Choosing a Value Resort

[DisneyPiPhi]

Hi Everyone! I am so excited to be planning an April 2016 Disney trip! We just went this past May and weren't planning to go again soon, but after thinking about other possible travel destinations, going back to Disney just made the most sense.

We stayed at and enjoyed POR last year, but this year we'd like to stay in a value resort to save a little cash. I'm trying to decide between POP and ASMu. Which do you think a three-year-old girl and her parents would enjoy the most?

Thanks!

 

[Disneylover99]

Pop

 

[dansdad]

We have not stayed at Pop, but we have stayed at all 3 All Stars and thoroughly enjoyed all of them.

 

[gleap003]

I like the all-stars I have a larger family and the ASR works just fine for us we sound all are time in the parks and only sleep in the hotel so don't need anything more then a bigger room. And the savings are usually in the thousands since when we go it's for over 10 days at a time

 

[Smbmoyers]

I'm going with Pop for our 3 year old boy! I think he's going to love the big "characters" that are around pop and it's a bridge a way from AoA. So he can go see the Lion King and such plus pop has dedicated buses.

 

[happymommy]

I've only stayed at Pop, but my DD (16) and I had a wonderful time! There was nothing we didn't like about it - and walking around AOA would be super fun for a preschooler (especially the Cars section with the cars and Mater - it is absolutely adorable). We liked the food court, but a few times it was a bit noisy (and we were tired) so we took our food back to the room to eat at the table in some quiet. I did have a travel coffee maker, as I like to have my coffee first thing (and sent a couple Amazon Prime Pantry boxes with snacks, water, coffee, cups for the coffee, toiletries, etc).
I'd totally stay at Pop!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Pop has dedicated buses. The All-Stars share buses.

Which is to say: POP.

 

[lustergirl]

I prefer the All Stars over POP. The All Stars are way smaller than POP and less chaotic.

 

[happymommy]

I guess it was where we were at Pop, but I didn't find it too big at all. It was maybe 5 minutes to walk to the bus stop (and I was on the top floor and pushing DD in her wheelchair).

 

[lustergirl]

I guess it was where we were at Pop, but I didn't find it too big at all. It was maybe 5 minutes to walk to the bus stop (and I was on the top floor and pushing DD in her wheelchair).

Location is everything. Size wise and room size POP has more rooms than the All Stars, more people stay there.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Pop preferred room is my value go to!

 

[GoofyCdn]

We have stayed at POP many times. We enjoy the walk over to AoA. The food selection at the AoA food court is great.

 

[dansdad]

Pop has dedicated buses. The All-Stars share buses.

Which is to say: POP.

Not all the time. Usually only during the slow parts of the day when there's only a couple people going to from each of the resorts. We have had over 30 nights total across all 3 All Stars and only shared a bus 3 times.

 

[loves to dive]

My opinion isn't going to be popular but I think which ever one is less. I've stayed at PoP and ASsp and if I had been staying longer than a night or two would have been very disappointed. For me, they were both like a not very well maintained Super 8. If I had to choose I'd go with ASsp. My room seemed a little less dated and was cleaner. I didn't find PoP all that large, I walked around the entire thing and over to AoA and around all of it both mornings I stayed there. A bus is a bus is a bus. You are going to have good luck some times and bad luck some times, it really is the luck of the draw so I wouldn't base my choice on that. The proximity to AoA and all the neat things for little ones to see there might squeeze PoP in over the all stars but seriously, I'd just go for what ever is less. And I wouldn't pay for preferred or a view. There are outside hallways like at POR so you really aren't going to be looking out your window, there are plenty of places on the grounds to sit and look at things and like I said, I really don't think any of them are so big that walking to the bus stop is going to be that big of a hassle.

 

[tobikaye]

My suggestion would be to look at the features of each resort and see which you think would fit your child best. As an adult, this is the order in which my favorite to least favorite. Although, I will suggest that you watch for discounts. I have not stayed moderate yet so I cannot compare to moderates. So far, every time I plan for moderate or deluxe resorts, I end up at the Cabins at FW due to extra space.

1. Movies - Toy Story Section (2011) This was great as I had a corner room near the parking lot, but facing the large character icons. The room was quiet in the evenings, but a quick walk to the main building/pool.
2. Pop - 50's Section (2011) The only way I would probably stay here again is if I request a different section. I found it quite loud at night. In the future I would request 60's lakeside or 70's.
3. Music - Jazz section (2001) It was not too far from the main building and quiet.
4. Sports - Surfs up (1999) This was only a 1 night stay though so it might go higher if I ever stay there again.

 

[samsteele]

I focus on the bus transportation since I am in the parks from rope drop until well into the evening. I have stayed at POP many times and tried AS Music last winter. IMO, POP's bus transportation is better. Hands down. All of the value rooms are similar in size. But waiting more than 20 mins for a bus early in the morning to watch it drive by the resort because it is already full from AS Sports didn't do anything for me. POP is any easy walk across the Generation Gap Bridge from Art of Animation. So I can (and have) jumped on an AOA bus at night from one of the parks when the POP bus line was huge and the AOA bus showed up first. I also prefer the AOA caf to POP's caf (except for the King Cupcake and tie-dye cheesecake which are must haves )

 

[HopperFan]

POP

POP is our favorite value. While rooms similar the rest of the resort if nicer than AllStars, more lush landscape, great nonshared transportation, bridge to AoA with it's awesome food court, lake with quiet lake view rooms....

ASMu is our least favorite Disney hotel period.

 

[Disneylover99]

If you do choose ASMu, you might want to consider getting a preferred room due to the layout.

 

[MamaT_3]

Does AoA have dedicated buses too? I'm trying to decide between POP and AoA.

 

[HopperFan]

Does AoA have dedicated buses too? I'm trying to decide between POP and AoA.

Yes