Do you find a certain stigma attached to booking a Value Resort?

[Regan117]

I wouldn't ever stay in one of the value resorts - but I don't associate any sort of stigma with them either. They're fine for some people and not for others. No big deal.

 

[MomTo3PrincessesInNJ]

I told my DVC-owning friend we were staying at an All Star in November and she said "That's like the Camden of Disney." (Camden is the poorest city in NJ) LOL. We've stayed at Pop and AoA, so I know what value's are like... it certainly doesn't feel like Camden to me!

We stay where we can afford (and fit, as a family of 5 values are out) at the time. Simple as that.

I don't put too much thought into what other people think about where I'm sleeping during my fabulous Disney vacation. You shouldn't either.

 

[catra121]

Just wondering if anyone feels a certain way when booking a Value resort? I just get the overall general impression they're looked down on...am I wrong? I have been hovering over maybe just doing a value resort due to me not enjoying the amenities a Deluxe/Moderate offer due to being in the parks as long as I can.

What is your impressions? For those who have stayed Moderate/Deluxe would you book Value again?

I have stayed at 3 moderate and 2 values. So far...Pop Century and AoA have the edge for me in being my favorites. This is manly due to the transportation which is the best bus service I've had compared to the moderates (which have also been good...but the multiple stops around the resort are tedious sometimes). We're trying POFQ this time because this is our first trip with a little one so we thought the extra space for the pack and play, snacks, etc would be good. When she is sleeping in a bed we will probably go back to the values...or maybe before then.

I usually stay at the values and upgrade to Deluxe Dining Plan...but last trip we stayed at CBR because it was actually the cheaper of the two options with 3 adults and free dining (cheaper to upgrade to Deluxe from Regular than Quick Service and it more than offset the room price). Even though I prefer the values...staying at a moderate for less won me over. My travelling companions that trip wanted the hot tub and in room coffee too...so it was nice that CBR offered that for them. Me...I'm a parks open to close sort of person so the extra amenities don't mean anything to me...but that will probably change this trip since we'll have a 21 month old with us.

So...yeah...I will definitely continue to book value with no regrets or feelings of being "less than." Everyone should book their vacation the way THEY want and spend their money on what is important to them.

FWIW...the only stigma I have ever noticed is the one people offsite have for those who stay onsite (spending so much money on "motels" or spending WAY TOO MUCH on deluxe hotels that aren't by any means "deluxe" by their standards) and vice versa (not being immersed in the full Disney experience)...but even that is a small minority. Definitely not worth worrying over.

 

[Huff]

I priced it out if I extended my vacation by two days staying at Pop in a preferred room, add another 2 days of park hopper tickets, and upgrade the dining plan to regular under the FD promo, the total cost of our trip would be about $2900. We are paying a little over $2700 for CBR (shorter stay & less days at the park). I am STILL debating on if I should switch or not. I'm just uncertain about the double beds for my family.

For our upcoming trip for 4 adults, 10 nights with FD DDP at Pop we would have had to pay $780 to upgrade from free QS to DDP dining. Priced it out and cost another $110 to switch to CBR. Seems worth it although I love Pop!

 

[LadyRayado]

We always stay value, because we're never at the resort enough to justify the extra cost. We rarely swim (maybe twice in all of my trips?), and we don't take afternoon breaks or have "down" days. We're commando visitors, so there's no reason to spend hundreds of dollars more for a space and amenities I'll never use. But, to others and their touring styles, those things are very important. Do whatever works for you and your budget, and don't worry about anyone else - that's my motto!

 

[Hikergirl]

We don't stay at values because we are a family of 5 so that would mean 2 rooms, or a suite. Since I usually go through a travel agent for an amazing deal I end up paying a only a couple 100 more for a room at a deluxe than I would have spent on 1 room at a value.
This trip its just me and dh and I was considering a value for cost reasons but location won out and we are staying at BWV

 

[joannamet]

I kind of know what you mean. If you write that you're staying at an All Star resort and eating at Chef Mickey's you feel like a second class citizen because there are a lot of negatives on the boards about those places. There are so many posts here about the glories of the deluxe resorts and signature restaurants but I'm never ashamed to do Disney on my budget. I'm pretty happy with value resorts and some of our favorite restaurants are QS.

Personally, I think the moderates are much more spacious and comfortable than the values but the difference in price has really increased. Unless I get a bargain at POR or CB I'd rather save the money and stay at a value.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

There are lots of reasons people choose various resorts, and I don't look down on anyone for not wanting to spend a bazillion dollars a night if the resort amenities aren't their priority. I've used the exact same budget and stayed in moderate with the regular dining plan one year and club level deluxe with deluxe dining the next - the first year, we had the amount of time as our priority and the second year, we had accommodations and dining as our priority. I stayed in Pop on my most recent trip because I wanted over-the-top Disney, and I put the extra money toward the 2nd half of our trip at Universal. My next trip will be All Star Music because I'm going with a group.

I love having a different experience each time, though I understand the people who love staying at the same place over and over.

 

[PSUGuy]

We started at AllStarMu which we hit 3 times over the years, Pop once, POFQ and POR once each and Board Walk and S/D a collective 10 times. While we enjoy the deluxe digs more, else we wouldn't pay that much, no sense of Slumming It at a Value. Anytime I'm paying 40% more than an off site room would be I don't feel cheap.

Bill From PA

 

[Julylady]

I stayed at my first value hotel in April (AofA) and never again. My family spends a LOT of time enjoying the resorts. We often are in the parks for only about 6 hours a day. At AofA the theming was so intense (both in the room and the resort in general) and it was so crowded that we never, ever felt like we could relax. I was feeling that way and then my 14 year old ask me if we could please never stay there again. I asked her why and her response was that it was just too busy (plus she missed the hot tubs and slide). So, we tried a value and it didn't work for us.

However, I have a dear friend whose family (Mom, Dad, teen son, teen daughter) always stay at All Stars. They are commando tourists for 7 straight days who arrive at rope drop and stay until closing every single night. That would be a horrible trip for my family but they do it every year. For them the hotel is literally just a place to shower and sleep.

So the bottom line is stay where your family is most comfortable and where you can afford. I wouldn't worry one bit about what other people thought.

 

[lustergirl]

And this is the exact reply that the OP is referring and trying to get away from. Money doesn't equal class.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Again I just find that I wouldn't enjoy the amenities that a Deluxe resort offers. I can definitely afford it. However, like other posters have said certain attributes/class have been affiliated with the Values more specifically the All Stars. I don't judge anyone - I just figured it would be an interesting point of conversation.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Even staying at a Value, a Disney vacation with on-site lodging is a luxury good. Stigma? What? Rich and richer?

Anyone who can afford to stay in a Disney hotel and go to Disney is rich by the standards of the population of Earth, period.

 

[Boudin]

We only stay at Deluxe to buy ourselves off the bus line. If the monorail went through Pop or the Allstars we'd stay there every time.
We never spend enough time at the resort for it to make a difference. The last 3 trips our bathing suits never made it out of the suitcase.

 

[Grand Admiral]

You never know why anyone is staying at any particular hotel. When my wife and I went as a couple in 2005 and 2007, we stayed at POR both times because she got a good rate through her work discount. When we took my son in 2014, we stayed at CR club level because he was 3 and we only visited MK and wanted the convenience. His bedtime was still early, so the club lounge gave us a place to take the baby monitor and relax after his bedtime. Going back this fall and we rented DVC points to stay at WL. Staying at a deluxe for the price of a moderate.

People have all sorts of reason for the hows and whys of where they stay or save money. Just remember that most people are too busy worrying about their own vacation to bother worrying about yours.

 

[publix subs]

I love staying at All Star Sports. We go to WDW once a month and either stay there or rent AKL points. Having stayed in nearly every WDW resort I can say that they aren't in any way "trashy" or "the Camden of WDW."

 

[Kevin355]

No. I honestly do not care what others think of where I stay as it applies to value, moderate, or deluxe. We have friends with little kids who like Pop. We have never stayed because when our kids were little, we got a deal on Caribbean Beach Resort. We are staying this time at AoA...no stigma here at all.

 

[TinkFan74]

If I am not staying on my DVC points I am usually staying at POP to save money, I have never felt the stigma at all. I think the cast members at each resort are trained to offer world class customer service, no matter how much the guest paid for the room.

 

[Disneylover99]

In general, I've found the people staying at Values seem friendlier/happier and more helpful then guests I've encountered at moderates/deluxes.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

No stigma here. I have stayed at CB, POP, ASMo, POR (more than once), AKL (with an amazing 40% off discount). The only stigma was my own. When I was staying at a value, I envied those who were getting on buses for the deluxe resorts. So when I was able to stay at a deluxe myself, I felt like one of the cool kids. But after that trip I don't think I would spring for deluxe again because my WDW vacation style is to go-go-go from morning until night and we never really enjoyed the resort. The room was just a place to crash and shower so the additional cost just isn't worth it for me. The next time I book I will likely book a moderate if we can swing the cost. I just like the more quiet and less concrete feel of a mod - POR to be specific.