Moderate vs Value Resorts: When Is It Worth The Upgrade?

Picking a Value or Moderate Resort when heading to Disney from the UK and staying in a Disney Resort can feel like a big decision, especially given the price differences. And if you’ve sat there wondering what the difference really means, like we did as first-timers, here’s our inside scoop. And the reasons why we tend to book Value even when staying more than 14 nights, unless there is a certain UK exclusive promotion on.

Quick differences between Moderate and Value Resorts

The differences between Moderate and Value Disney Resorts are small:

When do UK visitors get more from a Moderate Resort?

There is one instance where I would recommend pricing a Moderate Resort over a Value Resort and that is when the UK’s Free Disney Dining and Drinks Offer is available. In 2027 the offer gives a full free quick service dining plan per nights when you book a Moderate Resort in comparison to only a free quick service meal and drink with one meal per night at Value Resorts.

Value vs Moderate Skyliner Hotels

In the Value category, Pop Century and Art of Animation both have Skyliner access. In the Moderate category, Caribbean Beach Resort is the main Skyliner option. They give you easier access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and many families prefer them to relying on buses every day.

Pop Century is often the best choice for UK families who want to keep costs down without giving up on the Skyliner transport option. Art of Animation is the middle option, with Walt Disney World’s largest resort pool. Caribbean Beach is better suited to those who want the Skyliner plus bigger rooms and more dining choice.

Price differences between Moderate and Value Resorts

*How we got our prices: Nightly rates can vary across travel providers. These are 2026 prices and consider low to be September and January and high to be Christmas and Easter time using Standard room options. Offers will impact price per night.

Value Resorts are the cheapest on-site hotel option at Disney World, whilst Moderate Resorts are the middle ground. From a price perspective we find that resorts can be ranked as follows based on price if you are watching the pennies. From the cheapest Value to the most expensive Moderate resort at Disney World:

On a 14-night trip from the UK the difference between the cheapest Value option and the cheapest Moderate option adds up, with a price difference of around £1,500. Here is an example of the price range for a 2027 hotel stay only priced for 14 nights through the Walt Disney Travel Company in the UK.

There is less of a price difference between the Moderate Resorts, but the price difference between staying on-site in a Value Resort for 14 nights from the UK and staying in a Moderate Resort is £1,820.

That is why the choice between Value and Moderate is so important for UK families: when you pay more you want to feel like you get more out of the resort you stay in.

Do Moderate and Value Resorts get different on-site perks?

No, there is no difference between the Disney on-site perks that Moderate Resort guests and Value Resort guests get. That means that you can’t choose between the value of Moderate and Value resorts based on the Guest Benefits you get. One of the key benefits of staying on-site is the use of Disney Resort Guest Benefits which do not have a financial value but can be priced through how you use them.

Differences in room amenities and size between Moderate and Value Resorts

Rooms in Moderate Resorts are normally around the 314 sq ft mark, although they can be bigger depending on which hotel you choose, meanwhile Value rooms are around 60 sq ft (5.57 sq m) smaller. This is not a huge difference, it’s about the size of your average garden shed in the UK. You notice it the most when there are four of you in a room, as this is really when size starts to make the difference between feeling cramped and feeling ok.

Across both resort levels rooms open out into exterior hallways. The exceptions are Art of Animation family suites and rooms in Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs which have inside hallways.

In terms of room amenities there is little difference, it’s the theming and style rather than the actual amenity offered.

Overall it does depend on the Moderate Resort you choose, but if your hotel is a place to sleep rather than spend time, a Value room is the option I would choose. I never find the step-up to Moderate rooms a huge step-up given the difference in pricing for standard rooms. Families of four or five will however find the Moderate standard room options better for overall holiday experience, without having to spend on a family suite which is not worth it in our opinion.

Resort dining options: a comparison

Dining is one of the clearest differences between the two categories.

At Value resorts, dining is limited to a single quick-service food court in each hotel. There are no table-service restaurants. On the other hand, Moderate resorts have both a food court and at least one table-service restaurant, along with lounges or bars. The main exception is Port Orleans French Quarter which does not have a Table service option, but the nearby table service Boatwright’s Dining Hall at Riverside is used instead.

On a 14-night stay, having the option of a fancy on-site table-service dining experience is often important for UK couples. In this case Coronado Springs is the best option out of Value and Moderate resorts. If table-service dining is not something you are interested in, or you want mainly character dining, a Value Resort could be the better option.

Are Moderate resort pools better than Value resort pools at Disney World?

Yes, for many UK visitors, Moderate resort pools are noticeably better than Value resort pools, especially if you like to build significant pool time into your holiday. The biggest difference is that Value resorts do not have water slides or hot tubs, while every Moderate resort does.

Every Disney Moderate resort has at least one feature pool with a water slide and a hot tub, which is one of the clearest upgrades over the Value resorts. Value resorts do not have hot tubs. The pools in Moderate resorts are often very well themed and offer a more luxury experience. The Lost City of Cibola Pool at Coronado Springs is incredible, and feels worlds away from the Guitar Shaped Pool with the fountain of the Three Caballeros.

Caribbean Beach has a fort-themed pool, Fuentes del Morro Pool, with slides and water cannons. At Port Orleans French Quarter, the Doubloon Lagoon pool has a Mardi Gras-themed sea serpent slide. These extra play features make a difference to UK families.

By contrast, Value resort pools are simpler. They are fun and family-friendly, but they do not have water slides or hot tubs. Their appeal is mainly in the playful theming, such as Pop Century's Hippy Dippy Pool or the Ducks pool at All Star Movies. The standout in the Value Tier is Art of Animation's Big Blue Pool, which is the largest hotel pool at Walt Disney World and plays Disney music underwater.

Both resort categories still offer poolside activities like cast member-led games and Movies Under the Stars, so Value pools are perfectly fine if your hotel is mainly a base between park days. But if pool quality matters to your trip, especially if you are planning your rest days around the pool, Moderate resorts have the clear edge.

Overall hotel experience: Value or Moderate

Our choice is always a Value Resort unless the UK free dining plan is available when we’re booking the trip. Value Resorts offer the same Disney perks as Moderate and although extra room space and more subtle theming is lovely, we don’t need it for our trips. The pools are the biggest consideration, as there is a big difference there, especially if you spend time at the pool most days.

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Questions about the decision to stay in a Value or Moderate Disney Resort