Value vs Moderate?

[eeyoreandtink]

.

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

Nope. We use a rental service and have never had a problem!

 

[Shanti]

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)

The value rooms feel like motel rooms. Perfectly nice, clean motel rooms, but just motel rooms that you're paying a hotel price for. Yes, I would upgrade.

 

[Jetta8300]

We went from a deluxe to a moderate, and really liked the change. We loved Coronado. However we decided to try POP next trip because we liked the moderate more than the deluxe, and we weren't into POP. It was a great trip, but we really missed the theming among other things at a moderate. It just felt more like a "getaway" to us at a moderate, while POP sort of felt like a cheap dorm room or something. It's a whole different atmosphere than a value hotel. The rooms at POP were super small, we really hated the double beds, and TINY bathroom, and at a moderate they have queens or you can actually book a King (which is our preference). We loved taking a walk around every night at Coronado and laying in the hammocks. The main pool was amazing. We liked have table service restaurants there and we loved the Maya Grill. We loved the food court at Coronado (something we really missed at the Contemporary). Moderates are the way to go for us. We don't spend much time at the resort but we won't be staying value again.

 

[Lee & Kerry]

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.

The swan has nothing to do with Disney Magic staying at a value or moderate will show you that in a heart beat

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Pish. The Swan is much closer to a Disney Deluxe than a Disney Moderate. L

 

[meggiemouse]

If it were just my husband and I, I'd go for a moderate. Treat yo self!
We always do value with our kids because we don't ever really get to relax and enjoy the extra amenities lol.

 

[JustinS]

Thank you for all the feedback everyone! I love it!

 

[Day-Day]

The timing of your visit may be a consideration as well.

We (wife and I) stayed at the POP during a relatively low-crowd period and enjoyed it. We had never stayed there before and wanted to give it a try. We requested a king-bed and got it so that helped.

We will be staying at the POP with family members and multiple rooms during our upcoming visit but that's a different scenario.

I prefer a moderate over a value; even more so when the resorts are crowded.

 

[Dis703]

I will stay at the values if I have to. So if budget is super tight and particularly if it's a really short trip, I will do it and it's fine. But for longer vacations I very much prefer at least a mod and think it's well worth it. The mods just have a much more quiet and laid back feel to them. Values feel loud and chaotic to me and just more crowded particularly at the buses and the food court. I get enough of the crowds in the parks, so I prefer to get away from them a bit at the resorts and I don't feel like I escape that at the values.

 

[stinkpickle]

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)

Based on those three criteria, I'd definitely stay at a moderate. Values are themed heavily towards children.

 

[JustinS]

The timing of your visit may be a consideration as well.

We (wife and I) stayed at the POP during a relatively low-crowd period and enjoyed it. We had never stayed there before and wanted to give it a try. We requested a king-bed and got it so that helped.

We will be staying at the POP with family members and multiple rooms during our upcoming visit but that's a different scenario.

I prefer a moderate over a value; even more so when the resorts are crowded.

Interesting view on it, I hadn't thought of the crowds making a difference but that makes a lot of sense.

 

[stinkpickle]

My wife I went when we were in our 20's, before kids, and we loved staying at Coronado Springs.

 

[calngavinsmom]

I agree with most everyone with their view of staying moderate level if you can. If I might suggest taking a look at Port Orleans French Quarter resort? It is a lovely, small, romantic resort that is right on the river that goes to Disney Springs. It has a water taxi that is a beautiful ride(especially at night) where you have tonnes of shopping, dining and entertainment options. Very nice change of pace from the busses!



Good luck to you!

 

[JustinS]

I agree with most everyone with their view of staying moderate level if you can. If I might suggest taking a look at Port Orleans French Quarter resort? It is a lovely, small, romantic resort that is right on the river that goes to Disney Springs. It has a water taxi that is a beautiful ride(especially at night) where you have tonnes of shopping, dining and entertainment options. Very nice change of pace from the busses!



Good luck to you!

My first trip ever as a child my family stayed at POFQ. I have always loved the resort. So that would also be a bit nostalgic.
I like it.

 

[stinkpickle]

My first trip ever as a child my family stayed at POFQ. I have always loved the resort. So that would also be a bit nostalgic.
I like it.

POFQ is currently our favorite moderate.

 

[Belle83]

I've never stayed at a value, but if someone is in "training" I would not take them to a value. The themes are so over the top that it could be a nightmare for someone not quite in love with Disney yet. This is especially true if you aren't bringing kids. Moderates are not a ton more per night, and you get more room, a larger bathroom area including way more storage, larger beds, etc. I would also look into the Swan or Dolphin. When I took DH to WDW for his first trip, he was apprehensive and we stayed at the Dolphin. Being in that area but paying closer to moderate pricing was great.

 

[pmaurer74]

I would recommend FQ... small and quaint and romantic. Worth the money IMO.

 

[happymommy]

My first time taking my DH (his first vacation ever) was the year before we got married. We stayed off site in Kissimmee at a Residence Inn that is no longer functioning as one. $59 a night. We had a wonderful time!

If there had been value resorts back then, as well as magical express, darn we would have loved it! Of course next year we got married, stayed a couple nights at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress and hated it with a passion. Moved to GF. Thought I'd died and gone to heaven. We even tried to extend our stay, but really it wasn't financially feasible back in the day. Sad face.

I'd say, if you've never been and a double bed is okay, any Disney resort is great! If you have kids, it gets trickier. I got spoiled early on, then learned my lesson when DD and I stayed at Pop in August and loved it so much! It's where we're going to stay from now on when it's the two of us! So fun!

 

[Dug720]

I decided I will make the budget work for my August solo trip to stay at CBR (my favorite resort on property PERIOD) over POP. The differences are worth it!

 

[JustinS]

I've never stayed at a value, but if someone is in "training" I would not take them to a value. The themes are so over the top that it could be a nightmare for someone not quite in love with Disney yet. This is especially true if you aren't bringing kids. Moderates are not a ton more per night, and you get more room, a larger bathroom area including way more storage, larger beds, etc. I would also look into the Swan or Dolphin. When I took DH to WDW for his first trip, he was apprehensive and we stayed at the Dolphin. Being in that area but paying closer to moderate pricing was great.

We're actually staying at the Swan this July for her first trip! I'm just so obsessed that I'm already looking to future trips.