All Star Music VS. POP?

[Erica's Mommy]

We are thinking about switching our reservation to either All Star Music or POP? Which one is the better pick in your opinion? We stayed at POP the first year it opened and have never done Music. It'll just be me, DH and DD(5). We don't usually go back to the room during the days and will probably drive to the parks vs. using the buses depending on crowd lvl (crossing my fingers for lower crowds). Just wanted some opinions before I make the switch... Thanks in advance!

 

[BoomNLeon]

POP is much better than any AS, IMO. POP is newer and offers a better set up as far as arrangement of buildings, etc. We have stayed at AS and would never again. POP is a different class of value.

 

[Ames389]

POP is much better than any AS, IMO. POP is newer and offers a better set up as far as arrangement of buildings, etc. We have stayed at AS and would never again. POP is a different class of value.

My vote is for ASMu. I can't get my kids to stay anywhere else...not even a moderate in a pirate room. They love the activities at the pool and the layout of the resort is great. I htink kids like the theming and decorations better at the ASll Stars. Pop is over their head. I would get a preferred room to save on the walking though.

 

[Kim1964]

I'll never set foot at ASMu again, but we like Pop. It has our favorite value resort food court (DD#2 just asked tonight if we can visit it during our trip, even though we aren't staying there), the icons are fun, and we like the pools. We've had excellent housekeeping there, too.

 

[Pirate4Ever]

Pop- newer with much better bus service. We liked ASMu, but if I had to choose I would say Pop.

 

[westonkamom]

I would choose Pop also! We stayed there last December and it was so nice and clean! Everything has been refurbished and the layout of the resort is super easy. The food court is usually rated as the best on the boards and I'd have to agree. We loved our stay there and was actually surprised how nice it really was. Also, if you do use the bus system, Pop has their own so it's just one p/u and drop location. Also, the room service was wonderful. My kids had 12 towel animals in a 10 day stay so our entire window was full. Loved, loved, loved this resort!

 

[buzzmom3]

ASMu for us! We stayed at POP last year and while it was very nice, we prefer the feel of ASMu. My kids specifically requested we not go back to POP.

 

[maxiesmom]

I would go with the Music. And one reason is size. It is much smaller than the Pop, so you have less people to fight for space at the food court and in line for the bus stop. Also, the way they have the food court and gift shop all together in one space at the Pop is a turn-off. Why take two spaces that are usually busy and noisey to begin with and jam them together into one really noisey and busy space?

 

[Amy&Dan]

I like them both.

I think All Star Music has prettier grounds and a quieter feel but Pop's theming is very fun and the more central location is nice.

I think they are actually both very even in bussing, food courts, pools and rooms.

I have stayed at both of these resorts four times each so clearly I like them both!

Here are some pictures of All Star Music I took last October. I for some reason do not have pictures of Pop saved into my Photobucket account but I'll at least post these Music ones.

 

[sbtrfly74]

I've never been to POP but loved ASMu in May and loved it. We also had the family suite though and it was perfect.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I like them both.

I think All Star Music has prettier grounds and a quieter feel but Pop's theming is very fun and the more central location is nice.

I think they are actually both very even in bussing, food courts, pools and rooms.

I have stayed at both of these resorts four times each so clearly I like them both!

Here are some pictures of All Star Music I took last October. I for some reason do not have pictures of Pop saved into my Photobucket account but I'll at least post these Music ones.

Amy, I had no idea ASMu looked so pretty! My only stays at a value were at POP (5 stays) and I loved the lake and food court options. While I prefer our deluxe stays, sometimes the budget call for a value. Would you mind sharing which section of ASMu you were in? Did you pay for preferred? Think it would be worth it? From the Disney photos, think I would like Calypso best, but maybe another area would be just as nice?

Thanks much!

 

[CaptainAlex]

Those are great pictures of ASM A&D! It gets me even more excited about our trip later this month!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Amy, I had no idea ASMu looked so pretty! My only stays at a value were at POP (5 stays) and I loved the lake and food court options. While I prefer our deluxe stays, sometimes the budget call for a value. Would you mind sharing which section of ASMu you were in? Did you pay for preferred? Think it would be worth it? From the Disney photos, think I would like Calypso best, but maybe another area would be just as nice?

Thanks much!

Christine, we were in the Jazz Inn section. Its the closest non preferred section and it also has the privacy curtains in the bathroom area (those are also in the preferred rooms in Calypso but none of the other sections). Its a short walk to both the quiet and main pools and its our favorite. I love the fountain that its in that section and we lucked out having it right down below our door. The top picture was what we saw whenever we walked out our door.

We have done preferred once and it was nice (all preferred rooms are Calypso) but think Jazz is just as convenient. I also think Broadway is nice, its a bit off the beaten path and I love the theming and the Broadway tunes they play (its also very close to a parking lot and the quiet pool). We have been in Rock Inn twice and like that location too. But I really like having the privacy curtain so I request Jazz. I have no idea why they didn't put the privacy curtains in all the sections, its very annoying!

Country Fair is the furthest out but its quiet back there and I like the little picnic area.

Music is laid out differently than Pop. Instead of buildings being situated sort of in a circle, the sections are lined up in a row. From the furthest room at Country Fair you could have a 5-8 minute walk to the main pool/food court. Its not a large resort by Disney standards so no walks will be anything like some of the walks at the spread out mods but I do think the layout makes some of the rooms feel a bit far from the main area. Pop is way bigger but the layout makes even the furthest out rooms feel a bit less of a hike. But that may just be my perception!

Honestly, I know a lot of people don't care for the values but we really enjoy them and think they have pretty grounds. Not on the scale of the moderates but very lovely nonetheless! I do think Music feels the quietest and I love the quiet pool at Music. I love Pop but think its quiet pools have zero personality and they have no shade whatsoever. The Music quiet pool has some palm trees near there and it feels more secluded with more atmosphere. The Pop quiet pools are a big issue for me and one of the reasons we do tend to stay at Music more these days when we do value. If they'd just plant some trees at those Pop quiet pools I'd be happy!

Also, a couple of those photos I showed were back in Country Fair. Its the furthest out but its super quiet and very pretty back there. The picnic table area is in Country Fair.

We love Music and like you sometimes just need to be budget friendly. I am not sure where we'll stay in June just have to see what discounts will be released!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Those are great pictures of ASM A&D! It gets me even more excited about our trip later this month!

Thank you so much! Those pictures were taken last October, I can tell you the resort was very much at capacity but as you can see we found plenty of quiet spots to enjoy. There was even a large group of teenager girls from Mexico (cheer competition) and we still made out just fine (had one night that was a bit crazy at the pool but their chaparones and the cm's took care of things and we had no further problems.).

Its a great resort, I hope you enjoy it too!

 

[neville04]

remember that the 1st week in december the pop /warner comepetitors will be there and the all stars will be flooded with people.. if you are looking for something quieter i'd switch out of the all stars resorts.

 

[Amy&Dan]

remember that the 1st week in december the pop /warner comepetitors will be there and the all stars will be flooded with people.. if you are looking for something quieter i'd switch out of the all stars resorts.

Agreed. As much as I love ASMU there is no way I'd stay there during Pop Warner or in July when the Brazilian tour groups are in full force.

 

[goofyintoronto]

My vote is for Pop!! I love the theme, the pool, the rooms, arcade. The food court is wonderful! My fave is the beef & brocoli with rice...and the vegi lo-mein noodles. SOOOO GOOD! Very nice variety at this place. Grounds are very pretty, I love the lake.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Christine, we were in the Jazz Inn section. Its the closest non preferred section and it also has the privacy curtains in the bathroom area (those are also in the preferred rooms in Calypso but none of the other sections). Its a short walk to both the quiet and main pools and its our favorite. I love the fountain that its in that section and we lucked out having it right down below our door. The top picture was what we saw whenever we walked out our door.

We have done preferred once and it was nice (all preferred rooms are Calypso) but think Jazz is just as convenient. I also think Broadway is nice, its a bit off the beaten path and I love the theming and the Broadway tunes they play (its also very close to a parking lot and the quiet pool). We have been in Rock Inn twice and like that location too. But I really like having the privacy curtain so I request Jazz. I have no idea why they didn't put the privacy curtains in all the sections, its very annoying!

Country Fair is the furthest out but its quiet back there and I like the little picnic area.

Music is laid out differently than Pop. Instead of buildings being situated sort of in a circle, the sections are lined up in a row. From the furthest room at Country Fair you could have a 5-8 minute walk to the main pool/food court. Its not a large resort by Disney standards so no walks will be anything like some of the walks at the spread out mods but I do think the layout makes some of the rooms feel a bit far from the main area. Pop is way bigger but the layout makes even the furthest out rooms feel a bit less of a hike. But that may just be my perception!

Honestly, I know a lot of people don't care for the values but we really enjoy them and think they have pretty grounds. Not on the scale of the moderates but very lovely nonetheless! I do think Music feels the quietest and I love the quiet pool at Music. I love Pop but think its quiet pools have zero personality and they have no shade whatsoever. The Music quiet pool has some palm trees near there and it feels more secluded with more atmosphere. The Pop quiet pools are a big issue for me and one of the reasons we do tend to stay at Music more these days when we do value. If they'd just plant some trees at those Pop quiet pools I'd be happy!

Also, a couple of those photos I showed were back in Country Fair. Its the furthest out but its super quiet and very pretty back there. The picnic table area is in Country Fair.

We love Music and like you sometimes just need to be budget friendly. I am not sure where we'll stay in June just have to see what discounts will be released!

Thanks so much, Amy. I always say I'll never stay at an AS Resort, but think I might like Music - may have to try it for a short trip soon. The pics are very nice. I would like hearing Broadway Tunes, but would not want to be that far.

Thanks again!
p.s. Very soon will be planning DGd Sophia's first visit to Mickey - for late 2012!!

 

[aleshad01]

I vote POP. We have stayed at both All Star Movies and POP and liked POP the best.

 

[dtchgrl]

Amy&Dan,
Because we have a family suite booked, I know we will be in either Calypso or Jazz. I am hoping for a room that is quiet and few visible icons as I'm trying to convince my 3 teenagers that a value resort is OK. Could you tell me your room number or general description of what part of which Jazz building you were in? Any other ideas of more landscape/less icon areas we could request.

Anyone know if the family suites are all throughout the Calypso and Jazz buidlings or only certain areas? I think we would also like a 3rd floor but don't know if there are any family suites there.

Thanks!

I like them both.

I think All Star Music has prettier grounds and a quieter feel but Pop's theming is very fun and the more central location is nice.

I think they are actually both very even in bussing, food courts, pools and rooms.

I have stayed at both of these resorts four times each so clearly I like them both!

Here are some pictures of All Star Music I took last October. I for some reason do not have pictures of Pop saved into my Photobucket account but I'll at least post these Music ones.