Value vs Moderate?

[bocaj1431]

We have stayed at most of the DW resorts and loved them all. We were thinking of booking POR this time because we love the layout and they seem to have the best quick service dining. We love their create your own pasta dish.

But we could save so much by staying at the value resorts. We have never stayed at the value resorts and wondered how different they are compared to a moderate hotel. For those who have stayed at both POR and the value resorts, what is your opinion. What are the negatives of a Value resort? Which value resort has the better QS option? Would love any feedback you have.

 

[VAfamily1998]

The one thing that keeps me from ever staying at a value resort is the lack of a hot tub in the pool area. Most of my Disney trips are for the races, and I really enjoy sitting in a hot tub after a race.

 

[siren0119]

So value resorts do not have any dining other than cafeteria style dining. That's one thing that makes a moderate a moderate. The pools are also pretty standard - no waterslides, hot tubs or anything. LOTS of really fun theming, but no water features. I'd say the food offerings at all of the values are pretty comparable, each one has a couple of "signature" things but otherwise it's pretty standard fare. Other than that, the values are a bit further away from the parks than the moderates, but it's really only a difference of a few minutes in the grand scheme. Big difference if you're comparing value to deluxe, but value to mods are not a huge difference.

 

[Disneypro1]

We love POFQ and alligator bayou of POR. Other than those two....we only go Value-- Music or POP Imho, POFQ and POP are WDW two best resorts. Not counting Deluxes. We dont do those...too $$ The cost of a Deluxe for a week is more than a whole disney vacation staying at a value including tickets and most times airfare...so no Deluxe for us.

 

[Pkltm]

We have stayed at most of the DW resorts and loved them all. We were thinking of booking POR this time because we love the layout and they seem to have the best quick service dining. We love their create your own pasta dish.

But we could save so much by staying at the value resorts. We have never stayed at the value resorts and wondered how different they are compared to a moderate hotel. For those who have stayed at both POR and the value resorts, what is your opinion. What are the negatives of a Value resort? Which value resort has the better QS option? Would love any feedback you have.

We have stayed at Movies, Sports, Pop, AOA and POR and deluxe. Pop's rooms are recently redone, the food is fine,, but what I don't like are the buses (we resprted to busing to AOA and walking to get back some nights and Lyfy a few times to get to the parks. They food court lines are always crowded. We like All Stars but they need a refurb on the rooms but they are working on it. The best food for value is at AOA in my opinion.

The one thing that keeps me from ever staying at a value resort is the lack of a hot tub in the pool area. Most of my Disney trips are for the races, and I really enjoy sitting in a hot tub after a race.

I agree about the hot tub being a selling point but I found at POR, it turned into a warm wading pool for kids on our last two stays.

 

[sbd78]

I've only stayed at Pop and AoA for values, and POR and soon to be CBR for moderates. I actually think the values have the best food courts with the most options. Yes, the mods usually have a table service but that's not a big deal to me personally. We usually travel to the deluxes for character dining, etc. Yes, pools are better at the mods. They have slides and hot tubs. The rooms are bigger at the mods. I like the values fine and would still stay in them, we've just outgrown them.

 

[Disneylover99]

I prefer Pop over POR. Food courts are comparable. You can walk to AofA for the make your own pasta. I prefer Pop the one bus stop at Pop over the multiple stops at POR. Also the gondola from Pop/AofA to Epcot and HS will be opening this year.

 

[bocaj1431]

Thank you to everyone who shared your experiences! I just booked POP. It seems that of all the value hotels POP and AOA seem to be the favorites. Unfortunately AOA only had suites available.
So hopefully the extra $ will make up for no microwave, no hot tub, parking far from rooms and paper thin walls.

 

[glocon]

We’ve done both POR and Pop ( and AKL and BC and CR). Pop was for our trip last summer. I did not expect to like it, did not look forward to staying there... and ended up loving it! Yes, the food court is large and noisy, no pool slide or hot tub, but the room was great and newly refurbished, the pool has lots of things going on for kids constantly, the bus line was organized and not a mad rush, I would definitely stay there again. But we are trying the new tower at CSR this time.

 

[bocaj1431]

I prefer Pop over POR. Food courts are comparable. You can walk to AofA for the make your own pasta. I prefer Pop the one bus stop at Pop over the multiple stops at POR. Also the gondola from Pop/AofA to Epcot and HS will be opening this year.

Thanks for the tip about Pasta at AOA! We love the pasta and it’s inexpensive and filling. Definitely will be making a few trips over there.

 

[glocon]

And if you use wdw transportation you don’t have to worry about how far your car is parked, and ask for or bring a box fan to help with the noise. We had a box fan and didn’t hear a thing outside our room. You will like Pop more than you think I’ll bet!
Have a great time with the extra in your hands!

 

[bocaj1431]

We’ve done both POR and Pop ( and AKL and BC and CR). Pop was for our trip last summer. I did not expect to like it, did not look forward to staying there... and ended up loving it! Yes, the food court is large and noisy, no pool slide or hot tub, but the room was great and newly refurbished, the pool has lots of things going on for kids constantly, the bus line was organized and not a mad rush, I would definitely stay there again. But we are trying the new tower at CSR this time.

So glad you shared this. I was a little nervous about booking POP and now I feel better about it. Hope you enjoy CSR!

 

[bocaj1431]

And if you use wdw transportation you don’t have to worry about how far your car is parked, and ask for or bring a box fan to help with the noise. We had a box fan and didn’t hear a thing outside our room. You will like Pop more than you think I’ll bet!
Have a great time with the extra in your hands!

Great tip! I was thinking ear plugs but they always fall out. Definitely will be packing a fan.

 

[shu24]

I've stayed at POR for several trips and POP for several trips. I like POP better.

Pros for me (of POP specifically, have not stayed at other values) are cost, a bus line that you actually line up for vs. the push/shove free for all of a non queue line, having 2 QS locations because AoA is just across the bridge, and new refurbs which have comfy beds and lots of outlets for all my electronics.

Cons- bus line is uncovered and you will be the last bus stop at every park and at DS. With kids this would be much harder to handle. Theming is prettier at POR with better landscaping versus sort of garish at POP but I felt safer at POP because it is better lit than POR.

 

[westie55]

All Star Music and Movies share buses if I am not mistaken. The moderates have their own buses. AoA and Pop also have dedicated buses. I think the beds at the moderates are more comfortable. The only value I have stayed at is AoA (Little Mermaid room). The beds were doubles, not queens, and they were a bit firm and squeaky. I loved the theming and decor of AoA. The pools had no slide, but that didn't matter to me. There isn't table service dining at any of the values. I had a great experience at AoA and I would go back. I didn't find it to be overly loud or crowded. The grounds were lush and well manicured and the resort was very clean. I think you might be happily surprised if you tried a value.

 

[siren0119]

All Star Music and Movies share buses if I am not mistaken. The moderates have their own buses. AoA and Pop also have dedicated buses. I think the beds at the moderates are more comfortable. The only value I have stayed at is AoA (Little Mermaid room). The beds were doubles, not queens, and they were a bit firm and squeaky. I loved the theming and decor of AoA. The pools had no slide, but that didn't matter to me. There isn't table service dining at any of the values. I had a great experience at AoA and I would go back. I didn't find it to be overly loud or crowded. The grounds were lush and well manicured and the resort was very clean. I think you might be happily surprised if you tried a value.

The All Stars ONLY share buses during the slow period of the day (midday when fewer people are going back to the resorts). During the high volume times each All Star has its own bus.

 

[DisLiss]

When it was just DH & I, the differences between moderates and values were more apparent and important to us. Now, with kids, the differences matter less than ever. Once it's just us again, they'll matter more again.

DH & I are more laid back than the kids. No matter how many times we say "We can do these things another time of we don't get to them this trip.", the kids still want to try to get more and more in. For that reason we don't eat any resort food when the kids are there (unless the weather is so atrocious that we are forced to stay at the resort) because it's time away from the parks. We eat breakfast in our room while everyone is getting ready and we hit the parks early. We eat 95% QS park meals/snacks, plus snack we bring in our bag.

If we need a mid-day break, we do so after we eat something in the park. That way our break can be just pool time, lounging, maybe laundry. We don't need the bells and whistles at the pool because we don't spend a lot of time there...it's more a cool down and rest break and we're off again, PLUS, we always hit at least one waterpark, so they get their slides and such in there.

Our value of choice is POP, so now with the Skyliner coming, it even helps with any transportation differences between the values & the moderates. Plus, when we have the kids, we rent a car. So that's always a back-up.

Now, when it's just us adults...we tend to be more relaxed and we spend time at the resort, so then we do prefer a moderate for the extra amenities/ different quality of amenities.

(Also there's the very real issue of it being way more expensive to go to WDW for a week plus with 4 people instead of 2...particularly once the kids all reach either the 3+ ages or when they all reach the 10+ age, which is where mine will be very soon. So trying to save a bit of something anywhere is nice. So for us, the savings is found in the QS meals and the value resorts. You know, sticking with mostly counter service and picking POP over POR means adding things like a hard ticket event, a character meal, a side trip to Universal, the hopper plus tickets, etc. is a bit less painful. )

 

[stinkpickle]

If 90+% of our non-sleeping time will be spent at the parks or elsewhere, we book value. Otherwise, we book moderate or occasionally rent points for a deluxe villa.

 

[Disneylvr1971]

We were at the new refurbished rooms last year at POP and we liked it so much we booked again for Sept. We are also DVC, and used to Deluxe, but when paying OOP, the money saved on value vs deluxe is so worth it. Also remember if the POP busses are full and there is an AOA bus you can take it and walk back to POP. I hope you enjoy your trip!

 

[tguz]

We liked the ASM food court over Pop. Mostly because the ASM had a dedicated dessert counter and we had a few milkshakes and sundaes made for us after the parks. I did not see a dedicated dessert counter at the POP. But, last year we were in a newly renovated 10 day old room at the POP so that was nice. We are staying at the Pop again this year. In 2021, we will be stepping up to a moderate, prob POR, for a special occasion and something different even tho we like to over the top theming at the Pop.