Value vs. The Whole Shebang

[Taja]

I've stayed at Pop Century, Coronado Springs and Yacht Club. Eight nights at each resort.

The rooms at Pop Century are smaller than those at Coronado Springs. When you open the door, it barely clears the bed nearest the door. The small table and chairs are find for a snack or confined activities, but are not intended for dining. There is a six-drawer dresser with the television on top of it (someone in another forum complained about the size, but I have a 20" at home, so I think the one in the room was larger than the one I have at home!). The night table between the two double beds is at the correct height, so you don't hit your head on it (I'm told the ones in the All Star Resorts are too high and it's easy to hit your head on them during the night).

The bathroom is smaller than at Coronado Springs. At CSR, there is a ledge at the back of the tub--about 8 to 12 inches (sorry, didn't measure it), that's nice for toiletries, and it adds a little clearance for the bathroom door. At Pop Century, the bathroom contains a standard tub and water closet--watch your toes when you close that door! The vanity/dressing area also is a bit smaller.

I believe the moderate resorts now have coffee makers and refrigerators (the small, coutertop, dorm type) at no charge. You have to request the refrigerator, and sometime it may not be available (same as the deluxe resorts). Some of the rooms have refrigerators installed, others don't. Eventually, all of the rooms in deluxe and moderate resorts are supposed to have the countertop refrigerators.

The same soaps and shampoos used at the deluxe and moderate resorts are used at Pop Century. The deluxe resorts also have additional amentities not available in the other two categories.

I found Pop Century to be a good value on an AP discount last December. It was a low budget trip before my AP expired and suited my needs perfectly. It was clean and neat--and I actually preferred the bedspreads. They weren't as heavy as those in the moderate and deluxe resorts!

If you opt for PC, be sure to request a room away from the pool area if you value quiet! The rooms are soundproofed quite well, but the pool noise does carry a bit. Never heard my neighbors (families with young children on each side), though!

 

[minijeanie]

if you like nice resorts...enjoy valet,,,please don't stay at value...
you will be disappointed...

I believe a vacation is what you want...and if you enjoy being pampered,,,stick with poly concierge..
you will never be happy downgrading..

I tried it and quite honestly,will not go back

it is afterall vacation,...and once or twice a year believe you should do what you can( if budget allows)

 

[fran99999]

Ive stayed at all 4 levels including Fort wilderness cabins. The Deluxes have a few amenities such as Pool slide, Jacuzzi, Fitness, access to boats (most of them). Poly, CR, and GF are on the Monorail. Slightly larger rooms. Sit down restaurants and Character meals at most. They are not that much quieter, depends on the neighbors. LOL

The mod have the pool slide, Jacuzzi ( the one at CBR is just a hot tub not a jacuzzi NO bubbles or water pressure), some have access to boats. Rooms are about the same size as the deluxes. Sit down restaurants. Great busses to take you to anywhere you want to go on property.

The Values have slightly smaller rooms. No slide at the pools. No Jacuzzi no boats no sit down table service restaurants. Just the basic room to sleep, watch tv, and get ready to go to where ever it is you want to go. Its the same type bus service as the mods and the deluxes.

Now is the $$ worth the pool slide ( how many times do you use it, I go to the waterparks if I want that type of slide). The Jacuzzi again it is relaxing but for how long? The boats you can always go to a deluxe and rent. The sit down restaurant-- come on I eat at every restaurant in disney not just at my home resort. The resort I stay just has to have the soda and snack foods. I save my $$ on the Values now and spend my $$ on CRT dinners, souvenires and food and fun on the boats and on the backstage tours.

I usually spend 9-10 hours at the hotel 8 of which are sleeping, and the other 12 running wild at WDW.

 

[Mandy_in_NC]

From what I have seen it looks like the Pop Century is the place to stay for a value resort. My question is does this resort have connecting rooms? I am looking to get 2 rooms so hubby and I can have our own room. If it does not have connecting rooms can you guys recommend one of the value resorts that does. We are planning on going to WDW Dec 29 2005-Jan 06 2006.
Oh by the way this is our first trip to WDW and any advice would be helpful.
Thanks for all the help! :

 

[SusanDK]

Bob,

Is it just you and your wife, no kids? Would you even consider staying off-site?

My husband and I spent 9 nights in December at the Celebration Hotel. Celebration is the "town that Disney built" and is very charming, just about 10 minutes from WDW. We got a mousesavers.com rate of $149 per night, were upgraded to a beautiful lakeview room with balcony, had a four-poster king-size bed. It was quite luxurious (rooms are not huge, however). You do not have Disney theming, if that is important to you.

We had a car so we drove to the parks ourselves, but I understand they have complementary transportation.

We found it very romantic and more adult-oriented than a Disney resort, and much more reasonably priced than a Disney deluxe, but with a level of luxury we enjoyed.

I wrote a review of it in the Orlando forum if you do a search.

It's just an idea if you like luxury, but want to pay a reasonable price.

Susan

 

[fran99999]

Mandy_N_NC

I just called Pop Century for you and spoke with John(very nice CM) he did not have the info.LOL He called someone and they DO have the connecting doors in some of the rooms YEA.

Have a great day.

 

[Mandy_in_NC]

Thanks for the info. It was extreamly nice of you to call and find out for me! From what I have read Pop Century seems to be the place to stay and if I can get a connecting room I will be so happy! Thanks so much.

 

[Lorelai]

I am new to The DIS, so when I read this thread and saw info on being able to rent others DVC points I was intrigued. It sounds like a great option. Is it really cost effective though, in relation to what it would cost for a deluxe or moderate?

Also, how does one access the Rent/Trade boards? Are you actually purchasing points or are you paying to rent a specific sized unit at a specific location during a specific time period?

As you can see I have many questions! Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[hokiefan33]

We typically go in July every year, right after the 4th, and Value is definitely the way to go for us! We typically stay at the ASSp; it's the first one on the bus pick-up in the morning, and the first one on the drop-off in the evening (though POP does have it's own bus route, by the way). Sure, there's a lot of kids, and sure, there's quite a bit of noise, but we're so tired by the time we get back to the hotel and swim and shower and get ready for bed that we sleep right through the noise. And for that matter, the noise isn't that bad, I don't think.

We figure, we don't come back to the resort during the day (kids don't need, nor do they want, a break from the parks), so we're gone from 8 AM - 9 or 10 PM at night. So we're in our room for what, 9 or maybe 10 hours a day, most of that spent sleeping? Why would we pay extra money just to sleep in a nicer room? We're asleep!

To me, paying the value rate in off-season (which can get down to about $60 bucks or so with AAA discount) allows us a lot more money to spend at the parks, dining, souvenirs, etc..., while still getting us good accomodations on site.

Who needs the Poly concierge? I've got the All-Star Sports!!

 

[MNmom]

We couldn't decide between the Poly concierge and 2 connecting rooms at the POP (my DH wants the space) sooooo we are doing both!!! 3 nights POP and 3 nights Poly concierge. I just couldn't give up the Poly concierge knowing I was so close to staying there!!

Hope we will both be happy!!

MNmom

 

[robinb]

I am new to The DIS, so when I read this thread and saw info on being able to rent others DVC points I was intrigued. It sounds like a great option. Is it really cost effective though, in relation to what it would cost for a deluxe or moderate?

Also, how does one access the Rent/Trade boards? Are you actually purchasing points or are you paying to rent a specific sized unit at a specific location during a specific time period?

The Rent/Trade Board is in the DVC section: http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=7

To rent a DVC unit you pay an agreed-on price per point (usually in the $10 range) and the DVC owner will book a unit for you in your name. The final cost depends on the size of the unit and the time that you are traveling. Sometimes it can be cost effective and sometimes it is not.

 

[mjmcca]

I have stayed in 3 different hotel Blvd hotels, Dixie Landings X 3 (now POR), CBR, CSR X 2, CR, WL X 3, (once while my relatives were at the poly all 20 of them so i spent a fair amount of time there), Dolphin (another vaccation i spent more time at the poly than my own resort thanks to my cousins staying there), BC, OKW studio, and most recently POPx2. I really like the POP but i ahve kids now and i am paying for more than just my own admission all of those other trips were when i was young and single or at least when i was without hubby ( he hates disney) and before we have kids. Right now I would go back to POP at anytime.

If you want a little luxury and dont want a huge bill why dont you you into WL or AKL?

 

[micksterlee]

On our firsttrip we stayed at all star sports which for our first time there was great I think the first time you see WDW a paper cup with Mickey on it seems magical (lol) . On our last trip we stayed at Akl this resort is amazing and is a destination all in it s own. But after taking a look at the amount of time we actually spent at the resort I am booking Pop for our next trip. If you are planning alot of resort and pool time then the deluxe seems to be the way to go.But in our case we are up and off to the parks early and don t return till late.By saving money on the resort it makes it easier for me to justify the extra money I spend on meals and souveniers.

 

[sters]

The moderates are bigger than the values... but if there's just the two of you (do I have that right?) it probably won't matter. Both have double beds. The pool is nicer at the moderates and include a slide, if that's important and they also have a sit down restaurant, if that's also important (but no restaurant at POFQ). The POR also has a lounge, a nicer lobby... but worse bus service and access to parking than the All Stars. The moderates also have more recreational opportunites, such as bike and boat rentals, that the values lack. I guess the question you have to ask yourself is how much you are going to be in your room or hanging out at your resort. The All Stars are very clean... they squeegie the pool lounge chairs every morning and a great value for the money you spend. I should also say that the laundry facilities at the All Stars was exceptionally crowded but not so at POR... if your plans include laundry, it's something to consider.

I always have this debate with my hubby... I like the moderates, he the values. His thinking is that for the difference in cost he could have several nice meals in the theme parks.

 

[tubachick]

I have never stayed at Mod -- but we do alternate between WL and AL-S/M

When we are going to have time to relax we do WL if it is a quick get our fix in trip we do All Star, but the walking there can be much much more that at some of the parks Do $$$$ when ever you can it is worth it in the end.

 

[java]

My DH is also a resort snob. He was completely disappointed when we stayed at the Coronado for one very silly reason. He had to carry his own bags to the room.!! I pointed out that he could have asked for someone to help him but he insisted they should have been there to take them. So that alone shaped his opinion. The pool didn't matter the view didn't matter ect ect.... So I think everyone has their thing. If you are used to luxury I think the budget may get you. We actually spend some time in the room so I think it is worth the extra money. But only you know what will bug you. So if you can live with motel style for a few days then save the money. The thing that I have read here that concerns me is the cleanliness factor at the value resorts. It seems lately people have been having really dirty rooms when they check in. One even posted about dirty sheets. Good luck making your decision.