POP or a Moderate Hotel? Got pinned - but rethinking hotel choice!

[polkadotladybug]

Hi everyone -
we got lucky and got a pin code for the Value Resorts - so I booked an 8 day stay at Pop Century - July 1-9. Our rate per night is $59 per night (65 with tax)! The code also offers $79/rate for moderates, which is an incredible deal!

Now the deal when we booked this was that I have to pay for it thru my ebay sales (we are saving tax refund, etc for a house down payment) - I really wanted to go to WDW this year, so I made a pledge that I would pay for it - hubby couldn't argue with that - so that's where we are now.

We have stayed at AS Music twice before - we aren't fancy hotel people (well - I guess we could be, provided someone else was paying!) and the values are just fine for us. Pop sounds fun, and the over the top theming is great for our kids - who will be 8 and 5 on the trip. But I'm wondering whether it would be worth it to switch to a Moderate... I think it would be less than a $200 difference, which is a challenge, but still doable.

What should I do? Should I stay with Pop or upgrade to a Mod - is there really that much of a difference? What ARE the differences?

Should I save the $$ and stay with Pop? I was fine with my decision at first, but I'm rethinking our probably ONLY chance to stay at a Mod for that kind of rate! Please tell me what to do - LOL!

Thanks in advance!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

You're talking about a difference of about $160 between a moderate and a value resort for your 8-night stay. Obviously, only you can determine whether it is worth the extra cost to you.

I will tell you that I have a room reserved at CSR for the AAA rate of $127/night for 5 nights. It wasn't available with the AP code but POR and POFQ were (for $109/night). I decided that for a difference of about $100, we'll stay with CSR (we like it that much more). To each his own.

 

[mrsboz]

It wouldn't even be a question for me. I would be all over the moderate. I think that the moderate hotels give you a lot more for your money. I think for that little money it is a big jump. I find the moderates much more relaxing. Definitely not as conjested. But, having said that some people like the values better. I'd go for it. Especially because you don't know when you'll be able to stay at a moderate again for such a cheap price.

 

[polkadotladybug]

So you think I'm crazy right? LOL

Tell me what a mod does that a value does not? I see the point about congestion! Does a mod have a food court? This is the feedback that I need!

Thanks!

 

[canwegosoon]

I would try the moderate. We stayed at POR, I think the rooms are a little larger, the pool was wonderful. There is a marina, you can take a boat to DTD, a fishing hole, the food court is nice, there is also a sitdown restaurant. I found the property very relaxing and calming. We stayed in the Alligator Bayou, there was a trundel bed which we didn't need. My friend just came back from POFQ and she has stayed in several hotels including the values...she said POFQ was her favorite of all so far.

Back to you and your decision.
1) would you be happier with the extra $200 in your pocket or spending it on something else?
2) Would the rate of $59 just be the thrill of your trip?
3) Are you afraid that once you try a Moderate, you will always want to go back there...therefore possibally ruining other budgets?

Again I would try a moderate..life is short and you got a GREAT rate. But I can totally appericate saving the money (for the house) and staying at the VAlue. Good Luck

 

[Kellydelly]

I would go for the moderate. Better pools and nicer rooms. And yes, they do have food courts/restaurants .

 

[becky7953]

From what I am hearing on these boards, the moderates have refridgerators in them. Get breakfast stuff and eat breakfast in the room and you would have saved the difference in the room rate. Moderate!!

 

[speedyf]

I've never stayed in a moderate before...but, I would say moderate.

We had the opportunity to stay in a moderate for the AP rate of $74 last year...but, opted to save the money and stay at Pop for $59. We loved Pop.

This year...I really wanted to try a moderate....but, the AP rate is $109 and it's out of our range. So, we will be staying at Pop again this year for the same price that we could have stayed at a moderate last year. I would give anything right now to have a pin and be able to do a moderate resort....but, I'm not complaining because either way we will be at WDW.

So...obviously....if I were in your shoes, I would do a moderate this time since you were lucky enough to get a code and the rate is so cheap.

The main reason I wanted to do a moderate was for the waterslide in the pool. I have a 5 year old that would just love it. We brought him to Typhoon Lagoon last year, but I thought it was a waste because all he did was slide on the kiddie slide and we spent a little time in the wave pool. I figured this year....I could get a moderate and we could just do the 4 main parks. He could still swim and do the waterslide at the resort pool every day and we wouldn't be wasting a day at Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach.

That was my theory....don't know if will work for you....lol

Good Luck,
speedy

 

[Candace]

Go for the moderate. LOTS of tour groups in July at WDW and they LOVE the value resorts. Less congestion for sure, bigger rooms, etc. PORFQ is the smallest of the mods, I believe. It is also my favorite. Good luck with your choice.

 

[d76dots]

So you think I'm crazy right? LOL

Tell me what a mod does that a value does not? I see the point about congestion! Does a mod have a food court? This is the feedback that I need!

I've only stayed at the POR, but loved it there (I guess I lied...we were at the Contemporary one night). Not only was the food court good (from a family standpoint) the bus stops for it topped some of the other mods too.

If walking to grab the bus is a problem, I'd definately stay at the POR. It has 4 different bus stops; whereas, the POFQ only has the one.

The rooms were a decent size, no fridge though...maybe some other mods have them?? The pools were great. Loved being able to take the boat into DDisney. There was a boat rental, bike rental, pools were great, nice fishin' hole too. Besides the food court there was a sit down restaurant also if you wanted it.

We stayed on the Bayou side so there was a trundle bed under one of the beds also. When that was pulled out, it was a little tight, but otherwise there was plenty of room for the 4 of us (2 adults and 2 kids...9 & 13).

I hope this helps with your decision (after giving it some thought....if you spend a lot of time in the room then maybe the mod is the way to go, but if not...maybe you'd want to stay at the value and take that extra money and put it towards something you might not normally do when there or better yet, add it to a savings account to start saving for you next trip!). The whole Disney experience isn't in your room...it's to get out and enjoy everything else! YOu can always go and visit the other resorts and partake of some of the things going on there!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[cynjam]

I'm actually pondering the same decision. I thought I had decided to split the ressie and do both, but now I'm not sure. Are the mods all exterior access rooms, like the values ? Can you request a fridge, and would they charge you if you did? What's the food like, in the sit down rest.?

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

From what I am hearing on these boards, the moderates have refridgerators in them. Get breakfast stuff and eat breakfast in the room and you would have saved the difference in the room rate. Moderate!!

I second this! This is just what we are doing. We too booked at POP for $59 and then upgraded to POR for the $79. It is worth it to us to have the fridge, little extra room, trundle bed, shady resort, extra bus stops, etc!!

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

I'm actually pondering the same decision. I thought I had decided to split the ressie and do both, but now I'm not sure. Are the mods all exterior access rooms, like the values ? Can you request a fridge, and would they charge you if you did? What's the food like, in the sit down rest.?

Fridges are FREE at the Moderates now. Most rooms already have them in there, and those that don't, you just ask for one. They are exterior access rooms, like the values. They also have a sit down rest. Also POR and POFQ have the water activities...boats, fishing, etc. Also the boat to DTD!!

 

[d76dots]

I'm glad to hear that the mods now have fridges in them. It's been a few years since I've been there, so I can't verify that. The sit down restaurant was ok food. I mean it's not a 4 star, the line could get long if you ate at "normal" times, but service was good when we were there. We only at in it twice and the rest of the time we at at the resort we just ate in the food court. Big variety there and considering prices at other places, it wasn't too bad. If you really want decent prices and dont' mind "down home" cooking, head on over to the buffet in Fort Wilderness. Can't think of the name of it, but it's located right next door to the Hoop De Do Revue building. We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner there (different days) and the value was great and food was very good. Had a nice assortment of things for kids too. It was quite a ride to get there though...but didn't know that there is a boat from MK to that area when we were there. Always learn something new!

Good luck with your choices, and I know that no matter which you pick, you'll have a great time! I'm ready to go today (it's only 20 degrees and started snowing again here!)

 

[CheapMom]

My favorite Disney resort happens to be a value resort but if I had that pin I would go for the mod at least to try it. The theming at the values is more fun for the kids but the pool slides that the mods have makes up for that.

Can someone clarify about the fridge- do you still have to request a fridge or they in all the mod rooms now? And they are free in the mods but you have to pay for fridges at the values?

 

[kelma]

I've never stayed in a mod., but we did stay at ASMo last year with a 3 and 5 year old. We had a wonderful time, but we found the room to be very tiny for all of us and our stuff. If we stay on site again, I would not stay at a Value, at least not while our kids are small and we are in the room a lot.

Also if the fridges really are free in a Mod, but cost $ in value, it would make the cost of the mod and value almost identical.

Either way, I think you'll have an amazing time, but if it were me, I'd go Mod. (and I am cheap, cheap, cheap )