Is Moderate Resorts worth it?

[NeverBeentoDisney]

I have a trip booked for February and I am booked at Pop Century. I get 50% off since I am a cast member but I was wondering if it was worth it to go up to the moderate or not. I know that we are not guarnteed a king size bed at Pop Century unless one is available upon check in. Are all the beds at say the French Quarters king size or are there two doubles as well? I am just wondering since this is my first trip and I probably wont be in the room very long is it worth the few extra dollars to go to moderate or not. I am traveling with just my DH too.

 

[n2mm]

King beds at moderates are priced separately than a standard (2 double bed) room. So if you want a king room at a moderate, you need to book that room (which cost more). Personally, I don't think the moderates are worth it. It also depends if you are going during Feb. value season, or Feb. peak season. The price different is huge. We stay at the value resorts during regular season and the delux resorts during value season. We stayed at Pop twice in 2004 (May and Oct), and stayed at WL twice in 2004 (Jan. and July), we enjoy both levels of lodging, and love saving money staying at Pop during regular season. (We also get our rooms at the CM rate too.)

 

[powellrj]

If you are just traveling with your DH, and you don't want things like a pool slide or sit down resturants (they have a food court) you should be fine!

 

[crisi]

I haven't stayed at a value resort. I don't think I would, we have become DVC members, and will (if we can afford it, which we can) stay Deluxe if possible when not using points. So I think the upgrade would be worth it, but I'll try and be objective.....

Some people have complained about large school groups at the Values. Your chances of running into a entire group of hormonal teens is less at FQ. I haven't stayed at FQ, but what I've read, the theming is very romantic and nice - where PC's is a little less "subtle". Those would be two reasons I'd consider moving two adults over to FQ.

On the other hand, if money is tight and you will be in the room to sleep and shower - who cares?

 

[Digger In FLA]

moderate, no. deluxe, yes. if you're going for the parks, POP is fine. I'd rather stay in POP vs the all-stars because the all-stars are looking pretty shabby right now. POP is still new and if you're using dis transportation, it's the value to stay at. if you're only needing a bed and a shower, save your money. a savannah room at the AKL is a different story.

 

[mrsboz]

We have stayed at both levels and find that for the money the moderates are heads and tails above the value resorts. The value resorts are much more crowded. The theming at the moderates are much nicer. I have stayed at the FQ twice and loved it both times. I would choose it any day over a value resort. The pools are heads and tails above the value. You also have a boat to take you to down town disney and you can walk along the path to the Riverside hotel. They also have bike rentals. I feel by far a much better choice. Good luck with your decision. Also, they have restaurants at both hotels.

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I agree with mrsboz. We've stayed at value resorts and our last trip we stayed at CBR--NO comparison. Even though we're now DVC owners, I don't think we'd ever go back to value resorts. The rooms were larger, we like the sit down resturant, a bus just for our resort, better themed IMO. You should give it a try for yourself and let us know what you think. Good luck deciding!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I'm staying in a value for the first time this year. I've always avoided them in the past because they look like motels and I expect them to be kid intensive. I'm trying it now because I've been a few times and I'm also a member of the 150 point DVC club...so I try not to stay in a DVC unit on a weekend. If you've never been to Disney I would go with the moderate. According to everything I've read values don't have a restaurant option AND even worse...they don't have hottubs. Soaking my feet and legs after a day of commando park hopping is mandatory...I'm passing it up this time because it helps justify my annual pass. My first stay in Disney was at POR when it first opened...at the time that was Disney's version of a value resort...and what a value it was.

 

[NotTooGoofy]

I've stayed at ASMovies and the all of the moderates except PO-FQ. I've found that the value resort room gave me a cramped feeling. If you have a lot of luggage or if you buy souvenirs, clothing or other items, the room fills up quickly. It seemed I was always stepping around things. Moderate rooms are large enough to alleviate this. If you are staying for 6 or more days, it may be worth while to start out staying at Pop and switch over to PO-FQ halfway through.

 

[plutospup]

I've stayed Deluxe, Moderate, and Value (ASMo). If you're only going to stay in your room to sleep & wash the Values are...a good value! As mentioned the moderates will have a pool slide, but tend to be spread out at least as much as the values. If you're trying to save money for other "stuff" check out the values.

 

[canwegosoon]

You know since it's you first trip, it really doesn't matter. I loved POR, I would stay at a Value, to save money or if there wasn't enough "value" to justify the cost (eg. arriving at midnight). My DH was really impressed with POR. The rooms were nice...we also ended up purchasing DVC, so we will be staying there, but who knows we might stay in a value to sneak in a second trip. I would go on www.allearsnet.com and check out accomodations. Also since you are a CM I would just keep your options open, Don't get your heart set on something that might not be available. I am so thrilled that you are going to Disney...you will have a great time anywhere!!!

 

[Liz]

The only time I didn't feel like the moderate was worth the cost for us was when we paid rack rate (approx. $135 at the time). When we are able to get a moderate for under $100 I go for it, but its all a personal decision. Have fun!

 

[S. C.]

How long are you going for? You might want to split your stay between a value & moderate & be your own judge for future trips.

 

[capthooksmom]

We have stayed at both levels and find that for the money the moderates are heads and tails above the value resorts. The value resorts are much more crowded. The theming at the moderates are much nicer. I have stayed at the FQ twice and loved it both times. I would choose it any day over a value resort. The pools are heads and tails above the value. You also have a boat to take you to down town disney and you can walk along the path to the Riverside hotel. They also have bike rentals. I feel by far a much better choice. Good luck with your decision. Also, they have restaurants at both hotels.

I couldn't agree more. We stayed at Pop in April and POFQ in December. I would pick POFQ or another mod. over the value anyday. Our room at POFQ was spacious compared to Pop and the resort was so much smaller and nicer. I know other mods are different, but I am in love with POFQ.

 

[maggiew]

I think you need to figure out what types of things you WANT and see which level meets your needs.

When we first started going to Disney (for more than one day), we stayed at moderates because we could afford to. They have outside walkways, a sit down restaurant and pool slides. On both of our stays at POR and CSR we NEVER ate at the sit down restaurant OR used the slides. I tried to get my girls to use the slide at CSR since it was so cool, but all they wanted to do was play in the quiet pool where they could be pretty much alone in the pool without lots of other people.

The last time we went to Disney, we decided to stay at POP since it was new and the theme looked fun to us. POP has outside walkways, NO sit down restaurant and NO pool slides. Our stay was exactly the same as at the moderates. We didn't find it to be any more crowded than at the moderates. Plus the food court was great (although I liked the food court at CSR a lot too.)

So, to us it makes no difference which we stay at (moderates or value) because we do not use all the amenities at the moderates that made them the upgrade. The price difference was negligible in our budget (we got POR/CSR for $79 per night and POP for $49 per night). But if that price difference meant one less character meal for you or no souvenirs or something, then I would have no trouble recommending the values (at least POP). If you think you WOULD eat at the sit down restaurant at the moderate or use the slides, then the price difference might be worth it.

We are picking our hotels based on theming right now. (At least between the moderates and values.) We have stayed at all the moderates and values now except CBR, so we may try that next. But I wouldn't be opposed to POP again if the kids wanted it. We had a great time there. (Excepting maybe Hurricane Charley, but that is not Disney's fault.)

We ususally are park commandos, but now that we've been to Disney a few times we are starting to slow down and enjoy the other things in the WORLD. Maybe after we stay at CBR we will try a deluxe so we can relax and enjoy the resort.

I hope this helps.

Maggie

 

[NeverBeentoDisney]

I called yesterday to find out if I can change my reservation and I cannot because the DS was sold in November and when they change the reservation it would go from yesterdays date. I am gonna call make tomorrow since the system was down and check again just to make sure.

This will be the only time I will ever be able to stay at Moderate with the 50% off and I really want to now that I have read responses and I did some research in my Birnbaum book and online.

I will just keep crossing my fingers that they can upgrade me. Right now I have 4 nights at Pop for $169.00 which is an awesome price. We will see what happens. If I just have to stay in the value then it is fine since I will be spending alot of time in the parks!! =)

 

[S. C.]

We have stayed at all three & have wonderful memories from all of them. We are very glad that we have experienced staying at all three levels.