Moderate to Value

[kitkat4622]

So we have been to Disney twice. First time stayed at All Star Movies, second time POFQ. Has anyone gone back to a value after staying at a moderate and did you notice a big difference? If so what are your opinions on doing this and would you do it again? We LOVED POFQ not sure I will be happy with a bigger/busier value resort.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

So we have been to Disney twice. First time stayed at All Star Movies, second time POFQ. Has anyone gone back to a value after staying at a moderate and did you notice a big difference? If so what are your opinions on doing this and would you do it again? We LOVED POFQ not sure I will be happy with a bigger/busier value resort.

I've gone from Deluxe to Value in the same vacation. We did a split stay between the GF and AOA family suites and enjoyed both halves of the vacation very much. Since we had ADRs mostly at Epcot, we didn't miss the lack of TS at the value. Also, while it is so nice to take the monorail directly to the MK from the GF and the boat back, we planned our MK time to be from the GF and we did our Epcot and DHS time from AOA as they are literally right next door-no problems and no complaints about the transportation. We loved having the second full bath in the AOA suite as well. Was it a bit louder than the GF, yes, did it bother us, no!

Tom

 

[Disneylover99]

Our first two trips we stayed at Music and loved it. Then we stayed at POFQ and loved it so much more!!
Then we went reluctantly back to a Value to save some money. We chose Pop and fell in true love.
Since then, we've stayed at Pop several times and we've gone back to moderates a few times and tried Deluxe as well, but we love Pop the best.

 

[AJA]

We've stayed all levels, value, mods, deluxe and DVC.

To be honest we will only stay in a value again if there are no other options.

 

[loves to dive]

I started out staying in the deluxe resorts because those were the only ones on property (MK resorts). We continued to stay at deluxe resorts until I did a solo trip and decided to rent points. I couldn't get anything for my entire stay so I ended up doing a split stay of 2 nights at POR and 2 nights at OKW. In that case, I actually liked POR better, OKW was just so big and not my style. I got hooked on split stays, since I drive down it just doesn't make sense to pay deluxe prices for that first night when I get there around 3. So, next split stay I did 2 nights POP and 3 nights BWV. Hated Pop almost from the first moment I arrived. My room was across the parking lot from the bus stop and main section so no walk but it was just so loud and busy and the room so small and loud and just yucky. There was mildew in the tub, for the first time ever in a WDW resort, I was afraid to walk barefoot on the carpet, so I swore no more values for me. Next solo trip, I got a silly price for ASSp for one night, I'm talking like $70 or something like that so I thought, let's give this a try again, so I did ASSp and my beloved YC. Hated it. While my room was cleaner than at Pop and the resort seemed smaller (which is no big deal one way or another for me, I don't mind walking) the common areas were still loud and busy. I hated the uncovered bus stops, I was in touchdown section and my room faced the football field, which was where they showed the nightly movie. It was loud and I couldn't turn on my TV to drown it out because it didn't work. I tried everything, even unplugged it and plugged it back in, couldn't get it to turn on manually or with a remote. Miserable night. The CMs at both value resorts were nice and friendly and I had no problems with the service, the rooms were just too Motel 6 like for my tastes. Never again for me. I'll stick to the moderates and deluxes. On the other hand, I've had no problem staying in the moderate resorts for at least part of my stay. I've stayed at POR, CBR and will be at CSR in Sept., all in a split stay. I'm not sure I'd want to spend my entire trip there but certainly for those first two nights, they work for me.

 

[Sue M]

It depends on the type of trip planned. If you are planning resort time to relax, swim, & spend time enjoying resort amenities then yes, I would miss POFQ. It's a beautiful resort and so nice strolling along the river, boat to DS, and evening entertainment. Also larger room.
If you are at the parks all day and only using room to shower & sleep, it won't make a difference. Well, maybe not having a queen bed would!

 

[Hopefully]

I would definitely miss the Queen bed. We loved POFQ. For me, it would be hard to go back. But I agree with Sue M, if you are just using the room to basically shower and sleep it might be ok.
Good Luck

 

[kitkat4622]

I am planning 2 "down" days so I am thinking POFQ will be the best for us. we did love everything about it. thanks for the feedback.

 

[mdsouth]

I am planning 2 "down" days so I am thinking POFQ will be the best for us. we did love everything about it. thanks for the feedback.

Thanks for asking the question. I have never tried a value before but for each trip I have stayed I initially price out the value and a moderate, and I have been debating again this time. I am just afraid that now that I have only stayed at the moderates, it might be a big letdown to stay at the values. Especially, when I read about how loud the value resorts are. As I get older, I am more drawn to the quieter resorts. The last two times, I was able to get a good discount on the moderate so that is why we stated there. I am hoping to get a discount again. So, I totally understand your dilemma!

We stayed at PORFQ on our last trip and really loved the quiet and compact size. I have also stayed at CSR and CBR too. All three are nice but I think I will try for PORFQ again.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We love POR. It's been home since Dixie Landings. Would not seem right to go value but would if I had to save the cash.

 

[PeasandCarrots]

So we have been to Disney twice. First time stayed at All Star Movies, second time POFQ. Has anyone gone back to a value after staying at a moderate and did you notice a big difference? If so what are your opinions on doing this and would you do it again? We LOVED POFQ not sure I will be happy with a bigger/busier value resort.

We've gone to value after regularly staying at deluxe resorts. We do it to add in "bonus" trips we couldn't otherwise afford. You just have to go in with the right mind-set that you are saving money and therefore it's not going to be as fancy. If you are OK with that you'll have fun.

 

[Shellyb84]

I am planning 2 "down" days so I am thinking POFQ will be the best for us. we did love everything about it. thanks for the feedback.

If you are planning resort time I would definitely try to go with the mod!

 

[samsteele]

Haven't missed Mods or Deluxe at all. Now stay at Values b/c of price, how I vacation & also principle. I didn't feel I was getting my $ worth at Mods or Deluxe when I was in the parks all day. I also found bus transpo at Mods & Deluxe to be less efficient than eg POP. The $ I save gets ploughed into my RSP (retirement savings plan) so makes me feel better about my annual or sometimes bi-annual WDW vacations. I can still take full advantage of all the perks of staying on property. In fact, as a Value guest I prob wring more value out of the transpo (bus, boat, monorail) than many Mod & Deluxe guests b/c I am resort hopping & eating at Deluxe resorts & DIS Springs. I have never looked back after staying Value.

 

[GreatLakes]

I go back and forth between the moderates, value, and offsite and I don't notice much difference. It is just a place to sleep. I don't hang out that much at the hotel/resort.

 

[Babsy]

As others have said, it depends upon what you want from your resort. the value resorts give you everything you need, but not much in the line of extras. If you spend all day in the theme parks and only need a bed and a bathroom, the values are perfect.

If you spend a lot of time at the resort, need queen sized beds, enjoy a balcony or plan to use slides at the pools, for example, then a moderate or even a deluxe will be a better fit.

Yes, we have gone from moderate to value and from deluxe to a value. We just plan our trip differently depending upon where we are staying and adjust our expectations accordingly.

We wouldn't hesitate to stay in any WDW resort again. they all have their unique advantages. Just focus on the positives of you resort choice and you will love it there!

Enjoy!

 

[happymommy]

I used to only stay at deluxe resorts until last August, when my DD and I went to Pop with free QSDP. The stay just prior to that was at the BWI, again just her and I, and we honestly felt like we didn't use the amenities nor love the room to justify the cost. We totally loved Pop, and are going again last week of this coming August with free QSDP again.

If you know going in what type of room it will be (smaller, double beds) and no sit down restaurant, no water slide in the pool, and no hot tub, then it's fun. Just be realistic with your expectations.

I had my own travel coffee maker, since coffee first thing is a must for me. That's the only thing that would be nice to have, but no big deal to bring a small one.

I'd rather go more often and spend less on each trip personally, although as she's going into her senior year, we're planning one last spring break trip next year probably (with the tickets from August since we have AP's already that will expire the end of this coming trip) and then we may not go for a while. It gets too busy once college starts!

I actually found the bus service at Pop to be excellent, and we enjoyed having a food court (which BWI lacks).

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

I found the distances more at the values to the parking lots and transport etc. Generally Less bus stops, smaller rooms. AoA I think is somewhere between value and moderate I feel. I was impressed with this resort. Maybe because it is newer. I love PORS or POFQ these are wonderful resorts. I love the boat to DS I also like the more resort feel at the moderates of the gardens etc. But it's all down to budget and where you can or want to spend your money.