help to convince me to stay in a value!!!!

[MainStreetFireman]

In 2001, we stayed at a Downtown Disney hotel for free on my frequent guest points. The next trip (2004), we paid to stay on site. No contest. It is in disney's best interest to keep their guests on-site, and they treat them as such.

I would always choose to shell out $700 and stay on-site at a value vs. a free stay further away.

However, please keep in mind that I have never stayed at the Swan/Dolphin, so I cannot comment on that option.

 

[smep013]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. If it gets you to Disney, than if you have to stay at a Value, you stay at a value.

 

[lunapnp]

We have stayed at POP 2 or 3 times and loved it. I can't compare it to any of the other resorts, as the only other one we stayed at was off site (Give Kids the World.). I could do a moderate or maybe even deluxe, but we are park commandos. We are only in the room to shower and sleep. A large positive for me were the buses. I truly love the fact that the buses are a one stop deal. No 3 or 4 other places within the resort to stop as some of the other resorts (mods I believe) do. Having a child in a wheelchair it's so much nicer to know that once the bus is loaded...that's it. No more stops until you get to the parks. We've never had any problems with transportation at POP. Go and have fun! We are going again in October.

 

[minnie61650]

DH and I stayed in a reburbished room at All Star Music last September.
We love the new look.

All Star Music is underwent a refurbishment of all of the rooms and according to mouseplanet the refubishment is complete.


Here is a website with photos of the newly refurbished rooms at All Star Music.

Look at the Jazz Inn section with new posted:

http://allearsnet.com/acc/g_asmu.htm

All Star Music is my favorite Disney owned hotel.

Please see my info thread For the resons why I enjoy All Star Music so much.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18641909#post18641909

Have fun at Disney!


Have fun at Disney!

 

[DisneyWisher]

Please help to convince me that I am not making a mistake and that we will have a great time at the values too... We really don't spend much time at the hotel because we are a sort of hyperactive family and go the whole time we are at the world.

Thanks for your help and guidance.

When Disney first opened their value resorts it was 1995 or 1996, I got a postcard and thought finally I can stay onsite (single mom of 3 girls). In May '96 was our first stay, Grandpa bought the 2 older girls APs(youngest was only 2) because he planned on taking them over the summer (at that time a FL AP was $209 tax included, gosh I miss those days) I bought myself one, I took the girls a total of 5 times that year not including the 1 time my dad did. They loved ASmu and we were in the back in Country Fair (try for Jazz, a lot closer). In Sept 2001, the Mods had a special of $99 a night, I thought I might never be able to afford them again so we went for it. My daughters hated it. Hated that the lobby and food area were so far from the room. We were there during Sept 11th so that might be part of the reason We went back to Values after that. My older girls were teenagers and always hoped that a sporting event was going on so that there would be "cute boys", apparently there weren't any at POR. LOL One of our stays was during a soccer tournament (they were in heaven). Now the older girls are 23 and 21, youngest is 14. DD23 goes with her husband and 18 month old son. She just booked for next month and was upset that she couldn't get a room at the values (she's staying at CSR) and he doesn't want to pay for a deluxe (she's has yet to stay deluxe) DD14 and I have stayed at AKL, Poly, and DD21 and us have stayed WL and CR. But we always go back to the values. Yes we love the deluxes but we'd rather go Value and go crazy with spending money and go more often. We buy FL Seasonal passes (they have blackout dates) they cost about $235 (see why I miss the old prices) and go typically 4-6 times a year. When we stayed at Poly I booked GVC at $300 a night, 4 nights, afterward I thought I could have stayed 24 nights at AS(FL rate at the time was $49 a night) for that. LOL.

As far as staying off site, remember its $10 a day to park.

Oh and Petrymom, a thought I wanted to share.

"Petrymom, you are about to graduate from college what are you going to do next??"
I'm going to Disney World !!!!!

Congrats!!

 

[kjs1976]

We go to WDW when we can afford it and that has been at least two times of years because we've gotten great deals. Most of the time, it has been at a value resort. Been lucky to stay at AKL w/a code and POFQ twice with a code, and OKW with a free upgrade, but values seem like WDW home to us. We're not in the room that much either and so it's a true value to us. We're paying $73 a night including tax for our upcoming trip to POP and I can't name a place here in MN that is that cheap for what you get that isn't less than $100....and of course you don't get free bus service to a WDW park or Stitch to wake you up in the morning or Mickey waffles for breakfast!

 

[mgriff75]

The value resorts are great. If your running all day, you really don't need much at the hotel. The part I like best is that they have a good food court, descent quick food & the atmosphere is more casual.

 

[pixistix]

We just returned from our first trip to a value. We stayed 10 days at POP. And I am an admitted hotel snob. I'm very picky about where I sleep. I was nervous because we'd never stayed at a value and we were staying 10 days!
But we loved the theming of POP. The food court was awesome! Lots of choices! The bus service was good. The only thing I didn't like was that sometimes a bus arrived and there were too many people in line and we'd end up waiting for another bus. (probably a downside of a value resort).
Our room was always clean, we had plenty of soap, shampoo and towels. However, the towels there were thin. I'm used to thick heavy bath towels. But I dealt with it. The pools were nice, the cast members were friendly and it had an overall very Disney feel to it.
DH and I pointed out the subtle differences between value, moderate and deluxes. For DH, he missed the spa to sit in and soak his weary muscles after long days in the parks. And after 10 long days...so did I!
But I would not hesitate to stay there again. Especially a trip I want to save a few bucks on!

 

[ashleypmo]

Last trip we stayed the first half at All Star Movies & 2nd half at POR. Back then it was just Me, DH, DD, &DS. This time around we have an extra DD and extra DS, so DM will be coming along to help (lest you think I'm a wimp to need help , DS2 has Down syndrome and is just a very busy boy on top of that, so he'll need a designated adult at all times), so we'll need 2 rooms.

So this year, we just can't afford to do other than value. I even thought about posting a thread just like yours asking for input. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the main thing about the POR was just the feeling of luxury, and they have water recreation & those cool surrey bikes (I love me a surrey bike!)

The rooms at Movies were a bit smaller, but with small kids, the theming is just so cool. They feel like they're already in the MK even just walking around the grounds. I have been working on our 2002 trip scrapbook (I just gotta get it done before we go back....in May 2008 ), and I just cracked up over the pictures of the 3 year old climbing up Buzz's enormous shoe, and sitting w/ Lucky in front of the TV.

We also just view our room as a "crash & stash" site, although we'll probably come back to the room for naps this trip. But for us, it just isn't worth the extra we'll pay for 8 nights to upgrade to a mod (esp. since we need two rooms ) for a little bit of extra space. I tried to make the $$s work for a 2 bdr DVC rental (we need that extra bathroom), but unless someone knows some Disney math I'm not privvy to, it was gonna be way more (is there a "fall over dead with sticker shock" smilie? no? then you're just going to have to use your imaginations).

You'll be fine at a value, and the Movies is a lot of fun.

Have fun gettin' yo' ears on!

 

[antmaril]

We just returned from our first trip to a value. We stayed 10 days at POP. And I am an admitted hotel snob. I'm very picky about where I sleep. I was nervous because we'd never stayed at a value and we were staying 10 days!
But we loved the theming of POP. The food court was awesome! Lots of choices! The bus service was good. The only thing I didn't like was that sometimes a bus arrived and there were too many people in line and we'd end up waiting for another bus. (probably a downside of a value resort).
Our room was always clean, we had plenty of soap, shampoo and towels. However, the towels there were thin. I'm used to thick heavy bath towels. But I dealt with it. The pools were nice, the cast members were friendly and it had an overall very Disney feel to it.
DH and I pointed out the subtle differences between value, moderate and deluxes. For DH, he missed the spa to sit in and soak his weary muscles after long days in the parks. And after 10 long days...so did I!
But I would not hesitate to stay there again. Especially a trip I want to save a few bucks on!

You've made me feel a little better. I am staying in a Value (POP) for the first time next month. It's our second trip this year and I need two rooms, so I decided to economize. We usually stay deluxe, so I've been a tad nervous about our first stay at a Value Resort. I think it's going to be fine. We are only staying four nights to take advantage of Free Dining. Our son's girlfriend will be with us and she's never been to WDW. She will probably love POP!

Thanks!

 

[blessedby3]

We have stayed at all 3 levels, value, mod and deluxe, and while we prefer the deluxe we also loved POP. I say it is better to be at Disney in a value than in Virginia at my house!! We are staying in 2 rooms at POP again this Jan. as we are about to add another baby to the family and need a bit more room. I am so looking forward to being at Disney again- it doesnt matter where I sleep as long as I am there.

 

[petrymom]

Thank you all for your posts. You are great. I think I am pretty much convinced that we will be just fine in a value resort, especially if it means we get to go. Now, I need to decide which one and wait for the rates.

 

[kmjmom]

We've stayed at POR, POFQ and BC twice. This past February we took the plunge and stayed at POP. It was great!!!!!! I've booked another trip there for next February and can't wait. Our two stays at the BC were great don't get me wrong. We loved the pool especially our boys. POR and POFQ were nice too. That being said, POP met all our needs. The food court and buses were great. The money we saved staying at Pop we went ahead and got the dining plan. That was awesome too. We aren't in our rooms other than sleeping so it really made no sense to us to pay extra money for a mod or deluxe. Hope this helps. I know I read and read these boards trying to make my decision last year. It can drive a person crazy. I'd rather be able to go to disney more by staying at a value than not go at all. Have fun.

Lynn

Wow! You sound exactly like me! We have our first visit to Pop next month and we did the same thing and went aheand and booked the dining plan. We've stayed at POFQ ,PO and the BC. Now I want to give Pop a try. We have read so many good reports. Can't wait!

 

[Doc CW]

Its cheap need I say more.

 

[minnie61650]

Here is a good thread titled:
Are the values as bad as they say?

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1102308&page=3&pp=15&highlight=cheerleaders


Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[Leger13]

I don't want to sound sassy here, but I really have been spoiled the last two times we went to WDW. 1st time - POR (loved it) and 2nd time - AKL (loved it EVEN MORE but will probably not be able to afford again.

Well, DK's have a spring break this year about the time that I am finishing with my classes for College. DH has been set that he was getting a motorcycle before our next trip to Disney, but the other day he told me to go online and check pricing for spring break (after much begging from the kids, and me- I think he got sick of hearing us whine)

Long story short, I want to keep it nice and cheap so he will approve the trip and thought we could save money by staying at the value resorts.

Please help to convince me that I am not making a mistake and that we will have a great time at the values too... We really don't spend much time at the hotel because we are a sort of hyperactive family and go the whole time we are at the world.

Thanks for your help and guidance.

Since you don't spend a lot of time at the hotel and are on the go a lot then you probably won't even notice the differance. It feels like staying at a Disney themed Holiday Inn to me which isn't bad. It's still great atmosphere and very friendly staff (that's what I value the most). If you don't take advantage of the extras that a moderate or Lux resort has to offer then you're paying more $ just to sleep in my opinion. I've stayed at both moderate (beach club resort for honeymoon) and value (all star movies and all star sports) resorts and I can honestly say that I will never willingly pay for a moderate or lux resort stay just so i can sleep there again.

You can still eat at the resturants and shop at the shops of the other resorts if you want to...the only thing that I think is resort guests only are the pools (mainly the beach club pool) so if you feel like you're missing out on something you can go check it out even though you're not a guest at that praticular resort. That's what DH and I are doing this September. We're staying at Pop Century (1st time) and going to dinner for my birthday at the Steakhouse @ the contemporary.

Anyways, in the long run you'll be saving money for more fun things like food and gifts while you're there.

Sorry to make the reply so long

 

[jmpurdy]

We are a growing family of Disney lovers and with grandchild #2 on the way we couldn't afford the DVC's (renting points) on weekends. Everyone wants to stay 6 nites this time, so no DVC. Stayed in values when our kids were small, loved it. As they got older, we moved up to the moderates and finally DVC rented points for the added space as we are all adults now! But with a toddler and another baby on the way, we decided to go back to the values = alot of money saved for 3 rooms. We are very excited to continue our family Disney tradition. One son even flying in from Oregon to join us. If you have AAA, that could bring the cost down even more. Have a great time!

 

[NeverlandPixie]

In addition, just remember that Pop has some "perks" that the other values don't, specifically dedicated busses (not shared), an indoor lounge, and a really nice lake for walks and jogging. Myself, my "home" resort is POR. But having stayed at Pop, too, you can't go wrong for the price. In fact, I'm booking Pop myself for my first-ever solo trip!

 

[petrymom]

Oh, this is great!!!!!! Thanks, it made me smile. This graduation has been a long time coming.

 

[NeverlandPixie]

Petrymom: What have you been studying? I'm entering my fifth and final year at university too (education) ... graduating spring 2008 ... thus the solo trip to Disney! Yay! Congrats!