POP or All Star Movies

[dny1112000]

We're planning our 2009 trip and would like some input please. We've only been once and stayed at POP. We had a great time, but have nothing to compare it to. We're definitely going for a value, just not going to be in the room enough to justify a more expensive stay. So the choice is between POP again or All Star Movies. I think my kids will really enjoy the movies, but I'm reading a lot about bus problems. Many felt that there were fewer running to Movies than to POP and the wait was very long.

What does everyone think about the bus situation and the 2 in general?

Thanks.

 

[postesf]

I've not stayed at either (we are staying at POP in January...) My sister has stayed at various resorts on Disney property and out of the Values, she prefers POP. Same issues w/ busses...

 

[Pats Dragon]

pop is much better because their bus service beats all the resorts. The food court has icees, there is a fun pop jet fountain to play in and lots of neat things in the courtyards. It is our favorite resort.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We had better bus service at ASMo than we did at Pop.

We're trying ASMu this time. I liked ASMo and Pop both, though.

 

[canron]

allstars is better then pop..pop is way too big...it doesnt have that resort feeling...allstars is smaller and seems better ..iv stayed at both..pop 4 or 5 times allstars 25 times.4 floors at pop 3 at allstars..if you get the outback at pop you walk a mile for anything..and if you got small kids it donnt go over good ..but you cannt have a bad time at any of them..sllstars you can go and see any of them..sports movies or music..just resort hop for a change

 

[katiedid36]

My vote is for POP! ASMO was nice but we liked POP better for the busses and the icees!

 

[simonkodousek]

I vote for POP for the simple reason of bus transportation. Since ASMo is last on the All Star bus route, it usually takes awhile to find a bus with seats available. The POP bus is not shared, so transportation is easier.

Plus, the POP's theming is better IMO.

 

[WDWMagicNic]

We just returned from a visit where we stayed at Pop the week of September 10. We had five people in our family (DH, DD, DS and girlfriend, and Me) so it was more economical for us to get two rooms at a value than a room for five at a deluxe. Bonus - two bathrooms! I enjoyed the POP theming and the rooms were comfortable and clean. We had adjoining rooms, so it felt as though we had more than enough space for our group. We had a bit of a communication problem checking in (they gave my husband two cards under his name and none for me), but that was resolved pretty quickly. We stayed in the 50s building, and once we found a shortcut, it was a short walk to the parking lot.

We had a vehicle and did not rely on buses; however, my son and his girlfriend did and said that they were pretty crowded. We've stayed at moderate resorts before, and even though there are more bus stops, DS made the comment that at least you lined up at the bus stop for the park you wanted to go to and you knew that was the bus it was going to be. At moderates, it's kind of a guessing game as the buses come around.

We have stayed at ASmusic and AS Sports before, and liked them as well. I don't remember the food court and store being quite as busy as POP. That was probably the only downside - it seems like we waited in line longer there than at the parks for food or snacks. This was kind of strange, because at the time, the rest of the resort didn't feel to be that crowded, and the pool we went to (the huge bowling pin) never had more than 20 or 25 people in it. We did love how they put beach balls and the floating noodles in the pool for everyone to use.

Overall, we would stay at POP again, but would probably have a vehicle so we didn't have to rely on buses. We felt the value was really good, Mousekeeping was better than when we stayed at CBR (although this may have just been chance), and it was fun to wander the resort and see all the over-the-top icons. I made my DH walk for about a half hour in 100 degree weather just to find Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head!

 

[GEM]

I definately prefer Pop over any of the All Stars.

We've stayed at All Star Music and All Star Movies several times each - and on every single trip the busses were an absolute nightmare. We found the busses at Pop to be much better because of the no sharing issue. According to some information out there, the All Stars don't really share busses all that often. We found that NOT to the case any time we stayed there. Our last trip to Movies was the last straw for us as far as the All Stars go. It was very early September and the parks were totally dead, yet we had horrible problems with busses to the parks in the mornings because they all arrived 80% full already from picking up at Sports and Music. Never again! (And I'm generally a real "rose colored glasses" kind of person when I'm at Disney. It takes a lot to make me complain about anything at the world!)

I also think the food court is better at Pop. There are more interesting choices - like the yummy flatbreads - that offer some variety over the standard burgers and chicken strips available at so many places.

Also, the pools, I think, are better at Pop - especially for young children. The Goofy play fountain is so much fun and the Pop wading pool is much nicer than the ones at any of the All Stars.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Just back from 3 days @ POP & would pick POP over any of the AllStars. Bus transportation wasn't an issue at all. Food court is busy, but then any of them are at certain times of the day - but there's a bigger selection there than the over the other values. Shopping area is much larger, and more variety too. Our only downside was that we paid for a preferred room & I don't believe that was what we were given, but that was my fault for not going back to check-in & requesting a room change. The main pool was never really busy no matter what time of day we went past it - only used it one time during the middle of the day & it was not the least bit busy. We did have one issue with little kids running up & down the hallways of the 3rd floor screaming after 10pm @ night & people leaving the bolt lock open on their doors & slamming them as they were coming & going for over 1/2 hour while others were trying to sleep after long days at the park. Still - we love POP - good value for our money & we'll probably choose it again for the next trip!

 

[dzneelvr]

ASMo all the way Never ever had a problem with buses, food court selection, etc..and at some point, the overall size of POP gets to be a bit much on all counts. I don't think you can go wrong with either--isn't it nice there's something for everyone ASMo here we come June/08!

 

[IHEARTNY]

I've stayed at POP, BWV, POR, POLY, ASMus, ASSp, BC, AKL AND Dolphin and my favorite will still remain POP.

Compared to every place I've gone, the buses seem to be much much quicker and they NEVER service any other resorts like almost any other resort buses do.

The food court if also by far the best and has the most variety. Of course the place and get crowded but so can every other place.

There's only one issue I've found it's that kids like to run up and down the walkway outside the room's door and you can hear every footstep they make.

I don't swim but I definitely noticed that until you get to staying at the deluxe resorts, you have to use your own towel from you room, my boyfriend was very put off by that being someone who would swim a few times a week.

 

[Disneytwinz]

We stayed at ASMo in May 2007. It was nice and quiet. We had two resort bus pick ups to choose from as we stayed in the Mighty Duck section, which seemed deserted. If Movies bus wasn't there, Music was. The pool was really nice as was the food court. It was perfect. We're giving Music a try in 2008 and Pop in 2009.

 

[KimWDW]

Pop is bigger, but I would never stay at the AllStars because of the buses. No way.