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

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

We have stayed at four Deluxe, three Moderate and the All Star Music is the only Value resort. So far! I felt no stigma and I really liked the ASM theme. Our goal it to stay at as many of the WDW resorts as we can. Most of the time we are staying one to two nights at WDW leading up to a Disney Cruise. It has been a while since we have done an 'All Walt Disney World' vacation and we are thinking after our upcoming WDW/DCL vacation this year, our next Disney vacation will be a week at WDW. It will probably be a split stay, starting out at a value resort that we have not stayed at moving to a moderate we have not stayed at to finish it up. And I am looking forward to which ever value resort we decide to stay at.

 

[Legendofthehawk]

No stigma here either. I'd say if anyone ever said anything to you negatively about staying at a value instead of a mod or deluxe, to pull out the money you saved and start fanning yourself with it.. then ask them innocently what their statement was again.

 

[aprincessatlast]

Honestly, Yes I think there is. You really want to get people going or look down on you ....stay off site!

I am not a fan of values as I find them stressful for a vacation. Would rather stay off site, but that is just a personal decision. Yet I think people have opinions and look at you no matter what you book. People can make assumptions when you say you are staying at the Grand Floridian. It can also be reverse stigma by people who book values to have a certain opinion of those who stay in mods or deluxes. (that they are in debt or frivolous with their money, are snooty etc.) It is just the way people are in the society we live in. Does it make it right? Nope not at all but it is what it is. Just go where you want and stay where you want, don't concern yourselves of what others are thinking.

ETA: Of course this could bring up the whole do you feel a stigma when you tell people you are going to Disney World ....What again... Must be nice.... An amusement park for vacation?...ugh I could never.... on and on. lol

 

[aprincessatlast]

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

What??

This and several other quotes confirm what I said about reverse stigma.

 

[disneymom0104]

We have stayed at Pop once and absolutely loved it- never felt any stigma about being there. I thought all the CM's were just as great and friendly as anywhere else we have stayed.

 

[Disneylover99]

What??

Maybe they're more relaxed cause they're saving money? I don't know.

 

[porschegrl]

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.

My thoughts ran along similar lines. As a DIS denizen, I long wondered what I was doing wrong at Disney (or in life, lol) that I couldn't swing a deluxe. Seemingly, everyone else could!

We only stay at Deluxe to buy ourselves off the bus line.

Excellent turn of phrase. But whereas you opt for the monorail, we enjoy the walkability of the Epcot-area resorts. We certainly enjoy the deluxe resorts for all that they are, but if I could suddenly, magically walk to two parks from Pop, I'd stay there in a heartbeat!

 

[Disney Ron]

We have stayed at Deluxe, Moderate and Value and loved all of them. Last year we stayed 10 days at ASMo with FD and loved it. We also loved POP and AoA.

You're at WDW no matter which level you're staying at and that's all that matters.

 

[gorkt]

Not really. I have stayed at values, moderates, deluxe and villas, and they all have their upsides. The decor at the values is brighter, not subtle, and is going to be enjoyed by the kids more. There are less amenities, but the food courts are good to grab a quick meal. Deluxes are more formal, have nicer theming, have more comfortable furniture and bedding, usually better locations and one or more sit down restaurants and possibly even signatures. The one downside I have found to deluxes and villas is a lack of easy quick service options for kids. Moderates are a really nice happy medium in my experience. The food courts are better themed, and there is usually a casual sit down eatery. I feel the most comfortable at moderates to be honest, but my husband prefers villas for the extra space.

 

[Starclassic]

We've stayed Value twice...never felt or noticed any kind of stigma. Stayed Deluxe once (our last trip) and yes, it was incredible and we loved it, but we definitely wouldn't hesitate to stay at a Value again. We're trying Moderate for our next trip.

 

[EvilQueenT]

We've stayed in almost every disney resort and I've never thought about it one way or another or felt anyone judging. I travel the most often with just my 12 y/o granddaughter so the value resorts just allow us to afford to stay more days and we each have a bed so I'm good with that. I also don't find it odd for us to wear matching shirts or if someone sees me eating ice cream at 7 am lol.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I'm glad you guys feel this way! Also a deluxe Cs value gets you no more benefits am I correct?

 

[disneylove16]

We usually stay at CSR for sentimental reasons, but have also stayed at All Star Sports (eek, just realized there's no good way to abbreviate that!) And I didn't feel any difference in booking either. If someone's judging people by what "class" of hotel they're staying at, they have too much time on their hands. Only you know what works best for your family and your vacation. Honestly, I don't assume that families only choose value resorts for the price. For some, they prefer the theming, or pools, or food courts. For some, it's just not worth it to spend the money on a moderate or deluxe for the amount of time they plan on spending at the hotel. Some prefer to apply that cost elsewhere on their vacation.

 

[Lavitz]

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.

100% all of this. When we go to Disney we spent close to 12 hours at the park each day because we never tire, so we see the resort in the morning when we're walking to the bus stop and in the night when we're walking back to the room. Makes no sense going deleux so we can enjoy a 20 minute walk each day. We're a value/moderate family.

I get many families like going to Disney and spending most/much of their time at the resort. It makes absolutely perfect sense to go deleux at this point, most of the vacation is spent there so you should make sure it's to your taste. Not to say you can't do this at a value/moderate, but if you enjoy the extra the deleux's have and it's within your budget, why not go for it.

 

[HopperFan]

Stigma? - no. Every one staying on property is paying too much.
Will some put the values and moderates down as unacceptable? - yes.
Do you get your monies worth at values on a normal hotel scale? - no.
Do you get your monies worth at deluxes on a normal hotel scale? - no.
Will paying more get you better co-guests? - no. (some of my worse were at deluxe)
Will paying more get you better transportation? - monorail/walk also means sharing buses to the other half.
Will paying more get you more amenities (slides, hot tubs, more dining options) - yes.
Honestly, if you pay more and don't use the extras you are paying for - you are wasting your money.
Given that Disney resorts are already overpriced, that is a lot of waste.

Every trip is different and every one should book what works for them for that trip.
Once in the park we are all even so it only matters for the time you spend at your resort.

 

[MrPTato]

Just came back from DVC stay at Poly in January and are looking forward, more than the last trip, to try AoA.

 

[alwaysdreamingofdis]

We have never stayed Deluxe but have stayed at values and moderates. For many years, we would do room only the first night( arriving late or to save money) at a value (AS Movies or Pop) and move to moderate the next morning. When AI did that, I never really liked this values... I found myself not liking the business and crowds and I couldn't wait to check into moderate resort (usually POR or FQ or CB)... Thinking I was glad we were not staying there for a week. We spend alot if time in parks but do like a quiet morning and a quiet relaxing afternoon at the resort to swim, relax etc sometime during our trip. However, last year was more of a budget trip and we did Pop for 7 nights a s LOVED it!! Realized before that the reason I probably didn't enjoy the values for 1 night before was because we were moving after 1 night...guess I was ready to get to our other resort to unpack and settle in...because when I knew I was staying at POP for a week, we loved everything about our trip. The food court was super busy but so convenient and staff was friendly too.. Loved the large icons and Disney feel. We booked it again this year but after upgrading to regular dining plan, we could move to POR for less than 200.00 for the week...so we did... Otherwise, I would be happy at POP.. If money isn't an issue, I love moderates..but can still appreciate and have fun at values..and I want to do a deluxe one day..just to see if it is worth the hype

 

[Jadyreen1282]

The last I checked the QS breakfast at deluxe resorts served on paper plates just like the Values and Mods. The single malt Scotch is the same but more expensive why is that!?

 

[Disneylover99]

This and several other quotes confirm what I said about reverse stigma.

FWIW, I don't really think my comment is an example of a reverse stigma. Those are just my observations and experiences after staying at mods and deluxes thus far in comparison to my value stays.

Just to add...... Last summer I did a BC/Pop split. I had several conversations with cm's or guests throughout the course of my BC stay. When I mentioned that I would soon be moving to Pop, the overwhelming reaction was one of sympathy. So while I did not feel stigmatized, I found it funny that everyone felt sorry for me. They didn't understand that I enjoyed Pop.

 

[Carolrita]

I have stayed at ASM twice (one night each time) and POR 6x. I do prefer the Riverside because of its many pools and it's just so beautiful. I just got back from POR last week and decided to book Pop Century for this August because I can't afford a moderate this time. I don't know or care what people think or how they judge me. I just care that I'll be back at the Dis this summer.