Value vs Moderate?

[mh1973]

We are booked for Pop, which we stayed at the first time in November (which was also our first time staying on property).

What is your favorite value and why?

I really like the pictures of CBR, it would be $400 more for us to stay there, however, we will only be there 5 nights, so I don't see really much time at the resort.

For those who have stayed at values and moderates and Deluxes, which do you prefer?

 

[skipperkim]

Hands down I prefer a moderate. My favorite, POFQ, has 2 sinks and a fridge in my room. I also have a hot tub to soak in. On the other side of the resort is a TS, Boatwrights, and a carriage ride. There are also boats and bicycles to rent. Keep in mind that not all moderates are created equal. CBR does not have elevators and CSR does not have double sinks.

 

[stacy6552]

I just didnt see the cost/benefit of the Mod over the values. Stay at the pop.

 

[El Nebuloso]

I have stayed at values, mods and deluxes. As for values, POP is hands down my favorite! I think it is a value with a mod feel. I would definitely return. For mods, I think POFQ gets my vote although CBR is a sentimental favoritebut then again, CSR has such a great pool... We haven't stayed at POR yet, (a situation which will be rectified next month ), so I can't speak for all of the mods yet. BTW... I like all the mods we have stayed at for different reasons. PM me if you would like details.

 

[gcage]

I just didnt see the cost/benefit of the Mod over the values. Stay at the pop.

We stayed at POR in August and it was beautiful and fairly quiet. But, for $50 per night, I didn't think it was really worth it. The rooms are essentially the same (the mods have a few extra feet and another sink + fridge).

We still walked a lot at POR and we just weren't in our rooms all that much. I would rather spend the extra $50 on something else. I say go for it (deluxe) or go value.

 

[Atchley]

I will always pay more for a moderate if money allows. That said, if I couldn't afford it, I would stay at a value again. Hey it's Disney!! We'll have a great time where ever we are.

 

[KatMark]

My DH and I will not stay at anything but a moderate. We don't have small children anymore and prefer to have a more quiet resort for our evening hours. We love the theming of the CSR, and like being able to walk around the lake at night in the moonlight with the lights shimmering and around the fountains. We also enjoy having the hot tub and the spa available. We have done deluxe, but cannot justify the cost of it anymore with two boys in college (one about to graduate college in 33 days). We may sometime down the road try the AKL with a savannah view, but for now we are very happy at the CSR.

 

[BamaFan121s]

I would definately choose a moderate.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I would take a moderate over a value any day!!

 

[minnie61650]

I have stayed at Disney's deluxe, mod and value resorts.
I would choose a value instead of a mod anytime.
I have limited mobility and most of the Disney mods are just too spread out. Since I use a mobility scooter the internal golf carts or buses are not an option for me.
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POFQ is not as spread out as the other mods or the values.


POR CBR and CSR are very spread out.

The Values are laid out closer together.

The mods have pool slides, a hot tub and a sit down restaurant (POFQ doses not have a sit down restaurant but shares with POR.

To me there does not seem yo be much room size difference between a mod and a value.

Here is the layout of a mod.
The bathroom is about the same size as the All Stars but you usually you will have 2 sinks instead of one.(CSR only has one sink but they have a larger vanity top than a value.

POR room lay out

here is the All Star room layout'

All Star room layout

The mod has 54 square feet more than the value.
That means if both the mod and the value room were 27 feet long than the mod would be 2 feet wider. Just enough room for a double sink instead of a single.

To me that is not a lot of room size difference.

 

[minnie61650]

I have stayed at all levels of Disney Resorts. My favorite Disney owned resort is All Star Music.

Here are a few reasons :



1. I can book a preferred room location..( The Calypso buildings are preferred and they are the closest to the main pool ,food court and bus stop. They cost an $10 extra a night and in my opinion they are well worth it.)
The way All Star Music is laid out it "seems" smaller than most of the other Disney resorts. If I stay in a preferred building I only see the Calypso and Jazz builings on the way to and from the main pool and the bus stop and food court. Since I stay in preferred room I know I am going to be close to the food court, bus stop, & main pool.

2. I enjoy the theming at the All Stars. All Star Music is also is the quietest of the values. Generally less people stay there and there are more seniors and couples and less young children because children enjoy the themes of the other values more.

3. The bus service at the All Star Music is very good. Since I use an ECV good bus transportation is essential.

4. The entry at the values and Mods are much more Handicap friendly.
I am able to get in and out of my All Star room unassisted. This way my husband can go and play a round of golf and know I can leave my room to relax by the pool if I choose.
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All Star Music is my favorite resort. It tends to be the quietest of all the values.


All Star Music just underwent a refurbishment of all of the rooms and was completed in June 2007.


Here is a website with photos of the newly refurbished rooms at All Star Music.

Look at the Jazz Inn section with new posted:

http://allearsnet.com/acc/g_asmu.htm




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DH and I enjoy the landscaping and peacefulness of All Star Music.
We enjoy relaxing by the pool (there are plenty of chairs and lounges), and the beautiful lighting at the resort by night.

I have never had the unfortunate experience of running into the any of the large
groups of teens who sometimes stay at the values on school trips.
As long as you can avoid those large groups I do not think Noise will be an issue.

*HINT if you close your bathroom door at night you might not even hear the turbo toilets.
I close my bathroom door and I don't hear them.
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I love The All Star Resorts.

I am 56 years old and travel several times a yearfor pleasure. I often stay at 3and 4 star and sometimes a 5 star hotels and motels.
So the deluxe and mod resorts are just another hotel/motel to me.
Staying at an All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.

All Star Music is my favorite. It is quieter because more couples stay there. I love staying at the Calypso building. It is closer to the pool, food court and bus stop.

Here is a site with a map of All Star Sports and All Star Music.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmap.htm
Scroll down. All Star Music is at the bottom of the page.
The Calypso buildings at All Star Music are #1 and #10 are nearest to the food court and bus stop.

The Calypso pool at ASMu has Donald Duck.

The buses are wonderful.

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot, MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.

A WORD ABOUT BUS SHARING

To me Bus Sharing at the All Stars is really a non issue.

In the mornings during Park opening hours each All Star usually has a dedicated bus.
During mid day it is usually just our stop and maybe one more on the way to the parks. On the way back sometimes it is all 3 but often Sports and Movies share and Music has it's own bus back. Each of the All Stars usually has it's own dedicated bus back from the MK.
That is a big plus. It seems like the Music bus stop usually has the shortest of the three All Star bus lines.

I guess some people who stay at POP see all 3 All Star names on the return sign of our bus stop when they head to the POP bus stop and think All Stars also has 3 stops on the way to the park.
(Even when we stop at another AS resort to load up it has not taken more than 5 minutes and we are on our way!)

The pools at The All Stars are very kid friendly.

When staying at the All Stars you can use any of the All Star pools.That means 3 main pools ,3 quiet pools and 3 kiddie pools to chose from.

The All Star Movie Fantasia pool has Mickey.

The Calypso pool at ASMU has Donald Duck.

And the Surfs up pool at All Star Sports has giant surf boards.

Here are a few pool photos.

All Star Sports pool.

All Star Music Donald pool.

All Star Movies Mickey Pool.

I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. 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 theming is pure Disney.

My last 6 visits have been at The All Stars and during the fall of 2005 when we took dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3(at the time) for 8 nights we stayed 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.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?

Have fun at Disney!

 

[DisneyForLife]

Another vote for a moderate. I have stayed at all three levels and prefer the mods.

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR! Great pool/slide, awesome transportation and terrific food options. Check out my CSR website below for pics and info.

 

[dclfun]

Well, I've stayed at each and every resort and each one, of course, is different and I'd choose them again based on what I was looking for with a particular trip. While I like the value resorts and they help my budget to be able to stay longer or more often, the "Feel" of relaxation at a moderate or deluxe resort is well worth the additional cost. When you're in the hustle/bustle of the parks all day long and want to return to something not so hectic, then those mod/deluxe resorts really shine. It can be tough to battle the breakfast crowds in any food court but then to come back at the end of the day to face more long lines, louder noise just due to the amt. of guests, walking back to your room as quickly as possible just to get there vs. enjoying the scenery...then you can see the reason some choose a mod. over a value.( Pop has that great "lake" so at least there's an area to stroll that is usually peaceful if that's what you're looking for.) If you just want a place to sleep and themeing isn't important, then a value resort would be your better choice and spend the extra money on dining/souvenirs, etc. We bought into DVC many years ago and are really spoiled now with the nicer accommodations but there's really not a bad choice, not a bad resort, not a bad experience to be had at Disney. It's all in what you're looking for and what you need, plus your budget.---Kathy

 

[goofy4tink]

I own DVC at BW, so obviously love it there. My first stay was at DxL, now POR. Have stayed there multiple times. Then I tried ASMusic. It was fun and okay. But then I stayed at POP...man, I love it there. The difference between a value and a moderate isn't all that great. Yes, the moderate rooms are a bit larger..maybe a foot each way. And they have double sinks. But the toilet/tub area at POP is larger than at the moderates. The mods have that privacey screen but I bring my own when at POP. There are free fridges at the mods. The mods have pool slides, hot tubs and table service restaurants. Also more recreational amenities.
But, I don't use the table service restaurants that much at the mods, and the pool slides are on the tame side for my dd now.
I love POP. There is nothing I would change there. Well, okay...maybe a privacy curtain and a free fridge, but that's about it.

 

[Lilolvr]

CSR! Great pool/slide, awesome transportation and terrific food options. Check out my CSR website below for pics and info.

I agree. CSR and a mod all the way.

 

[dclfun]

Just an FYI- at least in the newly renovated rooms at ASMusic/Sports they do have a curved privacy curtain. I love the new decor and esp those wonderful pillow-top beds.---Kathy

 

[Mickey23]

I'd pick a mod every time, CSR. Much better than any of the value resorts.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I would take a moderate over a value any day!!

I agree. I prefer the atmosphere and themeing of the moderates. The values are just too busy and gaudy for my tastes. I love how relaxing the mods are. I like how the bus stops are throughout the resort, meaning I am never too far from one.

Though I personally cannot justify the cost difference of a moderate to a Deluxe.

 

[buckirj1]

Everyone has to take his/her own situation into account, but as for me, I definitely prefer the AllStar Value resorts. The moderates seem too spread out (as does POP), and I prefer the compactness of the AllStars. Even when you're at the furthest building you're still not more than a few minutes walk to the main building. The furthest AllStar buildings tend to be very quiet if that's important to you--famblees and their associated uproar tend to congregate around the preferred areas.

Also, the moderates don't seem to offer anything additional that's of interest to me to justify the increased price. I don't care about fitting 5 people in a room, or double sinks, or a hottub, or any of that stuff.

YMMV