Value or Mod going through renovations?

[Sunshinelover]

Looking to book over 4th of July week. The new summer discount seems to be a great deal. Definitely doing this trip on a budget. I can get All Star Music for as low as $116 night. Or CBR is $165, Coronado Springs $172. Conflicted over saving as much $ as possible and doing the Value, or if the Mod would be worth the extra cost.

Some background. Single mom and 9 yr old daughter, doing 4-5 nights. Bed size isn't an issue. Will be spending most of the time in the parks, but would like to do a pool day or half day at resort to relax. Pools at the Mods look much nicer, but with renovations will that be affected? We stayed at CBR 5 yrs ago and loved it, but it poured rain the entire time so we never got to enjoy the pools. We are doing a day at one of the water parks so that will somewhat fulfill our pool fix....my kid couldn't care less about characters or over the top theming. She cares about rides, sunshine and swimming.

What benefits are there to booking Mod over Value in this situation? Especially with renovations at both Mods. I admit we both love a nice resort, but we're doing this on short notice with no time to save. Every penny counts, but I'd like a nice outside the park experience as well. Also if we go Mod, CBR or Coronado Springs?

 

[Calee]

Of those 3 I have only stayed at CBR. The pool there is very cool with 2 water slides and cool theming. The pool is not closed during the renovations.

 

[soniam]

It depends on what's going on at CBR during the summer. Hearing about the two right now, I would pick Coronado Springs. I wouldn't stay at CBR until I know that most of the construction is done. They are doing some serious heavy work and shutting off water for extended periods of time. We stayed at Poly during the construction. I vowed never again. Coronado is supposedly getting much less work done, and it's more isolated. I know that the All Stars are getting room refurbs. I don't know the schedule though. That can still involve noise, smells, and mess. So you may want to see which one is going to be refurbed this summer.

What about doing a water park one day instead of worrying about the pool?

Also, I don't know the cost of Port Orleans Riverside at that time. We just stayed there, and DS12 loved the main pool more than the pool at AKL. I know POR is getting room refurbs soon though.

 

[AntJulie]

She cares about rides, sunshine and swimming.

I would vote for CSR. We stayed at POP a few weeks ago and my grandchildren missed going swimming after getting back from the parks all day. The moderates have the small quiet pools which the kids would use after getting back from the parks. CSR has a great main pool also. Nice resort and bus service was good when we were there (we stayed there before construction started).

 

[Artygal90]

We just got back from CSR. Because we were at the parks open to close (basically), we never got to use the pool, although it looked really cool with a big pyramid in the middle of the pool, a waterslide, and a sandy play area. The construction is focused mainly around the building of the new tower near the Cabanas section and building what will be a restaurant in the middle of the lake. It was a beautiful resort despite the construction and was also very quiet where we were in the Ranchos section - no running or screaming kids in the middle of the night or anything, and very little construction noise that I could tell. The internal bus service was fine and the main quick service and table service restaurants and other amenities were all in full operation while we were there. From what I'm hearing CBR basically doesn't have a food court right now, just food trucks?

If it were me though, and I was trying to save as much money as possible, I'd try the All-Stars unless you are really worried about noisiness keeping you from sleeping at night. A pool is a pool is a pool. Especially since we were out and about all day, I felt like we didn't get the full value of the mod we stayed in and in retrospect would have done POP if it had been up to me

 

[TYTY]

Just back from CSR so that would be my vote but I've also stayed at the values and if you're on a budget I would stay there.

 

[Nicole Grossman]

I was going to say something about the food as well. On the Disney website, you can see the food options at each resort. The All Stars each have food courts with great kids options. As long as you and your child do not care about eating at sit down meals at the hotel. I know that one of the differences between Values and Mods is that Values only really have the food courts as dining options. I also think that the construction is effecting the dining locations at CBR like someone else said.

Also look into the transportation options to and from the parks. From All Star, the only transportation is a bus that may take a little while longer if this is okay with you and your daughter. I think some of the mods have boat transportations to the parks/disney springs

 

[Sunshinelover]

Thanks for the replies. Depending on dates I can get POP for about $14 more per night than Music. I've heard great things about POP for a Value. Maybe that'd be a good compromise?

We are already planning on a Water Park day. Dining really isn't an issue. Wasn't planning on table service, my kid tends to waste restaurant meals. Was looking into QS meal plan maybe.

We do enjoy a nice stroll around resort grounds, I remember CBR being great for that. But we can still explore other resorts, right? Was thinking of taking a trip to AKL. Actually, I contemplated staying there or doing a split stay just because it was a crazy good deal. It was like $280 night with the summer deal. That's amazing for a Deluxe, right? Honestly, I've got Deluxe taste but on a Value budget . Sadly, it only seemed available with a per night minimum. I couldn't do 4 nights at Music, then 1 night at AKL .

 

[Ensusieasm]

Thanks for the replies. Depending on dates I can get POP for about $14 more per night than Music. I've heard great things about POP for a Value. Maybe that'd be a good compromise?

We are already planning on a Water Park day. Dining really isn't an issue. Wasn't planning on table service, my kid tends to waste restaurant meals. Was looking into QS meal plan maybe.

TWe do enjoy a nice stroll around resort grounds, I remember CBR being great for that. But we can still explore other resorts, right? Was thinking of taking a trip to AKL. Actually, I contemplated staying there or doing a split stay just because it was a crazy good deal. It was like $280 night with the summer deal. That's amazing for a Deluxe, right? Honestly, I've got Deluxe taste but on a Value budget . Sadly, it only seemed available with a per night minimum. I couldn't do 4 nights at Music, then 1 night at AKL .

If my budget was tight I would pick Pop, but POR is where I always want to be.

 

[Artygal90]

Thanks for the replies. Depending on dates I can get POP for about $14 more per night than Music. I've heard great things about POP for a Value. Maybe that'd be a good compromise?

We are already planning on a Water Park day. Dining really isn't an issue. Wasn't planning on table service, my kid tends to waste restaurant meals. Was looking into QS meal plan maybe.

We do enjoy a nice stroll around resort grounds, I remember CBR being great for that. But we can still explore other resorts, right? Was thinking of taking a trip to AKL. Actually, I contemplated staying there or doing a split stay just because it was a crazy good deal. It was like $280 night with the summer deal. That's amazing for a Deluxe, right? Honestly, I've got Deluxe taste but on a Value budget . Sadly, it only seemed available with a per night minimum. I couldn't do 4 nights at Music, then 1 night at AKL .

POP was our second choice for where to stay. You can try to get into one of their refurbished rooms with coffeemakers and queen beds. And it's connected to AoA by a bridge over a lake, so you can still take a nice walk around/over the lake and explore the big colorful theming for both AoA and POP. The themed courtyards in AoA look really cute too! I think TimTracker has a few videos that are walking tours of those resorts.

 

[aliciamakino]

Ok, I have stayed at Coronado Springs (pre-construction) and also 2 Value resorts (AOA and All Star Movies). My daughter is young, loves to swim at the pools, play at the playgrounds. To me, I didn't think Coronado was worth the extra $$. I feel like the room is EXACTLY the same more or less. The pool was slightly nicer and it seemed like there were less kids there ( I was there for a work convention). The only other main difference was having sit-down restaurants/lounges to choose from instead of just the food court, but that wasn't important to us. AOA (which is my fave) and Movies, while more crowded with families, still have decent pools and kid areas. And the food court works for quick meals (not that you will be there too much anyway). So if I were you, I would stay at a Value. It will give you what you need and allow you to stay within budget and you could use the difference to have another experience with your daughter.

 

[aliciamakino]

Thanks for the replies. Depending on dates I can get POP for about $14 more per night than Music. I've heard great things about POP for a Value. Maybe that'd be a good compromise?

We are already planning on a Water Park day. Dining really isn't an issue. Wasn't planning on table service, my kid tends to waste restaurant meals. Was looking into QS meal plan maybe.

We do enjoy a nice stroll around resort grounds, I remember CBR being great for that. But we can still explore other resorts, right? Was thinking of taking a trip to AKL. Actually, I contemplated staying there or doing a split stay just because it was a crazy good deal. It was like $280 night with the summer deal. That's amazing for a Deluxe, right? Honestly, I've got Deluxe taste but on a Value budget . Sadly, it only seemed available with a per night minimum. I couldn't do 4 nights at Music, then 1 night at AKL .

Me too!! I want to stay at the Grand Floridian once in my life but only pay the price of a value resort!

 

[Paul Rodgers]

From most of the reviews I've read, the construction at Coronado hasn't effected their stay, other than seeing the tower and rooms being constructed. I have heard that the renovations at Caribbean have been intruding on people's vacation. I actually just switched my reservation from Coronado to French Quarter because I didn't want ANYTHING to do with seeing/hearing/being near construction. French quarter is currently renovating rooms but from what I've been told, you don't even know it's happening. I've stayed at both All Star Music and Pop Century and neither were necessarily bad. I'd def prefer Pop Century though, as it is essentially it's own resort rather than just a 'section of the three'.

 

[SharonZ]

I won't stay at a Value, but that's just me. If this is a budget trip for you, stay at Music. Otherwise my vote would be CSR.

 

[Arielfan98]

I have stayed at the All Stars my whole life. Does your daughter want a fun, "cool," unique pool? Does she mind just swimming in a regular round pool? Sure, the 3 amigos shooting water out of their fingers is cool, but not impressive. If she would prefer a more alluring pool, I would recommend a stay at CSR or Art of Animation if possible. I totally understand the budget aspect, but if the pool aspect would make or break the vacation, I would suggest staying at a more moderately priced resort. I also recommend watching DisUnplugged's CSR review vlog. They did mention if you had a room in a particular spot you couldn't hear the construction at all and I'm sure other Disers would be happy to offer their two cents on that. With the AoA rooms, the Ariel rooms are a lot more expensive, but the AoA pool is spectacular.

 

[disneyvoice]

We have stayed at both and like both of them. If you are wanting to save as much money as possible I would not hesitate to stay at All Star Music. We now typically stay at Deluxe Resorts but when we are specifically looking for a budget conscious place to stay we still always stay at All Star Music. Have a great trip!