Value vs Moderate?

[JustinS]

Just curious to start asking opinions. For a couple to travel down to WDW, would one of the value resorts suffice for a resort or is it worthwhile to upgrade to a moderate?? Which resorts in each category do you recommend?

20-something couple
No kids
Disney lovers (one is anyway, the other is in training)

 

[dansdad]

Generally, here is what you will get at a Moderate as compared to a Value:

Bigger rooms
Double sinks
Queen Beds
Ability to book a King bed (kings are request only at the Values)
Ceiling fans
Coffee maker in room
Hot tubs
Pool slides
Multiple covered bus stops
Sit down restaurant
Lusher grounds
More relaxed atmosphere


Now it's up to you if the above amenities would be worth the extra $$ to book a Moderate.

 

[BigAlsGal]

I think it's totally worth it to upgrade to moderate. Will value suffice? Sure it will. The moderates I feel are just much better quality. My favorite moderate is PoR and my favorite value is between pop and ASMo.

 

[Mousemommy1]

When DH and I used to go to Disney before our kids (and before we were married...) we stayed value every trip. We typically only used the room to sleep and shower, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend that in your situation!

 

[eeyoreandtink]

We prefer a moderate when the budget allows. We have stayed at the POP and AoA for values and CSR and POFQ for moderates. We felt that overall the moderates were much more relaxed. There is more green space, the theming is less in your face. Bus stops are covered. The food courts tend to be much less of a mob scene. Every time we have stayed value we have had to walk around with trays of food looking for a table. We have never had to do that at a moderate. We enjoy the pool slides at the moderates and ceiling fans in the rooms are a plus.

All of that being said, our favorite option is to rent DVC points. We can stay deluxe for about the same cost as a moderate.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It also is a question of how much time you plan to stay at the resort. If you view it as a place to sleep alone, save the money and spend it on dining!

 

[JustinS]

We can stay deluxe for about the same cost as a moderate.

.

That always does sound like a good option when I look into it. Have you ever run into issues with renting??

 

[Pkltm]

DH and I have stayed both Value and Mod. Fav value is All Star Sports, fav mod is Port Orleans

each one has its benefits:

Loved the bigger rooms and beds at mod, but the value rooms are big enough for two people!
Covered bus stops were nice but no sense of order when the bus comes or it gets crowded
Hot tubs at the moderates, we find crowded and in all honesty, over run with small kids, it was like having a bath with toddlers
The pool slides were fine, but we go to the water parks so not a big draw

We like the relaxed atmosphere at the mods, bit part of that I attribute to the size of it, you don't have everyone getting off at the same bus stop.

We go for the parks and water parks, so either works for us.

 

[buzznina]

We like the Mods over value for the queen beds and double sinks, and now the pool slide is starting to be important to our DDs But if you are not going to spend much time at a resort, I always suggest the less $$ resort. We have enjoyed all of our trips at the values.

 

[Jessiemendez1]

I think the moderates may be more relaxing for a couple. My Sister in Law swears by Coronado Springs. She stayed at AS Sports and Pop and said the moderate was well worth it if budget allows.

 

[loves to dive]

It's according to your touring style and what your comfort level is. If you plan on being in the parks all day and just need a place to lay your head, you would probably be o.k. with a value. Keep in mind, they are far from luxury, you are paying for being on site and the values are sort of like a motel you are going to find on the interstate with better theaming. The food courts are often crowded and noisy, the bus stops are not covered but do have actual lines, you are most likely going to find more kids there. There are a number of videos on Utube that give tours of all the resorts at Disney. As far as the mods, they are maybe little more upscale of a motel, the rooms are bigger, the beds are bigger, some have a TS restaurant and bar, they have quiet pools as well as the big pool. The grounds tend to be a little more upscale and less in your face. Both have outside corridors so I wouldn't bother with upgrading to a view of any kind, you most likely are not going to be sitting at your window since people are going to be walking by. The mods tend to have lots of little places to sit and relax, there isn't much relaxing at the values but POP does seem to have a few more little hidey holes. AOA is the same price as a mod so I wouldn't spend my money there and just visit it to see the grounds, they are cute. As far as renting points, you have to be 100% sure of your dates, there are no refunds and you usually have to pay cash up front. You are staying in a deluxe but it is a timeshare, so the rooms aren't as big as a regular deluxe room if you get a studio. The kitchenette is a bar sink, dorm fridge (like in every room at WDW) a microwave, a Mr. Coffee (as opposed to a single serve pod type) some paper products. You do not get housekeeping every day but every 4th or 5th day (you can pay to have it) and the rooms tend to be renovated not as often as the hotel rooms. It can be hard to find a room for the time you are travelling, just according to when you are going. David's DVC rental, who is a sponsor on these boards is fairly easy to deal with. They will charge you a $98 deposit, which will be refunded if they don't find what you are looking for or will be applied to your final bill if they do. They do accept credit cards and paypal so that is an advantage over renting from an individual. I would suggest you look at the DVC boards for more info. there is a board just for renting. You could also consider a split stay. Do a few days at a value and upgrade to the rest of your trip at a mod, best of both worlds and you are saving money.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I think it's totally worth it to upgrade to moderate. Will value suffice? Sure it will. The moderates I feel are just much better quality. My favorite moderate is PoR and my favorite value is between pop and ASMo.

This is me too. POR is my fave mod, and POP my fave value (with movies being right behind pop...its a close one between the two, but overall pop is my fave because of the lakeview. So serene).

Moderate resorts are more lush and comfy. If you can swing the budget, i'd try a moderate. Values are great though, especially for those not wanting to spend a lot. We stay there often as we're not at the resort much. Only to shower, swim, and sleep.

 

[Disneylover99]

Favourite value - Pop
Favourite moderate - POFQ

You can always try to request a king, but there is no guarantee, so if you don't mind double beds, book a value.

 

[nilla]

Just curious to start asking opinions. For a couple to travel down to WDW, would one of the value resorts suffice for a resort or is it worthwhile to upgrade to a moderate?? Which resorts in each category do you recommend?

20-something couple
No kids
Disney lovers (one is anyway, the other is in training)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're there for 9 full days?

For a trip that long, I'm assuming you'll be spending time at the resort. I'd go for the moderate, if I were you. Our favorite is Coronado Springs, but they're all nice.

 

[JustinS]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're there for 9 full days?

For a trip that long, I'm assuming you'll be spending time at the resort. I'd go for the moderate, if I were you. Our favorite is Coronado Springs, but they're all nice.

I do have a trip booked this July at the WDW Swan where I have stayed often. I would like to try out other resorts as well so I figured I'd post the question. Not for this trip, but for future reference.

 

[nilla]

I do have a trip booked this July at the WDW Swan where I have stayed often. I would like to try out other resorts as well so I figured I'd post the question. Not for this trip, but for future reference.

We've taken 10 trips as a family, and all but one (Wilderness Lodge) was at a moderate. We even preferred Coronado and Caribbean beach to WL, so I'd highly recommend the moderates.

 

[texasroni75]

If spending a lot of time at your resort, I'd go with Mod. If spending every waking hour at the parks, I'd save the $$ and stay Value.

Our favorite Value: All-Star Movies
Our favorite Mod: Port Orleans Riverside (really lovely grounds and pretty pools)

 

[maxiesmom]

If you plan on hanging out at the resort at all, the upgrade to a moderate is well worth it. The pool areas are nicer, and they have hot tubs as well. I love POR but I would be fine staying at CSR or POFQ too.

 

[knkmom]

We've only been twice, first time we stayed at POFQ and then this past May we upgraded to celebrate our 30th Anniversary and stayed at WL. They were both really nice but we really didn't spend a lot of time at the resorts. On our next trip we plan to stay at POP and I'm ok with staying in a value, we won't be in the room much and we will have extra money to spend on dinning and other fun things throughout the parks!

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

We've gone to POP for most of our trips--always fun, but crowded and sometimes pretty loud. As for asking for a king at POP on our Disneymoon, we ended up with an accessible room with a seat in the shower and a completely tiled floor that got very wet--not great. My H wanted to try a mod last time, so we did the Royal Room at POR. I loved it--more space, lush grounds and more romantic. This time we're going for Deluxe-WL--can't wait.