Value or Moderate resort? What’s the difference?
For those who are new here, welcome! As a Disney fan I have a goal of staying in ALL the Disney resorts. I don’t count visiting a resort, I mean spend a night in them all. Please comment below if there is a resort you’d love to see me cover.
For this blog I want to share, some key differences between a value and a moderate resorts. I think most families debate between a value or moderate, more than they would moderate or deluxe. Or at least in my opinion, but I will cover that in a later blog. In the “moderate” category you’ll find Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans – French Quarter, and Port Orleans—Riverside. In the “value” resort category you will find All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports, Art of Animation, and Pop Century. Like most bloggers I won’t include the Fort Wilderness campgrounds or cabins, since those accommodations are totally different than the others and are value and moderate. Our last trip was the first time we have stayed at a value resort, and I will say I was pleasantly surprised. I was warned that the value resorts can get crazy when team events are going on at Wide World of Sports, and luckily nothing was booked during our visit.
Pop Century and other value resorts are known for window decorating. Rule: you can’t damage the walls so use suction cups or command hooks.
Waterslides. Disney value resorts have a pool but not a water slide. This doesn’t mean the value resort pools are not fun, but my kids really did miss not having a slide. Hot tubs are also not available at value resorts, which I didn’t realize until we went. Size. Standard rooms at a value resort are smaller than those at a moderate resort. Pop Century rooms are 260 square feet, compared to around 315 at a moderate. The size difference might not matter to you but I did notice during our stay that I had a harder time moving the stroller in and out of our room, and finding a good spot to store it. Having a pack n play might also make you appreciate that extra room size. Dining options. Value and Moderate resorts both offer counter service dining. All moderate resorts offer a table service option. Port Orleans French Quarter is the only moderate to not have its own table service restaurant, but you can walk over to the one at Riverside. Also, Port Orleans offers a quick boat ride to get to Disney Springs and endless dining options. When staying at Pop Century and Art of Animation you can take the Skyliner to the Riviera Resort and Caribbean Beach resort to enjoy their table service restaurants, which we did do during our stay. Theming. Value resorts are usually decorated with larger than life Disney characters and theming. They tend to be more in your face and bold with it. If you have a child that loves Nemo, then Art of Animation is perfect, with its larger than life Nemo charters and theming. Moderate resorts tend to be more subtle and less “in you face Disney”. Some guests want in your face while others want to not be constantly bombarded with Disney theming 24/7.
The splash area at Art of Animation with its larger than life theming.
I love Port Orleans French Quarter for this reason. It’s decorated to feel like New Orleans, and is more themed for Mardi Gras than Mickey. It has a Triton water slide but that is more fitting with the resort theme than the Disney movie theme. Getting around. Before the introduction of the Skyliner I would of said moderate resorts offered better transportation options. The Skyliner has really made it a more even playing field, and was a really great bonus for staying at the resorts along its path. The Skyliner starts at Pop Century and Art of Animation. Pop Century has the largest number of rooms compared to any Disney hotel. All those guests used to have to take bus transportation, but now that crowd is divided. We even decided to try all 4 transportation systems in one day, starting from the Pop Century resort and ending up at Polynesian resort enjoying Trader Sam’s Grotto. I highly recommend doing this.
Lastly we have price! Let’s me honest the main reason most people choose a value resort is because of the price difference. Note: Port Orleans usually the lowest priced of the moderate resorts, but that could change as I write this. On a average value resorts cost about $75 less a night. Obviously this doesn’t include the Art of Animation family suites. I know some wait to the last minute to book their stays in hopes of saving. Those days are gone. Rooms will sell out! I’m not sure if it’s because of reduced capacity, but please don’t wait to book for stay. If you are looking to save use a Disney Travel agent at no extra cost to you. When we have used one in the past they allowed us to pay monthly as long as it was paid fully 30 days in advance.
Other. These are just extra things to consider when debating what level of resort to choose. Typically value resorts seem to attracted larger groups and large travel parties. If you’re a couple looking for time to relax, maybe a value resort isn’t for you. If you like sitting in a lounge and grabbing a drink, then maybe a moderate resort is worth the extra money. Moderate resorts also have added amenities like boat rentals and spa services for an additional cost. If “motel style” doors aren’t your thing, you might consider a moderate resort. All value resorts have motel style doors, except the Art of Animation family suite, which can sometimes lead to a nosier Disney stay.
Is there anything I missed that you would add?
I hope this blog helped you make a decision when deciding between those two resort categories.
