NMW said:I have read this in a guide book. Maybe Unofficial or Fromer's Walt Disney world with kids??? Anyway, WL was going to be a moderate resort. The standard rooms only sleep 4 not 5 like all the other Deluxe resorts at the time. WL and AKL are the only deluxe resorts that sleep 4 instead of 5-no day bed and slightly smaller rooms. Plus, not on the monorail or Epcot location. I think it's the amazing themeing that makes these resorts so lovely and popular. The book said something about how Disney changed WL to a Deluxe because of it's buzz/popularity but it's still less of a rack rate than say BWI or the other deluxes.
Be careful of what you read in unofficial guide books, they have unofficial information.
My unofficial information (though it comes from a former Disney CM who project managed resort design) is that WL was designed to fill a space between moderates and deluxes - which it does. It gives people the option of having a lot of the deluxe feeling with smaller rooms at a more reasonable price. It was never intended to be a moderate, nor was it intended to be the Grand Floridian or Yacht Club.
I think Disney's vacation vision to to provide its guests an opportunity to move gradually up the "value add" chain. In their vision: You start at the value resorts eating counter service with your hopper. You move to the moderate resorts and add a few full service restaurants. The jump between the moderates and the deluxes can be big, so the deluxe light resorts bridge you. Eventually, a certain number of people will end up staying at the GF, playing golf and eating sit down dinner with drinks at places like the CG.