Do I have an unfair bias against the value resorts?

[tinkerpea]

Our 1st stay on site was at POP I remember walking into the lobby and being overwhelmed as it was completely magical to me!

I have been to disney over 25 times staying for at least 3weeks each time but had never stayed in site until taking my own family!
So for me a disney hotel even though it was a value stood out as being everything disney!!

Since that 1st on site stay in 2006 we have spent 3 weeks each at
AKL
SSR 2 bed on cash "no making our own beds on holiday"lol
POP
AOA
And this year we are doing Poly ( somewhere I have longed to stay since seeing it every trip as a child in the monorail)

Anyway even though we LOVE the deluxe hotels we have stayed at we have no problem going back to the values, in fact my boys aged 8,8,11 begged to go back to pop or AOA this trip, and if it wasn't for the fact I'd been so sick this year we would have gone,
Dh & I just wanted something extra special though where he could also pop to a park with the kids if I wasn't feeling well,

I think to say you haven't stepped foot in one but to judge them isn't very fair, but it sounds to me you wouldn't be happy with any of them anyways, as they don't do what you need from them

 

[Lindaland]

Not wishing to sound snobby, I have only stayed at moderate or deluxe resorts and, for that matter, have never set foot in a value resort.

I have, however, watched Youtube videos of all of the value resorts and, at least from the videos, don't think I'd care for them in person. With the possible exception of AOA, they all just look like an oversized Motel 6 with, over the top, somewhat tacky-looking theming.

From the videos, the guest rooms look very bare bones and, as a family of four, we strongly prefer queen beds.

We're also not commando-style visitors and enjoy spending a good part of our vacation at the resort.

Anyone had a similar bias against the value resorts but then tried one in person and found that it was a lot better than what you were expecting?

Or with our family's criteria, would we be better served to continue avoiding the value resorts?

Yes..... you are most certainly a resort snob!! Especially since you haven't even stepped foot in one!!

I can easily afford to stay at a deluxe resort but I would still choose a value because I think it's very silly to waste money on a shell that I am just going to sleep in. But then again I go to WDW to enjoy the parks, not the hotels. If I want a nice hotel to lounge around in, I probably wouldn't fly across the country to stay at WDW!! I have stayed a couple times at POP and loved it!! This time I am staying at CSR and still feel like I need to spend time at the resort instead of the parks because I paid more for it. At least I got FD which makes it easier to justify.

 

[Sparkly]

I've got nothing against the values- quite the opposite- we nearly stayed at Pop after all.

I would have no problems staying at a value at all. Just maybe only on my own because I imagine it would have been a little squashed with two adults, not to mention a whole family.

 

[sjs314]

Not wishing to sound snobby, I have only stayed at moderate or deluxe resorts and, for that matter, have never set foot in a value resort.

I have, however, watched Youtube videos of all of the value resorts and, at least from the videos, don't think I'd care for them in person. With the possible exception of AOA, they all just look like an oversized Motel 6 with, over the top, somewhat tacky-looking theming.

From the videos, the guest rooms look very bare bones and, as a family of four, we strongly prefer queen beds.

We're also not commando-style visitors and enjoy spending a good part of our vacation at the resort.

Anyone had a similar bias against the value resorts but then tried one in person and found that it was a lot better than what you were expecting?

Or with our family's criteria, would we be better served to continue avoiding the value resorts?

I too am someone who has never stepped foot on a value, we started going to WDW before they were built and after staying at Mods and deluxe resorts just never felt a Value would be a good fit for us.

Although if I had small children or grandchildren I am sure I would be tempted to try a value, I was slightly tempted when AOA opened it just looks like such a fun resort but Deluxe is where my heart lies.

My DS and his wife tried ASSports a few years ago and they simply hated it, the pool and general resort was noisey and the food court too busy plus the small size of the room made for a less than perfect trip.

 

[lovedonald]

As other people have said the price of the deluxe is significantly more than the value so it should be better and have more amenities. It is like anything else, you get what you pay for. Our family would love to stay deluxe and never have. We just aren't in a situation to afford it right now. We stayed at pop our last trip and with 8 of us we were just so thankful to be at Disney and be able to stay on site.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that your question is a little odd because it is clear that you have no intention of staying at any value resort. Nothing wrong with that decision but I guess I don't understand what you are looking for.

We have always stayed at a Moderate or a Deluxe. We spend a lot of time at the resort so location and amenities are a part of our planning. I will say that POFQ is one of our favorite spots in WDW, and we prefer it over the BC. Foe my family, we generally prefer more trips and so we choose to save by staying in a mod, but when my DH is with us, we will look at the Deluxe resorts. I think that one of the best aspects of WDW lodging is that there are resorts that accommodate diverse preference and budget considerations.

 

[kmb584]

I think that, in part, it is a bit snobbish for one to judge a resort that one has not visited let alone booked a week at.

For me, the value resorts aren't where I care to spend my Disney vacations or money. I just posted on another thread that in 2011 I had decided that I was going to save money on our April trip and booked our 8-night stay at ASMu. The resort itself was larger than life and very visually appealing, especially to my then 2-year-old daughter. I remember being near one of the sections (Jazz? I think) and thinking "Wow, this courtyard looks like the one that was outside of our room at POFQ". As I said, visually, it was appealing. My opinion changed though when I actually saw our room. I knew it was going to be small but I didn't realize how small, and I knew from the get-go that it wasn't going to work for us. My daughter is a very light sleeper and is awake with even the lightest noise or gleam of light. We slept off and on that first night and I was on the phone early the next morning to upgrade. We did, to CSR, which turned out to be one of my favorite resorts.

While I love the deluxe resorts and really, really like the moderate ones, I just can't say the same about the values. My daughter is begging to stay at AoA next spring and I'm going to give it a shot. I booked a Lion King family suite and do think we're going to enjoy it; she for the themeing and me for the bigger size!

 

[HM]

I agree that it seems that a Value resort is not for you or your family given what you've written.

I have stayed in all levels of the resorts and I find that all of them have something to offer us. If it's just me and my DD (we travel to WDW more than the four of us), we like staying in value or mod to save money and to have a food court. If it's the four of us, we stayed in deluxe for the extra room and locations, but they've become so expensive that last trip we stayed in a moderate with the four of us and it worked fine.

And what we've noticed is that there are the same kinds of people at all levels of resorts (except for large foriegn tour groups...which we've only seen at the All Stars).

 

[HopperFan]

You know there is no right or wrong resort, just what is right for you. I have stayed at value, moderate and deluxe. I stay offsite alot too, usually in a suite. May trip was 9 days at the new Embassy Suites. September I will be in POP, but just DS and I (have our own beds). Every trip has different needs even for us. I say based on your post that the values are not for you. That's okay

For me and the kids, we are happy anywhere as long as we are at Disney. That said, the last time my DH went and stayed at POP with us he said "no more value for me." He travels alot, mostly in suites or high end rooms and it wasn't enjoyable for him. He prefers CSR, POR or deluxe or offsite in a suite. That's okay

I think the worse thing to do is to book somewhere you truly don't want to stay.

 

[nugov2]

MANY Guests who are not "budget-conscious" love the Values.

I have to agree with this I know people who like the over the top themes at the values. The values are motels....but just motels on a resort and not no-tel motels on the other side of the tracks that rent by the hour. Two totally different things. Just like there are hotels that can be shady and bad. Resorts or resort towns offer all types of accommodations...motel, hotels both mod and deluxe to lure in a wide variety of vacationers. They all have some of the same perks, but obviously the more you pay the more you get. I guess I don't get why people get offended by calling the values a motel....it has nothing to do with cleanliness or safety, but style of hotel(doors outside) and amenities offered(harder mattresses, smaller rooms). I wouldn't call it an unfair bias OP, because you are either the type of vacationer that is ok with that type of accommodation or not and I don't think that is always mutually exclusive to what you can or can't afford.

 

[pooch]

we stay at POP. We are looking for a clean room in which to sleep and shower. We are gone all day and don't hang out at the pool. I request building 1 or 2, high floor, facing the parking lot - a quiet area. By the time we get to the food court for breakfast, the early risers have cleared out & we're never there for lunch or dinner. The bus situation at park close can be challenging but we aren't in a hurry and have learned to be patient. Eventually we'll get back to the resort. We could spend more but find we don't need to.

When DH comes, its got to be Moderate or Deluxe as he does want to spend time at the resort. We loved WL but the Moderates are more than fine for us.

I'd like to stay at a Deluxe again some time but, for me, I can't justify the cost.

 

[leftaslide]

I'll be honest: I'm very budget-minded. We've been able to go to Disney 3 yrs in a row due to the fact that we stay in the Value resorts, plus we book when the free dining comes around. We're by no means wealthy, but by no means poor. We're an average family with a budget. When we're at Disney, we're in the parks all day. I'm sure some resorts offer some nice things to do during the day, but honestly, I'm not traveling all that way to sit by a pool. I can do that at home. That all being said, we are perfectly happy at Value resorts, and have had nothing but great experiences. Maybe one day we'll try a mod or a deluxe....maybe. All we need is a bed and a shower and we're good. Each to their own, but don't knock it til you try it!

 

[leafE]

A lot of it depends on your touring style. If you're the type who wants to hang out at the resort a lot, then a value probably won't work for you. I personally have never stayed anywhere but a value because I spend all my time in the parks and just want a place to sleep and shower. There's no point in paying extra for amenities I'll never use. If amenities are important to you, there's nothing wrong with that, but it is a tad bit unfair to harshly judge a resort that you haven't even visited.

 

[Woth2982]

I am a lover of the Deluxe resorts. I am not going to lie about it. If I could go and stay deluxe every time I would. However my next two trips are solo and semi solo. In Sept I am going for two nights, staying at ASMo the first night and SSR the second (only switching because that is where my friend is staying, however i just got an enticing pin that may make me switch to two nights at SSR). In November I am coming down for Wine and Dine and staying at POR, i did the math on that one and it would only be $100 more to stay Mod verse Value, so I bit, but otherwise I would have had no problem staying at one of the All Stars. I am trying to stay at every hotel on property to find my favorite. Although I have to admit the themes to ASMy and ASSp don't really appeal to me.

 

[goofy4tink]

A few thoughts....
Room size..yes the values are smaller than the moderates. BUT...not by much. Maybe a foot each way. There is only the one sink at the values. I like the larger vanity area and double sinks at POR. Storage is about the same at both. Bed size can be an issue. I have no issue with a double bed. But, we don't stay in a value if there are three of us...it's either my dd and myself or my dh and me. So we each get our own bed.
Theming.....yes, the moderates are more adult in theming. There isn't anything nicer than walking around POR and just enjoying the landscaping. But in all truth?? I really enjoy my walks around both Pop and AoA!! Not as 'lush' but nice all the same.
I seldom use hot tubs at WDW. Almost every single time I've tried to use one, I've been hugely bothered by kids playing in the hot tub. Then there are the adults who sit there and drink. I have nothing against drinking but it's a bit obnoxious to behave as some do in the hot tubs!!!

It all boils down to what you want and need. I'm staying at Pop in November, with my dh. We cancelled our Dolphin reservation and got Pop for a huge amount less!!! I normally like to stay DVC but there were literally no rooms to be had that weekend!!! Big race weekend as well as Veteran's Day.

I usually take care of tidying up the room before we leave. Literally all housekeeping has to do is replenish toiletries!! So, not having daily housekeeping while staying on DVC points isn't a huge deal for me. In fact? I will hang out the privacy thingie on my door every other day so as to not have anyone in my room!!!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I mostly go solo - I've stayed at all level of resorts and discovered that for me - a value resort is for a short trip or just a couple of days.

Any more than that and I get tired of the big icons, noise, and extra crowded food courts.
The standard rooms to me are only for 2 people - those rooms feel crowded to me with more people than that in them and I won't share a double bed with anyone.

Many people only sleep and shower at their resorts and love the big icons so the values are great for them.

The 4 of us went and stayed in an ASMu Suite in June 2013. It worked ok but by day 3 I wanted a nicer resort - we were spending alot more time at the resort than usual and I was bored.
I guess I should be glad it was only a 4 night trip.

I've been doing mostly moderates lately since the ever rising costs of deluxes is starting to push me out of those unless I do a split stay with value/deluxe.