POP Value Resort

[jascar]

I have read a lot of reviews stating that the POP Century Value resort is the best Value resort can someone tell me why they think that way? My family are going to Disney for the first time in March 2008 and we were looking at staying at the All Star Movies because of the movie theme. But I will be willing to switch if there is something I am missing out on....

 

[girli565]

I think so because of the bus service. It's Disney and if it's busy the busses run slow but if you stay at any of teh All Stars the 3 resorts share one bus route. They each have their own stops but the bus from ASMu will pull into ASSports to pick up people too. Pop has a bus route all on their own, no other resorts get picked up on the same line. They food court is pretty decent too. They have a special meal for eveyday of the week that is like a home cooked meal. Meatloaf, fried chicken... mmmm

 

[princssdisnygina]

The busses are a definite plus! I think it is because it is newer too...the AS resorts are in need of a renovation, at least I think so! Plus, the layout of the resort is smaller and I think easier to get to the main building/bus stop. I like the atmosphere a little better! This is where we are staying Memorial Weekend!

Gina

 

[sschro3]

We stayed at ASMo and at Pop liked them both. When we talked about our up coming trip the kids voted for Pop. They liked the Goofy water fountain and the twister board. It is one of the pop culture icons, they have a twister board painted out on the ground and a real spinner. The kids loved it. Food courts about the same..ASMo felt roomier. Busses at
pop were quicker, then again we did Pop in Sept and ASMo right over Thanksgiving. Everything had a long wait, a really long wait.
Either is a good choice in my opinion. Have a great trip.
Sharon

 

[MOmousefan]

The reason we like POP is:
1. Dedicated buses to this resort only
2. Bigger TV (When we watch)
3. Individual soaps and shampoo (Great souvineers)
4. The newest value resort

We hope to be there this june, we are waiting for all of the pieces to fall into place. We will know this week and hope it is not too late.

 

[bugsbuni70]

Im staying at the Pop next week . Where is a place to buy milk. Im landing at seven pm and I am not renting a car.

 

[ogreenlee]

Hold up a minute.

Pop has soaps/shampoos individually wrapped and the AllStars do not?

 

[surfergrl31]

I don't know if I can really be of help since I have only stayed at Pop, but here is the reasons I would choose it over the All Star's based on what everyone has told me.

1. No shared bus route
2. Petals pool bar, classic con. (bar inside)~not big point but a plus
3. There is some much to do onsite the life size foose ball, twister and playgrounds are great!
4. The mousekeepers are wonderful they got me anything I needed and left great towel animals everyday!
5. Small layout so not very much walking and the lake view rooms are so peaceful and quiet.
6. They do have activities for the kids, just ask for a schedule when you check in.
7. Love the little soaps and shampoos they leave (I never use them, but I always bring them home for our Mickey bathroom)

bugsbuni70~You can buy milk at Everything Pop they don't sell gallons there, but you can buy it there in the food court.

 

[thejollyfinn]

While our kids thought it was fun (no matter what! - hey they're kids!), my wife and I LOVED the theming at Pop. Both of us grew up from the 70's - 80's and it really strikes a chord with us.

We'd like to try the Poly., but when we consider the price.... well......

 

[HopperFan]

* Newer and fresher resort
* Plenty of super big Disney icons plus the decade ones !!
* More landscaping and a lusher feeling
* Lake with a nice bridge to venture on and sit in evening
* Path along lake great for walking or running, with benches to sit on
* Bigger food court that seemed to me to have some extras (loved Mom's specials), slushies and lots of desserts and sundaes (don't remember that much at Allstars)
* Indoor bar and an outdoor bar closer to pool area
* Pizza delivery in a cute hippie bus
* Three large pools with LOTS of lounge chairs and table sets
* Kiddie splash & pool area plus the addition Goofy the splash area
* Great bus service
* Small footprint so not even the standard rooms are far from main hub
* Rooms facing lake are so quiet and peaceful
* Have never been aware of groups staying there (our sports group inquiried about staying there we were told no blocks of rooms given at POP )
* Great location, I drive alot and was only minutes to anywhere
* For some the sliver of view of EPCOT fireworks, but our treat was our room facing lake getting view of full fireworks at MGM private party !
* Great mousekeeping, better than we have had at AKL
* While we didn't get any, more towel animals in windows than I have ever seen at another value or moderate resort

Stayed at POP for third time since this post and this time we could sit IN our room and watch the EPCOT Illuminations AND the MK Wishes fireworks. Had their been a private party at MGM we would have seen those too ! Going back next September !


PS While booking free dining this year, our dates were only open at POP, POR, AKL. Have stayed at all three and could afford all three, but I opted to return to POP again ! I actually wanted CSR and was planning to keep trying, but just thinking of our great visits to POP, I am staying put.

 

[maraki527]

I love staying at POP. I think it was the best value resort that I have ever stayed at. I stayed at All Star Movies and did not like it however since I have visited there have been renovations.

 

[disneyfanUSA]

I personly liked movies better because of the theming but lov love pop also! & about the bus thing its not always that u have to share buses on busy morings and at closing tim theres ussaly seperate buses! but during the day when most ppl are already at the parks then u share buses cuz wats the poin of running 3 empty buses!
~~~~~~
00 off site
01 off site
02 ASsp
03 asmu
04 pop
05 por
06 movies
07 going in agust to asmu

 

[kimsuenew]

Anyone else? We chose it because it was newer and looked cute in the pictures. I also liked AS Movies, and our son thought AS Sports looked cool. I hope that we made the right choice!

 

[IlliniMouse]

We just got back from our first family trip, and we stayed at POP. The rooms are small, but the only things we did in the room was sleep and shower. The buses were quite efficient, and even the few times the lines were long, it didn't take long for another bus to arrive. Theming is fun for adults and kids. Had a few flashbacks looking at the shadow boxes in the lobby. LOL Poolside bar we took advantage of the one night, along with their pizza. Food court kept everyone happy. My son (9yo) loved the arcade. Gift shop had a little bit of everything, so I scoped out that gift shop and picked things up there if I could. Everything was so easy there we never once had to call the front desk or anywhere for assistance. (Other than luggage pick-up) We'd certainly stay there again.

 

[JennyDrake]

I havestayed in all the values more than once.

Music is my favorite because it is quieter and has more of an adult crowd as it seems to be the favorite for budget honeymooners. At first the theming didn't grab me, but once I slowed down and really looked it at, I think I like it best of all the values. For instance the New Orleans rose garden and wrought iron bench in the jazz section, the horse corral with real saddles in the country, etc.

Movies has the most colorful, charming theming, but it is so hard to get a room there as it is very popular. I have not stayed there in a couple of years, but I seem to hear a good bit about rooms needing rehab.

Sports IMHO has the best bus schedule/service; while I certainly would stay there again, I'm just not a huge sports fan. ("Real" sports fan--I like the resort.)

Pop has the best food court with more offerings, including the grilled flatbreads. It also has an indoor lounge and an outdoor lounge. I've probably had the best front desk service (of the values) at that resort. What keeps Pop from being my favorite is just the size and hence, number of people. it seems the food court was constant, loud mayhem--no matter what time of day or night, and there was always something of a line at the bus stops (from the resort or from the parks back.)

I don't think you can go wrong with any of them; and I will happily continue to visit!

None of the pools have a true deep end. If you like to tread water or swim away from wee ones in water wings, tough.
I don't consider the rooms to be THAT small, but they only have one sink. This could be a serious issue with more than two adults jockeying for position in the mornings or late night.
Because they are the lower priced resorts, you should expect the resort, the food court and the gift shop to be swarming at virtually all hours with families with lots of small, often screaming, children. I have never experienced a problem with room noise, but then I ask for top floor rooms facing away from any pools.

 

[spiceycat]

1) lake - love looking at water.

2) the CM's some of these folk came from the deluxe resorts - and they try to make Pop very special

3) it is clean even for a Disney resort. now some people have complainted about the rooms being dirty. but so far it has not happen to me.

4) food court - love to see the CM start dancing!

5) gift shop

6) Lady and Tramp. loved this movie as a little girl. So having Tramp outside my room.... well just feel protected (know false sense you better believe I lock the doors when am in the room)

7) swimming pools - Pop is a little different - the pools have several entrances and exist - 4 in the quiet pool - not sure about the main one.

8) if you stay in the 50's you aren't far from your car and the food court and buses.

9) always take the bus here. first time I did my usually with the car. next few times left the car at the resort and took their buses. these are pretty wonderful. the most I had to wait at the resort was 10 minutes (50 minutes at the all star music) and in the parks late night MK was around 40 minutes. Which is pretty great for any resorts. most of the time we walk up a bus was either waiting or came along in under 5 minutes.

10) like the way it makes me feel - YOUNGER!!!!

11) the pool bar is pretty fun and sometimes entertaining.

12) inside lounge is nice big and mostly quiet.

13) plenty of ice machines.

 

[diseverestfan]

The reason we like POP is:
1. Dedicated buses to this resort only
2. Bigger TV (When we watch)
3. Individual soaps and shampoo (Great souvineers)
4. The newest value resort

We hope to be there this june, we are waiting for all of the pieces to fall into place. We will know this week and hope it is not too late.

FWIW, the All Stars now have individual soaps and shampoos. The dispensing machines were replaced in 2005 and 2006.
On our last visit to the ASMO, which was in a slow period ( January ), we only shared a bus twice, and that was at a non-peak time. Otherwise, we always had our own bus.
All of the refurbished rooms have newer, larger televisions at ASSP and ASMU. This also means that with the exception of the Movies resort, the rooms are essentially brand new, while the rooms at POP are now about 4 years old. All rooms will be rehabbed at ASSP by February, while ASMU is already complete.
I like POP about as much as the All Stars, but people seem to have this thing about the All Stars, and much of what they believe just is not true anymore.

 

[diseverestfan]

The busses are a definite plus! I think it is because it is newer too...the AS resorts are in need of a renovation, at least I think so! Plus, the layout of the resort is smaller and I think easier to get to the main building/bus stop. I like the atmosphere a little better! This is where we are staying Memorial Weekend!

Gina

With the exception of ASMU, the All Stars are actually more compact than POP. Walking times from the bus stop to the most distant rooms is greater at POP than the All Stars. Also, and this is especially true at the Mighty Ducks section of ASMO, you are closer to the main facilities at ASMU than you are at your own resort. This gives these folks 2 different options for swimming, dining, bus services, etc.

 

[spiceycat]

yea but Pop gives you more to look at - so the walk doesn't feel long at all.

everyone has a different opinion. the world would be very, very boring if we all agreed.

 

[diseverestfan]

yea but Pop gives you more to look at - so the walk doesn't feel long at all.

everyone has a different opinion. the world would be very, very boring if we all agreed.

I couldn't agree more. On our last trip, it was an absolute nightmare just trying to figure out where we were going to stay. 4 different families, 4 different resorts picked. I told my DW, next time it's just us!
The main point I was trying to make is that while it's great everyone has different likes and dislikes, there seems to be a lot being said about the All Stars right now that just isn't true, and many people that don't honestly know anything about the resorts are being mislead. Some of the posts in this thread are a great example of that. Yes, the All Stars are "older", but how many people are mentioning to others inquiring about a value resort that the All Stars are in the midst of a major refurbishment? Newer doesn't always mean nicer. A lot of what is said about the busses is also a myth. When the All Stars have dedicated busses, that's for about 1900 rooms, versus about 2800 rooms at POP. How is that better service? And the All Stars have had individual soap and shampoo going on 3 years now at some of the resorts, yet people continue to mention that having the dispensers is a drawback.
I've said before that I really liked POP when I stayed there. I have no grudge toward it whatsover. I'd be happy to stay at either. But the All Stars are much better than what they're portrayed on this board by so many people, in my opinion. And, people deserve to know accurate information when they're trying to make a decision. Now, I've yet to stay at the Sports, so I won't comment on that specifically since it would be an uninformed opinion. But whatever issues they've had in the past, the new room there look fantastic. Hopefully with the rehab comes a fresher approach all the way around.
Allright, I'm coming off my soapbox. Sorry for rambling. Fact is, I'd rather be debating WDW over just about anything else anyday, anytime!