value or moderate/which one

[kitkat4622]

Our first trip we stayed at All Star Movies it is me and my grandson who is 15. We are planning to go back in April 2016 and I am trying to decide if we should go with a moderate as we are staying 8 nights instead of 4. If you were going to upgrade to a moderate which one would you go to and why? if you were staying with a value also which one and why?

 

[spiceycat]

value - Pop - it is a fun place. so go exploring - you might be surprised at what you fine - not only the Icons but the signs.
moderate - POR - it is a beautiful place and fairly peaceful - what I like about is that the food court/restaurant - no matter where you stay is not a far walk. if you want a long walk then go to CBR or CSR. PLus with either PO you get the boat ride to DD - now not as fast as the bus - but definitely more fun and interesting.

pofq is equally beautiful and the food court is really closer - but it has not restaurant so you would still need to go to POR

 

[SmallWorld71]

From a teen boys' point of view (DS16):

If you upgrade: CSR - best theming for a teen boy

If you don't upgrade: his favorite is sports, if you don't have a sports loving grandson - then he says Pop

POFQ would be his absolute last choice of any value or mod.

 

[GoinghometoWDW]

I would agree with either POP or Sports for a teen boy. Upgrading to a moderate depends on how much time you spend in the room. I love POR.

 

[RustManFan]

anyone want to make a suggestion for both travelers? It isn't all about the teenager after all!

 

[Babsy]

I would upgrade to a moderate. The resort that I would choose would be CSR, business class. The CSR has the best moderate pool for the grandson, has a fitness centre/salon for the grandparent as well as a great hot tub. Staying in the business class would help save on food (a consideration with a teenage boy). hammocks on the beach are nice and relaxing and bus service is good. We like both the TS and CS options here.

As you have already stayed at an All Star resort, I would suggest Pop if you decide to go value. Pop has very nice lake view standard rooms that are close to the bridge to AoA. OP would probably find the theming of Pop interesting and a bit nostalgic plus both should enjoy the photo ops at AoA. Food courts at both Pop and AoA are very good.

Of course, with 8 nights you have time for a split stay. How about 4 nights in each?

 

[Newsies]

I would also upgrade to a moderate. POR/POFQ are my two favorites. They're both very big, but the theming is beautiful. If you do decide to go value, POP and AoA both have the biggest/best food courts and best theming IMO.

 

[Lucius Best]

We stayed at Pop once on a recommendation that it was the best value resort, a step above the All Stars. It was fine, we would stay there again, but our favorite moderate resort would be POR. Theming, atmosphere, nice walkway around the river, good pool with some shade, best food court in our opinion. Moderate resort is going to be more expensive, but you get a bigger room, bigger beds, with fridge and coffee maker, and likely a shorter walk to parking lot and/or bus stop (depending on exact room location of course).

 

[AllieBoo]

POFQ or CSR. Both have great pools, nice hot tubs and good food courts. POFQ is small, so less walking, which is nice after a day at the parks.

 

[MyOtherSS]

We stayed at POR and loved it! Totally worth the money if you like to spend time enjoying what the resort has to offer. If you plan on only spending time at the resort to sleep and take mid day breaks, I say save the money and go value!

 

[spiceycat]

value - Pop - it is a fun place. so go exploring - you might be surprised at what you fine - not only the Icons but the signs.
moderate - POR - it is a beautiful place and fairly peaceful - what I like about is that the food court/restaurant - no matter where you stay is not a far walk. if you want a long walk then go to CBR or CSR. PLus with either PO you get the boat ride to DD - now not as fast as the bus - but definitely more fun and interesting.

pofq is equally beautiful and the food court is really closer - but it has no restaurant so you would still need to go to POR

 

[dvcHammer]

We always go with the moderates now, I can no longer take the crowded buses and chaos of the value resorts. Too many strollers on the bus and too many families and kids screaming. Travel with a better class of tourists and pay more.

 

[TwilightZoneTemptress]

In my opinion, upgrade to a moderate. As dvcHammer stated, the chaos at the values aren't worth it. When leaving the parks, not only do the value resorts seem to be the farthest bus stops to walk to, they are also the most crowded buses I've seen (aside from the BW/BC/YC/Swan/Dolphin bus). We're usually at DVC villas or Deluxes now, but like any of of the Disney Resorts, all of them have their pros and cons. As far as moderates go, I've heard really good things about POR. Last time I stayed there, I was young and it was still called Dixie Landings, so I can't give any recent insight. ;]

 

[LemonNeko]

If it's just the two of you I'd stick to a Value as the extra money could be used towards other stuff such as better meals, water parks or special experiences. I'd do a standard room at AoA since I think they have their own buses and it's the newest value. The mods do have water slides but they are pretty tame. We stayed at CSR last year for my son's 3rd birthday and he went down the water slide. We stayed 1 night at All Star Music and the rest at CSR. There was 4 of us so I'm glad we only stayed in the smaller room one night.

 

[GrimGrinningTim]

Agree with previous posters that said stay with the Value resort. Your grandson is now 15 and can more than likely make it a full day in the parks. You also said that its just the two of you so there's really no need for extra space. Simply with these two factors alone, I'd say a value resort is the way to go. I'd highly recommend Pop Century.

 

[midnightlouise]

If it was me, I would upgrade to the moderates- unless you aren't planning on spending much time at the resort. Yes you would save money at a value, but we spend a good bit of time lounging around the resort each trip, so to me it's worth paying more to have a more relaxing experience. I have only stayed at CBR and CSR, but I really like both of them. (DS15 and DS11 prefer CSR because of the jaguar slide lol) They are bigger resorts, though, so if you don't want to walk much outside of the parks, you'll want to look at POFQ or POR.

 

[lauracitawita]

I love saving money, but I would upgrade to a moderate as well. We stayed at a value when my daughter was 3 years old. I agree with other posters about the chaos. That is what I remember the most...restaurant was loud and busy, kids running around everywhere, just chaotic.

Since then we have only stayed at moderates and I am sure I would stay at a value again if I had no other choice, but if I could afford it, moderate hands down.

 

[kitkat4622]

thank you for all your feedback....I am leaning towards a moderate and I have until 6/22 to make up my mind.