What makes a more expensive resort "worth it" to you?

[YYC-Rob]

Good day to you all.

My family and I are currently deciding on which WDW resort to stay at for a visit at the end of August 2018. There are 3 adults and 2 children under 10 in our group. I'd like to throw the question out there:

What makes a more expensive resort "worth it" to you and your family?

I understand we all have a variety of budget levels but money than is spent on one luxury can't be used on another. So why do you choose to, or choose not to, spend more on a resort and less on say food or souvineers etc?

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Location, location, location is key for us. We like to be able to walk to some of the parks and mostly stay at Epcot resorts. We also spend a fair amount of time at the resort itself. we are not a family that hits rope drop. So the resort amenities are important to us. That's the wonderful thing about Disney resorts, there is something for everybody. We all have different things that are important to us in a vacation.

 

[100acreHiker]

For me:
1. accessibilty to parks, or multiple ways to get in or out of parks. I like the EP resorts because I can walk or boat to and from two parks. I liked the monorail resorts because I could monorail or walk (CR) or take a ferry (GF, Poly). I like having more than one option besides standing in line waiting for buses. I know even at deluxes you have to occasionally take a bus, but I'm glad it's primarily limited to one or two parks.

2. balcony and a pretty view

3. Having good food available that isn't just standard food court variety is also worth paying more for, too.

4. Less people around (usually). Some value and moderate resorts have many more rooms than BWI or GF does, and it means less people at the breakfast spots, and pools, etc.

 

[loves to dive]

I tend to do split stays with a couple of days up front at a moderate then the rest at an Epcot resort. Epcot and HS are our favorite parks and being within walking distance is one of the perks for us. I also like to sit out on my balcony in the morning with my coffee and in the evening with a glass of wine. When we started going to WDW, the MK resorts were the only game in town if you wanted to stay on site (back then Shades of Green was actually a WDW resort as well) so that was all we knew. When the Epcot resorts opened, my son had gotten older and we spent less time at MK and more at Epcot so it made sense to move over there. I've only started trying the value and moderates during split stays in the last 3 years. We just got used to the deluxe and stayed with them. As far as giving anything up, we don't. When we first started going, we went every other year because it took me two years to save the money, we eat where we want. As far as souvineers, in the beginning, my son was happy with a sword and a tshirt and a pin, as the years went on, he could get one really expensive something and a tshirt and a pin. Now he pretty much pays for what he wants himself.

 

[SL6827]

The pool area and atmosphere are important to me. I plan on going down one day for a trip that includes no park visits, but I will be staying at either the Yacht or Beach Club for access to SAB. Already stayed at the Yacht Club, so hopefully it will be at the Beach Club.

 

[Liberator]

For me it is the room size and indoor corridors.

I stayed at Pop and All Star Sports in the past, while the resorts themselves were nice and well maintained, I felt very cramped in those rooms and I am not a fan of the outside corridors.

A bonus that comes with the deluxe resorts and their bigger rooms is the location and the transportation options. While I have no problem with riding a resort bus, sitting or standing, it is so much nicer to get to Epcot by monorail or to Magic Kingdom by boat.

 

[Sharka8]

We've never stayed at a Deluxe before this year. We've always been park Commandos so resort location, amenities and perks weren't important. This year is the first WDW trip with our 3 year old, so priorities changed. We picked an Epcot resort so it'll be easier (most days) to get back to the room for naps, and we will be able to see some fireworks from the resort. We will also be spending more downtime at the resort so SAB, bigger rooms and better food are important to us this trip.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Good day to you all.

My family and I are currently deciding on which WDW resort to stay at for a visit at the end of August 2018. There are 3 adults and 2 children under 10 in our group. I'd like to throw the question out there:

What makes a more expensive resort "worth it" to you and your family?

I understand we all have a variety of budget levels but money than is spent on one luxury can't be used on another. So why do you choose to, or choose not to, spend more on a resort and less on say food or souvineers etc?

In general?

Usually customer service, location, uniqueness, and amenities. Roughly in that order. I'll pay more for a great onsite bar with food options.

Wdw specific- pools. like beach/yacht would hold no value to me without the pool. Transit- Location doesn't matter but I like to mix it up and I'd prefer boats over monorail. Theme is big- AKL location sucks but I'd stay there for the lobby. Food is another aspect- I don't really like the value cafeterias and don't eat in them much. So that's probably convenience factor.

But overall I'd say Wdw is still cost oriented largely because I'm not in the room much and I can resort hop for everything except pools. I'd spend more to stay on property but after that it's availability and pricing.

 

[Daniela Rose]

For us, we're shelling out the money to be in walking distance to MK and for a view of the park (late night hallowishes fireworks) to be at contemporary in a theme park view. Our girls will be 2 and 4 so convenience trumps all.

 

[monorailsilver]

We choose the Poly:

1) first stayed there as a 3 1/2 year old and still have a memory of watching the fireworks from my room and I swear my mother shut the curtain mid fireworks since it was bed time-they may have been over. That memory must of triggered the start of the love fest with the Poly.
2) I stayed there many times over the years, stayed a few other places as well but my heart was always drawn back to the Poly. it took time to convince my DH. He met me one trip but we were not staying there, we were at all stars-last half was the Poly. Next trip he and I went and he didn't like the price. We were dating, it was probably around $200/night and I was paying! So we stayed at the WL yet my heart longed to be at the Poly. Next trip, I convinced him, again I was paying. We got engaged there. Now he won't budge! I have tried and tried even just one night at the BC but no!

So the reasons I love it there vs a mod or deluxe:
1) grew up spoiled, have no money now so hats how I spoil myself and we are on the 5 year plan between Disney trips.
2) I don't like the smaller beds (I think some have bigger beds now)
3) I hate the window next to the door. I don't want people looking in while they are walking the outside hallway if my curtain isn't open. I felt so alone and dark with that curtain shut. Yes the Poly has a huge slider but I can keep it partially open or keep the dark curtain open and the see thru one (if they still have that) closed and still get daylight.
4) the view...I mean seriously who does not want to swim in the pool and see the castle.
5) the sounds-the boats, the howl, the fireworks...the sounds from around the seven seas lagoon.
6) our main parks are the MK and Epcot and what easier way to get there then the monorail...when it isn't broken.

We do have pool days and we are at the pool from open to close, a few of them so it's not like I am just sleeping in my room, I do enjoy the resort.

Even if I stayed cheaper I still would do the same food budget. I don't do dining, we bring breakfast and eat in our room while we are getting ready, i bring some snacks, water bottles.

We don't do a lot of shopping. Most of the stuff for sale is crap! We buy a few things, usually no more then $200-yikes...3 kids and I need an ornament! We probably spend closer to $100. I think the $200 was the 3 pilllow pets that came home with us in 2013.

I also don't go every year like I said above. I can't afford it! I go in the summer when it's a bit cheaper, longer park hours and we can swim.

It's a budget buster for sure! We are headed back in August 2018. I have almost all my food money saved with free gift cards and the Disney visa. I have about 3-4 nights out of the 10-11 saved. I will pay for the airline in October of whenever jet blue releases their summer dates.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Location, theming, and amenities

Our favorite resort is BWI--the ability to walk to our two favorite parks (Epcot and HS) makes it worth more money to us. BC and YC have the same walkable factor--but we just prefer the theme of Boardwalk.
We also prefer Deluxe over Moderate because Deluxe resorts have several restaurants to choose from and the option to do club level.

We've stayed at moderate too--and again it comes comes down to theme and amenities. I prefer the theme of moderates over the themes of value, and the fact that moderates have a restaurant on site and a pool with a slide.

Whats not important to us: The indoor hallways, double bed vs. Queen size bed, the covered bus stops (I actually prefer the "queue" of the value bus stops)

 

[TempleOT]

Accessibility to the parks is the biggest for us. We stayed at beach club this year, and only having to get on the bus for 2 parks instead of 4 was priceless. We loved the ability to walk to Epcot for sure. We also liked the uniqueness of the boardwalk area--so many other new things to see and do. The customer service was also top notch. We stayed club level for the first time as well and that was well worth what we paid for the access to all the food (we skipped lots of meals due to it, saving Money there)( got a discount due to DH being a CM), fresh filled water bottles daily, alcohol on demand, and extra customer service. We truly felt spoiled this time around and I would do it again in a heartbeat (if DH will come around!).

 

[Doug S]

I'm a big moderate fan. I find it to be the perfect middle ground of budget and feeling like I'm at Disney. I love the little touches they've done at the moderates to keep the rooms in theme and not thrown together with the cheapest materials they could find. Believe it or not, the moderate rooms are not much smaller than some of the deluxe. My one stay at Pop was enjoyable, but I felt there was something missing. I can't put my finger on what, but I think it was just how tall and plain the buildings are.

 

[TwinkleKS]

Location
Ability to hold five people in one room
Comfort of beds
Ability to close the bathroom door (okay ... I was pregnant at the time, but I swear when we stayed at ASM I practically had to stand in the tub to get the bathroom door to close)

 

[Hopefully]

Location, amenities, sit down table service, balconies and definitely interior corridors which make me feel safer. My motel room, non Disney, was broken into while I was in it twice. Never again.

 

[Shanti]

Good day to you all.

My family and I are currently deciding on which WDW resort to stay at for a visit at the end of August 2018. There are 3 adults and 2 children under 10 in our group. I'd like to throw the question out there:

What makes a more expensive resort "worth it" to you and your family?

I understand we all have a variety of budget levels but money than is spent on one luxury can't be used on another. So why do you choose to, or choose not to, spend more on a resort and less on say food or souvineers etc?

In summer, two major priorities for us are:

• A good feature pool that has a really fun waterslide (you'll want to take breaks from the summer heat most days, & a swim is the best way to cool off)
• Ability to get to and from our resort room without excessive outdoor walking (due to summer heat & rain)

All of Disney's deluxe resorts have nice waterslides in their feature pools, and the Beach Club/Yacht Club, Boardwalk and Polynesian have especially unique, themed pools and great waterslides. The order I just listed them in is the order in which I would rank their respective pools' quality (Yacht Club & Beach Club share the same amazing pool complex, fyi). Animal Kingdom Lodge also is great in this regard, as you will have two very nice feature pools available to swim in, one at Jambo House and one at Kidani Village.

My desire to not add a lot of outdoor walking onto each day in summertime also makes me lean toward a deluxe resort, as the moderates & values tend to require more outdoor walking to get to your resort room. The following deluxes have all or most of their resort rooms within a single building that includes the lobby and restaurants, so no outdoor walking is required after arrival: Animal Kingdom Lodge, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Contemporary, and Wilderness Lodge.

I'm more open to staying in other resort levels at other times of year, when the weather is gentler and pool quality isn't so important to us. We loved tent camping at Fort Wilderness a few years ago in March, but that's something I would never dream of doing in August.

Whatever you choose, have fun!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Transportation options (walking, monorail, boating)

Location

We like awesome pools

Theming

Food options

 

[Nutbean]

I'm totally fine staying at a value resort except I would love to be able to walk to Epcot or even be on the monorail loop. I love the theming of Animal Kingdom but still having to take a bus everywhere greatly reduces its value to me.

So I would say the location is the most definitive reason a more expensive resort would be worth it to me.

 

[ZBSW]

With our first trip this upcoming January, sit down restaurant and a gym was a factor.

 

[stenmarks]

Location, bed size, and theming/appeal of the room. We have never stayed at a value resort (but I'm not saying we won't ever) because we have always been able to get a moderate for a comparable rate due to promotions. In those instances we have found queen beds worth the little bit extra per night.

We have stayed offsite using HHonors points a couple of times, but I don't think we will do this again because the frustration of trying to get to MK for rope drop made me crazy (I loathe waiting for the ferry at TTC).

This will be my second stay at a deluxe resort and my first CL stay. This trip we splurged because it's a short trip and we like being able to walk to two parks. The Annual Passholder room discount made the decision even easier .

We are planning another trip for this December, and we are once again debating Moderate vs. Deluxe. I think we will end up back at a Moderate using the Bounceback offer, but that's a trade-off for a longer trip so I'm ok with it!