Moderate, Value or Bust

[tinawv]

We are a family of 6, and have two rooms reserved at ASM for our trip in August. We looked at getting two rooms at a moderate, but couldn't quite justify the cost. Plus, we were able to get the dining plan for $400 more that what two rooms at the moderate would cost us.

 

[Candikayne]

Just returned from a one night stay at my first value (ASMu). Have been many times staying at Contemporary(tower and garden), Poly(garden), AKL(standard, pool, savannah, club level), Beach, Yacht(club), Swan/Dolphin, and once at Coronado Springs. My DD(12) and I went with another mom and daughter who really wanted to save money. I really looked forward to trying ASMu although I knew it would be a different experience from what we usually do. Well...............I loved it. It was perfect for the two of us. Plus it wasn't crowded so it was quiet. I do prefer the Deluxes (love the atmoshphere/location/queen beds) but wouldn't hesitate to stay at ASMu again in a similar situation. The pools looked very nice as did the food court. We didn't try either since it was such a short stay.

However, to be honest, I don't know if I'd stay value if:
1)much longer stay
2)busy season
3)our family of four was going

This is obviously just my opinion based on what is important to me. You probably already know what the right answer is for your family and situation. Go with your gut feeling.

It's great to have an open mind about the resort choices. I would love to stay at a deluxe right now, but the $$$ is tight right now. Maybe my next trip in 2009 I'll return to the Poly or try out the AKL.

 

[Candikayne]

We are a family of 6, and have two rooms reserved at ASM for our trip in August. We looked at getting two rooms at a moderate, but couldn't quite justify the cost. Plus, we were able to get the dining plan for $400 more that what two rooms at the moderate would cost us.

Did you think about a suite in the all stars music?

 

[Candikayne]

2008 will be our first time at a Value (Pop), however, we have friends that only stay at Disney Values. They are a retired couple and very well to do, money is no object. The wife absolutely LOVES Pop and AS Movies and even though they could easily afford any Disney Resort, they choose Values.

We drove by the AS Values during our 2007 trip and even ate lunch at AS Music (good) and they are really neat to see, the theming is wonderful!

We stayed at SSR in 2007 and loved it. We bouncedback and are staying at Pop this year, as we could not afford SSR.

We are excited, not at all hesitant!

I would absolutely go if I were you! If you don't like it, don't do it again! Who knows? You may find a new place to stay from now on!

I must admit the theming at the Pop looks very festive. I set the bar real high staying at the Pol, concierge level for my first stay onsite. But, my CBR trip last year was great. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[stemikger]

I have posted this several times and I actually like Pop Century which is a value better the the mods I have stayed at.

Even if it was the same price as the moderate, I would still stay there, I simply love it there, so don't judge until you stayed, you might like it better, like I did.

 

[BabyPiglet]

Because we stay at the values we can go for 2 week trip multiple times a year.

Sure, we could afford the more expensive hotels but why? Why do that when you can go cheaper?

If a person is so snobbish they feel ashamed to stay at a value then I just have to shake my head. ALL Disney resorts are wonderfully themed, clean and have great CM's.

 

[jadedbeauty14304]

You can afford what you can afford.

I prefer values over the moderates, for more than the price tag. POP screams DISNEY at you when you first arrive at the resort. I like that.

I like being immersed in everything big, loud, fun, and POP does that for me.

I can't imagine what kind of person would rather "not go" than stay at a value. It would be ridiculous.

 

[Prissymouse]

Find your "inner-child"...

Better to be at Disney with family, than at home dreaming of a deluxe.
The people you are with are much more special than the room you are sleeping in.

Last Oct I could not get a decent rate at any deluxe.My dh was in a near fatal motorcycle accident seveal months earlier. Our lifestyle had "changed". (medical bills beyond +++)We stayed at a mod and had one of our best trips ever. I would stay value any time, if that was the only way.

And I have stayed value...My son loved ASMO because of the huge Buzz and toy story area.

We tried POP. It's fine , go and enjoy your family!!!

 

[warriorboy648]

If the choice is value with a car or a mod without one. Go for the mod and forget the car. We have never had any problems with transportation. Just be patient and plan ahead.

I would go no matter where I had to stay...

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Curious if your staying on site why the need for a car?
Buses to and from parks/DTD
ME to and from airport

I just moved out on my own, but for the last 17 years of the 19 of my life, my family has gone to disney over 30 times. We've stayed in deluxe, moderate, value, you name it we've probably stayed at it. Unless you start naming deluxes. We went deluxe on year, and by the second day my mom wanted to change hotels.

Like someone said earlier, its a place to shower, sleep, and put all your souviners. Values may not have "concierge levels" or anything, but out of the thirty some odd times we've been, we have stayed at All-Star resort probably 85% of that time and have absolutely loved it. You get the Disney feel, you get the excitedment of everyone around you, the food court has amazing food, plus better service.

At any of the moderates or deluxes we've stayed at that have had problems and just in general, the staff was horrible. They didn't really care if they lost your luggage, if your room wasn't ready 4 hours after it was suppose to be, and if your park/room tickets didnt work. CSR was a pretty resort, but it took almost all day to get someone to figure out why our keys weren't working, and then didnt really care we'd missed an entire day in the parks..... then we got to our room and it smelled like someone had dumped an ash tray in our non-smoking room.

We've never had anything but rave reviews about the All-Star values.

 

[buzznina]

When do you think you will use the rental, just for convenience or do you have plans to go offsite? You might look at giving up the rental and stay at POR or POFQ, this way you have access to downtown disney by boat. I would have to say our favorite resort is either POR/POFQ because with our DD(3-1/2) we found that we should only do the parks two days straight and relax around the resort on the 3rd day. We just like having the extra ammenities that those resorts give us, like bike rental, boat rental, carriage ride and the boat to downtown disney. When we cannot justify the cost, we do not have any issues at staying at a value resort, we like them too. I do not really see us going to a deluxe, we cannot justify the big cost difference, the monarail is great but is it really worth $200 more a night? We like to resort hop, so on some down days we will spend a day at a resort we have never stayed at to see if we would want to stay there. So far none has really jumped out to where we came away saying we really have to stay here. If you read the boards long enough, you realize that each resort will have bad/rude CMs, or bad mousemaids. A higher rate does not always mean a better vacation. I will tell you one thing we do let special events dictate when and where we stay, like pop warner week, cheerleading weak etc...

 

[rotlex]

I'd go with a value in a heart beat over not going. We have stayed at them, and they are quite nice, especially for the money. I would ask myself if I'm going to Disney to stay in a hotel, or enjoy the parks!

Either way, as I said, I would have no hang ups at all over a value. IMO, they are nicer than an average hotel\motel room anywhere else anyway.

 

[fakereadhed]

I am a die-hard Values fan. I have stayed at Deluxes, and didn't really appreciate the rooms or Holiday Inn-type amenities. What I love about the Deluxes are the lobbies, and dining. So I stay at POP, and hardly ever use the foodcourt, except to grab a frozen coke from the drink station. You will find me at the Deluxes, shopping and enjoying the lobby while I wait for my TS. Although I do love the twist and the hustle with the CMs and my Illuminations view at POP!

I really don't understand the "I would stay at values if I couldn't go at all" mentality. You should try it at least once and make up your own mind. See you at the Petals Pool Bar!