AoA & Definition Of Value vs Moderate

[Raineman]

I'm sure this has been discussed somewhat, but if you consider the basic definition of a value resort vs a moderate resort, should AoA be considered a moderate resort or continue as a value resort? If you look at the theming of AoA, it fits the theming of a value-bright colours, lots of Disney IP, etc, and the dining fits with a value, as there is no TS restaurant, only QS. However, if you look at room rates/room amenities for all of the rooms except the Little Mermaid rooms, it fits the definition of a moderate. If the LM buildings were refurbed so that the rooms were suites like the rest of the resort, and a TS restaurant was added, would it be classed as a moderate, even with the "in your face" theming still intact? Is AoA in a resort category of it's own, in between value and moderate? Thoughts?

 

[Master Yoda]

The short answer is no. AoA would have to add a good bit more that a TS restaurant to fit into the moderate category.

AoA fits the definition of value suites. The rack rate of a suite at AoA is just slightly more than a standard room at a moderate and considerably less (at times almost half) than a suite at a moderate.

 

[DarthVader]

Value resorts:
Pool w/o a slide
no table services
smaller rooms (used to be full size beds vs. queen)

I'm not one to say that the theming is using brighter colors so it must be a moderate resort

 

[Master Yoda]

Value resorts:
Pool w/o a slide
no table services
smaller rooms (used to be full size beds vs. queen)

I'm not one to say that the theming is using brighter colors so it must be a moderate resort

There is also the lack of onsite entertainment and activities. Moderates offer boat rentals, fishing, carriage rides, musical entertainment, etc.

 

[DarthVader]

There is also the lack of onsite entertainment and activities. Moderates offer boat rentals, fishing, carriage rides, musical entertainment, etc.

Good point, I forgot about thsoe ancillary activities. In fact we usually take advantage of those

 

[Jedi Stitch]

Well it is high end value. Just googling the rate for right now it is $140 for AoA and $109 for ASsports, so the $31 buck difference per person per night could be all the difference for some families.

 

[Master Yoda]

Well it is high end value. Just googling the rate for right now it is $140 for AoA and $109 for ASsports, so the $31 buck difference per person per night could be all the difference for some families.

You will see the same thing throughout the value to the deluxe resorts. Pop will cost a few bucks more than the All Stars and AoA will cost more than Pop. Caribbean beach is often the lowest priced moderate followed by Coranado and Riverside. French Quarter is often a few bucks more than the others.

It all has to do with popularity which tends to translate into demand.

 

[DisneyJoe]

When AoA first opened I was told it was considered a "Value Plus" resort

 

[DisneyJoe]

You will see the same thing throughout the value to the deluxe resorts. Pop will cost a few bucks more than the All Stars and AoA will cost more than Pop. Caribbean beach is often the lowest priced moderate followed by Coranado and Riverside. French Quarter is often a few bucks more than the others.

It all has to do with popularity which tends to translate into demand.

It wasn't always that way - I used to be able to price a standard room at all moderates for the same dates and the per night rate was the same - to the penny.

 

[Raineman]

What is the official capacity of a family suite at AoA? If a family of 4 compares a family suite at AoA at $400/night vs a standard room at AoA or any other value at $100-$150, then the option of booking a family suite at a value resort is basically almost the same as the option of booking a standard room at most moderates. I definitely think that AoA could be classed as a "deluxe value" resort just based on the price of the majority of the rooms. New WDW visitors, that don't have the knowledge of the pricing structure at the resorts, might see that AoA is a value resort and expect value resort prices, when the reality is most of the rooms are far beyond value resort prices. In that case, calling AoA a value resort is a bit misleading, IMO.

 

[DisneyJoe]

What is the official capacity of a family suite at AoA? If a family of 4 compares a family suite at AoA at $400/night vs a standard room at AoA or any other value at $100-$150, then the option of booking a family suite at a value resort is basically almost the same as the option of booking a standard room at most moderates. I definitely think that AoA could be classed as a "deluxe value" resort just based on the price of the majority of the rooms. New WDW visitors, that don't have the knowledge of the pricing structure at the resorts, might see that AoA is a value resort and expect value resort prices, when the reality is most of the rooms are far beyond value resort prices. In that case, calling AoA a value resort is a bit misleading, IMO.

6 persons plus a child under age 3 in a crib

 

[Master Yoda]

It wasn't always that way - I used to be able to price a standard room at all moderates for the same dates and the per night rate was the same - to the penny.

Quite correct. Disney use to be pretty BS free when it came to resort pricing. Seems that all started to slip away when they started charging more for Friday and Saturday nights a handful of years ago.

 

[slappy magoo]

We only ever spent one night in a Value, and it was LM room at AoA during a trip where we arrived a night earlier than our scheduled check-in elsewhere. And during our stay we took more than our share of pictures with the kids and each other at all of the sections of the resorts, the various statues, etc. We also saw plenty of other people doing the same.

But that doesn't take away that there are more limited amenities, no sit down restaurants...and honestly were it not for those giant statues, I think people would be more highly aware of that, and question how much "value" is in a "value" resort (Especially this year, where the Disney Springs Hotels get you extra magic hours, and WDW is charging for parking), making the cost to erect those statues as much a necessary evil as it is a stylistic choice.

But going back to the OP, I think one of the reasons suite prices at AoA are what they are is simply that people are willing to pay those prices to stay there. Rack rates for suites are more than double rack rates for 2 LM rooms, despite the fact that 2 LM rooms would sleep 8 and suites sleep 6. Because of that "in your face" theming, AND the fact that there aren't many choices for a family/group of 6 to get a suite in WDW, AoA has a demand that I suspect even WDW didn't envision when they planned it; I suspect if they had they would have tried to add more buildings if possible or make the LM buildings suites too and bill the whole resort as "the first all-suite Value resort." Quite frankly I sometimes think they were hedging their bets and somewhere deep in the bowels of Imagineering there are "contingency" blueprints to renovate the suites into individual rooms, in case demand for suites wasn't that high. But the prices are what they are because people are willing to pay them. Quite frankly I think the term "Value" resorts for WDW hotels is bit anachronistic at this point. You're paying a premium for location and theming and free bus transportation to the parks and to/from the airport, but they're only a "Value" compared to other on site hotels.