We only stayed at Pop one night - and it was cool out, so I didn't notice the lack of shade. I really liked the color and happiness of the resort, but - the craziness of the food court in the AM, and the tiny room did put me off a bit.
Such a peaceful resort, isn't it?!
for half the trip. 
Just to cement in "setting the tone" of what the trip means, and the whole persona of it, so to speak. 
Well...I can't comment much.
I tried to stay in the POP and got upgraded.
And since then...well...I just keep upgrading myself!
But I totally see where you are coming from. I don't think you are dissing the POP - it just is no longer right for your family. I get it.
At least you know! And I like it...Go big or stay home! As long as you don't actually stay home, of course!
Those are some really great points. I always remember as a kid staying at the Poly, and it was really so much a part of our vacation. I was about 8 or so the first time I was there, but it really just completed the vacations. This trip will be my first trip staying at a value, but I know the one year I stayed off-site something was just missing for me. (And I'm really glad I'm only staying at a value 3 nights this trip).
Hi TK,
I was a couple of updates behind, but I can't believe I got a shout out!!!On the resort thing, I'll give you props for staying at a value to begin with. A disney vacation to me is SUCH a big undertaking, I need a nice hotel. But I'll admit, I'm kind of a brat that way. And I've stayed at the Wilderness Lodge too, and its sooo beautiful, I can see why you would have a hard time staying anywhere else. So glad your son was a big rider - can't wait to hear all about it!
I couldn't agree more with everything you said.
I have absolutely nothing against values, they just aren't for me. I've done it, for a night, and that one night was enough. For many of the same reasons that you mentioned. Maybe it's a personal space issue, a sleeping space issue or a million little reasons but we are very much in the same boat of saving up and going Deluxe. It does mean longer between trips. I do think it will be worth it for us. I want, actually I need, to feel like I can hang out in my room for a bit. Not just the resort, but the actual room. For that, I need more space.
Not to mention a coffee maker
I think it's perfectly fine, in fact good, to realize that things change and so do needs and wants. I mean I backpacked through Europe for 3 months not ever knowing where I was sleeping that night and staying mostly in hostels.
Was it incredible?
You bet.
Would I do it now, at this point in my life?
Not in a million years.
I kind of feel that way about values. Truth be told, even mods (double beds!) we are awalsy squished enough just due to our family size and double beds add insult to injury. Not to mention the fact that I don't get to sleep with my husband if the room is doubles and it's all 6 of us! I'd do one night, if I had to but more than that honestly I'd kind of rather not go! It will get easier once we are 4.... but, it's about the whole trip for me, not just the parks.
And for me, a huge part of that is dining. Sit down dining. More than one option. Not food courts. Maybe I'm just getting old.
That said, that ONE value night is what converted us to staying on property and was an absolute godsend at the time. Right time, right place.
You made some excellent points about staying value, and they further cemented my own reasoning behind not doing Pop for our next trip. I have been thinking and thinking about whether or not to save the money by staying there, but I keep coming back to the small room size and the uncovered bus area -- both of which have the potential of making certain family members very cranky, and we don't want that on a Disney trip!
Do all the Values have uncovered bus stops? You'd think for being FL and being a million degrees in the summer they would include some sort of covering....
We moved to the WL the next morning and I too fell in love!
And it's not gas! You're welcome!
Not sure how I missed this update?
Anyhow, this is EXACLTY why we went with a mod (POR) for our TC3 trip. Need. Space. I also wanted "relaxing". A slow-paced atmosphere, something akin to the lazy winding river that gently paces itself through the resort itself. More ambiance lending its addition to the overall "feel" of the resort.
Also, NEED to feel a least a little pamered and less "cartoony" if you understand that. Every resort has a different draw, and each one has its place and purpose. Loud, loads of kids and large icons were not what we are looking for this time around.
And because we wanted it to be very adult, and very pampery (new word of the day), we upgraded - to the Poly!!
But, having said that, I have to agree with a PP who said that going with a value (now I remember, it was you, Heidi) for a solo trip was fine. Hence, I'm going with POP for the last 3 days of my trip. Don't plan on being there much, will have been pampered far more than I deserve already, and well, $$ doesn't grow on trees.
Think of it- a value, a mod, AND a deluxe all on one trip.
I will definitely get to see in person exactly what you mean about the different perks you mentioned. I think it won't be so hard to probably come to the same conclusions!
That was a great review of Pop. And it has just reinforced the fact that I'll never stay there or at any of the values. It's not that I think the values are horrible. But after staying at the Poly and CR, I'm not so sure I'd be happy at a value. Thanks for offering your insight
Oh, gosh, hon. I could not picture your family in a value. Never mind depleting the crankiness level, I just can't picture with how big the kids are now, them sharing a double bed.
Oh, at this point, Chelsea and I have to share a bed, and Charles and Connor share a bed. There is just too much fighting between the two kids otherwise.
In that case, don't do that to yourself!
Nix those values right now, missy!
Nixing as we speak!
By the way, the next Amelia Peabody book, A River in the Sun, is being published on April 6, 2010!
I have more book comments, but I will save them for the email I owe you!
WHOA!!!!!!
Hold the presses!!! I didn't know she was writing another one! Please, please include details in this e-mail!!!
I didn't know she was writing another one, either, and unfortunately those are all the details I know right now -- just that you can pre-order it from Amazon and her official site calls it a new Amelia. I was a little surprised because I felt like the way she wrapped up The Tomb of the Golden Bird was a great way to wrap up the series. I won't complain about getting more Amelia and Emerson though.
Alright, everyone forgive our little segue here.
Maybe it's going to focuse more on Ramses and Nefret?
I did feel like Tomb was a good wrap up as well, but I am loving the idea of another one. Or you know what? It may not be sequential, it could be one of the lost journals. So many possibilities!
Oh, good point!!! I just love it when there is a new Amelia during the spring -- I love eating Thin Mints and getting wrapped up in the story!
I love that you eat Thin Mints while you're reading them. I can just see my husband now. "Honey...why the Thin Mints?" "Because CP said so!"
Nothing goes better with an Amelia Peabody novel! 
I am so glad that you posted about the values because I was having problems deciding where to stay. I think I will stay with the Lodge as that is where we are booked now and I will leave it the way it is. I know my dh will not enjoy standing in the sun waiting for a bus and he would not enjoy the double beds. Now I just have to decide what time of year to go.
