Value Resort v. Moderate

scrapjem

scrapjem

Member
I'm trying to decide if it's worth the extra money for a moderate resort like Port Orleans vs. one of the Value ones. My kids are 2, 4 and 6. Would they enjoy the value one more? I read the room sizes are the same whcih is my main concern. Any thoughts? Are the value resorts nice and clean?

Thanks for any input! This will be the kids first trip!
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Welcome to the boards! Yes, I believe your kids would enjoy the theming of a value resort more than a moderate, especially All Star Movies or All Star Sports (if you have boys.) The values are well maintained and clean. You should also consider the Little Mermaid section of the new Art of Animation...same price as All Stars, but newer.

Know that the value resorts offer double beds while the moderates offer queen size beds. Two adults sharing a double bed can be a bit cozy...
 
Upvote 0
DaddyDisneyMan

DaddyDisneyMan

Well-Known Member
We have 2 boys (3 & 6), and we are heading back to Pop for the second year in a row and wouldn't have it any other way. Once the boys get a bit older we have every intentions of venturing out into the moderate/deluxe resorts. Until then, Pop is our resort of choice. Rooms may be on the small side, but this isn't a honeymoon or a relaxing vacation where you will be spending a lot of time in the room. For our family of 4, its PERFECT!

My apologies! I forgot to Welcome you to the boards. How rude of me. :)
 
Upvote 0
OswaldTheRabbit

OswaldTheRabbit

Well-Known Member
We love the "loud" theming of the value resorts better than the moderates but the double beds are a deal breaker for us. Our 2 trips this year will be in moderates because they have queen beds and more room. It is tough to even get all our stuff in the value rooms and I am a super light /efficient packer. Putting 5 in them (with the crib) it will b very tight.

Also for our family if we don't sleep well the we are just cranky the next day!

Again I love the value theming though!
 
Upvote 0
Weather_Lady

Weather_Lady

Well-Known Member
We, too, opt for the moderates -- not because we have anything against the values, but because my 6'+ husband can't sleep comfortably in a double bed. (Caribbean Beach, a moderate, has double beds, too, so we avoid it as well.) We've always traveled when there is a room discount that brings our costs closer to what we'd pay for a value room in a non-discounted season, so it hasn't been a cost-prohibitive choice. Also, I know the moderate rooms are larger than the values, and like a previous poster said, even so it's tough to fit our things in the moderate rooms even though we pack very light (e.g., with just 3 carry-on pieces of luggage holding the clothes, toiletries and foodstuffs for four people).

Although the theming is subtler in the moderates, our kids enjoyed it nonetheless. In October we stayed in the Alligator Bayou section of Port Orleans Riverside, and my son and daughter enjoyed exploring the room and discovering all of the hidden Mickeys and "Princess and the Frog" references throughout the decor and artwork.
 
Upvote 0
Tink0102

Tink0102

Well-Known Member
I don't have any experience under my belt since this will be our first trip, but I looked at both the moderates and values when making our decision and really tried to look at each through the eyes of my 8 year old. While the moderates really appealed to ME I just felt like the colors and themes of the All Star Movie caught the true feel of Disney and would be more appealing to my son. The double beds are going to a test especially since DH and I are used to a King, but we both are really "edge of the bed sleepers anyway (we always laugh over the fact that we have room for two more people in the space we leave in the middle of our King size bed). I was also very disappointed when I realized the values did not have coffee makers in the room, but we are going to take an old percolator that we have (unless I get brave and think the Keurig can handle the 10 hour car trip ;)). Like some of the other posters said, I felt like we werent going to be in the room that much anyway and decided we would rather use the money we would save by staying at a value else where....like on one or 20 of those incredible minnie mouse candy apples...a friend brought one back for about 5 of us to share, so I only got a little chunk and I want my very own this time...no sharing! (just kidding about getting 20 of them...or am I? :p)
 
Upvote 0
SAV

SAV

Well-Known Member
We stay at POP and the kids(and I) love it. We aren't there that much, so the room size doesn't matter. We're in it to sleep and get ready for the day.

Yes, the rooms are clean and many have been recently redone.

If your group is going to spend some time in the rooms, then a Mod may be worth it for you.
 
Upvote 0
reboonefamily

reboonefamily

Member
My family of 5 stayed at Port Orleans Riverside in April/ May last year. The family loved how quit it was. There are 4 pools to choose from. The food is good. You can take a boat ride to downtown Disney/ Disney Springs. Just leave early for buses. My mom stayed at All Star Music and it was loud. I heard all the All Star Resorts are loud. We are going back to Port Orleans Riverside from on now. :)
 
Upvote 0
reboonefamily

reboonefamily

Member
Tuvalu said:
Welcome to the boards! Yes, I believe your kids would enjoy the theming of a value resort more than a moderate, especially All Star Movies or All Star Sports (if you have boys.) The values are well maintained and clean. You should also consider the Little Mermaid section of the new Art of Animation...same price as All Stars, but newer.

Know that the value resorts offer double beds while the moderates offer queen size beds. Two adults sharing a double bed can be a bit cozy...
Click to expand...
I heard it was loud at the All Star Resorts from family and with kids that may not be good at bed time.
 
Upvote 0
Figgy1

Figgy1

Well-Known Member
Tink0102 said:
I don't have any experience under my belt since this will be our first trip, but I looked at both the moderates and values when making our decision and really tried to look at each through the eyes of my 8 year old. While the moderates really appealed to ME I just felt like the colors and themes of the All Star Movie caught the true feel of Disney and would be more appealing to my son. The double beds are going to a test especially since DH and I are used to a King, but we both are really "edge of the bed sleepers anyway (we always laugh over the fact that we have room for two more people in the space we leave in the middle of our King size bed). I was also very disappointed when I realized the values did not have coffee makers in the room, but we are going to take an old percolator that we have (unless I get brave and think the Keurig can handle the 10 hour car trip ;)). Like some of the other posters said, I felt like we werent going to be in the room that much anyway and decided we would rather use the money we would save by staying at a value else where....like on one or 20 of those incredible minnie mouse candy apples...a friend brought one back for about 5 of us to share, so I only got a little chunk and I want my very own this time...no sharing! (just kidding about getting 20 of them...or am I? :p)
Click to expand...
Don't worry about your coffee maker just make sure to pack it well! If my old pos coffee maker can make a 16 hour car ride a much sturdier Keurig should have no problem!
 
Upvote 0
Tink0102

Tink0102

Well-Known Member
reboonefamily said:
I heard it was loud at the All Star Resorts from family and with kids that may not be good at bed time.
Click to expand...

I heard that too. I also heard that there are some places in the All stars that are more quite than others and that if you ask them for a one of those rooms when you make your reservations they will accommodate you. So that is what I did....I will be able to tell you after the 22nd of June if that strategy worked or not.
 
Upvote 0
ParentsOf4

ParentsOf4

Well-Known Member
scrapjem said:
I'm trying to decide if it's worth the extra money for a moderate resort like Port Orleans vs. one of the Value ones. My kids are 2, 4 and 6. Would they enjoy the value one more? I read the room sizes are the same whcih is my main concern. Any thoughts? Are the value resorts nice and clean?

Thanks for any input! This will be the kids first trip!
Click to expand...
At the age of your children, my kids liked the "over-the-top" theming on the Value Resorts.

Rooms are larger plus all the little extras are better at a Moderate Resort but I doubt your children will notice the difference.

Except for theming all 5 of the Value Resorts are pretty much the same.

IMHO, you should save the money and go with a Value Resort for their first trip. It's more expensive than the other Value Resorts but Art Of Animation (WDW's newest Value Resort) is themed with characters they already know. Alternatively, consider All Star Movies because of theming.

All Star Music is usually the easiest to book and sometimes has slightly better discounts. This is mostly because its theming tends to have the fewest fans.

I've had bad experiences with noise at the Value Resorts. They tend to attract large groups. Had more than one experience of teenagers yelling outside after midnight but I'm a light sleeper.
 
Upvote 0
scrapjem

scrapjem

Member
Original Poster
Lol. I had to laugh about the sleeping on the edge because my husband and I are the same in our king bed. Thank you for all your input! I appreciate it.
Tink0102 said:
I don't have any experience under my belt since this will be our first trip, but I looked at both the moderates and values when making our decision and really tried to look at each through the eyes of my 8 year old. While the moderates really appealed to ME I just felt like the colors and themes of the All Star Movie caught the true feel of Disney and would be more appealing to my son. The double beds are going to a test especially since DH and I are used to a King, but we both are really "edge of the bed sleepers anyway (we always laugh over the fact that we have room for two more people in the space we leave in the middle of our King size bed). I was also very disappointed when I realized the values did not have coffee makers in the room, but we are going to take an old percolator that we have (unless I get brave and think the Keurig can handle the 10 hour car trip ;)). Like some of the other posters said, I felt like we werent going to be in the room that much anyway and decided we would rather use the money we would save by staying at a value else where....like on one or 20 of those incredible minnie mouse candy apples...a friend brought one back for about 5 of us to share, so I only got a little chunk and I want my very own this time...no sharing! (just kidding about getting 20 of them...or am I? :p)
Click to expand...
 
Upvote 0
scrapjem

scrapjem

Member
Original Poster
Thank you everyone for all your valuable advice! I didn't realize Values had doubles so that might be a deciding factor since my husband and I are not small people. Lol. Started WW but may not lose enough by then to share a double. We stayed at Port Orleans once when we were dating and it was very nice. I can't wait to explore more of this site!

And thanks for all the welcomes! I'm so excited about planning this trip to surprise the kiddos!
 
Upvote 0
scrapjem

scrapjem

Member
Original Poster
reboonefamily said:
My family of 5 stayed at Port Orleans Riverside in April/ May last year. The family loved how quit it was. There are 4 pools to choose from. The food is good. You can take a boat ride to downtown Disney/ Disney Springs. Just leave early for buses. My mom stayed at All Star Music and it was loud. I heard all the All Star Resorts are loud. We are going back to Port Orleans Riverside from on now. :)
Click to expand...
My husband and I stayed at PO when we were dating and the boatride was also one of my favorite parts. Thanks your input.
 
Upvote 0

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom