Pop Century vs other Value Resorts

[nena]

We have stayed at Pop Century 3 times. We are planning a trip for this Summer. What are your thoughts on the other Value Resorts?
Sometimes we just like to have down time and hang out. What do some of the other Resorts have that would be fun?

 

[disney world dreamer]

i consider pop to be the best value resort personally.
-i like the food
-i like the theme
-i like the music
-i like the pools
-and i love love love the transportation.

if you are going to go with a different value resort i would not suggest any of the all star resorts.
they are the oldest with the least to explore in my opinion.
plus they share buses which i do not like.

so that leaves art of animation.
personally i'm not a fan of the food or the food court in general (no carpets+real silverware+people moving chairs+people talking=EXTREMELY LOUD!!!!!!)
i also dislike the winding pathways and the very dim lighting at night (i'm visually impaired and have poor night vision).
however i will say that the theme and attention to detail is AMAZING!
just walking around and being submerged in the movies is a fun leisure activity in and of itself.
the pools are also very well themed and you can hear nemo characters under the water in the main pool.
and of course there is an arcade like the other resorts.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

We generally do not have down time, that is for resting. But, one pool is water, the food court is food, the bed is sleep.

Unless there is no room at the Movies, we will stay at Pop. Personally it's to big. We always rent a car when at the Pop. The bus stop is packed, food court a noisy crowded hectic mess, too far to walk to the bus stop. The rooms are the same, the pools just as nice, and gift area and food court just as good. If you wanted a change I suppose you could go to the pop for gift shopping and meal the down day.

The smaller layout and less people of the Movies is nice. One trip we only could get the Sports and didn't miss a thing, but the kids were older so it really didn't make a difference.
Just our experience.

 

[tinkerone]

I have stayed at each of the all stars as well as the pop. imo they are all equal although I prefer the pop and I would be hard pressed to tell you why I prefer it. as far as the all stars being on the older side, they have been refurbished so I would not let that factor into it to much.

they all have great themes. it all would depend on how old your children are and what gender. are they into sports? the all star sports is a wonderful place for the sports loving person. into movies? the all star movies, again very nice. lover of music? all star music, I love the piano shaped pool.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of them so just think about what your children would like and go with that.

 

[buzz2400]

We have stayed at all 3 all stars. As well as pop. I prefer pop but will be staying at sports this time because if was cheaper for some reason. I got the free dining. Pop's states sales tax is higher. I prefer pop because of location.

 

[Disneylover99]

I stayed at Music twice and loved it. I stayed at Pop twice and really loved it.

This is what I love....

- Hourglass lake at Pop, very peaceful
- sitting on Generation Gap Bridge and watching the Frozen fireworks from Hollywood Studios at night
- sitting by the Hippy Dippy pool, it is so wide open and spacious
- buses are the best
- ability to visit AofA's Foodcourt, shop and take their equally amazing buses
- location to HS and Epcot
- amazing, energetic vibe

 

[tina.tina]

I like the overall theme of Pop the best. I haven't stayed at All Stars but I found an online transportation estimator which seems pretty accurate and the All Stars are a little farther from the 4 main parks than Pop. Maybe I'm just trying to justify myself, but that seems like a good reason for me to pay a little more and stay at Pop.

The area around the Hippy Dippy pool made me smile as we walked through there every day. The walk around Hourglass lake was romantic- even with the kids along.

 

[dpswift]

We have stayed at Movies, POP and AoA.

AoA is by far the nicest. However they never discount the LM rooms which is what we would need. The LM rooms are also quite far from the food court. The walk around the grounds and hourglass lake is beautiful. I would love to stay there again but DH hates it because of the distance to the FC.

POP also has the walk around the grounds and hourglass lake. Somehow it was designed so that the majority of the rooms are not too far from the food court. It tends to be the most crowded and busy of the values. It is DHs favorite.

I liked the Movies it was quieter than POP. The grounds were nice.

All in all they are pretty much the same.

 

[skysmom99]

My family has stayed at both All-Star Sports and Movies. We liked both, although the theming at Movies is in-your-face Disney that I just love being there. Yes, sometimes the buses are shared, but it never seemed that much of a problem. I'm guessing crowded buses occur at every resort at certain times of the day.

My kids liked the food, the games by the pool, and the pools themselves. I liked the size of the resort, the theming, and the food choices at the food court.

We are trying Pop this next trip because my husband wants to see more of the resorts, and the values fit our budget better. I'll admit that I'm scared after reading so much about the overly crowded food court. However, it will be mid-November and we'll just deal.

 

[jodiey]

I like pop for the simple fact that it has it's own buses whereas the all stars share.

 

[nena]

Thanks everyone! We are now considering port Orleans -riverside or Caribbean beach. Any thoughts?

 

[tinkerone]

Thanks everyone! We are now considering port Orleans -riverside or Caribbean beach. Any thoughts?

we have stayed at caribbean beach and found there was way to much walking. nothing is close. it was a ten minute walk just to get to the food court. will probably never stay there again however i know there are people who love it.

as to port orleans, we did stay at the french quarter, it was okay. everything was close to the rooms but i still like the values better. thats just me.

the whole thing is personal choice, what i like others will not and vice versa. you'll still have a great time no matter where you stay. enjoy!!

 

[ReneeA]

I did a girl's only trip in Feb. I let my DD pick the resort, giving her only the values to choose from as it had to be bare bones budget. We went for 4n/5d, and she picked AS Sports. I had big doubts as our last few trips had been 9-10 day trips at deluxe resorts.

It was fantastic. We were placed in Surf's up section, the only request I made was for a top floor room. The room was clean & well maintained, surprisingly quiet, and the food court was just returned. We never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus, coming from or going to the parks. We rarely had full busses. One night we shut down the MK and had to stand, but that was to be expected. We didn't share busses with any of the other AS resorts.

I wouldn't hesitate to go back again.

 

[kymom99]

We stayed a CBR and it was my fav. We booked a preferred room and the walk wasn't bad at all

 

[texasroni75]

Port Orleans Riverside is our family's favorite resort. Beautiful grounds! The buses are actually more crowded there than at the values, in my experience.

Pros: The bus stops are covered and have benches. Andd there's a few stops throughout the resort, so you pick the one closest to your room. You can have 5 people in one room. The Riverside Mill (their "food court") is awesome. Much prettier than the food courts at the values. Pools are nice too.

Cons: A lot of stops - picking up people from the various bus stops around the resort. And, yes, they share with French Quarter sometimes too. It can add some time to your trip to the parks - so allow time for that. If you end up in Alligator Bayou section, the walk is pretty far from the room to the main bldg for breakfast.

We still like the values, but if POR is in our budget, or included in whatever the current promotion is, that's where we stay.

 

[Bell30012]

We've stayed at all three All Star resorts, POP and AoA. Each has its pluses. If we have to pick one, it's Art of Animation. Below is a link to a YouTube video where you see a very spoiled child's reaction seeing Art of Animation the first time. This is a child who has stayed in value and deluxe resorts all over property.

Rosie's Reaction at Art of Animation

 

[lauradis]

I love the All Star Movies Resort Preferred room buzz/woody section. Quiet close to food court and pool. I wouldn't call it relaxing, but it is Disney throw-up themed which I love.

I do think it is a shame that Disney doesn't have hot tubs in all their resorts. Really that's the only thing I miss at the all-star resort and lets be honest the other hot tubs on property that I have been in are lacking heat and power jets, for class and price of the mods, deluxe.

 

[Scottishbrit]

PO!!! We always resort hop and PO is a must for us. Im going back next September for an all girls trip and were doing it on a budget so All star Sports resort is what were doing. I will miss my PO