Value/Stay Longer VS Mod/Leave Early, static budget!

[DubyooDeeDubyoo]

As everyone knows here, I'm sure, a mod resort costs quite a bit more than a value but provides things that a value just doesn't. But here's my situation: My budget is fixed. So what I'm looking at is 3 nights at a Moderate, or more nights (6?) at a value. I do not know what to choose!

Some things about my trip:
- DL vet going to WDW for the first time. I don't really need to see it all as much as I need to see the stuff that's never coming to Anaheim.
- Going during what's supposed to be a rather dead period (early Feb)
- Solo trip.

Booking POFQ (my choice for a mod) would mean a shorter trip, which at first feels counterproductive because I'd be less in the room and more trying to cram in sights. However, travelling alone and being there in an off-peak period would seem to work in my favor against that.

My concern with the values is this:

1. Bus service I've heard nasty things about the bus service at the values. Which resort you book can impact how long you're waiting around for a bus. I've heard nicer things about POP Century as a hotel compared to the AS group, but then I saw this post by Woody13 which gives me the impression I could be waiting longer for a bus at the Pop.

2. The Other Guests I'm a quiet person who mostly keeps to himself. I'm not a light sleeper, but I'll not get any sleep if I feel uncomfortable. I am concerned about being in a hotel with the wrong crowd, as Party Animals and/or Drunks rub off the wrong way with me, as well as a group that I can only define as Scary People, but I hope you know what I mean. That's unlikely to happen at a Disney resort to a degree, but am I that much more likely to find myself surrounded by folks with rough edges at the value resorts compared to a mod?

My mind is currently 65/35 in favor of the POFQ and a shorter trip, due to the fact that I may get lonely from a week of hanging around total strangers and I'll spend less on food (or spend the same amount of money and go to nicer restaurants than food courts.) OTOH, everyone I've seen talk about WDW promotes being there for a week to take it in.

Experience is needed here, I guess. What should I do?

 

[Laura]

I'd stay twice as long. It's the parks that are going to make your experience better, not the hotel. I feel you should only splurge on a nicer hotel if you're going to be at Disney for at least a week, because any less than a week and you won't have time to stay at the hotel anyway. For longer trips, stay somewhere cheap for most of the time, and then spoil yourself the last few days somewhere nice after you've seen all the important stuff at the parks.

I don't think you'll notice a huge different in bus service or guest behavior from value to moderate. Though going to deluxe the people seem to be more refined and respectful.

 

[shoppingnut]

I would go for the value resort. I'm not sure how long of a distance you are travelling to get to WDW, but 3 isn't really enough because when you factor in the arrival and departure date, it doesn't really leave much time.

I've stayed at Pop Century a few times and had no problem with the bus service. I would not stay AS ever again as I find that the resort rooms are in need of a rehab and that is where the put the bands and other groups. They don't do that at Pop. I know some folks have complained about the noise of kids running in the morning, but my answer to that is buy a pair of ear plugs, problem solved. I always have a pair because when you are in a hotel all the sounds are different and tend to wake me up. While I was there, I didn't see any Party Animals, not parties. However, in October while at POR, the room next to us on our last night was clearly having a party and I was just about to call and complain and the party seemed to have broken up.

As far as the weird people, you tend not to find too much of that on property as you do off property. Besides you are not going to be at the hotel that much, so it doesn't make much difference in the grand scheme of things.

I'd go for Pop Century and stay longer.

 

[octoberbarry]

I'd definitely stay longer. There is SO much to do at WDW, and SO much that you haven't seen because it isn't in DL, between the AK, Epcot, MGM, water parks, Downtown, you'll feel like 6 days is probably about right for a solo trip, but 3 days you'd only scratch the surface.
How about 4 nights in Value, and 1 in Moderate, just to experience the difference for yourself?

 

[astewart]

Last trip I stayed at POP, and never waited more then 15-20 minutes for a bus. At allstars, the busses are shared with the movies/sports/music... I THINK.... so you may have more crowded busses.

I'm a heavy sleeper, so i cant say about the noise, but i don't think it was that bad.

I'm going again this Feb too, and i'll be staying at the POP again!

 

[Coree]

I have to agree with everyone else--stay longer at the value. We've stayed at Pop twice and not had problems with the bus or with rowdy people. I'd just suggest not getting a room by a pool as that tends to be a bit louder.

 

[col]

i would say stay longer at pop century though -im staying there in 50 days :xmas: :sohappy: - i would say this for you because like me your budget is limited. from what i can think of is this if you did decide to stay at a value pop century has its own bus route meaning no stopping at another resort and dont get me wrong i loved staying at the all star sports its just that i booked for pop in january 2005. if you did stay at a value there is nothing stopping you visiting the moderate resorts and seeing what they are like plus if you visited a moderate and liked it you could skimp and save for your next trip and stay at a moderate. take this into consideration if you are going are you only going to be using your room for sleep if so then go with a value and if no kids are involved stay on the top floor (thats what im gonna ask them).

let me know what you decide.

 

[lamarvenoy]

STAY LONGER- WDW is much bigger than most people expect. This is really going to be obvious to you if you are a DL vet. 3 days is a cram session at best for a newbie- 6 is a more detailed relaxing tour instead. It will give you more time for other attractions like a waterpark for instance.If going value,I'd recommend POP.

 

[amykissangel]

While it's true that the busses @ All Star stop at each of the three resorts, this is only once in a while - usually in the mornings, you're getting on with a big group of people and there's no room to stop anywhere else. And at night, they've gotten better about one bus to each hotel, not one for three. We've stayed at each one of the All Stars about 12x total, and have NEVER had any problems with noise, rowdiness, sketchy people, etc. My parents and sister just went and stayed at POP, and they loved it. Said the busses were a little faster since it's newer, and it seemed a little closer to the parks. Regardless, the moderates aren't that big of a step up. You're never in your room anyways, so what's a few extra feet and a bigger pool?

 

[MSTINKHERBELL01]

Hello and Welcome to the boards!:wave:

I ONLY stay at the value resorts (being a Fl Res. we visit WDW alot) The price is def. nice and if you are spending more time in the parks and less in the room ...Do it! As far as noice levels..if you are concerned don't stay in the pref. rooms or rooms close to main pool as it can get alittle noisey around those areas at times.

As far as being lonely...I suggest finding out who else (from this board) may be going during your visit...maybe they would like to meet up with you one day.

The positive side of going solo is that you can do what YOU want when YOU want to.:lol:

My GF and I will be there Feb 10-15th.

 

[crazycalf]

If you can only stay 3 days at a mod, i would stay at the value.
3 days is not enough time. You may be able to do everything but you will have to rush.

 

[DubyooDeeDubyoo]

How about 4 nights in Value, and 1 in Moderate, just to experience the difference for yourself?

I'm considering this, actually. My concern about 6 nights is that as the week drags on I'm going to have less money in the budget to cover meals, etc. The dining plan would work for 3-4 days, but after 6-7 that $35 a day starts to hurt.

In the case of a week, I'm considering living on junk food court stuff as much as I can for the first few days and then move up to counter/table when I can't stand it anymore. It would be better than overspending at nice places and later handing over what's left to my name at the low-end joints simply because Man's Gotta Eat.

Also, to help clarify my needs, pools/water parks aren't important. It'll be early Feburary still and I don't swim, anyhow.

Thank you for the many responses!

 

[wannabeBelle]

I would go for the value resort. I'm not sure how long of a distance you are travelling to get to WDW, but 3 isn't really enough because when you factor in the arrival and departure date, it doesn't really leave much time.

I've stayed at Pop Century a few times and had no problem with the bus service. I would not stay AS ever again as I find that the resort rooms are in need of a rehab and that is where the put the bands and other groups. They don't do that at Pop. I know some folks have complained about the noise of kids running in the morning, but my answer to that is buy a pair of ear plugs, problem solved. I always have a pair because when you are in a hotel all the sounds are different and tend to wake me up. While I was there, I didn't see any Party Animals, not parties. However, in October while at POR, the room next to us on our last night was clearly having a party and I was just about to call and complain and the party seemed to have broken up.

As far as the weird people, you tend not to find too much of that on property as you do off property. Besides you are not going to be at the hotel that much, so it doesn't make much difference in the grand scheme of things.

I'd go for Pop Century and stay longer.

Agreed!!!! Belle

 

[Nemo14]

I'm a big fan of the moderates, but for your first visit you'll really need more time. Stay at POP if possible though, then on your next visit, move up to a mod!

 

[NIU EE]

The longer the better as far as the stay. Epcot is huge. Professionals do AK in about a half day but since you've never been there, you wanna give yourself time to explore. And if theres anything we've learned during 2005, its that alot of 'slow' times at disney aren't so slow anymore. You might hit a GREAT 3-6 days, or you might randomly get blindsided by full parks and fastpasses gone by noon. Go value and enjoy the world...who needs sleep anyway?

 

[PhilharMagician]

As a first timer, you will need all of the 6 days and you will still not have seen and done everything. WDW is huge!

 

[WTBAD]

I would stay at a value resort, either Sports or Pops. The POFQ is nicer but it doesn't have table service. Guest at a value resort are no louder than at mods or deluxe, even the GF has kids running all over the place. I've stayed at several different resorts and on average bus service is pretty much the same at all the resorts. There are advantages & disadvantages everywhere. But if I had to choose, I think best (based on available seating) bus service to be All Star Sports, Pops Century and French Quarter. When sharing buses, Sports & FQ are the first on the route & Pops hasn't ever shared (while I was there) with another resort.

 

[col]

ok so i forgot to add this before ive been to disneyworld by myself in may 2005 and i couldnt see me doing it any other way. here is some tips that i did:
- buy a refillable mug; there very worth it.
- take in all the sights parks, water parks, downtown disney, disney quest, boardwalk.
- what i do is go on all the rides in epcot in one day then the next day or so i go to epcot and walk around the countries and take my time.
- hotel hop; thats fun
- get presents and stuff delivered to the room= next day delivery
- i normally do animal kingdom and mgm in one day but take your time
buy chips and stuff from the gift shop and leave in room for when you get back from the parks
- drinks in bottles and stuff are cheaper in the gift shop
- if you have a fast pass for example lights,motors,action and it says 6:30pm and its early go back to the hotel for a nap or swim/ lounge by the pool then go and watch the show and make a night of it.

just some tips.

 

[octoberbarry]

If you get on the meal plan, just use some of the buffets for your sit-down meal, and you'll easily get by on two meals a day, if you time it right. You can eat a LOT of really good food at those buffets...have a late b'fast buffet, or a combo lunch/dinner buffet, and you'll be good to go. Boma, Hollywood & Vine, Crystal Palace, Garden Grill...you can really get stuffed and have a great time doing it.

 

[shoppingnut]

Regarding the dining plan, to economize on it, this is what I would do. Bring a bag of Thomas' bagels or english muffins, because you can toast them for free in the food court and they have butter and jelly for free (cream cheese you have to buy). Definitely buy the mug for drinks it will save you money overall.

For your 3 days of dining, use 3 sit down meals for dinner and the 3 counter service for dinner which will give you 6 dinners. You are entitled to a snack every day, which can be ice cream, popcorn, soft drinks or water. Don't worry about eating at the buffet's for dinner for a sit down, you get more out of your money if you eat at the better restaurants like Le Cellier, 50's prime time, Chef de France. With dinner, you get an appetizer, entree, dessert, coffee and soft drink, that in itself ends up being a ton of food. By doing this, you'd only have to worry about eating something mid-day which would cost about $8 from a counter service place.

Pack whatever snacks you want to have in a carry on bag and bring them with you it will be far cheaper than buying anything on property.