is it really worth it

[cusesteve]

to pay the extra $$ to stay at a moderate level resort (orleans) than the budget resorts?

 

[Mayl]

Everyone will tell you it "depends". They are correct.

We go every year to WDW and what resort we picks is different each year. We have stayed at all three levels.

This Jan we went and we actually downgraded. We had ressies for POFQ and found we could go to PoP and save over $700.

This trip it was just my wife, me, 2 kids (7 and 9) so it was very much worth it. PoP was a perfect fit for us and our needs.

However, our 09 trip is will be with the in laws again, so a mod fits that much better. Also if the kids did not go for any reason, the deluxe resorts are great for wife and I.

I never felt "cheap" or anything stay at the values. I enjoyed the savings, did miss a feature or two, but also loved the fact that my kids could be kids a the pool, or have kid attractive foods at the food court.

 

[Maddy's Dad]

Agree with Mayl. I don't believe you can get a BAD resort at Disney but each level of resort has its PROS. I always choose based on length of trip and how much time I'm planning on relaxing at the resort.

For example, if I'm planning a short trip where I know I'll spend almost all of my time at the parks, then I'll opt for the value or moderate to save the $.

If on the other hand, we going longer and/or planning more time at the resort, we choose a deluxe or moderate at least due to IMO better pool themeing and relaxing atmospheres at the deluxe and moderates.

If you need to save the money...go with the Value....you can't go wrong with Disney!

 

[madalex]

Everyone will tell you it "depends". They are correct.

This is generally true, but if you have to ask the question, it will probably will not be worth it.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I like the fact that the moderate rooms are larger. They offer a full service restaurant as well as a food court. They have marinas. They have themed pools and hot tubs. They offer more amenities than the values. They don't charge extra for the refrigerators which saves us a lot of money on drinks and breakfast foods.

If I were going for just a few days, I might would go with a value resort but if I am going for a week or more, I'd definitely go with a moderate resort.

 

[lustergirl]

Interesting thread! This past december my husband and I stayed at CSR because of the promo that came out. I gotta say that I preferred AS Sports over this resort. Even though CSR is really beautiful it is just too big for us. I like the fact of walking out of my room and all of the amenities like the food court, bus stop, etc. are right there like at AS Sports. In December 09 we are staying at the Poly- MK View. I think there I am paying for the added convenience of closeness. I am taking my first solo trip in May and am staying at AS Sports.

 

[PrincessNoelle'sMom]

It is either value or deluxe for my family - We really don't see the additional money going to important "extras" when staying at a mod. Quite different though, when staying at a deluxe.

 

[fall08CP]

We think the mods are definitely worth the extra. We love the pools (and hot tub!), the scenery, and the food choices much better than at the Values. We also don't like being around children at the resort, and the busses to values seem to be full of them in our experience. The mods still have kids, but not nearly as many.
If the price is a huge difference, then maybe a value is worth it to you. If it's a small difference, choose the mod.

 

[ElizabethB]

I think the mods have nicer ambience and a few amenities like a sit-down restaurant, a slide at the pool and a hot tub. Beyond that, there's not much difference, IMO. The rooms are identical in layout, except that the values are slightly smaller and have one sink rather than the two that POR, POFQ and CBR have. As I recall, CSR only has one sink as well. We just couldn't see that much difference in the rooms. The difference is in the resort amenities. If you don't care about those, I'd pick a value.

We never use the resort buses, so we don't care if they are overly full or not. We prefer to drive.

 

[HonnyDipp]

I just upgraded today from a value (POP) to a mod (CBR) for our family vacation in Nov. I'm glad I did. The value's didnt even offer a coffee maker in the rooms, I noticed that the square footage for the value resort is 260 while the mods are 340, so there is a nice difference in the size of the actual room. I also love the idea that they also offer full service and counter restaurants. I know that we wont be spending alot of time in the rooms but at least I know our down time will be comfy!

 

[Tinkerspell]

And let's not forget one of the best benefits... closer queues for the buses! Maybe not such a big deal in the morning, but going back exhausted at night, seeing the signs for the bus sooner than the values was just priceless.

We prefer the moderates and feel it's worth the extra money for the extra space, and the fridge (since we have a heavy milk drinker... should just buy the kid a cow and be done with it). The hot tubs are nice too.

 

[HonnyDipp]

Also dont they do towel animals at the mods?

 

[Atchley]

I vote yes. Mods are worth the extra money, especially if you are planning on spending any time at the resort. Feels more like a vacation.

 

[pooch]

we stayed at POP last year & the resort was fine, the rooms clean and quiet but it just didn't have that "resort" feel to me. Kind of like the local Best Western with a Disney flare. This year we're going to POFQ. If I had small children, I'd probably opt for the value but for 2 adults - not so much!!!

 

[richsilver]

We find ourselves in Orlando a couple times a year for different reasons.When it's a quick one or two days we will save some and stay value.

When we go for purely vacation,we stay at least mod.The values although very nice still have a little motel like feel to us.Mods give just enough upgrade to make you feel like your really doing something more special.

It's been our experience also that the value food courts can be somewhat more challanging to enjoy if there at the wrong time.
In other words very busy with machines breaking down,lack of ice and so on.

Not to say that won't happen at a mod,or happens all the time at values,but our times at the mod food courts have been more enjoyable.

We just stayed at ASMu for a night and it was ok.Will also stay at ASMo for 4 days in July for a convention.But when we take our cruise we will stay at POFQ before and after.

So our opinion is if it's in reach go mod.Being on property is the key,so either way you'll enjoy that.


rich

 

[tara lynn]

I think it really depends on how much time you spend at the hotel. We're only there to sleep and to rest a little bit after coming back from one park before heading out to somewhere else, so the extra money it costs to stay at a mod isn't worth it for us.

I stayed at POP on my last trip and it was great. We didn't make any special room requests and we ended up in a 1st floor room close to the food court and the buses. It also wasn't loud in the morning or at night, the wait for the bus was never bad, and the food court was never ridiculously crowded when we went in.

 

[Disney4eva]

Also dont they do towel animals at the mods?

When we were at Sports this past August, we had towel animals every night of our stay.

 

[tara lynn]

When we were at Sports this past August, we had towel animals every night of our stay.

we also had towel animals every night at POP.

 

[skipperkim]

I've stayed at all levels of resorts on property. My preference is POFQ. It's small, only 7 buildings, has a boat to DTD, a jazz musician in the lounge, a secluded hot tub, 2 sinks and a fridge in the room, beignets in the food court, and best of all it has its own bus stop at MK in the evening. Not to mention the grounds are so beautiful.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have stayed value and mod...if the price is not that much different than I would stay mod. IMHO the food courts and gift shops are the same but I love POR...the grounds are so pretty