Pop Century Vs. Art of Animation Vs. a Moderate hotel??? Favorite Moderate hotel?

[pepperderr]

The first time around we stayed at Pop Century and loved it. My kids were young though. We had no issues getting the bus when we needed one. The next time we tried All Star Movies. It was okay but we didn't understand the buses because, at Pop, it was only for Pop people but for ASM, they shared a bus with other resorts. Someone told us they would not be stopping at ASM so we ended up getting off somewhere else and walking. Obviously, they were wrong but we didn't know. This time around my kids will be much older. They will all be adults when we go. I still love the low priced ones because of the theming. At first, we thought absolutely wanted to try Art of Animation. Both my kids love to draw. One is in college for graphic design and the other wants to do the same thing. I also read that AoA has its own bus, plus they both will have the gondola thing as an option. The only problem with AoA, aside from people complaining that the beds are too hard, is that the only standard room is a Little Mermaid room. We like the Cars rooms but I don't know if it is worth it to get a suite. It is a big price difference. I have checked out some of the moderate priced resorts. I am not sure what the names are. I keep going back to loving the themes at the low priced ones more. Do you think we should give a moderate hotel a try since we will all be adults? Most of the reviews I have seen say that it takes a long time to get to parks from moderate hotels but not many other complaints. Do we get away from the little kid theming since we will all be adults then? WWYD?

 

[crvetter]

I don't really have much to offer. Though if you want to try moderates I would suggest POFQ for easy access to DS, which might be a plus for everyone being adults. POFQ often has it's own bus (plus only 1 stop which the other mods do not have) and access to POR amenities. My other suggestion might be the new Grand Destino Tower at CSR the photos coming out it looks amazing compared to the other mods (similar feel of the rooms to deluxe) and food/drinks are all accessible from the tower and the main pool and dining is a very short walk away.

If you really want convenience to parks Pop and CBR might be your best bets. Sometimes you can get 2 rooms at Pop for the same price as a single suite at AoA and it offers the benefit of being recently renovated where AoA has not been. CBR is a moderate but a very large campus so multiple bus stops and likely will need to use an internal bus to access the Skyliner if anyone in the party isn't comfortable walking 10-15 mins.

 

[dansdad]

CBR is a moderate but a very large campus so multiple bus stops and likely will need to use an internal bus to access the Skyliner if anyone in the party isn't comfortable walking 10-15 mins.

For accuracy purposes, the longest walk to a Gondola Station from any room at CBR is 5 minutes.

 

[crvetter]

For accuracy purposes, the longest walk to a Gondola Station from any room at CBR is 5 minutes.

Isn't the longest distance (to Martinique) a 1/2 mile, which is why I was stating 10-15 though perhaps 5-10 is more appropriate but 5 mins to anywhere within CBR is quite the speedy walker.....

 

[dansdad]

Isn't the longest distance (to Martinique) a 1/2 mile, which is why I was stating 10-15 though perhaps 5-10 is more appropriate but 5 mins to anywhere within CBR is quite the speedy walker.....

I walked to the CBR Station from the furthest room in Barbados in 4 minutes at a leisurely pace, though I have long legs. I walked to the Riviera Station from the furthest room in Martinique in 4.5 minutes.

 

[crvetter]

I walked to the CBR Station from the furthest room in Barbados in 4 minutes at a leisurely pace, though I have long legs. I walked to the Riviera Station from the furthest room in Martinique in 4.5 minutes.

I forgot about Riviera's station when I did my estimate. I think a reasonable window would be budgeting for a 5-8 min walk max to either of the stations.

 

[buzznina]

Other than the resorts that are located by Epcot or MK, the Mod resorts are no farther away than any other bus only resort, 10-20 minutes depending on the park. We do not even look at transportation when picking a resort, plus I think location is soooo over priced. I also have stayed at CSR, CBR and POR and have never even thought of using the internal bus, longest walk at most was 10 minutes. What about 2 rooms at POP? You can just walk over to AOA to do the drawing and still have the gondolas.

 

[Bjkandma]

I wouldn't stay in the Little Mermaid rooms at AOA. It is a good walk getting back to rooms, especially after a late night. As far as a suite, (I've never stayed), but wonder if there is enough "privacy" for 4 adults. I will definitely recommend that you visit the gounds, especially with enjoying drawing. It truly will be enjoyable.

POP we have stayed the last 5 years. (2adults and 1Disney adult). We love POP for its dedicated bus stop, convenient food court, and recently renovated rooms. In addition to "reasonable" cost. I consider the themeing Disney and being in the bubble.

The moderate resort, I'd suggest is POFQ. We have stayed here twice. It's a small resort, by Disney standards. You have the option of boats to explore Disney Springs, offering a lot of dining, free entertainment and shopping. You can walk to Riverside.

I prefer POP, in addition to that mentioned above, but because I enjoy saving what I can on room and use that "extra" money for special treats (an extra chocolate cupcake!! A souvenir that I think might be a little too much money.)

 

[Disneylover99]

I’d stay at a Pop. It’ll be like a new resort to you since it’s been renovated. You can easily walk to AofA for the drawing classes.

 

[pepperderr]

Thanks, everyone. I am able to walk without a problem but I do have issues so I walk slower than most people. Saying something takes 5 or 10 minutes, for me would probably be 15 minutes at least. I never considered how long the buses took to get to the parks until I saw a review that said most of the moderates the buses take longer to get to the parks Maybe I misunderstood what they said. I asked DS again tonight and he still says he wants to stay at Pop or AoA. I suggested we might stay at one of the others that are not as Disney themed. He is not interested in that so I doubt we will do a moderate hotel. I still say, it is just a place to sleep, but after a long day at the park, we want to be comfortable and be able to relax too. Decisions! Decisions!

 

[sbd78]

I find that 1 mod room is usually quite a bit cheaper than 2 value rooms or a value family suite. (We need 2 rooms or a family suite in the values since we are a family of 5.) And with a mod, you do get some better amenities. The pools have slides and hot tubs, values do not. You get a table service restaurant at all except POFQ which may or may not matter to you. And while the themes aren't as in your face Disney as the values, they still have nice Disney touches and do a pretty good job of transporting you to another place. (New Orleans, rural Louisiana, Mexico or the Caribbean.) I like the values, but I can't justify staying in them when it's cheaper for my family to stay mod.

 

[Sorsha_D]

I've never had an issue with moderate resort bus times (at Coronado, Caribbean, and POFQ), but I take a lot of public transportation irl so my tolerance for slow/late buses is fairly high. But I've stayed 1 night in a newly-renovated room at POP, and they are beautiful!

 

[Lumpy1106]

AoA and POP 1 br suites have a bedroom door and a second bathroom. Mod rooms do not. I love POR and POFQ (especially the pool @ POR), but the 1 br suite for our family of 5 is the much better choice.

 

[kaytieeldr]

As far as a suite, (I've never stayed), but wonder if there is enough "privacy" for 4 adults. I will definitely recommend that you visit the gounds, especially with enjoying drawing. It truly will be enjoyable

But they would get more privacy in a Family Suite than in what it appears the OP is searching - one room for all of them.

Another consideration would be the All Star Music Family Suites. Designed differently from AoA of course, but less expensive, too. While family in one unit, two bathrooms, microwave.

I never considered how long the buses took to get to the parks until I saw a review that said most of the moderates the buses take longer to get to the parks

Truly, Magic Kingdom is far from everything except the five nearby resorts. Everything else is somewhat close to everything else.

AoA and POP 1 br suites have a bedroom door and a second bathroom

No suites at Pop. Could you be thinking of All Star Music?

 

[Lumpy1106]

No suites at Pop. Could you be thinking of All Star Music?

My bad - I had always heard that AoA and POP are mirror images of each other. We have only stayed at AoA Lion King suites and loved it - never stayed at POP. Love POR too (and POFQ to a slightly lesser extent) but doesn't really work for our family of 5 with 2 teens. Won't ever go back to CB - disliked that intensely.

 

[kaytieeldr]

My bad - I had always heard that AoA and POP are mirror images of each other

Physically, they almost were. The building footprints are supposed to be paid out the same, although apparently the available land didn't quite allow for that. Hence, the Little Mermaid buildings are perceived to be "so far" from everything .

Anyway, they did use the original Pop.2 slabs, but redesigned most of the buildings to provide (cough) budget (cough) options for larger parties.

 

[Eeyore daily]

I've stayed in Pop, Art of Animation, CBR, CSR so for all adults I'd go with the moderates especially if it's a longer trip. The Little Mermaid rooms felt so far from the buses and I never usually complain about distance but it felt FAR. I like that the moderates have the multiple bus stops so you can have a shorter walk back to your room and relax while on the bus but I'm probably an outlier. The standard/double bed size was just too small for me and my boyfriend so I'd stay at POP if I had to stay at a value.

 

[Hopefully]

I've stayed in Pop, Art of Animation, CBR, CSR so for all adults I'd go with the moderates especially if it's a longer trip. The Little Mermaid rooms felt so far from the buses and I never usually complain about distance but it felt FAR. I like that the moderates have the multiple bus stops so you can have a shorter walk back to your room and relax while on the bus but I'm probably an outlier. The standard/double bed size was just too small for me and my boyfriend so I'd stay at POP if I had to stay at a value.

The OP has stated that her family prefers the theming of the Values.
OP. I recommend a family suite at either AoA or the AllStars. 2Bathrooms and extra sleeping surfaces are important.
The Little Mermaid rooms at AoA are too tight IMHO.

 

[pepperderr]

I find that 1 mod room is usually quite a bit cheaper than 2 value rooms or a value family suite. (We need 2 rooms or a family suite in the values since we are a family of 5.) And with a mod, you do get some better amenities. The pools have slides and hot tubs, values do not. You get a table service restaurant at all except POFQ which may or may not matter to you. And while the themes aren't as in your face Disney as the values, they still have nice Disney touches and do a pretty good job of transporting you to another place. (New Orleans, rural Louisiana, Mexico or the Caribbean.) I like the values, but I can't justify staying in them when it's cheaper for my family to stay mod.

Thanks. The amenities is something to consider that I have not really been able to find much about on just the Disney website. I'm sure that DH and I don't care if there is a slide but the boys might enjoy it. I like the idea of hot tubs though. I actually asked them if there were any rooms in any resorts with jetted tubs. We got disconnected but I don't think it is something easy to find. If my older son decides not to go, which he doesn't seem to care if he does, a suite will seem like a bit much for the 3 of us but we shall see. I will still plan as if he is going to be there. We have never done a character dinner before but we did go for my son's 8th birthday and he was actually chosen to be on stage in the show at Mickey's Backyard BBQ. It was so awesome.

 

[MudQueen22]

We stayed at Pop on our first trip and AoA in a LM room on our second trip.
We enjoyed the LM room because our daughter was into LM at that time, but we likely won't stay there again. It wasn't that the resort was bad, but that it just isn't the best value. We were glad we went, but since no one is into LM anymore, and the suites aren't in our budget, we will stay elsewhere.

Pop is my dh's favorite value (and he has stayed at all). Dedicated buses. Clean rooms. Rooms are comfortable and nice. Nicely themed.