Best value resort?

[swilshire]

Sorry if this has been discussed to death already. I don't normally read this forum as we stay off-site in timeshares, but I've almost decided to tack four nights onto our planned stay in October to checkin on the last day of the free Disney dining.

It looks like most of the value resorts still have this special available if I don't dilly-dally too much longer (waiting to see how much trouble it will cause to have the kids skip three days of school). I've been to the outside of all of the value resorts, but have never stayed in any of them.

Are any of them more roomy or better in some other way? We'll probably only go to the parks a couple of days, and will drive our own car then, so transportation issues don't concern me. I thought the free dining might be a great chance to go to Hoop-de-doo-review and try some of the resort restaurants without breaking the bank.

Thanks for any advice.

Sheila

 

[spiceycat]

I like the Pop Century. the lake is nice for those early morning/evening walks.

or just to sit and watch the birds.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

If you have small children, All Star Movies is the best. If you have no children or your children are older, Pop is the way to go.

 

[disneydreamerinny]

We have stayed at All Star Music in October of 1998.
We loved it. It was our first time ever at Disney World and I think a Motel 6 would have been a treat.
But it was a nice resort. The pool was awsome and the busses were very prompt.
We are staying at the All Star Sports in November this year and expect the same.
I hope you get more responses, I am interested in this as well

 

[minnie61650]

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.
They are the preferred buildings and cost about $12 extra per night.
The Calypso pool at ASMU has Donald Duck.

Here is the map of All Movies.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmovie.JPG
The Fantasia Buildings are the perred buildings.
The All Star Movie Fantasia pool has Mickey.
The buses are wonderful. It takes about 25 min.to get to MK but, Epcot,MGM,and AK are only 10 min.away which is one the of the resons I
love the All Star Resorts --they can't be beat. I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. 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 theaming is pure Disney.
My last 4 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we take dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 we are staying 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. I can hardly wait.
Linda
Just 62 more days
just 65 more days
__________________

 

[Harmony]

We've stayed at Pop and AsMos and out of the two, I vote for the Movie resort. Pop was nice and our view was the lake...very nice in the evenings but still...there's something special about the Movie resort that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. Maybe it was 'cause that was our very first trip to WDW? *shrug* I dunno know. Either way, I'm sure you will have fun! Enjoy your trip!

 

[Honeybehr1]

Our last visit in jan 02, we stayed for the first time in ASM. My son was a huge Buzz fan and we stayed right near the huge Buzz. The rooms are smallish but we only slept there and it was big enough for the 4 of us. The pool was awesome and very clean - DS still talks about the cool pool.

This time we will be staying at ASM and I put in a request for Dalmations or Buzz. I am hoping they can put us there. DH(2) is a huge dog fan. But either building would be fine.

We have stayed off property and it isnt even an option anymore.

The one place I would love to stay would either be the Poly or AKL.

 

[princess mom of 4]

I have booked 3nights at PopCentury in October, but I'm a little nervous because we've never stayed at a value resort before. This was a little quickly planned trip to take advantage of free dining, so no time to really save up! Anybody disappointed/too spoiled by deluxe stays on other trips to enjoy the Pop?

 

[declansdad]

We have stayed at ASMo (march 2004) and Pop (july 2005). We liked both but I think I preferred Pop for the simple reason of its location. I found al the bus rids to be much shorter and the bus service was awesome for the sizes of th summer crowds.


As for the rooms and food, I would say they were about the same. Our room had a view of the lake and fireworks though and you don't get that at any of the All Stars.

 

[Harmony]

I've stayed at a moderate resort before...not a deluxe yet but plan too. (I have, however, visited most of the resorts...not the same thing I know...but I did get a feel for them)

Though every resort has it's own special feel, there is something special about the values...must be the whimsical atmosphere or something...that you don't get at other resorts.

Since people know I love Disney, they always ask me what resort they should stay in. If it's their 1st visit to WDW, I always suggest a value. I think every family...esp with small children...should stay at a value at least once. They are just so much fun! And I agree...it feels like you're still at the parks even when you aren't.

I have booked 3nights at PopCentury in October, but I'm a little nervous because we've never stayed at a value resort before. This was a little quickly planned trip to take advantage of free dining, so no time to really save up! Anybody disappointed/too spoiled by deluxe stays on other trips to enjoy the Pop?

 

[minnie61650]

You and me both - But apparently, we're both wrong. The bus rides from the All Star Resorts are actually shorter than the bus rides from Pop. I think it feels as though Pop is shorter because you're more centrally located. But to get to the main road that leads to Epcot and Magic Kingdom, is actually closer to All Stars.

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

bus ride times :
All Stars Buses -------- -------Pop buses
20 min MK ----------- -------25 min MK
10 min Epcot ----------------20 min Epcot
10 min MGM -------- --------15 min MGM
10 min AK ----------- --------15 min AK
15 min DTD --------- -------- 20 min DTD
Linda

 

[pamouselover]

I was told by friends that you do get the mickey shape soap at the all stars!

There's lots of talk about this, but it's all personal opinion. I've stayed at all the Values, many times.

The rooms, size wise, are no different. The dressers at Pop are a bit nicer, and the TV is a bit bigger. Also, Pop has bars of Mickey soap, where All Stars has the dispensers in the shower.

That's where the plusses at Pop end for me. All Stars, (though they share buses in less crowded times) has better bus service. The theming is much more Disney. The pools are better themed. The food is much better in the food court. The gift shop is seperate, and nicer.

ASMovies is my favorite.

 

[declansdad]

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

bus ride times :
All Stars Buses -------- -------Pop buses
20 min MK ----------- -------25 min MK
10 min Epcot ----------------20 min Epcot
10 min MGM -------- --------15 min MGM
10 min AK ----------- --------15 min AK
15 min DTD --------- -------- 20 min DTD
Linda

I don't agree with the times from Pop to Epcot and MGM. MGM was maybe 5 minutes (right turn, left and left) and we could see Epcot from our room.

 

[cyndibelle]

pop century all the way......as you can see we have been there many times..love it..our kids love it..they are 5 and 7...bus rides very short....have their own buses....no stopping at other resorts...i dont think i have ever been on a bus for 25 minutes.....

 

[grinningghost]

I've only stayed at ASMu and ASMo and out of the two, I liked Movies better - it just seemed a bit nicer (but probably because it was newer). But all in all, both were nice places and I'd stay at either one again.

 

[minnie61650]

I don't agree with the times from Pop to Epcot and MGM. MGM was maybe 5 minutes (right turn, left and left) and we could see Epcot from our room.

I agree that the bus time for POP to Epcot might be off.
Here is the distance . But iI am not sure what the driving distance is.

ALL Star-------------------POP
MK 7 miles-----------------MK 7 miles
Epcot 4 miles--------------Epcot 3 miles
MGM 2 miles---------------MGM 3 miles
AK 3 miles----------------- AK 5 miles

http://www.wdwinfo.com/recreation/distancetoparks.htm

Linda
61 days

 

[minnie61650]

I'm curious what the mileage to Downtown Disney from All Stars and Pop is. To me, it seems like the ride from All Stars takes forever.

I would be interested in knowing that also.
I have not be able to find that info.
Anybody ???
Linda

 

[Mickey&Co]

There's lots of talk about this, but it's all personal opinion. I've stayed at all the Values, many times.

ASMovies is my favorite.

Ditto! I have also stayed at all of the All-Star Resorts. They have a more relaxed atmosphere. The rooms though a bit on the smaller size, were still comfortable enough for 2 adults and 2 children.

My vote goes to All-Star Movies!

We haven't stayed at POP Century yet, but probably will for a couple of days during our next WDW vacation.

 

[OnceUponAStar*]

Pop Century..amazing..new..awesome..

Enough Said.