Difference between Value & Moderate?

[threeboysmom]

What's the big difference between the value resorts and the moderate resorts (except the price!) I'm just curious because there's such a price difference between them, but they both have exterior halls, food court, double beds in the room, etc. What am I missing?

 

[ktink]

This will be our first moderate stay so I can tell you only what I've learned on the boards here. Most moderates will have a sit down restaurant. All of the moderates have bigger pools that have pool slides. And to me they seem to have a more appealling theme than do the values. We really love Pop but to me the mods are just a better feel to them.

I think it just boils down to what you like in a resort.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've stayed in both. Love them both. Ktink is right about the differences...pool slides, table service restaurants, slightly larger rooms. The values remind me of a motel...a very nice motel, don't get me wrong. But they have more of that kind of a feeling. The 3 floor bldgs are clustered together. The theming is very 'over the top' almost, not serene or adult. But, the food courts are huge and the bus service was quite good. I would stay there again in a heartbeat.

The moderates (my first resort was POR) are beautifully themed. The rooms are a bit larger and seem to have more storage space. Now, you can get fridges and (I believe) coffee makers at no charge. The recreational activities are more varied.

If I had to make a choice between 7 days at AllStarMusic or 4-5 days at POR, I would go with the longer stay. I have to say that one of my best stays was as Music in '03. Housekeeping was the best I've had to date and we actually had towel animals and dd's stuffed animals from home were all set out in the window in a scene. This was especially nice since she got very sick on our second day there and we came home to our room at about 11:30 so she could sleep and found a wonderful tableau in the window!!!

If you are trying to save some money, then have no qualms about staying in a value resort. If you can live without a pool slide or a sit-down restuarant, you should be fine.

 

[kbkids]

Hey Kimberly,

Haven't seen you around lately.

I think the biggest difference is like someone else said, the pools. My kids go for the slides. We've stayed at Pop and ASM before - but only because it was in December and too cold for the pools anyway. They were quick weekend trips, and we didn't plan on spending any time at the resort anyway.

The restaurants really aren't a selling point with us - we'll eat just about anywhere and really prefer counter service, just to get in and get out. But, I can see where the sit down restaurants would be an added benefit for some.

In general, I just like the theming better. The values are just too larger than life for me. If I'm going to be there for an extended period of time, the moderates just appeal to me more. There are just more things to do at the resort.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

IMO, the value resorts are themed more with kids in mind (except, maybe POP) while the moderates offer a few more amenities and are more appealing overall to a broader range of Disney travelers.

 

[AJKMOM]

Seems like the moderates are built better. I have read threads here about the thin walls at POP.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

Just to add to what everyone else has mentioned, the moderate rooms are noticeably larger and the room decor is more tasteful as well. Don't get me wrong, we will stay in the values for the kids (and our budget) in a heartbeat, as they are very fun and an extension of our stay at Disney. The grounds are so cute! Where else would you find a three story Buzz Lightyear, Pongo or Lap Top computer!! However, the rooms are nothing much except clean, and a place to sleep. At ASMo, for example, the furniture is turquoise and made out of some sort of plastic stuff. A Buzz Lightyear border runs around the top of the room while a Toy Story poster is framed on one wall (depending on the theme of your building). The bedspreads are wild and full of color, the bathrooms bold white and black stars. Even the wall lamps are popcorn boxes (which is really cute!) But by comparison, POFQ has a more traditional style of furniture made of a cherry finish. Shades of Robin's egg blue and pale yellow give a calming effect and the bedding is tastefully done in like tones. All of the moderates also have a bench and at POR, POFQ and I think CBR, there is an extra shelf above it for extra storage. As someone also pointed out, the mod's have refrigerators and they are enclosed therefore the top of it provides more storage. Besides the extra floor space, the bathroom is much larger in the mod's. You have a double sink and a shelf above the sinks, as well as a curtain that you can draw shut to give a little more privacy when dressing. It's also wider which gives you more closet storage space. The commode area is about the same.

In some mod's the corner rooms give you double set of windows which is nice because you get a lot of natural light and it just makes the room feel larger.

Lastly, the grounds and buildings are truly beautiful and relaxing. You really feel as if you are getting away whether it's to "Mexico" or the "Caribbean" or "New Orleans". There is no comparison to the values.

One last note, the values only allow up to 4 adults and 1 one child under the age of three. POR allows 5 in some rooms because of a trundle bed supplied in the Bayou section.

HTH!