Value Resort vs Moderate Resort!! HELP!!

[Caramia01]

I'm planning a trip Dec 1-6. I'm trying to decide if it's worth the extra money to stay at a moderate hotel. Is it a hassale in any way that the all star resorts share transportation? Room size? Any other major pros or cons?? If we did stay at one of them is it worth the difference for the preffered room? Are any of the all stars more centrally located, allowing for shorter bus rides? It would be a difference of about $30 a day for a moderate hotel - we found some pretty good deals, but that $30 could be a chunk of our food cost for the day. I just want to make sure the all star resorts are a good choice. Thanks everyone!!!

 

[matt&jakesmom]

We have stayed at both moderate and value resorts. The All Stars share the busing so it may be crowded and take a bit longer. POP does not share busing. We were there in June and were quite pleased with the service.

As for which one to stay at. If you are going with the intent of being in the parks all day and using the resort for sleep only and bit of swimming, stay at a value resort. If you think you will be staying at a resort more throughout the day than you may want to pay the extra.

We stayed at the POP and we were only in the room to sleep. So we used the extra money to do a Wishes Cruise. It was well worth it.

 

[rlduvall]

My personal opinion is that for only a $30.00 difference, a Moderate hotel is a much better choice. Moderate room's average about 314 - 340 (CBR) square feet, while the Value's average 260. Pretty big difference; don't you think? I have only stayed at Moderates (love the theming and landscaping) and AKL (pretty cool, too; but very expensive), but may have to do ASMo for my son under the free dining plan. There, the difference was $250.00; too substantial of a difference. Either way, I'm sure you will have a blast.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Since we have done parks already and been to disney many times, we tend to stay at our resort a little more and enjoy what the resort has to offer. I think I would prefer to stay at moderate over value. It just offers more. You can rent bikes, rent boats and enjoy the pool slide. The themeing is a little bit nicer. The room is a little bit bigger and it has fridge already in the room and it's no charge!

 

[marathonmommy]

IMHO, if you don't go deluxe - go value! If you spend much time at the parks the main perk of a deluxe is location (aside from AKL). If you stay in a moderate (which I have done several times), the benefits are about the same as a value. You still have to get on and off a bus to get everywhere unless you bring your own transportation. Values and moderates both have beds to sleep on, pools to swim in , and food to eat. To avoid the bus situation, stay at Pop Century. As far as I know, they don't share a bus! Save the extra money you would pay for a value and either spend it on food/souvenirs, or put it toward your next stay in a deluxe!

 

[mickeymule]

I have done both value and moderate (as well as delux) and I would stay at whatever my budget would allow for. We stayed at ASMusic and was enjoyed our time there, they were very good to us and it reminded me of a motel more than a hotel. Moving on to CBR, which is currently my favorite resort (if price were not an issue, I would say poly) If the difference was only 30.00 a day and I could afford it, that would certainly be my place to stay. But either way, you are staying in Disney and that is all that really matters

 

[Buzz2001]

THE PROS
No sharing bus service with other resorts
Centrally located with short rides to the parks
Largest hot tub on WDW property
Awesome main pool area with bar, snack bar, playground and kiddie pool
3 quiet pools
New shuttle service eliminates long walks to any of the villages
High speed internet service
WiFi available too
Free use of the gym
Spa
Fridge in the room
Coffeemaker in the room
Iron and ironing board
full room service menu
2 arcades
beautifully landscaped
central air, not a noisey wall unit

THE CONS
Full size beds (kings size beds are available)
one sink

IN THE MIDDLE
The Pepper Market is either a love it or hate it place. We love it but some folks just don't care for it.

Convention resort - some guests don't like seeing other guests at work. Doesn't bother us and helps keep the buses empty. GF, Cont, BW, Y & B Club are also convention resorts.

Check out my website below

 

[minnie61650]

We have stayed at both moderate and value resorts. The All Stars share the busing so it may be crowded and take a bit longer. POP does not share busing. We were there in June and were quite pleased with the service.

As for which one to stay at. If you are going with the intent of being in the parks all day and using the resort for sleep only and bit of swimming, stay at a value resort. If you think you will be staying at a resort more throughout the day than you may want to pay the extra.

We stayed at the POP and we were only in the room to sleep. So we used the extra money to do a Wishes Cruise. It was well worth it.

All Stars do share busing with the other All Stars some of the time not all the time .
During busy times they often have their own buses.
Also remember Pop has 2880 guest rooms in each of it's resorts for a total of 5760 rooms while each all star resort has 1920 rooms for a total 5760.
I love the All Star Resorts --they can't be beat. I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theaming is pure Disney.
My last 4 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we take dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 we are staying at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit. I can hardly wait.
When we pull up to check in and I see those huge icons I know I'm at Disney.
Linda
Only 67 more days

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I would say it depends on how long you are staying. If you want a value I would say go to Pop Century because they don't share buses BUT it is very far away from the Magic Kingdom, you could spend 20 minutes getting there and about 25 or more to get to Animal Kingdom, so if you are only going for a few days than I would say spend that extra money and stay at a Mod resort. Coronado is my favorite and I also love POP (stayed there 3 times in one year!!)

If you are staying for a week or longer I would say Mod resort but if you are only going for a few days Value is the way to go!

Good Luck!

 

[Amapola]

I've always stayed off-site, except for my last trip, which was at the Swan (gov't discount, not available for my next trip). DH and I researched long and hard about our next hotel, and finally decided on POP. I have to admit I was a bit concerned about a Value (we're not terribly fond of motels ). Given my druthers, I'd stay in a monorail or Epcot resort for the convenience, but I don't want to spend that much on this trip (we've been traveling a lot this year). But OTOH we spend no time at all in the hotel, so why pay for things/amenities I won't use. So Buzz's list reinforced my decision to stay at a Value vs. a Moderate (my comments in bold)

THE PROS
No sharing bus service with other resorts
Centrally located with short rides to the parks
Largest hot tub on WDW property --don't use
Awesome main pool area with bar, snack bar, playground and kiddie pool --don't use
3 quiet pools --don't use
New shuttle service eliminates long walks to any of the villages
High speed internet service --Not taking my laptop!!
WiFi available too
Free use of the gym --I do enough walking in the parks, thank you very much
Spa --don't use
Fridge in the room --don't use
Coffeemaker in the room
Iron and ironing board
full room service menu --don't use
2 arcades --don't use
beautifully landscaped --won't notice much on the way from the car/bus to the room
central air, not a noisey wall unit

YMMV, everyone has a different concept of what's important and what can be negotiated. But I tend to agree with Marathonmommy -- the added perks of a Moderate vs. a Value aren't worth it to me. Now, a Deluxe... maybe next time

 

[MinnieSummer]

Avoid the All Stars like the plague. The POP is fun. However, I really recommend that you stay at a mod. My choice is order would be CSR, POFQ, POR, POP, CB. I'll go into detail if you want but that is my recommendation.

 

[DisneyFan09]

I would say it depends on how long you are staying. If you want a value I would say go to Pop Century because they don't share buses BUT it is very far away from the Magic Kingdom, you could spend 20 minutes getting there and about 25 or more to get to Animal Kingdom, so if you are only going for a few days than I would say spend that extra money and stay at a Mod resort. Coronado is my favorite and I also love POP (stayed there 3 times in one year!!)

If you are staying for a week or longer I would say Mod resort but if you are only going for a few days Value is the way to go!

Good Luck!

Maybe I just got lucky but when we stayed at Pop Century it never took more than 10-15 minutes to get to Animal Kingdom.

 

[minnie61650]

THE PROS
No sharing bus service with other resorts
Centrally located with short rides to the parks
Largest hot tub on WDW property
Awesome main pool area with bar, snack bar, playground and kiddie pool
3 quiet pools
New shuttle service eliminates long walks to any of the villages
High speed internet service
WiFi available too
Free use of the gym
Spa
Fridge in the room
Coffeemaker in the room
Iron and ironing board
full room service menu
2 arcades
beautifully landscaped
central air, not a noisey wall unit

THE CONS
Full size beds (kings size beds are available)
one sink

IN THE MIDDLE
The Pepper Market is either a love it or hate it place. We love it but some folks just don't care for it.

Convention resort - some guests don't like seeing other guests at work. Doesn't bother us and helps keep the buses empty. GF, Cont, BW, Y & B Club are also convention resorts.

Check out my website below

My guess is that Buzz2001 has not stayed at a value before.
CSR has 4 bus stops which it shares with resort guests-- Just like All Stars share with All Stars (3 bus stops) and Pop shares with Pop(2 bus stops).
All Stars Buses -------- CSR buses-------Pop buses
20 min MK ----------- 15 min MK -------25 min MK
10 min Epcot ---------15 min Epcot-----20 min Epcot
10 min MGM -------- 15 min MGM------15 min MGM
10 min AK ----------- 10 Min AK--------15 min AK
15 min DTD ---------- 25 min DTD ------ 20 min DTD

All Stars has a pool bar food court,and gift shop.
ALl Stars have 3 themed pools and 3 quite pools and 3 kiddie pools.
and 3 arcades.
NO HOT TUB
iron and ironing boards are in some rooms
and if not are always availible upon request
I love the landscaping and theming of the All Stars. Only place on property that has Mickey in the middle of the pool
Linda
Just 67 more days

 

[bruins004]

Hey all,

I have a few questions. The first of all is that I have been looking to book a WDW vacation and the moderate resort is $300 more than the value resorts. I do not know which one to pick, however, the major factor which will swing my decision is which one will allow me to get to parks easily. In the past the only resort I have stayed at was the Contemporary and this was great since it made it soooo easy to get to Magic Kingdom.

I also have 2 other quick questions. I have been pricing my vacation for 6n/7d magic your way package w/ park hopper at the WDW website. I am currently a AAA member and I have called their number since I heard that they can give a discount rate on rooms. When I get the price for the 6n/7d magic your way package w/ park hopper, it is the same price as the WDW website gives me. Why is this? Am I suppose to say something to the travel agent to get a lower price? Is there anywhere else I would be able to book a WDW vacation and save a few bucks? Thanks in advance for the help. I appreciate it.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

A travel agent is not going to get you a cheaper rate with Disney. Disney offers pretty much the same package as you would get with a travel agent. If you belong to AAA they might get a room discount but I don';t know if that still exists you would have to call your local AAA Travel Store to see if the price is any different.

Good Luck

 

[BuzzAndWoodyBoy]

I am trying to make a decision so I would love to hear your reasonings on the moderates, including why to avoid the AllStars "like the plague"

 

[Caramia01]

Thanks to everyone I think we finally decided on a value resort! Now a couple more questions!! Is POP or the ALL STARS the better choice location wise? Either of them shorter bus rides? It's about $435 for a stay at AS movies ,but with my AAA I can pay $340 for ASmusic, sports or POP. HELP! Thanks... gettin closer to FINALLY deciding.

 

[minnie61650]

Thanks to everyone I think we finally decided on a value resort! Now a couple more questions!! Is POP or the ALL STARS the better choice location wise? Either of them shorter bus rides? It's about $435 for a stay at AS movies ,but with my AAA I can pay $340 for ASmusic, sports or POP. HELP! Thanks... gettin closer to FINALLY deciding.

bus ride times :
All Stars Buses -------- -------Pop buses
20 min MK ----------- -------25 min MK
10 min Epcot ----------------20 min Epcot
10 min MGM -------- --------15 min MGM
10 min AK ----------- --------15 min AK
15 min DTD --------- -------- 20 min DTD

That is why I choose All Stars-- I also love the icons at All Stars
and the fact that the gift shop is seperate from and not a part of the food court.
Linda
Just 67 more days

 

[marathonmommy]

POP - no sharing of buses and having to stop at 3 different resorts
it's new - the rooms may not be as worn
it has a giant can of PlayDoh - need I say more?

 

[minnie61650]

POP - no sharing of buses and having to stop at 3 different resorts
it's new - the rooms may not be as worn
it has a giant can of PlayDoh - need I say more?

All Stars-- no sharing bus with other resorts.
Pop is newer.
All Stars has 5,670 resort rooms divided in three groups Sports ,Music,and Movies. 1 bus stop for each group.
Pop will have 5,670 resort rooms divided in 2 groups.
Classic years and Legendary years. 1 bus stop for each group.
Both Great -- Your choice.
You will have lots of fun at either resort.
Linda
Only 67 more days