Hotel advice for first-timer!

[keahgirl8]

I'm just beginning plan my first trip to WDW. Is there one value resort that is better than the others, or does it matter?

 

[bytheblood]

I think for the most part they are all the same, but I like Pop.

 

[Allison]

You will get more replies by posting this on the resorts board.

 

[AJKMOM]

There is a Trip Planning Forum devoted to the Disney resorts. You will find all kinds of opinions and advice there. I don't know how to move this thread or I would do it for you. Sorry.

 

[noladave]

Good luck on planning your trip, it's something that you will always remember.

Now, for my 2 cents on value resorts. Several years ago, we wanted to stay for longer than a week, so we chose to go the "value resort" route, and stayed at the All Star Movies resort. I will stay offsite before I go back to a value resort. Why, you ask?

1st off, if you go there anytime that a pop warner, or cheeleader, or dance team, or any other "group" is visiting, they will stay at the value resorts. Value resorts (at least all the all-star) have doors that open directly to the outside, and you hear every person that walks by your room, and if you have a ground floor room, that's all night long.

2nd, and this is not very nice (sounds mean, I know), but just about every foreign Disney visitor stays at a value resort. Language and "cultural" issues abound.

3rd, and most important, you feel like you are in the steerage section of Titanic. You and 500 other people waiting to check in at the front desk, taking hours to get done.

Maybe the one time I went value, it was just a bad experience. However, I don't think that's the case. We've been to boardwalk, yacht & BC, and Animal Lodge, and never experienced anything like our ALL STAR experience.

I understand some people have financial constraints, and value is the only choice - I don't want to come off as insensitive to those needs. IF you have the means, then I would at least go the moderate route.

Again, regardless of where you stay, you and your family will have a great time going to Disney. Good luck.

 

[wecroozin]

I have stayed in 2 of the all star resorts in the past with no hardships whatsoever. I have the means to stay in a moderate resort but I can't see spending the extra money for a bed and a shower because that's about all the time we spend there. We really hit the ground running when we visit the World and the room for us is just to freshen up and get a little sleep. I won't pay for the extras I don't have time to notice at Disney. Just my thoughts. Good luck with your planning and have a great trip!

Our next trip in December this year will be to Pop Century.

 

[fanofdisney]

I believe they are similar, but what are your interests? Do you have children that may prefer one over the other? (Sports, movies, etc.) I've only stayed at Pop Century, and was really impressed with it. It's the newest one.

 

[Annam26]

My family and I visited WDW for the first time last June. I had my heart set on staying at Pop, but by the time I made the reservations the only room avaliable was at the All SS. I was a bit disappointed because we don't like sports!

However, now I'm glad we stayed there, because at the All Stars the buses first stop for pick up and drop of was at the Sports. I understand that Pop has its own buses, so that's not an issue there

Being that this was our first trip, we only used the room to sleep. We were on the third floor, so we were never bothered by any noise and slept soundly.

I would stay there again in a heartbeat, and I hope that someday I get the chance to do so!

 

[Disney711]

Pop Century's food court has chocolate marshmallow cheesecake.

I think that's the answer right there.

 

[GOOFY D]

I think for the most part they are all the same, but I like Pop.

Really? Why Pop? I cannot convince myself to book there as it does not seem "Disney" to me.

 

[Pumbaa7287]

I've stayed twice at All Star Movies and had a great experience both times. One of the best things about it was that the food court offered a variety of eating options cheaper than restaurants at the other more expensive hotels. I also really enjoyed the oversized props that decorate the outside of the buildings. I would definitely reccomend a stay here!

 

[wendypooh]

We've stayed at ASMovies twice, POFQ once and this trip AKL. We have the means to stay at any resort......... so here is my 2 cents. We really enjoyed ASMovies, the first time it was really wonderful, and my DS LOVED it, he was totally into toy story, so it was right up his alley. We had NO problem checking in, he loved the "movie theatre". The food court was great, with a lot of choices, and the fantasia pool was nice, and heated!!! The buses were fine, no problems there. Overall, a great time. The second time......... YIKES!!!!! ( please, no flames for this) the cheerleaders were there........ NO WAY, NEVER AGAIN, NO HOW, NADA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It won't EVER happen again, these girls were fantastic, excited, lovely, LOUD young ladies, who were seemingly UN-chapereoned. We were awoke 2 mornings in a row before 6 am to SCREAMING cheering, laughing, running, banging....... you name it!! Now, I know the girls were excited, and while that's wonderful........ it isn't so wonderful when your just turned 4 year old wakes up in a foul mood before 6 am............ with that said, everything else was again, very nice. Oh, the rooms were adequate size, again, we had a 3 yr. old the first time, then the following year he was 4, so he didn't take up much room!!! Last year, we stayed at POFQ, and while it is a nice resort, I would NEVER pay full price to stay there........ ( we had a code, so it was the same price as the value) to us, in our humble opinions, you get a slide in the pool!!! That was really the only "big" difference to us. Also, it was not nearly as crowded, but again, our weeks differed, so I think had we been there the cheerleading week, it probably would've had more people. I wouldn't stay there again. This year, we decided to go Deluxe, AKL, because DS wants to see the animals, and we wanted to avoid any possible groups that may be at the values. No offense to the groups, but, we'd rather not deal with it again. I think that if your able to stay deluxe, then do, and if not, I wouldn't reccommend a moderate, at least not POFQ. It just was not worth it in our opinion, we'd stay at ASMovies again before we'd stay moderate.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

ASMo is such an extention of the Disney experience. I suggest staying there first.

Pop is awesome as well. This would be my second choice.


HTH!

 

[MrShiny]

The newer the value resort, the better it seems. It seems like each one improves just a bit.

As far as POP - I do like it. Three words: Giant Roger Rabbit (they were going to do Jessica, but couldn't figure out how to support it)

 

[DisnyMama]

After just getting back from our 2nd stay at AS Sports I would suggest POP Century because it is a newer resort. Also, they have Tye Dye CheeseCake and Fluffernutters!

 

[pigby]

Stayed at AS Movies 4 times and POP twice. Last 2 times at ASMo, the bus service was a lot worse than we remembered - now share buses much more. Wasn't just a summer thing either - happened on our July and October trips. POP's buses were far better (at similar times of year).

Rooms at POP are similar - just newer and with bigger TV's - if that's a consideration for you. It still has big icons eg Baloo the Bear - huge Mickey on the phone, kids water area with fountains (with Goofy). So still very Disney.

There is the lake which has a path alongside it - great for a stroll (especially in the morning before the rest of the family has woke up or later in the evenings - great sunsets)- love the placards all all the path detailing important events in the last 50 years.

Also in October, we found the 'bowling pin' pool to be warmer than all the others (anyone else find this?- - was a 'hot tub' compared with the larger pools especially Hippy Dippy and the one at RPR) - maybe an important consideration in the cooler months.

Would we go back to a value resort - POP - YES but All Stars - NO until they can improve the bus service.

 

[minnie61650]

I'm just beginning plan my first trip to WDW. Is there one value resort that is better than the others, or does it matter?

I love the All Stars.

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 preferred buildings.
The All Star Movie Fantasia pool has Mickey.
All Star Movies is like a Disney Movie Fantasyland. I love watching the children having so much fun seeing those giant icons. Did you know that if you count all the Dalmatians on the buildings and the icons you will come with 101 Dalmatians? That's pretty cool!

The buses are wonderful.
Bus rides are shorter from the ALL Stars than POP according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses------------Pop buses
MK 20 min---------------MK 25 min
Epcot 10 min------------Epcot 20 min
MGM 10 min--------------MGM 15 min
AK 10 min----------------AK 15 min
DTD 15 min---------------DTD 20 min


The All Star resorts have 1960 rooms each.
Each building has 3 stories.
Pop has 2,880rooms.
Each building has 4 stories.
That means more people in the pools, food court and in line waiting for the bus.
When phase 2 of POP is built it will be 2 bus stops at POP and the 2 Pops will have the same # of rooms as the 3 All Stars.

All Star is closer to the main road to get to parks and that's why bus rides are shorter from there than from POP.

I have read a lot of nice posts about POP also, They do have a Lady and Tramp icon and some other icons that children may recognize.

I am 55 years old and often stay at 4 star hotels so the deluxe hotels do not appeal to me. I enjoy being immersed in the magic of Disney and I feel like I am in the middle of the magic at the All Stars.

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 theaming is pure Disney.
My last 5 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we took dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 we stayed at the All Stars Music for 8 nights. 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 fun at Disney!

 

[fanofdisney]

After just getting back from our 2nd stay at AS Sports I would suggest POP Century because it is a newer resort. Also, they have Tye Dye CheeseCake and Fluffernutters!

And peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches on tye-dyed bread!

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Are you bringing small children?? If not I would NOT stay at the value resorts. Personally did not like them at all, very very noisy, I didn't get that real Disney feel either, but I'm sure if you had young kids they would be happy there. On the other hand, I absolutely LUVED all the moderate resorts. Would highly recommend any of the them, even better for teens if your kids are older.

 

[debbiedoo]

many things here--how many in your family, how much time do you plan to stay in your room??

for all-stars I would have to say the movies---

but have you looked into renting from a DVC member---try the rent/trade board