Value or Moderate for Marathon Weekend - Need runners' perspective

[BrianD]

While I would love to stay at the Polynesian or some other conveniently located Deluxe resort, my budget tells me I must choose a Value or Moderate.

So I'm looking for perspectives from WDW Marathon runners on whether I should choose a Value or Moderate resort for that weekend? In your opinion, is the price difference between the two worth it to stay at a Mod?

I know they have a hot tub, free fridge, coffee maker, and those all sound good to me. I guess I wonder about the hot tub though. Would it be constantly crowded with us runners that weekend?

Or are the Values just fine?

Thanks in advance!

 

[dsnyfan21]

IMO, I tend to lean towards the Value, I find resorts like Coronado, Cariibean Beach, Port Orleans to be very spead out. The resorts themselves have bus stops within the resorts. I like POP, I ask for a room not facing the pool area and not facing a "themed" courtyard and that tends to keep alot of the noise factor out of it. I like to ask for a room facing the hourglass lake. I think there will be a WISH meet at the POp so you would be close there. I also think alot has to do with how much time are you going to be spending in the room and resort. If you are just sleeping there, and have a bit of a swim then I think the POP is a good choice. If you are thinking of doing more than just sleeping, like eating at a "moderate" resort type restaurant ,(remember value only has a food court, which IMO isn't all that bad), do some walking around, hangin out of the pools and such then maybe a moderate is more your tempo. SOme of the moderates are close to things like Port Orleans has a boat ride over to the Downtown Disney area.

Hope that helps (or confuses you), Tracy

 

[princessrunner]

I stayed at CBR last year for marathon weekend and I liked it a lot. Being able to get up in the morning and have breakfast right in my room and make coffee for the ride in was nice. Plus, I could heat up water for my oatmeal which was a bonus for me too. I did not do the hot tub, the pool or anything else as it was a whirlwind tour for me. My next time in 2010, I will stay at a moderate again just for the fridge, coffeemaker, etcetera.

I think the values are just fine too, it all depends on what you want for amenities and how long you are staying. Transportation seemed great from all places as I went to Pop for the WISH meet, took the bus from the Expo to Pop and did the Expo from CBR and back and half marathon a.m. was prompt (although the driver got lost) and back to CBR was good too.

I am curious to see what others think as this was my first time for marathon weekend. Great question!!!

 

[BrianD]

Just a little more info...it will be a quick trip for me, just 3 nights. Also, I will be traveling solo. And I think it will pretty much be either POP or POFQ.

Thanks for the opinions so far, please keep them coming!

 

[princessrunner]

Brian, last year I flew down on Thursday and out on Sunday so I was only there for 3 nights also. CBR was nice for that. I could carry on everything I wanted, oatmeal, power bars, etcetera and eat in my room. It was a nice walk to the food area and there were good choices for pre-race dinners also. Do, definitely, plan to attend the WISH meet on Friday evening. You get to meet so many of the wonderful people you converse with here.

 

[wfloyd]

We have stayed at Pop for some of the previous marathons and it defiantely met our needs. We had 3 people in the room and stayed for 4-5 nights as well.

 

[Duanerice]

I agree that it really depends on how long you are going to stay. Anymore we almost always stay at POP. Not just for the marathon, but other visits too. We only visit for maybe 3 nights at a time though. I don't think I could handle the POP for a week, I might have to move to a moderate.

Stayed at POP last year and have plans to do it again. As for transportation, unless you stay at a monorail resort, there is not really a transportation advantage for staying anywhere else (maybe for walking back to the Boardwalk)

Also, since we drive I can bring a cooler and coffee pot with me. Can't stomach Disney coffee or whatever you call it

Pop is fine. The meet is there and all the cool kids stay there

enjoy,
Duane

 

[WDWFAN9]

I'm another POP fan, although I have stayed at all the mods and ASMusic too. I imagine it could be a zoo in the summer, but in Jan, May, and Oct it has worked great for me. Plus it is the only place on WDW property where you can get a water view for a standard price!!

Really, there you can't go wrong wherever you stay!

 

[getnthinr]

I stay at the value resorts as well. If I drive, I bring a cooler. (I don't do coffee.) If I fly, I pack a folding soft-sided cooler (the kind you can pick up at any Wal-Mart or Target) and fill it with ice when I arrive. I leave it in the sink or the tub (in case it leaks or sweats) and use it to store my tea, which I pick up at the food court in my all-you-can-drink resort mug. Sometimes I carry my own instant oatmeal and grits as well -- there's free hot water in the food court -- as well as the bars or bloks I'll carry with me on race day.

I know all this sounds penny-pinching, but hey, the only way we can afford Disney is if I cut corners where I can.

Honestly, I stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge once when I ran for a charity. I can't imagine ever paying that much for the room I ended up in. It just wasn't that "special." I'm just as happy at All Star Music or Pop. Now, I also stayed one night at the Contemporary once -- walking distance to the MK and a really nice room -- that's something I think I could get accustomed to if money were no object!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[bubba73]

To piggyback off the OP's post, I have just registered to do the 5k during that weekend and have found out that the WDW site hasn't started accepting reservations for '09 yet. What can I do about that? Just wait or is there another way?

Thanks!

 

[Duanerice]

To piggyback off the OP's post, I have just registered to do the 5k during that weekend and have found out that the WDW site hasn't started accepting reservations for '09 yet. What can I do about that? Just wait or is there another way?

Thanks!

Just call. Go to the WDW site and get the phone number. If you don't have any other special rate, ask for the marathon rate. Give them the code AEO.

enjoy,
Duane

 

[lourodrigis]

I've been to WDW 5 times with my family in the last 6 years and stayed at Values and Moderates. When going with the family we do not stay in the room much so I have had a hard time justifying the extra cost for even a moderate. However, I ran WDW in January and it was the first time DW and I went to WDW without the kids and we decided to stay at CBR. I think it was well worth it and I'm glad I did it.

First of all, I had a room facing the water and was able to walk outside my room right to the beach by the lake. Very nice. I was a little stressed about the marathon so I enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere at CBR. Second of all, we usually stay at WDW for a week but for the marathon we only stayed 4 days so it was not as expensive of a trip.

I just think that for this trip, without the kids, it was worth the extra $$$ to stay at CBR. To be honest, if I come back to run again with the kids I would stay at a moderate again. I liked the relaxing atmosphere, larger room, coffee maker, better themed pool, and beautiful grounds. However, I would not have a problem staying at a value again for a regular trip to WDW.

 

[BrianD]

Thanks for all the input. I ended up going with POFQ, booking through Anthony Travel. That said, I am now registered for the Half Marathon and the ToT 13K!

I have some serious work to do!