Moderate vs Value

[CrystalCastle]

I need some advice here. I have stayed at AllStar Music for the past several trips to WDW. Most recent was 5 nights over this past weekend. I have become really unhappy with the values. I'm not sure what it is exactly, I just don't feel "happy" there anymore. I'm not slamming on them, just thinking maybe they are not for me.

So I was looking at prices for my upcoming Jan trip. I can't swing a deluxe this time around. Moderates are looking good to me but I need some honest feedback from people who've stayed at both Mod and Value levels. Are the Moderates worth the extra money and why do you think they are/are not?

Right now I can get ASMu for 8 nights over Marathon weekend for $538 or CBR for $974 (AP rates, standard rooms). Just not sure there is enough of a difference in resorts to justify the extra money.

Please help me decide quickly which resort is right for me!

 

[aubriee]

I have stayed at all three levels and have pretty much settled on the moderates as my resorts of choice. Several of those trips are solo trips, since my family is not as big a Disney fan as I am. Even as a solo and going several times a year, I usually stay in a moderate. For me they are worth the slight price increase.

Reasons: bigger rooms, CSR and POFQ (my two favorites) have queen size beds and PORS is currently under refurbishment, so will also have queen beds soon. CBR will be the only moderate with full size beds. I like the the ceiling fans, coffee pots, fridge, and nicer room decor in the moderates. Their grounds are alot more lush. We like the covered bus stops with benches and fans and the fact that at most of the parks the mod bus stops are closer to the gate, so there is less walking on hot tired feet at night coming out of the parks. All but POFQ have TS restaurants. POFQ and PORS have the boat to DTD. POFQ, PORS and CSR have lounges. The lounge at PORS has Ye Haw Bob performing, POFQ' s lounge has Elliot Dyson, and the lounge at CSR is adults only after certain hours. They have nicer pools with pool slides and hot tubs. I like how you can fill your mug and get food right at the pool bar at CSR, saving you a trip over to the main building. They just feel quieter and more relaxed. I love the white sand beaches, hammocks, and fountains at CSR. I love the lushness of the PORS grounds with the river running through it. I love the quaint narrow lanes with their cute names and how small POFQ is (no room is very far from the boat or bus stop). CBR is my least favorite mod, but I'd still choose it over a Value and stay there if I haven't been there for awhile and want something different. It is a very pretty resort with it's tropical theme. I don't care for the crowds or over the top theming at the Values. They just feel too busy and I hate standing out in the hot sun in their bus queus, and how Pop is always the last bus stop at the parks.

I usually go to WDW every early Dec, early May, and sometime in Sept/Oct. However, with the AP discounts that came out today, I decided to throw in an extra Feb trip this year. I honestly tried to go with a Value, but just couldn't do it for the price difference. For seven nights POFQ was only $366.00 more than Pop. It is worth that difference just for the better bus service, the boat to DTD, closer bus stops at the park, covered bus stops, queen size beds, hot tub, a fridge in the room, and a quieter more relaxing resort.

 

[Bete]

I've done all three levels through 35 trips there over 30 years and I'm settled in to the values. I rather save the money and take more trips; it's economics for me.

We use the room to clean up and sleep; so, I just don't care to pay more. I can visit the other resorts by dining there or doing spa treatments and so forth. I see no need to sleep in the more expensive resorts.

Maybe, you need to consider paying a little more at a value and getting a preferred value room. It's still cheaper than a moderate. You'll be closer to transportation and the food court that way. Also, decide where you want to be at the resort. We stay away from the pool areas; we don't want the noise. All you can do is make a request, but we've had great luck getting our requests. It may be we travel in off season more; so, they can accomodate our requests including getting a ground floor.

Another consideration is to try a different theme (like movies) or another value resort (POP). If you are going next year you might be able to enjoy the new resort, Art of Animation.

The only exception to the above has been some romantic trips and then we like staying at a deluxe; because, we are at the resort more in that case.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I am with Aubriee, we too have stayed at all levels of WDW resorts, including our fair share of DVC one and two bedrooms. For us, the mods offer the perfect balance of value (by WDW standards) and resort feel. We have always enjoyed the value resorts but do find the moderates offer a lot more. Aubriee pretty much listed the amenties that I enjoy and am willing to pay for if at all possible.

My two personal favorites are Port Orleans Riverside and Coronado Springs, but we also really enjoyed Caribbean Beach and French Quarter.

For our upcoming trip, we could save around $750 for our ten nights if we went value. But then when I add the frig cost, that brings it down to about $650. For us, we are a family of four that has very high airfare into Orlando. Not that $650 is pocket change but its not enough to allow us to make an additonal trip. We are willing to cut back here at home a bit and also on our trip. For example, if we do value we always do both the park hopper and the waterpark add ons, to make the mod work we pick only one of those add on's. If we lived close enough to drive or didn't have to pay so much for airfare, I would be more apt to do a value since over the course of multiple trips, that money saved would add up. And for years I did do that back when I could get cheaper airfare and we had the time to go more often. Now we go once a year so for me its worth the extra money if I can at all afford it.

Everyone is different but it sounds like you might need a change of pace so I say give the moderate category a try!

 

[mattnewyork]

The MODS are the ONLY reasonable deal at WDW right now. I can't stand the values but the Moderates are reasonably priced.

Also, try off site hotels also. For the same price as a moderate, you can stay at the Mariott and be closer to Epcot than many on site hotels.

Als, the Holiday Inn at DD is around $100 and has "scheduled" buses to all the parks every 30 minutes.

 

[DisDann]

I'm with Amy&Dan on this one.. I have also stayed in all levels and have found mods offer the best blend of value and resort feel. Also as mattnewyork stated above at the moment Mods are the best value if you are going during a free dining offer.

My Favorite is Port Orleans Riverside.. Although bus waits tend to be a little longer due to the size of that resort.

 

[beansmom]

i, too, have stayed at all levels and can be happy anywhere but if I had my choice, I'd pick the CBR...for me, i love the beach and hammocks and pirate rooms.

Honestly, I can't see paying for a deluxe just because it's deluxe. All I need at Disney is a clean room that's big enough to turn around in. And a mini fridge.

 

[Sue M]

I have to admit I'm not a Value fan. POR is our fav moderate.

 

[su_A_ve]

Mods, specially during FD. The difference becomes almost nothing once you factor in upgrade to basic dining, cost of renting a fridge, queen beds, and closer bus stops.

 

[Kimann]

I have stayed in all the mods and values and find benefits to both. If you haven't stayed at POP and you want to stay in value you might try that. For some reason I just find POP nicer than any of the All Stars and at this point you don't have to share bus service with any other resorts.

I know some people like the multiple bus stops at the moderates, but for me that is actually a negative. I love to just get on the bus at POP and go straight to the parks. We have stayed at CBR and I do love the beaches and have spent a lot of time in the hammocks, but the walk from some of the buildings to the food court is long and in the case of the Pirate rooms nearly impossible.

That being said, we are staying at POFQ again in January. I really like that they have queen beds and one bus stop. Having a fridge is also important to me, and I don't have to pay extra at the mod.

I think there are positives and negatives to both. I'm like you and like to spend my money other places but with the discounts out there the difference in cost seemed worth it this time.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I am not slamming the values, but I dont think they are for me. Last year for our first trip we stayed at the Poly and I loved it! I booked POP for our short trip and ended up upgrading to POR. I just cant seem to stay at a value. I think its the theming. I would love to stay Deluxe again but cant seem to afford it right now. I think we have settled on staying MOD or higher. Nothing wrong with a value, just not for us/