Describe the difference between AS and luxury resort

[Zippa D Doodah]

For our next trip (still two years + from now, as you can tell by my sig) I am determined that we will stay in a luxury resort, just for the thrill of doing something different. We have had two stays at AS resorts, and have always looked longingly at the luxury resorts as the monorail passes by or through them. As of now I think we'll go with CR, probably a tower room facing MK (hey, might as well go all out, huh? )
As I daydream I wonder what noticeable difference there might be between a value resort and a luxury resort, specifically All Star Sports/Music vs. CR. I think my nightmare would be that we would spend all the extra bux and then find that staying at CR didn't enhance our vacation experience all that much. Maybe some of y'all can sharpen my desire to stay at the CR.

[Gotta Love the TTA]

Ok--I'm going to skip the obvious differences.

It's little things that add up to an enhanced experience.

--there is a real closet instead of a clothes rack
--the hangers are wooden instead of wire
--there are extra pillows & blankets in the closet--you don't have to ask for them
--bathrobes(?) sorry--I can't remember if there were any or not--obviously we didn't use them
--newspaper outside your door
--check the floor plans on the disney website. At the deluxes, there is a hallway as you enter with the bathrooms on the right (or left). At moderates and values, the bathroom is at the back of the room, past the beds. With the hallway configuration, your bed is farther away from the noise outside your door.
--interior hallways instead of the door opening to the outside
--perhaps a larger TV(?) 25 inch instead of 19 (again, I'm not remembering too well)

[ August 20, 2003, 02:22 PM: Message edited by: Gotta Love the TTA ]

[Rprs]

I'm all for luxury resorts. Ive stayed in several including the GF. But when we go to Disney we find that All Stars is plenty. Its basically somewhere to sleep because we're gone all day. However, if you like to hang around the pool for half the day then I'd say go for the deluxe.

To each his own.

[ChesireLisa]

Well.....my past trip to WDW we split our stay between ASMu and the CR(garden wing not tower). There are differences, not only the conveniences of being right on the monrail line,which is seriously priceless. The room was quite a bit bigger, we had 3 adults and one toddler so the ASMu was a bit on the small side. As much as we loved the monorail, being able to walk to the MK was probable my favourite part of the CR. For us it was a shorter walk to the food court at the CR than at the ASMu, so we seemed to refill our mugs more often. It was definitely quieter and we loved being on the first floor and having the patio ( 2 of the adults in my group were smokers). Overall, we really liked the CR and for the price that we recieved (149.00 per night) it was a great experience.

[Contemporary Woman]

I admit it, okay? I'm spoiled.

I'm not the person to ask if you want to be talked OUT of staying at a Deluxe. But I AM the person to talk to if you want to be convinced that you should!

Staying at the Contemporary is one of the most purely "Disney" experiences left that remind me of what it was like at WDW when I was a child. Seeing the monorail gliding through the Grand Canyon Concourse never gets old. NEVER! It's so exciting...just so stinkin cool. Not to mention the convenience of being able to just about fall out of your room (wouldn't recommend that literally, but you know) and get to the monorail, then whoosh, you're at the Poly, or the GF, or the MK. Or the TTC and then you're anywhere else you want to go!!!

The 24 hour game room is a BLAST. I can only compare it to a casino that's legal for minors LOL and the reason that I don't go to casinos cause if my game room habits are any indication (I have a heavy claw-machine addiction) I'd be hooked instantly. We always save our quarters between trips to spend in the game room. And the snacks are great too, they even keep pb&J's already made at the counter for the kiddies.

If you're in the tower, the view is magnificent. MK view also gives you a great view of the GF, and it's so cool to walk out of your room into the hall and see the monorail. (Can you tell I like monorails? LOL)

As others have said, the rooms are bigger, one thing we really love about the CR rooms is that the toilet is in a seperate closed off area from the shower and sink, with its own sink. So say, your kid needs to use the bathroom but another kid needs to take a shower, no problem, both can be accomplished at the same time.

The shops are amazing at the CR, so is the dining (Chef Mickey right in house! The California Grill, and the very underrated Concourse Steakhouse, a fine place to dine...)

Of course the level of guest service you receive increases as well when you go up to a deluxe resort...everything you need is at your fingertips and if you can't find it, guest services will help all they can! [img]smile.gif[/img]

There are a million other reasons I have but they're all fighting to get out of my head at once [img]smile.gif[/img] I think my new glasses are messing with my brain LOL. I'll add more as they come to me...just let me warn you. If you go up to Deluxe...it's hard to go back!!!

[spiceypj]

at All stars you get a food court that is it.

At the CR - you get 2 restuarants - one is Chief Mickey's so try to do this, a snack bar and in my opinion the best - room service!!!! when you are so tired that you don't want to move but you still have to feed the kids - this is great - now this is not cheap by any means - but when I am that tired .....

the All stars did not have a marina - CR does... but watch the prices somethings are expensive.

the main pool has a slide - this is not a wonderful pool like the one at BC/YC (SALB) - but I think it is better than the All Star.

being able to walk to MK - oh yes!!!!

make sure your kids and you for that matter ride the monrail - some kids think this is a Disney ride and I guess it is.

[Roland]

Seeing how you have only stayed onsite twice at WDW, I say go for it!!!

Is it really worth the extra money? Mmmmmm. Even I have a hard time answering this for myself and I've stayed in the Poly and WL.

To be honest, I stay at value resorts, sometimes upgrade to a moderate depending on what mood I'm in.

When I go with my wife, it's either the Poly (once with her) and WL several times.

With a family, I think it's nice. You have to be honest on how much you can really afford. There is one thing for certain is that you won't be disappointed but only you can decide for yourself AFTER you've tried a deluxe at least once.

I don't think it's a decision of which deluxe, just a decision of chosing a deluxe over value.

[ August 20, 2003, 03:58 PM: Message edited by: Roland ]

[Munch]

Ummm. About the difference between the Ritz-Carlton and a Motel 6. Both give you what you really need, but the Ritz just gives you more - more ambience, more dining options, more relaxing atmosphere, etc. Nothing against a Motel 6 anymore than against AllStars. Have stayed at both and would not have a problem doing so again. But if I have the option, I'll go with the extras.

[DisneyDudet]

I have not stayed at CR, but have stayed in a Value, Moderate, Deluxe resorts, and the Home away from Home setting the many times we visited WDW.

Out of all the resorts we stayed at, ASMu was the worst. It was good on price but the pools were too crowded, it was too loud, music played all night, and the walk to the room was not fun.

We've stayed at POFQ and POR. We loved both, but if we have to choose, we stay at POR at Magnolia Bend. It is so pretty and quiet near the parking lot and fountains. The quiet pools were quiet and such. There were more bus stops and so we didn't walk far at all.

We have stayed at Boardwalk. We noticed taht the size of the room was the biggest difference. Also, it was quieter and we had a beautiful view. We could see some of Illuminations from our balcony. We loved walking to our room in the A/C and taking the elevator instead of walking stairs every time.

At Fort Wilderness, we loved being so close to nature. We stayed w/ my grandparents in their RV for a week and a half before spending 3 nights at BW. We had a spot right across from the showers which was nice. We loved watching animals and eating breakfast everymorning in the quietness of God's creation. We also liked having a fridge and microwave and such so that we could make our own meals sometimes and not have to leave leftovers at the restraunts.

We have also stayed at the Dolphin, which is a Deluxe hotel, just not owned my Disney. The best part about that is the BEDS!! Also, there was a mini bar in the room which we used to keep water bottles cold as well as our own drinks chilled!

As soon as you walk into the lobby of a deluxe resort, you will notice that it will be a completely different experience than the value resorts.

[MikeCapsFan]

The snack bar (on the ground floor of the tower) is open 24 hours (or it was last time we were there) as opposed to the hours of the food court at All-Stars. A small benefit, but you can fill your refillable mug any hour. [img]graemlins/mickey.gif[/img]

[MikeCapsFan]

When we went to the All Star Sports in June we had to wait in line to check our luggage and also wait to check in. At the Contemporary, the bell crew meets you with a cart to take the bags and check them for you and you almost never have to wait more than a few minutes for the next available check in clerk at the desk. (Although I was quite disappointed by our arrival at GF when they did not seem as prepared for guests to show up--maybe it was because it was spring break.) The best experience of all, so far, has been concierge at the Poly [img]graemlins/tiki.gif[/img] , they sent a bell person over to drive us to the Hawaii building and then to take us staraight to our room before checking in at their desk in that building. [img]graemlins/mickey.gif[/img]

[disney_geek]

Alright peeps, I mean this in the nicest possible way. It was the only analogy I could come up with.

Staying in the Value resorts vs. the Deluxe resorts is like going on vacation and staying in a trailer (ie the cabins at Ft Wilderness, albeit outstanding trailers) vs staying in your rich uncles mansion, only slightly smaller.

No matter where you stay its Disney and we all know what that means!!!!!

peace....

[MissMaryPoppins]

I think everyone who loves WDW should stay in the Contemporary at least once. We've stayed there twice once in a garden wing in 1985 and last summer we stayed in the tower with a view of the Magic Kingdom. Staying in a Deluxe resort is really fun. They have more shops and dining options then a value. At the Grand Floridian we had big fluffy robes in our rooms, they have great room service menus, housekeeping turns your bed down at night..it's alot of little extras that make it a nice experience.

Joy

[QTPie68]

Anytime I see or hear people talking about the different types of resort rooms and what they are like it always makes me think of something kinda funny that happened to me in 2000.

I was planning our honeymoon and really wanted to stay at (then) Dixie Landings. In calling CRO, I had a hard time trying to get the 6 nights in a row at DXL for the honeymoon. The CRO kept trying to push the All-Stars........I said that I was not interested in the All-Stars, I was sure they were nice, but I wanted something a little more upgraded for my honeymoon. Then she told me "well...the linen is the same." Needless to say, I politely hung up [img]graemlins/shakehead.gif[/img]

The next CRO agent I got, actually found us a "deal" at WL, since she could not find the 6 nights I wanted at any moderate hotel. I ended up paying a little more, but got a wonderful deal and was very happy. But, throughout the honeymoon, whenever I commented on how nice the WL was my DH would always say "..you know, the bedding at the All Stars in the same".

We still laugh about it to this day

[MousePassion]

I've stayed at both a value resort(ASports)and a deluxe(AKL)with many a stay at moderates,in between,and here is my opinion...I wouldn't stay at the AS again due to the lack of amenities,over abundance of many groups of unsupervised kids,lack of dining choices,noise level,tiny rooms,etc...I do realize that this resort is perfect for some,like families and people on smaller budgets,it just isn't my cup of tea...The moderates are much better for us,often for just a few dollars more(you've got to shop around)but,a stay in a deluxe is a wonderful treat [img]smile.gif[/img] It's not only the larger rooms,dining options,bigger TV,etc...It's the service,attention to every little detail and the ambiance,so I'd say go for it,as I think everyone deserves a little extra pampering on vacation

[NJDad]

Funny, the only thing I found to be better (besides room rate) at AS over the Contemporary was the food court. Even though the Snack bar at Contemporary is open 24 hours, I'd take the AS food court over the bus station atmosphere at the CR. We visited it hoping for a quick lunch away from park crowds on our way from MK to Epcot and were amazed how dreary it was.

[NothingFails]

This just makes me trip to the All Star Movies even more exciting. [img]graemlins/shakehead.gif[/img]

Oh please, Disney, annual passholder codes... release... them... need the Nahtazu Lodge!

[Aurora]

Three words -- transportation, transportation, transportation.

Except for the WL and AKL, you rely much less on buses at the deluxe resorts. At the Epcot resorts, you can take boat or walk to Epcot and the Studios. You can walk through Epcot to get the monorail to the MK. At the MK resorts, the monorail is king. And at the Poly, you don't even have to transfer to the TTC -- you can walk there!!