Is Moderate Worth It?

[calster21]

Been to Disney 3 times and have stayed at values. Thinking of making the jump to Moderate, but not sure if its worth it.

 

[Rescue Ranger]

YES!

However, it depends what you like out of a resort and how much time you spend there on your vacation. If you plan to hardly be at or use the resort and/or if you have little kids that like to be active at a resort where there is more catered to them, then staying value I think is best. But if you want a step up to enjoy the finer things the moderate/deluxe resorts offer, then I say go moderate.

I prefer the layouts and grounds of the moderates and especially in the evening if you're not tired there are some nice trails and grounds to walk around and the lobbies even are nicer to spend some time in and relax. The value grounds are fun with all the giant things, but I get the airport feel from them, not as "cozy" and touched up.

You can always try moderate for one or 2 nights and then switch to value if you don't find it really offers anything more to what you already enjoy out of a value.

 

[Buzz2001]

Yes, CSR is worth it. Check out my CSR website below for pics and info.

 

[f7prez]

How do you spend your time while at Disney? Are you the commando type that is at the parks from the time you wake up until it is time to go to bed every day of your vacation. Perhaps you are more of a leisure vacationer. A couple days at the park. Maybe head back to the resort for some afternoon downtime. Take a day off to relax by the pool. After all, you are on vacation.
If the resort is nothing more than a place to sleep, why waste your money upgrading. During our last 10 day trip we spent 4 days at a theme park (not including the water parks). We spend a good amount of time at the resort so it is worth spending the extra money for this

Rather than settling for this

 

[michelle1]

Absolutely.....if you are planning to spend some time at the resort. The extra money is worth it for us to have a pool slide and hot tub because we spend several days hanging at the pool.

 

[Princess Jenny]

To me and my family, the money is well worth it! It gives Disney a whole different feeling. I would at least try it one time

 

[Harvest02]

I hope it's worth it! We will know in 26 days! We are staying at POR this time instead of ASMo. Decided to try to moderate, so we will let everyone know what we think after we get back!

 

[Princess Jenny]

We just got back from POR! You are going to love it!

 

[Lilolvr]

Definitely yes!!

 

[Praying Colonel]

Guess every person has their own personal feelings about this. We moved down to a value this time because we were trying to keep our costs down and figured we wouldn't miss some of the amenities because we'd be in the parks so much. Well, we missed them. The Pop staff did a great job and it's a fine resort, but we just missed the extras we had at CSR. On our next trip we'll either stay offsite at a condo, stay at CSR again or maybe rent DVC points and stay at the Beach Club (DW's really interested in that one). Value didn't do it for us, but YMMV.

 

[Harvest02]

We just got back from POR! You are going to love it!

Glad to hear this! How were the busses? That is the only thing making me nervous, but sounds like it depends which bus station you use at POR. Which one was least crowded??

 

[scootch]

I can see where DELUXE is worth it, the monorail is the most convenient tool ever... but moderate over value, not sure.

 

[Orelover]

Glad to hear this! How were the busses? That is the only thing making me nervous, but sounds like it depends which bus station you use at POR. Which one was least crowded??

There are several bus stops around POR find the one closest to your room. We have stayed at POR serveral times and I have found the busiest bus stop is the one up front by the General store. If you check out the Resort map at check in you will most likely find 2 stops within close proximity to your room.
IMHO you will love POR have a great trip

 

[goofy4tink]

While I voted 'yes', it's sort of a qualified 'yes'. I love POR, have stayed there three times. I would love to try out CBR and CSR someday. I own DVC at BWV. When I'm not staying at a DVC resort, you can usually find me at POP. My family (at least my dd and I, dh is a resort snob) don't use the hot tubs, or even the table service restuarants at the moderates, and seldom at the deluxes. Yes, the theming is terrific at the mods, much more inspired than at the values. But, for the addtl money that I would have to spend to stay at a moderate, I figure I can be just as happy at POP. But, you will find that most people do not feel that way.

 

[Simba22]

I voted yes, however I think it depends on how much you want to get out of your resort. If you are there for a good amount of time during your trip, or if you plan to eat most of your meals there, then I would say yes - make the switch to a moderate. But if the majority of your time spent in the room is for sleeping, then don't bother. We are staying at CSR on this trip because I thought it would be nice to stay at an "adult resort" for an "adult trip" but as we get closer, I know I am going to miss the Movies....

 

[Amy&Dan]

I didn't vote because to me its not strictly a yes or no answer.

If jumping up to a moderate will not make you: shorten your stay, put any of your vacation on credit, cut back on nicer meals, souveniers or other things you want to buy/experience and you think you will enjoy the things you are paying extra for (pool slide, frig in your room, ambiance, hottubs) then by all means go for it. I love all four mods and have enjoyed my stays at all of them. The lush grounds are what make them so enjoyable for me. I don't actually think the rooms give that much more (although the double sinks are great, but CSR doesn't have those).

However, if that extra money is going to stress your wallet in any way, than to me, stick with the values, they aren't poor relations. They are still WDW resorts with plenty of magic, customer service and above all a clean place to lay your head at night!

I happen to think the pools and grounds at the values can lend to some fun and relaxation. I remember hanging out at the pool at Pop Century all day one day and sipping a Mai Tai and feeling pretty good about my vacation choice. I could see a palm tree, my kids had a ball and life was good! My family is big on swimming, so we do plenty of that each day at all of our WDW resort stays. And we have stayed at all levels so we have experienced the differing pools.

I do love the moderates but not every trip do I want to shell out the extra $$ for them. For example we will stay at Pop for five nights in May before heading to SSR for 12 nights. I had originally thought I would go with POR, but going with Pop saved me around $300 (and that was with a preferred room at Pop). That just felt like more than I wanted to spend given the length and total expense of our trip. Last trip, I did CBR, I got a great rate and the difference between it and Pop wasn't that much which made my choice a lot easier.

I don't think you can make a wrong choice (too bad all of life isn't that way)! I always think trying something new in the resorts department, is one of the things that makes a Disney vacation and planning so much fun. But saving money and sticking with what has worked in the past for your family is also a good choice. Good luck!

 

[kaybird]

While we had a great time at pop and Music, we LOVE LOVE LOVE the PO resorts, and think it is well worth the money to upgrade to the Mod's. While we enjoyed WL however, can not usually justify the money for the deluxes, with the exception of the cabins at FW.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I definately think it is worth it. We usually stay in deluxes but in June we decided to save some money and stay at POR. I was a little skeptical since the rooms are smaller and have no balcony, which is why we love the deluxes so much. However, after staying at POR, I definately would stay in another moderate over a delux any day. The lay out of the land was perfect and there is so much to see and do on just the grounds.

 

[G's mommy]

To me, values are OK for a short stay, no more than 3 nights. Anything longer and I prefer to pay a little more and stay at a moderate.

 

[Bella34]

YES~Definitely worth the upgrade! We have stayed at POFQ & POP. We will never stay at POP or another value again. Even my two DD's 10 & 14 agree. I can't really say anything bad about POP but it just wasn't us. We all absolutey loved POFQ though. I tried to justify staying at a Value with the "We won't even spend that much time at the resort - we only need a place to sleep & shower" Nope, won't fall for that again!

Personally, I can justify the upgrade to a Mod but cannot do the same for an upgrade to a Deluxe We are trying CSR in Nov & we can't wait !!!!!!!

Enjoy whatever you decide!!