Torn between Value or Moderate

[GATORinaZ28]

I have just over 100 days to figure out if I want to reserve a value or a moderate, and I have been going back and forth daily.

I will be just me, so I dont really need much. I love the moderates and prefer them, but the savings by going to a value is tempting.

So torn...

 

[Tigger's ally]

That is why we split stay a lot of the time. Spend the first half at the value to save money, then switch to the Mod to "pamper" ourselves. We then tailor our trip to match, spending the long park days when we are at the value and a little more resort time at the mod. We do this at times with a mod/deluxe split as well. Always save the higher tier for last so that we look forward to it.

That being said, if it were just I, I think I would just stay value and upgrade to close to the bus/food, and use my money saved on nice dinners.

 

[maryj11]

I would go with a moderate. I just like how they have such beautiful landscapes and seem more peaceful. I also love the hot tubs after a long day walking. Each time I have stayed at a value it just seems more crowded and noisy. Which makes since because a lot of families choose the values to be able to afford to go to Disney. But if your not going to be at the resort very much I would pick a value and save the money for other things. Well I know I haven't been much help lol.

 

[buzznina]

We really like the Mods, but like a PP mentioned, if you are not going to spend time at the resort and do not care about full size beds, then save and stay value.

 

[5kidsmommy]

I thought about doing value on this trip instead of a moderate but I want to be able to sleep and it really seems like values have a reputation of being loud. I am hoping that that won't be an issue with moderates. Something else to think about but since I have never done either, our home is Fort Wilderness, my advice may not matter or be truth.

 

[MyOtherSS]

If you only use the room to sleep in and don't spend much time enjoying the resort I say value. If you like to spend time seeing what the resort has to offer I say moderate.

 

[dpswift]

If you only use the room to sleep in and font spend much time enjoying the resort I say value. If you like to spend time seeing what the resort has to offer I say moderate.

This is what I would say. Also what would you do with the savings? That would have a huge impact on my choice.

 

[lustergirl]

I am staying solo at AS Sports in 17 days. I would much rather enjoy a moderate resort with my whole family. I don't spend much time in my room anyways so Sports is just right for me.

 

[dkrauss]

The MDE pages have a COMPARE function where you can put resorts side by side and look at price (which seems to be your issue) and amenities. That may help you out a lot.

Doug

 

[jaiminee krikit]

On my solo trip a couple of years ago, I stayed at Pop Century. I absolutely loved it! My family and I usually stay at a moderate, but I decided to save a few (hundred) bucks and try out a value. I was a little nervous with the idea of walking by myself at night at any resort, but I had no issues at Pop. I was very close to the main building so I could use more populated walkways to get to my room without going out of my way (as I would have probably done most nights at a moderate).

I requested a room on the top floor in the 50's section and got what I requested, and I was facing the 60's section. It was surprisingly quiet except in the mornings - there were employee golf carts below my door, and they get started pretty early (I was usually waking up at that point and that's probably why I heard them). I will still always stay moderate if I'm with my family, but on my solo trips I will probably always stay value.

 

[Disneylover99]

If I was on my own, I would choose a Value for sure.

 

[bluezy]

I thought about doing value on this trip instead of a moderate but I want to be able to sleep and it really seems like values have a reputation of being loud. I am hoping that that won't be an issue with moderates. Something else to think about but since I have never done either, our home is Fort Wilderness, my advice may not matter or be truth.

We've stayed at ASMovies, Pop Century, and AoA a total of 35 nights and have never had a noise issue. I'm not saying it never happens, but you don't know who your "neighbors" are going to be at any resort or hotel (honestly, I've had more noise issues at non-Disney hotels). I know that school groups usually stay at the All Star Resorts (and occasionally at Port Orleans Riverside) so there have been some noise issues with those groups. If you're worried about noise, I'd stay away from those resorts. If you're in a room facing a pool, you should expect to hear noise. All of the resorts have areas that are naturally more noisy than others (facing a pool in a Value resort, near an elevator or stairway door in other resorts, etc.). An upper floor room in a non-pool area of a value resort will usually be very quiet unless you end up with a particularly noisy neighbor (which could happen at any resort or hotel). We always request the top floor of the building and in 5 stays at Value resorts, there has only been a few nights that I even saw or heard anyone else on our "wing" of the building but they've never been noisy. Most of the time we've felt like we had that section of the building to ourselves. I think most people prefer *not* to be on the top floor so that's the one that fills up last. Our 4th Floor, Building 4 room at Pop Century was our favorite location -- quiet area, beautiful view of the lake, could see fireworks from our room at night, yet we were close to the pool and main building. If you want to save money, don't rule out the Value Resorts because a few people complain about noise. They are not the crazy loud resorts that some people try to make them out to be.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

We did a value one year and it didn't feel like a vacation as we never really felt relaxed. They don't have that aaaaah feeling that you get at the moderates. If you are always at a park and have very young kids may be worth it tho. We personally would give up a park, dinner, etc. to book a moderate.

 

[HopperFan]

I do love both for different reasons. I think you just need to get down to what it is you will be doing on your trip. That said unless money were not object or the difference not too much, I'd likely go value so I could have extra money for lots of awesome eats and drinks, maybe some shopping that I usually don't get to do with the gang and maybe a couple tours.

The true plus for Moderate to me:
- Queen sized bed and often softer (I do appreciate but not a must)
- Nicer linens and towels (I do appreciate but not a must)
- Hot Tub and Slide at pool (I wouldn't use)
- Most have table service (I eat all over the world)
- Beautiful landscape and outdoors vs the Disney icon decor


NOTE: I stay POP often and usually pick this view for my stays. Have stayed 4-12 days. It is very relaxing.

 

[kwdw]

I've stayed solo at both a mod and a value. What have I learned? Value is fine if I'm bargain hunting for the trip, but if I want a step up, you can often rent points for a DVC studio for not much more than a mod and those are worth the step up!

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Going by myself, I just can't see paying the money for a moderate. The "value" just isn't there for me.

• You're still in a motel room with an outdoor exit.
  
• The moderate room is a little larger, but if I'm by myself, I don't need the extra room.
• The bed is larger (unless I score a king in my value) but, again, by myself, I really don't need a larger bed.
• The landscaping is nicer in a moderate than a value, but that doesn't matter to me.
• The pools at moderates are nicer, but I don't get into Disney pools anymore. Too many young ones doing who knows what in the water.
• The moderate resorts are much larger, and more spread out. So if you are taking a bus to a park, you may have multiple stops before leaving for your destination, or when returning to your room.

So far I've stayed at an All Stars and POP. I have to say I much preferred my All Star experience and will be booking my next trip there. When I was at POP it took me days to figure out the most direct route to and from my room because all the walkways were so curvy and indirect. The food court was always very hectic (even late nights) and the buses were much more crowded than the All Stars buses.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I thought about doing value on this trip instead of a moderate but I want to be able to sleep and it really seems like values have a reputation of being loud. I am hoping that that won't be an issue with moderates. Something else to think about but since I have never done either, our home is Fort Wilderness, my advice may not matter or be truth.

Sometimes reputations are not deserved.

I think it depends on where your room is located. I made the request for a "quiet location" on my reservation at All Star Movies. It was very quiet whenever I was in the room except for one evening when there was a girl in a room sharing my room's back wall who was a little noisy. Well kids will be kids. She was all done by 8-8:30 p.m. so it really wasn't a big deal.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you think you want a hot tub, or a sit down dinner at your resort, go with a moderate. If you are going to be at the resort pretty much to sleep and that is it, go value. Any resort can be loud or quiet, depending on where your room is located and who your neighbors are. If quiet is vital, as for the back side of a building, and a high floor.

 

[Xennia]

The noise at the value resorts is real. I can hear when people pee, flush, shut the door, walk by, sneeze, cough. Etc. not so much if ever at a moderate. However being said I recommend if going to a value to get the top floor. They have elevators. You don't hear as much.

I'm an annual pass holder and stay at all resorts. The value and moderate have just as much fun as each other. It's all about what you like.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

You choose a value over POR! Well that just...