ASMo or Pop?

[Eoywin]

We are getting ready to book our September / October honeymoon

So, I had a question - which do you all think is better? ASMo or Pop?

It's just going to be me and my husband. I suffer from daily chronic headaches, so I need to have someplace that is mostly quiet in case I get a bad headache.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[GOOFYFREEK]

I would say Music. But we are more preferable to the All-Stars over the Pops. All-star transportation is split up in the morning and evening where Pop has the same amount of rooms as all 3 and tend to be busy.

 

[KimWDW]

I've heard that AS Music is quiet and more "couples" than the other All Stars, but can't say for sure since I've never been there.

Pop is very family/kid oriented. We love it there. If you want peace and quiet, request a room facing the lake. That area is so peaceful at nighttime. We love Pop because you don't share buses with any other resort. You get on and go straight to the park. We always got a seat and never waited longer than 5 minutes for a bus. Of course this was off-season last year (October) so it's probably different at other times of the year.

Have fun!

 

[MinnieSummer]

POP, POP, POP!!!!! I wouldn't go back to and AS resort if I was paid to do it.
If you won't consider a moderate, definitely stay at POP. It's soo much better than the AS. As suggested, a room facing the lake is a great choice. Away from the main pool and very peaceful.

 

[LBelle]

Pop!!!! Hands down!!!

 

[keliblue]

No comparison... POP all the way

 

[Fintastic]

If it were just me and DH, we'd pick Pop. Since we'll have a four-year-old with us, we chose ASMo. However, I haven't stayed at either before, so I can't speak from actual experience!

 

[lovetoscrap]

As is common with this board--ask a question and you will get opinions on both sides!

I have to respectfully disagree--and since resort choice is very much a matter of personal taste-- it is very hard to make a recommendation.

I have stayed at ASMo 3x and Pop 1X (in Sept). Personally I wouldn't stay at Pop again if you paid me!

Unfortunately, the "quietness" of your room can be largely dependent on who is in the rooms around you. I had a lovely room in the back facing the lake, but neighbors that came in screaming and yelling from about midnight until 2 every night. Not something that Disney can control--but be aware that you can't be guaranteed quiet!

I LOVE Movies. Now, I was at Pop during Free Dining so that may have raised the crowds some, but I just found it absolutely packed with screaming yelling people--everywhere! The food court was always a madhouse--and I think having the gift shop attached made it inconvenient to get in and out.

The buses were nice that they were never full when they arrived to pick up, but the lines at the end of the day were ridiculous.


I have to second the opinion of someone above that suggested ASMusic. It would probably be your best choice for a bigger chance of quiet and less crowded. The buses are also pretty good for Music in the evening. They always have shorter lines than Pop or Movies.

Music is also very close to Movies, so you can walk over to enjoy the pool there (pool hopping within the All Stars is allowed) and the food court, which I think is much better--more variety, less congested-- than Pop.

 

[chipndales]

ASM suited our needs perfectly. It was surprisingly quiet. We were there for a week at the end of September. While there, we heard horror stories from people at POP, but the bus situation can be frustrating with ASM sharing with two other hotels. Also, be warned, the pools do go out for servicing at this time period so be sure to check ahead, and of course, love bug mating season is at it's high point which I'm sure you've already been warned of.

 

[HopperFan]

I just got back from a week at POP with my DS who is disabled and suffers from anxiety and panic attacks and has sound sensory issues. We requested an upper room facing the lake because on that side of the buildings it is so peaceful. His body totally relaxed when we got on that side of the building. We had lots of down time, naps, quiet movies etc and never heard another soul. Food courts at both were busy and could be loud, but we always searched a corner table and he did fine.

PS I would suggest if you are not driving down that you rent a car. We never used the WDW Transportation. It was unbelievably faster to drive and it was quiet and made leaving the parks easier for him.

 

[minnie61650]

I would say Music. But we are more preferable to the All-Stars over the Pops. All-star transportation is split up in the morning and evening where Pop has the same amount of rooms as all 3 and tend to be busy.

Photos of ASMu from allearnet.com:

Quiet pool

Calypso icon * NOTE the lush landscaping

Calypso pool *NOTE the palm trees and landscapimg.

Garden near Broadway

Ariel near quiet pool

Broadway with B&B

Fountain by Jazz Inn



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All Star Music is my favorite resort. It tends to be the quietest of all the values.

DH and I enjoy the landscaping and peacefulness of All Star Music.
We enjoy relaxing by the pool (there are plenty of chairs and lounges), and the beautiful lighting at the resort by night.

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I love The All Star Resorts.

I am 56 years old and travel several times a year. I often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe and mod resorts are just another hotel/motel to me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.

All Star Music is my favorite. It is quieter because more couples stay there. I love staying at the Calypso building. It is closer to the pool, food court and bus stop.

Here is a site with a map of All Star Sports and All Star Music.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmap.htm
Scroll down. All Star Music is at the bottom of the page.
The Calypso buildings at All Star Music are #1 and #10 are nearest to the food court and bus stop.

The Calypso pool at ASMu has Donald Duck.

The buses are wonderful.

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot, MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.

A WORD ABOUT BUS SHARING

To me Bus Sharing at the All Stars is really a non issue.

In the mornings during Park opening hours each All Star usually has a dedicated bus.
During mid day it is usually just our stop and maybe one more on the way to the parks. On the way back sometimes it is all 3 but often Sports and Music share and Movies has it's own bus back. Each of the All Stars usually has it's own dedicated bus back from the MK.
That is a big plus. It seems like the Music bus stop usually has the shortest of the three All Star bus lines.

I guess some people who stay at POP see all 3 All Star names on the return sign of our bus stop when they head to the POP bus stop and think All Stars also has 3 stops on the way to the park.
(Even when we stop at another AS resort to load up it has not taken more than 5 minutes and we are on our way!)

The pools at The All Stars are very kid friendly.

When staying at the All Stars you can use any of the All Star pools.That means 3 main pools ,3 quiet pools and 3 kiddie pools to chose from.

The All Star Movie Fantasia pool has Mickey.

The Calypso pool at ASMU has Donald Duck.

And the Surfs up pool at All Star Sports has giant surf boards.

Here are a few pool photos.

All Star Sports pool.

All Star Music Donald pool.

All Star Movies Mickey Pool.

I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theming is pure Disney.
My last 6 visits have been at The All Stars and last fall when we took dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 for 8 nights we stayed at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?

Have a great time at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

I am just back from POP, here is my review:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1254583

Next time I will book an All Star because of the noise at POP.

 

[i3utterfli82]

We just got back from POP and LOVED it...very clean, friendly staff, frozen cokes...We WILL be going back!

 

[catherines_mama]

I'd go with POP, it jsut had a smaller, quieter feel then the AllStars have (but I've only stayed at Movies).

You can request a lake view / upper floor room. Have them note its your Honeymoon, so that when they assign rooms they'll take that into consideration. I think noise depends on your neighbors no matter WHERE you stay.

Good luck making the decision and HAVE FUN planning your wedding!!!

 

[flortlebap]

There really is no comparison between the As and POP resorts.

POP wins every time. It's just wonderful, you wouldn't think you were staying in a value. We're staying there next time (and we've chosen POP over a deluxe!!)

 

[Disneylovingmom]

We've stayed at all the All Stars and Pop. We usually stay at Pop now just because it's newer. A lake view room would be quieter and a nicer view for adults. I would also recommend AsMu for adults. Some of the theming seems more suited to adults. The Broadway and Jazz sections are nice.