If you usually do mod but are wondering about value...

ekmom

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Nov 16, 2006
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We just had our first stay at a value resort (All Star Sports) after always doing mods in the past, so I thought I'd share in case this might be helpful to someone else.

We've been visiting since 1984 and we did off site for a long time because the values didn't exist yet and our budget didn't stretch to the mods. By the time we could afford onsite, we jumped right into a mod and that's what we've done ever since, either POR or CSR. Once we even treated ourselves to Yacht Club when we had an unexpected windfall :woohoo:

Now we have grandkids and came down with them last year. With a group of 9, renting a house was right for the budget and worked out perfectly and we're doing it again this March. But they're still small (4 yr old and 21 month old twins) so 1 day at MK is all we'll do. I was REALLY craving a stay onsite and do all the parks kind of trip with just DH, so we agreed we could do it if we stayed value, didn't rent a car, and found a cheap airfare. We didn't book until after Thanksgiving, got a $75 round trip airfare, and had a choice between Music and Sports.

So what did we think of values? Actually, we were quite pleased! The rooms ARE noticeably smaller than the mods, but this didn't bother us. Our room was still clean and comfortable. We had two double beds and the lack of queens might bother some people, so something to keep in mind. They do have kings but it was unclear to us whether these were disability rooms only so since we didn't care, we didn't request one. The bathroom is also smaller, the door barely clears the toilet, but once again not something that bothered us. There is only a single sink but counter space is ample.

We requested top floor, hoops section and got what we asked for. We were in room 3350 and our view was trees and water, so rather nice. It was quiet too. We didn't use the pool so I can't comment on that, but we sat there one day and there were plenty of loungers. Of course, we did pick one of the coldest weeks :sad2: We were quite pleased with the selection at the food court, the steak and mashed potatoes were especially yummy. We had great luck with buses and I think our longest wait was 20 mins for MK, otherwise usually 5 or less. We had our own bus except at mid-day and then we were first to be picked up and dropped off.

So if you're usually a mod family and are looking for a budget stay, don't rule out trying a value. We were pleasantly surprised!
 
I agree; I feel that the values are probably on par with a Hampton Inn. Nothing wrong with that if the situation dictates. Over the years we've stayed at almost all WDW hotels. Last time it was the Poly; this year it will be All Star Movies with our preschool grandson. I've enjoyed every level and location.
 
With All-Star Sports being the very first WDW Resort I stayed at and having stayed there over 30 times,it is wonderful to hear you enjoyed "my" Resort!:)

We just returned from a stay as well and agree about the temps!

I have always thought Surfboard Bay is one of the prettiest spots on property.

With the success of Disney Skyliner,I am now hoping they will decide to expand and build a line from the All-Stars to Animal Kingdom!


469181
 
All the Values are or will be undergoing refurb and will have two queen beds when finished. Pop is already done and either Movies or Music is in the middle of their refurb.
 

All the Values are or will be undergoing refurb and will have two queen beds when finished. Pop is already done and either Movies or Music is in the middle of their refurb.
That's good to know. That won't make them any roomier, but it will sure be nice for sleeping, which is the most important part for me.
 
That's good to know. That won't make them any roomier, but it will sure be nice for sleeping, which is the most important part for me.
It actually does make the room roomier, because the 2nd bed now folds up into the wall. So once the bed is up, the room feels much bigger.
OP: We have stayed at all 3 levels with the Mods being our favorite for the $$, and have enjoyed all of our trips. We definitely do not believe, once you stay at a higher level that you cannot go back.
 
We always stay at a moderate, mostly POR/POFQ and this year we are staying at Pop Century. I haven't stayed there since 2006! But I know it is much different since I last stayed there - the rooms are a big difference! I am looking forward to staying at a value again. We saved money and we are excited to have the Skyliner right there for us. I was very hesitant at first since it has been so many years since staying at a value resort, but I am excited. I do miss the food court at Pop!
 
We are giving the values a first try next week. Just a quick two night stay. We figured it was the perfect way to try them out. CBR is our go to mod but next longer trip in September we are staying at the Poly.

I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised by the values because it would make cheap, short trips possible. Now that the kids are older we can finally get away without them.
 
It actually does make the room roomier, because the 2nd bed now folds up into the wall. So once the bed is up, the room feels much bigger.
OP: We have stayed at all 3 levels with the Mods being our favorite for the $$, and have enjoyed all of our trips. We definitely do not believe, once you stay at a higher level that you cannot go back.
Oh they are getting a murphy queen? cool. Makes a lot of sense.
 
It actually does make the room roomier, because the 2nd bed now folds up into the wall. So once the bed is up, the room feels much bigger.
OP: We have stayed at all 3 levels with the Mods being our favorite for the $$, and have enjoyed all of our trips. We definitely do not believe, once you stay at a higher level that you cannot go back.

We like moderates because we feel like it's the biggest bang for our buck. I'd stay at Pop in a heartbeat if parks were open super late and we were only interested in a sleeping/shower space.
 
I really enjoyed your post, we always stay off site because we get so much for our money. We get 2 bedroom living and kitchen resort at 250 a night. So this time we are coming for Star wars and i wanted the 60fp. We got ASM preferred room.
I have been really nervous because i talked my DH into this room that is 170 a night and to him it looks like a motel. Im hoping that the disney bubble shows him it was worth it.
 
I really enjoyed your post, we always stay off site because we get so much for our money. We get 2 bedroom living and kitchen resort at 250 a night. So this time we are coming for Star wars and i wanted the 60fp. We got ASM preferred room.
I have been really nervous because i talked my DH into this room that is 170 a night and to him it looks like a motel. Im hoping that the disney bubble shows him it was worth it.
I too wondered if I'd feel like I was at a Motel 6 or something, but I didn't. It still felt like Disney magic, at least to me!
 
It actually does make the room roomier, because the 2nd bed now folds up into the wall. So once the bed is up, the room feels much bigger.
OP: We have stayed at all 3 levels with the Mods being our favorite for the $$, and have enjoyed all of our trips. We definitely do not believe, once you stay at a higher level that you cannot go back.
I agree, it does make the rooms bigger. Not only with the bed up, but the room is better organized with a ton more storage spaces so room is less cluttered.
 
I have stayed in two deluxe, two mods, and two values (multiple stays at some of them), and we have a value trip coming up in March and a split stay between two deluxe in November. I can honestly say I love them all and have never had a bad experience.

If you do your research and know what amenities you‘ll have, it will help you make trade off decisions based on the type of trip you are planning. More hotel relaxing/sit down dinner/lounge time and less park time? A deluxe may be good. Lots of time at DS? Maybe POR or POFQ are good for the boat ride. Park hop til you drop and just need a bed and a shower? Values are great for that! Big family and smaller budget? Maybe a family suite at a value. Four ladies on a girls trip? Queen beds at mods are worth it - and now you can even get those at a couple of the values, too. Lots of time at Epcot and HS? Walkable deluxe are fabulous, but the Skyliner opens up a mod and two values now.

Disney gives you so many options to allow you to weigh out your price points and your trip style...I think it’s genius.
 
I agree, it does make the rooms bigger. Not only with the bed up, but the room is better organized with a ton more storage spaces so room is less cluttered.
We were not a total fan of the new rooms, this goes for other resort levels also. We found that storage for clothes was a lot less. This was the first trip where I could not totally unpack my suitcase because once my DW and 2 DD's unpacked the drawers and shelves were full. The new drawers have gotten shorter and narrower, so less fits in them:( We always brought a couple of closet organizers, but with the way they did the sink/closet area, there is no where to hang them. Plus; I really miss not having a table at night to work at because the murphy bed is down:(
Even with all that, our family still thinks that a value resort is more then a place to sleep and shower at:)
 
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We were not a total fan of the new rooms, this goes for other resort levels also. We found that storage for clothes was a lot less. This was the first trip where I could not totally unpack my suitcase because once my DW and 2 DD's unpacked the drawers and shelves were full. The new drawers have gotten shorter and narrower, so less fits in them:( We always brought a couple of closet organizers, but with the way they did the sink/closet area, there is no where to hang them. Plus; I really miss not having a table at night to work at because the murphy bed is down:(
Even with all that, our family still thinks that a value resort is more then a place to sleep and shower at:)
I can’t recall how big the drawers were but I thought they were big. Especially the cabinet with the safe. And there was a few shelves in the closet. Plus all those cubbies in the bathroom. And loved the cabinet with the coffee/Fridge. Nice to store food out of the way.

I have to admit, it was just me in the room. Lol. I went with friends but we all get our own rooms. So for one person I had a ton of room 😆 When I go with both daughters even GF doesn’t have enough storage!
 
I can’t recall how big the drawers were but I thought they were big. Especially the cabinet with the safe. And there was a few shelves in the closet. Plus all those cubbies in the bathroom. And loved the cabinet with the coffee/Fridge. Nice to store food out of the way.

I have to admit, it was just me in the room. Lol. I went with friends but we all get our own rooms. So for one person I had a ton of room 😆 When I go with both daughters even GF doesn’t have enough storage!
:rotfl2:
 
I've stayed at all but 3 of the WDW resorts, SS, WL and AoA and can say there is something good about all of them. I will say we use the values as a one or two night split stay at the beginning of the trip instead of a length of stay. One of my problems with them is being addressed with the refurbs, coffee pots in the room. If I was staying in a value it was because I wanted to save money and having to pay for my coffee in the morning bothered me. I know it's not much but darn it I like waking up and not having to walk to get my coffee. The other problem I have with them is no hot tub at the pool. There are hot tubs at the quiet pools at the deluxe resorts, which is nice but even the ones at the big pool at the moderates is better than nothing (if some parents could teach their littles not to jump into them like big pools and to just sit in them). After a long day in the park or on an afternoon break, I love a long soak and a refreshing adult beverage in a hot tub.

The values do seem a little busier in the common areas than the moderates but that might just be perception on my part.

But if it meant no visit to WDW, you can bet your bottom dollar, I'm staying in a value and loving it.
 












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