AoA or POP?

[Herfnerd]

Longtime lurker, first time poster - its been a few years since we've been to WDW but DW and I are planning a mid January 2013 trip for four days and wondering which value resort is better for a late 40's couple. Cost is comparable between resorts.

Any opinions on either/or?

Did use the search forum and didn't find anything

TIA!!

 

[BYC]

I love POP, but will be staying at AoA for the first time next month. So, I can't tell you which I like best, yet. Where did you stay on your past trips??

 

[Tented1]

I've not been to either but before deciding to boo at FW campsites for this Christmas I read somewhere that AoA was the better choice because it is the newest.

 

[Fire14]

Havn't stayed at AOA but really want to.
Pros:
New resort
love theming
Location
no shared buses
Cool food court

Cons:
No discounts on standard rooms
Costs a bit more than POP ( appox 25.00/night)
Seems like everyone is booking here, might be lots of extra noise

 

[JennyDrake]

I am just back from AoA and here is my review:

The theming and landscaping at his resort are INCREDIBLE!! Disney missed no details!! Photos do not do it justice--you simply have to see it. We had rooms in building 9 including a HA room.

This resort is big and it is a hike to the food court and bus stops--and I like walking. We had a senior with mobility issues, so it it was more pronounced in our situation.

There seemed to be more "room noise" at this resort than AS. Very aware of babies crying in rooms and doors opening and closing all around--and I am a heavy sleeper. We were on the second floor. In the future, I will ask for a top floor room.

Bus service was good to/from parks. We did not go to DTD. All the CMs were super nice.

The only negative is the food court. It has a terrible layout and it is just BEDLAM. The queing lines are not nearly as long as they need to be. Service was sluggish and I can't tell you why. It seemed a bit understaffed, but not terribly so. It took 10-15 minutes (one time 20 min) to get through the lines and get food. Then you have to get silverware, drinks, find a table, etc. The noise level is HORRENDOUS even at non-peak times. And the traffic flow design (WHAT traffic flow design??) is very poor. There is no real flow pattern.

Seating is ample, which is nice. You get real plates and silverware which is good news/bad news. I found that I bristled at having to so bus my own table. You have to try to get the trash and remnants into a trash receptable with a too small door that is spring loaded to close. Then you sort of recycling and the dishes in one bin and flatware in another. It reminded me WAY too much of bussing tables in a restaurant.

Food quality was OK but not remarkably better than AS, which is what I had hoped for... The food "looks" better than it tastes. Naan bread is VERY good and I really enjoyed the build your own fruit bowls and yogurt/granola bowls for breakfast.

Mousekeeping was fine.

I am currently booked there again in December, but I will switch to Pop and just walk over with a friend to show it all to her. The food court and room noise put a damper on the overall experience for me.

But yous should definitely GO SEE the resort!

 

[discookiemonsta]

We have stayed at POP 3 times already and loved each of our stays. We really enjoy the food court variety there! For our next trip, we were able to get a FD pin which as also good for AoA, so now we are booked there. Since I am not a big fan of the food court menu at AoA, we will just walk over to POP and eat there, the few times that we may actually have time to do that since we have a lot of TS meals planned. Sorry I'm not able to give you more advice about AoA though

 

[Herfnerd]

I love POP, but will be staying at AoA for the first time next month. So, I can't tell you which I like best, yet. Where did you stay on your past trips??

Have stayed at POFQ, ASMov, ASSports and Poly in the past

Thanx for all the replies so far - DW is wanting to stay at AoA because its new but just wanted to see if that is a good choice from those that have experienced both...

 

[rachel09985]

I would choose AoA just because it is the ultimate Disney and new, but, if you want to use a discount, the Little Mermaid rooms aren't included in the new discounts. Then, I would just stay at Pop and visit across the bridge.

 

[canopynut66]

we been staying at POP the last four years and had thought about going to AoA mermaid room this year and was told standard rooms a little bit smaller than POP's so we just booked there again as we like it anyhow. the AoA is new but we like the service and food courts when we do use them. was very disappointed AoA went to mostly suites as I am handicapped and also the Mermaid rooms are a far hike to buses etc. I am on a scooter but my sister is not. weh ave never had nosie problems at POP or any where else for that matter and we over 65 trips have stayed in all resorts but AKL. and came back to POP...is just nice

 

[stitchlovestink]

Havn't stayed at AOA but really want to.
Pros:
New resort
love theming
Location
no shared busses
Cool food court

Cons:
No discounts on standard rooms
Costs a bit more than POP ( appox 25.00/night)Seems like everyone is booking here, might be lots of extra noise

bolding is mine....

POP and AoA are across the lake from one another. How can one be in a Better location than the other??? They are 'unoffically' considered 'sister' resorts...

POP doesn't share buses either so that is no more of a Pro for AoA than for POP. It is an equal consideration for both resorts.

Actually, only if you compare standard room to standard room is AoA more expensive than POP. And it is only $5 per night. Pull up the rates for 2013. Jan 2, 2013 a standard AoA room is $100 before tax and a standard POP room is $95 or a standard pool view is $100, a preferred is $110, and preferred pool view is $115. So technically, POP could be considered more expensive. Now that is not taking into consideration any discount codes or the like.


I am hearing VERY mixed reviews and more negative than positive regarding the food court. Not so much about the quality but about the flow of traffic, the length of time to get food, having to bus your own table using actual plates/silverware.... I personally, have not eaten there yet. I visited the food court and it LOOKS lovely, but apparently, looks can be deceiving. I do plan on trying it on a future trip just so I can see what people are talking about first hand.

 

[Doofenschmirz Evil]

We love POP and stayed there for four days again, but the theming in AOA is incredible. If you can get a cheaper rate at POP, just make sure to leave yourself an hour or so to walk over and see the new resort. The Cars and Lion King area are very fun to see in person.

 

[ThreeTinks]

I would LOVE to stay in a Little Mermaid room on our May trip (we have two room only nights to cover) but since I'm sure by then they still won't be discounting those rooms, we'll be at Pop and will walk over. We already know things at Pop work for us.

 

[Pembo]

I am booked at AOA, LM room at spring break.

As I lay awake last night, I got to thinking how much more crowded this resort might be because it is new. After reading this thread, I'm even more concerned about crowds...especially in the food court. I am seriously considering a switch to Pop....Hmm....

 

[delilah18]

I have got to say that I am shocked at the negative reviews we found the room bigger then i was expecting as well as very quiet we were facing the lake.

The food court was crowded but I enjoyed the food and I found the food court at riverside where we ate one night to be way more crowded and disorganized

I would stay at aoa again for sure

 

[discookiemonsta]

I am booked at AOA, LM room at spring break.

As I lay awake last night, I got to thinking how much more crowded this resort might be because it is new. After reading this thread, I'm even more concerned about crowds...especially in the food court. I am seriously considering a switch to Pop....Hmm....

Honestly, busy times like Christmas or March break, everywhere will be crowded. If you have concerns about the the food court like we do, you can always do what we are planning on doing. We love the food court at POP, but will be staying at AoA at Christmas and sometimes we will walk over to POP to eat there. I'm thinking that with the picky kids I have, we may not even have a single meal at AoA Having stayed at POP 3 times already, I can tell you their food court gets crowded as well. I think it's more of a layout issue at AoA instead of crowd size. Just my thoughts....

 

[Leslieloody]

We stayed at AoA the last week of Sept through the first week of Oct. We had a Finding Nemo suite. I planned it all and had the master bedroom. I sleep with a fan, so I didn't hear much at all. The roommates said they heard people in hallways. We asked for top floor, and got it. I know all about youngsters jumping from bed to floor and did not want to hear that.

The food in AoA was just ok. Nothing really jumped at us as something to remember about our stay. Twice we rode Pop's bus JUST TO EAT. Once, we walked over for supper. The food is great at Pop! The gift area had different things, too. If you pin trade, Pop has a big board that comes out between 5:30 and 6:30. AofA pin board comes out at 6 o'clock for one hour. If you time it right, you can do both.

Showers were better in AoA. The rooms were clean and our Mousekeeper, Jason, was great. He made us a towel birthday cake, fish, burro, rabbit, and a couple of other things. The pool has underwater music, that was neat!

Crowd levels, to me, seemed more at Pop than AoA. Remember, we saw both places within a few minutes of each at least 3 times.

I have stayed at Pop twice, both times were fun. If the price was the same or close, I'd stay at AoA again. Hope that helps.

 

[seadd67]

Before i start I just wanted to say I have not stay at AoA but have stay at POP our last 4 stays at WDW. I love POP, matter of fact i am in a big internal battle between POP and POR, but that's for another forum. Here is my two cents on POP. About the food at POP, its OK at best really, if you are coming over to POP just because of the food, that really means the food is really bad!. For all you POP veterans, the scene In the cafeteria In POP in the morning is a mad house to!, and lunch for that matter, dinner time i do not know we are usually at the parks.