To start, there are 3 'levels' of Disney hotels. Value, Moderate, and Deluxe - their names correspond with their prices. My first and only childhood trip to WDW (which occurred when I was 16, so not exactly childhood) we stayed at a Deluxe resort on the monorail (also referred to as a 'monorail resort') - the Polynesian or 'the Poly' for short. My second trip to WDW with my husbands family at Easter in 2008 was also at the Poly.
That December we decided we wanted to visit again. We already had our park tickets, so all we needed was a place to stay. That fall they were offering unbelievable discounts on their room only reservations and we scored a room at a Value, All Star Music, for only $59 per night! Wowzers! After that, we were hooked on the Values. Why spend more money on a hotel room that had all the perks - food court, pools, free bus transportation, etc.- of a Deluxe, and we were hardly ever in anyway?
From that point, we stayed at mostly Pop Century (the newest Value until Art of Animation opens this summer 2012) or All Star Music.
Lobby of All Star Music
All Star Music Room
Pop Century Splash Pad area
Pop Century table/ chairs in room
Pop Century Bed
Pop Century Room
Until April 2011. After those awful tornadoes came through Alabama, we escaped South toward WDW and ended up at Caribbean Beach Resort. The Values were full. We love Caribbean Beach and have stayed at it again since that trip. Great resort with an awesome pool/ water area. Other than the pool, a double sink in the bathroom, and a few more square feet in the room, there's not much difference between a Value and a Moderate though. So if we get a choice, we usually choose the Value.
Entrance to Caribbean Beach
Lobby of CBR
Pirate room at Caribbean Beach
One perk and 'step up' of a Moderate over a Value is that the Moderates (and Deluxes) do have an in room fridge (hidden here in the pirate barrel behind ML.) Values do not.
This past trip, we had to stay at a Deluxe as it was the only hotel offering a conference rate and free shuttle for Big Daddy's Business trip. We stayed at the Beach Club and it was amazing. There is a huge difference between a Value and a Deluxe. But of course you pay a LOT more too!
Beach Club entrance from 'back' or International Gateway Entrance
Beach Club room
View from our balcony at Beach Club
Pool at Beach Club - has slides, lazy river, 3 hot tubs, sand bottom pools, beach area for kids in one of the pools (pictured above) and so much more!
So there you have it! A mix of Disney's on property hotels. You really can't go wrong with any of them. We've had nothing but amazing experiences at all levels of Disney hotel.
One of the biggest reasons I recommend staying on property will be the subject of my next post: Dining at Disney!
