Value/Moderate Comparison

[bstafford]

Hi: If you had to compare a value and a moderate to a hotel chain, which would you compare them too? I am looking for quality, comfort,etc. Maybe instead of comparing the chain, how would you compare the class of hotel?

 

[ducklite]

I would compare the values to a Red Roof Inn or Fairfield by Marriott. Bare bones amenities, lower end furnishings made of laminate, very basic linens, no frills. Decent place to lay your head for the night, but don't expect anything more.

I would compare the moderates to a Hampton Inn or newer Comfort Inn/Suites. Somewhat nicer furishings and linens, some additional recreation and amenities.

The words quality and comfort are very subjective. We all have different definitions of what quality and comfort are. For me, quality is high thread count sheets, plush towels, pillowtop mattresses, real wood furniture (as opposed to laminated chip board), etc. For others, quality means clean and linens without holes or stains and an inexpensive room. And we dfinitely all ahve our opinions on comfort, and I'm sure what is comfortable for one family isn't for the next. (ie bunk beds for some families is nirvana, while for other guests it's terrible.)

 

[disneyholic family]

the rooms and furnishings of the values and moderates are very very similar....
the main difference is the moderates have two sinks instead of one, but other than that, there really isn't much difference in terms of the rooms...

the moderates have nicer landscaping, more complete theming, fancier swimming pools, additional amenities (like bike rental at POR, etc.)...

but if you're not going to spend much time at the resort, the value is fine....

DD and I just came back from 9 days at the All Star Music...we haven't stayed in a value resort for 12 years (and in recent years have only stayed deluxe concierge)...

i was very pleasantly surprised.....it was perfectly fine for our purposes....and still had the disney magic...my only complaint would be the bus service, but after trying it once, we stuck with the rental car for getting to the parks...

 

[minnie61650]

The newly refurbished rooms at All Star Music have much nicer funiture than the old decor. The beds now are higher quality now and have pillowtop matresses.

Here are some photos of a refurbished room at All Star Music that were posted on another thread:

I am terribly late, but I promised I would come back to share my pics from staying there back in September. . . .so here it is!

The lobby

Our room. We were in the Country Fair Section.

The beds

The sink area

That annoying Stacey!!

Some of the grounds

We were really happy with the ASMusic overall. The Country Fair section is definitely a walk from the main building, but it didn't bother us much, because we used our rental car all week to get to the parks. We never found either pool to be terribly busy, and we had great service the two times we ate at the food court! My Dad joined us halfway through our stay and was given a room just two doors down from us, which worked out perfectly.

All around, I was very happy with our stay!

Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[SGMCO]

I would like to try a Value someday but we've only stayed at MODs
because my DH wants quiet surroundings when on vacation from
a stressfull job. He won't let me even consider staying at a Value.
So I can give you information on what we've enjoyed from MODs.

What we have enjoyed about the MODs is that most all have
nice TS restaurants which Value don't (sometimes we would like
to have a sit down dinner at our resort without going elsewhere).

Also I enjoy the Hot Tubs after a long day at the Parks and
the Values don't have HTs.

We also very much enjoy the beautiful grounds (greenery, flowers, animals)
and quiet relaxed feeling of the MODs--my DH doesn't care for the large ICONs of the Values, he says they make him feel stressed.

MODs also have a fridge in each room without any extra cost.
I would say the MODs are around a 3--3.5 star hotel.

I am also satified with the cost of MODs I think they are real bargins
for a Wonderful WDW Vacation.

 

[sbakersub]

I would compare the values to a Red Roof Inn or Fairfield by Marriott. Bare bones amenities, lower end furnishings made of laminate, very basic linens, no frills. Decent place to lay your head for the night, but don't expect anything more.

I disagree -- the few Red Roofs I have stayed at are very much below the standards of the values. I'd give the Red Roofs one star, maybe one 1/2. I think a better comparison would be to the Best Western chain -- clean and comfortable, a few amenities, but not luxurious. Two 1/2 stars (out of max 5).

 

[peyjax]

the rooms and furnishings of the values and moderates are very very similar....
the main difference is the moderates have two sinks instead of one, but other than that, there really isn't much difference in terms of the rooms...

To be honest I am not sure whether or not it is worth it to upgrade from the values to the mods, I will say that I see a huge difference in the rooms. The mattresses at the mods are more comfortable and there are a lot of subtle differences. You have more square footage (not that much, but noticable), a fan in the room, as well as a curtain and as mentioned two sinks. We stayed at POR in the AB section and the theme was great and very noticable. Not so in the value. The furniture is real wood and really adds character. Now these things may not seem important to you, but after staying at two values before a moderate, we noticed a difference in the rooms mostly. The mods are nice, but the values give you a good bang for your buck. I am not so sure about the mods. Others I am sure will disagree, just my take!

 

[ducklite]

I disagree -- the few Red Roofs I have stayed at are very much below the standards of the values. I'd give the Red Roofs one star, maybe one 1/2. I think a better comparison would be to the Best Western chain -- clean and comfortable, a few amenities, but not luxurious. Two 1/2 stars (out of max 5).

OK, I'll agree with that--kind of. I was hestitant to use Red Roof's, although some are nicer than others. But same thing with Best Westerns. I stayed at a REALLY nice Best Western outside of Seattle that was as nice as any Hilton i've ever stayed in, but I've also stayed in a few that were scary at best. IN other words some are a lot nicer than the values, and others that aren't nearly as nice.

 

[bstafford]

This is interesting! Would you say that POP and the newly refurbished All Star Music are comparable?

 

[disneyholic family]

This is interesting! Would you say that POP and the newly refurbished All Star Music are comparable?

i don't know as i've never stayed at the pop...

my daughter and i just spent 9 days at the All Star Music a few weeks ago (nov. 5th -14th)..
The bed was VERY comfortable. Better than the bed at the GF, when we stayed there last (i tend to have problems with hotel beds).

We haven't stayed in a value resort for 12 years, with our recent stays all in deluxe concierge accomodations. Despite that, we were very very pleasantly surprised by the All Star Music and I would happily stay there again.

My only problem with the ASMu was the bus service. We tried it once (to the MK) and found it lacking, so we didn't use it again during our stay. Instead getting to the parks only with our rental car.
But other than the bus service, we were very happy with the ASMu.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

How big are the mod rooms compared to value? BIL is 6' 350lbs and SIL is 5'11" 250lbs with son at that time will be 3 1/2. Is there enough difference to pay more?

 

[minnie61650]

How big are the mod rooms compared to value? BIL is 6' 350lbs and SIL is 5'11" 250lbs with son at that time will be 3 1/2. Is there enough difference to pay more?

I feel there is not much room size difference between a mod and a value.

Here is the layout of a mod.
The bathroom is about the same size as the All Stars but you will have 2 sinks instead of one.

POR room lay out

here is the All Star room layout'

All Star room layout

The mod has 54 square feet more than the value.
That means if both the mod and the value room were 27 feet long than the mod would be 2 feet wider. Just enough room for a double sink instead of a single.

To me that is not a lot of room size difference.

 

[ducklite]

How big are the mod rooms compared to value? BIL is 6' 350lbs and SIL is 5'11" 250lbs with son at that time will be 3 1/2. Is there enough difference to pay more?

Something they need to consider is that the beds at the values and mods are all doubles. The only king rooms only accomodate two adults and a child under the age of two in a Pack-n-Play.

They might want to consider POR where they can get a room with two doubles and a trundle that would be perfect for their child. That way they could each have a double, and their son could have the trundle, perfect for everyone!

Of course I'm assuming that they'd be squeezed for room in a double, and maybe they'd be perfectly content in it, and I apologize if that assumption is wrong.

 

[nurse.darcy]

I am a deluxe girl, but I let my "cheap" DH talk me into a value for our summer vacation. We stayed at ASMu and had a GREAT time. My only complaint is that we could have used a rental car for transport. The busses were not bad just not as speedy as we would have liked. We are doing a mod this next summer (or the Swan/Dolphin - depending on price). If I can get a room at the Swan/Dolphin for the price of a mod, that is where we will go. We didn't charge to the room last year and the only real convenience was the ticket on the room key. I can live without that for a deluxe. . .

 

[minnie61650]

ducklite is correct.
If they want more bed space at an affordable price; POR with a trundle bed would let all three of them have their own bed.

The WL and AKL deluxe resorts have 2 Queen size in a standard room. Most ofthe other Disney deluxes have 2 Queensize beds and a daybed.

The Family Suites at All Star Music would give even more options and usually costs less than any of the Deluxes including WL and AKL.

THey have a Queensize bed in the master bedroom area.
The living/ sleeping area has a foldout sofa plus a foldout chair and a foldout ottoman.

Here are some photos of the foldouts:

DH and I stayed in a Family Suite at All Star Music ( a value resort) in Sept. of 2006.

We really enjoyed the Queen size bed, the kitchenette with the microwave, having a sofa and cushioned chair to sit on and relax after a day at the parks before retiring for the evening.

I thought the pullouts very comfortable.

They are designed so the back cushion and seat cushion of the pullout support the pullout. There is no metal bar to hurt the sleepers back.

Info thread--Pullouts in Family Suites at ASMU with photos of how the pullout is supported.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18100990#post18100990

Here is the layout of the Family Suites:

Here is my review of the Suites:

www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=17640774&postcount=7

For more photos and info please see this info thread:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392879

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

Thanks for your help... for value it seems like the suites are going to be the way to go if not we will probubly spring for a deluxe. Thanks again!!!