On site did not impress me

[olwyngdh]

I am not degrading the property, or the people who like it.
I am stating my opinion based on my stay. If I were a potential pop guest who had never been there before, I would want to hear all opinions. I don't think a hotel should get extra points because you only sleep there. You can also sleep in a tent at camp wilderness.

Yes, we could. And after I set up my 16 ft Mogolian Ger and loaded it with the beds, dresser, furnishings and carpet, I would be very comfortable. I do however prefer to have a floor at Disney so that it is harder for creepy crawlies to get inside!

For the record, we don't stay at Pop because we only sleep there. Most of us who love the place love it waking or sleeping. As I said earlier, we realky tried to convince ourselves to go to a moderate on our next trip, but queen size beds and a bigger bathroom were not nearly as appealing to us as the whole package we get at Pop. When I am at Disney, I want to be at Disney, and no mods or deluxes have that immersion for me. We may do a family suite at AoA at some point in the future, but that isn't even a given.

Now, if I won a contest to stay in the castle, I would probably like that as well, but I am not holding my breathe for it

 

[nugov2]

I guess it is the same as saying I only drink Cristal, but will drink the Korbel at Disney. Outside of Disney I would only stay at a LaQuinta or Courtyard if I absolutely had no choice and I would complain about every minute of it. I am more of a Hilton or Westin kind of gal.

The only reason we stayed at the All Stars was because my DD was part of a dance group that performed at Disney and the dance teacher required that we all stay together. I was prepared to be snobbish about them for our first stay but I guess I was too busy having fun with my family and being in the parks to care that the hotel wasn't up to my usual standards.

Then don't sell yourself short you are a 4 star hotel girl

 

[olwyngdh]

I haven't seen one person slam the Pop/value or Motel 6, they have said the two are very similar. If anyone sees that as a slam on a value or who stays at them then that is YOUR view of a motel 6 not being worthy. People are simply comparing the amenities of the motel, size of the room and the fact it is outside corridors(which is a feature very important for some people. My DH refuses to sleep anywhere with an outdoor corridor) and I think that is an accurate description of them. Doesn't mean they are gross, dirty, but it also doesn't mean b/c some wants a bathrooms that their whole family can be in with a much larger room that they think they are "too good" for a value. Everyone has different comfort levels and I actually think the opposite when it comes to my accommodations compared to many posters...they are the number one priority on my vacation. Sleep is the most important thing to make my vacation enjoyable day after day and I can't get that in a small room with smaller/harder beds.

Then you missed the people only love it for the price and the disney magic is only for deluxe resorts comments. There are more, but those are the ones that come first to mind.

I like that disney has things to appeal to everyone, and that people who want to can find things oFf site. I just don't see a reason to be derogatory towards other peoples choices.

 

[nugov2]

Then you missed the people only love it for the price and the disney magic is only for deluxe resorts comments. There are more, but those are the ones that come first to mind.

I like that disney has things to appeal to everyone, and that people who want to can find things oFf site. I just don't see a reason to be derogatory towards other peoples choices.

But you are only fishing out part of their statements on the magic statement, they said for them the magic feels more in the deluxe and someone did say they felt that a lot of people love most about the values is the price and again..I don't think that is necessarily completely wrong. Doesn't mean people are thumbing their nose at them. They are merely stating that for the price you can get much nicer accommodations off site, but for those who find on site a must many choose the values because of how affordable they are. That is a fact, not a slam.

 

[mrsmomo]

Have you stayed in the motel six off 192 by the Chinese buffet.... Cuz I have and I have stayed at POP. While POP may not be worth the price they charge it's definitely better than the motel six by far. It's cleaner, nicer, rooms are larger, beds are more comfortable, no drug deals in the parking lot... At least to my knowledge. And it feels like you are on vacation.

Now that being said there are nicer places for the same price but POP is leaps and bounds above the motel 6 I stayed in on 192 just outside the world....

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Have you stayed in the motel six off 192 by the Chinese buffet.... Cuz I have and I have stayed at POP. While POP may not be worth the price they charge it's definitely better than the motel six by far. It's cleaner, nicer, rooms are larger, beds are more comfortable, no drug deals in the parking lot... At least to my knowledge. And it feels like you are on vacation.

Now that being said there are nicer places for the same price but POP is leaps and bounds above the motel 6 I stayed in on 192 just outside the world....

I am sure you could find lots of examples of seedy motels (particularly in Kissimmee ) to support your comparison. I think most folks are comparing the building style, the room configuration, the quality of the finishings, etc. to the Motel 6 brand....not the general cleanliness and theming. I know I stayed at a Super 8 (just a meager step up from a Motel 6) a few years ago in Peterborough, Ontario with my son's basketball team, and that lowly property offered WAY more in room space and amenities than what is provided in a Disney value. There was a hot buffet breakfast included. Our room had a separate sitting area with a second TV. We had a fridge and a microwave and a coffee maker all in the room. There was a pull-out sofa in the room. The bathroom was modern and sleek. The property had a pool AND a hot tub. The building offered elevators to the upper floors. Yep, it was minus the colourful flashy icons (this was small-town Ontario, remember) but that Super 8 had a huge leg up on room quality and amenities over the Disney value "resorts".

I mean no disrespect with the comparison to anyone who loves a Disney value. But there is a reason why Disney themselves "class" their properties. Disney values are meant to be basic (think of their pools....no slides, no waterfalls, no interactive features.....and no hot tubs). They are meant to be "cheaper" in both quality and price.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Then you missed the people only love it for the price and the disney magic is only for deluxe resorts comments. There are more, but those are the ones that come first to mind.

I like that disney has things to appeal to everyone, and that people who want to can find things oFf site. I just don't see a reason to be derogatory towards other peoples choices.

But you are only fishing out part of their statements on the magic statement, they said for them the magic feels more in the deluxe and someone did say they felt that a lot of people love most about the values is the price and again..I don't think that is necessarily completely wrong. Doesn't mean people are thumbing their nose at them. They are merely stating that for the price you can get much nicer accommodations off site, but for those who find on site a must many choose the values because of how affordable they are. That is a fact, not a slam.

Exactly.
I was the one who said people like the price of the values. It's not meant as a put down at all. Let's face it, even without accommodations visiting WDW is expensive. Why pay more for amenities you don't need? But everyone's needs are different. My boss makes more than me but doesn't "need" a deluxe resort. She thinks it's a waste of money and just needs a clean pillow to lay her head. That's fine.
I never said one has to stay in a deluxe resort to feel the magic. What I meant was that everyone has different standards for what feels comfortable to them (not necessarily proportional to income). If you stay in a WDW resort that is below your usual standards of a hotel that you'd stay in outside of WDW, you will not be happy about it.

My point was that it make take a few tries at different resorts (on or offsite) before finding a good fit for your family. I don't need a deluxe but dh is way pickier than me. He likes a vacation that makes you say, "wow this is awesome!" and he doesn't feel that in the values & moderates. It doesn't mean that no one else would/should have a great time there.
Same thing with the onsite/offsite argument. We have done both many times and our needs have changed with the ages of our kids and even with our own age. Try both and see what works for you.

 

[mrsmomo]

I am sure you could find lots of examples of seedy motels (particularly in Kissimmee ) to support your comparison. I think most folks are comparing the building style, the room configuration, the quality of the finishings, etc. to the Motel 6 brand....not the general cleanliness and theming. I know I stayed at a Super 8 (just a meager step up from a Motel 6) a few years ago in Peterborough, Ontario with my son's basketball team, and that lowly property offered WAY more in room space and amenities than what is provided in a Disney value. There was a hot buffet breakfast included. Our room had a separate sitting area with a second TV. We had a fridge and a microwave and a coffee maker all in the room. There was a pull-out sofa in the room. The bathroom was modern and sleek. The property had a pool AND a hot tub. The building offered elevators to the upper floors. Yep, it was minus the colourful flashy icons (this was small-town Ontario, remember) but that Super 8 had a huge leg up on room quality and amenities over the Disney value "resorts".

I mean no disrespect with the comparison to anyone who loves a Disney value. But there is a reason why Disney themselves "class" their properties. Disney values are meant to be basic (think of their pools....no slides, no waterfalls, no interactive features.....and no hot tubs). They are meant to be "cheaper" in both quality and price.

I get the comparing and that motel 6 had none of the things you are mentioning your motel 8 had! Motel 6 in other places might but not in kissimmie.

I thought POP was adorable and it's fine if you like it but I don't want to stay there again either! But don't I want to stay at that motel 6 or the other $60 hotels in the area that I have stayed at lol.

They are not comparable to the cheap motels and hotels but they are also a step down from things that cost the same due to the "Disney" benefits. So if these benefits aren't appealing to you then the value resorts or any of the other resorts in Disney for that matter will never be worth the cost to you.

Another note Motel 8 has seriously stepped up their game with their new white linens coffee makers and continental breakfast!!! I almost booked a room there last week for turkey run in Daytona in looked so nice!!

 

[Luvchefmic]

The only thing that I will NEVER forget from this thread is a 5 year old that was about staying at POP...seriously sad

 

[Minniesgal]

We just returned from our first trip onsite at pop century. I can honestly say now with 100% certainty that we are offsite people!! We were at pop century for 2 nights, and was honestly not happy. The pop was so far away from everything. We had a car, and the first night missed the exit. It took forever to get turned around. We arrived late, and the food court was closed. Going to get something off property at that point at 1 am waa not an option. Normally if we were off site, we could have run over to wawa or something similar in less than 5 mins. The rooms were very small, and the outside kind of made me cringe. The pop is an honest to goodness motel 6 with large plastic decor. I did not like sleeping so close to the door on a creaky bed!! I never thought the holiday inn lake buena vista or caribe royale were luxury hotels, but compared to this those places are like the ritz!! I did not feel onsite magic, and do not see what there is to love about pop. Did I miss something??

If we ever need food late at night in arrival with a car we always go to the Perkins at the Crossroads shopping centre. It is open 24 hours and just outside WDW limits and very easy to get to.

We used to agree with. You and have had 3 offsite trips that we lived however I always wished we were onsite. We eventually bought DVC points so we could stay in a 2 bedroom. We love our DVC stays but I have to admit if I were comparing offsite to a hotel room offsite would win hands down.

However I do think your experience of getting lost or missing a turn added a bit of negative colour to your stay. I have to say we have gotten spectacularly lost offsite but know really well how to travel onsite as you can print of some really good maps from the web so again. I think that is more about familiarity and what you know.

Personally we much prefer onsite but would be perfectly happy with an offsite holiday.

 

[White Rose]

If you want to compare hotels to the Disney resorts, you need to compare apples to apples. Saying the All Star is not as good as a Marriott or Embassy Suites, is just not a fair comparison. All Star would be compared to a value branded motel - so yes, value and moderates are MUCH better then many travel lodges, motel 6 or super 8, and that is the appropriate class to compare! Those are chains owned by individuals and there can be a huge variation in cleanliness and safety.

Personally, I would rather save up for a few years and go deluxe, but that's me.

Disney resorts can be expensive - there are nicer (non-disney themed, no Disney magic) off-site to stay for less $$ if you do not use the services that you are paying for to be onsite. These places can be lovely or dumps.

If you use the extra on-site perks (packages delivered to your hotel, Disney Transportation directly from your hotel to the parks, free wifi, EMH, Magic bands, restaurant reservations, Earlier FP+, etc...) those things DO offer a savings of convenience or time.

My opinion is...I would never stay off-site. We save up to go Deluxe. We use the services Disney offers to resort guests, and immerse ourselves in the experience.

If you are 'into Disney': staying off-site and going to Disney, and wanting the full Disney experience, would be like vacationing in Maine and not ordering the Lobster.