ASMu vs. POP..what do i do??

[inkedupmomma]

Ok, i'm trying to read as much as i can and take it all in, but there is so much info lol. Here's my story, I currently have a room at ASMu reserved for 9/14-9/21,08. Origanlly I wanted POP. We winded up changing our trip from Oct, to Sept for the free ddp. I really love all things 50's and am wondering if i should keep trying to get a room at POP or just stay with ASMu?? Also, is it true ASmu has extra activities?? and how much longer are the bus rides than the ones at POP?

what if any are the diffrences lol.. i'm so confused. tia for any help (pics would be great too)

oh also we stayed at asmo last time (2005) and loved it.. although I dont think I knew much about anything then lol

 

[ChrisnKim913]

I have never stayed at ASMu but I have stayed at ASMo and POP. I just booked a room for POP again in July. To me, POP doesn't even compare to the All Star's. POP has 1 stop, thats it. The All Stars stop at each property. After a long day at the parks I don't want to stop at other resorts, just get me to mine!! To me that's a big plus. I love the theming at POP and just the whole feel there is better, in my opinion.

 

[travelin' tigger]

Ok, i'm trying to read as much as i can and take it all in, but there is so much info lol. Here's my story, I currently have a room at ASMu reserved for 9/14-9/21,08. Origanlly I wanted POP. We winded up changing our trip from Oct, to Sept for the free ddp. I really love all things 50's and am wondering if i should keep trying to get a room at POP or just stay with ASMu?? Also, is it true ASmu has extra activities?? and how much longer are the bus rides than the ones at POP?

what if any are the diffrences lol.. i'm so confused. tia for any help (pics would be great too)

oh also we stayed at asmo last time (2005) and loved it.. although I dont think I knew much about anything then lol

I've stayed at all the values over the years and ASMu is my favorite. I find it to be the quietest and most laid back. Broadway has great theming and is close to the quiet pool and parking while Jazz is the closest to the food court and busses without paying preferred.

Busses during the morning and evening hours usually stop at one resort while quieter hours might stop at all 3 AS resorts. Ride times vary - closest to AK, with MK being the furthest away.

HTH!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

I've stayed at both POP and ASMusic. While POP is my favorite, I would have no problem if I had to be at Music again. I quite enjoyed my Music stay. I basically love the atmosphere at POP better. I like that there is only one bus stop and we don't make any other stops.
But, I wouldn't go out of my way to keep trying to get a room at POP if I was already booked at Music.

 

[kaysmommie]

If you could get a room at Pop request the 50's section on your reservation. We stayed in building #1 in the 50's and it was perfect. CLose to the bus stops and foodcourt and also the bowling pin pool was right there. It was just a 2 minutes walk to the 60's pool too.

 

[inkedupmomma]

Thanks so much everyone!! I'm still not sure what to do. I love the idea of being in a 50's room, but I hear the ASMu has special kids events and such.. is that true?? Also, we are driving down, is it a pain to take your own car to the parks? or is it better to just take the buses provided byt he hotel?

 

[Shmily1]

We've stayed at POP nine times.... not for money but because I'm a big kid and I love it!!! Then I tried ASMu... All things POP are off!!! ASMu is my new favorite value!! I loved it there so much!!

The food court was great. It gets a little busy at the check out area for breakfast, but that's understandable.

It was just rennovated last year and looks great!! The beds were very comfortable.

We always drive since we only live ~4 hours away and we never drive to the parks. (I really don't want my tired self hunting where I parked after 10+ hours in the parks!!!) We've shared a bus with the other All Star resorts once and waited for a bus about 7 minutes once. All the other times, we had the bus to ourselves and it was great!!!

When you check in, they will give you a schedule of all the pool area activities. They have everything there!! The kids playing the games with the CMs were having a blast and even the parents were getting into it!

I think you will totally enjoy your stay!!! It is a blast!!!!

 

[DISNEYNY]

I stayed at ASMU last August in the Broadway section. It was very nice. The resort is renovated and everything looks fresh and new. They did have the games and movies at the pool, which my kids enjoyed. I read on another post that they are still doing it. The buses at All Stars have never been a problem for me. If you are leaving in the morning or coming back at park closing they will most likely have dedicated buses. I have stayed at All Stars 3 times and I remember sharing a bus once...when I came back to the resort at mid day.

 

[spiceycat]

do love Pop.

that say ASMu was very, very nice. now with the rehab - it is probably just wonderful.

it does not have the lake - but the rooms should be nicer. It also does not have the frozen cokes - hope Pop still has them.

 

[inkedupmomma]

so what are the different sections of asmu? broadway is the best place to stay?

 

[DISNEYNY]

so what are the different sections of asmu? broadway is the best place to stay?

The sections are Calypso, Jazz, Rock, Broadway, and Country. I believe Calypso is preferred and also parts of Jazz...I think. I had requested Jazz, but didn't get it. I was happy in Broadway. For my family the walk wasn't that bad. Country is the farthest back. As far as the best section, that can be a matter of opinion. Some people like to be near the main pool, others like a quieter spot. Calypso is closest to the food court and main pool.

 

[travlnman1]

We have recently stayed at both.
My vote would be for ASMu. I thought it was a beautiful property. Much quieter than POP. We had a car at ASMu so I couldn't tell you about the bus service but I can tell you at POP, they may not have any stops but it was frustrating in the morning to weave in and out of the line just to get on a darn bus. It was usually the longest line of the day.
The food court at POP was out of control busy. People were table stalking because there were not enough places to sit. ASMu was busy but you could at least find a place to sit. Nope..won't go back to POP. Loved ASMu.

 

[Maverick Mike]

My family goes back to Pop time after time. We actually had the chance to change to AKL for just $25 more a night, and stuck with Pop! That is saying something giving up a deluxe for the atmosphere of Pop!

 

[bob6sims]

I would keep trying for POP - it only has the one bus stop which makes all the difference at the end of a days at the parks and everyone is tired . The last thing you want is stopping at the other AS resort which just adds time to your journey .
Yes the food court is busy especially at breakfast - but so are all the resorts at this time - but the queues go down quick and you can always take it back to your room to eat...or eat it on the go .
Hope you get lucky .

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Never again will we stay at POP - September was the most unmagical vacation ever in all the stays at Disney. Since we're AP holders when the great rates came out in January we jumped on a trip to WDW staying at ASMu and that's where we'll definitely stay again. It was absolutely fantastic!! We had a standard, ground floor room in the Jazz building which was closer & much cheaper than the preferred room we got at POP. Close to the pool, shopping, food court & the busses. We didn't share with the other AllStar resorts except for 1x going to AK. All other times we had our own dedicated bus & we certainly didn't have to wait very long for one to come compared to the wait time at POP & the crowd size at POP. ASMu is a much quieter and more relaxed resort than POP. The activities around the pool for the kids was fantastic. We didn't have to worry about fighting for a seat in the food court like we did at POP, and the food selection at ASMu was really alot better than POP. The rooms were fantastic since they've been refurbished. I loved the curtain between the sink area & the sleeping area. It really made a world of difference since I'm usually the first one up in the mornings & I didn't disturb anyone else. Give ASMu a chance - I bet you'd love it!!

 

[inkedupmomma]

as cool as pop sounds, i think i'm just gonna stick with asmu!! i did love asmo so i'm sure i will love anything lol. In all honesty we don't even bother looking up anything but value rooms because we spend so little time in the room/hotel that it really doesnt matter. Although, we plan on spending a bit more time relaxing this time around! As far as eating goes, we have b-fast and dinner ressies set up for every day so i dont think we will be eating at the resort much if at all. Again with the bus thing, we are driving down.. how dumb is it to drive to the park ourselves? does it cost money to park your car at the parks?

Thanks again so much for all your input.. i'm being ocd about this trip and it's nice to have people get where i'm coming from

 

[travelin' tigger]

Again with the bus thing, we are driving down.. how dumb is it to drive to the park ourselves? does it cost money to park your car at the parks?

I find driving to most parks easier than having to wait for a bus. MK is the exception - the bus drops you right in front vs. parking at TTC, then ferry/monorail to the park, etc. can be a pain. As far as paying to park, as long as you have a resort parking tag on your dash, you don't have to pay.

 

[inkedupmomma]

I find driving to most parks easier than having to wait for a bus. MK is the exception - the bus drops you right in front vs. parking at TTC, then ferry/monorail to the park, etc. can be a pain. As far as paying to park, as long as you have a resort parking tag on your dash, you don't have to pay.

ok great to know! ok, so drive to all parks but mk... this should make things easier too since we have brrakfast ressies everyday.. so we kinda have to drive anyways.... i think...

 

[justplaingoofy]

I don't drive to M.K., and sometimes I prefer to just take the bus when we have hopper tickets...

especially when we do Hollywood studios and sometimes hop over to Epcot..we find it easy to jump on the boat. If we have a car its a little bit of a hassle because then we end up moving the car...

 

[deslynnpatterson]

we also stayed at POP for 3 years in a row and loved it-- thought we would never stay anywhere else-- well last year when we booked free dinning on preferred at ASMU were left-- so we took a chance-- and never again for POP for LOVE ASMU!! We have preferred rooms for 9/5-9/14. The Calypso building is great, and the activities at night by the pool are a blast!! You would def enjoy your stay at both locations-- but just coming from someone that stayed at both The sharing buses didnt seem to be a huge deal-- it worked out great, and they don't share all the time-- mostly in the afternoon when things are slow. you will enjoy anywhereyou stay they are both great resorts!
~Desiree