So what are we missing by staying "value"

[mamato3girls]

This is our 2nd trip to disney as a family and I booked another value resort. We stayed at all star movies last time and are staying at music this time. I have never been a person to really care about a hotel, as long as it's clean and safe I'm pretty happy with it. My husband had hoped that i would book a moderate this year but I just couldn't bring myself to spend that money. But I assume I must be missing out on some things by staying at a value resort? I do understand that some of the resorts are closer to the park or offer monorail or boat transportation but beyond that what do you feel like the big advantages are?

 

[dansdad]

This is by no means knocking the values. I am just stating what the differences are. Only you can decide if you're missing anything.

Rooms generally bigger
Queen beds (except for CBR)
Refrigerators in room
Double Sinks
Generally bigger pool slides
Hot tub(s)
Quiet pool(s)
Table Service Restaraunt


There may be more, but that pretty much sums it up.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I've only stayed at POP and mods, but what you are missing at a value is a free fridge, larger room with sometimes queen beds and/or 2 sinks, slide and hot tub, sit down restaurant, and I think better themed grounds. If you spend a lot of time in the parks like us these things may not be important to you. We are booked at POP b/c my kids really want to stay there and would rather spend the money on something else. We stayed at CBR a few years ago at Christmas and we didn't like it. It was too spread out and too cold to use the pools.

Personally, I would book POP before I'd pick all stars. What I love about POP is that you can request a lakeview room and not have to pay extra for it. They have a great food court, too.

 

[catra121]

There is more themeing at the moderates. There are better pools with slides plus quiet pools throughout the resort as well as hot tubs (this was a big one my mom missed when we stayed at a value last time). The rooms are a little bigger...some now have queen beds too. Covered bus stops are another thing some people like. And a table service restaurant.

I didn't care for CSR resort at all and like Pop much better. POR was probably my favorite so far but I honestly would probably save the money and stay at a value instead for most trips.

 

[mamato3girls]

Ah, the free refrigerator would be nice. We requested one last year but I guess they either didn't have anymore or I didn't request right. The cooler and ice deal got old pretty fast. I'll have to keep a moderate in mind when our girls get a bit older. Right now a small room isn't an issue but I can see it being an issue in another 3 or 4 years.

 

[buzznina]

Also at Mods you have pool games and activities, marshmellow roasting, nightly movies, most have night time family entertainment, you can rent surrey bikes or boats and the PO resorts have boat transportation to DTD. But if you are not going to spend time at the resort then it really just comes down to a bit bigger room, a fridge and queen beds. For us the fridge and queen beds are a big reason for us, we bring yogurt, milk and other stuff that needs to be kept cold and with 2 DD's that love to crawl into bed with us queen beds.

 

[luvmyguyz]

I personally love the value resorts because the theming is so in-your-face Disney and my children love it. We stay in family suites, so we get a queen bed anyway, and while I personally think the water slides at the mods and deluxes are pretty darn cool, my kids seem to love the pools at the values and have no complaints. At value resorts you can rent a fridge for a nominal daily fee - usually much less than the difference in price between a value and mod. A double sink would be nice, but I harldy think it's a deal breaker.

As for the other amenities that the mods and deluxes have (surrey rentals, carriage rides, campfires, etc.) you can always take a day (or half a day) and visit another resort. The only thing you can't do is use another resort's pool - as far as I know, all other amenities are able to be used by any resort guest.

We considered the moderates this year, but have settled on AoA for our next trip - it just fits our style (we are more "Hampton Inn" than "Hilton" people.) I think that's the most important thing - pick what fits your style and your budget and I'm sure you'll love every minute of it.

 

[meljean]

We have stayed at Movies in the past but stayed at POP this time. Loved it!! We have stayed at CBR before and really liked it! What I missed most was the bigger room. I thought I would miss the fridge but after not having it this year, I do not think I would have used it. Not worth the $90 at least. I thought the theming was great at POP. They also had the fun pool games and a movie by the pool every night. I would go back to POP again. We are looking at staying at a Deluxe due to a great deal but I think my boys would prefer POP! lol

 

[Ziggette]

We have stayed at All Star Movies and at Beach Club Resort. ASMo were wonderful for the over the top decor and characters. The food court was better at ASMo too. The pool was fine but nothing amazing.
The BC had a bigger room, and a mini-frig. The bathroom was the same size as ASMo. The pool was so much fun that my children, DD6 and DD3, really did not want to leave to go to the park. The market and food options leave something to be desired.
When we go back this year, we will stay at the Beach Club again, only due to the pool. Otherwise, I would save my money and stay at the All-Stars or Pop.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Also at Mods you have pool games and activities, marshmellow roasting, nightly movies, most have night time family entertainment, you can rent surrey bikes or boats and the PO resorts have boat transportation to DTD. But if you are not going to spend time at the resort then it really just comes down to a bit bigger room, a fridge and queen beds. For us the fridge and queen beds are a big reason for us, we bring yogurt, milk and other stuff that needs to be kept cold and with 2 DD's that love to crawl into bed with us queen beds.

Just to clarify - the values have pool games and activities as well as nightly movies.

 

[mamato3girls]

Well it's good to hear that right now we aren't missing out on anything we really have to have. Our girls are all still young and are ok with sharing beds and being in close quarters. The big thing is really the refrigerator for us, it would be nice to have a free one in room.

luvmyguyz-I think you put it well. I am definitely more of a hampton in rather than a hilton person. My husband *thinks* he's a hilton person, fortunately for me and our budget I'm the one doing all the booking

 

[canopynut66]

This is our 2nd trip to disney as a family and I booked another value resort. We stayed at all star movies last time and are staying at music this time. I have never been a person to really care about a hotel, as long as it's clean and safe I'm pretty happy with it. My husband had hoped that i would book a moderate this year but I just couldn't bring myself to spend that money. But I assume I must be missing out on some things by staying at a value resort? I do understand that some of the resorts are closer to the park or offer monorail or boat transportation but beyond that what do you feel like the big advantages are?

we have taken 61 trips now to WDW and have stayed at deluxe and moderates and do like POR but we tried the all stars and have stayed in all three but buses so crowded so we tried the POP and love it and the bus service best of ANY property on Disney. you can rent a fridge if you want one but other than that they have three pools and games and activities for kids and teens. is quite (and we are three adults in 60's) is clean and cast is very nice. food court good but we do not eat at resort much as to many other places to check out. we try to go when there is free dining and we upgrade to MYWD so we get the 1 TS along with 1 CS. we also have tried the cabins at ft wilderness and did not care for the transportation there. although worst was Beech club and Yacht club buses just terrible at both. we take the monorails and go to all resorts and shop as well as downtown and other resorts. so staying value gives us more money to spread trip #62 is the last two weeks of October 2012 hope you enjoy as much as we do

 

[stephmarty]

My kids are 10, 8 and 4. They really enjoy the pool slides at the mods. But the theming of the values is terrific, IMO.

 

[disnut8]

The big thing is really the refrigerator for us, it would be nice to have a free one in room.

But the morning and nightly ritual to get ice can be quite fun with three little ones. I know we turned our son into the "I'm getting ice!" guy from the very first time. Make it an adventure and you will have tons of fun. Disney ice machines are not that far away and you can do other things while you are out doing that. I never just go out and get ice. If you think it's a chore, then it's a chore. Turn it into something else.

 

[supermom4]

Check into the All star movies resort, they used to have 3 "family suites" which they do not advertise, you have to request them. It's one bedroom with a bathroom and a small studio area that converts into a queen bed and the chair converts into a twin. You actually have a door that you can close to your bedroom so it gives you that little break that you might need after the parks! And it's considered a value resort.

 

[nkereina]

IMHO - the jump from value to mod is worth it. The jump from mod to deluxe is harder for me to justify. Things I like best about the mods are the overall themes, queen beds, hot tub, fridge, coffee maker. We usually stay at POR which also has the boat to DTD which is great, as well as dual vanities and a TS restaurant we like.

 

[buzznina]

Just to clarify - the values have pool games and activities as well as nightly movies.

Thanks for the update I knew they were suppose to get it but have not heard.

 

[shocker]

Let me guess...debt?

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Atmosphere more than anything. I was a person who believed that a hotel was a place to rest you head until All star music in Aug 2009. It was awful, mouse keeping implied we stole the towels when the maids took them all and did not leave a single towel or washcloth and we called to ask for some. The CM's stood around in clumps complaining loudly about work, the food court staff was less than helpful and at times rude, the whole resort felt like motel 6 slapped down in a mall on a Friday night.

POR was the complete opposite from checkin to checkout. It was a vacation.

 

[denman007]

Just off the top of my head...

When it comes to Deluxe, you are missing out on location and convenience to parks. You can take the monorail or walk to parks.

Zero entry pools.

View.

Access to water sports.

Nicer themed pools.