Are moderates really that much better

[SOnotLayuh]

The pools and hottubs have been mentioned, as well as the towels - these are all very important.

One of my favorite things about staying at the moderates is the way bussing is handled. I hate how at the values they herd you into those chained lines... you're all up against other people... and when someone on a scooter pulls up the entire line heaves a collective sigh of frustration. I hate all of the negativity - it seems like these people are just upset about being herded! Which I totally understand. I've done the All Stars, and I've done Pop, and I felt this way every time.

When we upgraded to CSR half way through our engagement trip we became converts... haven't been able to stay value since then! The rooms are so much bigger, the entire FEEL of the resort is SO different... the busses are a relaxing endeavor. I've never had to stand on a CSR bus.

DH demands to stay moderate or deluxe because they have ceiling fans... lol. They do make a big difference in the room!

 

[pigletto]

IMO yes they are that much better. I am basing my experience on one stay at Pop century vs. two stays at Mods (CSR, and POR).
For me the things that were better.. quiet, lush landscaping vs. concrete, much better busing situation as we rely completely on buses, better pools, more enjoyable food court etc.
One felt like a place to stay, the other felt like a vacation. That being said, that is absolutely not the case for everyone and we all have different preferences. Nobody is right or wrong.. it's just what works best for your family.

I will admit my experience at Pop was colored by a few things that aren't always the case. There was a really scary rude woman who literally pushed her way in front of us in the bus line and pretty much dared us to do something about it and someone threw up at the pool and it was there overnight

That did me in. However I know I could go back, request a quieter location and likely never have a repeat of those issues so really they aren't a factor when making my choice anymore.

 

[ccgirl]

One word, YES. That is IMHO. I have stayed at POFQ. I did not want to stay at POR, or CBR due to their large size. The rooms seemed a little more updated and the decor was more in line with my taste. As you said, the pools are themed with a water slide which is a HUGE plus for my DD8. In addition, there is a sit down restaurant on site. I get sick of counter service so that is important to us as well.

 

[cruisingkat]

We have stayed at both POP and POFQ, POR, and CS as well as WL. To us, the values are OK - but we prefer the moderate or higher. But budget has a lot to do with what we select. We try to do a deluxe for longer trips - where we will be spending time at the resort.
For normal trips, we have set a figure that we use to determine if we do a moderate or value - the figure is the value that we set for the extra amenities (fridge, coffee pot, and ceiling fan and queen beds) offered by the moderates. If the difference between the moderate and value is within that figure, then we will stay at a moderate. If not, we stay at a value.
Of course in the summer, we do increase that figure that we use to add extra for the ceiling fan - after all it is FL in the summer .

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Yes. We loved POR and are returning there in January. We will never stay at All Stars again. Did not enjoy the atmosphere at all. Dh said he might consider staying there if it was free. maybe. We had such a completely wonderful time at POR that we still smile thinking about our trip. The whole hotel atmosphere just fit our family better. Somebody else said that the value hotels feel like the mall on a friday night and that summed up how it felt to us. Not our cup of tea.

 

[Rekenna]

Hi! I really love the Values, if it wasn't for the Values our family would not be able to go WDW as often as we do, or at all. It's just not in our budget to spend alot of $$$ on a hotel.

I am getting to go to POFQ for my next visit, but only b/c it is being paid for by my sister. I am really looking forward to something new.

Our issue now is that we will have to stay in a Mod from now on. There are 5 of us, so our cheapest option, if staying on site, is POR AB. The family suites are too expensive and 1 POR AB room is less than 2 Value rooms. I am looking forward to POR, possibly in the fall and I know the boys will love it. They will really like the themed swimming areas.

I have a goal to stay, at least once, at every resort in my lifetime. I have tried all the Values excpet ASMu and have loved all of them.

I think the Value vs Mod thing is a preference, in our case it will be our only option in the future.

 

[cjsm&d]

No offense to anyone who loves the values, because each person has their own opinion and criteria, but....

I would stay at Bonnet Creek or a DTD hotel over a WDW Value.

 

[nkereina]

The Port Orleans rooms are being renovated at both hotels giving them Queen beds which will be a great addition, and I'd reckon it would remove any "mold" people may have seen. I've stayed at POR and didn't encounter any mold. We are staying there again in Sept. I'd venture to stay all of the resorts have a mold in some form because of the FL humidity. One way to avoid getting a room far from the main building is booking a Preferred Room or staying at POFQ which is small and everything is in close proximity.

For my boyfriend and I, the moderate resorts suit us best. They are not bustling with kids like the values tend to be, and the theming of the resorts (namely POR where we like to stay) is a little more "mature" or "adult-oriented" as opposed to the theming at the All Stars. We also like DTD so the boat to DTD from POR is something we like also.

 

[catra121]

Okay...here's my take on this...have stayed at POR, CSR, and Pop Century.

Pop - Stayed here on a mother/daughter trip with just my mom. We used the money we saved on staying value to upgrade to Dlx Dining Plan. Resort was fun to walk around, had a room on the side facing the lake so it was quiet. For this sort of adults only trip, even if dad and brother were in tow...I would absolutely stay here again. Also would stay here if boyfriend and I ever take a trip with his young nephew (currently 2) because it would be so much fun for a little one.

POR - Stayed here with my boyfriend in 2004 and it was just the two of us. Very romantic...loved strolling around the resort at night just the two of us. Themeing was very much our style. Had a room with a king bed so there was PLENTY of space for us. Fridge in room was a nice bonus as we did use it for leftovers or to hold 2 liter bottles of pop for time in the room so we didn't have to go out in search of drinks late at night or early in the morning. Bus service was fine and you get used to the layout quickly.

CSR - Stayed here in 2008 for parents vow renewal with me and BF in one room, mom/dad/brother in another, and grandma in yet another. My least favorite resort as I didn't really like the themeing and for grandma it was very difficult for her to get around.

Planning on staying Deluxe DVC for upcoming solo trip - Saving money by renting points so this literally cuts cost in HALF (saves $1600). Resort atmosphere is very important to me for this trip since I plan on spending a lot more time there just relaxing.

What does all this have to do with your question? If you have stayed value and like it, then spend the money on some other sort of splurge that you maybe have always dreamed of doing but have never done. If you just want to try something different and there's a moderate that looks like it calls to you, then try it. If none of the mods call to you, then why would you want to stay someplace just for the sake of being different? It's a personal preference and there's nothing wrong with preferring a value if that's how you feel. I base my choice on the sort of vacation I want to take to Disney World (there are many different kinds)...that's what helps me decided. I suggest looking over the options and asking yourself what you really want to do and then go with it. Don't let other people convince you that you're missing something by not trying a mod if you don't see one that appeals to you.

 

[catra121]

Hi! I really love the Values, if it wasn't for the Values our family would not be able to go WDW as often as we do, or at all. It's just not in our budget to spend alot of $$$ on a hotel.

I am getting to go to POFQ for my next visit, but only b/c it is being paid for by my sister. I am really looking forward to something new.

Our issue now is that we will have to stay in a Mod from now on. There are 5 of us, so our cheapest option, if staying on site, is POR AB. The family suites are too expensive and 1 POR AB room is less than 2 Value rooms. I am looking forward to POR, possibly in the fall and I know the boys will love it. They will really like the themed swimming areas.

I have a goal to stay, at least once, at every resort in my lifetime. I have tried all the Values excpet ASMu and have loved all of them.

I think the Value vs Mod thing is a preference, in our case it will be our only option in the future.

Have you ever thought of renting DVC points? Some of the 1BRs accomodate 5, there's lots more space, and you can do it for less than many of the moderates (depending on the time of year of course). I did a quick check and compated a 1BR at AKV vs a mod with 5nights and 6day tickets with park hoppers (didn't know ages so just used adult prices and that would bring costs down obviously). The price for the 1BR villa with tickets was $2770. Through Disney at a mod it was $3128.95. Just a thought if you want to try something different. Renting points is not for everyone so maybe it's not something you would even want to consider. But I thought I'd point out the option (maybe I'm too nosey...and I apologize if that's the case...certainly not my intention).

 

[bjscheel]

We've stayed Value twice, and Mod once, about to do a second Mod. The values were great, but what I liked about Mod is the refrigerator and the bus stops. With the refrigerator, we can bring cereal and buy milk and save on breakfast, and get to the bus earlier in the morning. I liked walking to the covered bus stop and sitting on a bench to wait instead of standing in line. In November at CBR the bus stops were never very many people. June will probably be different!

In our case, though, we have booked when there is a % off a value and a greater % off a mod, so with the increased discount, it has only been about $200 more. If it were a greater difference, I would have to think about it harder before I went to a mod.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I think there is a huge difference between mod and value...for us we will never stay value again, I would rather stay offsite. The rooms are no better than a Motel 6, they are small, they are old, they are noisy and the resort is always packed. The food court is ick and the place is always too crowded.

We have stayed at all the mods and love them, larger rooms, more spread out, better food court and not noisy and slammed all the time.

 

[mayesq]

For us, it absolutely is worth the extra money. We tried Pop once, and we are at Disney about 4 times a year. We didn't feel like we had enough space and we missed having a fridge. My husband almost walked out - and it was clean enough. It just didn't work for us.