Does anyone prefer just Deluxe or just Value, but not Mod?

[ptrbryant]

My DH and I really love WL and we haven't gotten ourselves to stay anywhere else yet. For budget reasons, we're thinking of a split-stay. Now, after our family looked at pictures on the internet of all the resorts (yes, ALL of them!), the result has been interesting. DS9 VERY much wants to stay at ASMo, though would consider POP. DH and I still love our WL, but like the look of AKL, BC and Swan as well. Our preferences don't really help the budget, though! After discussion, we agreed that the Values look like they'd be a lot of fun--big, colorful icons, etc. seem to off-set the "motel" style of the resort. With the MODS, it's hard to think of the selling point. They're not "fun" like the Values, but aren't luxurious like the Deluxes. If they weren't built in a "motel" style (no interior corridors), I'd probably find them more appealing. I can't somehow connect outdoor corridors and no balcony with upscale interiors, I guess. It just seems like it makes sense to go one way (Deluxe) or the other (Value).
I am interested in hearing all opinions! As I've said, we've never stayed in any Values or Mods, so this is based solely on photos, which aren't always flattering!

Thanks!
Karla B.

 

[Tinkerbelll]

I have never stayed at a moderate either! Anytime a moderate has been an option, we usually found a way to get a deluxe for cheaper and stayed there. And when we're really hurting for money, we stay at the values, which are very nicely priced most of the time for AP holders. I stayed at ASSp years ago with my family for one night waiting for our deluxe room to become available, but I don't really remember it. I did, however, stay at POP this past January when DBf and I went for a weekend. Let me tell you, I am used to staying in Deluxe resorts, but I LOVED this place! You deff. do not get the feel of a deluxe resort, but POP seems to be somewhat in the middle of a MOD and a Value. For instance, in the All Stars I've heard that they have soap dispensers in rooms and stuff. Pop doesn't have any of that. And the theming at POP is just so Disney and fun. I really loved the food/shopping court there too! And our room was overlooking a lake that sat behind the whole resort! Granted there is no balcony, but there was a beautiful lake right as we opened the door! I would deff. stay at POP again, even though I like the Deluxe resorts. I would say that if money is any sort of issue, POP is the way to go. You'll save an extra few bucks and the kids will LOVE it!!

 

[WDWBetsy]

While I haven't stayed at either a value or deluxe resort yet (but we're booked at WL for November!), I have stayed at POR.

Honestly, the exterior corridors were not a big deal to me. We stayed in one of the mansions (Acadian House) on the 3rd floor, and it was like you were just walking on a big porch. Sorta like a little stroll back in time. The resort was extremely beautiful, relaxing and a destination in its own right. We loved the food court, the pools were awesome, and bus service was good. The CMs were extremely friendly - we had towel animals, and it was really cool when a CM came to our room to sing Happy Anniversary to us and gave us an autographed photo of Mickey & Minnie. I was so stunned with the magic of our whole stay. Our room was clean, comfortable and roomy enough for the two of us - we had a king bed. Even the lobby was neat to look at - sure there aren't certain amenities like the deluxe resorts have, but POR has a getaway feel about it that's really cool. I did make the DH serve as a Mug Man though.

I took some photos (some are kinda goofy), but you can see some of the buildings and landscaping. We stayed there in October 2003, and I believe the mansions are already renovated. You can click on my username and click to view them.

I'm anxious to see WL, but would not hesitate staying at POR in the future, especially if we have a family going with us.

 

[PrinceJohn]

We love the mods.

 

[BevS97]

I really like the mods, they feel much more luxurious to me than a Value (although I have never stayed at a Value, it doesn't appeal at all).
I don't see the big deal about the outdoor corridors - if anything it's more convenient than a deluxe where you have a massive walk to the entrance of the hotel and then one huge carpark, or one bus stop - at the moderate you have a nice stroll through landscaped grounds to a much more convenient carpark (or bus stop) The parking and buses are spread throughout the hotel so they are very handy to your room.
The grounds are beautiful - it's not like a motel where your room opens on to a parking lot, your room opens onto a park or beach type area, much more attractive than a corridor (I can't see the attraction of a corridor? So what, it's a corridor).
I also like that the mods have decent food courts, we've found the food court restaurants in the deluxes are pretty small and disappointing.

 

[Bill From PA]

Here's our history two 8 day stays at AllStar Music, one 8 day stay at POR, 8 days at Dolphin, 8 days at Swan and last month a split, first 3 Swan, middle 2 AllStar last 3 Dolphin. I definitely prefer a Mod over a Value and a Deluxe over a Mod. There's a progression of amenities from a food court, to a sitdown restaurant complete with a bar/lounge and live entertainment to all that the S/D have to offer. The trip last month was a real eye-opener. We were very happy with AllStar when that's all we new, we're not 'Champaign People'. But it's hard to keep 'em down on the farm once they've seen Paree', so I guess we got spoiled. The 2 days at ASMo between S/D seemed like punishment. I'm pessimistic about getting S/D next March at a rate I can live with so I'm selling myself on CBR or PO.

Bill From PA

 

[ptrbryant]

BevS97: I like your point about the door opening to beautiful landscaping and NOT a parking lot! Since a parking lot is the only type of exterior entrance image I have in my mind, maybe I just need to work on my imagination there!

Bill from PA: Just wondering if you have any young children...I think that if DS wasn't 9, the Values wouldn't be in the running, but I can see (through his eyes) how they'd be fun and have to admit they seem the most "Disney"-esque. Still, I think my limit there would be 2 nights.

WDWBetsy: Nice pictures! POR-Mansions would be the MOD we would stay at if we chose one. I think you have a point that you could think of it as staying at someone's house (well, maybe a rich relative!)

Tinkerbell: Yep, I really think if we try a Value, it would have to be POP---just too mnay good reviews about it.

Thanks, everyone!

Karla B.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Our first 2 trips (1997, 1999) were both at CBR, first in trinidad north (before it was preferred) - loved that location - easy walk to OPR.... then in Trinidad South - which was too far for us.

We returned in 2001 (last week of September!) and stayed in All-Star Music, in Calypso, room was very close to Intermission Food Court. Loved the theming, location, food court, even the buses. My wife looked at me and said "why pay the extra money for CBR when we can stay here? This is fantastic!".

When my father, who owned a travel agency at the time, treated the family (14 of us!) to a 5-day trip in June 2002, we stayed at All-Star Movies. We had a blast, even though it rained quite a bit. Again, we were very happy with the Value resorts.

I got the itch again when the 7 for 4 package came out in 2003, so I booked 6 nights at the WL as a surprise for DW...of course, we loved it, and that it wouldn't be our last trip to the WL. We discussed going to other resorts, and we basically decided that when money was tight, we would go to the Values, and when we could splurge, it would be the WL.....

Then I surprised her with a trip for 2 in October 2004 to the AKL, Savannah view. Well! We walked into the lobby, and she said 'WOW! WOW!"....we had nothing but exceptional treatment from all of the CM's - from the front desk staff to the CM in the hallway changing the soda in the vending machines.

By the end of the long weekend, DW said "I don't know if I can stay anywhere else now - you've spoiled me!"

We are returning to WL in early December 2005.

So, for us, right now anyway, its either WL/WKL or the values, depending on our budget....

 

[CamColt]

We had stayed at POR twice before going to ASMO. We have since been back to ASMO twice and ASSP once. We really do prefer the values over the moderates and the savings is just a bonus. Id have a hard time going back to the moderates after staying at a value.
With that said, of course nothing beats a deluxe, but thats not always in the budget for a full trip. When its not, we like to split our stays between a value & deluxe.

 

[Bill From PA]

ptrbryant,

For our first two AllStar stays the girls were 16 & 14 and jr was 8. I don't know if the theming was a big issue with them as such, they we're just glad to be able to hop on a bus and go anywhere Disney related as part of the experience. If the girls were much older they might not have liked the cartoon look to the place. Certainly by the time we got to POR and the S/D, the girls were taken with the more adult and upscale digs, Billy still doesn't give thought to the resort, it's all about the parks.

Bill From PA

 

[stacy6552]

You are so speaking my language! Love the Deluxes, love the themes of the values. when it come to the moderates, I just dont get it. I didnt feel like we had any more space or comfort than a value, and they seemed like less fun to me.....

 

[webray]

We have stayed at all the Deluxes, all the moderates and all the values..and you are right. We hate the moderate resorts. There is definately no value there.

If our budget doesn't allow for a deluxe..we are thrilled to stay at one of the value resorts.

 

[BevS97]

BevS97: I like your point about the door opening to beautiful landscaping and NOT a parking lot! Since a parking lot is the only type of exterior entrance image I have in my mind, maybe I just need to work on my imagination there!

Try this for a view -this was the outlook from our room, I think it beats a corridor anyday.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We usually stay in DVC accomodations, but have stayed in value and mods also. We love POR. The grounds themselves make it feel like a deluxe. The rooms didn't seem much smaller than those we had at the WL (and this is our fav non-DVC resort). Of course, no full amenities or indoor corridors at POR, but it's a very nice alternative if you can't quite swing a deluxe price.

 

[newholidayx2]

welll our last stay at a value was in 96 - 1st time onsite - stayed at All Star Music - thought it was small for DH, DS4 and myself

welllll this Aug DS13 & I are staying at WDW for 14nights! The last 6nights Im using last yrs DVC pts so the BCV stay is covered. (all this yrs pts will be banked to next yr) DS wants our "home" resort WL (not VWL) so we'll stay there for 3nights before BCV.

I had 3vacation days left for this yr so added on 5nights at Pop to the beginning. I figured we could be camping for a 5night vacation back home and would not be in deluxe accommodations. This way we get to add on a mini-vacation at WDW before our WDW vacation!