please help me select a value resort

[Anniefrances]

We were supposed to stay at CR (I booked a garden wing room during the 25% discount offer) but some things came up and we could either keep this plan and pinch pennies on eating and snacking etc or switch to a value and be more relaxed about spending on food and incidentals. I decided this morning to switch to a value. My kids are young enough that they won't appreciate the difference in resorts, and the upshot is that we will be able to stay a couple of days longer and include the DP for what I would have paid for the CR room only. My issue is figuring out which value to book.

We have stated at POP several times before and overall I like it, mainly because of the theming and the great selection in the food court. Up until our last visit, I would not have considered trying a different value resort.

The problem I ran into last time is that the beds were so uncomfortable that I barely slept. I don't know if the mattresses had been switched since our previous trips or if I am getting older and more sensitive, but either way I am not looking forward to sleeping on those beds again. It occurred to me that maybe one of the other value resorts has beds that are more comfortable (less hard) and I thought if anyone would know about this, I would find the answer here.

So, for those of you in the know, please share your thoughts on the other values. And since the food court selection is the main reason we like POP please comment on this, too.

TIA

 

[disneynut11]

When are you going?
If it is the fall, the standard rooms at AOA will be open (in The Little Mermaid section).
I have stayed at POP, and ASMU and was equally pleased with both!

 

[hpfan100]

I've stayed at POP and ASmo and felt the beds were rock hard at both. However the theming at ASmo and POP are good fun. One drawback to the AS resorts is that they share buses when not a busy time. Also they draw the tour groups to them as well.

If you're going in the off season and want to try something other than POP I would say the new AoA or ASmo would be great choices. I found the food court at AS to be just as nice as the one at POP and they have recently redone the rooms so they should be nice and tidy.

 

[Anniefrances]

Thanks for your responses. We are going in mid-August. I'd like to book a value that has beds that are more comfortable than those at POP. A secondary concern is variety of food selection in the food court.

The beds at POP (to me) feel only a slight step up from sleeping on concrete.

But hey, if that's what it's like at all the values, then I will do it....just don't want to if there is a value with softer beds

 

[jimmy339]

If you're considering one of the All Stars I definitely recommend ASMo, as they built the all stars they have got better. The rooms are all pretty much the same but pools, pool areas and the food court has got bigger each time they built a new one. I haven't been to POP or AoA but imagine the trend would have continued and that POPs food court is bigger, but I'm not sure.

 

[akl-fan]

Just a suggestion but have you thought about taking a memory foam mattress topper or an inflatable mattress. Another suggestion is the Swan/Dolphin, they have great mattresses and will only charge around a moderate price- so less than the contemporary. No ME though.

 

[Mousemom]

I enjoy Pop and ASmovies. I wonder if the beds at the values are all the same? I don't have an issue with the beds and can pretty much sleep anywhere. Hope you'll find the right value and be able to sleep comfortably.

 

[CanadianPaco]

When are you going?
If it is the fall, the standard rooms at AOA will be open (in The Little Mermaid section).
I have stayed at POP, and ASMU and was equally pleased with both!

I would say AoA too.... Newer beds. I've also stayed at Pop, ASmu and ASMo...loved them all. I would go to AoA in a heart beat!

 

[wdw71]

Loved POP

 

[jennabcassell]

I have stayed at 3 of the 4 values and I feel that all beds are the same. I also read that the beds at AoA are horrible since they are new and all the bedding is very rough and not worn in yet. Out of the values I prefer Pop. They have their own buses. The others share buses and you will have to wait to do drop off and pick ups. I was actually going to suggest Caribbean Beach or Cornado Springs. The beds at CS are amazing!!! Even better than some of the Deluxe resorts!! They are queens while the values are doubles. The bed spreads are a super soft duvets. I slept like a baby!! But.... the resort is not my favorite. I think it is because it is a conference center as well....it just didn't feel as 'Disney' to me as POP or CB. But I could go back just for the beds. CB's pool is amazing!! Much better than any value or any other mod resort. CB's food is good, CS food is better, both are better than the value resorts food. Overall I would stay Mod vs. Value if you are used to Deluxe. It is worth it to get the dining plan. I estimate the cost of dining plan vs. non-dining plan all the time and for long trips dining plan is the way to go!!

 

[Mariep26]

We stayed at ASMo and found the beds comfortable. I don't have anything to compare it to in terms of other values. We really enjoyed the food court and pool. I loved the make your own salad stand and DH loved the Italian sandwich/sub. We really enjoyed the grounds. We walked around and saw all of the different sections. We had no complaints on the bus service either. We are hoping to stay at ASSports and ASMu in the future.

 

[Joanna & Hunters Mom]

We stayed at ASMo and found the beds comfortable. I don't have anything to compare it to in terms of other values. We really enjoyed the food court and pool. I loved the make your own salad stand and DH loved the Italian sandwich/sub. We really enjoyed the grounds. We walked around and saw all of the different sections. We had no complaints on the bus service either. We are hoping to stay at ASSports and ASMu in the future.

We just returned from POP and I agree the beds were terrible. We will def consider a mod next trip for that reason. My only other complaint was the size of the room. I knew it would be all but we could barely fit our luggage for the 4 of us. But we overall enjoyed our stay and would return in a heartbeat.

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

I have a bad back and often struggle to be comfortable in bed but I find the beds at pop to be just fine. We have stayed several times at pop and love it. To be fair though I haven't stayed at any other value.

 

[Phatoomch]

Didn't the beds recently change at ASMo from doubles to queens? They might be more comfortable Need to find someone who has stayed pre & post queens.

 

[Saved by Grace]

I like the idea of having a memory foam mattress shipped to your room...

For the price of a memory foam mattress from something like Overstock.com, you'd still be saving a lot of money, and be comfortable. Even if you only use the memory foam topper for your stay and left it there.

 

[Anniefrances]

Thanks again for the responses. AoA doesn't have LM rooms open in time for our trip. I checked rates for all the mods plus Dolphin/Swan, but they are out of reach for me. Mods are about $500 more--D/S even higher--and by "saving" the $500 this means I can purchase the DP. So it looks like I need to choose either POP or one of the All-Stars.

It's still unclear to me if any of the All-Stars has beds that are softer than those at POP. (Phatoomch, if that's true about ASMo, I hope someone will chime in to confirm).

If not, then I will try to find an inexpensive mattress topper (thanks to ALK-fan for the suggestion).