you stay at the Polynesian, where you can just walk to the TTC. If you stay at WL you can take a bus directly to EPCOT and if you stay at the Beach Club you can walk to EPCOT in 5 minutes or take a bust to MK. I'd suggest the Beach Club.
If you look at prices using December value season as an example (all before tax) 3 nights at a moderate standard room $447, 4 nights at standard Beach Club room $1340 total: $1787. AP discount using the one currently going for December 09 (assuming they have one which they probably will) $2340, so a significant difference of about $550. You might get a 40% off pin which would birng the cost down to $2000 for 10 nights with only a $200 difference. In that case I'd stay at the deluxe the whole time. If you stayed at the Wilderness Lodge the difference would be even less.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

1. How much of an advantage is it to be at a monorail resort?

2. Considering we spend most of time at MK and Epcot, is it easy to go back and forth between the two easier by staying at a monrail resort?

3. Did staying at one of these resorts "enhance" your experience enough to justify the higher price for staying at a Deluxe property?

4. Are there any disadvantages of staying at a monorail resort?

5. How is the "atmosphere" of a Deluxe resort different to that of a moderate or value?

1) If you're just visiting MK and EPCOT then its a big advantage (EPCOT less so as you have to change monorails)

2) No easier - you still got to wait for the thing to turn up !!

3) We stayed at AKL + GF over this last Christmas - we much preferred AKL as the Savanna view was superb.

4) Its a long, long way to AK

5) GF was a bit "snooty" - the staff were great but it wasn't as "friendly" as AKL

 

[Jasper Dale]

thanks for all your responses. i'm still trying to make up my mind.

 

[Debbie]

thanks for all your responses. i'm still trying to make up my mind.

I don't think it's worth splitting it up if you are only going for 4 nites. Longer stays of 6 nites or more--yes. My goal is to experience every Disney resort so switching resorts is something I would consider for a week's stay.

 

[brent2124]

I don't think it's worth splitting it up if you are only going for 4 nites. Longer stays of 6 nites or more--yes. My goal is to experience every Disney resort so switching resorts is something I would consider for a week's stay.

He's going for 10. He wants to use the buy 4 get 3 free deal.

 

[marcriss]

We like the Epcot resorts because you can walk to Epcot and DHS. If you're considering doing a value and a deluxe in the same stay do the value first and then the deluxe, not the other way around...