Would you pay more for a moderate??

[Hockeychic]

DH was looking over some of my DIS stuff last night and suggested we try a moderate. I am not sure it is worth the extra money, we only sleep in the room and swim each night in the pool. Would you spend the extra money??? I think it is between 300 and 400 dollars more which I figure could pay for DH and DS a round of golf, myself and DD Cindy's breakfast and our MNSSHP??? What do you think???

 

[DisneyMomx7]

The moderates have better pools (slides) if that is important to your ds. POR has the boat to DTD and a fishing hole, boats you can rent, carriage rides and just recently I understand that they have a campfire program. CBR has the boats and a beach. All mods have sit down restaurants in addition to the food courts. Rooms are bigger and I believe that mods have two sinks while values have only one. I don't know much about CSR but I know there are experts on CSR on the boards. I think mods offer a little bit more bang for your buck but that's just my opinion.

 

[AJKMOM]

I, too, think the moderates are nicer. From what I have read here and other boards, I wouldn't stay at a value resort unless I had little kids who would enjoy all the icons. Rooms are smaller, walls are thinner; this could be important especially if you are planning to actually get some sleep when you finally get back there.

I want my vacation to be enjoyable, and I don't think it would be if there were screaming kids everywhere 24/7.

 

[polly p]

I definitely would go for the moderate. we stayed at POR our first trip and it was awesome. Second time we did movies. still nice, but we got spoiled with POR. better pools better food options more spread out and it seemed like less crowding because it is more spread out. if money is the obstacle value is still good but you will probably spend a day or two relaxing and moderate is more relaxing.

Lori

 

[goofy4tink]

While I love POR, I think I would mostly go with a value resort at this point. When we visit WDW, using our DVC points, we try to tack on a few week-end nights to extend our visit. Since those nights are so expensive pointwise, we stay at a value resort. My dd, 11, just loves the AllStars. Yes, she likes the slides at the more expensive resorts but she also likes the idea of more character meals too!!!

As far as the noise and room size go...the rooms at the moderates are not that much bigger than the values. I really didn't notice a huge difference. And the walls being thinner? I can't say for sure about that, but I can say that our stay at AllStarMusic, even during PopWarner time, was the quietest stay we have had to date. And it was much quieter than our stay at the Polynesian!! If you ask for a room on the back side of the resort you won't get very much noise.

So, if you think you will want a sit-down restaurant, a slide, more adult theming...then go with a moderate. Otherwise, go with a value resort. We found that we never used, well we did just once, the sit-down restaurant at POR. We usually ate bigger meals in the parks and just used the food courts for lighter meals.

 

[Stitch Inside]

"Oct 2003 - All Star Sports.....When visiting Disney will never stay offsite again....the MAGIC is amazing"

As your signature states that you will "never stay offsite again," if you were to stay in a moderate you would probably say that you'd never stay value again.

 

[PamNC]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go to the trip reports board and start reading the posts entitled "You've Got to Be Kidding Me." We stayed at value at first, about 10 years ago when we started going. Then we moved up to moderates, and now we stay at Deluxe (never paying rack rate however!). The jump from value to moderate is defintely worth the money. The resorts and rooms are nicer, rooms are certainly bigger, beds more comfortable, there aren't as many "screaming, crazy, loud, disrespectful" people. The value resorts are off the hook!! I say do it - try to get a code or an AP rate. It's definitely a good move. Oh, and you get a full service restaurant at the moderates. We like Coronado Springs.

PamNC

 

[Hockeychic]

Wow I guess it unanimous (sp). I think we will probably go for a moderate...
The weird question I have is Colorado Springs and Caridean Beach as both moderates but CS is more expensive when I use the walt disney site for a quote??? Anyone know why???

 

[sweetinmaine]

Stay at a moderate. You won't be sorry. We've stayed at CBR, POR and ASM. By far, the moderates were better. Nicer grounds, more amenities. AAA rates the values as 2 stars and the mods at 3 stars. If you're spending the money to go to WDW, treat yourself to the moderate!

 

[LucyStorm]

CSR is a convention resort. That's the reason for the price difference. As far as value and moderate, I always did moderates, tried a value for a short trip, didn't like it, and am heading back to a mod. I would love to try a deluxe, but even with a great discount, it's too pricey for me!

 

[lclark0621]

We would ALWAYS choose a moderate over a value. They are just nicer.

We have only done value resorts for the few days before our wedding & that is because all our guests were staying there to.

 

[ms.ojo]

I posted on a similar thread that OUR experience at ASMo has always been wonderful. The kids (and dh and I) really enjoy the theme. It is just SO Disney. The bus svs is excellent. Only at park closings when it was REALLY crowded did the buses stop at all 3 AS resorts. We never waited more than 10mins for a bus otherwise. The food court was good. We too ate our bigger meals at the parks. the pool, true, no water slide. But the squirting Fantasia Mickey was cute. I think they must use industrial strength insulation as we have never been bothered by noisy neighbors...but take a walk to get ice, and you'll hear many loud rooms! Just fortunately the sound never traveled between the walls. We're actually looking at trying a moderate (if we get good discounts) this May....but we're hesitant. Our experiences have been so good at ASMo...why not save the $$ for the char meals, toys, etc. It's a tough call. Plus, once you take the plunge, it does sound like it might be hard to "go back" to value. For us, this is still a tough decision.

 

[bytheblood]

Yes, bigger room, nicer pool, less noise (most of the time) and better scenery. I only do it with a discount code, however.

 

[Mississippian]

Just my view, but it depends on the price differential (although I've never stayed at a Value resort).

If you have even one AP, then I think the rates can be as low as $49 for a value and $74 for a moderate. In my view a moderate is certainly worth $25 more a night. As that price differential grows, you will have to make up your own mind.

I've stayed at Port Orleans French Quarter several times over the years, and both it and POR have the feel of a Deluxe. The problem is eating. The POFQ food court is really bad and really overpriced. But if you have a car you can drive offsite to eat and save a bundle.

My children really loved the water slide at POFQ. For me, a water slide, substantially fewer people, and about 120 extra square feet of room space is worth $25 per day. $75 extra per day might be another matter. That's just a personal opinion.

 

[dsnylndmom]

For our first family trip to WDW in 2003 we decided to do the ASMo due to price and we thought our kids would love the theming at the Movies. We regretted it. We arrived on a Saturday morning and had switched to CBR by Monday. Our stay at ASMo was that bad.

Due to that I would defintely vote for a moderate.

Also, besides the bad stay I did notice a difference in the size of our room and even though we didn't spend eons of time in the room it was nice to have the larger one.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

We stayed twice in CBR, and then took 2 trips to Value resorts (ASMu and ASMo) - DW said "Why spend the extra on the moderates? These values are great!"

We have since been to WL and AKL - and have decided that if we are going to spend extra, it will be WL/AKL, if we need to watch our spending, it will be a Value.

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says.........................................Dixie Landings is the best moderate. So much room, spread out, great landscapeing.

It comes down to your money situation. If it's a little tight, by all means do All Stars. It's not like you are in a run down place. It is nice. The rooms are a little small, but fine for a couple, even a couple with young kids. Disney theme is all around you and you get to use the transportation system.

One notch up, and one we have done, is start at a Value and move up to a moderate mid-trip. Always start at the Value, never move down after you are there. This gives you the chance to see both and compare, so you can plan your next trip! And there will be a next trip!

 

[Pig Pen]

I would only stay at a value again if I were destitute.

Go for the mod! We loved CSR which is the only mod we have stayed at. Beware though...after a mod is deluxe.............................

I love deluxe!