Nervous about value resort stay

[krmlaw]

Hello All!

DH and I are going to Disney for my big 3-0 birthday for a long labor day weekend. Right now we have a value resort booked with the free disney dining but Im getting nervous about this choice. We are booked into all star sports, as its the only value with any room that includes the free dining.

Coronado and Caribbean Beach are also available for the same time, Thursday to Tuesday, but there are $300 more for the trip.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

We stayed on property in Caribbean Beach before, and normally stay in 2 bedroom gold crown timeshares (for reference of our travelling tastes).

Any guidance would be great. Is it worth $300 more to stay at Coronado?

 

[G's mommy]

YES, I would definitely go with Coronado over the AsSports. CSR is our favorite resort so far.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

IMO it depends on how much you plan on being in the room and what kind of trip you're going for. We're usually out of the room from early morning until late night so a value works for us, all we need is a shower and a place to sleep. BUT if you plan to do some R&R or stay at the resort for a bigger portion of your time then maybe a mod would be better. The mod rooms are actually not that much bigger than a value, they both have double beds, it's just the theming, landscape and overall feel that you're paying extra for (and the room fridge).

 

[kdepot]

As has been said How much time in the resort, do you want a sit down resort resturant? CBR's pool is under rebuild best check referb post for finish date.

 

[spiceycat]

the CBR is not worth it - my opinion

the CSR is - it has a beauty salon, gym - that the other moderates don't.

see buzz site for more information
http://coronado_springs.tripod.com/

 

[aaronmckie]

If you are going to spend a lot of downtime at the resort, then I'd suggest CSR as well.
HOWEVER, if you are planning more time in the parks/other activities, you could use that extra $300 and treat yourself to Victoria and Albert's

 

[richsilver]

My opinion would be to stay at a Mod.You're going to celebrate.

We stay at the Value resorts all the time when for bussiness or such,but when it's for vacation,Mod at least.

Our main concern when on vacation is the pool area and food court.Mod pools are just better than Value.Theme,slides,towels poolside make all the difference to us.

Value food courts can get CRAZY.I guess any food area can get busy but it has been our experience that Value food courts are worse.Many times spent waiting then no ice or broken machines.Just very busy.

Now that doesn't stop us from staying at Value resorts,but it can have an impact on overall enjoyment.

Our most enjoyable trips have been when we've stayed at a Mod.Not so much worrying post trip on spending too much on a Deluxe.

For example:We will be staying at ASMo 4 days this summer for a convention.Then 7 nights total in Sept. at POFQ surrounding our cruise.

Either way have fun.

rich

 

[daisax]

For me $300 would be worth it for a week, but not for a long weekend. Presumably you'll be trying to pack a lot of park time into those 3 days, as opposed to a week long vacation where you might work in a day or some afternoons off to enjoy the resort.

I'd put the $300 towards the next week long vacation. However, if this is a romantic get away and you're just planning to dip into the parks but otherwise have a resort vacation, by all means take the moderate.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Well, here comes my different opinion We wouldn't stay at AS Sports if it was free! Honestly (please no bashing).

I know lots of guests love it, but we took the bus to visit all the values to check them out for a future long weekend visit - AS's were just awful. Loud, design is loud and tacky. All those giant stars at check-in...yuck. For many that's what makes it feel more Disney, but for us, nicer, calmer, themes feel more Disney.

We'd keep trying for another resort as we're not fans of CSR either. BUT CSR would be so much nicer than AS Sports.

We've not taken a trip if only AS or CSR were available - we kept checking. Now if we really wanted to go and only CSR was available, maybe...but we'd definitely pass if the only resort was an AS - especially Sports. Have you looked at the photos to see if you think you might enjoy staying there?

Good luck and I hope your 30th birthday is magical no matter which resort you choose!!

 

[tasha99]

I went during free dining last year over Labor Day weekend and stayed at OKW. My friend went the following week and stayed at ASMu. My buses were great--sometimes we were the only family on the bus. My friend had to stand almost every bus trip. I'm guessing the buses are just packed for values during free dining, and avoiding that to me would be worth $300.

 

[Disneyfan1977]

My family always stays in the Deluxe resorts. Last year we stayed at the GF. Right now my sister is at ASMu and has sent me several messages saying she LOVES it. She is so excited. She says that the rooms aren't bad and it is a great atmosphere.

 

[disnut8]

We stayed on property in Caribbean Beach before, and normally stay in 2 bedroom gold crown timeshares (for reference of our travelling tastes)

Normally I would say that a value is just fine. But it seems to me (and I don't know you at all so don't take offense), that you have a certain "standard" for your resort rooms. And it's a lot higher than mine. For me, the $300 would pay for the entire rest of the trip (and more) so it would be worth it. For you, not so sure.

 

[pruesmom]

We usually stay at a Mod or Deluxe resort and tried to stay Value on our last visit. BIG mistake to go backwards!!!! I would definitely pay the extra $300 and stay at CSR. It's your 30th birthday, CELEBRATE!!!!

 

[teddygurl28]

i would say go for the upgrade !! you are not going until labor day...so if you put some money aside between now and then and pay off the $300 in no time you wont even have to think about the difference you paid by the time you get down there and you will probably be happier...while the value resorts can be great for a lot of people if you are going down to celebrate for your birthday and are spending just an extended weekend down there i really think you should take the plunge and go for the upgrade!! it would so be worth it! ....atleast thats what i tell myself when i did it hahahah!!

 

[HonnyDipp]

Since its just the 2 of you on a 3 day vacation. I'd say stick with the values. If it was a longer stay I would suggest the mod's, but really You will be spending most of your time in the parks and enjoying the free meals! As long as you have a bed to rest your head you should be ok!

 

[Crisgw]

I'd upgrade without a doubt. Regardless, you'll be at WDW so it'll be magic

 

[disfan07]

its really all a matter of opinion. ive stayed at ASSports and CSR adn CBR......nad for us, we liked ASSports the best but that is our opinion
we were worried at first, but it turned out being th ebest vacation we ever had

but AS rooms are pretty run down these days

the rooms at the ASSports were being refurbshed in december....we stayed in a newly refurbished room and they were very nice
we also didnt think the food court was that crazy at all adn we were there at every time of the day during our trip....we actually liked it better than CSR pepper market

Its really all a matter of opinion...some people wouldnt stay anywhere but a deluxe no matter what it cost adn some people loev the values adn alwasy stay there adn than there are people in between.....it all depends on what you want....how important is the $300 to you? how much time will you spend a the hotel? will you use the room jsut for sleeping or will you spend a lot of time there?

 

[eeyoregon]

Whatever you do, don't cancel the Sports while you are deciding because ALL of the All Stars are now sold out for those dates!! I convinced my friends to join us for Free Dining and now all of the Value Resorts are SOLD OUT and they can't afford the moderates .

 

[disneyfan55]

Whatever you do, don't cancel the Sports while you are deciding because ALL of the All Stars are now sold out for those dates!! I convinced my friends to join us for Free Dining and now all of the Value Resorts are SOLD OUT and they can't afford the moderates .

Well either WDW doesn't have as many Value rooms for the free dining or many have booked this up. Last year we had a choice of Music or Sports and made our reservation on June 20. No problem. They did offer the bounceback offer while we were there many may have taken that offer as well. I do wonder if less rooms are for the free dining promotion.

 

[eeyoregon]

Well either WDW doesn't have as many Value rooms for the free dining or many have booked this up. Last year we had a choice of Music or Sports and made our reservation on June 20. No problem. They did offer the bounceback offer while we were there many may have taken that offer as well. I do wonder if less rooms are for the free dining promotion.

They sold-out the Values last year for the dates we went (last week of August/Labor Day) BUT Disney bumped/upgraded a bunch of folks to the moderates and DVC studios in order to open up more value rooms. I of course wasn't lucky enough to get one of the free upgrades but several of our friends did. I wonder if they will do that this year??