Are moderates really that much better

[Tinbadge69]

I have been looking a lot at the Moderates, but they dont seem to be very much better than the Values.
I have always stayed in the All-Stars and loved it, but thought of going up one time to get a different view. After all the investigating though I dont know if it would be worth it.
The reviews dont seem to be that good on CBR and POR. There is always something in there about the mold in the rooms and the musty smell. There are also complaints about the distance to the main buildings.
The one big difference I can tell between the two types is the pools. The Moderates seem to have themed pools where as the Values really dont other than the shape.
Room size doesnt look to be a big difference either.
I know it sounds like Im downing the Moderates, but Im really not trying to. I just dont know if it is worth the money.
I'll take any suggestions though. If you have some thoughts, please let me know. Are there things that I should be looking for, or that Im missing?
Thanks to all the DIS'ers

 

[millerpjm]

I haven't stayed there yet, but I booked Coronado Springs partly because it has 2 queen beds in the room instead of 2 doubles. The main pool and the overall theme of the resort seems pretty cool too.

I think a lot of picking a resort is preference....

Good luck!

 

[catbertdave99]

I think it all depends on what matters to you and your family. For us, we love the beauty of CBR... the beaches, the boat rentals, bike rentals, and the multiple bus stops (one at every village). Some like having a sit-down restaurant at the resort, although that doesn't matter to us.

Having said that, we stayed at POP a few years ago and liked it just fine -- we just prefer the atmosphere of CBR better, but I really think it just depends on each person -- after all, no matter what resort you're at, you're at DISNEY WORLD!

 

[disneydreamin247]

I'm not downing Value resorts in any way, but I would choose CBR over Pop every time. CBR rooms have the same sq footage as WL. They are MUCH bigger than those at Pop. We never smelled must or noticed mold. The grounds are so lush and quiet. The distance is greatly exaggerated IMO. We stayed in 51 which is a standard room, not preferred, and were no more than 5 minutes from OPR. The walk didn't even seem that long because it was right across the bridge, and that walk was so beautiful and serene. I stayed in a preferred room at Pop in the 60's on the 3rd floor towards the front of the building and the time it took me to walk to the elevator, wait for it, then backtrack to get to Classic Hall seemed to be about the same time.

 

[Vijoge]

We stayed at All Stars Movies and it was ok. We stayed at Coronado Springs and we loved it! This week we're at Bay Lake Tower.

 

[GATORinaZ28]

Our experience with the Mods is that both times we stayed at one (CBR and CSR), they were very quiet. They were much quieter than AllStar Sports. I love quiet in the evening and both resorts came through.

 

[skater]

Once we started staying at a moderate, I was never able to go back to values. We did try and I really missed a lot of things. Especially the hot tub. I like CSR a lot and I love POR. We had one bad stay there (lots of bad luck), but last year everything was perfect. We loved the food court, the boat to DTD, and the beautiful landscaping. The pool are is real nice too. I think its worth it, but if you're satisfied at a value, maybe you should leave well enough alone .

 

[tink20]

We have stayed at Coronada and Port Orleans Riverside, then we stayed at All Star Music Family Suite and Pop Century. We stayed at the values because once I took my DDs two friends and then the next year I took her boyfriend, so I needed two rooms at the Pop. I just could not afford two rooms at a moderate. I love saving money, and spending it on something fun. I loved the values. DH not so much.

We are never in our room, except to shower and sleep. I would gladly stay at either again. Now, my husband said, the next time we go to WDW, we are staying at a moderate, He said he is tired of the values.

The pools are better, but we don't swim but maybe once while we are there. The fridge in the room is nice to have too, in the moderates. The towels are better quality in the moderates. As far a transportation, we had the best at CSR, and the worst at POR. But our bus experience has never been horrible at any of the resorts. It is nice to have a table service restaurant, but its not a necessity to me. I like to stay somewhere different everytime. So, I don't know where I will stay next.

But, for the money, I think values are GREAT!

 

[KELLY]

For us we love the moderates but I'm not willing to part with 650.00 for a 10 day stay. So we are booked at pop. If it was around 300-400 I would do it beacuse of the fridge and the room and the extra ammenties. Honestly the rooms aren't a ton larger but resorts are nice.
That being said if free dining comes out for Ocotber we are mocing our trip up a week to take advantage of that and a moderate. The price diffrence will be around 270.00 for 9 nights. That I can handle.

 

[kaysmommie]

We stayed at Pop once and while we liked it okay for just a room to shower and sleep. It wasn't our first choice of places to stay because the room is tiny for a family of 4 and it's just very busy and loud. We did enjoy CBR so much on our stay there. While it wasn't the Poly it still had a tropical feel and was quiet and relaxing. My kids loved the pools there as well. The room felt much larger after being in a vale size room.

 

[aubriee]

I go to WDW several times a year and about 2/3's of those trips are solo trips (I'm a much bigger WDW fan than my husband). I've stayed at three of the values (including multiple stays at POP), all of the moderates, and four of the deluxes (AKL twice). Now even on my solo trips I usually stay at one of the moderates. My reasons:

nicer decor, bigger rooms, double sinks (except at CSR), ceiling fans, refridgerators, coffee pots, covered bus stops with benches, queen size beds at CSR (and also at POFQ and PORS as soon as they finish the current rehab), boat to DTD at POFQ and PORS, TS restaurants (except at POFQ), nicer pools, pool slides, hot tubs, health club at CSR, more landscaping (less concrete), rooms usually quieter, much better bus service at CSR, and usually the moderate bus stops coming out of the parks at night are closer (not at MK necessarily though). I prefer the food courts at CSR and PORS, but love how small POFQ is. It's the smallest resort on property so no room is very far from the main building or bus stop. CSR and CBR have lovely white sand beaches with hammocks to relax in. CSR and POFQ have fountains. I like the gift shops better at CSR and PORS.

 

[Kay1]

I think the room size does matter. When my husband is along we stay at a mod strictly for the extra room. When it's just my son and I, we stay at a value; we save money and I prefer the bus stop situation.

Best of luck making your choice.

 

[720L]

The pools are better and a refrigerator in your room is all the difference I see. The queen size beds at CSR are nicer too.

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

As with everything it's a matter of personal preference. We stayed for five nights at POR and had to move to ASMu for our last night once and I really didn't care for ASMu. The difference to me was the plastic feel at the ASMu. We went from wood furniture, more room, bright and airy rooms to a darker, smaller, laminate room.

However, I'm older now. In my earlier years when my kids were younger the $ would have changed my mind. These days my old bum is built for comfort.

We also chose the moderate on our last trip because of the free dining. If we'd stayed in a value it would have been QSDP and we had the standard free dining in the mod. I would also suggest if you go moderate try POFQ. It's small, beautiful and immaculately themed.

 

[Donaldswife]

Our experience with the Mods is that both times we stayed at one (CBR and CSR), they were very quiet. They were much quieter than AllStar Sports. I love quiet in the evening and both resorts came through.

This has been my experience as well. I stayed at Pop last September and it was just too loud for me. The value resorts have a more dense population than the mods or deluxes, more people in a smaller space, so it just feels more crowded and the noise level is higher. Mods & deluxes tend to be more spread out and less dense. I have stayed at Pop, WL (3X), Poly and POFQ and Pop was dramatically louder than any of the others. I need quiet to sleep, and values just didn't deliver in that respect for me, so it will be Mod or Deluxe for me from now on.

 

[disneychic2]

The values are 260 sq ft while the moderates are 314 sq ft. We almost always do the moderates. We like POFQ because we love that it's small and intimate and has the boat to DTD. To us, it's worth the extra money. Of course, we're staying at a Deluxe this coming trip, so hopefully we'll still be happy with the moderates after that experience!

 

[KatMark]

Our experience with the Mods is that both times we stayed at one (CBR and CSR), they were very quiet. They were much quieter than AllStar Sports. I love quiet in the evening and both resorts came through.

This was our experience as well. We stayed at the All-Star Sports in 2000 for three nights and none of us could handle all of the noise, the "busy" feel, etc., and we moved to the CSR which we found so much more relaxing.

It really comes down to how you want your vacation to be, OP. We are a family (well, now it is just DH and I), who enjoy a mid-afternoon break where we can relax and get away from the "busy" aspect of the trip and enjoy the quiet pools or main pool, a stroll around the resort, sitting in a hammock, etc.

 

[goofy4prez]

I agree with KatMark and do the same thing. A resort for my family is not about just putting our heads on a pillow after running around the parks from early morning EMH to late night EMH. We enjoy a nice pool, nicely decorated grounds, queen size beds, and no cheer groups chanting "we are the bearcats mighty mighty bear cats" at 1:00 in the morning.

Not attacking those who love values, but for me it is sensory overload. I could not handle looking at giant yo'yo's, big wheels, bowling pins, football helmets, not to mention bright purple, yellow, orange, blue, green and red buildings. Not to mention the tour groups, cheer groups, pop warner groups and etc. Again, to each their own which is why WDW has three levels and many different themes. I'm sure my favorite is not liked by many.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

OMIGOSH yes!!!

The mods are SO QUIET! The beds are better and so are the pools.

 

[LeeLee'sMom]

We have stayed at values and mods..most recently last year Sept. at POFQ. I have to say I will not look back at the values..unless I absolutely have to. I just like the feel of the mods better, quieter and the covered bus stops are a must especially when the temperatures are high. The pools are better with slides, which is a must for us. The landscaping is so beautfiul. This Aug/Sept we are staying at CBR for the first time. Can't wait. My DD5...she turned 5 today ..is so excited about the childrens pirate water area, plus there is also a table service restaurant, which is nice to have too. I am hoping possibly next year..to try a deluxe...oh well if not quite happy with the mods..