all star sports vs. moderate resorts

bamafan19 · Post by **bamafan19** » Mar Tue 27, 2007 4:35 pm

For the most part, I have come to the conclusion that I'm only in the room to sleep in at night so why not pocket the difference. I stayed at AllStar Sports for the 1/2 Marathon 2 years in a row and loved it.

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Mar Wed 28, 2007 10:54 pm

bamafan19 wrote:For the most part, I have come to the conclusion that I'm only in the room to sleep in at night so why not pocket the difference. I stayed at AllStar Sports for the 1/2 Marathon 2 years in a row and loved it.

Exactly my thinking. I have so many other things I would rather spend my money on. I can hang out by a pool here at home. I'm thinking of booking a week trip tomorrow and staying at Pop Century.

AKLRULZ · Post by **AKLRULZ** » Mar Thu 29, 2007 5:06 am

I was able to tour every resort, including viewing the rooms last week when I was down at Disney and there's a huge difference in the moderate to value class., but here's the thing - only if you've got the money it's worth upgrading. If it's going to cause budget issues for you or you're going to have to go into credit card debt or scrimp elsewhere to upgrade it's probably not worth it. For some the resort experience is huge, others it's not so big of a deal. Everyone's different and everyone's got a different budget - thank goodness Disney recognizes it, eh?!

jcodirewolf · Post by **jcodirewolf** » Mar Thu 29, 2007 8:51 am

My experience has been it depends.

Longer stays it's worth upgrading if only for the fridge. Yes you can get a fridge for $10/night at the values. But sometimes that difference in price makes makes the moderates competitive.

Short stays, where we might only be at the room for 8-12 hours, then I want a clean room with a bed and showers (there have been times when I've only turned the TV on long enough to wait for the weather report.)

So it's got a few factors involved. How long, what offers, what we are planning on doing, and what events are at the parks. Pop Warner weekend, Moderate all the way. Star Wars weekend, Boardwalk/Beach Club/Yacht Club.

johno

secondstar · Post by **secondstar** » Apr Thu 05, 2007 9:47 am

I haven't stayed at a value-priced resort yet, but we may on our next trip.

On a different note, we had reservations for Pop Century in 2004. I was 10 days from departure when I called to finish paying off the trip. The cast member asked me if I was excited and I told her "No." I said I couldn't get enthused about staying at Pop Century because I knew nothing about it. The price was just TOO GOOD TO PASS UP!. She said, "What if I got you in a moderate for around the same price?" Now that's what I love about Disney!!! She booked us into POR for only $79/night. That made the whole trip.

Slightly off the subject, but in 2002 we were taking my in-laws down for their first (and only) trip. I had been calling once a week to see if any AP rates were available for the Wilderness Lodge. (I was not aware of sites like this that post that information regularly.) It was Christmas time and I really wanted my in-laws to be inpressed. On one phone call, the cast member told me those rates would not come out until the end of the month and I should wait until then to call back. When I did call at the month's end, another cast member informed me rates had been released weeks ago and all rooms at the Wilderness Lodge had been taken. (I was extremely disappointed.) She told me to "hold on" and left momentarily. When she returned, she said, "What if I could get you into the Animal Kingdom Lodge, 2nd floor with a Savannah view, for only $159/night?' Once again, a cast member saved the vacation!!!

You have to love Disney!!!

AJBARTH · Post by **AJBARTH** » Jun Sun 10, 2007 3:21 am

I've stayed at just about all the rated value resorts in WDW and outside the grounds and I've come to the sound belief that no matter where you stay, you only use the room to bathe and sleep. You are on the go most of the time so why go out and spent a great part of your vacation funds on a resort room just to say you stayed at the xyz, big money resort. This money can be more wisely used on food and tickets. We did rent a home just a few miles off the grounds and this was a very pleasent experience, home with a pool and other nice things and cheaper than any room at WDW. But you miss the on ground amenities you get at the world. Pop's Century is a real nice value place and would recommend to anyone.

casrin · Post by **casrin** » Jun Sat 16, 2007 4:28 pm

This will sound bad of me, but here goes anyway...

We stayed at All Star Sports when it first opened and they didn't have all the units up and running. Only the closest three buildings were open at the time. It was nice and quiet and we were really impressed.

The second time we went, it was ALL open and... okay, so it was just like staying out on 192 as far as the way that guests behaved. Um... trashy, anyone? It just was, and I'm sorry to say that. The clincher for us was this group of cheerleaders who'd taken over the lobby area of the front entrance and literally had lain down all over the place. You had to walk over them in order to get through there and it was just "accepted" - why? I don't know.

After that, we went to Wilderness Lodge and when we couldn't afford that, Dixie Landings. And we NEVER had an experience like that with the fellow guests at the moderate or luxury resorts. (And I rather doubt the CMs would have allowed it either.

)

So... though I don't use the pool or spend a lot of time at the resort, I'd go moderate or higher just for the "higher class" or better class attitude from the fellow guests...

SWHorn · Post by **SWHorn** » Jun Tue 19, 2007 3:45 pm

When we can get good rates, we like to stay at Old Key West. I've stayed in Moderates, and I'm not all that impressed for the difference in the price over the Value Resorts.

What it comes down to is the fact that we like to visit WDW 1-3 times a year for 10+ days. When we go, we don't hang out in the resort. We go to the parks. If we didn't take as many trips and for as long, we could probably do the better resorts. But, personally, it's just not worth it to me. I'd rather be at WDW longer and more often than stay once in a nicer resort.

That being said, if you have the money...go for it! If I had more money than I knew what to do with, I wouldn't stay in Value resorts any more.

Croaker · Post by **Croaker** » Jun Tue 19, 2007 5:22 pm

Old Key West is awesome. that jacuzzi tub saved my life...i arrived and was sick the first 2 days of my trip. a box of dayquil, 3 gallons of orange juice (florida of course) and the jacuzzi tub...i was well on day 3.

its just a more relaxing trip...a feeling that you have a home not a hotel. but price is a huge difference. thats the only hard part. SWHorn has it nailed.

Post by **rdeacon** » Jun Wed 20, 2007 10:22 am

casrin wrote:We stayed at All Star Sports.... so it was just like staying out on 192 as far as the way that guests behaved. Um... trashy, anyone? It just was, and I'm sorry to say that. The clincher for us was this group of cheerleaders who'd taken over the lobby area of the front entrance and literally had lain down all over the place. You had to walk over them in order to get through there and it was just "accepted" - why? I don't know.

I have to say i've had this type of experience more then once with the All-Star/Pop Century resorts.

On my trip before last I stayed at Pop Century to give it a "chance". I did like the theming of the resort, but the level of people that stay there tarnishes the value resorts. Not to sound like a snob, but the "class" of people is a major issue when staying there. I think I could except the smaller rooms and lack of some amenities, if the people were of better caliber.

On our most recent trip we stayed at Wilderness Lodge, and it made the trip sooo much better, more Disneyfied. I was kinda surprised at this, because I generally spend 99% of my time at the parks, and not really at the hotel. But it made a huge difference staying there.

So unless we are traveling with a group and trying to keep the cost down for others, I am done with the value resorts. Moderate and up for me!

And if that makes me a snob... well at least I am a Disney Snob!

Rich

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Jun Wed 20, 2007 10:41 am

We've stayed at All Sports and my DW wasn't happy with it. We tend to spend a day or two at what ever resort we're in. It feels good to have a break from the parks and relax.
The Mods have some great pools and a better variety of food choices.
But we seem to enjoy the Deluxe's a whole lot more. Much bigger rooms and for the most part you are closer to the parks. We tend to stay in the Board Walk area. My DW can get a great room at the Swan for cheaper then a Value. We've stayed at several different Deluxe's and have found it a better deal when we plan on using it as a resort.

casrin · Post by **casrin** » Jun Wed 20, 2007 10:53 am

Woo to being a Disney snob, Rich!

Jacca5660 · Post by **Jacca5660** » Jun Wed 20, 2007 10:58 am

casrin wrote:Woo to being a Disney snob, Rich!

Not a snob, my DW can get us in for under $70 a night. Not Ri$h either, hard working!

ldzny · Post by **ldzny** » Jun Wed 20, 2007 12:44 pm

I'd vote for the moderate, the themes look more relaxing. I've never stayed at a value...

SWHorn · Post by **SWHorn** » Jun Wed 20, 2007 2:02 pm

ldzny wrote:I'd vote for the moderate, the themes look more relaxing. I've never stayed at a value...

I will agree with the relaxed theming of the moderates. They definitely have that going for them.