Renovated POP or Renovated All-Star Movies?

[Artygal90]

I'm trying to figure out how much I need to save to stay onsite for a September 2020 Disney trip. My husband and I will be on a budget and staying for a week, so we'll definitely be staying at a value. I'm feeling torn between All-Star Movies and POP, and have stayed at neither.

Pros for POP: Gondola system, dedicated bus service, food court and buses for AoA are nearby, maybe fewer kids around.
Cons for POP: The fourth floor of rooms adds a bunch of people to the resort, which I've heard can make the buses, etc. crowded at times. The gondolas will likely drive up rack rates.

Pros for AsMovies: Probably cheaper than POP, slightly newer refurbishments, looks more compact on the map than POP, with fewer overall rooms. The Fantasia section looks so fun!
Cons for AsMovies: Shared buses sometimes, no other mode of transport to parks, longer bus rides to parks, full of kids/teenagers.

Where would you stay?

 

[HopperFan]

If it were today I’d say POP. But I think once the gondola is running we’ll likely see a big gap in rates. That might change everything for me since I won’t use gondola.

 

[DisLiss]

I'm glad to see the All-Stars getting queen beds, which may be the only thing that would get me to try an All-Star again. Previously I did feel that there were more groups at the All-Stars than I preferand I didn't love sharing buses.

I'm not sure I think there will be an increased pricing gap between All-Stars & Pop after the gondolas go in, only because with the new renovations at the All-Stars, the gondolas are really the only big upgrade to staying in Pop. The rooms will look the same. And since they already charge more for Pop, I feel like the gondolas will become their reason to keep the current gap in prices once all of the All Star renovations are done.

 

[Babsy]

I agree with HopperFan, Pop is the best at the moment, but the future may see changes that would cause me to rethink that position. For planning purposes, I would go with POP for now, but keep an eye to the situation and change if need be.

 

[Artygal90]

I agree with HopperFan, Pop is the best at the moment, but the future may see changes that would cause me to rethink that position. For planning purposes, I would go with POP for now, but keep an eye to the situation and change if need be.

Good idea! I'll budget for POP, and if Movies turns out to be the better choice, that means more $$ for Trader Sam's!

 

[Babsy]

Good idea! I'll budget for POP, and if Movies turns out to be the better choice, that means more $$ for Trader Sam's!

Great Plan! I like the way you think! LOL

 

[zobow02]

Honestly, the All-Stars don't really share buses that much. I think to many people over exaggerate about the sharing buses.
This instagram account has pictures of the renovated room at all star. https://www.instagram.com/p/BjiAU3QhwaV/?taken-by=gretchengonzo

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[kerstfan1]

im going over the 4th this year i got a nice deal on the room for one person is 1500 dollar for 7 nights 6 days

 

[Magalex]

We are planning on All Star Movies for June 2019. Renovated rooms and we are at the parks most of the time! We stayed at Music last June for a last minute trip. It was extremely lovely. I think POP will increasingly become more popular and rates will rise. The next two years will be interesting to watch how the resort categories shift in demand and rates

 

[Texans_loyal]

I would save the money and go with Movies. The rooms are the same and the resort is a lot smaller than POP. I have stayed at the All stars many times and have never shared a bus.

 

[Moliphino]

I usually go for Pop unless the cost difference is significant, then I might do an All Star. I like Pop's location a lot better. The room renos at the All Stars might even the playing field a bit, as they had been looking rundown for quite a long time now and that has also been keeping me away.

 

[meagarunt22]

I have movies booked in November and I didn't even know they were renovating! I picked it because I'm taking my 4 yo DD and she would like the decor better.

So now that yall have me super excited, does anyone know how many rooms (we are in standard) will be done by November ?

 

[JennyDrake]

Movies. Yes, Pop has 1,000 more rooms and the gondolas have caused a giant hike in the rates! Not sure where you are getting the idea of possibly fewer kids at Pop???? After dozens of value stays, I find the fewest kids to be at Music. I will add as others have that the bus sharing is WAY over stated and WAY over played. You rarely--if ever--share a bus and I see no difference in that and the multiple stops at a moderate or deluxe.