MHO About Value Resorts

[zagafi]

T... and think that hearing a toilet flush is akin to the coming of the apocalypse.

 

[Glideslope]

Well, this thread could have been written by me.....before our trip last week.
We have stayed in Deluxes, Moderates, and Values.
I have not been able to justify the extra $200+ per night the last few trips so we have stayed at ASMu several times.
The main gripe I had in the past was the long walk to the bus stop so I tried to be smart and paid extra to stay in the "Preferred" building. Well, we were so far away I barely felt the advantage. Luck of the draw in the room you get.
We have just had our last trip to a Value.
There were a LOT of tour groups staying there. They took over every single Guest services personnel and there was no one to charge our credit card after we hit the $500.00 limit. They told me to wait in the check-in line that was a good 40 deep. That was irritating. The deluxes and moderates have a higher charge limit. I was finally able to ask a manager about the groups and she said it was turning out to be a year round "issue" w/ the groups. The last thing I want to be around on vacation is 3000 other kids acting as stupid as I did at that age.
The food court was completely taken over by tour groups. My DD's favorite thing to do was take their food to the back of the food court and watch cartoons while they eat. Not this time - taken over by groups having a buffet. Never seen that one before. It was so crowded it was impossible to get breakfast until after 9:30.
Now I am sure I will make someone mad over this but... the fellow vacationers seemed to be a different group than the deluxes. I am not a snob but I saw a not-so-nice crowd this time. Smoking everywhere, loud obnoxious etc.

Had the same breakfast experience at CBR in 04, except it was simply hundreds of "Non Tour Groups" escaping the "Tour Groups."

 

[n2mm]

Great post! We too are value resort fans. We are also delux resort fans. Twice a year we go for a longer trip (2 weeks in May and 10 days in October). By staying at the value resorts, we get more bang for our buck! When we go during slower times (value season) when it's cold outside we like to stay at delux resorts, because we spend more time at the resort and need the hot tub. We have stayed at ALL of the all stars more time than we can count and just finished with our 3rd stay at Pop, which was as wonderful as always! The only time we will not stay at a value resort is in the summer--there are too many tour groups for us. We also will not stay at a moderate. We view moderates as upscale value resorts and not worth the extra money (yes we have stayed at all of them and probably at Dixie more than 20 times). It's always value or delux (value season vs regular season). Now here's the kicker, hubby is a CM and we can stay anywhere we want at a great CM discount and we still choose to stay at a value resort in May and October! We will be back to WDW in July and will be at the BC and hope we like it, but thought we should try it and it's only a 5 night trip. We almost always take our first time visitors (family) to a value resort and they love it. Whether we are staying at a delux or value resort, we always have the best time because each resort is so unique in what it offers.

 

[goodferry]

I think one of the best things about these boards is hearing everyone's different opinions and experiences. I think two different people could take the same trip though and have totally different experiences. One person thinks the room is in a quiet location while a different person thinks that same room is too remote and a long walk to the bus stop. I read every review with a grain of salt knowing that we are relatively easy to please.
With each trip I learn what we like and what we don't like. One trip we stayed at the CBR and I learned that I like the deluxe resorts better because there are not as many people. There simply are not as many rooms at BWI compared to CBR, so there is not that crush of people getting on the bus or trying to get food. Does that mean that no one should ever stay at the CBR, no, it was a beautiful resort, just not what we prefer.
In short, I hope people will keep posting thier experiences, good or bad. Just keep in mind that because one person has a bad time at POP or the Poly or CBR does not mean that you will have a bad trip.

 

[mommykds]

We have stayed at all 3 levels at WDW. For what it's worth, in terms of service, cleanliness, noise, & overall "disney magic", I would rate the worst was the Poly & the best was at the CBR. I would go back to any of the all stars & the CBR again but never the Poly again.

JMHO & my experience.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

We have stayed at all 3 levels at WDW. For what it's worth, in terms of service, cleanliness, noise, & overall "disney magic", I would rate the worst was the Poly & the best was at the CBR. I would go back to any of the all stars & the CBR again but never the Poly again.

JMHO & my experience.

I have also stayed at Poly and found the mods and values I've stayed in to be nicer, the only exception maybe being the ability to walk to TTC from my room.

 

[skiwee1]

We have stayed at all 3 levels at WDW. For what it's worth, in terms of service, cleanliness, noise, & overall "disney magic", I would rate the worst was the Poly & the best was at the CBR. I would go back to any of the all stars & the CBR again but never the Poly again.

JMHO & my experience.

I've only stayed at the CBR, WL, and the Poly. I would rate the Poly as the best and the CBR as the worse in terms of Disney magic. The CBR was like a pretty motel. Nothing special.

 

[mommykds]

I've only stayed at the CBR, WL, and the Poly. I would rate the Poly as the best and the CBR as the worse in terms of Disney magic. The CBR was like a pretty motel. Nothing special.

Well again, it's all based on your individual experiences at each resort. Sometimes you just hit it right & other times it is less than magical. For us the Poly was a "dream" & when we got a good rate we booked. I was so excited to be staying there. However, the staff was rude, the rooms were not clean (that one is a l-o-n-g story so I would bore you with the details), & when my son became sick during our stay the staff was less than helpful, besides that the tiny food court/grill (for lack of a better word) & the exorbinant prices there the lack of appropriate seating for a resort that size to eat your $8 PB & J sandwich... yadda yadda theres more, but that was my experience there..some people get great service, rooms, etc at the Poly ..we just didn't get that on that particular trip. But for the $$$ I wasn't happy with the whole thing & am very leary of booking deluxe again because of that.

When we stayed at CBR we were greeted very "disney-like", were upgraded at check in to a corner room water view (w/o asking), lovely mousekeeping, again there is more but too much to detail...just everything a trip to disney should be about. The food court was reasonable by WDW standards, staff was friendly & there you didn't have to carry around your tray of food for 1/2 hour to find a place to sit to eat.

Just all personal experiences as I say..all trips are not the same. Just looking forward to a lovely stay at the POR in Oct or the CR with a AP rate & hopefully my mind will be changed if we get to stay at the CR.

 

[jugglinfish]

OK, so here's my take. If we had kids, we'd be all about the value resorts. The theming is just so kid friendly. But we don't have kids. So I want a resort with different theming. I've stayed at CBR. It was fine, but I thought the theming wasn't great. I liked very much the quiet pool close to my room, went to the main pool once and it was packed and I hated it. We had a really hard time eating lunch because the counter service was very slow and just not that great. (Hey, it was counter service food. It also felt expensive for what I was getting, but probably not). If I went moderate again, I'd just try somewhere else. One plus to the value (ASSP, to be specific), is that my other half said that she felt like there was less walking there than at CBR (to the food court and main pool).

So this trip we're staying at WL. We love the theming there. We decided it was worth it to us. We've thought about staying at a value just to save the $$, but to us a fun hotel themed in a way we are into right now is part of the vacation.

 

[skiwee1]

OK, so here's my take. If we had kids, we'd be all about the value resorts. The theming is just so kid friendly. But we don't have kids. So I want a resort with different theming. I've stayed at CBR. It was fine, but I thought the theming wasn't great. I liked very much the quiet pool close to my room, went to the main pool once and it was packed and I hated it. We had a really hard time eating lunch because the counter service was very slow and just not that great. (Hey, it was counter service food. It also felt expensive for what I was getting, but probably not). If I went moderate again, I'd just try somewhere else. One plus to the value (ASSP, to be specific), is that my other half said that she felt like there was less walking there than at CBR (to the food court and main pool).

So this trip we're staying at WL. We love the theming there. We decided it was worth it to us. We've thought about staying at a value just to save the $$, but to us a fun hotel themed in a way we are into right now is part of the vacation.

I would think with kids one would want to go with the deluxes for the location, pools, room size, and restaurants. I have kids and they have all loved the deluxes and weren't thrilled with the CBR. It just didn't have to much to offer.

 

[jzmom]

I have not stayed at a Disney property, yet. We are going in Feb. and are staying at Pop. Almost every hotel that I ever stayed at I could hear the toliets flushing. This includede five star boutique hotels where movie stars would stay. I think if you go to hotel with an open mind you will have a great time !

 

[minijeanie]

I've stayed at moderates and deluxes. Originally we chose not to stay at values because kids wanted a pool with slide.

Will have to say that I think the theming is top notch at all value hotels. Now that the kids are older they want to stay at values. But now that I am older I find myself liking hotels/resorts with inside corridors only. Just me I guess.

DIfferent likes/tastes for us all. That is what makes the world unique I think. I am happy that Disney has a resort that pleases each and everyone of us.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

well i have never stayed value
i did tour the pop and it looked fun and i think my kids will like it
i have no interest in it at all
i have only stayed at the deluxes and i dont think that makes me a snob at all
i have only had 1 bad experience in more than 15 trips adn it was deluxe at the CR
i think besides things that out of your control ( like a dirty room that was never cleaned)
your vacation is what you make it
i have never stayed concierge either

 

[sters]

The value resorts offer a lot for the money in my opinion. For around $100 you get to be on site, have a clean room, a themed pool, a pool bar, a playground, food court some shops, and limited food delivery! Heck, I've paid more than that to stay steps from the New Jersey Turnpike with a puny outdoor pool, unfriendly service and no resort feel at ALL. I was very pleasantly surprised with both stays at the All STars resorts. My kids had just as much fun there as at POR, and the bus service was worse. No one should be scared to stay at the values for goodness sakes!

Having said that, I prefer the moderates when I can afford it. I like the pools better and also having an on-site restaurant and lounge and the more exotic grown up theming. But I'm not sure if it's worth the 50% mark-up. Nice if you can get a good deal on the moderates, but othewise values are just fine.

 

[sters]

I would think with kids one would want to go with the deluxes for the location, pools, room size, and restaurants. I have kids and they have all loved the deluxes and weren't thrilled with the CBR. It just didn't have to much to offer.

Actually, my kids were over the moon with the All Star Movies! They just loved Andy's room, sitting in the love bug etc. There was a lot of room to move about in the public areas. The deluxes, apart from the pool, wouldn't really appeal to them. And the pool was just as wet and refreshing at the All Stars. The baby pool, while smaller, was themed better than the one at POR. Now that they are a bit older, the pool slides are a consideration.

I like what an earlier poster said about value or deluxes but never moderates. I guess I never thought about the fact that compromise thrills no one.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I have not stayed at a Disney property, yet. We are going in Feb. and are staying at Pop. Almost every hotel that I ever stayed at I could hear the toliets flushing. This includede five star boutique hotels where movie stars would stay. I think if you go to hotel with an open mind you will have a great time !

I think the assumption that people only complain about toilets at Pop is wrong (though I am sure many do!). For us, it was not the toilets that bothered us at all! Sure, they could suck the room into the pit of the earth with their power but it that was not our major complaint. We stayed in hotels probably 20-30 nights a year, all kinds from Red Roof Inn to a suite at the Paris in Vegas and never once have we had noise issues like Pop. Apart from the turbo toilets =)

The assumption that people who are awakened by noise in a hotel with paperthin walls don't have an open mind is wrong and offensive. I know you meant no offense, but you weren't on our vacation and you weren't woken up every 3 hours by conversations, doors slamming, alarms going off, and phones ringing next door.

Some people luck out, some people sleep like logs, some people aren't in their room but 6 hours a night and are so tired they don't hear anything. We all have different experiences. That doesn't discount OUR experience at Pop. We have had magnificent stays at every other Disney hotel while others had the opposite and I wouldn't dream of telling them to open their mind and have a good time amidst the issues they had and interrupted sleep they were dealing with.

I wish value was worth it for us, it was super cheap and clean. But we couldn't sleep, and when you can't sleep, it's not worth saving the money.

JMHO.

Edited to add: our then less stellar stay there did not ruin our vacation at all, we were just very excited to transfer to another hotel after night 2. =)

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Wasn't that just a Tad insulting to people who choose to stay in moderate or deluxe resorts?
I don't like Value resorts, but it doesn't mean I expect to be bowed to.

As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing wrong with being bowed to now and then!
I admit, we only stay at Deluxes, but I have never understood one thing about the Values vs. Mods. They are both basically the same room. Both have outdoor hallways, double bed (instead of the queens at Deluxes), no room service, food courts, the fantastic Disney CMs (like at every WDW resort), multiple bus stops, and similar sized rooms. Why would you pay the extra coin for the Mods when the Values offer you basically the same acommedations?

 

[goodferry]

I agree with you on that. I think if I have to be farther away from the parks with 5000 other people staying at the same resort, in the same food court, that we would pick value over moderate from now on. It was not worth the extra money. Now for us, the Poly was perfect. Being able to jump on the monorail with the kids to the MK (where we spent most of our time) was awesome. We hardly ever ate at the resort, just one night at 'Ohana so I guess we didn't miss having a food court . We did visit the All Star Movies, figuring that the kids would love it there and no, they want to go back to the Poly. The preferred the pool slide, monorail and beautiful polynesian theming to the over the top disney decor, go figure!
I think the key to all this is, once you know what you want in a vacation, that's what you should book. If you know that tons of cheerleaders running around all night is going to bug you, book a deluxe. If you enjoy their youthful exuberance but can't stand paying $400 a night, then book a value. But don't book Pop and expect a completely quiet room, with no kids running around, a short walk to all bus stops and no lines at the food courts, because that is setting yourself up for failure. And if you get to your resort and encounter things that are unreasonable, do something about it, don't suffer. Change resorts, change rooms or buy earplugs, whatever it takes, just make sure you have fun.

 

[sue1013]

We have stayed at the values twice and won't again. The last poster asked why would you pay more for the moderates than values since they are the same. IMO they are not the same. Yes outside corridors and double bed size but to me that is the only way they are the same. When we stayed at the values we found them very noisy and busy. I prefer the quietness of the moderates. The moderates may be more spreadout and longer walks (which doesn't bother us) but prefer that to the way the values are noisy and busy. Others prefer the values and that is their choice. If there were not differing tastes and wants in a resort there would be no reason for all the choices.

 

[susy]

Just returned from the Polynesian and I saw more kids here than I have at any other Disney resort.

My Ds, 7, actually complained about all the "crying" at the hotel.

It was a VERY noisy resort(thank God for my humidifier). I did not see "better behavior" here on the part of the resort guests than I have at the values, but I think it's just the atmosphere of the resort. It' very laid back. We prefer more quiet-like POFQ or the GF (which we will be staying at next). The values are great if you are on a budget. We really missed a nice food court at the Poly. ASMo has the best food court we've seen yet. PC has the cutest themed pool (hippy dippy) IMO. We are kidn of all over teh place. Since we save up first, it pretty much depends on where we can afford at the moment.