Value vs. Moderate

[K.Fish]

We have a family of 5 so we are limited to where we stay. Last year we stayed at Port Orleans which was nice but my husband needs a Queen bed and palm trees for next year. I was looking at the Art of Animation but I am not sure if we want to stay at a value resort. My question is really what are the benefits of staying at a Moderate level resort? Is it worth the extra money of staying there? At the Port Orleans the food was great and there were 3 or 4 bus stops so we didnt have to wait long for any of the buses no matter what time of day. Isn't there only one bus stop at the AoA and how are the wait times? We are looking at the Boardwalk but it is about $1500 more and we dont know if it is worth it.

 

[BibleTeacher]

I always thought the bus service was better at the value resorts. Almost all of our trips to WDW have been spent at the value's. It's not that we don't like the moderates, but it's the fact of the size of the moderates. The value resorts are more compact and easier to navigate.

On the con's side, there is limited things to do at a value. If all you're going to do is sleep at the resort, then the value resort is perfect. If you want to do other things, like boating, ride bikes, etc, then the moderates would be a better fit. You can still do those other things, even while staying at a value resort, it just eats up extra time to travel to another resort.

If it was me, I'd stay at the value resort and use the savings for something else.

 

[sgtmgd]

We have a family of 5 so we are limited to where we stay. Last year we stayed at Port Orleans which was nice but my husband needs a Queen bed and palm trees for next year. I was looking at the Art of Animation but I am not sure if we want to stay at a value resort. My question is really what are the benefits of staying at a Moderate level resort? Is it worth the extra money of staying there? At the Port Orleans the food was great and there were 3 or 4 bus stops so we didnt have to wait long for any of the buses no matter what time of day. Isn't there only one bus stop at the AoA and how are the wait times? We are looking at the Boardwalk but it is about $1500 more and we dont know if it is worth it.

Well its a matter of preference

There is a marked difference between a Value to Moderate and Moderate to Deluxe and to Deluxe to Deluxe Villas

This starts from the beds, to the views you get, quality of the room and ammenities that each proerty offers. There is also a very big difference in the overall ambiance of Deluxe resorts and overall eating and transportation ease. For instance at the Boardwalk you have the option of walking to Epcot..takes all of 5 minutes..or you can ride a boat that launches every 20-25 minutes. You can walk to DHS..20 minutes..or ride the aformentioned boat. Buses come every 20 minutes for trans to MK and AK. THe beds at the Boardwalk are both Queens and very comfortable..th ebalcony view over the boardwalk and facing crecent lagoon is stunning, exspecially at night. Food places...tons of Qs/TS options on the boardwald and you have the advantage of sitting next to the Beachclub and the Yacht Club resorts that also have tones of options. These 3 resorts sittting so close also offer a myriad of pool options and other outdoor activities.

A value..wont be near as elaborate, comfortable or have the food options avaialble. You will also have to bus to all locations. Thats not to say that is a bad thing or that Values arent nice...because they are...but in this instance I think you get what you pay for. I appreciate Disney offering 4 levels of resort so everyone can find a budget to enjoy the Magic.

IF you have the money Id look at a Moderate as its the middle ground...but if you can afford the Deluxe without overextending,,,Id jump all over it.

 

[CB2@disney]

I think it comes down to how much time you plan to be at the resort. We've stayed at the Value, Moderate, and Delux. Being a single Mom...Delux isn't something we do often and it usually is a one-two night thing. We stay at Value resorts when we plan to not be there except to sleep... you know those trips were you are packing in as much as possible in a shot time. We stay at Moderate level when we are going to be there to relax some as well as do disney. Anyway you look at it a Disney resort will be nice, you just have to determine how much you are going to be there and when you are there what the most important thing. Then picked the resort that fits that need. That's what we do anyway. Good Luck.

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

Well its a matter of preference

There is a marked difference between a Value to Moderate and Moderate to Deluxe and to Deluxe to Deluxe Villas

This starts from the beds, to the views you get, quality of the room and ammenities that each proerty offers. There is also a very big difference in the overall ambiance of Deluxe resorts and overall eating and transportation ease. For instance at the Boardwalk you have the option of walking to Epcot..takes all of 5 minutes..or you can ride a boat that launches every 20-25 minutes. You can walk to DHS..20 minutes..or ride the aformentioned boat. Buses come every 20 minutes for trans to MK and AK. THe beds at the Boardwalk are both Queens and very comfortable..th ebalcony view over the boardwalk and facing crecent lagoon is stunning, exspecially at night. Food places...tons of Qs/TS options on the boardwald and you have the advantage of sitting next to the Beachclub and the Yacht Club resorts that also have tones of options. These 3 resorts sittting so close also offer a myriad of pool options and other outdoor activities.

A value..wont be near as elaborate, comfortable or have the food options avaialble. You will also have to bus to all locations. Thats not to say that is a bad thing or that Values arent nice...because they are...but in this instance I think you get what you pay for. I appreciate Disney offering 4 levels of resort so everyone can find a budget to enjoy the Magic.

IF you have the money Id look at a Moderate as its the middle ground...but if you can afford the Deluxe without overextending,,,Id jump all over it.

I have to agree with my buddy Sgt on this. We have never stayed at a Value, only because, we do spend alot of time at our resort. We are used to the monorail, buses, boats, walk to TTC at the Poly, however having said that, we did stay at the Coronado about 8 yrs ago. The beds were fine. With all of the attention AOA is getting lately, and being brand spanking new, I'm sure the beds are fine POFQ was our first stay at Disney when it was Dixie Landings and we loved it. Everything Sgt said is spot on correct, in my opinion. I'd call and ask about the beds at AOA, personally. It may wind up being more comfortable for your family (size wise) than a moderate, and also save some money. Good luck in your choice

 

[bethymouse]

AofA is a good choice, but I believe the "suites" are a bit more expensive but nice & roomy! Not sure about the bus service, as we haven't stayed there yet. I've never had a problem anywhere I've stayed, value or moderate.
The rooms are nicer at a deluxe and transportation is more convenient (except AKL).
All Star Music Suites are nice and roomy, and a bit more expensive. The values only have QS type food courts on site. The pools do not have slides. The moderates have table service restaurants and pools have slides.
Good luck w/ your choice! if you can do it, spend the extra 1,500$ for the Boardwalk!

 

[tare]

I opt for value in dec and in summer we do a moderate!!

 

[slappy magoo]

When it comes to AoA suites (as opposed to a standard room in a Value resort) you are getting some distinct advantages - a separate sleeping area (with larger bed) for the parents, 2 bathrooms, 2 TVs. For a family of 5, a single moderate room might be packed. After that difference, then you have to think about how much time you'd like to stay in the resort versus the time you spend in the parks. AoA affords you the biggest non-water-park pool on property, one food court, but no full service restaurant. An office center (if you need it - something most values and most moderates don't have) but not much extra recreational amenities, the way mods may have watercraft and bike rentals.

Have you considered a Fort WIlderness Cabin? Like the AoA suites, they sleep 6, although the arrangements aren't the same - one bedroom with a large bed and bunk beds, plus a Murphy bed in the living room (for a family of 5, 3 small children may fit in the Murphy bed or one child may be able to sleep on the sofa if mom & dad prefer privacy). But you're also getting a full kitchen (which may save some money if you opt to make some meals). Plus more onsite amenities, boat access to MK and the Contemporary resort (which affords you monorail access to Poly and GF and Epcot, if you prefer). Only one bathroom, though. Were we not members of DVC, I'd be harder pressed to choose FW cabins or AoA suites, rather than choosing between AoA suites or a moderate room...

 

[dreamfinder]

Mods are slightly larger rooms, tend to have more understated themeing (no 20 ft tall dalmatians), and a sit down restaurant. (POFQ is the odd man out there, but PORS is a short walk away) They also are usually a bit quieter since most groups tend to stay at the values.

As mentioned, what do you plan on doing at the hotel? Sleeping and showering? Then why spend the extra money. But if you like down time, and wandering around the resort, definitely look mod.

 

[Poofiesdream]

Value resorts do not have a hot tube or pool slide. Also values do not have a covered bus stop area. POFQ now has two queen size beds in a room all just refurbished last year. Just a matter of what your looking for. I stayed AKL club level and thought it was not worth the money but like the mods best. When money is an issue I have no problem at a value. There all good!

 

[WDWmazprty]

Yes, for us its also how much time we will be at the hotel. To us, ALL the resorts in Disney are great. But it doesnt makes sense for us to pay more money for a room we're really not going to be in alot; we'll use it to sleep and shower because we'll be at the parks all day. Of course, if you're the ones who take it easy and relax and chill at the resort, then by all means, spend the money and upgrade. Thats the way we look at it anyway, and its worked for us. =)

 

[twinnstar]

I havent stayed at a moderate resort, so my view is skewed but, I feel like - if I'm going to spend the money, I'll stay at the deluxe, then you get everything! If im not, ill stay at the value, which is nice also and you still get the disney treatment! Ive stayed at both extremes, and loved both! So id save the money and do value.

 

[Lori Nicklas]

I have stayed at 3 of the value resorts, 3 moderate and a deluxe....The people in the Deluxe were not the type of people Iwould like to be around. These people seemed to be ones that live in the spas and have lots of money to spend. The value resorts are good, clean nice rooms.. However I hear lots of stuff going on outside and the pools are not as nice as the ones in the Caribbean Beach or have the other items to rent and use at your finger tips. People here seem to be like me. They appreciate the money the make and are not sorry for anything at these resorts. Rooms are bigger as well. I am just a people watcher. My goal in life is to stay at all of the resorts before I die. This is just what I have come to notice.

 

[K.Fish]

Thank you all for the comments, they all were very helpful! We dont spend much time at the resorts except to sleep, shower, some QS meals, and maybe a quick swim... So I think we are thinking of trying a AoA suite, we are not going until May so we will see what kind of specials they start running the first of the year! Thanks again!

 

[WannaBWendy]

We always stay at a deluxe or moderate and stayed at AofA this year due to also having 5 people. We all loved the resort. I didn't feel like I was missing anything, and the room was bigger than a moderate or some deluxe rooms. Having 2 bathrooms was a PLUS. We never had to wait long for a bus. I don't think you will miss anything if you stay at AofA.