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Should Disney Build Another Moderate Resort?

Walt Disney World: Should Disney add another Moderate Resort option to a line up that features mostly pricey, high end Deluxe Resort options?

From Phil B.
Posted May 4, 2010 at 10:50 AM
So what about it? The Moderates offer the best value option between the Value and Deluxe Resorts. Not as bare bones and tacky as the Value Resorts, yet not as over the top in amenities, dining options and entertainment as the Deluxe Resorts. Their themes are executed well, and they provide a charming, fairly immersive resting place for those who have a little bit of extra coin to spend on where they rest and relax, without breaking the piggy bank open with a sledge hammer.

I for one am all for it, as there are already 10 Deluxe Resort options, as well as another 8 Deluxe Villa options.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From TH Creative
Posted May 4, 2010 at 10:53 AM
Disney's Animation Resort (formerly the Pop Century) will commence construction in August.

From Anthony Murphy
Posted May 4, 2010 at 11:31 AM
I would say "why not"? I really feel that the Moderates give the best Disney Resort Experience without breaking the bank.

From Phil B.
Posted May 4, 2010 at 11:39 AM
Converting the Pop isn't what I had in mind, plus most of the conversion will involve making those yet to be finished rooms into multi bedroom suites. I'm talking about a new facility with a fresh theme that is built to exploit said theme to it's fullest potential. Not an overlay on an existing resort, with a new concept shoe horned into the existing facilities, whose intention is to fill multi room suites. Plus, then the option of a 4th Value resort gets eliminated. I'm not looking for addition by subtraction. "New" is the word of the day.

From Don Neal
Posted May 4, 2010 at 11:52 AM
I think what they are doing with Pop Century is way overdue and will fill in the gap you are proposing needs to be filled. For a family of five like myself, the value resorts are too small and actually won't allow us to book there if we say we have 5 in our party. That puts us up a class and the cost of the room goes up but we don't get that much more space. If Pop Century/Animation Resort can provide multi-room units for a fair price, I think it will do well for Disney in servicing larger families. This is one of the reasons we stay off-site at a condo when we visit.

To answer your question more directly without taking into consideration what is going on with Pop Century, I say the answer lies in the data. I am sure Disney invests tons of money into market data about the surrounding area, what types of hotels people stay at, the rates they pay, and the services they receive. This coupled with their own statistics provides a good perspective of what the consumer wants. As they see trends arise, they react accordingly.

Disney has obviously used this to their benefit in the last 18 mos as they were able to meet consumers needs in the midst of a sinking economy and maintain attendance while increasing market share. They saw how the market was reacting and adjusted.

So in short, I don't really have an opinion and would need to better understand what the market currently offers and consumer habits are showing before I could say that Disney needs another moderate hotel.

Also back to the Pop Century remodeling. That makes much more sense fiscally than developing a brand new resort from the ground up. These resorts aren't cheap and Disney while having a solid year attendance wise did not make as much money as in years past so it would be unwise for them to invest into a big project like that when they are about to begin the Fantasyland expansion. Possibly after that was complete and attendance takes another jump, they would look at adding a resort.

From Tim W
Posted May 4, 2010 at 1:30 PM
I would say no to the question. I think having corando, port orleans riverside, french quarter, and caribbean beach are enough for moderate resorts. I think there is a nice balance with only 4 right now, and one more would disperse more guests. I don't think they would beneift that much from a 5th moderate resort, but i could be wrong.

However, I'd love to see one. Im always looking forward to something new from disney!

From Anthony Murphy
Posted May 4, 2010 at 4:39 PM
I think the value resorts are overcrowded as is!


Moderates would be nice to have! But i do get what you are saying, especially after the Dixie Landings/Port Orleans merger

From James Rao
Posted May 4, 2010 at 5:47 PM
Need another moderate that actually holds five people. Port Orleans Riverside is great for now but once my daughter gets a little older that trundle bed is not gonna work. The cabins hold six, but they are a fairly expensive moderate, and they are pretty far away from all the action. Need a two-queen-bed suite with a couch that opens up into another bed, just like the $90 suites at Comfort Inns and Drury Inns, but with all the classic Disney theming. Sure, at Disney that $90 room would be more like $175, but it would still be a nice addition for families larger than four!

From Don Neal
Posted May 6, 2010 at 6:26 AM
Agreed James! We're in the same boat.

From TH Creative
Posted May 12, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Phil is ahead of the curve.

From Phil B.
Posted May 12, 2010 at 6:13 AM
Hmmm, interesting. Now I wonder if this is going to be the finishing up of those buildings by the pop, or a new site all together. Also, I wonder how Disney will approach the overall themeing for the resort. Will they stick with the somewhat bare bones, stick a huge icon on the lawn and some flat saxaphones on a motel building approach, or will they find a less obnoxious approach, somewhere in between the current Value and Moderates theming.

From TH Creative
Posted May 12, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Wow!

From Susan Jackson
Posted May 12, 2010 at 9:13 AM
It is not a new site, they are using the existing former Pop buildings across the lake.

From TH Creative
Posted May 12, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Nice!

From Amanda Jenkins
Posted May 12, 2010 at 11:37 AM
It sounds great with all the family suites. One really needs room when traveling with small children. They have so much extra necessities that take up more room than the average hotel has avaiable.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/05/disneys-art-of-animation-resort-unveiled/

From Tim Odom
Posted May 12, 2010 at 12:37 PM
According to their Blog:

~ This will be built at the existing building that were for the 'Legendary Years' section of Pop Century. I.E. the building across the lake.

~ It will be a Value Resort. Not connected with DVC.

Personally, they need more Value Resorts than Moderate Resorts. When I stayed at Pop Century, it was, well, not a place I would stay at again. Not because of the resort itself, but because it felt like all the worst aspects of the park (the overcrowding, the rude guests, the overpriced awful food.) They need something on that priceline to attract families.

Granted, since becoming a DVC member, I am kinda spoiled. Ahh, well...

From Amanda Jenkins
Posted May 12, 2010 at 12:59 PM
Same here Tim. The DVC spoils one rather quickly.

From Maureen Marsh
Posted May 14, 2010 at 5:50 PM
My only problems with the Value resorts are the tiny closet space and only one sink. The two pedestal sinks at Port Orleans French Quarter were heavenly! I would love another Moderate Resort choice.

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