Anyone stayed at Pop and Asmo?

[mommyaof2]

We may have to stay at a value instead of POFQ for our trip next year. We love POFQ, but if we do stay at a value which one? Have any of you stayed at both and prefer one over the other? We almost stayed at Pop this year and upgraded to POFQ and loved it. I do hear good things about both of these values. My main concerns are the transportation and the thin walls. We had such a wonderful stay at POFQ, we are afraid that we will not like a value. Anyone care to comment?

 

[huge mickey fan]

We stayed at the ASMo in December. I thought it was wonderful. The only downside to it was that it was last on last off for the bus stops. The bus stopped at the other All Stars first even if it was a Movies only bus. I guess some people can't read the sign on the front of the buses!! It is a nice place esspecially if you have children. I have heard only good things about POP.

 

[punkin1763]

I love Pop and I've only stayed one night in AsMu, but I thought it was nice too. I don't know if the values compare to the moderates of deluxe resorts, but Pop would have to be my favorite of the values. It is very disney themed and I love the store and eating area. Of course you can't beat a frozen coke!!

 

[dalt01]

the values dont compare in any way to the mods. the only reason i would stay in what we call "stroller land" again would be budgetary. we stayed in POP one christmas that we happened to drive down and actually left to come home a day early cause we were parked out. if we had been in POFQ or POR, which is our favorite even over the deluxe, we would not have left. we would have stayed in the resort and soaked up the ambiance, had a nice supper at boatwrights and just chilled. cant do that at the values the "feeling" just isnt there. when i leave the parks i want to feel like i left the parks. with the values i feel like im still in them.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

It's been years since we stayed at ASMo, so I don't know that my comparison to our stay at Pop last year has much weight.

As far as rooms go, they are no different except in theming - artwork, bedding, furnishings.

We had our own car when we stayed at ASMo, so I couldn't tell you about the bus service there. We were in the Mighty Ducks, facing ASSp, and it was quiet. We used the hockey rink pool and utilized the nearby laundry facility. I never set foot in the lobby or food court after we checked in. DH took a few walks over there as needed while I stayed in the room or at the pool with DD who was then 8 yo.

At Pop, our room was in the 70s section, facing the 60s with a view of Hourglass Lake (and the Legendary Years) from outside our room. We visited or passed through the food court and shopping area everyday, multiple times some days as this was a direct route from our room to the busses. We were close to the feature pool, the Hippy Dippy Pool, but then I felt rather distant when lugging laundy to the laundromat steps away from Cinema Hall and the pool.

Overall, I enjoyed Pop much more than ASMo. I'm still trying to change our ressie during free dining to Pop. We are currently booked at CBR, which we are looking for to staying, but I'd much rather save the $475 since we don't spend all that much time at the resort while vacationing at WDW.

 

[robinb]

I have stayed at All Star Music, All Star Sports and POP. I prefer POP hands down. The resort is less spread out, I like the food court better and I like POP's theme a bit better. In addition, the bus is not shared by any other resorts (which may or may not be a plus after the parks close). Other than that, the size and layout of the rooms is pretty much the same. All have exterior halls, giant icons, huge food courts, thinner walls, turbo toilets and no fridge, coffee maker, pool slide or hot tub.

 

[Chuck S]

Stayed at AS Music, AS Sports and POP. Music was OK, Sports---never again, POP is the best of the value resorts!!!

At AS Sports there was trash in all the shrubbery, the food court was a mess, etc.

Stay at POP for a value resort!!!

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

I have stayed at All Star Music, All Star Sports and POP. I prefer POP hands down.

Totally agree - POP Century is it for us. Loved the food court, adore the fact that it doesn't share buses like the AS resorts do. Never had to wait very long for a bus at POP. Food court was great, never really overly crowded. Didn't have a chance to check out the pool, but plan to do that this time.


Watch out Mickey....here we come!!

 

[Tikicampers]

We have stayed at a mod. and two All Stars (see sig.), and to be honest, I really didn't find that I liked the All Stars any less than the mod (which we loved). They are different, but I find them to be lots of fun, and my DS has enjoyed them.
The biggest differences I noticed:
-All Stars were noisier in common areas. Did not hear any more room noise than at the mod.
-All Stars buses were more full
Both of these could have just been based on the times we went though. Also, the All Stars do not always share buses. On our last trip the only bus we shared was for Epcot. For MK we always had our own bus. The time before I think we only shared once or twice as well.
I will say that I prefer ASMo to ASsp. That's just because I'm not into sports though. We do plan on trying Pop soon. We've decided to try and stay in as many different hotels as we can. They are all so different, but I think that's the fun of it.

 

[Wish2BinWDW]

I've stayed at All-Star Music and Sports and Pop. My DS and I prefer Pop. My DD and husband prefer All-Star Sports. I liked Pop better because of the location and only having 1 bus stop, unlike the All-Stars, which share. Both of my children like staying at the value resorts because they say they make friends easier there than other places we have stayed.

 

[mommyaof2]

Well, it sounds like it is split. It seems that there are pluses and minuses to both. Maybe I should just flip a coin. That would make it easier. Or I could just stay at POFQ and find a way to come up with the extra money. Thanks to all of you who replied. You all are great as usual!

 

[JennyDrake]

Both are fine, really. Pop IMHO has better food court options, espeically the grilled flatbreads, and Pop has both indoor and outdoor areas which serve alcohol (if that matters to you.) As Pop IS bigger, it overall has more people so is then therefore more crowded and louder, especially the food court. As PP noted, AsMo kind of gets the short end of the stick with buses, but it has super great theming. I find Pop to be garish, even by value standards. Really, either one will be fine!

 

[BamaFan121s]

We've stayed at both. (Granted, it's been some years since we stayed at any of the All Star Resorts.) Given the choice of the two, I would choose Pop. The resort has it's own bus, better food court, IMO, and is just more 'up to date,' for lack of better terms.

 

[canron]

iv stayed at both many times ..pop is the biggest resort of disney...so be prepared for a long wait in the morning at the food court and elevators..and long walks anywhere..allstar resorts are smaller and more cozzier...but waits there to..try a split stay and enjoy nthem both..

 

[I Love Pluto]

I've stayed at all *** & Pop. I personally like the layout of Pop better. Also, as others have mentioned, they don't share buses at Pop.

I would choose Pop. But - I would not be disappointed if I were to end up at ASMo or ASMu.

 

[tfiga]

I have stayed at both for the in the past couple of years and prefer Pop. The reasons I like Pop better are. 1. They do not share buses 2. They have a slurpee machine that you can use with your refillable mug 3. There is a sink to wash out your refillable mug at the soda stations. In regards, to your concerns regarding buses, I have never waited more than 15 minutes for a bus at either place. Most people, travel guides Birnbaums included state that the value resorts have the best bussing and from what I have seen I agree. One night at MK I seen 2 to 3 times the number of value buses as compared to the mods or deluxes. Also I would not be too concerned about the noise. I am a pretty light sleeper and did occasionally hear a toilet flush, but the noise was never enough to keep me awake. When looking at resorts for next year I was showing my 7 year old son pictures of some of the other mods and deluxes and his response is "I thought we were staying at Disney World" when I told him we are he said "but these hotels are not Disney hotels" after I explained to him that they were, he said "Well they do not look like Disney hotels". My one suggestion would to book a preferred room. Do not worry it is Disney and you will have a great time.

 

[jfranklyn]

I would choose ASMo over Pop, and have stayed at both. We were in the 90's at POP though, and maybe that's why. It was VERY far out and I did not feel connected to the rest of the resort. We have always loved movies, and with little kids, you just can't beat the value resorts. Two advantages of POP were the slushies (big with the kids) and the pop-jets. They really loved those. The only reason I would upgrade to a moderate would be the pool slide. I've stayed at CBR and POR and while we loved them both, they weren't worth the extra money in our opinion. The deluxes are another thing entirely. I feel that they are worth the money for the difference in value and ambiance that you get. Hope it helps!

 

[mommyaof2]

Wow. Thanks to everyone who posted. I really have got to make up my mind. I need to go ahead and book! We might have the money to stay at POFQ, but we might not. My kids looked at the values last night and my dd5 kept telling me that she wanted to stay at "the Hip Hop Century!" I thought this was just too cute. I asked them if they would be dissappointed if they did not get to stay at POFQ again and they both acted like I was insane. Another issue is that we may have to wait until Nov 2008 to instead of going in April 2008 (which is when we really want to go). It is all a money issue really. This past April, I actually booked POP and then was able to upgrade to POFQ about 2 months before our trip, so I guess there is a chance that I could always upgrade later. Thanks again. I seem to just be rambling.

 

[dclfun]

One nice thing that hasn't been mentioned about Pop ( unless I read too fast and overlooked it) is the lake there. It really adds to the sense of peace to see that body of water and there's a nice walkway around the lake on which to stroll. If you want to "get away from it all" at your resort, you can whereas there isn't that option at the All Stars. I like both resorts for different reasons but I'd have to give some points to Pop for that reason alone.---Kathy

 

[Tikicampers]

I have stayed at both for the in the past couple of years and prefer Pop. The reasons I like Pop better are. 1. They do not share buses 2. They have a slurpee machine that you can use with your refillable mug 3. There is a sink to wash out your refillable mug at the soda stations.

I'm about 99.9% sure there is a sink at the drinks counter at ASMo, I remember washing my mug there.