Value VS Moderate???

[dancin Disney style]

I've stayed at ASMo and POFQ and CSR. I preferred the mods because it did feel much more like a resort than just a hotel. However, this summer we are staying at POP to have a longer vacation. We wanted to try a 2 week stay and can't afford to do that at a mod. It will be cramped as there are 4 of us and my kids are older but that's just how it has to be. I'm still hoping for a promotion that will get us into a mod. If something comes up I think we'll go back to POFQ. I'd like to try CBR before doing a repeat but their main pool will still be closed then.

 

[SplashMom]

We just returned yesterday from POR and loved it! However, we didn't have kids with us this trip. We have stayed at Pop several times and really like there as well. The boat ride to Downtown Disney at POR was very nice and the grounds at POR are beautiful. It was very peaceful and relaxing. We did find Pop to be busy but it didn't bother us. We actually preferred the food court at Pop because it seemed to have more choice. However, we had the dining plan so we really didn't plan to eat at the resort often (only twice) so that may not be a factor. We did enjoy the fridge in a mod, as well as the coffee pot. Each trip is different but if it I could stay longer if I was at a value, I would definitely go with Pop. Happy planning!

 

[declansdad]

We have been at Pop in July (just after the 4th) and in August. We never found it crowded or noisy,even at the pools. We also spent 2 night at the Poly last August and there were just as many people wondering around there as were at Pop.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We have been at Pop in July (just after the 4th) and in August. We never found it crowded or noisy,even at the pools. We also spent 2 night at the Poly last August and there were just as many people wondering around there as were at Pop.

I'll be at POP the first 2 weeks of July and the crowd level is a little concerning to me. I've been at CSR the same time at it wasn't an issue. I think now I've been to the world to many times and I have expectations.

 

[MoserFamily]

I just wanted to chime in to say that I've stayed at both the value (ASMu) and moderates (POFQ, CBR). This next trip will be the first with my DD2 (less than 3 weeks away - yay!) and we'll be staying at POP.

Honestly, the last trip we treated ourselves to CBR and ended up wishing we would have just saved our money and gone for a value level. Sure, the theming at CBR and POFQ was prettier, but we also liked the larger-than-life, over-the-top hugeness of ASMu. And for the amount of time we spent at the resort, it really didn't matter one way or the other to us. Sure, we got an extra sink at the moderates. But while it's a convenience, we wouldn't really consider that worth the expense. Sure, the moderate rooms were bigger, but I think I would only notice the difference if there were more people in the room, or if some of us were bigger (with just me DH and DD2, I don't think it's an issue). And sure, the moderates each had a sit down restaurant, but if I'm going to do a table service, I want to go spend my money at a restaurant in the parks. So, as you can see, we never really saw the use in spending the extra money for the moderates. With that extra money you can either stay longer, or you can go for better meals, etc. So, during our last trip, we decided that until we can afford to stay at a deluxe (either monorail resort for convenience or AKL), which is something I want to do at least once in my lifetime, we'd just go ahead and do value.

All that said, I also know people who swear by the moderates. I personally just can't justify the expense.

Sandi

 

[jeffd101]

We have stayed at POP, POR and AS Sports. Assome others have said, I have found very little difference in the actual rooms (other than 2 sinks at POR). I enjoyed the atmosphere and themes at each, but if we did not have an extra person the year we took our niece, I could not justify the extra cost per night if you are there for the parks.

As far as noise, I never understand why people worry about it that much. We never noticed anything too early in the morning or too late at night. You are at a location that was ultimately designed for kids of all ages, and most kids I know will tend to be a bit loud when immersed in the excitement of Disney.

And as for crowds, we have gone in April and May, so I can only speak for those times, but we have not found them to be intolerable because we get on the go early and always take a break (sometimes for a swim at the pool, sometimes by going to see a sit-down show in the parks or a long, leisurely meal). If you go against the flow, you can avoid the crowds even though you are in the middle of them.