Our Honeymoon was a lot of firsts for me:
- First time going in August (and the beginning of September) so it was NOT busy.
- First time going with my new wife, alone, as a couple.
- First time staying at Disney without a car.
- First time going to Disney with the Dining Plan (which we also got for free).
- First time staying at anything other than a Value Resort.
While having the Dining Plan with one table service meal a day was a huge difference for me because my family usually ate at quick service locations in the parks or the food court at the hotel, an even bigger difference was staying at a Moderate Resort.
I LOVE Value Resorts at Disney. I really do. The over-the-top theming and plethora of pools are great. We always stayed at Value Resorts as a child so I have very fond memories at All Star Sports and other Values. And I really do think they are nice. I know a lot of people think they are cheesy or cheap or whatever but they are still better than half of the hotels in the Orlando area, they are close to the parks and you get FREE transportation anywhere around Disney.
Riding up to Port Orleans French Quarter made me realize there was a definite difference between Value and Moderate. The biggest difference Ashley and I noticed: trees. There was so much more vegetation throughout the resort compared to the All Stars or Pop Century.
This was the courtyard we walked past every day on our way to and from the bus stations.
The view as you are coming back from Riverside
Another big difference was noise; it was SO quiet there. I don’t know why but there was hardly ever yelling and there were plenty of children staying there. Maybe the children at Moderate Resorts behave better than children at Value Resorts. The pool area could get a little rowdy but even that was quiet.
Disney from Michigan 