It is every kid’s dream to visit Disney at some point. Disneyland’s tagline is “happiest place on earth.” This all makes sense since it’s a fun-filled theme park attraction. However, a trip to Disney is an expensive venture as you will have to cater for the cost of flights if you are not from California, food, tickets, souvenir, and accommodation if need be. It even gets worse if you are going as a family.
Fundamentally, you will need to plan well for the trip before you embark on the journey. This means looking for relatively cheap options to make your trip more affordable. Even though you are operating on a budget, you do not want to compromise the fun. Therefore, it is necessary to strike a balance between cost-effectiveness and having a gratifying experience. This article gives insights into the secrets to making your trip more affordable.
Which Disney Resort is the most affordable?
When operating on a budget, you would want to consider an off-property accommodation since they are relatively cheap. But when you weigh in other factors such as convenience, you figure out that an on-property resort is not that bad so long as they are pocket-friendly. The resorts are divided into three tiers: Disney value resort, Disney moderate resort, and Disney deluxe resort. The inexpensive option is the Disney value resort.
The Disney value resort is characterized by low prices, minimal space, and amenities. The perks about this resort are that it is at the heart of the park hence giving you convenience and amazing scenery. These resorts are further categorized into all-star movies, all-star sports, all-star music, pop century, and art of animation.
On the other hand, if you are not on a tight budget, you might consider the next tier of the resort, the Disney moderate resort. For the extra cash, you will have access to more amenities and other perks. Resorts in this category include Coronado springs, Caribbean beach, port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside.
What is the difference between value and moderate resorts?
Despite the disparity in price ranges, other differences between Disney value and moderate resorts might impact your selections. Below are the common dissimilarities between the two resorts.
Dining options
You and your family need to be energized after the day’s event or even in the course of the day. In both the value and moderate resort, this is sorted out. Unfortunately for the value hotels, you have limited places to dine from. All you got is a quick-service food court and a pool bar. On the other hand, for the moderate resort, you are spoiled with choice. There are a wide array of restaurants you can choose from; either quick service, table service, or buffet restaurant.
Amenities and recreational facilities
When in Disney, you would want to have some of the best recreational facilities to make the most out of the vacation. Ideally, the diversity of the amenities is all dependent on the amount paid. Therefore, the value resorts have basic recreational facilities such as swimming pools, arcades, running paths, campfires, and watching movies under the stars. This option is ideal if you are not planning to spend a lot of time in the hotel. On the contrary, moderate resorts should be your go-to option if you plan to hang around for a while. These hotels have better-themed pools with waterslides, fun runs, group fitness classes, bike rentals, and fishing.
Resort theming
The theming style of value resorts is what makes them stand out. They convey their themes through their larger-than-life icons. For instance, in the case of all-star resorts, the Disney characters are extremely oversized, while in the art of animation resorts, it is typical to have rooms filled with pixie dust. These themes are eye-grabbing to the kids making their experience even more enjoyable.
In contrast, moderate resorts have subtle themes engraved on them. The themes have ancillary details that are built up from a cohesive backstory. Notably, the theming of port Orleans Riverside and Caribbean Beach are outstanding since their backstory is elaborately explained.
Size of Guestrooms and Beds
The size of the rooms is among the features that set apart moderate and value resorts. Value resorts have relatively small rooms with outdated décor that need a complete overhaul. The all-star resorts and pop-century rooms are approximately 260 square feet, with the art of animation estimated at 277 square feet. Therefore, when selecting the rooms, you need to evaluate whether your family size will fit in. You can consider resorts with family suites if you have a huge family.
There is a substantial difference between the sizing of the value resort rooms and those moderate hotels. The moderate ones have a size of about 600 square feet which is enough size for occupancy for almost seven guests. Additionally, the disparity of the resorts arises from the quality of the rooms. The moderate hotel offers in-room fridges to their clients.
Room pricing
As mentioned earlier, value hotels are cheaper than moderate ones. The value hotels range from $125 per night in low seasons to $370 in the busy season, while the moderate one ranges from $ 240 in low season to $435 during peak season.
Transportation
In case you did not travel with your vehicle to Disneyland, you will need to bank on the complimentary transportation as a way of making the trip affordable. Lucky for you, both resorts have a bus system for transportation to the theme parks, monorails and water transportation. The three all-star resorts have a similar bus route, while pop century and art of animation have their own bus service with a stopover along the Disney skyline. On the other hand, the moderate resort has both bus service and boat transportation, making it easier for their clients to move around.
Conclusively, when making your trip affordable, it is essential to juggle between Disney moderate and value resorts. It is still not easy to choose between the two, especially when weighing on convenience, comfort, cost, and exemplary experience. However, this article eases the decision-making process by highlighting the perks of both options.