Pop vs. All Star Sports

[Disneyland1084]

There's a good chance my DSIL is going to back out of our June 2017 WDW trip. If so,it will leave four of us, then we'll cancel our reservation at Double Tree Disney Springs and book a value resort. I've narrowed it down to two choices, POP or All Star Sports. Pop-I like that they have their own bus, and Sports, I like that there's what, a thousand less rooms there than Pop? I know what you're thinking, if we don't want a crowded hotel to upgrade to moderate. My DH is very frugal with money, and I'm not. But for the trip to WDW, I don't care all that much about the level of resort hotel we stay at. A crowded hotel really doesn't bother me, but if one value is generally quieter than the other, I find that appealing. So if you could chose between Pop or Sports, which would it be and why? Please list the pros and cons of both. Thanks!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I'd choose All Star Sports and it wouldn't be close. I posted in a previous thread of my dislike of Pop so I'm just going to copy and paste it here: I am completely in the minority here, but I absolutely HATED Pop. It is the one resort that I will not ever stay at again. I found the theming in the rooms to be somewhere between minimal and nonexistent. It was the loudest resort we have ever stayed at. Dining was crowded and noisy and just a bad experience.
Not only do I have no desire to stay there again, but neither does my husband or daughter. After her most recent stay, my sister has agreed that it is the last Disney resort she would ever choose. My mom and dad decided to give it one more try, said the experience was even worse than before, and have sworn it off.

So, not a fan of Pop. All Star Sports, however, wasn't really an issue. As you pointed out, it was a smaller resort and it was quieter. We were in the baseball section and I loved the quiet pool there. The surf pool, though, is also a fun theme if you are looking for a larger place to take a dip. Sports is the last of the All Stars to share a bus. We have definitely been when All Star Sports has had its own bus while Movies and Music were sharing. We have also seen Sports have to share with the other two, but it is the first stop. This means that in the mornings, you should be able to have a seat. In the evenings, you will be the first dropped off. I also found the food court to be more pleasant. I think that the size really helped with this. It didn't seem as dirty and was a bit quieter.

So I'd go with All Star Sports.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have stayed at both and like them both. But I'm odd in that I actually like the food court at the Sports better than the one at Pop.

 

[Dis703]

Neither resort is all that quiet, but Pop is larger. Rooms are in better condition at Pop. We stayed at Sports in May and won't likely do it again until it gets a refurb. CMs were awesome at Sports. The food court at Pop seemed to have more options. Pop has its own bus but 90% of the time we had our own at Sports. Pop is our go to resort when we stay value.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you want quiet ask for a room on the back side of a building. I've had that at both Sports and Pop and had very quiet rooms.

 

[Tattylou]

We've stayed at sports and POP. Actually, we are at the airport and headed back to pop right now! I liked them both. I like POP a bit more bc of the lake and easy access to AOA food court if we aren't in the mood for the one at pop...and the dedicated bus service. We did share sometimes with the other all Stars when we were at sports (not all the time), but I like not having to deal with bus sharing at all.

 

[WDWNY]

I've stayed in both. Honestly, I'd go with whatever is cheaper (probably will be sports) typically in the morning and at night there is a separate bus for all the all stars anyway. Pop is huge and if you're placed in a far building- it will be a hike. I've stayed at Sports and Music of the All Stars and I preferred music. For some reason, I preferred the layout more- we were in the furthest building and it was maybe a 5 minute walk to the lobby?

And I totally get the staying at a value and not wanting to spend more money on a moderate/deluxe. It took us YEARS to "splurge" on a moderate because we never were in the room.

If you're going in early June though, Sports might be full of high school students on their senior trip. Everyone I know who has gone to WDW for their senior trip with their school stays there.

 

[HopperFan]

I avoided AllStars for years after a few stays and stayed at POP .... 16 stays. I have stayed at Sports about 4 times in the last couple years. I have POP booked for end of Dec and end of January. At this point, it is often about price. I have no plans to go back to Music or Movies. ALL the AllStars and POP have like decor inside, only change is the theme.

POP is newer, was built with more lush landscaping, more grass and space between buildings and has the lake with path. You can walk over to AoA to eat and their food court is nicer, and unless changed real plates and silverware. We have stayed all over POP and love the 50's Lake View rooms. QUIET!!!!!! And often watch Wishes, Illuminations and DHS light shows from outside our room. One trip over a week and never saw anyone on our floor. Never had any bus issues except when there with BTGs. It is beginning a room rehab soon and depending on how that turns out may change my thoughts but it is our favorite. Where else can you pay standard value and walk out to a pretty lake.

SPORTS rooms have always been clean, fresh and in good condition. I've stayed in baseball, basketball, tennis and surfs up in the last couple years. I have stayed there 3x this year. The food court was renovated a couple years ago. I think I might avoid if during football/cheer season but otherwise we have had very nice stays. If buses share it is first on and off but at the parks closing OH HOW MISERABLE for the parks that share. We've had some long waits.

It boils down the price usually. If Sports is at least $10 a night cheaper then I take it. Often I have an extra adult and have to pay that fee per night so it helps to stay Sports then. But if just DS1 and I, prefer POP. Very comfortable there.