Moderate vs Value

[sdyarnworks]

If you've stayed at a moderate, could you ever stay at a value resort? (kids are 14 and 9) I just feel like if I'm spending the money to do Disney, I'd want to do it like I'd like to. Not really sure how drastic the difference is in a value vs moderate. I think the pool would be our biggest thing...

 

[HopperFan]

Used to only stay at moderates with a few deluxe and lots of offsite thrown in there. Started staying at value to save money, not that I couldn't afford them but my kids wanted to do lots of extra things and I'd rather spend the money on that.

Biggest difference for us was full vs queen beds. The pools were still great for a cooling off and we use the water park & more option to spend some time at the water parks. Once we started doing water parks no one cared about the hotel slides. By time my kids were your kid's ages the hotel slides were boring.

 

[elizabethswan]

i would say it depends on how often you go. we used to stay at mods, and have also tried one deluxe. we upgraded our tickets on one trip to AP's and since then, we like to get a great deal on a value (pop) and go more often and for a longer stretch. for us it is worth it because we don't really spend much time at the resort. if we wanted to spend more time there, we would be more apt to consider a moderate. also, if you are coming from a colder climate and want more pool time, that would also be more reason to pick a moderate. we used to love csr for the pool. the rates at the values can be really compelling to the point that we definitely go more frequently.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I've stayed at all levels. I don't stay value unless I won't be in the room much and it's a short trip. I also take into account when I'm going because I won't stay value when a big group of kids are staying like the cheerleaders or football players.

To me the value resorts have harder beds, thinner towels, no hot tub, no pool slide, food courts are extra crazy, small double beds.

I much prefer moderates or deluxes with the nice thick towels, hot tubs, pool slides, some have food courts - some don't, queen size beds that are comfier to me.

 

[buzznina]

Like hopperfan mentioned the bed size is a big deal to us and our DDs do like having the slide at the pool because we do spend 1-2 days at the resort during our 9 day stays. DW has also mentioned that the overall atmosphere seems more calm at the Mods. With all that said, we still have no problems staying at the values. We do not fall into the pack of once you go this level of resort you cannot go back. We have stayed at all 3 and had great times.

 

[happymommy]

I will be able to answer this next month! I've only stayed at deluxe (or offsite a few times, mostly Marriott condos). The prices have gotten more than I'm comfortable spending. I'd rather go more often and not feel guilty about spending so much, so my DD and I booked Pop for the week before Labor Day with free QS dining. We're going to upgrade to AP's and go spring break and then early summer next year too.
I don't think a double bed will be bad, but I wouldn't ever share one! I'm 5'7". She's 5'5". She has a queen at home and DH and I have always had a king bed. If it were with him, I'd need a king! I need my space!!

The one thing I am not liking is that you have to bring a room towel to the pool. I'll call for extras right away when we get there I guess.

Also there is no real closet, but we'll pack light.

I need my coffee, so I'll either bring my travel coffee maker and some good ground coffee, or my hot pot and instant. No way I'm getting dressed to go to the food court just to refill my mug. I need it before you may speak to me! LOL.

 

[Marthasor]

Personally, no. I've stayed at all levels and tried AoA a few years ago. It was my worst WDW resort experience ever. I found it to be very loud and uncomfortable. I will never stay value again. It's just a personal preference.

 

[happymommy]

Sad thing is, last trip to BWI it was the noisiest room I've ever had. I called security twice on the room next to me. It was so bad, I'll never go back there again.

 

[Elmo888]

We stayed at a mod before kids, and I didn't think that t was worth it for the amenities.

However, with four people, I think that I would lean towards a mod because of the queen beds. When we went in the fall, DDs were 14 and 10. DD was 5'3" (adult sized). If your 14 year old is small, it might be reasonable.

If it is in your budget, check out the family suites at the value resorts. We love the extra room and two bathrooms. We don't open and close the parks, so we do spend time at our resort. It is nice to have extra room to relax. Like previous posters said, it depends on your vacation and touring style.

 

[DizDaD7]

If you've stayed at a moderate, could you ever stay at a value resort? (kids are 14 and 9) I just feel like if I'm spending the money to do Disney, I'd want to do it like I'd like to. Not really sure how drastic the difference is in a value vs moderate. I think the pool would be our biggest thing...

1st off...welcome to the disboards...

2ndly: At first when the kids were younger, this wasn't an issue because of our touring style. Commando from morning to night.

As we/they got older, we moved to mods. I wish we would've done it earlier for definitely a huge upgrade for us.

Like Hopper said, Queen size beds *( huge plus ) Not so in your face decor, better bus system (IMHO), the advantage of having a TS along w/ the traditional food court... Also as CSR has a nice GYM too, and huge hot tubs.

But to me, a real nice perk is the pools. They have nice slides, which add to the fun. And decent sized pool/snack Bars.

If it weren't for me buying into DVC we'd be staying in mods from that point moving forward.

 

[loves to dive]

I almost always stay in deluxe but have started doing more solo trips and going more often doing split stays. I've stayed in Pop and POR only for 2 days each. I swore I'd never do value again after that trip. I did Pop the first two nights of my trip, knowing that I was arriving around 3 and would go to a park as soon as I checked in and probably not be back in the room except to sleep. The next day, again I knew I'd be in the park all day. I moved over to BWV for the rest of the trip since I was there for F&G. Pop was old and tired, reminded me of any old Holiday Inn you would stay at, the room was small and musty. The noise from the pool went on forever and I wasn't fond of the outdoor corridors. I loved POR, again did 2 nights there, arrival and next night, moved over to OKW for the rest of the trip. I'm not sure I'd stay there for an entire trip either, but as I said, I'm a deluxe gal. I stayed in one of the mansions, so even though there were outside corridors, they were large and covered and it was nice and quiet. I didn't use the pools but there were quiet pools, which looked nice and the entire resort was peaceful. Having said that, never say never. I'm going at the end of Sept. early Oct.for F&W and staying at Yacht Club. It really didn't make sense to pay $350 for the night I arrive, again knowing I'd get there around 2 or 3 so I have one night booked at ASSp, I got a really good discount with my AP, so we'll see after this how I feel about values.

 

[DizDaD7]

I almost always stay in deluxe but have started doing more solo trips and going more often doing split stays. I've stayed in Pop and POR only for 2 days each. I swore I'd never do value again after that trip. I did Pop the first two nights of my trip, knowing that I was arriving around 3 and would go to a park as soon as I checked in and probably not be back in the room except to sleep. The next day, again I knew I'd be in the park all day. I moved over to BWV for the rest of the trip since I was there for F&G. Pop was old and tired, reminded me of any old Holiday Inn you would stay at, the room was small and musty. The noise from the pool went on forever and I wasn't fond of the outdoor corridors. I loved POR, again did 2 nights there, arrival and next night, moved over to OKW for the rest of the trip. I'm not sure I'd stay there for an entire trip either, but as I said, I'm a deluxe gal. I stayed in one of the mansions, so even though there were outside corridors, they were large and covered and it was nice and quiet. I didn't use the pools but there were quiet pools, which looked nice and the entire resort was peaceful. Having said that, never say never. I'm going at the end of Sept. early Oct.for F&W and staying at Yacht Club. It really didn't make sense to pay $350 for the night I arrive, again knowing I'd get there around 2 or 3 so I have one night booked at ASSp, I got a really good discount with my AP, so we'll see after this how I feel about values.

Yes but you have to transfer over the next day.. Seems that would be a slight hassle...No?

 

[tinkerbella16]

We always stayed at the values for years and years.. Until 2007 when we stayed at POR for the first time. Have to be honest, I have not been back to a value resort since 2006 lol. We have been switching from Riverside and POFQ every year since. The queen beds are big difference and more comfortable to us.. The amenities are great, the boat transportation to DTD is something we love, and while you are paying more.. you aren't breaking the bank TOO much like you would if you were to go from moderate to deluxe. We think moderates are great for the money. The grounds are beautiful, the pools are more fun with slides, the food court at POR is our favorite, the rooms are little bigger and that little bit of extra space does make a difference. But having the queen sized beds over the doubles really are a deal breaker now.

 

[JennyDrake]

Personally, no. I've stayed at all levels and tried AoA a few years ago. It was my worst WDW resort experience ever. I found it to be very loud and uncomfortable. I will never stay value again. It's just a personal preference.

While I am the self professed Queen of the Values, AoA was the only resort in over 40 stays where ONCE was ENOUGH.

I am frequently solo so bed size is not important to me. When staying in the values I miss the multiple pools with deep ends that the moderates offer, but that is about it! In fact I PREFER the food courts of AS and Pop over those of CSR and CBR.

 

[ArmyVet80]

We have stayed at a value and the rest of our trips have been at moderates. We like the moderates better. We do not have children though so I guess it depends on that for those that do have children.

1. Beds at the mods are bigger.
2. Mods have hot tubs and values do not (these can come in handy after walking the parks all day).
3. Stops the buses make.. When we stayed at ASMu the buses stopped at ASSP, ASMu and finally at ASMo. This is one big reason we went back to the mods.
4. Food courts/TS eateries.. While some of the value food courts have been updated, we still like the mods better and most mods have a TS eatery (minus POFQ).

All in all though it is whatever the best value for your trip is.

 

[Saundra Murry]

I much prefer moderates or deluxes with the nice thick towels

 

[LemonNeko]

I've stayed at both. I'm okay in a value if it's 3 people or under. I found the room and beds too small for 4 people.

 

[loves to dive]

Yes but you have to transfer over the next day.. Seems that would be a slight hassle...No?

Nope, I drive down so I just pack a separate bag and switch out my hanging toiletry bag into the new bag, leave the first bag in my car. I just drive to the next resort early the next morning around 7 cause I'm up anyway, check in, leave my bag with bell services and go about my day. Can save around $250 and since the first day I'm literally only in the room to sleep, it works for me.

 

[bear_mom]

We have stayed at a moderate twice and the rest have been values.

For us, the increased cost isn't worth it.

The only thing I miss is the bigger beds, but about 1/2 the time we travel we are on double beds so it isn't that uncommon. When dds start complaining about sharing a bed, they are given the option of staying at home next time (not exclusive to WDW).

I prefer the food court at the values.

I prefer the one bus stop at Pop to the multiple stops at the mods. Bus service, for us, has been great at Pop.

Noise levels for us were about the same (I always request a quieter part of the resort).

Outside corridors, same at CBR and PORFQ.

I would've use the hot tub, we travel when it is warmer and my dds didn't really miss the slides.

 

[Darklord77]

We have stayed at FW Cabins, POFQ, BW (2), OKW, SSR, BC (2), AS Sports, Pop (2). Long trips are done at the deluxe resorts so we can enjoy the resorts a little more. Short trips are done at Value (just a place to sleep). If I had to find middle ground between resorts based on price and amenities I would pick POFQ. I can't think of anything I didn't like about that resort.