Differences between Values and Moderates?

Thanks everyone!! This is all great info! We were planning on a trip this year and staying at the Poly but a family cruise came up (with tons of extended family) so we are opting to do that and save DW for next year. And since the girls will be older next year, we are thinking we'll save the money we'd spend on the convenience of the monorail and stay a longer time but at a less expensive property.

Question about fridges - if you're on the meal plan and if you have the resort mugs, do you find much of a need to have the fridge?

One more thing - I'm leaning towards Pop Century or ASMovies for the Values or if at a Mod then probably POFQ or POR. Do any of those (or ALL) have splash areas for the kids or toddler pools or playgrounds? Is there anything about one over another that would stand out as more enticing for a 3 and 4 yr old? THANKS!!

Our thought process is that any on-site resort at WDW is better than off-site (or not going!). We really enjoy all three categories of resorts and have stayed at every one of the Values and Mods, as well as 4 of the Deluxe resorts. We generally only stay at the Mods or Deluxe when we have a discount code or during value season. With 5 of us, I think we've settled into knowing that we will now stay at either two rooms at the Values (or family suite) OR a single room at one of the Deluxe resorts that sleep 5. Granted, POR have some 5 person rooms, but they are a little tight for us (my oldest is bigger than me now!).

Is the price differential worth it for a Mod? That's a personal decision that only you and your family can make regardless of the many opinions on these boards.

Some differences we've noted:

With the exception of CSR, most rooms in either a Mod or Value have full size beds unless you upgrade to a King room but then where will the kids sleep?

The pools at the Mods have slides. However, Pop has some fun play areas for toddlers. The All-Stars also have toddler pools. Our kids loved the Fantasia themed toddler pool at ASMovies when they were younger.

The grounds at the Mods are gorgeous. I love walking the grounds at POR in the morning. The grounds at the Values are quite fun. For kids, they'll probably love the oversized icons at the Values more than the Mods more landscaped feel. What small child wouldn't love a three story tall Buzz and Woody (or Mickey telephone)?

The noise level at both the Mods and Values are the same for us. We've been to a Mod during Pop Warner and dealt with hordes of noisy kids, and we've experienced peaceful and quiet trips at the Values. I read in the UOG that the Values have some of the quietest rooms and we've generally had good luck with noise level at the Values.

Bus Service --- it's hit or miss anywhere. We've had great and bad bus service at both Mods and Values (and Deluxe for that matter). The bus service at the Mods isn't centralized, whereas it is at the Values. That is both a good and bad thing depending on which stop you're on at the Mod. The boat ride to DTD at POR and POFQ is awesome, but it can be difficult to work into a trip depending on the length of your stay.

All rooms at the Mods and Values have outside corridors and doors (i.e. no balconies). The Mods have ceiling fans, small fridges, two sinks and a privacy curtain.

You'll be happy with either choice. It's just what's best for your budget and preferences.
 
Our family has stayed at all levels, CR monorail access was convienient but not worth deluxe prices.:scared: CBR we had to take a bus just to get to food court.:sad2:One of our sons first words was "bus!" We stayed at POP May 09 and LOVED IT! :thumbsup2Everthing was just a short walk away. Grounds were clean and well kept. My kids loved seeing the many friendly bunnies. The pools were clean and nicely heated. Food court was yummy and willing to modify items to please my picky kids.:) Sometime we may spring for a deluxe again but I doubt it. We've booked POP again for Thanksgiving!:yay::woohoo:
 
Ok, here is why I like the moderates over the values, and it won't be popular, and it will paint me in a bad light, but whatever.

It isnt the rooms, it's many other things. Well, OK, it's a little bit the rooms -- moreso, it's the entire grounds of the moderates versus the values. With the mods you have some beautiful landscaping. You have shaded bus stops (and that matters after a 20-minute wait in the Florida sun, you have water and ducks and just a more serene atmosphere than at the values. It's a more relaxing environment.

You will hear people say they "just sleep at the values," and I would say "Well, yes, and there is a reason for that." Who wants to spend a day hanging out there? The moderates are quieter beause when you pay that extra money you get more than a bed and a place to relieve yourself. You get a resort, a complete resort at which you can relax, let the kids play in a nice big pool with big slides (and we all know how important those are).

When you pay less you get less, and you are put with people who are expect less. Sounds snotty, but there it is. Tar and feather me.

Yes it does sound snotty- mission accomplished.
 

We love the moderates. MY dd is 4 and loves the pool slides. CBR also has a nice play area for the kids.
 
I feel that the price difference for a moderate is worth it unless we are just going for a night or two and spending all day at parks (we are locals). The mods give you a coffeemaker and fridge (which I appreciate since I bring my own coffee fixins - the coffee at Disney is horrible), highly themed pools with great pool slides, a hot tub, more drawer space and space to unpack, a table and two chairs (except CSR which has a desk and chair)(am I not remembering right here - do the values have a table and chairs?), an extra sink, beautiful landscaping, and boats to DTD (in POR and POFQ).

Also, I found the Pop food court to be extremely crowded. I was hoping to run in and pick up a quick snack (we were not on the food plan) and when I saw the crowds I went back to the room and took the kids to McDonalds instead. This was never a problem at POFQ.
 
Well, everyone has bascially covered the "differences" between the values and moderates. I will just tell you why we prefer the moderates over the values. We stayed at the All-Star Sports once for three days...and it was the longest three days of our lives (even the kids). The resort was so noisy and so crowded that we couldn't stand it. We felt that there were people on top of us at all times. We prefer the moderates because they are spread out and they never feel crowded and they are very quiet and serene. Our kids always liked having a slide at the pool, walking around the resort looking for bunnies and lizards (too bad they've grown up and gone on to college or they could see "our" resident alligator). The only good thing I have to say about the value is that the food court was pretty darn good--except always crowded. I can't comment personally on the buses at the CSR because we rent a car; but we have been told by numerous people that we talked to at the resort that they never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus and never had to stand (and there are only 4 stops at the CSR) and our oldest DS just came back from the CBR (I believe there are 7 internal stops there) that they never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus either. I've had longer waits for the monorail!
 
I stayed at Pop and we really enjoyed it. The pools, even though no slide, was still fun and my kids had an absolute blast. The kiddy pool at Pop is great. And I was not too worried about the sun at the bus stops b/c I never waited more than 5 minutes at any bus stop. :thumbsup2 AND since someone mentioned seeing ducks/landscaping at a mod, guess what, we saw grass, a lake view from our room, ducks and bunnies while at Pop. I thought it was very nice. I'm sure the mods are nice as well, but a value IMO is definately more than just a place to lay your head. We hung out there and loved it.
 
It wasn't the wait times because imo, they're all essentailly the same at any resort when it comes to buses. Every resort can be hit or miss at different times... but it was getting there and having like 5 bus stops until we got to the main building that I didn't like. I don't like it about other resorts also so it's just not CSR. I don't like it about CBR especially since it's the most spread out, more than CSR. Which is too bad because I like the theme of both resorts... but oh well.

I just really like only having point a to point b bus service at Pop, it's the ONLY resort that doesn't ever share another bus with another resort or has more than on internal stop.

:goodvibes

With everyone loading on one bus how often do you have to wait for another bus b/c the first one was full? I didn't find the trip around the resort particularly bothersome, and it never took more than 5 min unless they were loading a ecv, and even then it wasn't more than 20 min total.
 
We have stayed at ASMovies. It was very nice. We stayed at POP last time and POP is more centrally located so the bus rides to the parks are shorter. They do not share buses with other resorts. And....at the end of a tired day, they had the buses stacked triple to take you back to the resort.
 
lol. yes, but i do notice you're staying at CBR.:thumbsup2

Good call.

Actually I have stayed values and moderates and like them both. For our upcoming trip we are staying at POP!! My favorite resort is AS Sports so there you go. I didn't pick CBR for our trip next march because I am a "moderate resort snob" I picked it because we have never stayed there before and want to give a shot.
 
Honestly everthing that has been said is valid, but for us it just comes down to atmosphere. We love coming back to a resort that is not in your face disney after we have been at the parks all day. This idea combined with the queen beds at CSR, the covered bus stops, extra space in the room,pool theme and slide, and fridges already in the rooms are what lead us to choose CSR over a value resort. It really just boils down to what is important to your family and wether that is wrth the extra money to stay mod. It was about a $350 difference for our 5 day trip last year, and we felt it was worth it to get the extra stuff. We looked at mod versus deluxe as wee and just could not justify the extra $650 over a mod for what we woud be getting and even the cheapest deluxe (AKL or WL)
 
Actually I have stayed values and moderates and like them both. For our upcoming trip we are staying at POP!! My favorite resort is AS Sports so there you go. I didn't pick CBR for our trip next march because I am a "moderate resort snob" I picked it because we have never stayed there before and want to give a shot.

Excellent. You have found something that works well for you and your family, so that is a huge part of the experience. I am happy to acquiesce. Enjoy your trip. I don't think I am a "moderate snob," I think i have found something that works well for MY family.

Enjoy!
 
Excellent. You have found something that works well for you and your family, so that is a huge part of the experience. I am happy to acquiesce. Enjoy your trip. I don't think I am a "moderate snob," I think i have found something that works well for MY family.

Enjoy!

I guess the term "moderate resort snob" is a little tough but I don't mean any harm by it. True you have found something that works for your family but don't degrade those that stay at the value resorts and not expect to be questioned. Your post above was very nice compared to your earlier post where you practically say that those who stay at the value resorts are scum. People choose to stay value not because that is the only thing they can afford but they just choose to.
 
I have said that I would not pay more to stay at a moderate vs a value, since the biggest difference is landscapping. I just didn't see the money as worth it. Same size rooms, still has a "motel" outside entrance. Why pay that much more for a pool slide and a boat to DTD from POR. I was planning to either return to ASMu or splurge and go deluxe in 2010.

Now it looks like I might be at a moderate after all.

I had decided to upgrade to a deluxe. Mom wants a nicer hotel, stepdad would like a hot tub. They sleep in a king at home so a deluxe king with sleeper sofa would work out for us even with the $25 third adult charge. I like the resort feel of bigger hotels. I figured with off season discounts I could manage WL or AKL. Then I realized that the biggest draws to the deluxes are the resturants (where we probably won't eat, AKL does not appeal to any of us food wise and WL would be okay but not great) and things like spa (won't do), pools (not swimming in winter but would do hot tub), beautiful decorating/bigger rooms large sprawling vistas (size is a problem with step dads medical issues so walking big resorts is undesirable) and ambiance of deluxe hotel. The one thing that is still in the deluxes favor...balcony and view (expecially if we do AKL).

I'm now looking at PORFQ. Small, has a hot tub, has nice landscapping, has the boat to DTD, has a basic food court that will satisfy the large range of three adults eating habits (one health consciene, two picky eaters, one with food issues). It is looking like the comprimise between the three of us and our issues are suited to a mod. We will end up needing two rooms (try for a king for them and then me in whatever) but I think even with two rooms I'll still be cheaper than a deluxe and have a more workable arrangement.

Personally I was fine at ASMu as was my step dad, but mom and stepD really did want some things that I just couldn't get at a value, and since we're actually going to be there more than two days this time and we've come up with all these other factors, I think a mod will work out for us better than a value.
 












Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE






DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top Bottom