Value resorts vs high end resorts

[Vijoge]

That is like asking the difference between dining at McDonalds or a fine diner with table cloths and china. My wife and I travel to WDW every year and we stay at All Star Music. We love to sit in the lobby of the Grand Floridian to listen to the orchestra but we know we will never be able to justify spending that kind of money for that type of experiance. Look at it this way, we spend our day at the parks, not our hotel room. We do enjoy using the pool at ASMu in the afternoon but we are mainly not at the hotel we are at a park. Why would we spend thousands of dollars to justify nicer sheets? If you want fine linens, bring them from home. I know, I know, there is more than just nicer sheets to describe the difference between a value resort and a high end one. I work hard for my money and I refuse to spend it on glitz. I always have a clean room at ASMu. The staff is extremely nice. The pool is perfect for our needs. What more could you ask for? Again, this is my personal view and in no way should my views be accepted as the norm. You will have to decide for yourself what type of vacation you want and if you can justify the expense of that choice.

Up until a couple of months ago I would have agreed with you. But then I spent a week at AKL in a one bedroom. . . DH just smiled and said "We won't be going back to ASMO, will we?"

 

[mtemm]

We are a family of 5 so it's deluxe for us because we have too many people for value and I think only POR for moderate is allowed. DH and I did stay at POR and CBR prior to kids and loved those.

A big plus for deluxe for us when the kids were very young was the balcony. Our kids all napped in the afternoon, but would never nap in the stroller so we would go back to the hotel. Also they were early to bed kids, so we were usually back at the hotel by 7. The balcony gave DH and I a place to hang out.

 

[Hopefully]

We are a family of 5 so it's deluxe for us because we have too many people for value and I think only POR for moderate is allowed. DH and I did stay at POR and CBR prior to kids and loved those.

A big plus for deluxe for us when the kids were very young was the balcony. Our kids all napped in the afternoon, but would never nap in the stroller so we would go back to the hotel. Also they were early to bed kids, so we were usually back at the hotel by 7. The balcony gave DH and I a place to hang out.

Just a point of clarification for the OP. POR and CBR are Moderates, not Values.

For me the interior corridor, the balconies and the larger beds are worth every penny. I also don't like the "in your face" theming of the Values.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Pool slides is the biggest thing for us. For my kids a good pool is just as important as the parks, maybe even more important.

When my kids were younger we stayed at CBR when the beds were doubles. We didn't want to do a pack n play for DD so we were going to split up sleeping arrangements anyway. I slept with one kid and XH slept with the other kid. We can't do that anymore and require queen beds.

 

[Pmlocke]

It seems minor but for some reason a huge deal for us, pool towels. No towels at the pool at Value resorts. We have just enough in the room as it is, hate having to take them to the pool and deal with getting more.

Just FYI, there are multiple carts everywhere in the resorts that are full of towels, soap, shampoo, sheets, etc. When I am walking to our room right after checking in I always grab a handful of towels. Before I leave I grab shampoo in the little bottles with the ears on top.

 

[maxiesmom]

Just a point of clarification for the OP. POR and CBR are Moderates, not Values.

For me the interior corridor, the balconies and the larger beds are worth every penny. I also don't like the "in your face" theming of the Values.

But to be technical, the Poly has interior corridors but separate buildings. You still have to walk outside to get to the restaurants and shops.

And much of what has been pointed out as different will also be different going from a value to a moderate. Moderates all have pool slides, hot tubs, bigger rooms, queen beds (except the pirate beds at CBR) and sit down restaurants (except for POFQ). I'm not sure if I've seen it mentioned but at the Values you also have to wait in line for the buses at the resort. At the moderate and deluxe resorts you have covered areas with seating. And water fountains.

 

[constanze]

My DH is not a big theme park guy...and I'm a WDW dork...but I found the secret to us ALL having a great time, is definitely staying at a Luxury resort. The convenience to walk or monorail to a park or back to the resort to manage crowd levels has been priceless for us. Also splitting the day up by doing parks in the morning, break at hotel pool/resort for the afternoon, and then return to a park in the evening has helped us secure a very happy marriage of 27 years

 

[Doug S]

Values are great if you plan to spend the majority of your day at the parks and just need a bed for the night but still want Disney service and perks. If you're planning to take daily breaks or have a day off from the parks, you may want to consider a moderate or deluxe. Personally, I couldn't ever fathom spending my entire trip at a deluxe. It just completely blows the budget out of the water. I'm a big fan of the moderates. I think they're the perfect middle ground of value, service, and that feeling you're at a Disney hotel.

 

[Babsy]

I also like the comfort in the larger rooms in the deluxe category. It is nice to have a comfy chair and a sofa to relax on in addition to the hard chairs/bed that you get in values and moderates.