A Few Comments about the Moderate Resorts

[mm6mm6]

I thought I'd post my thoughts about our three WDW trips when we stayed at the Moderate Resorts. And sort of compare them to our stays at AKL and ASM. We always stayed during the very crowded summer months.

We never heard noise in our rooms (from outside or from neighbor's room's).

We never even saw our next door room's guests, but we saw stuffed animals arranged in their windows so we knew the rooms were not vacant.

Neither of these statements were true at AKL (plenty of noise from our Savanah View room with other guests on their balconies yelling) or ASM (neighbors were loud yelling, loud pounding on doors, loud tv's).

We drive and I found parking to be much more convenient and close at the Moderates than at AKL. We were always able to bring our luggage right up to our rooms at the Moderates. At AKL, the walk from the entrance to our room was really, really long. It got old very fast just coming and going from the room. The walk to the bus stops at the Moderates was much closer than at either AKL or ASM.

The bus service at The Moderates or at AKL or ASM was exactly the same. We never waited more than 7 minutes for a bus at any resort. No matter where we stayed, the actual ride time never seemed too long. Some rides on the bus did seem very short (the particular resort was very close to the park we went to that day) but none were too long.

The table service restaurants at the Moderates are a really nice option to have compared to the Value Resort's single counter service restaurant.

AKL's and ASM's pools were very, very crowded. To the point where we could not "swim" or toss a splash ball around.

All three Moderates had wonderful themed pools that were never as crowded as those at AKL or ASM. The additional quiet pools really help to spread out the guests. We also found the quiet pools to have much fewer guests and we could swim around and throw a splash ball or Disney beach ball all over the place. Many times we were the only family in the quiet pool (and this was during the summer when it's so crowded).

We really enjoy the "wide open resort" feel of the Moderates. The atmosphere is much more like a resort than a hotel (AKL) or a motel (ASM). The theming and decorations and attention to detail is much more elaborate than at ASM.

We still enjoyed AKL immensely! We did not enjoy ASM very much.

We are planning our first return trip to a Moderate Resort and we chose (as a family) CSR for a second stay.

DW loves the theming. DD11 loves the Dig Site pool, wide stairs, and long Jaguar slide. I love the re-fillable mugs poolside, the Pepper Market and the way the Resort looks at night. Gorgeous. But CBR and POR/POFQ were close seconds!

We can't really afford the higher end Disney Resorts (Floridian, Beach Club, Poly, etc). We tried the Value Resort to see how it was. But for such a small price increase, we really enjoy the Moderates.

 

[LilGMom]

While I can't speak about the AS resorts we have stayed at all of the moderates and half of the deluxes and I must say that I agree completely with your comments about the moderates. I have always enjoyed being able to park close to the room, the quiet pools and the spread out feeling of the mod. resorts. We have always enjoyed walking around the resorts in the evening as a way for all of us to wind-down and you can't really do that so much in the deluxe resorts.

CSR is a gorgeous resort and we have always enjoyed Pepper Market. I don't think you can go wrong at any of the moderates.

 

[LindaR]

I agree. Actually.....I have NEVER stayed at the budget (All Stars, Pop, etc). They totally do not appeal to us and if the money situation was so tight that we could not afford a moderate, then we would wait a while until we could afford it. Now, we have stayed at deluxes and the moderates! Love the moderates for the very reasons the OP stated!

In MY opinion........and I know lots won't agree......the "deluxe" Disney properties are overpriced and very overrated. For the price paid and the services received........very disappointing. We love the moderates. They suit our needs while at WDW perfectly.

On the other hand.....when traveling elsewhere, you will NOT find me at anything less than a Marriott, Westin/Sheraton, or Hyatt......and usually more upscale than those! They tend to "deliver" on the level of service that is expected.

 

[SGMCO]

Thank you so much for the honest Comparison of the MODs,
if been waiting for a thread like this.
The only MOD that we have been hesitant to try is CBR
because I've read and heard plenty of Negatives but
am willing to try it.

I love having a different trip experiance for each different
trip to WDW but once we have tried all of the MODs (we can't afford to
stay at Deluxes) will be choosing our favorite themed MOD to return to.
Don't really have any desire to stay at a Value but if I did I would probably
choose POP (wish WDW would finish the Early Years Section--I'd be there!!)

I also wish WDW would build a New MOD with a totally different fun theme but they are so busy building DVC lodging, that's where they make the Money!!

 

[Buzz2001]

DW loves the theming. DD11 loves the Dig Site pool, wide stairs, and long Jaguar slide. I love the re-fillable mugs poolside, the Pepper Market and the way the Resort looks at night. Gorgeous. But CBR and POR/POFQ were close seconds!

We can't really afford the higher end Disney Resorts (Floridian, Beach Club, Poly, etc). We tried the Value Resort to see how it was. But for such a small price increase, we really enjoy the Moderates.

My DD would agree!

 

[HM]

Thanks for the post.

We've only stayed in a moderate once. We either do value (me and the kids)or deluxe (whole family). I'm thinking next year we may try a moderate at Christmas, since Deluxes are so expensive then. Our main problem is that the moderates have full size beds and our kids are now almost full size people, so the four of us in these beds is a tough way to sleep for a week. How I wish the beds were larger.

 

[CarolA]

I am a big fan of the mods.

Recently I stayed at VAK and at CBR within a week of each other. While I didn't have balcony noise issues overall my CBR room was much quieter. (Hint to parents, the HALL is NOT a playground!!!!!!) CBR is my favorite mod. The rooms are bigger, it seems quieter and my standard view has lots of green stuff not "parking" lot only like my standard view at POR!

 

[luna99]

another moderate lover here! I've stayed at them all and really enjoy all four of them for different reasons! I've also stayed at the value resorts (AsMU, AsSp) and would much rather wait a few months for a trip in order to be able to afford a moderate resort if that's the case. I think they are a complete upgrade and really make you feel like you're "on vacation". I just don't enjoy the big themeing at the value resorts.. I can see how children would like them, but for me I prefer the moderates.

I think if I had to choose a favorite mod though I'd go with CSR .. it's so gorgeous! with POFQ coming in a close second.

I haven't stayed at any Deluxe resorts just yet so I don't know if the difference in price is worth it..but hopefully sometime soon I can stay at one and can compare!

I too wish Disney would build a fifth moderate with a completely different theme... how cool would that be?!?

 

[Rustysmom]

We have stayed at CBR 2 times and recently stayed at BC, and while it was nice being at a deluxe and having Epcot within walking distance, I still like CBR.

At BC we had quite a walk to get to the elevator, and then out to where the bus stop was if we wanted to go to Ak or MK. At CBR we walked out the door, down the stairs, ran across the little parking lot and there was our bus stop.

We missed the food court at CBR. We ended up eating cinnamon rolls and muffins from the Marketplace for breakfast every morning.

Stormalong Bay was beautiful, but since we aren't big pool people anyway, the CBR pools were good enough for us.

Can't stand the values though. We stayed at ASMusic and once was enough. It was too crazy.

 

[LilGMom]

Thank you so much for the honest Comparison of the MODs,
if been waiting for a thread like this.
The only MOD that we have been hesitant to try is CBR
because I've read and heard plenty of Negatives but
am willing to try it.

CBR and POFQ probably tie for our favorite mod. While it can be hike from some of the rooms to the hospitality section it is a beautiful resort.

I still say you can't really lose at any of the moderates!

 

[clkelley]

I normally stay at the Values or at Ft. Wilderness. I have stayed at POFQ once and really liked it because it has what I like about values (small size, 1 bus stop, food court on the way out to the bus stop), but a more tranquil atmosphere.

I am staying at Coronado Springs for two nights in December. I'm only there to sleep as this will be a super short trip, however, I do need some pointers on how to streamline my stay there.

I've already decided to pack breakfast bars, bagels, my favorite travel mug, and hot cocoa mix to avoid having to trek or bus to the food court on my way out.

I'm also not going to be picky on my room location as having a first floor room is very important to me (standard view), so 1st floor will be my only request.

However, which bus stop is the "last" bus stop before heading to the parks in the morning. If it's not too far from my room location, I'll just walk there. I don't want to take the grand tour around the resort each morning before heading on to the parks. (No worries about the bus being full as I'm usually at the bus stop by 7am anyway).

Also, what time should I call Bell Services to come get my luggage by 6:00 am to transfer my bag over to Movies on the day I check out. (I really wish I could just call the night before and have them pick it up after I've left. I LOVE that the value resorts do that.)

 

[OWJAY]

We've only stayed at one moderate this being POR. We would love to try others but unfortunately there are 5 of us so unless we stay in POR it would mean staying at a deluxe which in our opinion it not worth the money. Come on disney another moderate (which hopefully sleeps 5)

 

[mickeyluv'r]

We always stayed during the very crowded summer months.
Neither of these statements were true at AKL (plenty of noise from our Savanah View room with other guests on their balconies yelling) or ASM (neighbors were loud yelling, loud pounding on doors, loud tv's).

At AKL, the walk from the entrance to our room was really, really long. It got old very fast just coming and going from the room. The walk to the bus stops at the Moderates was much closer than at either AKL or ASM.

The bus service at The Moderates or at AKL or ASM was exactly the same. We never waited more than 7 minutes for a bus at any resort. No matter where we stayed, the actual ride time never seemed too long. Some rides on the bus did seem very short (the particular resort was very close to the park we went to that day) but none were too long.

AKL's and ASM's pools were very, very crowded. To the point where we could not "swim" or toss a splash ball around.

All three Moderates had wonderful themed pools that were never as crowded as those at AKL or ASM. The additional quiet pools really help to spread out the guests. We also found the quiet pools to have much fewer guests and we could swim around and throw a splash ball or Disney beach ball all over the place. Many times we were the only family in the quiet pool (and this was during the summer when it's so crowded).

We really enjoy the "wide open resort" feel of the Moderates. The atmosphere is much more like a resort than a hotel (AKL) or a motel (ASM). The theming and decorations and attention to detail is much more elaborate than at ASM.

We still enjoyed AKL immensely! We did not enjoy ASM very much.

We are planning our first return trip to a Moderate Resort and we chose (as a family) CSR for a second stay.

DW loves the theming. DD11 loves the Dig Site pool, wide stairs, and long Jaguar slide. I love the re-fillable mugs poolside, the Pepper Market and the way the Resort looks at night. Gorgeous. But CBR and POR/POFQ were close seconds!

We can't really afford the higher end Disney Resorts (Floridian, Beach Club, Poly, etc). We tried the Value Resort to see how it was. But for such a small price increase, we really enjoy the Moderates.

Interesting post. I've stayed at all levels of resort, and I guess I sort of diagree with some of your observations though....

I think the season has much to do with the differences you experienced.

I've never had much problem with noise at any WDW resort. There was one mod where we heard kids yelling outside our door, but they were saying, WE're going to WDW!" in a really excited tone. It was too cute to go out and yell at them. We all just smiled quietly. Other times we've had noisy AC units, I think at the mods too.

I guess it depends on your room location as to parking. Once at a mod we had pretty good parking, other times it was bad. I agree AKL isn't the shortest distance, really none of them are motel style. Once at POR, we used ME and didn't have a car, but if we had, the walk would have been VERY long. Our walk to EVERYTHING that trip was VERY LONG. It was a really bad room.

I'd also say that at the more crowded times the parking at the mods is very variable. It's hard to describe succinctly , but if you return in the middle of the day you get a decent spot, but if you return at night you have to park WAY out. and the difference between the two is HUGE. At a less crowded time of year, you may not have encountered a full parking lot.

At AKL, the walk to everything (in the resort) from our room was REALLY short - both times I stayed there. I've never come close to seeing that personally at a mod. POFQ is the only one that isn't VERY spread out. All the other mods have a lake in the middle so no matter where your room is located, you'll have long walk to SOMETHING (pool, bus stop, lobby, dining) - if not everything. It may be an enjoyable walk, but the resorts are quite spread out. Our preferred location room at Pop was quite close to everything and well worth the extra bucks. It also makes abig difference which floor you are on. the first floor at a value or mod is much easier.

The same is true of the bus service. This varies quite a bit based on season and resort. We had great luck at AKL when we stayed there, and quite good luck at Pop - but most of the MODs the buses loop around the whole resort, and that in itself takes a while. At the values - there is only one bus stop - or at most it hits the other two All-Stars. At CBR there was like seven stops. At peak season, the bus waits get long no matter which reosrt.

If you were there in the summer, no wonder the pools wer crowded compared to November or October. Indeed, everything is more crowded then.

I'm glad that you enjoy the mods. I'm not trying to put down your experience, just trying to put things in perspective a little. By all means, if you enjoy the mods best, there is nothing wrong with that. Based on price, it is usually our choice too.

 

[DVC Mike]

We love POR and POFQ. We'll supplement our DVC stays with 1-2 nights at either of these resorts.

My wife can't stand the Value resorts, due to the small size of the rooms and the noise from the family next door. Of course, we don't have any kids, either.

However, while the Mods are nice, they don't compare to the Deluxe resorts and DVC villas.

 

[mom to 3 angels]

We've only stayed at one moderate this being POR. We would love to try others but unfortunately there are 5 of us so unless we stay in POR it would mean staying at a deluxe which in our opinion it not worth the money. Come on disney another moderate (which hopefully sleeps 5)

I completely agree here. We are planning our first trip to WDW, and are a famiy of 5. A mod is our cheapest, but POR is our only option. We'd have to have 2 rooms at a Value. Still....I can't wait!! We're going May 18-23.