We have a trip booked to WDW in early Feb. I booked it ages ago with airmiles for the flight and I booked a value resort (All Star Sports). We couldn't really afford the trip so this is why I went as cheap as possible. Now that the trip is drawing near and since it is our first trip to WDW, I am thinking it would be nice to stay somewhere other than a value resort...depending on the cost. Is it easy to upgrade and is it worth it or should I just be happy we are going and not worry about where we are staying? We are a husband, wife, 8 year old daughter and 15 month old son. Thanks

It is easy to upgrade, you just have to call. I'd call and get some prices and then make the decision.

I wouldn't go for more than you can afford-- you'll find plenty of other places to spend money at WDW.

We often choose a value resort- usually POP but we did stay at All-Star Music recently and were happy there.

No matter what, you'll have a great time.

We have a trip booked to WDW in early Feb. I booked it ages ago with airmiles for the flight and I booked a value resort (All Star Sports). We couldn't really afford the trip so this is why I went as cheap as possible. Now that the trip is drawing near and since it is our first trip to WDW, I am thinking it would be nice to stay somewhere other than a value resort...depending on the cost. Is it easy to upgrade and is it worth it or should I just be happy we are going and not worry about where we are staying? We are a husband, wife, 8 year old daughter and 15 month old son. Thanks


Just from all the threads and posts I've read, here and on several other boards (I'm a MP traitor!:eek:), POP is the best of the values----newest, cleanest, most fun. Of course, I've only ever stayed at POP, so I may be a little bit biased. Google POP and AllstarSports, compare pictures online. You'll get more than you ever wanted to see! If this is a financial thing for you, I'd definitely keep things as they are---then you won't feel that pinch when you want to buy something uniquely Disney, you'll be able to get the extras that would have gone into room cost.

And just as a btw, we took our daughter for the first time at 18 months, and she loved it---I truly can't remember her crying at all. There was so much for her to see, and do, that she surprised even us with how much she enjoyed it. Of course, she is a princess from birth (LOL) so she may have felt that connection. Have a great time!

FWIW...

On my husband and kids' first trip to WDW (I'd been before, since I grew up on the east coast), we splurged and stayed at the Polynesian. It was nothing short of WONDERFUL and frankly, it set the bar for any future trips.

The next time, we stayed offsite a couple of days and then at the Boardwalk, and we wished we'd stayed at the Poly.

This coming trip, we'd love to stay at the Poly again (good heavens, the snack bar is open 24/7 and has a Dole Whip machine--what better incentive do you need than that, besides great access to the TTC and the monorail and a wonderful resort besides?). But unless I can find some absolutely astounding deal, it will be really hard to not opt for a vacation home offsite for a fraction of the cost of a room at the Poly.

We have stayed at Allstar Sports many times.

It's clean, fun, and there is plenty of space for the kids to run and play.

Go, enjoy, have fun.
Have fun doing what you are doing while you are doing it and don't waste energy worrying about what else you could be doing or where else you could be.

Having fun is the whole idea, right?
So stop second guessing your plans and just get excited about your trip!

(I do compare resort costs, sometimes we stay at different resorts depending on price and time of year. In Feb the pool is not a big factor, for me anyway and pools are the biggest difference. The rooms vary a bit in size, but so far all the Disney resort rooms that I have been in, except the Fort Wilderness cabins, are variations on a theme. Some differences, but basically much the same. )

Really try to factor in how much time you'll actually be spending in your room during your vacation. A lot of relaxation time in the room? Or will it just be some place to crash for a few hours until your next journey to the parks or DTD? If it's the former, splurge a little and go for a Moderate. If it's the latter, stick with the Value.

Just do yourself a favor and remember, you will have to come back to the bills, and they'll have to get paid. If it's not reasonable with your life's budget,then don't waste it. There are plenty of things to do (even at a value resort!) that won't make you break the bank.

If you're planning to come back again, stick with value, that way it'll be easier to save up for another trip! ;)

Now that the trip is drawing near and since it is our first trip to WDW, I am thinking it would be nice to stay somewhere other than a value resort...depending on the cost.

There's nothing quite as distracting while on vacation as feeling like you're "slumming it". Now lots of people like the All Star Resorts, but they just don't work for me. I can't get away from the feeling that I'm staying in the cheapest place available. For whatever reason, I don't get that feeling at the Pop Century, and have stayed there a few times when money was tight. But if you can stretch the budget a bit, the moderates are really much nicer than the value resorts. My favorite is the Coronado Springs Resort, with the rooms laid out around the 15 acre Lago Dorado Lagoon. They have a terrific food court there, as well as a very nice sitdown restaurant. You can rent small boats for tooling around the lagoon, and the main pool is spectacular! This is a convention hotel, but the conventioneers have their own section on the far side of the central area, and really don't impact the regular guests.

All of the moderates are very nice. Just study some pictures here on Mouseplanet and on the Disney web site, and pick the one that has the atmosphere that interests you. You might also want to consider at least one Annual Pass. Even if you're not planning to go back within the year, you can usually save enough on your room rate to more than make up any price difference with the AP. Lately I've only been able to afford 1 trip a year, but I still get an AP. I used it for a trip in early December, and I'll use it again for another trip in October of 2008. I always get discounted AP rooms, so the card really pays off. AND, if you're an AP holder, you can also purchase the Disney Dining Experience card for around $65, which will give you 20% off of all of your sitdown dining, INCLUDING alcohol! For me the DDE pays for itself in just 3 or 4 meals. Plus I LOVE them cheap martinis!

If you do decide to change up, Disney makes it really easy. They'll just apply your current deposit to your new rez, and let you know how much more you need to pay for right away. Of course, they'd just LOVE taking more of your money!

I would try and change my reservation to the Pop Century...it is actually a little cheaper because of the tax at that resort. All-star Sports is no place for an 8 year old girl...lol. Don't waste your money upgrading to a Mod or Deluxe. We did in 2006 and stayed at the Caribbean Beach and I was very disapointed. The transpotation is better at the Pop too.

All-star Sports is no place for an 8 year old girl...lol.

Because?

Pop Century is pretty nice. To be honest, the rooms are ALL small. The deluxe room at AKL is only slightly larger than the rooms at the value resorts. The main difference is the bedding--the beds at the moderate and deluxe resorts are much nicer than the slabs of rock you sleep on at the value resorts.

The wife and I drove down for the weekend of New Year's and the only room available was at AS Music. We were pleasantly surprised at how they have refurbed them. They looked really nice.

It all comes down to money and time. If you're not going ot be hanging out at the room much, a value resort is fine. But if you want to relax, forget a value resort. They are loud! We've had many bad experiences at them. MANY.

I think your level of quiet in a value is more a matter of placement. I always try to get a parking lot view at the Pop, which keeps me out of any central courtyard noise. I've had really good luck with noise at the Pop.

I think your level of quiet in a value is more a matter of placement. I always try to get a parking lot view at the Pop, which keeps me out of any central courtyard noise. I've had really good luck with noise at the Pop.

And it also kind of depends on who is right next door.
At Pop we could hear everything the folks next door said.
We met them outside and they seemed like lovely folks.
I know they had no idea that they were so loud.

You've just got to perfect the ol' triple pound on the walls. Scares the bejeebers out of folks!