Want to pick a Value resort- bad reviews

[Libby6]

We're doing a split stay in the spring and I really want to try a value- I was leaning towards Music but some of the reviews on various travel sites are awful. Then I looked at Movies, Sports, Pop- so many bad reviews for the values! The pictures and videos I've seen of the values looked pretty nice to me, so I'm confused. Even the Dis podcast people had lots of negatives- I still want to try one, just don't know what to pick! Any opinions/advice?

 

[ols386]

I've stayed at Pop twice and like it a lot. Rooms clean, food court decent, bus service good, grounds nice, pools nice, cm's nice. I have nothing negative to say about it.

 

[merry_nbright]

I really like Pop Century.

 

[Disneylover99]

Pop is my favourite resort.

 

[Ava83]

We love Pop. Affordable, rooms are good and it has its very own bus (no sharing).

 

[Sue M]

I wouldn't put too much faith in reviews. Most people only review when they're unhappy. I was afraid to stay at CBR after reading reviews of dirty rooms, damp Mouldy smell, poor housekeeping. But kept our res. Room was great.

We've only stayed at Pop, and only for 1 night a few times before our deluxe stay. It was fine. Clean, rooms in good repair. Nothing wrong with them.

 

[Jetta8300]

I am someone who would not stay at a value again, but I do not think they are bad at all! My reasoning like so many others, is that a moderate is not much more and a step up is more than worth it. Pop was very clean, and I'm sure it would be cute for kids. The rooms are small and have double beds. We aren't into that. We also like table service meals at our hotel. If that doesn't bother you then a value won't bother you. We just thought it wasn't for us. Yes it does have a cheap feel compared to the deluxes or moderates, but I'm sure a lot of kids would think the theming was cute or exciting. I honestly would probably stay offsite rather than stay at a value, but that is only because certain things matter to us that may not matter to you at all and we always have a car. Pop was clean, cute and comfortable. If you've seen the pics and you think it looks cute, you won't be disappointed. The food court was also very good.

 

[Skullcrusher]

We're doing a split stay in the spring and I really want to try a value- I was leaning towards Music but some of the reviews on various travel sites are awful. Then I looked at Movies, Sports, Pop- so many bad reviews for the values! The pictures and videos I've seen of the values looked pretty nice to me, so I'm confused. Even the Dis podcast people had lots of negatives- I still want to try one, just don't know what to pick! Any opinions/advice?

If you had asked this question before our last visit I would have said that POP was your winner hands down. However I am now inclined to tell you to take one of the All stars with sports being the last option.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I stayed at all the values before I moved here, and I love the All-Stars, particularly Music.

Pick whichever has the theming that most appeals to you and your party.

 

[ShannonMB]

We've only ever stayed at All-Star Movies in the value category, but I honestly love it there. The rooms are clean, the pool is super awesome, and it is heavily and awesomely themed. We have been staying in Moderates the last several years, but I would not hesitate to go back to a value if that what's in the budget. The rooms and beds are a bit smaller, but the main differences to me are that the food court/common areas are OFF THE CHAIN a lot of the time. Little children running around, parents stressed, lots of action, whereas the moderates for some reason have a much more sedate feel in my experience. The other difference is the distance from the park gates to the bus stops. After a long day at the parks, boy oh boy are those value bus stops FAR. I always felt like I was walking past every other resort to get to our stop (which I was!). I was heavier back then though, so maybe it wouldn't be as big of a deal now! The resort itself (and I'm sure the other values) are beautiful, well kept, and totally cool!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There are bad reviews for every Disney resort and every Disney restaurant.

Key things to consider about reviews for VLues is that all Disney hotel prices are inflated. So when people are paying $200/night at Christmas for an All-Star and have the wrong expectation, it becomes a fairly explosive review.

If your expectations are appropriate, the Values are just fine. They are no-frills, double beds, motel-style. Cafeteria food courts. Nice pools, but no water slides. Theming is mostly landscaping and paint, and over the top. You are paying premium to be on Disney property, not for any other amenity.

 

[galaxygirl76]

We love Pop Century. If we weren't DVC members we would probably still stay there.

 

[J'aime Paris]

Stayed at Music twice when DD and I did mom/daughter getaways.
I booked a preferred room, and it was very close to food court and bus stops compared to some of the sections.
We loved it and had wonderful trips both times!

Stayed at POP once. We had 2 rooms. DD and her BFF in one, and DH and I in an an adjoining room.
Pro: Pool bar was a welcome sight!
Con: We had bad bus service----that can happen at any resort though.

Cannot put my finger on it exactly, but Music was better than POP.
Just my opinion.

 

[texasroni75]

We like the Values (see my signature for our on-site stays). All-Star Movies is our favorite. Never had a dirty room, and every food court has Mickey Waffles. Yes, food courts can be busy at peak times, but then again, most every other eatery will likely be bustling at key mealtimes as well. It's like wondering why there is traffic during rush-hour LOL. Buses are just as reliable as the Moderate resorts we've stayed at.

 

[Babsy]

I love the value resorts, but I confess that I haven't stayed there for over a year and a half now. Before that we stayed at all of them multiple times. Pop is my favourite, but AS Movies is my Mom's favourite. Of the AS, I like preferred in Music the best. DH likes ASSp best. Honestly, I think that they are all pretty comparable.

The rooms are small and there are two double beds. Amenities are pretty basic, with simple, but nicely themed, pools and a food court for dining. The bus stops have roped lines, but no cover from the elements. Buses are frequent, however, in our experience.

I would stay at a value again if budget required, but I have to confess that as I have gotten older, the moderates/deluxes are more my cup of tea. DH and I feel a bit cramped in a value room, even though everything that you really need is here. We don't just sleep and shower in the rooms anymore, so that makes a difference. We spend a lot of time relaxing at the resort. As a result, for us, a moderate or deluxe works better.

I wouldn't worry unduly about negative reviews - it is likely that some of these are due to people having higher expectations of the resorts and being disappointed in what they get for the money paid. Value resorts are a good value for WDW, but they wouldn't get those prices in very many locations in the 'real world', IMO. PLUS, You will see negative reviews of all the Disney resorts at some point. Some poor experiences are likely anywhere.

If you like the look of ASMu, I would simply do my research in order to have realistic expectations and then book there and enjoy the stay! If you do encounter a problem, CM's will work with you to fix the situation.

Enjoy!

 

[Micca]

Only value we ever did was All Stars Sports, we didn't like it at all. I agree with what Jetta8300 said upthread--pay a bit more and get a mod, some very nice choices there. If it has to be value, I see overwhelmingly positive reports about Pop here on The Dis.

 

[loves to dive]

I've stayed at Pop for 2 nights and ASsp for one night, both as part of a split stay basically because I didn't want to pay deluxe prices for arrival night and knew I'd be going to a park I'd have to ride a bus to anyway. I swore I'd never stay value again after Pop, the room was tired and mildewy, the food court was loud and the bus stop uncovered. Of course, never say never. I decided to try All Stars, thinking I had just had bad luck with Pop, and after that it was solidified, I'll never stay in a value again. The room was a little less dated than the one at Pop and while not filthy, I didn't feel comfortable walking around without my sandals. It was a small resort and easy to get around in but just not my cup of tea. Having said that, if you want to experience one, I'd go with whichever one is less for the time you want to stay, other than the theming, there really isn't a difference in the room size or the food courts. I wouldn't bother paying more for a view, they are motel type rooms with outside cement corridors so chances are you aren't going to be sitting and looking out your window. I also wouldn't bother paying for a preferred room at the All Stars, they really aren't that big. I didn't think PoP was all that big either, I had a room in the building that was across the parking lot from the bus stop, food court and it wasn't a preferred.

 

[Miffy]

I stayed at ASMusic once, and that was my first and last Value experience for one reason: the walls are paper thin. I doubt the other Values have better soundproofing, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Please note, I've lived in an apartment building since 1972, so I'm no stranger to having neighbors on the other side of the wall, upstairs, downstairs, etc. It's not like I'm used to living in a house in the middle of the woods or something. I'm not. I'm very used to a certain amount of neighborly noise, and traffic as well. And the turboflush toilets at WDW don't bother me.

However this was like trying to sleep in the same room as (a) the not too quiet couple next door, (b) their not quiet baby, (c) their conversations and nighttime activities, and (d) every single rolling suitcase that went by the front door of the corner room I was in. I didn't sleep the entire five nights and I am not a light sleeper.

I realize I got unlucky with the room's location at the end of the corridor and with what was probably a room with a connecting door to the next room. But I'd never chance it again.

I agree with other posters: for a bit more money you can stay at a Mod. Far preferable. Far. For the reasons already mentioned and for the superior soundproofing.

 

[JB212]

We stayed at POP before when our kids we younger and it was fine. We were pretty much just in the room to sleep and shower. The pools were nice, there were lots of children my kids ages running around.
Now that my crew is older, and we've added an extra kiddo, we've outgrown the value resorts and have moved up to moderate. We're also a little more relaxed about being at Disney. We don't have 4 year old who will stand up in bed and yell, "GET UP EVERYONE!!! WE'RE AT DISNEY WORLD!!" at 5am anymore. LOL. I expect to have to drag my 13 year old out of bed for rope drop.
You know your family best. If the hotel isn't the most important part of vacation, or if your kids would really be excited about the over the top themes, try it out. I don't think the value resorts are bad by any means. Its just finding the right hotel for your family.

 

[IndianaRRT]

Love Pop! When reading online reviews, remember that happy guests are not the ones motivated to post. I try to look for helpful tips in negative posts and ignore those who felt slighted or for whom the minor details of the room were the breaking points of their visit. Pop is a value, but it is a very "Disney" place. Awesome theming, clean rooms, solid food court, and dedicated buses. We loved our stay there and would choose it as our resort whenever we wanted to stay value. Enjoy your vacation!