Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 The problem as alluded to above is that WDW's resorts have been dumbed down to where homogenization sets in and you do get largely the same quality of everything from toilet paper to towels to shampoo to room amenities whether you're paying $99 a night or $599. As to the value of the resorts ... well, when I can get a (friend of) CM, AP or FLA resident rate and it's in value or even regular season, it's a good value to me whether I am at the ASMu, Port Orleans, WL or Poly. Beyond that ... well, then it isn't a value to me because Disney service simply isn't up to snuff with what resorts should have. I was even surprised to see recently that Disney's value resorts (despite all being renovated, but the Movies dump) were only rated two diamonds by AAA. I don't expect any Disney resort to be less than three. And back to the value equation, I recently cancelled an AP $99 room at a moderate (not a bad rate by any measure) and used Priceline.com instead. I wound up with four nights at a Country Inn and Suites (right next to Super WalMart for all my trailer trash needs) for $20 a night (including breakfast and high speed Internet and resort style pool with zero entry and water slides and jacuzzi) and five nights at DD Hilton for $49, where I got a room and service that were equal or superior to a Disney deluxe resort. Those to me were tremendous values and in no way did I feel like I was slumming it or missing out on the magic. (The Hilton, BTW, participates in Disney EMH so I got all the benefits I'd have gotten by staying at a Disney owned moderate for half the price and could walk across the stree to DD.) Again, value is subjective. But I do believe anyone (and that includes my friends who have done so) who would pay $250 for a Disney motel like Dixie Landings (even Christmas week) are nuts. Of course, as a world traveler who is savvy, I also think that anyone who pays over $400 a night for a standard room (i.e. no suites, villas etc.) is also crazy!
Originally Posted By joe80x86 A couple of comments: Pro: 1) EMH access is nice 2) Fast bus transport to the parks. Of course I would never stay at anything below a moderate because if the bus is standing room only most of the time I won't use it. 3) Adds to the feeling of simply being away from it all! Very relaxing. Con: 1) I live 1.5 hrs away, so I drive therefore having access to free airport transportation is worthless to me. 2) I am a passholder and get to park for free at the parks if I so choose. There probably are a few other cons but in the end I really don't beleive the Pro's outweigh the average price. I would never pay over $120 per night for any disney hotel. Also I have over time stayed at many Orlando area hotels and have never had to pay a parking fee. Of course if I would I would include it in the average nightly cost of the room and then make a decision from there if hotel A has $79 rooms plus a $10 daily parking fee and a $5 resort fee (what the heck is a "resort fee" anyway?) and hotel B is $85 per night with a $5 resort fee then I would simply choose hotel B. You must include the extra fees in the room cost or the hotels will bend you over.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<(what the heck is a "resort fee" anyway?)>> Primarily, parking. They usually also throw in local phone calls and a daily USA Today. The local phone calls should be free in the first place. The USA Today is worthless. So it is primarily parking.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 You use to get the Orlando paper, which actually had news in it, but yes USA Today is really worthless.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>> Fast bus transport to the parks. Of course I would never stay at anything below a moderate because if the bus is standing room only most of the time I won't use it.<<< Not at AKL. It was a standing experience and the waits were terrible.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Not at AKL. It was a standing experience and the waits were terrible. << Don't get me started Dave. That is my Pet Peeve at WDW. I'm almost as fanatical about that as vbdad's hatred of PPS.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Indeed, but it doesn't have to be that way. Even if it cost $2 more per night, per guest it would be worth it.
Originally Posted By MPierce I honestly would gladly pay an additional $10 a night for a faster transportation system, that actually allowed me to sit, and rest my bones as I traveled to, and from the Parks. The cost of a taxi ride everywhere is just to prohibitive for my cheap a--!
Originally Posted By Wingman1969 Personally I have stayed in the value resorts a couple of times and have decided it is just as easy (and less expensive) to stay in Kissimee on 192. IMHO this gives me more money to spend in the parks if I so choose and when I clocked travel time from the hotels (I stayed in Movies) on property and compared it to the off property hotels, I found it was roughly the same. Keep in mind though that I rarely avail myself to the amenities at the hotel since I am usually only using it for a clean bed to sleep in, however, on many occasions I've actually had more in-room amenities (microwave, fridge, etc) at some of the cheaper hotels than I did at the value resorts.
Originally Posted By fkurucz ^^^My impression of the rooms at the values is a Motel 6 with a Disney logo. Yeah, I know that the value "resort" has amenities not found at a Motel 6 (like an expensive food court), package express, decent pools and bus service.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 <<<<I honestly would gladly pay an additional $10 a night for a faster transportation system, that actually allowed me to sit, and rest my bones as I traveled to, and from the Parks>>> I know there are people who say Disney higher ups don't read these posts, but if any of them do, the rates just went up $10 a night. Shame on you, MPierce.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I know there are people who say Disney higher ups don't read these posts, but if any of them do, the rates just went up $10 a night. Shame on you, MPierce. << Remember I stipulated fast efficent service with no standing. If they providse me with that, I'll gladly pay for it, plus I'll pay for your family too.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 The fact that people are largely sheep doesn't need a political example (although I sure could easily state them) ... no, the perfect example is that Disney can charge guests over $300 a night (in some cases double that at some deluxes and DVCs) and make them stand like cattle (which isn't safe no matter how you spin it) in a stinky, disgusting herd of humanity to cap (or start) a magical day.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<the perfect example is that Disney can charge guests over $300 a night (in some cases double that at some deluxes and DVCs) and make them stand like cattle (which isn't safe no matter how you spin it) in a stinky, disgusting herd of humanity to cap (or start) a magical day.>> Which is better than your typical Hilton which provides no transportation benefits whatsoever. Well, except for Paris. Paris in a car is a lot of fun.
