POFQ vs Values

ryanmcin

Mouseketeer
Joined
Dec 7, 2008
Messages
411
I need someone to talk me off the ledge (or push me off maybe). A few weeks ago we (Me 34, DW 33, DD 2.5, DD 3 months) booked a semi-last minute trip for the end of October for our anniversary. We refi'd our house recently and have made all of the modifications we were planning on making and we had more money left over than we anticipated so we decided to use part of that to go to WDW instead of a short west coast cruise or trip up the coast for our anniversary.

We will be going for 9 nights, the last week of October.

We found a good deal on POFQ so we booked it, now we have found a great deal on the Values (Pop and even better deal on the All Stars). The savings is around $500 for 9 nights. Now we are trying to justify spending the extra money (POFQ vs Value) on a spur of the moment trip (spur of moment for us is anything less than 3 months).

Some background on us:
This isn’t a once in a lifetime trip for us. We were at WDW for 16 days in October 2013, and we will be back for 13 days in January 2015. We started going to WDW in January of 2008 have been DVC members since March of 2008. We’ve been to POFQ twice before (Jan 2008 and Oct 2008) for a total of 17 nights, we’ve spent 2 nights at CSR, 1 night at Pop, 4 nights at Saratoga Springs. We’ve also spent 40 nights at AKL/AKV Jambo over 3 separate trips (Jan 2009, Jan 2010, Oct 2013) and will be back there in January.

We really enjoyed POFQ when we stayed there before, but it’s been 6 years since we have stayed anywhere except Jambo House. The one night we spent at Pop was awful, but we were literally only there for about 8 hours since we changed our flights to a red-eye that got us in around midnight and we needed some place to stay.

My first concern with the values is the size and the bus service. We will be traveling with a side-by-side double stroller which is a pain in the rear to get on and off the busses when full. At POFQ we would be the first (or only) stop so getting on wouldn’t be too bad.

My second concern is size of the resorts. POFQ is very compact and is easy to get from even the most remote room (which we had previously) to the bus stop or food court. The values seem much larger which doesn’t sound great when you have to get a toddler and infant from point A to point B.

My third concern is the feel of the resort. The allstars and Pop seem pretty generic whereas we have enjoyed the theme of POFQ in the past.

I guess I am looking for someone to tell me the values aren’t that bad (or maybe to tell me that they are). It we went with a value we would be putting the $500 towards some additional play equipment for the backyard so the context of the decision would be an extra piece of play equipment vs staying in POFQ (rather than an allstar).
 
Personally, I'd stick with POFQ if possible.

If $$ are that much of a concern, and I totally understand how they can be, I'd save even more by renting a condo offsite and renting a car, rather than stay at a Value for 9 nights.
 
I very much agree with pp. Keep POFQ, it is so much "more" than the values. At the end of a hurried day at the parks, it is so nice to have someplace relaxing to return to. When we stayed value (ASMu and POP) we found there wasnt really the feeling of "turning off" that you get at resorts like POFQ.

Good luck whatever you decide :goodvibes
 
Another vote to stay with POFQ. The extra space in the room is enough of a reason, for me. But the size of the resort and the comparative quiet are also important. Especially for a trip of that length.
 

We like values but whenever possible will try to stay at the Mods, so another vote for POFQ. I will add that queen beds vs full size is a big plus for our family, plus the boat to DTD.
 
Stick with POFQ. $500 isn't enough of a price difference to me to warrant a switch to a value (and that's saying something as I am pretty cheap and we usually only stay at values!)
 
The refrigerator is in POFQ and not in the Vaules
POFQ sometimes has it's own bus and run often
POFQ has a boat to DTD
POFQ has lovely tree lined walkways and lots of great looking 'fake' alligators for kids to take pictures next to (Values do have over sized icons, but you can visit them for a few pictures)
POFQ has a wonderful not scary slide for kids to slide down
POFQ has larger rooms and nicer decor - and 2 sinks - and 4 hooks on the wall to hang 4 guest hats and things

Did I say I think POFQ ia better than a value :rotfl2:
 
The refrigerator is in POFQ and not in the Vaules
POFQ sometimes has it's own bus and run often
POFQ has a boat to DTD
POFQ has lovely tree lined walkways and lots of great looking 'fake' alligators for kids to take pictures next to (Values do have over sized icons, but you can visit them for a few pictures)
POFQ has a wonderful not scary slide for kids to slide down
POFQ has larger rooms and nicer decor - and 2 sinks - and 4 hooks on the wall to hang 4 guest hats and things

Did I say I think POFQ ia better than a value :rotfl2:

Um, the values have all had fridges for quite a while now.
 
Well I be the odd man out.... :duck: We have stayed at both and I would pick POP over POFQ.
We much prefer the theming at POP over POFQ. POP is bright , fun and over the top Disney. We found POFQ to be bland. :confused3
The food court is a million times better at POP then POFQ.
POFQ is a smaller resort than POP...but we have never had more than a 5-10 minute walk to the main building regardless of which section we have been in.
We always stay in a Standard Room and request a room in the 50's or 60's, facing the lake. The one and only time we had a noisy stay is when we were facing the pool.
The rooms are definitely not huge. But we have stayed there happily and comfortably as a family of 4 many times.
All that being said, we always rent a car. So I cannot speak to the bus system at POP.
$500 is a lot of money to me...I would save it and try POP. :goodvibes
 
I've never stayed Value, but have stayed twice at POFQ and plan to go back there next year. So you can guess what my vote is! ;)

Some of these have already been listed, but just to reiterate:
POFQ:
Queen Beds
Coffee Maker in the room
2 sinks
Boat to DTD

More importantly - it sounds like you really want POFQ. 9 nights is a long trip (to me, anyway) not to stay where you want, and $500 divided by 9 is just $55 more a night for POFQ. I say go with your heart.
 
I've stayed at both and POFQ is woth the $500 to me...the boat trip to DTD is awesome and it is quant. Yes, the food court is smaller, but they have beignets! Pop is loud.
 
Hi OP - another AKL DVC owner here!
We just got back from 2 weeks in Jambo on Sunday. My DH decided to send me on a solo trip for a 50th birthday present, but I felt bad using our family DVC points or booking deluxe just for myself... so I booked POFQ!
I think you'd be better off staying with POFQ - as someone else who has become spoiled by AKL, i think staying at an all star or pop would be too much of a shock to your system.
 
I would stay with POFQ. The queen beds alone make the difference worth it to me. Add in the beautiful resort, the small size, the boat to DD and the easy bus to parks and you have all kinds of reasons to stay moderate!
 
I would stay at POFQ if money is not concern.
We actually did stay this past Christmas on both. I liked both but my favorite was POFQ. I liked feel and the small size. DH hated POP. We are going back to POFQ in November for DH birthday.
 
Busses - POP
Rooms - POFQ
Pool - POFQ
Food court - POP (includes AoA food court)
Grounds - POFQ
Fireworks - POP (great views, especially from HS)
Downtown Disney - POFQ (boat service a big plus)
Activities - POP
Peacefulness - POFQ
Cost - POP

Strong points can be made for both. Disney is probably going to end up getting that $500 anyway, so it is up to you whether it is from the resort or something else. Personally, I would pick POP, then spend the $500 on a rental car and a couple extra nice meals.
 
Busses - POP
Rooms - POFQ
Pool - POFQ
Food court - POP (includes AoA food court)
Grounds - POFQ
Fireworks - POP (great views, especially from HS)
Downtown Disney - POFQ (boat service a big plus)
Activities - POP
Peacefulness - POFQ
Cost - POP

Strong points can be made for both. Disney is probably going to end up getting that $500 anyway, so it is up to you whether it is from the resort or something else. Personally, I would pick POP, then spend the $500 on a rental car and a couple extra nice meals.

I agree with your list. :thumbsup2 But I actually think with the ages of the children, the OP would be better off at the Pop pools.

We just returned home yesterday from a split stay at Pop and POFQ. I love Pop, but POFQ is a close second. Request a lake view at Pop and save your money. It's very peaceful. :goodvibes
 


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