Moderate vs Value, is it worth it?

[merlinspride]

Hello all...I am new to the DIS Boards. I have just returned from my 30 something trip to Disney. For the past couple of years, my Mom, sister and I take a girls trip to Disney every September and have stayed in Deluxe and Moderate resorts. Next year my husband and I are taking our toddler daughter and paying for our own trip. So here is my question...should we go Value resort (POP)...or is it worth it to pay the extra (~$400) for a Moderate (POFQ)? I am really torn, and would love some honest opinions. POFQ is my fav mod resort, but it is an extra $400. I have never stayed at a value, so I cant compare it. So if it were you, opinions please, would you pay the extra for the mod or stay at the value.
Thanks
Steph

 

[robinb]

Welcome to the DIS!!!
​

Here is a list of advantages/disadvantages that I came up with for each level:

Advantage of Value over Moderates and Deluxes
* Price.
* Food Courts for quick meals.
* Pop Century has its own bus.
* All Stars resorts share busses, but there is usually very little wait on either end.

Disadvantage of Values
* Small rooms.
* Double or King sized beds only.
* Large groups can sometimes be rowdy.
* No pool slide or hot tub.
* external corridors.
* Pizza delivery only.

Advantage of Moderate over Values
* Nicer feature pools with slides and hot tubs.
* Bigger rooms.
* Free refrigerators.
* Sit-down restaurants (all but POFQ).
* Real bars in main area plus pool bar, not just pool bar (except POP).
* Nicer food court, it's not just one big room.
* No giant icons.

Disadvantages of Moderates
* Double or King sized beds only.
* Can be spread out and most need an internal bus system.
* External corridors.
* Pizza delivery only.

Advantage of Deluxe over Moderates and Values
* Bigger rooms yet. Many can sleep 5 people.
* Queen or King sized beds.
* Some have bunk beds or day beds available.
* Large variety of sit-down restaurants.
* Nicer feature pools, many with zero entry.
* Internal corridors.
* All have sliding glass doors and most have balconies or patios.
* Most have special proximity to parks: monorail/boat to MK, walk/boat to
Epcot/MGM.
* Room service.
* Valet parking.

Disadvantage of Deluxes
* Epcot deluxes do not have snack shops for a quick meal, except the Beach Club Marketplace.
* Price.
* Busses are often shared, especially the Epcot resorts. The ride can take a long time.
* Self parking can be difficult, especially at the monorail hotels.

 

[Lilolvr]

I prefer the mods to the values as well. You do get the extra things for the money.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Also not mentioned above is another disadvantage to the values is the noise and hectiness, at least when we went. We didn't have any "down time" which we needed from the parks all day. Loved the moderates and felt they were really worth the extra money.

We never did the Pop though, which when I see the pictures on this site and reading posts, looks very cheerful and fun so maybe again some day we'll try. A 2-year-old would probably LOVE Pop, so I guess it would depend on how much "down time" or adult relaxation time you need.

 

[robinb]

Also not mentioned above is another disadvantage to the values is the noise and hectiness, at least when we went. We didn't have any "down time" which we needed from the parks all day. Loved the moderates and felt they were really worth the extra money.

I think "noise and hectiness" is very subjective. I personally find all the value and moderate resorts noisy and any resort can be hectic at one time or another. I do think that the values are more "active", so I think I will add that to my list .

 

[disneydaveb]

It depends if you plan to use those "extras". Every year we contemplate moving to a moderate, but for my family, I just can't justify the extra $400 or $500. We are lucky in that we have never had a bad experience at a value resort. When my girls were younger, they loved the large Disney icons and bright colors of the All-Star Movies. My DDs are now 11 and 7 and still love the All-Stars theming. Also, we are pretty much in the park all day, so we don't spend much time in the room. Anway, that's what works for my family.

 

[MissionMouse]

...
Advantage of Deluxe over Moderates and Values
* Bigger rooms yet. Many can sleep 5 people.
* Queen or King sized beds.
* Some have bunk beds or day beds available.
* Large variety of sit-down restaurants.
* Nicer feature pools, many with zero entry.
* Internal corridors.
* All have sliding glass doors and most have balconies or patios.
* Most have special proximity to parks: monorail/boat to MK, walk/boat to
Epcot/MGM.
* Room service.
* Valet parking.

Disadvantage of Deluxes
* Epcot deluxes do not have snack shops for a quick meal, except the Beach Club Marketplace.
* Price.
* Busses are often shared, especially the Epcot resorts. The ride can take a long time.
* Self parking can be difficult, especially at the monorail hotels.​

I would add under ADVANTAGE:
Deluxes typically provide multi forms of transportation to get to and from parks that may include: monorail, walking paths, and water launch. It is ideal when surge of guest are ariving or departing from the parks.

DISADVANTAGE:
Buses are not the primary means of transportation from Deluxe resorts, since Deluxe resorts are mainly associated with the park in their immediate location. They share buses, except AKL, based upon utilization. They typically run every 15-20 minutes which may seem longer if you just missed the last pick-up. Overall, an emphasis will be placed at surge periods to resorts entirely dependent on bus transportation or areas of the property with a spike in demand. At these times bus schedules are altered to move people while attempting to maintain schedules for all resorts.​

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

I think "noise and hectiness" is very subjective. I personally find all the value and moderate resorts noisy and any resort can be hectic at one time or another. I do think that the values are more "active", so I think I will add that to my list .

Yes it is "subjective". We stayed at all moderates and didn't find them "hectic" at all, actually we like a little "life". Values felt like a giant "Chuck-E-Cheese" but that was just us. Active is a good word like you state. Just didn't get that real "aaaaaah" time we get in the other resorts. Maybe it was the time we went too thats fair. Possibly may try Pop in the future after reading these great boards, (if I can get my DH to go along with it and he's against so far) at least for just a couple days or when really on a budget. Although liked the moderates sooooooooo much better, just our opinion.

 

[Buzz2001]

I also would go with a mod over a value. I usually stay at CSR it always seems less crowded and relaxing.

 

[roselark]

All the values are geared towards kids, which might be good for your toddler.

DH and I will always stay at either moderates or deluxes because we do not have kids (and we plan on it staying that way)...they are just a bit quieter and really, we have no interest in the theming of the values.

 

[LindaOwl1]

I agree the Values are great for young kids - my DGD ( at almost 3) LOVED POP. and (at 4) ASMovies. We're going back to POP this year with 4 kids under age 5. But if it was just me & DH I'd definitely go with a Mod or Deluxe. In an effort to visit all the WDW hotels in my lifetime, I'm sticking to Values while the grandchildren are young, and moveing up to mods & deluxe when they're older & can apreciate the difference.

 

[SereneOne]

I used a code and was able to get a MOD for only $88 more than eight days at the VALUE we where booked at! We went from ASMo to POR.


Never stayed onsite before, but looking forward to it.

 

[cleocat30]

Hi,

we just got back from disney where we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside. We had your EXACT question last year when we went and stayed at All Star Movies. I read everything on the boards and decided to go with value.

This year we went with moderates and I believe it is worth EVERY penny.

From the time you check in, everything is just a little bit better. The lobby is themed more....more organized....less hectic.

Store in lobby is bigger with better selection.

Room is bigger....refrigerator in room...2 sinks...entire resort better themed....employees seemed better...food court much better....pool much better...more activity options (carriage ride, boat to downtown disney, bike rentals, boat rentals)

If the choice were a value resort of off-site, I would go with value, but if you're choosing value versus moderate. MODERATE--DEFINITELY.

 

[G's mommy]

I would go with a moderate also if possible. We have stayed at all the value resorts and they are fine for a short stay, anything longer than 3 days I would go with a mod or deluxe.

 

[Harvest02]

Hi,

we just got back from disney where we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside. We had your EXACT question last year when we went and stayed at All Star Movies. I read everything on the boards and decided to go with value.

This year we went with moderates and I believe it is worth EVERY penny.

From the time you check in, everything is just a little bit better. The lobby is themed more....more organized....less hectic.

Store in lobby is bigger with better selection.

Room is bigger....refrigerator in room...2 sinks...entire resort better themed....employees seemed better...food court much better....pool much better...more activity options (carriage ride, boat to downtown disney, bike rentals, boat rentals)

If the choice were a value resort of off-site, I would go with value, but if you're choosing value versus moderate. MODERATE--DEFINITELY.

Thanks for posting your opinion! I was debating this same thing with our upcoming trip. We stayed at ASMo last time, which was just fine. But, this time I decided to go with POR just to have more amenities. Glad to hear you liked you stay there. Tell me everything about the resort! We are so looking forward to our stay in only 40 days!!!

 

[Cory's Gal]

My DH and I took our 2 year old for the first time in January and we stayed at POP. We had a great time and it was plenty of room for the 3 of us. We used the pool and it was great and the food court had plenty of options for an occasional meal there. We had awesome bus transportation too. We payed for a preferred room so the walk to to Classic Hall and the buses was minimal. There were ducks for him to chase, and the whole atmosphere was great. He loved the big icons and loved to watch the big kids too!! It was worth it to us to save the $400 bucks and eat special meals at CP, 50's PTC, and just save some money. As he gets older and as we add more kids to our family, we will probably do a mod for the extra sink, extra room, and bigger pools and amenities, but for a toddler the value worked great!!!

 

[smep013]

Yes. Period. End of Sentence.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

I used a code and was able to get a MOD for only $88 more than eight days at the VALUE we where booked at! We went from ASMo to POR.


Never stayed onsite before, but looking forward to it.

Good for you!! You'll be very happy. Well worth it. You may even grab some romantic time if you're with a significant other.

 

[deejohn]

When my kids were younger (and fewer) we stayed at the Value, because we really did not use any resort factilities (pool slides, hot tubs etc), but now that they are older (13,9,8,3), we need those extras to entertain them and us.

 

[diseverestfan]

I've stayed at the value, moderate,and deluxe level and have honestly enjoyed them all for completely different reasons. The values were great fun with our children when they were younger. This past January, we went back to a mod (POR) and it well, so relaxing. A lot of your feelings are based on the mindset you have going into your trip. I haven't had a bad time at any resort on property, but I was truly excited to stay in each one. But I think that the mods. will probably make you feel more relaxed than the values. If you want some quiet and down time on your trip, one of the mods will probably do that for you better. But even with our children getting older, they still talk about our trip to the hippy dippy pool ( POP ) and seeing the huge Buzz Lightyear ( ASMU ).
Good luck and have fun with whatever you decide!