Value vs. Moderate Resort

[mjatgoofy]

Just wanted to get some opinions on this subject. We are going on a six day trip in July and can't wait. This trip is going to be a suprise for our almost 4 and 6 year olds. We have stayed at All star movies, music and Pop. We enjoyed the theming, pools and found the bus transportation to be o.k. for us. Didn't spend much time in the rooms because we are always so busy.

We have found that we can spend a little more on this vacation than we had thought. Yeah! I have compared the value and moderate resorts only on their accomadation list and found that they have the same except with moderates having bell service, water craft, table service and whirlpools. I personally don't think we will be using the water craft or whirlpools due to our childrens ages. Bell service and table service would be nice but not a necessity.

My first thought is to spend the money on something else since we have been very happy at the value resorts. I don't however want to miss out on something by not upgrading while we have the funds to do so.

My question is this: Besides the differences stated above what are the "perks" of the moderate resorts? Would love to hear what fellow DIS members would do and why.

Thanks!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Just so you know, the Values do have "Luggage Assistance." It differs a little bit from Bell Services. Instead of an on-demand tipped service, it's a scheduled non-tipped service. Luggage gets delivered to your room within an hour of the room becoming available (often times, much less time). Because you don't have to tip, you don't have to be in the room for it to be delivered. So you can just head on out and enjoy your first day at the parks.

For the journey home, give them a call the day before to set up an appointment. That morning, leave the luggage in your room, and head on out to enjoy your last day at the parks. They will come, pick it up, and store it for you.

 

[duck_adoo]

The moderates also have waterslides. The first time we took our dd's @ 5 they really enjoyed the water slides.
Cheryl

 

[jellymanoffspring]

I have never stayed at a value resort (the first time I stayed at CBR it WAS the value resort LOL)

I love the relaxed atmosphere at the CBR.....(have always stayed there with our children)
The kids do love the water slide......
At POR (dixie landings when I stayed there) they have a boat that takes you to DTD...and you can rent a small boat and cruise that same "river" lots of fun!
When I go to Florida I like palm trees and tropical atmosphere , so that is why I love CBR!!

I have been almost afraid to try a value they just seem so huge and the one bus stop just seems like it would be over crowded..I also have heard lots of complaints about noise from the values....

I am happy to see you enjoy the values...when we go again all of our children will be ovewr age 3 so I need to accomodate 5 and not many rooms at wdw do that ....so 2 rooms at a value may be the ticket for us...


Have you gone in July before.....

 

[lajones81]

I have never stayed at a value resort (the first time I stayed at CBR it WAS the value resort LOL)

I love the relaxed atmosphere at the CBR.....(have always stayed there with our children)
The kids do love the water slide......
At POR (dixie landings when I stayed there) they have a boat that takes you to DTD...and you can rent a small boat and cruise that same "river" lots of fun!
When I go to Florida I like palm trees and tropical atmosphere , so that is why I love CBR!!

I have been almost afraid to try a value they just seem so huge and the one bus stop just seems like it would be over crowded..I also have heard lots of complaints about noise from the values....

I am happy to see you enjoy the values...when we go again all of our children will be ovewr age 3 so I need to accomodate 5 and not many rooms at wdw do that ....so 2 rooms at a value may be the ticket for us...


Have you gone in July before.....

I love POP!

 

[mjatgoofy]

Have you gone in July before.....

Thanks for your information on the moderate resorts.

We have not gone in July before but are preparing for many warm days. Our kids are very flexible and go with the flow quite well so we plan on getting to the parks in the morning and evenings and spending the afternoons by the pool!

Is that what .... meant?

 

[robinb]

Here's an answer I gave to someone else in November.

Here are my opinions on the advantages/disadvantages of each level:

Advantage of Value over Moderates and Deluxes
* Price.
* Food Courts for quick meals.
* Pop Century has its own bus.
* All Stars resorts share busses, but there is usually very little wait on either end.

Disadvantage of Values
* Small rooms.
* Large groups can sometimes be rowdy.
* No pool slide or hot tub.
* external corridors.
* Pizza delivery only.

Advantage of Moderate over Values
* Nicer feature pools with slides and hot tubs.
* Bigger rooms.
* Sit-down restaurants (all but POFQ).
* Real bars in main area plus pool bar, not just pool bar (except POP).
* Nicer food court, it's not just one big room.
* No giant icons.

Disadvantages of Moderates
* Can be spread out and most need an internal bus system.
* External corridors.
* Pizza delivery only.

Advantage of Deluxe over Moderates and Values
* Bigger rooms yet. Many can sleep 5 people.
* Large variety of sit-down restaurants.
* Nicer feature pools, many with zero entry.
* Internal corridors.
* All have sliding glass doors and most have balconies or patios.
* Most have special proximity to parks: monorail/boat to MK, walk/boat to
Epcot/MGM.
* Room service.
* Valet parking.

Disadvantage of Deluxes
* Epcot deluxes do not have snack shops for a quick meal.
* Price.
* Busses are often shared, especially the Epcot resorts. The ride can take a long time.
* Self parking can be difficult, especially at the monorail hotels.

 

[Catrin]

Our first stay on site as a family was at AllStar Music. We loved it there..... it was really perfect for us with the food court etc.

Our second visit as a family was POFQ (then Port Orleans). We loved it even more! It was just peaceful there...... hard to explain, but it made me feel special. All Star Music just made me feel like I was at a FUN motel, but POFQ made me feel like I was at a resort. My kids (then 5 and 2) LOVED the slide - it was a special bonus. BUT>> at the end we decided that ASMu would have been just fine too - very little difference in the comfort and ammenities.

In October of 2003, DH and I went for a last minute weekend, and we could only get AllStar Sports. Although we had a great time, I saw the difference then. It was loud and a bit out of control at times.

I am returning in June with my now 10 yr old son. When it came time for him to pick a resort (from Value to Moderate) he chose POR. (He and my hubby used the pool one afternoon when he was 5, and he always remembered it there!) His decision was based on the POOL, the Food COurt, and the Game room ... typical 10 yr old!
Good luck on your decision..... maybe you can get a discount code, as we were able to get POR for only $94.00 a night!
Catrin

 

[edenlee]

Re: Disadvantages of deluxd resorts - Beach Club (an Epcot resort) does now have a place to buy snacks - the re-vamped Atlantic Wear

 

[lajones81]

Here's an answer I gave to someone else in November.

Here are my opinions on the advantages/disadvantages of each level:

Advantage of Value over Moderates and Deluxes
* Price.
* Food Courts for quick meals.
* Pop Century has its own bus.
* All Stars resorts share busses, but there is usually very little wait on either end.

Disadvantage of Values
* Small rooms.
* Large groups can sometimes be rowdy.
* No pool slide or hot tub.
* external corridors.
* Pizza delivery only.

Advantage of Moderate over Values
* Nicer feature pools with slides and hot tubs.
* Bigger rooms.
* Sit-down restaurants (all but POFQ).
* Real bars in main area plus pool bar, not just pool bar (except POP).
* Nicer food court, it's not just one big room.
* No giant icons.

Disadvantages of Moderates
* Can be spread out and most need an internal bus system.
* External corridors.
* Pizza delivery only.

Advantage of Deluxe over Moderates and Values
* Bigger rooms yet. Many can sleep 5 people.
* Large variety of sit-down restaurants.
* Nicer feature pools, many with zero entry.
* Internal corridors.
* All have sliding glass doors and most have balconies or patios.
* Most have special proximity to parks: monorail/boat to MK, walk/boat to
Epcot/MGM.
* Room service.
* Valet parking.

Disadvantage of Deluxes
* Epcot deluxes do not have snack shops for a quick meal.
* Price.
* Busses are often shared, especially the Epcot resorts. The ride can take a long time.
* Self parking can be difficult, especially at the monorail hotels.

This is a great list! Thanks for sharing!

 

[nowellsl]

I've stayed at all the value resorts - Pop is our favorite. We stayed at POFQ last spring and really liked it as well. I have to say that unless you get a really good rate I don't think it's worth the difference in price. The only thing I really liked was the boat ride to DTD. The rooms just didn't seem that much larger and while the grounds, pool, etc. were nice we just didn't spend that much time there. The bus seemed to take forever at POFQ (several stops) - not nearly as efficient as POP.

 

[robinb]

Re: Disadvantages of deluxd resorts - Beach Club (an Epcot resort) does now have a place to buy snacks - the re-vamped Atlantic Wear

You're right, thanks for pointing that out . The Beach Club Marketplace now has a small cold sandwiches and salads. However, the Yacht Club and Boardwalk still don't have anything and I don't think Tubbies over at the Dolphin is very convenient. In addition, I can't compare the Beach Club Marketplace with other Deluxe snack shops: The Mara at AKL, Captain Cooks at the Polynesian, Roaring Forks at the WL, the Food and Fun Center at the Contemporary or the Gasparilla Grill at the GF.

 

[mjatgoofy]

Thanks for all the great information!

 

[jellymanoffspring]

Have you gone in July before.....

Thanks for your information on the moderate resorts.

We have not gone in July before but are preparing for many warm days. Our kids are very flexible and go with the flow quite well so we plan on getting to the parks in the morning and evenings and spending the afternoons by the pool!

Is that what .... meant?

Yep that is why I asked if you have gone in July..
We went last July and it was hot and humid and rained

I suggest buying those spray bottle fans before you go down (a lot more reasonable priced at your local Target/Kmart)...same with rain ponchos...

We still had a great time.... (I just enjoyed the weather more on our other trips to the world in October.....but i did not want my DS and DD to miss school.)

Have a great trip!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Great list above. The biggest reason I can think of to try something new is variety. It is fun to explore a new resort. Discovering the unique food options, the pool, the layout. But there are lots of ways to spend money at Disney...if the idea of exploring doesn't excite you, then maybe you'd enjoy a some fancy meals or a tour instead!