Hubby balking at value...

[Taja]

If I read the OP's post correctly, you will have two adults, three children and a fourth child in a pak-n-play.

That would eliminate Pop Century unless you want two connecting rooms.

Your least expensive option probably would be POR in Alligator Bayou with a trundle bed. So your DH may be on the right track.

Or I may have read your post wrong! *LOL*

Edited to add:

Just re-read OP's post. Sorry! It's Friday afternoon and my brain is fried!

You have 3 DDs total with one under three, so you would be okay in one value resort room.

That said, I think you would find it a bit uncomfortable with a pak-n-play and probably at least one single stroller in the room of a value resort. Much as I love Pop Century, it was a bit squishy last year with the pak-n-play and overnight parking of an infant's stroller (14 weeks, so couldn't use an umbrella stroller). We had two connecting rooms, and the baby's room was snug! *LOL*

A moderate resort would give you just a skosh more space.

 

[disfan07]

we went to the music resort back in 2001 adn hated it also so when we decided to stay at the sports resort last decmeber we were all very concerned if we would like it and guess what......we LOVED it!!!....my dad already said he would choose thet resort first before anything else

The rroms were nice (they were just redone) and the buses were alwasy on time and we didnt find the food court crowded at all adn we just loved the entire place....but...it is all a matter of opinion of course

i am going back to the sports resort in august adn hopefully i will like it just as much if not more than i did in december

 

[sdzman]

You can save $300.00 in beverages alone by using the coffee & refridge in the moderate room.

 

[SGMCO]

OPs DH sounds like my DH and he does not have any
desire to stay at a Value so even though I am the one
who pays and plans for the trip--I want it to be one that
he will enjoy also.
We 1st started going to WDW only 2 years
ago and my DH was not really into Disney so after 2 trips and
a 3rd coming--I think I have got him hooked on WDW now!!
He even said he is thinking about becoming a DVC member.
I would have never thought he would become a Disney Lover.
I say go with the MOD if you can and who knows how much
he will enjoy his trip and in turn you enjoy the trip also.

 

[Disney Debbie]

There's a big difference in the resorts as far as amenities go IMO. I love POP and have stayed there for a quick trip when we are going commando style to the parks. But for an actual VACATION - more the 2 nights - there's no comparison to a mod. The mod pools are so much nicer - better themed, better play area, have a slide. Also POR has the boat to DD and that's a "free" activity to me! I do like POP's food court better - but I don't think the prices are any different. If the money was the difference between going or not going - I'd be with you - but if it's just your "cheapskate bone" aching - let DH have this one. I don't think you'd regret it. My DH is always a "go with the flow" kind of guy - so when he DOES speak up with a definite opinion - I listen!

 

[SmallWorld71]

I happen to be a big value resort fan...BUT, based on your post, definitely stay at POR:
1) You say that hubby thought the rooms were run down in 99, the place was only a few years old! There is no way he would think Pop was up to snuff. (Not dissin the Pop lovers, but I stayed at the All-Stars back in the 90's and they were definitely not run down so I think DH just doesn't like the feel of a value room.)
2) He thought the pools were crowded: Having stayed at several values and POR, I can honestly say that POR feels less crowded, even though when we stayed there the resort was at capacity.
3) 5 in a room is not fun at a value. Been there, done that. Too squished!
4) I totally understand the need to save $, but you are spending a lot no matter how you do it. Not worth a cranky husband and therefore a less magical vacation.

 

[toesmom]

Another vote for make the hubby happy. A happy hubby is worth a couple hundred dollars.

We stayed value in 99, too, and while we didn't hate it, we just didn't like it as much as the mod. We felt cramped, especially at nap time with all four of us jammed into one tiny room. Missed the separate vanity area, too.

We have stayed value many times, and then went to CSR last summer. I honestly didn't find the space in the room that much larger. I would stick with the value if it was my choice. POP is a great resort.

 

[hammie59]

My friend stayed at POR a few months ago and hated her room. She said it was run down . She actully like AS Sports better. I think with the actual condition of the room, you can't always rely on the fact that it's a value or mod.
As for my experience, we stayed at CSR and our room was perfect. Then we went over and stayed at ASMo and found the room OK, but a little more worn. My biggest complaint there was the sporatic dirt smears on the walls of our room and the dirty walkways and stairwells (cig butts everywhere).

 

[Miffy]

One thing no one's mentioned is the room-to-room noise factor. At the Values, one can hear--and hear really well--what's going on in the next room, particularly if there's a connecting door between your room and your neighbors'. There's much better soundproofing at the Mods.

 

[minnie61650]

One thing no one's mentioned is the room-to-room noise factor. At the Values, one can hear--and hear really well--what's going on in the next room, particularly if there's a connecting door between your room and your neighbors'. There's much better soundproofing at the Mods.

I stay at the values quite often and have never had an issue with noise.

The noise issues come with :

1. The main pool is located very close to some of the value rooms.

The themed pools at the mods and deluxes are set away from the rooms.

Tip: Ask for a room facing away or located a ways from the main pool.

2. Turbo toilets

The Values, AKL, SSR, and some of the refurbished rooms at POR are newer and have the turbo toilets.

Tip: Close your bathroom door at night because noise travels through the plumbing.
* Please Note:At Pop 16 bathrooms share the ventilation system so if a smoker is smoking in a bathroom at Pop with the vent on the smoke ends up in 15 other bathrooms. (It is my understanding that the All Star resorts were not built with the same shared ventilatation system since they were built before Pop.)

See these threads:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1779863

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=21999445&posted=1#post21999445

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=20316221

Room noise will also may travel through the ventalilation system.


3. Connecting rooms

About 50% of the value rooms have connecting doors.

Noise will travel under the connecting doors in a room.

Tip: If you have noisy neighbors open your connecting door and place a rolled up bath towel on the floor between then close and lock your connecting door.

Some guests find that a fan or white noise machine helps them sleep better.

These tips should help you get a restful sleep wherever you choose to stay.

Have fun at Disney!

 

[Charleyann]

The Pop century has a bigger crowd then the All Star Music. The walls seem thin in the Pop as well (could here everything). Pools were very crowded.

I think the POR is your better Choice!

Charleyann

 

[hammie59]

We had a room with a connecting door at movies, and the noise coming from next door was VERY loud. We ended up piling all of our our suitcases against the door to help block it out, which didn't help much. We finally had to turn on the bathroom fan to sleep.
At CSR we never heard a peep from anyone.

 

[minnie61650]

I find the All Resort to be quieter than Disney's deluxe resorts with interior hallways.
The entrance doors are heaveier doors and made strong enough to hold up in storms so they are more sound proof than the entrance doors that lead into the hallways in the Deluxe resorts.

I very seldom hear sounds from the outside when I stay I at the All Star resorts but my stay at the Contempory was very noisy. There were children running in the halls and guests talking loudly in the halls duringmy stay there.

I guess noisy neighbors can happen at all levels of resorts.

 

[declansdad]

One thing no one's mentioned is the room-to-room noise factor. At the Values, one can hear--and hear really well--what's going on in the next room, particularly if there's a connecting door between your room and your neighbors'. There's much better soundproofing at the Mods.

We have never had this problem at Pop or ASMo unless the other people were screaming.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Let me start by saying, I've stayed at most resorts at WDW, and we booked a return to Pop for the fall. POR is one of my personal least favorite places. Even if they were priced the same, I'd probably pick Pop for us. I disliked POR that much.

On the other hand, we are considering changing our ressie to a mod or maybe even AKL. Not because we think Pop ws bad, but because we did miss some of the amenities the more expensive places offer. Disney is very good at giving you something for your money.

I went to Pop with an open mind, and was charmed by the place. The buses were fast, if always packed. Preferred location was very worthwhile, IMO. The resort was large, and getting to pool, FC, buses was quite fast for us.

The food court isn't my very favorite one (CSR's was), but it does have a numer of diverse options. I think Pop's fountains are the only ones offering apple juice, which is great since we don't drink much soda. I made refillable mugs a much better investment, even with DDP. They also are unique in offering frozen Coke. The FC at WL is MICRO compared to Pop's. I also noted diet lemonade at Pop, but not at WL.

All that being said, POR's food court has been redone since I stayed there. My sister liked it last month. She didn't like it when I stayed with her. The busing is lacking at POR, which is one thign I didn't like. OF the mods, I also didn't care for hte hot tub there, the pool is okay. Better than Pop's, but just okay.

The big thing you will get at POR - esp on the Magnolia Bend side - is a beautiful room! The buildings with fountains and quiet pools re very elegant for a mod. Teh AB side is more rustic, no elevators (that side only, the other side has tehm). The rooms there are just as large, have much nicer bathroom than Pop, and they have a trundle bed. The decor was not to my taste, and I really hated not having an elevator at the end of the day. A small thing perhaps, but noticed. Pop had elevators. the beds at both are the sme size.

Pop's decor is much more 'in your face,' so if DH isn't into it, I would suggest that you stay with POR. If he felt the rooms were lacking appeal at the AS, and you are lucky enough to get MB side of POR, I think you'll really appreciate the difference between the two.

AS far as the kids, it's a toss up. They won't notice the lack of pool slide at Pop, the main pool is pretty large. It wasn't very crowded when we went, but oddly got crowded late at night. The teens at Pop could get a bit rowdy, as at AS. We witnessed ping pong with shot glasses one night (Like the game quarters, but ping pong balls going into shot glasses). Not sure how that was allowed on WDW property. there is a smoking area just outside the main building. Not sure how you feel about smoking, but every time we walked to main bulding, we had to walk past that area. I think I'd almost prefer to have smokers scattered about the resort more than clustered in that one area.

The kids may actually prefer the themeing at Pop. It is very kid oriented. the giant MR and Mrs. Potatohead are very cute. POR is more classy though. There is much more vegetation, and more wildlife to see. The horses, boat to DTD, and bikes are also nice plauses! Also, you have the option to hop over to POFQ at any time. You can even use your refillable mugs over there! The kids might also likethe live music at night in the 'bar' area. It IS kind of a bar, but it's very kid oriented, and the musician is very kid oriented as I recall.