Is there a really big difference between value and moderates?

[nkereina]

I just thought though.....I am going in February. So pools and covered bus stops might not be that big of a deal.......

It still could rain, and I find the covered bus stops to be of more importance when it's raining than when it's hot and sunny.

I know this is a stupid question, but are the room kept up as well at the vaules as they are at the moderates? I just don't want to stay somewhere dirty, that is all that really matters to me.

Yes, I've found housekeeping to be comparable at all levels. Just because the amenities are less, it doesn't mean the quality and Disney standards are less.

 

[Aandyjbkr]

One of my favorite "perks" at a mod is the covered bus stops. I loved Pop but having to stand in the full-on direct sun in the middle of a concrete ocean while waiting for a bus to the parks just pretty much kills it for me. Nothing like melting away and getting hot, sweaty and cranky before 9 am. Mods have multiple covered bus stops with bench seats.

I am staying at POR for my first onsite stay in September. However think it is a poor deal they can't provide a covered bus stop at a value.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am staying at POR for my first onsite stay in September. However think it is a poor deal they can't provide a covered bus stop at a value.

That is part of the value of being at a value resort. If they provided all the same perks as the moderates, they wouldn't be cheaper. Each person has to decide which perks are important to them, and plan their stay accordingly. A covered bus stop is not such a huge deal for me. I go to Florida wanting to be out in the sun, not always in the shade. Ymmv.

Some people like the fact that the value resort bus stops have regular queues, which they do not have at the moderate and deluxe resorts. Moderate and deluxe resorts have seating areas at the bus stops, so no place for queues.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

I am staying at POR for my first onsite stay in September. However think it is a poor deal they can't provide a covered bus stop at a value.

ITA! I know that there are perks and ways to upsell from value to mod. I understand the concept. Water slides, hot tubs, on-site TS restaurant - all nice perks which would convince many to upgrade resorts. But summertime weather in Florida is almost comparable to a trip to Hades. IMHO, it should be considered a necessity, not a "perk", to have a simple, keep the sun/rain off your head, heat stroke avoiding, four poles and a roof shelter.

 

[DianeW]

We love staying at Pop! Being a family of five means we need two rooms, and frankly, with our usual two week stay, the moderates are too expensive.

We could do the cabins at Ft. Wilderness, but I think their transportation is horrible...plus they only have one bathroom. Two bathrooms pretty much trumps everything...including a covered bus stop. Not to mention, I've never waited more than 5 or 10 minutes for a bus at Pop anyway.

We go for the parks and activities. We spend very little time at the resort. If that's how you are OP...go for the value.

 

[maxiesmom]

ITA! I know that there are perks and ways to upsell from value to mod. I understand the concept. Water slides, hot tubs, on-site TS restaurant - all nice perks which would convince many to upgrade resorts. But summertime weather in Florida is almost comparable to a trip to Hades. IMHO, it should be considered a necessity, not a "perk", to have a simple, keep the sun/rain off your head, heat stroke avoiding, four poles and a roof shelter.

There is actually usually a tiny bit of shade to be had near the value bus stops. However, you can't wait in line and be in the shade at the same time.

I guess when you plan a vacation to Florida in the middle of the summer, the guest needs to realize they will be outside in the sun the majority of the time. If someone can't handle standing in the sun for a few minutes at the bus stop, how are they going to handle being in the park for hours on end? Do they plan to run from building to building?

A straw hat works wonders for giving you a bit of shade, yet helps you to stay cool. I've even seen people using umbrellas to keep the sun off when the parks are not too packed. A shaded bus stop is far from a necessity. If staying out of the sun is a priority, a summer vacation to WDW is a very poor choice over-all.

 

[jalmgiven]

I think the biggest differences room size, moderates are quite a bit bigger and most have now been refurbished with queen beds. Also moderates come with fridges at no extra cost, Coronado Springs even has free wifi. If the difference is as significant between moderate and value as between deluxe and moderate(we've done both) then spend the extra if it's in your budget and enjoy more space that's offered with moderate

We stayed at the Coronado Springs this past summer and we had to pay for wi-fi. Looking at going again this August and might pick this resort again if they have wi-fi for free. It's a great resort and we really liked it.

Is free wi-fi new since then?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

We are DVC members are usually stay in those rooms, we have never stayed in a hotel room before. But I am planning a surprise trip for just my son and I, and I don't want to waste points on just the two of us. When I priced out the timeframe, it was like $490 for a value and $1090 for POR. That is a really big difference. That is why I wondered what the bif difference is.

I have stayed at all levels of resorts at WDW, and really, they are all nice. I think it just depends on how you vacation, or more importantly, how you vacation at WDW. When we are at WDW all we do in the room is, basically, sleep and shower and maybe use the pool once or twice. So, we really like the value resorts - clean, comfty and cute and definitley the best price for staying on-site. Our kids favorite resort is All-Star Movies and we can't wait to try the new Art of Animation Resort in December. If you are going to be spending a lot of time at the resort, then you may want to pay the difference for the upgrade. I think it just depends on each family and how they tour.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I just thought though.....I am going in February. So pools and covered bus stops might not be that big of a deal.......

Exactly, the weather will be moderate. I guess if you are going at a very hot time, that might play into it, but not in February. And, really, unless there's a heat wave that arrives in mid-February, how much pool time will you have?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

I didn't know about free wifi, but my children clearly know that at values there is no hot tub or slide for the pool.

That's why I think it really varies from family to family. My kids could care less about a resort with a pool slide - we have that in our back yard. All they care about is getting to the parks early and not leaving until they close 'em down.

 

[twinboysmom]

We are DVC members are usually stay in those rooms, we have never stayed in a hotel room before. But I am planning a surprise trip for just my son and I, and I don't want to waste points on just the two of us. When I priced out the timeframe, it was like $490 for a value and $1090 for POR. That is a really big difference. That is why I wondered what the bif difference is.

We are dvc members as well and only stay in a 1 bedroom or better now that we have the boys. But, we only have so many points so when we run out, it's the values for us.m we stayed for a week at movies in October and had a split stay in December with music and THV. We have not stayed at a moderate but have spent some time there as that's where sil stays. The rooms are a bit bigger, not significantly (with exception of cbr which is the biggest moderate room and still has double beds so it definately looks bigger) and of course, the pool slides and hot tubs. Our value resorts have always been clean and the staff is just as great.

So my opinion, value to moderate, not huge difference. Either to deluxe, pretty big difference. We did have wifi at music btw.

 

[nkereina]

Some people like the fact that the value resort bus stops have regular queues, which they do not have at the moderate and deluxe resorts. Moderate and deluxe resorts have seating areas at the bus stops, so no place for queues.

Good point. I've several stampedes at the mods when a bus pulls up, because everyone just sits or mills around until their bus comes and then there's no order and no one cares who was there first.

 

[camandjacksmom]

IMO its about not having a million brazillian tourist where I am staying. These tour groups go alot in February and March. In my experience they have been quite rowdy and often times rude(shoving and yelling). You could not pay me to stay in a value resort during these times. Vacation even at Disney for us is about down time(when you get it).

 

[twinboysmom]

IMO its about not having a million brazillian tourist where I am staying. These tour groups go alot in February and March. In my experience they have been quite rowdy and often times rude(shoving and yelling). You could not pay me to stay in a value resort during these times. Vacation even at Disney for us is about down time(when you get it).

While I don't want to stay with the BTG's either, there biggest month for travel is July, with some in January and of course, smaller groups scattered throughout the year. They usually stay either offsite or at the all stars. From what I have read, not at POP and they do stay at moderates (not sure which ones, others can chime in or an Internet search). I haven't heard of them staying deluxe yet. I will say we stayed in December at music and between the btg and the pop Warner kids, not a problem at all.

 

[tinacaplan]

Bottom line its all about your preference and, really, the amount of time you'll be in your room. That said, aside from the more elaborate pools at the mods and the queen beds, it just seems like Disney really nickle and dimed at the values. Would have cost so much more to cover the bus stops..to have towel service at the pool...to have refrigerators and coffee makers in the room? A lot of that stuff is just standard at any hotel, at virtually any price point.

What am I missing?

 

[blondietink]

A friend of mine went in FEbruary and stayed at one of the All-Star resorts and said she will never do that again. Apparently it was international cheerleading contest or some such thing and they were out of control! Combined with the millions of Brazilians, they could not wait to get home.

We are also DVC members and will stay at value or mod's with free dining. Loved POP, but it was tough with 4 adult sized people in one room. CBR was much better ... ask for a corner room. The quiet pools are very nice at the mod's, too. Loved both CBR and CSR.

 

[KatMark]

For us, yes there is. We like to have some "down time" during our trips and where it is a little quieter and not so busy. We have been able to find that our moderate, but not the value. We stayed at a value for three days and asked to be moved. We've never gone back to a value since and won't.

However, there are those who love the values. But we won't stay at anything less than a moderate (and those queen beds make a huge difference).

 

[aubriee]

We've stayed value and moderate and I have to tell you that they are like two different vacations. Values are FUN! We LOVE the over the top statues, Mickey and friends statues everywhere. It screamed Disney to us!

When our third child turned 3 we weren't able to stay at a value (cheaply) so we moved over to POR. We actually missed all the Disney over the top stuff, but POR was so relaxing. It was like coming back from the parks and feeling like you were in a different world.

See I'm the opposite. I hate the over the top, frantic, busy feeling of the values. I love the more relaxed, peaceful feeling of the moderates. I go to WDW 4-6 times a year and pretty much always stay at a moderate. I have stayed at all four moderates, but have also stayed at Pop multiple times, AS Sports twice, and AS Music once. I also sometimes do split stays at a moderate and a deluxe. I doubt if I'll ever go back to a value though. If it came down to a choice of no trip or having to stay at a value, of course I'd go with a value. However, if you check out the discounts that are usually being offered, the price difference is not that much between a value and a moderate (rack rate yes, but not with a discount). I currently have trips booked for POFQ in early Feb, CSR in early May, POFQ in early Sept, and POFQ again in late Oct/early Nov. Two of those trips are solo trips and two are with family, but even on my solo trips I'll pay a little more to stay at a resort I know I'll enjoy. The covered bus stops, nicer landscaping, bigger rooms, queen size beds, refrigerators, coffee pots, ceiling fans, TS restaurants, pool slides, hot tubs, nicer pools, boat to DTD, and lounge entertainment at POFQ and PORS are worth it. Plus it seems like Pop is always the very last bus stop coming out of the parks at night.

 

[maxiesmom]

Bottom line its all about your preference and, really, the amount of time you'll be in your room. That said, aside from the more elaborate pools at the mods and the queen beds, it just seems like Disney really nickle and dimed at the values. Would have cost so much more to cover the bus stops..to have towel service at the pool...to have refrigerators and coffee makers in the room? A lot of that stuff is just standard at any hotel, at virtually any price point.

What am I missing?

That the lack of those things are what keep the Value resorts the Value resorts. Some people don't mind not having them, so they appreciate being able to pay cheaper rate for a room, instead of having amenities they may not want or need.

You can't get stuck comparing Disne resorts to off-site resorts. A lot of the pricing of the Disney resorts also comes from their loacation to the parks. that is also why the resorts next to a park are the most expensive ones. Location, location, location. Being on Disney property is something you pay for in your room cost.