Deluxe in the past now trying Value!

[Luv2trav]

We have stayed at the POLY and AKL on our previous visits with 1 night at POFQ. We this new free dining promotion we are considering going this October for 6 nights and staying at POP.

Has anyone ever stayed at a value after a deluxe and enjoyed it? I know EXACTLY what I am getting into here. I don't have any expectations that they will have the same accomodations as a deluxe...

 

[HaleyB]

Yep we have done all three. AKL, POR, and Pop.

From now on I will book split stays if we have more than week, Value for park days and a few days at a Deluxe for R&R towards the end of our stay. I felt guilty leaving those expensive resorts all day to go to the parks. Most days all I do is sleep and shower in my room. I find the Moderates not a big enough price break from the standard rooms at a Deluxe (AKL is what I am thinking).

Noise. I have heard people say the rooms at Pop have noise problems. I don't think they are any worse than we had at AKL. But the Pop was full so we had people in rooms on every side of us. At AKL the resort was no where near full so it seemed like there was less noise from other rooms.

Room size. Pop rooms are smaller, but I am not trying to move my couch in, lol. Who needs floor space? There was plenty of space for all our 'stuff' and clothing.

Onsite stuff to do- Pop had more than I expected. A cute pool (no zero entry though, but I knew that going in). A nice game room, a pool side bar, great food court, hair wrap stations even Surry Bikes while I was there. I am a simple girl. A wet pool and a bar 3 steps away makes me happy. Of course nothing like AKL, where we had to extend our stay because we felt like we missed so much.

I read somewhere here where someone said you find more "commonors" a Pop. I guess I'm one of them- I found the people at Pop (guests) fun and mostly very kind. Much more so than I found at AKL where people seemed more to keep to themselves. Nothing wrong with that either.

I will say that nothing about Pop is soothing. It is a party for the senses and I am not sure I could take two weeks there. I would burn out. But for those days when all you do at yor resort is catch a bus, the Pop is a great choice.

 

[keddy]

1

 

[ScottieDog]

Thanks for asking...and answering this question. Given the prices being offered at the value we've wondered if we were being silly by not considering the "values".

To date we've only ever stayed at the moderates, Port Orleans, Dixie Landings and Caribbean Beach (which was the best).

What has kept us out of the value resorts was, well…..we didn’t want to be inundated by small children. We’re a couple without kids, would we feel VERY out of place?

Thanks~

 

[keddy]

1

 

[dennisnlisab96]

We stayed at POP last April and LOVED it...I have nothing bad to say about that resort. We had 2 room and diddn't have aproblem with noise in either one. We are planning to go back next March!

 

[Jen D]

We've been considering the same thing. I think as long as you research the resort and know what to expect, you'll be fine. And just look at the HUGE amount you'll save on accomodations.

Just go into it knowing it will be a completely different type of trip with a different vibe, and you can enjoy it. All of my Disney trips have been at wildly different accomodations and budget levels and the next two trips I'm planning are completely different again. Enjoy the variety and make it a positive, not a negative!

 

[nboicepardee]

I have stayed at all of the places you have, and on our last trip we stayed at POP for 4 nights. We had a great time and were so busy in the parks during the day, we didn't spend that much time at the resort. We found our room just a tad noisy, but we were really close to, and facing the pool. Perhaps ask for a room facing the other way. The noise was not out of control at all and we go to bed early so I expected some noise. I would much rather go again and save the money, especially if it meant not going at all!

 

[Luv2trav]

The free dining deal has my mind racing... THAT combined with value resort in value season is a SUPER SUPER deal...

 

[DisneyWisher]

My family is an all or nothing type. Last Sept we stayed Poly GVC(our once in a lifetime resort stay), two months later we were back and staying at ASMu. Our next trip a few weeks later was 1 night CR and the next 3 ASMo. Jan was Pop, March WL, April AKL & ASsp, and May was WL. We've only stayed at a Mod once and for the extra $30 I'd rather stay at WL. We like the Values, especially if the parks close early (usually the slower time of the year) DD11 swims while DBF and I sip drinks from the open til midnight bar. The pool bar at the deluxes close at dusk. Also as a DDE card holder Values are the only counter service that accepts the DDE. Sept will be $59 a night plus 20% off food. Not a bad deal.

I look at it like this. Going Value I can go more often in the year. My family started out in the values and have always enjoyed them.

 

[stemikger]

Loved Pop Century. Although I never stayed at a deluxe - I previously stayed at two moderates and me and my family prefer Pop. We liked the lay-out and the atmosphere. It puts you in a good mood.

We liked it so much we are going back again this year.

Now having said all that - we visited some of the deluxes and found the AKL absolutely beautiful. If you are expecting that at Pop Century you will be disappointed, but if you are expecting a fun motel type of place with large icons and fun pools (shaped like a flower, a bowling pin and a computer screen)- you should be happy. The check-in area called classic hall is where you will find the food court, gift shop and game room. It can get busy at times, but we always found a seat for lunch. Just keep in mind, it is not a deluxe, but a very good value. Hey it's Disney quality and that's the main thing. Enjoy.

 

[susy]

Stayed at Pop after a trip to the WL-loved it!!!! Bring your humidifier or white noise machine to block out noise. I feel like a broken record about this, but obviously nobody is listening since I read thread after thread aboout noisy rooms. Okay!!! the main pool is adorable, the room decor is leaps and bounds above the all Stars. The food court is fine, but I would not eat dinner there every night. They do have interesting treats, though. Bus service is good.

 

[disneyholic family]

we've stayed in value, moderates, deluxe, home away from home, and deluxe concierge...

i like all of them and would be happy in all of them...

we stayed at the All Star Music and All Star Sports and enjoyed both of our stays. It was many years ago, but I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again if we decided to save a bit of money on accomodations. We had a very nice time.

 

[Luv2trav]

Thank you for all the replies... I do not expect much and I know the value are a far reach from the Deluxes. I just wanted to know how many of you enjoyed your value stay just as much..

Thank you and keep them coming! I am very exciting about booking our early Oct visit.

 

[PamNC]

We've stayed value, but it was years ago. Then we started staying at the moderate resorts. And now, we're resort snobs and stay Deluxe. I can't imagine going back to value, I think I could go moderate though. I wish I didn't feel that way because it would certainly save a lot of $$$. We don't commando tour anymore, so we take advantage of the resort, the pools, and the amenities. Plus, we love the convenience of the deluxes.

PamNC

 

[Luv2trav]

We love the pools too... My DS(3.5years) LOVES swimming... I thought a zero entry was important and after staying at AKL it really didn't matter. Her perfered the steps to the zero entry and he's too scared to go down the slides. I might as well take advantage of this age while I can.

My main concern is I have an 18 month old and we will be napping every afternoon... We are all heavy sleepers.

 

[vettechick99]

I've always stayed in Deluxes except for a mod here and there. Stayed at AS Sports once and really disliked it...the ambience is nothing like the mods or deluxes.

So if it were me in your situation, I'd consider working a mod into the budget. Or like the other poster, value for a few and deluxe the rest?

Having said that, value Disney is better than no Disney at all...so if it was that or nothing, I'd be there!

 

[budly]

I am a first class snob, and I had no issue with the value resorts, and I have stayed three times. I have also stayed at a moderate and a deluxe, so I do know the differences.

What I would say about the values is that you have the double beds, if you can't get the king, while the deluxes have queens. The bathrooms are small but clean. You can't spread your stuff out, but I always put my toothbrush and stuff up so housekeeping will clean better. If this doesn't matter, I would not worry about the differences.

Also, I would not eat in the rooms. I have a real aversion to clutter and I did not feel comfortable having enough space for my eating. I realize this probably sounds stupid, but crumbs by the table seem all over the room, whereas in a deluxe, crumbs by the table were crumbs by the table.

The loud factor never bothered me because I absolutely wore myself out so I zonked at every hotel I visited.

There is no balcony, but if you are going to be in the parks, who cares? With young kids, I want one know, but when they get older, I will go back to the values with two rooms.

I would give it a try. Then you will know.

Budly

 

[mickey12810]

I agree. That is why we are at ASMo in Sept. Would rather do Value more often than deluxe or mod very seldom.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We had no trouble whatsoever. To us it doesn't matter where we stay as long as we're on property. Budgets fluctuate from time to time so we simply adjust our expectations accordingly.