Value/deluxe Resorts opinion?

[Skylinecar1982]

Does anyone else think the values are a waste of money? With the only benefit for me being X-tra Magic Hours. Which is something you can get at any disney resort.

I have stayed at ASMusic and Pop and think they are nothing more then dressed up supersize motels. I have had the privilege of having a travel agent for a mother and have stayed at countless hotels. 1 star to 5 star. So what I am saying is I based this off of all of my experience.

I think they would be more a value if the price range was $65-90 a night including taxes.

I have also stayed at a Savannah View room in AKL and don't believe it is worth $360 a night. I got a annual pass discount and paid $210 a night that was ok but off disney property that would get me a hell of a lot more. Shouldn't I feel like I get more with Disney?

 

[luvGoofy]

I just got soaked $170/night for a Howard Johnson's out on Long Island, NY. And trust me, it was a typical HoJo's. The $90/night I'm paying for Pop in August - with free food to boot - seems like a killer deal to me after that

Amen to that!!! I can't wait till August

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

I have stayed at Pop, AKL, and Saratoga Springs in a two bedroom villa.

The buses at Pop were a nightmare. I've never had to wait so long and watch so many buses drive past us before we got on one. We actually started springing for cabs at one point. The rooms were small-ish, but a king room for two adults was more than adequate.

AKL was amazing. We had a Savannah View room (we're animal nuts) and loved every minute of it. We loved the theming, we loved the lobby, we loved the pool, we loved the quick serve (The Mara), WE LOVED IT!!! And the buses were nowhere near as crazy as Pop.

Saratoga Springs was also amazing. The theming, while great, was a little 'less Disney' than other hotels, which made my dad happy. He wasn't really into the idea of a value resort with 90-foot Coca Cola can (or however high it is), so he was thrilled with the more subtle theming. The quick serve was wonderful, the pool was nice (we didn't get to use it, we just saw it), the bus service was amazing, and it was nice being across from Downtown Disney.

All in all, I said I would NEVER EVER stay at Pop again - the buses were that bad. I might change that now for the right price, though, since I'm local and would have my own car. If I came across $59 a night, that's one thing. But rack rates - paying $99 for Pop or $129 for a Mod - I'd be at a mod. And remember that AKL and Wilderness have the 'cheapest' Deluxe rooms - you can get in for $199 a night. Having said that, I'll be staying at a Monorail resort next time for the convenience. (Hopefully).

You are not paying for the actual room alone. You're paying for the Disney experience. It's like comparing Disney's $27 per adult buffet to Golden Corral. Sure, Golden Corral is $10 a person, but the food sucks and Donald isn't there. I'll gladly pay $17 more for better food, better selection, cleaner environment, and Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip, Dale, and Donald.

 

[slappy magoo]

Just a question though for you everyone. Why is it that whenever someone with more then 500 posts says something more then a sentence on these forums people with less then 100 posts have to kiss their butt and tell them how great their post was. I've read it 5 times and don't think they nailed it perfectly. I don't know just kind of pathetic if you ask me.

Wow! Excellent post! You totally nailed it! AND you have less than 500 posts, to boot. How you've become so wise, so soon...I'm just so proud, grasshopper!


There, feel better now? Less pathetic?

Anyway, for chucks and giggles, I checked out the Sheraton in my neck of the woods, Eatontown NJ. For the days I'd be going to WDW, a room at that Jersey Sheraton STARTS at almost 200 bucks a night. Maybe the room will be bigger (maybe not), but it's not beachfront, it's not scenic (your views are either an industrial park, or the highway, with another industrial park across the street), it's not really close to any important landmarks or exciting nightlife...at least not close enough to justify those kinds of prices.

To sum up your perspective, you've got a mommy who's a travel agent and can get you awesome hotels all around the round world. Bully for you and your mommy. Most people will not travel as much as you, or have the benefot of those kinds of discounts. Many will not know or care "what they're missing" especially when it comes to a WDW vacation, because the size/quality/aesthetic of the room at WDW isn't as important as being on-site with access to the free transportation, or free parking, or extra magic hours. In two posts, you've managed to insult people who either don't share your opinion on the importance of high-quality of rooms, OR people who can't afford nicer rooms, AND people who dare agree with others when YOU don't agree with them. I don't know...kinda snobbish if you ask me. Glad your standards are so high, especially since if your mommy ever loses her gig, you might not be able to afford them.

Are Value resorts gussied up Motel 6's that would cost as much as half the price if they were off-property? Maybe, but again, you get lots of free transportation, free parking and extra magic hours, and if people feel that's worth the money, hey, it's their money.

If someone, for any reason, agrees with my point of view, please don't mention it unless you have over 500 posts, so Skyline won' t think you're a total suck-up? Thanks. :lol:

 

[tigger1968]

For me, I see no reason in staying off property. Ever. We fly in to Orlando, and take DME now for free, vs. $120 round trip for a town car or $100 or so round trip for a cab. I don't need a car. We just use Disney Transportation. My wife and I love the theming and total immersion we get at a Disney resort. That's part of why we come every year. I realize that there are others who don't feel the same about staying on property. I have no problem with that. Everyone's priorities are different, and that's what makes Orlando and WDW so great. You have a ton of options on how to plan your vacation. Besides, every person staying off property is one less reservation for me to worry about when I book my room on property!

As far as the Values vs. Mods and such...We will not venture back to POP again, as we have had too many bad customer service issues there, and the bus situation can be appalling. We always have gotten great service at the All Stars however. Our current favorite Moderate is POR. We've stayed there twice and love it. Very quiet, and the Bayou side is so incredibly well landscaped. We have stayed at Poly, Contemporary, AKL, and WL in the deluxes, and love each of them. All have great theming and high levels of service.

All in all, make your decision on lodging based on whats most important to you. If you like getting a free breakfast and a bigger room, or just like to go on the cheap, then off property is perfect for you, and I don't judge you for your choice. If you like being able to use the EMH and not having to use a car, then on property is the way to go. The variables are endless. It's YOUR vacation, do it whichever way will bring you the most relaxing experience!

 

[Jimmy Thick]

My opinion is, the Values are good for a value budgeted person or family. If you spend most of your time in the parks, and when I go I know I do, its a good VALUE, eh?

But since I have worked my way to the point where I can afford the deluxe resorts, I would not go back to the Values's, I mean, why drive a Ford when you can drive a Porsche?

 

[Deadmanwalking]

My opinion is, the Values are good for a value budgeted person or family. If you spend most of your time in the parks, and when I go I know I do, its a good VALUE, eh?

But since I have worked my way to the point where I can afford the deluxe resorts, I would not go back to the Values's, I mean, why drive a Ford when you can drive a Porsche?

I kinda agree... though I would only take deluxe if they were on the monorail... otherwise the moderates are as good as the non-monorail deluxe. Why pay for a Porsche price for Yugo performance.

 

[Christi22222]

Just a question though for you everyone. Why is it that whenever someone with more then 500 posts says something more then a sentence on these forums people with less then 100 posts have to kiss their butt and tell them how great their post was. I've read it 5 times and don't think they nailed it perfectly. I don't know just kind of pathetic if you ask me.

Seriously? You are seriously going to accuse me of being pathetic because I agree with someone? Who, exactly, is pathetic? With my very small number of posts in the two years that I've been at this forum, I'd think even you could figure out that I couldn't possibly be "kissing the butt" of anyone. I simply agreed with the thought, and said so. I only post when I have something to contribute, but with reactions like yours, that is EXACTLY why I don't post more often. How was my support of that post so incredibly offensive to you that you would spew such a nasty response?

Edited to add that if I were "kissing butt" I surely would have chosen Slappy Magoo rather than Imayoyo because of those one thousand extra posts. Pathetic is you being nasty when you can't defend your opinion rationally.

 

[atterris]

I loved the wilderness Lodge but next time we might try a value or moderate due to $$$$$$. If I am at WDW I want to be at Disney not off resort.

 

[Tinkerbella16]

I have to agree with most about staying off-property. I've done it once, it was my very 1st time going to WDW, and i was only 6 yrs old... So i really was not old enough to decide whether or not it was better than staying on property. But I must say that we will never stay anywhere but the disney resorts. Disney transportation really is great. I will never rent a car when I go there. DME is one of the great things they've come up with....you are saving money, and decreasing the hassel having to wait for your luggage.
Now on the topic of value/deluxe resorts.... I have never stayed at a deluxe resort "yet". I say "yet" because one day I will stay at the Poly. We have stayed at the All Stars and POP numerous times...it is what we are used to...and i must say, for the money it is worth it. We spend more time in the parks, but i love walking around the resort to take pics, go swimming, and just go for a walk. So some of us may look at it that way, and some may want to spend the extra money for a nicer resort like the Poly or Contemporary with the better views, scenery, atmosphere, bigger and nicer rooms, service, being right next to the MK, monorail transportation, and restaurants.

This year we are not doing value, we are bumping it up a notch to a moderate POR, and I am very excited about it. I have stayed at CB and CSR once when i was younger. My sister loves loves loves Pop Century because its cheap, has its own bus, etc... Sometimes I wanna try something different every now and then. I have heard nothing but good reviews from POR, if we like it when we go, we may stay there next year. Who knows. But everyone has different opinions as to what they find more important when it comes down to choosing a resort & what kind of money they are trying to spend. Every single one of us would love to stay at the GF or Poly or OKW every time we go to WDW...but some us look at it as just a place to sleep and shower..and some of us look at it as what i described above. That is why one of my trips to wdw in the future, im going to do it big, spend the extra money, and stay at the Poly because I love that resort so much (never stayed there), i never leave disney without taking a trip to the Poly just to walk around. And I look at it in other ways, rather than just sleep & shower.

I dont think any of the disney resorts are a waste of money. Everyone is different about the way they wanna spend their money. It is their vacation, so why not splurge a little & why not save a little.

 

[HauntedPirate]

This is simply my opinion - Value resorts are becoming, if you'll pardon the expression, the ghetto of Disney. Everyone knows how cheap they are to stay at now. When we first stayed at All Star Sports, the place was clean, the service outstanding, and the guests respectful. Two of those three have degraded to the point where I don't see much difference between it and your stereotypical trailer park - guests are disrespectful, rude, uncaring, and have run the All Stars down to the point where they need TLC 2-3 times per year. Service is still Disney quality. One of the selling points for us of the DVC was the ability to stay in Deluxe-class hotels for our family of 5, as after several negative experiences with other guests at various All Star resorts (over a period of 3-4 years) we had pretty much sworn them off from that point on. I'm not going to go into what I've witnessed, but suffice it to say that there's a price we're willing to pay (DVC) to stay in a clean, relaxing environment, free from what we consider to be a lot of trashy people.

[erects flame barrier]

 

[clarkstallings]

Disney deluxe resorts are not worth the money. I'm not saying they're overpriced, everything at Disney is overpriced. That's a given. I will, however, stay at them if I receive a special offer from Disney for them. Many times, I have gotten AKL for $109 a night. The extra space is worth the extra fifteen bucks or so. However, In my opinion, hotels are not Disney's strong suit. That being said, when I go to Disney, I'm simply looking for a clean place to sleep. I spend very little time at the hotel and feel that the value resorts are adequate. My rooms there have always been clean and the staff has always been courteous. With regards to the poster who stated something about trashy people and whatever, trashy people book all manner of hotels at Disney and beyond. As someone who has stayed all over Walt Disney World, there is an equal concentration of trashy folks everywhere.

 

[Ringo8n24]

I feel like staying off property cheats me of getting the full experience, but it is totally a matter of opinion. I plan my Disney vacations inclusive of the fact that I will stay at a minimum of a moderate...POR is our favorite. So, that amount is always a necessary cost of our trip that I feel our family deserves. Quality family time is so important today and I like the experience we get from the onsite hotels. The magic never ends when you come back to the simple things of Mickey shampoo, mousekeeping's animal towels, Mickey wake up calls, etc.

 

[Skylinecar1982]

Wow! Excellent post! You totally nailed it! AND you have less than 500 posts, to boot. How you've become so wise, so soon...I'm just so proud, grasshopper!


There, feel better now? Less pathetic?

Anyway, for chucks and giggles, I checked out the Sheraton in my neck of the woods, Eatontown NJ. For the days I'd be going to WDW, a room at that Jersey Sheraton STARTS at almost 200 bucks a night. Maybe the room will be bigger (maybe not), but it's not beachfront, it's not scenic (your views are either an industrial park, or the highway, with another industrial park across the street), it's not really close to any important landmarks or exciting nightlife...at least not close enough to justify those kinds of prices.

To sum up your perspective, you've got a mommy who's a travel agent and can get you awesome hotels all around the round world. Bully for you and your mommy. Most people will not travel as much as you, or have the benefot of those kinds of discounts. Many will not know or care "what they're missing" especially when it comes to a WDW vacation, because the size/quality/aesthetic of the room at WDW isn't as important as being on-site with access to the free transportation, or free parking, or extra magic hours. In two posts, you've managed to insult people who either don't share your opinion on the importance of high-quality of rooms, OR people who can't afford nicer rooms, AND people who dare agree with others when YOU don't agree with them. I don't know...kinda snobbish if you ask me. Glad your standards are so high, especially since if your mommy ever loses her gig, you might not be able to afford them.

Are Value resorts gussied up Motel 6's that would cost as much as half the price if they were off-property? Maybe, but again, you get lots of free transportation, free parking and extra magic hours, and if people feel that's worth the money, hey, it's their money.

If someone, for any reason, agrees with my point of view, please don't mention it unless you have over 500 posts, so Skyline won' t think you're a total suck-up? Thanks. :lol:

Whether you believe it or not I wasn't trying insult anyone or hurt anyones feelings. I guess I will be the bigger person and say sorry. So sorry. I hope you aren't this sensitive in real life. Oh and FYI my mother has be doing her job for that last 25 years. I doubt she would be losing anything. And my vacations are paid by me so how would her "loses her gig" effect me. Where I come from people don't talk about other peoples mothers. Enough said.

 

[slappy magoo]

Whether you believe it or not I wasn't trying insult anyone or hurt anyones feelings. I guess I will be the bigger person and say sorry. So sorry. I hope you aren't this sensitive in real life. Oh and FYI my mother has be doing her job for that last 25 years. I doubt she would be losing anything. And my vacations are paid by me so how would her "loses her gig" effect me. Where I come from people don't talk about other peoples mothers. Enough said.

Gee, I wonder where I would've gotten the impression that your mom's gig as a travel agent has allowed you the luxury, at least the option, of staying at nice hotels? Oh yeah!

"I have had the privilege of having a travel agent for a mother and have stayed at countless hotels. 1 star to 5 star. So what I am saying is I based this off of all of my experience."

Don't be so foolish as to think I'm "talking about your mother" like I'm playing the dozens on her, making comments about how she stink so bad she make my Right Guard turn left or other such juvenile nonsense. I said nothing insulting about her and you know it. And for the record, if you don't want people even mentioning your mother in a conversation...DON'T BRING HER UP :shrug: It's like saying "Hey, I've got this odd thing on my butt?"

"Well, gee how'd you get that odd thing on your butt?"

"Hey, don't talk about that odd thing on my butt! It's embarrassing! Nothing gives you that right!" :ROFLOL:

However, in the interest of fairness, I apologize for thinking that, since you brought up your mom's gig as a travel agent, that she'd assist you...AT ALL...in getting the best possible rates for nicer hotels and better vacations. It's obvious now, from your righteous anger, that you only use her expertise for advice, and she offers you, her child, NO discounts or advantages at all, and you pay full rack rates for every vacation you take. She probably doesn't even book your vacations! You just pick her brain, and then you use other agents so they can make the commission, lest it seem like you're taking advantage of a family connection. Yeah, I'm sure that's what you do, and I'm sure that's why you brought up your mother being a travel agent. Riiiight.

I could give a rat's brown-eye what you say about me personally, but you were insulting to other people on this board who's sole crime was not jumping on the skyline express. I took offense on their behalf, not my own. And I was also making my comments because, were you to keep coming back to the site, Iif that's your idea of civilized discourse, you're not gonna make many friends, capice?

 

[AEfx]

I just got soaked $170/night for a Howard Johnson's out on Long Island, NY. And trust me, it was a typical HoJo's. The $90/night I'm paying for Pop in August - with free food to boot - seems like a killer deal to me after that

One excellent point.

When I hear people complain about prices and value at Disney, I have to ask : have you gotten a room anywhere else lately? My local Econolodge starts at $89 a night. You can get super-deals off-site in Orlando because off-site is desperate to recapture some of what they've lost to on-site, but has many have outlined it is worth it for them.

Food is another one that comes up - $8 for a burger and fries is pretty standard in the north east where I live for quick service-type food. I don't eat out in expensive restaurants, but even a moderate place is going to run you $30/person. Same prices I pay at Disney. Now, if you are from an area of the country where prices are lower (anywhere at all left these days?), that may sound like a lot, but it's all relative to what you are used to.

To be honest, for big family trips we find paying $100 night for a fully-equipped 3 bedroom condo is the way to go and I balk when I read people spend $300 a night to sleep on-site. However, if you've got that cash to spend and it makes you happy - go for it. I'm in the "deluxes are a waste of money" camp, for me, but I know many people who enjoy them tremendously.

AEfx

 

[Skylinecar1982]

Gee, I wonder where I would've gotten the impression that your mom's gig as a travel agent has allowed you the luxury, at least the option, of staying at nice hotels? Oh yeah!

"I have had the privilege of having a travel agent for a mother and have stayed at countless hotels. 1 star to 5 star. So what I am saying is I based this off of all of my experience."

Don't be so foolish as to think I'm "talking about your mother" like I'm playing the dozens on her, making comments about how she stink so bad she make my Right Guard turn left or other such juvenile nonsense. I said nothing insulting about her and you know it. And for the record, if you don't want people even mentioning your mother in a conversation...DON'T BRING HER UP :shrug: It's like saying "Hey, I've got this odd thing on my butt?"

"Well, gee how'd you get that odd thing on your butt?"

"Hey, don't talk about that odd thing on my butt! It's embarrassing! Nothing gives you that right!" :ROFLOL:

However, in the interest of fairness, I apologize for thinking that, since you brought up your mom's gig as a travel agent, that she'd assist you...AT ALL...in getting the best possible rates for nicer hotels and better vacations. It's obvious now, from your righteous anger, that you only use her expertise for advice, and she offers you, her child, NO discounts or advantages at all, and you pay full rack rates for every vacation you take. She probably doesn't even book your vacations! You just pick her brain, and then you use other agents so they can make the commission, lest it seem like you're taking advantage of a family connection. Yeah, I'm sure that's what you do, and I'm sure that's why you brought up your mother being a travel agent. Riiiight.

I could give a rat's brown-eye what you say about me personally, but you were insulting to other people on this board who's sole crime was not jumping on the skyline express. I took offense on their behalf, not my own. And I was also making my comments because, were you to keep coming back to the site, Iif that's your idea of civilized discourse, you're not gonna make many friends, capice?

Thanks for wasting my time and others. Grow Up. Maybe it's fun for you to play "Online Gangsta" but it looks very immature to me. I will not be responding to you again this is a waste of time for everyone reading this and has gotten so off subject it's disgusting.


Thank you everyone else for your contributions.

 

[slappy magoo]

Thanks for wasting my time and others. Grow Up. Maybe it's fun for you to play "Online Gangsta" but it looks very immature to me. I will not be responding to you again this is a waste of time for everyone reading this and has gotten so off subject it's disgusting.


Thank you everyone else for your contributions.

Hey, YOU were the one to make the off-topic comment about people with few posts pathetically agreeing with people over 500 posts. Now you're going to gripe that the thread's gone off-topic? YOU were the one being insulting to the forum members, and all I did was point out your foul attitude, condescension and hypocrisy. Now you think you're taking the high road by pretending to abandon your thread? Allow me the pleasure of laughing.

(slappy magoo laughs his head off for 3 - 5 minutes, wasn't really timing the laughing fit).

Thank you, thank you for that. Well done.

Glass house, meet stones. Now play nice. :ROFLOL:

 

[Skylinecar1982]

All I am trying to say with this topic is "I don't feel I get my moneys worth." Does that make Disney resorts not for me = No. What that makes me is one of the reasons Disney is constantly trying to impove their property and products. If everyone were just fine with the way Disney was then why would they improve anything. Why would they even create Value resorts? And if everyone is fine with the prices they pay and experience they recieve they why not up the price without adding to the experience. So am I wrong for thinking Disney resorts(the ones I have been too) have too high of a base price.

 

[AEfx]

So am I wrong for thinking Disney resorts(the ones I have been too) have too high of a base price.

High compared...to what, though? As myself and others have pointed out, a lot of this depends on where you come from. My local, suburban Econolodge (which has less services than even a Disney value resort) costs more per night than Pop Century.

Your "moneys worth" is always going to be subjective. I think it's insane people pay $5-6 for a cup of coffee at a Starbucks, yet other people think I'm daffy because I am addicted to buying TV-DVDs for $50/whack. I don't get the value out of a $5 cup of coffee (can't stand coffee to begin with...), and others don't think watching reruns on DVD is a value ($2 an episode in perfect quality makes it a bargain to me). It's all about personal experience, wants, needs, and choice.

I find the higher priced hotels at WDW too much for me. Personally, I spend literally minutes a day in the room that I am not sleeping or showering. Sure, it would be nice to stay at a Monorail resort more often just for the fun of it, but paying for anything more than a clean room and a shower is overkill for my purposes most of the time. But for others, they get a value out of it I don't (or they have more disposable income than I) and it works for them.

Base prices for staying on-property, though, really aren't that high unless you really are considering the $35 a night Motel 6 deals you get in Orlando because the local off-site market isn't nearly what it used to be. Most people I know that take "fly away" vacations (i.e. getting on a plane and going somewhere) are shocked when I tell them how cheap they can stay at Disney. Compared to most other tourist destinations there are many more price options available.

It doesn't sound like you are finding on-site a deal. Unless you are going to stay at the aforementioned $35/night places (which actually I do sometimes, depending on my budget and needs), you are going to be hard pressed to find that convenience anywhere else. It is true Disney is so booked all the time they could charge more and get away with it, but really when you compare vacation to vacation WDW is really not in the "overpriced" category for a populated east-coast tourist destination. You pay more at Fenway park for a dog and soda than you do at WDW, and you can't get a closet to sleep in in a major city for under $150/night. Travel is expensive everywhere.

AEfx

 

[mousermerf]

For anyone under 25, a Disney resort is a value. Renting a car if you're under 25 costs a small fortune, so the perks of transport make the Disney resorts look cheap. Take away paying for parking and then the price of a rental car for anyone under 25 and you have roughly $27 per night at Pop during value season.

For $27 a night.. Pop or the Motel 6.. Pop or the Motel 6.. hmm..

Imagine it during free dining - wow!