Compare ASMo to POP Please

[maj42169]

HELP! I am trying to decide IF I should change my reservation from POP to ASMo. I have stayed at Movies before, not POP. Here are my concerns:
1. Bus ride and waits
2. Food Court
3. Walk to food court
4. Type of crowds

IF anyone can help me out here I would appreciate it! I am looking for the shortest route to the food court at POP. Someone told me that building 7 is actually closest to the busses, but when I look at Google Earth it seems that maybe the 60's buildings are closer.

At Movies we were in Dalmations building. My young daughter really liked it here and we were close to the food court and busses. (Husband ends up carrying her back to room at nights..and 48lbs of sleeping child feels like 200lbs!)

 

[maj42169]

Anyone????????

 

[Mayl]

honestly there are dozens of posts about each resort and even the values vs each other.

just take 5 minutes and search around

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

Not stayed at Pop but all the reviews I've read talk about smoking and thin walls. The pictures look very garish compared to the ALL stars buts its a personal choice, just looking at Pop gives me a headache.

 

[maj42169]

honestly there are dozens of posts about each resort and even the values vs each other.

just take 5 minutes and search around

Take 5 minutes....I have been reading these posts for weeks..........researching about this. I am aware of the threads for each and have read them over and over again.

If I could have found what I was looking for through reading, then I wouldn't have bothered to make the thread! I wanted to hear comments from somene that HAS stayed at both and can compare.

I didn't SEE a comparison between ASMo and POP.............

 

[iluvdizknee]

Ok, I have stayed at both and to be honest, both resorts are nice. My family likes POP alittle better just because of the Icee Machine in the food court and the way the food court and gift shop is all in one, kinda. To be honest, I never had any problems with the bus service in either resort and we go in JULY! I think no matter where you stay you will hear pros and cons from ppl...I quess I am easy to please~

 

[scoobndolliesmom]

I can not give you much about asmo because I have not stayed there. I have had family member's who like it alot.
We have stayed at pop twice and loved it. WE stayed at both the 60`s and the 70's. We were in great walking distance to everything.There were alot of people but not too many that we felt uncomfortable. I am not sure if it was the time of the year but we had no problems with the buses. Even when there were long lines they were moving people in and out . It was not during peak season though. I hope this helps! Have a great time!

 

[diseverestfan]

I've stayed at both and enjoyed them both. I was fortunate enough to be at POP 12 days after it opened. Even then, I told my DW that I liked Movies better. I didn't like the shopping/food court set up at POP. Not a big deal at all, but I like the separation at Movies. As far as your questions:
Both resorts are similar in layout. Not much of a difference in walking time from rooms to buses. Ditto the food court/main hall. Many people believe that the bus situation is much better at POP because their is only one stop, while the belief is that at the All Stars, the buses always stop at all 3 resorts. I have stayed at Movies twice, at different times of the year, and that is simply not true. I only recall sharing a bus once in a total of 16 nights spent at the Movies resort. Also, there are more rooms at POP vs. the All Stars, so assuming that the busses go to only one resort, there is less people in line. Again, same principle applies to the food court. As good as POP's food court is, and it is very good, it can be chaos between 8 and 10 in the morning. To be fair, the amenities at POP are slightly better than Movies. More variety of foods at the food court, frozen slushies, etc. They also have a very neat pop jet area for young children to jump around in. Also be aware that All Star Movies resort is 9 years old and has not been rehabbed, POP is only about 4 1/2 years old. If it was my decision, I'd pick either Music or Sports, as both have been completely refurbished during the past year and in my opinion look better than either POP's rooms or Movies.
Both resorts are lots of fun, and I wouln't hesitate to stay at either. POP is a cult favorite on these boards, and it seems at times that the All Stars get slammed unfairly, especially about the bus situation. Have fun with whatever you choose!

 

[ltuggle]

We have stayed at both- we stayed in the Toy Story section at ASMo and we stayed in the 50's building at Pop. My recommendation is the Pop- we tell that to everyone! It is newer than ASMo and we prefer the set up of the food court/gift shop. If I remember correctly, at ASMo they were on opposite sides of the lobby, but at Pop they are together. That may seem weird to prefer, but we liked it because the kids roamed around with the inlaws in the shop while we were getting food. ALso, we stayed in a 3rd floor room in the 50's building and we could see the Epcot fireworks at night. Overall, Pop just feels newer and better planned out to me. We had no trouble with the buses.

 

[maj42169]

Thanks for all the info! I truely appreciate it!

 

[wdwnomad]

I've stayed at both and, overall, I liked Movies better. I am sure my opinions are going to differ from other people's opinions but here they are:

-Buses and waits: I thought the buses were better a Movies. Most people prefer Pop's because they have their own buses. However, I thought they were much more crowded. Hardly ever ended up getting a seat. Yes, the Movies buses sometimes shared with the other All Stars. During peak times though normally each All Star Resort had its own bus. This made them much less crowded. When they did share it was never a big deal because it was during non-peak times and they weren't that crowded to begin with.

-Food Court: I will say Pop had a better food court. They have some signature dishes which the Movies does not. Tie-dye chessecake! Plus, they had frozen Coke's that you can fill up in your refillable mug. The one thing I really did not care for at Pop was how the food court and the gift shop were right next to each other. One of the ways to get to the bus stops was through the gift shop. The Pop gift shop was always jam packed either from people trying to get to the buses and people hanging out in there. I liked the set-up at Movies because it cut down on the traffic in it. One of the ways to the bus stops there is through the gift shop too.

Walk to the food court: At either place this is really going to depend on where your room is. If you consider the worst case senario, then Pop has the rooms that can be the furthest from the food court. If you end up in the 90's section that would be pretty far. This one would be draw in my opinion because you really don't have much control over this issue.

Type of crowds: Not really sure what this means. They would be the same as any other resort. Mostly they are just families enjoying their vacations. The one vibe I did notice that Pop seemed more "lively" than Movies. By this I mean Movies was kind of laid back and quiet while Pop had more of "let's hangout and have some fun" feel.

Those are just my experiences and opinions. Both would be a great choice. But if it was me I chose the Movies. I thought the buses were better there and, for my family, that is important.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

We have stayed at both, for these reasons I like Pop:

1.) Bus service (when we stayed at Movies the busses stopped at all 3 resorts, EVERY time.)
2.) Food Court, IMO is much better than Movies (the cheesecake and tiramsu )
3.) Pop fountain Jets, DS LOVES this area
4.) I think Pop seems quieter than Movies, not QUITE as chaotic, at least not when we were there (I mean the actual rooms.)
5.) The overall newer feel

Now for Movies:
1.) The theming (I love Pop's too, but for some reason I just love Movies!)
2.) IMO Movies doesnt seem so HUGE, a closer walk to everything, maybe it just SEEMED that way
3.) I like that the Gift Shop and Food Court are separate
4.) Check in seemed faster at Movies, we always wait FOREVER at Pop

Those are just my opinions. HTH!

 

[joyerbides]

honestly there are dozens of posts about each resort and even the values vs each other.

just take 5 minutes and search around

Maybe I should just mind my own business, but I felt the need to respond to this. People come on the boards to get advise. If they don't know the answer they ask. The answers may be here somewhere, or maybe not. The point is, this is supposed to be a friendly place to go to get other people's opinions. I don't think the response to the OP's question, was necessary. If you don't want to answer a question, move on to another thread. For people who are new, or fairly new to the threads, this comes off as rude. Let's try to be a little nicer. The world would be a much better place.

 

[adell557]

I agree with the PP. Be nice, it is a great question.

I have stayed at both. First we stayed at ASmo. We liked it , it was nice, but not spectacular, I felt like I was in a value resort. The food court is small compared to POP.

We stayed the next time at POP and we have not gone back to ASmo. We love POP! The layout of the food court is SOOO nice. It is big and open, easy to manuever and to see all the options. It is also newer and I don't feel like I am in a value.

The people are nice they have great little activities for the kids during the day. I think it is just a fun place. The crowds are friendly, our kids always seem to find friends at the pool.

Bus wait time is the same at both.

As for the walk, we pay the extra for a preferred room to make the walk shorter. We ask to stay in the 60's or 70's building on the front half, that is a 2 minute walk at the most to the food court and buses.

If you can't tell I am a POP lover. We will be there August 18-24th and can't wait!!!

This is the "official" thread for the POP. The first post has a schedule of the activities for the resort and pictures of teh property and what rooms are preferred and the like. Hope that helps!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1629396

 

[weesignlanguage]

Maybe I should just mind my own business, but I felt the need to respond to this. People come on the boards to get advise. If they don't know the answer they ask. The answers may be here somewhere, or maybe not. The point is, this is supposed to be a friendly place to go to get other people's opinions. I don't think the response to the OP's question, was necessary. If you don't want to answer a question, move on to another thread. For people who are new, or fairly new to the threads, this comes off as rude. Let's try to be a little nicer. The world would be a much better place.

I agree...thanks for posting that b/c if you didn't I would! Jeez...what is it with people who think that they need to hop on a thread and jab at someone instead of keeping their traps shut?? Argh! My momma taught me that if you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything. Sorry to the OP for the way you were treated... Your question is great and I've learned alot already! We're staying at the ASMo but I wondered about how the Pop compared! Good luck in your planning! Just ignore the trolls!

 

[maj42169]

Thanks again to all of you that provided info.....we are going to try POP, only because we did Movies Last year.........and that you to those who felt the need to appologize for the rude comment made to me.......I do appreciate that!

Sometimes people can be so Rude.......maybe it wasn't intentional, but it sure felt like it!

 

[ntsammy5]

We've been to both and quite frankly liked both just about the same. They're both fun places to stay.

 

[joyerbides]

Thanks again to all of you that provided info.....we are going to try POP, only because we did Movies Last year.........and that you to those who felt the need to appologize for the rude comment made to me.......I do appreciate that!

Sometimes people can be so Rude.......maybe it wasn't intentional, but it sure felt like it!

 

[landsm99]

Just got back from ASMo-I enjoyed it so much better than our stay at POP. We stayed at both prior to checking into BWV for a DVC vacation. Last year we felt our vacation did not start until we checked into BW. We just did not like POP. I saw many things there that I did not expect-man brusing teeth in courtyard, man in bathrobe at pool bar etc. Had no 'surprises' this year at ASMo. I also feel the theming can not be compared. One thing with both was the amount of smoking that goes on in/around a non-smoking resort.