AOA v. POP v. All Star Movie?

[abr155]

Help! Going back for quick mommy and me trip with my almost 3 year old to take advantage of 25% off resort promo while daughter is still free. We will do 3 nights, 2 park days (MK and Epcot). Struggling with resort choice. Options:

1. AOA Little Mermaid Room - $788.91
2. POP Standard Pool View - $692.34
3. All Star Movie Preferred Room - $595.26

Will very likely just be me and my daughter. Flying in, no car, will have stroller.

AOA LM room: I know my daughter would go wild over that theme, but we really won’t be in resort much. I’m concerned about the distance from everything especially since it’s just me. Also worried about space for her pack n play if we don’t get king room. Skyliner obviously awesome.

POP: also get the skyliner. If luck out with building 3 or 1, walk isn’t bad - but if end up in 90s section, still a hike. Modern rooms - good layout for pack n play bc won’t need extra bed. Cute theme - she’ll love the statues.

All Star Movie: no skyliner. Preferred room - so easy for just the two of us. Cheapest. Also modern rooms with good layout. Cute theme that she’ll also love.

May have some pool time on arrival day.

Note: there is a big cheer/dance comp. our exact weekend - I’ve read where most stay at All Star resorts?

Will very likely take Minnie Van to MK

Please help - never stayed at any!

 

[Lewisc]

All Star Movie: no skyliner. Preferred room - so easy for just the two of us. Cheapest. Also modern rooms with good layout. Cute theme that she’ll also love.

You answered your own question.

You're only going to EPCOT one day and are skipping DHS. Skyliner isn't as big an advantage for you.

There can be a wait for MV,.particularly at rope drop.

 

[glocon]

Help! Going back for quick mommy and me trip with my almost 3 year old to take advantage of 25% off resort promo while daughter is still free. We will do 3 nights, 2 park days (MK and Epcot). Struggling with resort choice. Options:

1. AOA Little Mermaid Room - $788.91
2. POP Standard Pool View - $692.34
3. All Star Movie Preferred Room - $595.26

Will very likely just be me and my daughter. Flying in, no car, will have stroller.

AOA LM room: I know my daughter would go wild over that theme, but we really won’t be in resort much. I’m concerned about the distance from everything especially since it’s just me. Also worried about space for her pack n play if we don’t get king room. Skyliner obviously awesome.

POP: also get the skyliner. If luck out with building 3 or 1, walk isn’t bad - but if end up in 90s section, still a hike. Modern rooms - good layout for pack n play bc won’t need extra bed. Cute theme - she’ll love the statues.

All Star Movie: no skyliner. Preferred room - so easy for just the two of us. Cheapest. Also modern rooms with good layout. Cute theme that she’ll also love.

May have some pool time on arrival day.

Note: there is a big cheer/dance comp. our exact weekend - I’ve read where most stay at All Star resorts?

Will very likely take Minnie Van to MK

Please help - never stayed at any!

Agree with cheapest room.
The $100-$200 you save can pay for food/snacks/souvenirs.
It’s just a couple of days.
She’ll have fun no matter which you choose and the preferred room will save you steps.

 

[jimmymc]

I don't think the AOA Little Mermaid rooms are worth the price. They are far away from the main building and Skyliner, and the theming alone doesn't justify the price.

I personally think POP is laid out well enough that even the far rooms aren't a bad walk to the busses. Even the 90's rooms are positioned where you can cut through the parking lot and be at the bus stop in a few minutes. I'm leaning towards POP because during cheer/dance competitions, the All Stars do get absolutely rammed. Every room is at max capacity and they all want to eat at the food court or use the pools at the exact same time you do. If you don't plan on spending much time at the resort then save the money and stay at All Star Movies, but if you're doing a pool day or are going to be eating at the food court then I would upgrade.

 

[Disturbia]

Our 3 Year old loved the Skyliner (it’s like a ride in and of itself). We love AOA and always stay in one of the suites (we prefer them over AKL deluxe suite due to transportation).

A friend of ours stayed in LM room and had a miserable stay. At that age if you’re still doing naps/midday breaks, walking back and forth to the room does add up.

I would say book POP preferred so it’s closer to transportation and you have the advantage of the Skyliner. Epcot has 7-8 rides for kids that young.

Since it’s you by yourself, it can be hard to fold up a stroller and manage an active 3 year old and a backpack diaper bag trying to board a bus. Make sure you have a lightweight stroller that can be carried easily while holding a toddlers hand. We did see a few people in the parks with a toddler carrier which had a seat. Our Colugo carrier says it’s up to 3 years old but it’s hard to stop the legs from dangling (bad for hips) but we had no choice when the airline broke a wheel on our double stroller (Joovy Caboose ultralight; 3 year old has speech delays and is very active).

We’ve used Ubers quite a few times. They usually don’t have car seats even when we’ve requested them. Minnie Vans would just drop our requests and they were very late for pickups. Hopefully they’ve improved post pandemic. They always have car seats in them.

 

[Disturbia]

Double check Minnie Van prices. Last I checked they were around $40 to go from a resort to MK.

 

[Skippyboo]

Pop. Stroller right on to the Skyliner with removing the kid. LM rooms at AoA are super far away from Skyliner station and central hall. The room design of All Stars are basically copied from Pop. If you request 50 section w bowling pin pool there are big statues of Lady and Tramp outside buildings.

 

[Disneylover99]

Movies for the savings and convenience to be near to the main building, pool and buses. Also newly renovated.

 

[RoseGold]

If price is the top consideration, I would at least price out off-site. A lot of them run good bus coverage.

If you're taking Minnie Van anyway, then it's even less advantage to stay on site.

 

[mom2rtk]

AoA is a beautiful resort. I would not stay there again (in a LM room) without a car. The gift shop and foot court are indeed very far away. It changed the nature of our visit. No popping in to get drinks or snacks once we arrived back at the room. I mean, nobody was stopping us, but after a long day on our feet, it just wasn't happening. If you think she'd enjoy the Skyliner, stay at Pop. Otherwise All Stars will be great.

 

[Anthony1971]

So its been a while since having a Stroller I do however recall very well 1. pushing that stroller up the hill By England and out the international gateway and 2. Pushing the stroller up the hill from BW area which does not apply here but neither are pleasant memories especially the walk out of Epcot after pushing a stroller all day. Make sure are have a stroller that folds easy Jeep umbrella strollers always worked well for us (if they are still a thing) although you may not come back with it as parts can and do break but not anything to make useless. Yes the Sky liner/ Monorail sound good for strollers but if you kid is sleeping and this does happen often keep in mind the steep incline to walk onto either from the parks.

 

[abr155]

Our 3 Year old loved the Skyliner (it’s like a ride in and of itself). We love AOA and always stay in one of the suites (we prefer them over AKL deluxe suite due to transportation).

A friend of ours stayed in LM room and had a miserable stay. At that age if you’re still doing naps/midday breaks, walking back and forth to the room does add up.

I would say book POP preferred so it’s closer to transportation and you have the advantage of the Skyliner. Epcot has 7-8 rides for kids that young.

Since it’s you by yourself, it can be hard to fold up a stroller and manage an active 3 year old and a backpack diaper bag trying to board a bus. Make sure you have a lightweight stroller that can be carried easily while holding a toddlers hand. We did see a few people in the parks with a toddler carrier which had a seat. Our Colugo carrier says it’s up to 3 years old but it’s hard to stop the legs from dangling (bad for hips) but we had no choice when the airline broke a wheel on our double stroller (Joovy Caboose ultralight; 3 year old has speech delays and is very active).

We’ve used Ubers quite a few times. They usually don’t have car seats even when we’ve requested them. Minnie Vans would just drop our requests and they were very late for pickups. Hopefully they’ve improved post pandemic. They always have car seats in them.

Very helpful, thank you! Think I’m going to go with POP bc I agree that she will love the skyliner and the LM rooms are too far.

I should add (maybe embarrassingly haha) - we just got back 2 weeks ago. Now, I had my husband and MIL to help BUT it was almost like a test run bc I know what to bring/not bring and feel confident I could handle our stroller. But absolutely agree - being close to bus and skyliner is essential since I’ll be flying solo.

 

[KristaZ]

Pop because you'll be able to avoid buses completely if you're going to do a Minnie Van to MK. No having to fold up the stroller for a bus is a huge plus to me.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm all about saving money so I'd go Movies. If she loves the sky liner you can always just ride it for fun. I was a single mom and took my son when he was just shy of 3. There was no such thing as Uber, Minnie Vans or sky liner back then. It was the bus or the boats if you were staying at a MK resort (which we did because they were the only resorts on property at the time). I didn't take a stroller, he hated them and when he got too tired we would either go back to the room or I would rent a Disney one. At 3, she is old enough that you can tell her to stand right there while you fold up the stroller, I used to make my son actually hold something on my body like my shirt or my pants leg if my hands were full so I could feel him or stand right in front of me so I could see him.