Is it worth it to YOU to upgrade to Mod.?

[NokOnHarts]

We got a pin code this year and since we were planning on going back in November anyway, we automatically booked POP with our pin. Now it looks like we're gonna get our airfare free due to points so I looked into what it would cost to upgrade to a moderate, just for fun. With our pin, it'll cost us $430 more (total cost) to upgrade to POFQ. We've only stayed at POP before and never done a moderate as we never really saw the point. But now that they have queen beds (a big plus when little kids climb in in the middle of the night!) and my daughter is old enough to really enjoy the water slide I'm seriously considering it. Would spending $430 more to upgrade to a moderate be worth it to you?? It doesn't break out trip budget due to the free airline but $430 is still $430, ya know? Just curious if anyone has ever regretted upgrading!

ETA: I wanted to note that the $430 more is the difference between the pin rate at POP and the pin rate at POFQ, it is also for a 7 night stay. Without our pin, paying rack rate, it would be a difference of $625 for our dates.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

for us "no" we've stayed at 2 mods (CB and POFQ) and enjoyed both but $430 is a significant chunk towards another Disney trip (in my mind) so not worth it.

The mods are nice don't get me wrong just not worth the extra $$

 

[anl]

For us yes! The extra bed space, coffee pot, & fridge make it worth it to me!

 

[2Monkeys]

We used our PIN code savings to upgrade to POFQ last time, and I doubt I will get DH to go back to a value!! Since our kids are older now, we need the extra space in the room, the extra sink and the bigger beds. We really enjoyed POFQ and the food court at POR is awesome!!

ETA: It also rained 11.5 inches the week we were there, so we spent a lot more time in the room than we normally would have!!

 

[teamagic]

We have stayed at both POP and POR, CB, and CS. I guess it all depends on how much you are staying around the resort and what time of the year you are going. We have stayed at POP during Christmas and was never in the room or even at the resort. When we stayed at CS, we really liked the queen beds and having a refrig...it was the end of May so it was nice to have something cold right in your room. Plus, we got milk and the kids ate breakfast in the room most mornings.

 

[Colleen27]

The moderate upgrade is absolutely worth it to me for family trips. I don't mind the values when I'm traveling without my DH, but we just got back from our first value stay with the whole family and it just didn't work out for us.

The room is just too small for 4 people unless two of them are small children. Drawer space was a big issue and I hated having to keep some of our clothes in the suitcase on the luggage rack because the dressers at Pop just aren't enough storage for 4 people.

DH & I don't sleep well sharing a double bed, especially when DD3 climbs in with us, so the fact that the mods have queens now is a big factor too. And DH is a coffee fiend in the mornings so not having a coffee pot in the room was a headache because he had to hike over to the food court for his morning fix, which meant he was frequently gone when I was looking for him to give me a hand getting the kids out the door.

POFQ would be my top choice for a moderate, which makes the upgrade even more worth it in my opinion. The slide there is on the tamer side and suitable for all ages, and the compact layout of the resort is such a nice perk compared to the other (huge, sprawling) moderate resorts. And for me, having a hot tub to unwind in after the parks in the evening is just heavenly and something I really miss when staying at value resorts.

 

[disneychrista]

Absolutely NOT worth it for $430.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

yes very much so. we did not enjoy our value resort stay at all.

 

[MarineVet]

We upgraded to a moderate in December (Coronado Springs) and loved it. We can't do without queen sized beds anymore.

 

[eeyoreforever]

It would not be worth it to me. But, I absolutely love Pop Century. We stayed at CBR the first year we went, All Star Music the next year, and Pop every year since. To me, CBR just wasn't that much nicer.

I'd rather save the money for another trip or throw in something else fun to do....Cirque, parasailing, segway tour........

 

[CarlisleMom]

yes very much so. we did not enjoy our value resort stay at all.

I double this!!! My DH will never go value again.

 

[luvmy2sams]

Absolutely worth it. We were a value family (deluxes when we'd find a good code) until last year. Pop doesn't hold a candle to POFQ for us. Bigger beds...ceiling fans...beautiful grounds...much less noisy. I can't see us ever staying at a value again.

 

[akcire]

All the large groups high school (band, football, cheerleaders) kids or brazilian kids are booked into the values. When it was me and DH we didn't care, because even if the kids were loud and kept us up we just slept in. Now with a baby, no more values for a long time.

On our Family Vacation Trip, we will be going Moderate.

 

[Toystoryfan32]

No. We like the mods but we spend most our time in the parks so it just isn't worth it to us unless we get a good discount or pin code. We really like Pop so we usually stay there.

 

[pigletto]

It's absolutely worth it for us. Aside from all the reasons others mentioned, I would do it just for the atmosphere. I love the atmosphere at POR and CSR. Seems there is just more room, and it's much quieter. I also prefer the pools and the landscaping.
We travel a long way and save pretty hard to get to go on these trips, so I while I wouldn't turn down a value stay, it's worth the extra for us to have the vacation we want.

 

[m&m's mom]

My initial response was "Yes" but, $430 is a lot. I would have to think twice if I was on a budget trip.
When our DD's were young we would buy annual passes every year and get 2 trips out of them. The trip right after we bought our AP's we would stay at a value and then the next trip would be at a deluxe. We would never stay at a mod.
This June we are staying at our first trip for the 4 of us to stay at a mod. We chose POFQ which played a big role in trying a mod. My mom and I stayed at POFQ on our very first WDW trip 16 years ago.
The deciding factor was actually POFQ; we were not considering any other mod it is a smaller resort, has 2 queen beds, was recently renovated and has a hot tub. The "Mardi Gras" theme on the food court is something none of us are looking forward to. I am afraid those giant freaky masked faces will either fall on me or cast some spooky spell.

 

[aprilgail2]

yes very much so. we did not enjoy our value resort stay at all.

I agree- I gave it my best shot one time and that is it for us. There is only me and my daughter when we go but I like the bigger rooms at POR and also the atmosphere is SO much nicer and it just seems so much quieter at POR than at any of the value resorts!

 

[worm761]

It really depends on what you are looking for in a resort. If you go moderate, will you be able to go back? Or can you afford to continue on a the moderate resorts?

We love Pop and used to stay there every trip. Then I found an amazing rate for a moderate resort that was actually less than the discount at Pop. I rebooked and took the family there. At the time is was me, DH, and DS. We loved it! The ceiling fan, which both DH and DS sleep with, and the fridge were great perks. DH and DS love the water slide. Then along came DD. Now we have two kids with a huge age gap, 13 years. This last trip she was in a crib. There is no way we would have fit at Pop. We barely fit at CSR! The kids cannot share a bed. No one can share a bed with DS. He still moves all over and kicks. So we bought DD a little toddler cot for vacations. We are going to try Pop again but this next trip is only 4 days so not very long. On the big trips we will always go deluxe or mod just for the room.

 

[it's kelly]

Yes, it is surely worth it to us. We received a pin code 2 years ago and upgraded from Pop to POFQ and I would do it again. Besides the larger space and bigger beds, we enjoyed the nightly entertainment in the lobby. I was perfectly happy going back to a mod this year, but a friend gave us her DVC points and AKL is on my DH's 'bucket list' or you can bet yourself we'd be at a mod.

 

[Tinker Pam]

My DH has health issues so spends alot more time at the resorts then in the parks. He would rather not go to Disney then stay at a Value (me- I'd go even if I had to share a cardboard box out back with an Alligator named Oscar).
We choose POFQ, it's size is perfect for us and makes it so much easier for him to navigate. My DS loves the Water Slide and the food court is small enough that he is able to be somewhat independent without me freaking out due to the size and crowds like are at the Values.
We would definetly spend the money to upgrade. The last 2 years that we have went it was actually only about $150 more to stay at Mod then Value by the time you paid to upgrade the Dining Plan.