POP vs All Stars

[wingnut3443]

after staying at POP in july, and having a great time, we are thinking about going back this july again. While loving POP, we are considering staying at one of the All Stars. The value resort are the best for us, cause we are never in the room, and the price is right, so considering a "better" resort is really not on our minds. Which, if any, of the All-Stars do you recommend, and why, or is POP better in everyway? any comment would be helpful.

 

[bobcat]

I have stayed at all of the ASR and POP multiple times. While I would stay at any of the ASR again if I had to I love POP more. They took everythig that was good about the ASR and made them even better at POP. My kids would miss the Pop jets and I think the transportation is better at POP. If I had to choose one of the ASR it would be movies.

 

[dialane]

I agree. I would choose Pop over All Stars as well. Better transportation, better food court, and better location, in my opinion. However, having said that, if I went back to an All Star it also would be Movies. I think they have the best food court of the three and I like the theming better, too. I do think it is fun to try different resorts though and get a taste of each one. They all have such a different feel and the only way to really find out if you like it or not, is to stay there. Good luck on your choice!

 

[DisneyVa.]

I am considering Pop for a May 2006 trip with 6 teenagers.
I have stayed at ALL STARS two times and thought POP would be fun to try for a change. However, I keep hearing that the bus transportation is not as good. Lots of standing and long waits. One would think that the first week of May would not be as busy. Anyone ever stay at POP at the beginning of May with a transportation report?

 

[tae1218]

We have stayed at all of the All Stars as well as POP. Although we had a fantastic time at the All Stars, I would choose POP again. I liked not sharing a bus with another resort and I thought the location of POP was better. But I do think the food courts were better at the All Stars.

 

[dznyacct]

We have stayed at Music, Sports and PC. We were lucky enough to stay at PC when it was only 3 days old ! Everything was shiny and new. We have been back to PC twice and will be there in March. I agree with the poster that said they took all that was good at The All Stars and made it even better at PC. We usually split our stay between a value resort and a DVC resort (trying to save my points !) and PC has been a great resort for the $$. I was able to book 4 nights for our March trip at the AP BRP of $80/night + tax. A great rate I think. Although my DS is now 16, I think PC would be a blast for little kids.

 

[minnie61650]

Try the All Stars!

I am 55 years old and travel several times a year. I often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe resorts do not have anything special for me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.

All Star Music is my favorite.It is quieter because more couples stay there. I love staying at the Clypso building. It is closer to the pool,food court and bus stop.

Here is a site with a map of All Star Sports and All Star Music.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmap.htm
Scroll down.All Star Music is at the bottom of the page.
The Calypso buildings at All Star Music are #1 and #10 are nearest to the food court and bus stop.

The Calypso pool at ASMU has Donald Duck.

Here is the map of All Movies.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmovie.JPG
The Fantasia Buildings are the preferred buildings.
The All Star Movie Fantasia pool has Mickey.
It is a great place to stay .
Preschoolers love it.
It is like being in the middle of a Disney Movie Fantasyland.
All Star Movies has pop up fountains now also.
The buses are wonderful.

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot,MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.

The gift shops are seperate from the food court at the All Stars.
When staying at the All Stars you can use any of the All Star pools. that means 3 main pools ,3 quite pools and 3 kiddie pools to chose from.

Pop has 2,880 guest rooms. 4 floors in each building.
All Stars has 1,960 rooms. 3 floors in each building. That means more people in the food courts,in the pools and waiting at the bus stop at POP than at the All Stars.
I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theaming is pure Disney.
My last 5 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we took dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 for 8 nights we stayed at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?
Have a great time at Disney!
I know we did!

 

[dialane]

I am considering Pop for a May 2006 trip with 6 teenagers.
I have stayed at ALL STARS two times and thought POP would be fun to try for a change. However, I keep hearing that the bus transportation is not as good. Lots of standing and long waits. One would think that the first week of May would not be as busy. Anyone ever stay at POP at the beginning of May with a transportation report?

First of all - Hello over there in Midlothian! I am across the river from you!
I think the bus transportation is BETTER at Pop than any of the Value Resorts. No sharing with others. At All Stars shared buses with other All Stars. I have had very good luck with the buses at Pop and never had to wait more than 10 minutes. Had to stand for the ride sometimes, but that's no big deal unless you are traveling with small children, which I wasn't. I also noticed that at the end of the day when leaving MK, Pop had more buses loading than any others, even the Deluxes. I think you will enjoy staying there.

 

[DisneyVa.]

Thanks dialane for the response! I am a teacher traveling with another teacher with a small group of 12 kids. It's good to hear from another Virginian. I guess we give POP a try based on your info. I think the POP will appeal to teenagers better than the all stars.

 

[Mcmouse]

We've stayed at ASMo and at POP (2x) We liked POP much better.

 

[wingnut3443]

any other advise or tips?

 

[disneyjunkie]

First of all - Hello over there in Midlothian! I am across the river from you!
I think the bus transportation is BETTER at Pop than any of the Value Resorts. No sharing with others. At All Stars shared buses with other All Stars. I have had very good luck with the buses at Pop and never had to wait more than 10 minutes. Had to stand for the ride sometimes, but that's no big deal unless you are traveling with small children, which I wasn't. I also noticed that at the end of the day when leaving MK, Pop had more buses loading than any others, even the Deluxes. I think you will enjoy staying there.

ITA

We love PC