Value vs Moderate

[mitchsfan]

I was told many moons ago that the only real differences between a VALUE and a MODERATE resort are
a) the moderates' pools have a slide while the values do not. b) the moderates have a sit down restaurant while the values do not.

Are there any other major differences? Are the rooms bigger.

Thanks in advance

 

[buzznina]

The BIGGEST reason for us is queen beds vs full size. The rooms are also bigger, the pools have slides, there's a hot tub and the themeing is much nicer with a LOT less cement and more foliage. If at all possible we will always try to do a Mod over a value, but we no longer spend every minute at the parks, so we are looking for a more relaxing feel to our resort. Even with that said, we will still stay value if we had too, and still have a great time.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Also, Value resorts = no coffee maker in the room, and no towels at the pool.

 

[WEDWDW]

and no towels at the pool.

Except for All-Star Sports.

 

[mjmgsssp]

POFQ, even though a moderate, does not have a TS restaurant. But it's still my fave moderate resort.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Except for All-Star Sports.

Coffee is far more important anyway.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

For us, there are four big reasons (listed in order of importance to us) we far prefer moderates to values:

1. Moderates do not tend to have large groups of teen tour groups while values do
2. Moderates have queen beds while values have doubles
3. Landscaping and shade at Moderates is quite a bit nicer than that at values.
4. Moderates have pool slides and values do not.

Rooms are bigger at the moderates. Makes a small difference but not a determining one for us. You can find exact room sizes online as some are a little different. All Star Sports rooms are 260 square feet. Moderates are around 314 square feet.

Nonetheless, I agree with a previous poster that we have stayed value a few times and still had a wonderful trip. It is hard to go wrong with a Disney resort.

 

[maxiesmom]

The moderate resorts also have shaded bus stops with seating while the values have queues. Lines you have to stand in with very little to no cover.

 

[mister morrow]

moderates tend to be quieter compared to value resorts

 

[mister morrow]

Rooms are bigger at the moderates. Makes a small difference but not a determining one for us. You can find exact room sizes online as some are a little different. All Star Sports rooms are 260 square feet. Moderates are around 314 square feet.

yes!
value rooms are 260 sq ft., moderates are 314 sq ft.
There are some suites at Coronado Springs. The Fort Wilderness cabins, which sleep up to six guests plus a baby, are 504 sq ft.

 

[dpswift]

The moderate resorts also have shaded bus stops with seating while the values have queues. Lines you have to stand in with very little to no cover.

This actually is a plus for the values for me. I love the ques. I stayed at my first moderate in 20 years last year during November Free Dining at CBR. the buses were a free for all.

We have stayed all levels this past year. We are starting to stay more at moderates, however I love the Disney feel of the values

 

[DisBuckMan]

If you drive, in general you can park a lot closer to your room at moderate resorts than at value resorts.

 

[VillainFavs]

Don't know if this is true of all moderates, but our rooms at POFQ had two sinks as well. Seems like a little thing, but definitely helped move things along more quickly in the mornings!

 

[loves to dive]

I think that the rooms are just a tad more upscale at the mods than values. The towels a little nicer, the carpet a tad thicker, etc. I've stayed in Pop and ASSp, CBR, POR, GF, CR, Poly, OKW, BW, AKV, BC, YC, Swan and have an upcoming split stay with CSR and YC. The value resorts seemed more busy, for lack of a better word, in the lobby/food court/gift shops. The rooms didn't seem as well insulated and were smaller. After staying at the two I stayed at I decided no more values for me. They have more in your face theming than the moderates, the moderates seem to have more quiet areas and lusher landscape. In the real world you are probably looking at the difference in a say Motel 6 and a Holiday Inn Express. Both the values and moderates have outside corridors which most HI's don't but the rooms and amenity difference would be a good comparison. Both are decent establishments and fine to stay at.

 

[manhattan]

I, too, was trying to decide between both for a trip in a few weeks and while I like the moderates for the reasons many have stated - larger bed, two sinks, nicer landscaping, pool slide, campfires (do they still do this?), better overall theme - I still ended up at a value. The $$ I am saving I will be using for the purchase of a new Dooney & Bourke bag that I have been wanting and a birthday breakfast at CRT. I will be returning in a few months and staying at a moderate for a conference, so that also swayed my decision.

 

[rznhal]

Thought I would try to list some things that are the same just to be different

Here are some things that are the same:

Both now have Lifeguards at the pool (big deal for us up until now bc our kids were small)
Both have Quick Service with lots of options
Both have Mini fridges
Both have activities at the pool
Both have pin trading
Both have movies in the evenings
Both have outdoor, non-AC hallways (big deal for us when we go in September!!!)
Both have doors that open to the outside
Both have great theming

We didn't feel the differences were big enough to justify the cost for a mod....we either go value or deluxe (or split!!!)
Never had a trip that I regretted, no matter where I stayed, so have a great time!!!!!!

 

[StlJoe]

We struggle with this every time we go. We've always wanted to stay in a Mod but end up in a Value to save money. It's just so hard for us to justify the extra expense when we spend so very little time at the resort anyway.

If we were a family that spent more time at the pool and in the hotel we might make the change. For now, when we're at Disney we're in the parks!

 

[VillainFavs]

For us, we made the step up on a trip where we had Free Dining. We knew we'd want to upgrade to the regular plan and not just the QSDP that came with the value resorts. Having 4 Disney "adults", once we upgraded the dining plan, it was less than $200 total for us to upgrade for our week-long stay. And that's been it ever since.

Not that we wouldn't stay at a Value if it meant another trip! But once the kids get to be teenagers, that bit of extra space in the room, the extra sink, the bigger beds do all make a difference and allow a more comfortable stay. And we're not hang out at the resorts people either!

But I do have to say even though we don't spend a lot of time at the resort, the amount we do is much more relaxed, more mellow at the moderate resort than we ever felt at the values. We've stayed at Pop, AS Movies, AS Sports, POFQ, and visited POR. Just strolling around the resort, visiting the food court, the pool, coming off the bus, etc.--the vibe is much more relaxed. And for us, it's nice to have that little bit of downtime after the hustle and bustle of the parks. Let's face it--the parks are 100% stimulation 100% of the time! I enjoy not having that at the resort as well.

But again, we wouldn't turn down a stay at a value!

 

[heath92681]

I felt the beds were significantly more comfortable at the mod vs. value. I felt the mod was also quieter with a more laid back feel. Felt more "resort like" to me.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Also, Value resorts = no coffee maker in the room, and no towels at the pool.

The coffee maker in the room isnt always a "plus" though. Personally I think that coffee is horrid. Im picky about my coffee. Besides, i like milk with my coffee so if im going to buy milk....I might as well just buy the entire cup of coffee.

This actually is a plus for the values for me. I love the ques. I stayed at my first moderate in 20 years last year during November Free Dining at CBR. the buses were a free for all.

We have stayed all levels this past year. We are starting to stay more at moderates, however I love the Disney feel of the values

I agree with this. I like the bus queue at the values too. At least there's a proper line. I dont like how mods & deluxes are setup...people just crowd around.

I do think that having two queen beds at a mod resort is a huge bonus though, depending on your party size. For my DS and I, it doesnt make a difference if its two queens or two doubles since its just the two of us.