What do you think of the Value resort, truthfully?

[Cheryl N. WI]

If you decide to give a value resort a try why not try the new Pop Centry resort. We have never stayed at a value resort before (Dolphin twice and moderates numerous times) but are staying at the Pop Centry Dec.19-23 for a quick trip that we hadn't planned on taking until just 2 weeks ago. I am very excited to be staying there especially after reading the now rather long thread about it on this board. When at WDW we don't spend much time in our room other than to sleep and shower, so we figured seeing how this is a short unexpected stay for us it's the perfect time to try a value resort and a new 1 at that!

Good luck with your decision!

Cheryl

 

[ScottOKW2K]

If all you want is a clean , comfortable room inside Disney property at the lowest price - stay at the All Stars.

I will have to vote with the moderate/deluxe group. I want more from my WDW experience than a small room, a crowded pool, and a loud food-court. I stayed at an All Stars once (Sports) - that was enough.

 

[january]

I've only stayed at ASsports in all star resorts but I've stayed there several times at different times of the year. Busy and off peak. Never have I gotten a dirty room. Bus service is quick and at park closings when the mad rush is on to get back to room we either leave the parkes a few mins early or wait in the park and let the crowd die out before going getting in line for a bus if we happen to still get out to the bus stop and there is a long line we get in line when our turn comes to get on bus if we have to stand we step aside and wait for the next bus and get on it 1st never more than a few mins wait and WE REFUSE to stand on a bus.

The exception to that is mid afternoon when the all stars resorts are sharing a bus and we know that when bus stops at music we will have a seat.

We stayed at a moderate got a good deal on that stay to but even with the deal we got we wished we was home at Sports. POFQ was nice and pretty but we not into nice an pretty we want bus service and a place to sleep and shower. Pool was just as crowded if not more so than Sports and just as noisy. Food was little higher at the food court for basically the same food we could get at sports as well.

Room size I didn't notice moderate being any bigger furniture took up the difference.

Like someone posted if I was there for the resort I might pay more but the resort isn't what it's about for me.

BTW if you look at the AAA Floridia hotel books you will notice that all disney hotels are given 3 diamonds meaning as far as cleanliness and bed quality they all the same.

Do I like the sports theme at sports NO but that not what it's about it's about having a room and decent bus service. Waited for over an hour many times at the moderate when we stayed there. Never more than 15 mins at sports.

 

[tar heel]

We now have a child in college but don't want to give up our Disney trips, so we made our first trip to All Stars this summer. Although it wasn't awful, we gave it mixed reviews and are in no hurry to return. Although we do spend most of our time in the parks, we realized that we liked having resort amenities, such as hottubs and more elaborate pools. We had two connecting rooms, so space was not an issue. The rooms were clean and housekeeping was good and very creative with towels. We started off with bad transportation -- we arrived at MK at 8:50 on an emh day after getting to the bus stop at 7:45. I thought the hotel was okay, but obviously a step down. I would stay there again if the price was right, though. My dh really didn't like it and does not want to stay there again. He felt there was a real inattention to detail (standing water next to the steps of the football building for multiple days, for example) and that some things were just chintzy -- such as the shampoo dispenser, the towels, no laundry bags, the little Motel 6ish ice bucket, etc.

I know a lot of people think there isn't a lot of difference between the value and moderate resorts, but we split our stay between All Stars and Coronado Springs and found it to be a substantial step up.

 

[castleri]

Just want to say the "love bugs" are on and off property and everywhere you go when they are around- we had them years ago on International Drive. I have also been in transportation at the end of the day from parks to mods and deluxes that was standing room shoulder to shoulder only so it's more a factor of when you are riding, the season and not really the resort. Our first stay at WL we were the first pick=up to the parks and the people from the GF usually eneded up standing and then we were the first let off. Have never tried the AS but will if I want to make a quick trip and can get an AP rate for PC next year-want to get good use of my first AP. That's what is so great = so many choices

 

[lat]

We only stayed at AS Music once and we decided we will not go to the value resort again. However, I booked 1 night for Pop Century for our upcoming Xmas trip before we move to a deluxe.

It really depends on what you want. To us, we spend a lot of time at the resort and we have young children. We like the amenities of a deluxe resort and the privacy of the room with or w/o a balcony. Now we have moved up to the concierge level and it is even harder to do it any other way.

Everyone is different in what they like and dislike.

Another consideration is the $$ you are willing to spend on your vacation. The rate I have for Pop Century for 1 night is $55 vs. $300 for the YC concierge I am paying. It is a big difference, but at the end as people say, you get what you pay for. It really depends on what is important to you. We don't go for fancy food and having concierge so that we always have something to eat or drink is a great convenience factor. Also, the planning staff at concierge is wonderful to make hard to get reservations and I don't have to think about all the booking windows and be on the phone to make any of my reservations. One e-mail to the planning staff will get everything done.

No matter what people say, you should try it yourself and you would know if the value resorts are for you.

 

[Aisling]

Our first time to WDW in 2000, we stayed at All Star Sports. Our second trip, we stayed at Beach Club. And even though BC is deluxe, I truly enjoyed the atmosphere of All Stars better than BC.
It was alive and exciting, full of kids of all ages, a magical experience. I just didn't get that feeling at BC. My family thinks I'm crazy, but I'd rather stay at one of the value resorts again than a deluxe!

 

[olena]

It was a great value. My brother and I went last May and stayed at AS Sports. We were in Surf's Up at a great rate. The food court was convenient and the choices suited us, while we were at the resort.

The beds were great! They were the most comfortable beds I've slept on at WDW property, and I've stayed at the Dolphin.

Check-in was fast and the CM's were helpful and friendly. Mousekeeping was thorough. I didn't feel like I was at some cheapo place. For the money, it was a great place to stay....

 

[dmonroe]

We stayed one night at ASMo last year; and that was the only night we'll ever be spending there. We just did not like it. The room was way too small. The place was crowded. The food court was crowded and noisy. When we go to WDW we like to enjoy the atmosphere of our resort as well as the parks, and we just really didn't enjoy ASMo.

I'm not saying that it was a horrible place though. Our room was clean, the grounds were clean, etc. It just isn't somewhere we want to stay again.

 

[anne930]

It's a very personal decision - MY DH and I love the Yacht Club (quiet, 2 sinks in the bathroom, great hot tub, love the walk to EPCOT, & being close to the Boardwalk). But I wanted to try the other resorts as well. Last year, we went with other family members and split our stay between the Dolphin and All Star Music - I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised to find All Stars not bad at all. The rooms are a little smaller, had a little bit of a cheap feel to the room, but the room was clean, the beds were fine and the transportation to the parks was great!! I probably wouldn't stay there for a whole week ( I have to have a hot tub), but for a short inexpensive getaway, it's fine!! With room rate specials getting harder to find, you might find us there again.

Have fun, whatever you decide.

Anne

 

[timC]

We've got 2 DS9&12, with DS12 just named to the offencive line of his jr high football team! If they get any larger (how do you stop your children from growing up ) we'd simply not fit in a single room any more. Right now, the delux room size is the smallest room size I can tolerate.

Never stayed at a value, but have done moderates a few times. The CSR gave us a nice room, at a discounted rate. But, now that we're DVC members, we never have to think about "which one can we afford this trip"...Gotta have my 1 or 2BR villa.

 

[Madi100]

When you think of your Disney vacation how much of it contains thoughts about your resort? My major thinking on resorts is that I have to have something affordable and on Disney property. I don't think about the spa treatments that will be offered, because it's not my cup of tea. I don't think about whether or not there is a workout area or trail to run, because although I run or workout 6 days a week, I will get plenty of exercise walking the parks. I don't need ten different sit down restaurants because with a five and a two year old, our challenge when eating out is to do it quickly before the two year old destroys anything. I love the food court at ASMo. We truly think the food is great. It's expensive, but please show me a bargain at WDW???

I would love to stay at Port Orleans. Next time I will. However, I also love the atmosphere of the All Stars. We stopped at the Grand Floridian on our last trip for the Tea Party with Alice in Wonderland. I have never felt so poor in all of my life, and we aren't. It is a beautiful resort, BEAUTIFUL, but we are just everyday type people, and that is not the impression I got for quite a few of those guests. High heels and gowns to go to Magic Kingdom?? No, I'm sure those people are there for more than just to see Mickey, but I felt out of place. Never once have I felt that way at the All Stars.

I think that although we can all share our opinions of the different levels of resorts, in the end it comes down to your own personal feelings and needs. What is your level of comfort. The All Stars have very basic rooms. But they also have some awesome theming that is great for the Disney fan.

 

[myboysmom]

We are excited to be staying on property. We are booked at ASMo. The price is the big factor, we debated with going up one step, but with 2 boys (10 &5) we know we will just be sleeping there.

We based this on our experience last Christmas off property. We had a RCI Gold Crown Timeshare here in WI that we swapped for a Gold Crown in Orlando. Gold Crown is supposed to be top of the line for RCI. It didn't meet our standards at all, washing machine wouldn't work, broken light fixtures with wires still exposed. My family shared a room with 2 double beds. Any way, we didn't spend much time there, so it wasn't that big of a deal. We figure we won't spend much time in our room at WDW either.

My BIL and his family loved the Poly, but he is in a larger tax bracket then we are. Some day maybe we can move up, but this will be just fine.

 

[disneyatl]

Had to put in my two cents. We've stayed at the ASMO resorts on our 2nd trip to Disney. For as much time as you stay in your room, I thought it was a great deal. Yes, the rooms are smaller and Yes, there are not as many amenities as the other resorts, but it was clean and the CM's were very friendly. Best way to look at it is it's your basic hotel room - 2 beds and a bathroom. Nothing fancy about it at all. My opinion - it's a great place to stay especially for a quick trip to WDW.

Good Luck!

 

[bethie]

WOW! What great responses-thank you all! I think I might just give them a try. It is a quick, thrown together trip in January. I don't care so much for hot tubs, pools, etc.., but I do love to eat and look at the Christmas decorations! Thanks again everyone!

Beth

 

[btmyank]

I've stayed deluxe, moderate, and value. And given the choice I'd rather stay deluxe. But expense must be taken into consideration . I'm going in Nov for a week and we're staying at ALL-STAR sports. We're a family of 5 -2 adults and three young children so choices are limited. We have resies for 2 rooms at $49 each a night AP rate(you can't beat that). If we colud have gotten deluxe for less than $200 I would have opted for that, but that didn't happen. This is my third time staying value and I've always had an excellent time wherever we've stayed.

There's no wrong way to stay DISNEY.

 

[MJames41]

When we were planning our 2000 trip, I got all the books I could regaring Disney World. One of them was the Unofficial Guide. Because of that book, which suggested that if all you can afford is a value to wait to get a larger room, I tried to use PriceLine instead of waiting. I got the Mariott Orlando World Conference Center for $60 per night for 3 nights (to be followed by 2 days at the Contemporary). According to the Unofficial Guide, the MOWCC is a much nicer hotel, a 92 rating over the 76 that the All Stars get. After 2 days of being miserable, we went to All Star Sports. It was the best decision I made on that trip.

Don't get me wrong, I would prefer to stay at a deluxe if I can afford it, close to whatever park we are going to. But I also love the All Stars. As said before, it is a basic hotel room, but it is on property. I don't have to worry about where my children are, there is always a CM around close by. And, I prefer to food courts to some of the sitdown restaurants we have been to.

Some of my fondest moments at Disney are at the All Stars. I got to see my children use a "charge card" (the room key) for the first time. And the beds - the beds we had at the MOWCC were so hard, I couldn't sleep. When we got to the All Star Sports, the beds were so comfortable I almost fell asleep sitting down on it (I still want to find out what kind of bed they have for my home).

 

[absame]

What exactly is a "Love Bug"

Just went through the same decision process -- we're taking an emergency weekend trip to DWD tonight. Am a DVC member and always have stayed in Boardwalk or other deluxe. We're out of points so considered a moderate or value. Anyway, according to Disney web page, moderates, values and the Dolphin have 2 double beds while deluxe and Swan have 2 queens. With 4 of us crammed in a room, we were about to book at the swan, but then ended up renting some DVC points, so we're staying at the beach club.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by absame
What exactly is a "Love Bug"

Love Bugs are these little harmless flies, that mate by attatching themselves together. So, you'll see two flies stuck together. And there's never just one or two... it's always major swarms of them...

 

[MJames41]

When you are talking about the All Stars though, a Love Bug is Herbie the Love Bug, a movie from the 60's (a VW bug).