If not the Fort, which (sigh) value resort?

[gillenkl]

If Disney offers a free dining plan this year, DH has said I can plan an inpromptu 1-week trip. We wouldn't be staying at the Fort because the purpose would be free dining. So, which value resort would you choose?

 

[arielmomma]

Our favorite value resort is the POP Century. It is always the first stop from the airport with ME. When getting picked up from the parks it only has one stop. The rooms are small, but comfortable. My son loves the tye died cheesecake at the foodcourt.

We like to stay in the 50's. Its away from the food court and buses, but quiet.

 

[juligrl]

Another vote for POP. If you must do a value resort, pick the one that has its own bus!

 

[liv luvs disney]

We stayed at ASMovies 3 years in a row and the only time we shared a bus was when ME took us back to the airport. I've heard the AS resorts do share buses, but like I said, it didn't happen during any of our visits. With that being said, we enjoyed ASMo; it met our needs. If I hadn't discovered FW last fall love, we were planning on giving Pop a try as we've heard lots of good things about it.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Don't know if this would throw a wrench in your plan but the rumors flying around are that Values would get QSDP for free and Mods and Deluxe would get the regular DDP for free.... Of course that's a rumor and we won't know the actual offer until Disney releases it.

 

[flash828]

We have stayed at the All Star Music as well as the All Star Sport and we prefer the Music. On one visit we were upgraded (no additional cost)to the Family Suite and it was great! We like the atmosphere and pool area. It seems larger than the Sports. I believe the All Star Sports was the first one built. The All Star Value Resorts are very close to Animal Kingdom - so that bus ride is very short!

 

[gillenkl]

Don't know if this would throw a wrench in your plan but the rumors flying around are that Values would get QSDP for free and Mods and Deluxe would get the regular DDP for free.... Of course that's a rumor and we won't know the actual offer until Disney releases it.

that's interesting and I hadn't thought about that. Oddly enough, DH has apparently been taken over by an alien today - he's actually suggesting the Poly or Contemporary but being a budgeteer.....doesn't matter unless free dining is offered

 

[juligrl]

that's interesting and I hadn't thought about that. Oddly enough, DH has apparently been taken over by an alien today - he's actually suggesting the Poly or Contemporary but being a budgeteer.....doesn't matter unless free dining is offered

Well geez, if he's suggesting splurging go for the Wilderness lodge - it's still a pleasant boat ride to the Magic Kingdom and the Fort is nearby! We stayed there for a night this summer and it was very nice!

 

[gillenkl]

Well geez, if he's suggesting splurging go for the Wilderness lodge - it's still a pleasant boat ride to the Magic Kingdom and the Fort is nearby! We stayed there for a night this summer and it was very nice!

great minds think alike - I was just sitting here pondering that very thing - we'd still get to ride on the boats and be close to the fort....I tried to check rates online but the website is down....

 

[juligrl]

great minds think alike - I was just sitting here pondering that very thing - we'd still get to ride on the boats and be close to the fort....I tried to check rates online but the website is down....

I believe it's the cheapest of the deluxes. We had the most inexpensive room you could get there and it was nice - above the Whispering Canyon with a balcony with a woods view.

 

[ftwildernessrick]

We stayed at the Pop once on an impromptu trip. The transportation system is better according to friends of ours who have stayed at Music & Sports.

 

[arielmomma]

Don't know if this would throw a wrench in your plan but the rumors flying around are that Values would get QSDP for free and Mods and Deluxe would get the regular DDP for free.... Of course that's a rumor and we won't know the actual offer until Disney releases it.

If its any consolation, we stayed at the POP last September for free dining and booked a bounceback for this year. The bounceback is for the Regular dining Plan. I would consider this a positive sign that values will get the regular plan.

 

[clkelley]

We prefer All-Star Music. The smallest number of people can be there.

We HATE Pop Century, just way too crowded for our tastes.

 

[CampingBandit]

Well - noticed the ages of your kids...
The nice thing about the Family Suite at ASM is they can have their own bed and you get the additional bathroom which is worth it. So if you are going value - and can swing the family suite I'd highly recommend it. The other nice thing is the mini kitchen, so you can do breakfast in the suite and save some money on food that way. We did cereal and microwaved frozen breakfast stuff, oatmeal, etc.

The downside is the very basic pool -but if you are "park" people then it doesn't matter.

 

[NJRRK]

Did you ever think of the cabins at the Fort, then you wouldn't have to give up your Fort experience AT ALL.

 

[lathamary]

We've stayed at All Star Sports twice, and we loved it. I even missed it a few times on this trip - it's a whole different experience staying at the Fort. It's really nice to come "home" to a nice clean made up room with fresh towels, and to not have to worry about emptying tanks or starting up the water heater.

All the value resort rooms are basically the same (except for the rare two room suite ones), so it's pretty much a matter of what you're in to.

Good luck

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Did you ever think of the cabins at the Fort, then you wouldn't have to give up your Fort experience AT ALL.

The cabins are elibigle for Free Dining. Of course, if DH is willing to go Deluxe, WL is really a beautiful resort.....

 

[gillenkl]

OP here, thank for all the responses. We've decided that if free dining is offered we'll splurge and stay at Wilderness Lodge. The cabins would be nice but we wouldn't need a kitchen and couldn't swing a golf cart this time around $$$(I'm kind of a golf cart type of gal). If we can't get WL then probably ASMu or ASMo. Thanks again.

 

[sharadoc]

Well geez, if he's suggesting splurging go for the Wilderness lodge - it's still a pleasant boat ride to the Magic Kingdom and the Fort is nearby! We stayed there for a night this summer and it was very nice!

great minds think alike - I was just sitting here pondering that very thing - we'd still get to ride on the boats and be close to the fort....I tried to check rates online but the website is down....

I believe it's the cheapest of the deluxes. We had the most inexpensive room you could get there and it was nice - above the Whispering Canyon with a balcony with a woods view.

Should have read the whole thread - have fun wherever you stay!!!
I THINK you could get a cabin at the Fort for around the same cost of a room at WL. The cabins DO qualify for free dining. We had it last year until we switched to a room only discount on the cabin. Since the Fort qualifies as a moderate, you would get the regular DP, plus have the Fort too!

Good luck deciding!! I hope you get the Free Dining so you can have a trip.