POP or AoA

[Maxpowers]

I've got a 2 day trip coming up (first solo trip woohoo).

Which would you choose Pop Century or Art of Animation?

 

[disney world dreamer]

i've stayed at both.

i like POP better overall.

AOA has a great theme and attention to detail but if staying in LM standard rooms it has a very long walk to the main building and buses.
it literally took me less time to walk from my LM room to POP's buses.

i also am not a fan of AOA's food court because it is soooo loud without carpets on the floor to muffle the sounds of chairs scraping across the floor or the real silverware being dropped constantly.

one other thing that does not effect most people but does effect me is that AOA is not well lit at night.
(i'm visually impaired)

POP also has a great theme in my opinion.
i also love the variety of music you hear around the resort.
i like the food.
i like the pools.
i like staying in the 50's section
its well lit.

plus i can just walk over to AOA to admire the theme.

 

[2kidsForMe]

For a solo trip I would definitely chose Pop. I like their food court better, and the resort feels less spead out. AoA is full of families with small kids and very busy. Don't get me wrong, I love kids and I loved our stay at AoA, but if I was going alone I would rather be at
Pop, plus it tends to be a little cheaper.

 

[jettgrrlaust]

I agree about Pop being quieter. I stayed solo at Pop for one night and solo at AoA for another two nights. AoA is a fun resort to look at and yes the food court is louder but Pop is much quieter and cheaper. They are so close together that you can easily walk between them if you feel like you like one thing from the other resort you didn't choose so don't stress too much about which one you choose. I didn't try it at Pop but I really enjoyed the movie by the pool at AoA after a big day of walking around it was nice to chill out by the awesome Finding Nemo pool.

 

[jettgrrlaust]

Ps. I had a lot of fun doing Disney solo for a few days! Stayed as long or short as liked, saw what I liked, ate where I liked. I felt super safe there too as a solo female - in case you were wondering about that too

 

[Maxpowers]

Thanks all! I have to say I'm a bit surprised so far and will probably rethink my position. I was definitely leaning toward AoA when I posted this.

Also I'd have to mention the quote I've been getting from Disney's site so far put them about $25 apart for 2 nights w/park hopper.

 

[Lady Marie]

I'm going to take the opposite position and say AOA. I didn't notice the food court was loud until I read it just now on this thread-- but now that they say it, yes, it was. I didn't notice at the time, though, because I was so wrapped up in all the Disney Details and being in the Disney Bubble. If that is something that you value, then I would say go with AOA. The theming was Awesome! I stayed at POP before as well, and felt like the room was just a basic motel. But the rooms at AOA are Disney-fied so made it fun. I will add that we booked a LM room and were upgraded to a Cars suite so we were blown away. It all comes down to what you think you will value more. The POP people definitely have valid points for what makes POP a great value--- but what I value (Disney details and Disney bubble) makes me pick AOA over POP every time. Different strokes!

 

[JennyDrake]

i've stayed at both.

i like POP better overall.

AOA has a great theme and attention to detail but if staying in LM standard rooms it has a very long walk to the main building and buses.
it literally took me less time to walk from my LM room to POP's buses.

i also am not a fan of AOA's food court because it is soooo loud without carpets on the floor to muffle the sounds of chairs scraping across the floor or the real silverware being dropped constantly.

plus i can just walk over to AOA to admire the theme.

DITTO. AoA food court is BEDLAM no matter what time of day or night and the layout is confusing and inefficient. I am a runner and _I_ found the LM rooms to be a HIKE.

 

[KingLlama]

Have never stayed at Pop so I can't make a call between the two, but we stayed at AoA 10 months ago in an LM room. Prior to the trip, the talk of that long walk was so exaggerated that I half-expected to step over collapsed bodies all along the sidewalk to our room. And while it's noticeably long, sure, it's not the ordeal that some(not anyone in this thread, but other threads I read last year) make it out to be.

If proximity to buses and food court is a major issue, then only stay at AoA if you're in one of the non-LM sections. If it's no big deal, I see no drawback to AoA. Fantastic theming, terrific food court(food-wise, at least. I never paid attention to the noise), and a nice room for the $.

 

[Maxpowers]

I am a runner and _I_ found the LM rooms to be a HIKE.

I see you stayed at CSR, what is the hike like in comparison (to get to the main area at CSR)? I was back in the Ranchos section on my last stay and the walked to the main area didn't bother me much.

 

[boufa]

I like to think of AoA as that really nice thing, that is close enough to enjoy, not so close to get any of the negatives. We have stayed at POP and you really do get most of the perks of staying at AoA without actually needing to stay there. The food court is nice, for variety if noting else, and the buses give you a second option if your at the parks looking to get the first bus back. You can still stroll over and see the theming, without all the noise and busy... and for a few dollars less.

 

[JennyDrake]

I see you stayed at CSR, what is the hike like in comparison (to get to the main area at CSR)? I was back in the Ranchos section on my last stay and the walked to the main area didn't bother me much.

At CSR I was in a preferred room, so unfortunately I cannot compare the two, but my impression (from running around the resort) is the walk at CSR would be longer.

 

[WiscMomof2]

I agree with PP that Ranchos at CSR seems like it would be a longer hike to food court than LM rooms, not by much though. If it were me, I would still say stay at Pop for a solo trip.

 

[Maxpowers]

Well I've just booked in Pop for my solo trip(woot!!)! Thanks for all the advice/opinions.

 

[FireFighterWife]

I've stayed at POP once and AOA twice. My vote would be POP. It feels quieter. LM is a hike from the food court and buses. I really like AOA for the theming, but the food court is complete chaos for the majority of the day.

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1059162680768871&ref=bookmarks

 

[FFMatt12]

Enjoy your trip, POP is a great choice