value or moderate resort? Is the xtra worth it?

[vermonter]

I am trying to decide wether to spend the extra to stay at a moderate hotel vs. value hotel for a first-time, 10 day visit with kids? Will we notice the difference, does it matter? Your help is greatly appreciated. Also, your opinion on which hotel in your recommended class would be the best would be welcome.

 

[undertheseas]

The only moderate we've stayed at was POFQ. It was $15 a night more than a value and worth every penny! It was quieter (we stayed at movies the first half and POFQ the second half of the trip), the beds were better, you got a coffee pot, bigger, nicer, etc. This year it was more of a difference in price and we're staying 9 nights so I couldn't swing the moderates. I'm hoping we love POP! If you can swing it, I say go for a moderate. Oh and you have better choices for dining at the resort too and a better pool (slide)

 

[Giggles]

My family of four, have stayed in All Star Music, and are planning to stay at All Star Movies in 4 weeks. We however really don't spend alot of time in the hotel itself. We spend the majority of our time in the parks, at Downtown Disney, etc. However, if you are planning to spend more time in the room, then I would recommend the moderate hotel. Just because they tend to have more space in the room.
Hope this helps a little.

 

[Leota]

A moderate is worth the extra to us. We did a value once & even tho we had a good trip, we would never do a value again if at all possible. It was very noisy & that's one thing I just don't handle well.

At a moderate you have more dining & recreation options, a nicer room with a coffee pot & fridge & a quieter room & atmosphere. The quiet alone is worth it to me.

 

[THEDISFANS]

YOU WILL GET A LIITLE BIT MORE PEACE. THE ROOMS ARE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER. WE HAVE STAYED AT MANY DISNEY RESORTS FROM ALL-STARS UP TO DVC RESORTS. PORT ORLEANS IS STILL MY FAV. THE ROOMS AND THE GROUNDS OF THE RESORT ARE BEAUTIFUL. IT CAN BE A LITTLE NOISY AT THE VALUE RESORTS. 10 DAY TRIP WOW SOUNDS FUN!!!!!!!

 

[stacy6552]

We found no value in the extra money of a moderate. If the rooms were bigger, I couldn't tell. The busses end up just as crowded, though the lines dont seem as long because there are multiple stops. Either go with the value and enjoy the over the top themeing, or spend the money on the WL or AKL.

 

[Buzz2001]

mods are worth it to us. Escpecially with a code.

 

[rileyroosmom]

The moderates have pool slides, values don't. Moderates also have a full service restaurant, values don't. I've never stayed at a value, I visited Pop once and I personally like the atmosphere of the moderates better (more landscaping and more "themeing") I've stayed at CSR 2X and liked it both times and CBR 1X, I didn't care for this resort at all. POR and PORFQ are sister resorts and you can use the pools at both. The food courts are in walking distance so that also opens up more dinning opportunities. Visit allears.net for pictures and reviews of all WDW resorts.

 

[bdcp]

I have friends who just got back from AS Sports and weren't that impressed. They did say because they only slept in their rooms it wasn't a big deal because it was so much cheaper, but it was more like a motel than a hotel and was very noisy. There are always groups staying in the Value's because they're so much cheaper. So, more kids per adult ratio than moderates and deluxes since groups are usually made up of a particular age group with a few chaperones. It wouldn't be their first choice next time. I've only stayed in CBR (moderate) and SOG (considered deluxe). SOG was quieter and larger. CBR was pretty quiet too since it's spread out.

 

[WaltD4Me]

The extra for the moderate is definitely worth it to me!

I would think a little depends on which moderate, I can only speak for POFQ, because that is the moderate we stayed at, but we just LOVED it compared to the Pop or All Stars.

1. We loved that POFQ was a smaller resort and everything was a very short
walking distance (pool, bus-stop, lobby, food court, boat dock, ect...)
(this was a biggie for me...I HATE when it takes you 10 minutes just to
walk to the pool or bus-stop or whatever)

2. We loved the quiet rooms. I NEVER heard another guest or any outside noise in our room. In fact we had an connecting room with my brother, SIL and two year old nephew. I guess my nephew had a little melt down one night when he didn't want to take a bath, but we never heard him!
(we also loved that the room doors opened to the outside, rather than an interior hallway, but I know some people don't like this kind of hotel)

3. We loved the pool. The slide was a huge hit with the kids!

4. At POFQ at least, there is only one bus stop and we loved being the first pick up (before they went to POR) we always got a seat going to the parks.

5. We LOVED, LOVED, the boat that went from POFQ to DTD!

6. LOVED our fridge and coffee maker (not sure if the values have the fridge
in the rooms now?) -- We used a car service with a free grocery stop and I can't TELL you how great that worked out with the fridge in the room.

Again, I can only speak about POFQ compared to the values. I don't know about the other moderates, but for me POFQ is worth every extra penny. POFQ vs. a Value is one of the few cases where I will gladly spring for more on the hotel rather going cheaper for the extra spending money.

 

[sue1013]

For the length of your trip I would definately go with a moderate. We found there was a huge difference between the values and moderates. My family found the values very noisy and crowded. The moderates are quieter and we think the grounds are much, much nicer than the values.

 

[VSL]

Depends how much time you're planning to spend at your resort. As you can see (below) I've only stayed Value, and I'm going Value this time because I'm a student and I really won't be at the resort much, but I reckon that this is going to be my last Value holiday ever.

Don't get me wrong - the theming is tons of fun, but I want to move on a bit

 

[Troy08]

I believe the values only have one sink-moderates have double sinks. It may not seem like a big deal but for me I have to have two sinks when we travel. I have stayed at CBR and loved it-great for kids, Well worth the extra money for the peace and quiet. We had a lovely first floor room facing a beautiful manicured courtyard garden. We would sit outside the rrom in the chairs that were there sipping our tea......very peaceful and relaxing.

 

[Disney Spaz]

As you can see from below my family and I started at values and have tried them all but now stay at mods. All I can tell you is this there is a distinct difference between values and mods. All the value resorts are like being in the middle of things all the time. At two am you are likely to hear doors slaming and kids running either through the hallways or in the courtyards. Rarely is it quiet in the values. If this is you type of thing then great you will love it. The food courts can be cramped and there are usually a lot of unsupervised kids running everywhere. Nothing wrong with this if this is the atmosphere you like. Before we tried a moderate I use to swear I would never spend the extra money for a little bigger room but after staying at CBR for two nights in 2003 after we all got the Norwalk virus I have been hooked. We even tried going back to value this past March becuase I thought maybe I was wrong and just remembered the bad stuff because of being sick but no. The moderates are quieter. You have more room to move and I have yet to be woken up in the middle of the night at a mod. The food courts are smaller but the options are still good and I can't get over how a few more feet of space helps fit all four of us. Don't get me wrong values can be good for people who enjoy being in the middle of everything all the time but thats just not for us anymore. In the end if this is your first trip to WDW any on site resort is going to feel wonderful because it is Disney. Take everyone's advice for what it is, personal opinion and know that in the end you and your family will be happy being anywhere together.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Sort of OT, but I gotta ask after reading the responses here.....

Would it really have killed Disney to make the walls a little thicker at the values?

Almost everyone I talk to who has stayed in a Value comments about the noise...some say it's alot of noise and a big deal, some say a little noise and no big deal, but almost all comment on the noise in some way.

I realize it's a value, but does that have to mean hearing everything in your neighbors room and out in the hall? Why can't a value be cheap and quiet?

 

[Belle5]

If it meant the difference between going to WDW and not going--I'd stay in a value. If there was any way I could swing it--I'd go for the moderate every time! If beauty is at all important to you go for the moderate.

 

[lizanne]

Moderate if you can afford. Ten days with children is a long time. The more comfortable the room and the surroundings, the better.

We've stayed at CBR and PORFQ. We really liked PORFQ and I think POR looks great too.

(Also stayed at AS once for 2 nights. So I do have a point of reference).

 

[discraz]

My advice is to do both since your are staying for 10 days and then you can experience it all. If you don't mind packing up all your stuff, the resorts will transfer your luggage for you betw. the two resorts. I don't really unpack. I have a clean and folded pile of clothes and a dirty pile of clothes. So it takes no time for me to pack up. I just throw stuff back in the suit case, take it to lobby baggage, go play in the park for the day, then check into the second resort and my luggage is waiting for me. Think about giving it a try.

 

[Disney5Mom]

It depends.The first time we went we stayed at As MU and were quite happy with it, although some large groups of teens came for our last few days and it was noisy and crowded in the pools. Since then we have stayed at POR ,the Dolphin and CSR. We love moderates!! But we and our children (17 and over) really enjoy the hot tubs, quiet pools and peaceful atmosphere of the moderates. When our children and we were younger the values were great for us. For us CSR is our favourite although DH likes POR (AB) just as much. Have a wonderful first trip.You will enjoy wherever you stay.

 

[TweetieSC4]

I did a family reunion of all adults at the ASSp, a romantic getaway at CSR and we are booked at POFQ in September.

The value resorts are fine... and actually some kids get such a kick out of the decor. The pool at the ASSp was fine. Rooms were fine. But, this was back in 1997 and I've heard the AS's are starting to show their years. We were never there except to crash at night, and it was just what we needed.

CSR was a beautiful resort with gorgeous themeing. It definitely had a bit more upscale look. We got a great building across from the pool with the Mayan pyramid and slide, and what I think is the biggest hot tub in a Disney resort (read it in someone's post).

We are booked at POFQ because I am traveling with my DS (4) on his first trip, and the mods have the refrigerator and coffee pot included. Also, he saw the pool slide in a book and fell in love with it. I like that the POFQ is small like the value resorts, but has the ameneties of a moderate (plus rooms were refurbished a year ago). We'd go deluxe, but don't have the budget for it this trip. (sigh)

I'd say that if you have older kids that will be in the parks with you constantly, go with the value - you'll never be there. If you have younger kids and will spend more time at the resorts - go moderate. Have FUN!