Value vs. Deluxe

[Livelovedisney]

Hi Everyone,
We are thinking about going back to WDW next year before our little boy starts school. During our first visit we stayed at the Poly. I guess I'm just trying to find out, how does it feel to go from a deluxe to a value? The best part of the Poly was the monorails. We didn't have to worry about transportation anywhere and the best part was we're able to get from the parks to our room with such a short amount of time that they kids were able to nap in the middle of the day and enjoy the rest of the evening. The reason why I'm considering a value is due to cost.

 

[JohnByers]

I would akin it from going a Toyota 4Runner to driving a Kia SUV. Will get the job done and have you dealing with inconveniences that you may have took for granted with the nicer car (aka: monorail vs buses)

 

[jenos0524]

Personally, I don't think I can ever go to a value resort again, especially after a deluxe. I understand cost and such as i dealt with it planning my trip. I originally looked at 3 hotels, 1 value, 1 moderate and 1 deluxe. My wife wanted to save money, but didn't want a value resort. (my opinion is if you are trying to save money you might as well go to a Value) I want the Deluxe. We aren't a family that can go multiple times a year or every year like others can (last trip to AKL was 9 years ago). So when we go I prefer to go all out.. I booked Wilderness Lodge, but am waiting till the discounts come out to see if i can switch to POLY, as i do not want to deal with construction at WL. To save money try to leave and return on weekdays, flights are cheaper. (I am limited to school vacations and summer because my wife is a teacher, so we are going in August from a Tuesday to a Thursday before they start school)

Try WL if you want to go when the construction is still going on, I bet they end up with some good discounts.

 

[TXDisney]

If money isn't an issue I recommend doing deluxe every trip. It is nice to try different deluxes though. Convenience is the biggest thing you'll notice.

 

[J_Krafty24]

Have you considered a moderate as a compromise between the two? You are still dealing with bus transportation but the rooms are a little bigger than value, the beds are queen sized (value has full size beds) and the themes are not cartoony as the values.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I personally think the best value-for-the-money options at WDW are Wilerness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge Standard View, and the Fort Wilderness Cabins. I don't find much value paying for the Monorail or Epcot resorts unless you spend a disproportionate amount of your time at the Magic Kingdom or Epcot specifically.

I'm sure this'll start a flame war, but the worst part about value resorts is value resort guests. HUGE families traveling with grandma and grandpa and ever member of the extended family, sports teams, bands, cheerleaders, etc. can make for a very rowdy and uncontrolled environment.

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

Hah staying at the Poly is magical-it's hard to go backwards! I would make a decision based on the needs of your kids and closeness to the parks you visit most. If cost is a huge barrier, either break it down and make it work (hunting for deals, pricing cheaper deludes, visiting at less expensive times, scrimping money elsewhere) or move on to options like Swan or Dolphin, FW Cabins, or moderates and values.

Good luck!

 

[Livelovedisney]

Well, sounds like I'm just going to have to increase your budget. My DH loves convenience and since our kids are small we do spend at least 2 days at MK.

 

[JillC LI]

The monorail at the Poly only gets you to the Magic Kingdom, and if you transfer at the TTC to Epcot, but not to the AK or DHS parks. If you plan to visit those this time, you will have to take a bus anyway, so that aspect of the convenience of the monorail resorts might be reduced. We have always been very comfortable in a Value resort since we spend so little time there, but only you can say how much in the way of amenities you are willing to forego for the sake of having enough funds to visit WDW.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Well, sounds like I'm just going to have to increase your budget. My DH loves convenience and since our kids are small we do spend at least 2 days at MK.

Try a moderate? You get many of the perks of deluxes (nice pool, on-site dining, bigger room) without the cost. I refuse to go back to values. Pretentious? Sure, but this is a WDW fan website.

 

[jprieur]

We go a few times a year, and run the gamut between deluxe and value - sometimes we stay POP sometimes we stay Contemporary and of course sometimes we shoot the middle and do Port Orleans FQ. I will note that we , so obviously we have a diff experience than those that have to factor in kids both budgeting and planning wise.

While there is no doubt that the deluxe amenities and proximity to the parks does make for a better experience as a whole, only you can determine at what cost that benefit becomes void.

For us, when we can get at least 30% off deluxe via our pass holder discount or a pin code, we make a go of it and book deluxe, but anything less discount wise and the cost benefit just isn't there and I am just fine to have an extra $200+ a day in my pocket and deal with a 15 min bus ride over a 5 min monorail ride. I will also note that we have never had a better time or experience overall because we stayed deluxe over value, sometimes I feel more of a 'disney' experience when I am at POP century just based on the fun decor and sometimes I prefer value/moderate food courts over the more formal offerings at the deluxe resorts.

I think it comes down to expectations. We have the most fun on the trips that we just plan last minute like the pre christmas trip we just completed where we literally booked 4 days before check in. We stayed mod (POFQ) on a 25% discount rate and there was no time to dwell on thoughts of hoping the weather cooperates, hoping we could get fast passes or good ADRs. We had more fun on that trip than we did where we planned out a year in advance and stayed at the contemporary. Mostly because of the cost difference, where in my mind I was ok if things weren't perfect on a week that costs $1400 all in vs a week that cost $3600+. On a moderate or value trip I don't even think about what we are spending on food and experiences, on a deluxe trip I am a little more conscious of what we spend and do some mental budgeting. When I am on vacation I would rather not have to think about budgets!

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Have you considered a moderate as a compromise between the two? You are still dealing with bus transportation but the rooms are a little bigger than value, the beds are queen sized (value has full size beds) and the themes are not cartoony as the values.

This is what I was going to say, so I'll just jump on this bandwagon!

In my opinion, the difference in amenities between value and moderate is far more significant (and potentially deal-breaking) than the jump between moderate and deluxe, although I wouldn't look down my nose at any level of WDW accommodation! It's just a place to sleep, after all. We've stayed at moderate and deluxe (and value, if you count FWC), I don't find the differences to be jarring at all, especially because I went into it knowing exactly what to expect.

OP, when are you going? If you strategically book during a week when room discounts or other promotions have been offered over the past several years, you may end up paying something closer to value rates, anyway.

 

[Disney4family]

We first started staying at All-Star Sports. We chose Sports over the other All-Stars since it was the first bus stop of all 3 resorts - we could get a seat (which was great with little ones) & if the bus was full, it would go straight to the park.
We tried the Contemporary for a special trip one year. It was amazing to be able to not only have the convenience of the monorail right there in the hotel, but also the convenience of only having a 5 minute walk to the Magic Kingdom (and avoid the times when the monorail was mobbed).
I must admit, it was hard the next year to walk to the All-Star resort bus and not towards the Contemporary. We were spoiled. We didn't want to wait for the bus and have to deal with a long trip back to the resort. We just wanted to walk 5 minutes and be home.
One year we had a trip planned for All-Star Sports again. The DVC was in a mall near us. We chatted with the guide and the rest is history. Bay Lake Tower is our home now. We know we can stay in different resorts (and I'm sure we will one day), but for now, we still can't get past the convenience of the Contemporary/BLT location for the Magic Kingdom and the ease of getting to Epcot with the monorail right in the building.

 

[TBrooker11]

Personally for me, I have not and probably would never pay to stay in a Deluxe, simply because I live 1.5 hours away from WDW and I cannot justify what would be anywhere from 1/3 to all of my rent for one night in a hotel room, which I would only sleep in because I would be at the parks at open and close with a small break in between.

However I have stayed in Movies, Sports, and Pop. Honestly for me they aren't much above a basic hotel that is kept up nice.

As far as transportation goes, you get the buses that will take you anywhere in the resort pretty much so it kind of evens out. If it will make your vacation tight and not as fun stay in the Value. If you spend a good amount of time at the hotel and it won't kill your budget do Deluxe.

However I would go Moderate if I were you. sometimes a lot cheaper than Deluxe and pretty nice on their own. I prefer the Moderate Resorts to the Value or the Deluxe. It is the perfect mix of price and Amenities.

 

[YozhikRoth]

It's all in one's preferences. If you're there to leave for the parks at 7:30 and get back after midnight each day, there's not much incremental value to a Moderate or Deluxe over a value. The past two trips we booked connecting rooms at the All-Stars so that the kids could sleep in their own room and have their own bathroom. For the mid-day retreats for a nap, the bus to All-Start took around 30 minutes, including waiting time. Absolutely, the rooms are smaller, and the decor more garish. I've stayed at the Contemporary and didn't much avail myself of the amenities. Next month we will be going to the CBR, and hopefully it will be warm enough to enjoy the outdoor activities.

 

[Bparso87]

I don't mind value but being a dvc member it's nice to stay at deluxe resorts all the time. But if you don't spend a lot of time at the resort u won't even notice it.

 

[Livelovedisney]

This is what I was going to say, so I'll just jump on this bandwagon!

In my opinion, the difference in amenities between value and moderate is far more significant (and potentially deal-breaking) than the jump between moderate and deluxe, although I wouldn't look down my nose at any level of WDW accommodation! It's just a place to sleep, after all. We've stayed at moderate and deluxe (and value, if you count FWC), I don't find the differences to be jarring at all, especially because I went into it knowing exactly what to expect.

OP, when are you going? If you strategically book during a week when room discounts or other promotions have been offered over the past several years, you may end up paying something closer to value rates, anyway.

Well the last time we went was last year at the beginning of June, but since my little ones will be going to school I think we would have to do it during the beginning of April. My husband has mention going during Christmas, but after hearing about how busy it gets I really want to avoid it. I guess the reason why I'm considering value (Art of Animation) over moderate is mainly because of bus stops and according to this site: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-...on-convenience/resorts-ranked-by-convenience/
According to the information here the most convenient that is not a deluxe is Art of Animation and Pop. I'm not sure how much of a difference we would feel. Our last experience was really awesome despite the fact that we had very little down time. We spent most of our waking moments at the park. It was pretty much get up by 6:30am and head to the park after lunch come back and nap. Then hit the parks until close, and then repeat.

 

[Livelovedisney]

I don't mind value but being a dvc member it's nice to stay at deluxe resorts all the time. But if you don't spend a lot of time at the resort u won't even notice it.

I think if the kids would older I wouldn't even worry about coming back to the resort. When we go they're going to be around 4 and 6. So they'll still need time to come back for naps.

 

[Mrhappyplace]

I think you should look into renting points so you can save money staying in a deluxe.

I've not stayed in a value or moderate and would prefer to go less often then stay in one. Having visited pop I can say the resort itself is certainly functional and even nice but it seemed to me that you would hear a lot of noise while in your room. If I were going to stay in a value it would definitely be AoA and on a future trip I will visit it because it really looks like a resort I enjoy seeing.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Well the last time we went was last year at the beginning of June, but since my little ones will be going to school I think we would have to do it during the beginning of April. My husband has mention going during Christmas, but after hearing about how busy it gets I really want to avoid it. I guess the reason why I'm considering value (Art of Animation) over moderate is mainly because of bus stops and according to this site: http://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-...on-convenience/resorts-ranked-by-convenience/
According to the information here the most convenient that is not a deluxe is Art of Animation and Pop. I'm not sure how much of a difference we would feel. Our last experience was really awesome despite the fact that we had very little down time. We spent most of our waking moments at the park. It was pretty much get up by 6:30am and head to the park after lunch come back and nap. Then hit the parks until close, and then repeat.

I think you'd really enjoy either one (AoA or Pop) -- I've heard/read great things about both. My sister and her family stayed in the Little Mermaid rooms (not the suites) on their last trip to WDW. They can afford to stay elsewhere, but they enjoyed it so much that they're choosing to stay there again on their upcoming trip!

Wherever you stay, I wish you a wonderful time!