The best of the best...values

[IMGONNABE40!]

I have stayed at Pop. I like Pop. I would love to say that I can upgrade for my trip...but without a code, it is likely not a good idea. So, here is the question. Should I try another value just to say I have, or should I just stay at Pop again?

So far we are reserved at ASMu. Just because I wanted to try another resort. But, I am thinking about going back to Pop. What do you guys think? Is Pop the best of the values and I should just stay where I know? Or should I break out of my comfort zone and try something new?

 

[aubriee]

Try something new. I too love POP and have stayed there 6 or 7 times. I'm comfortable there. However, this past May I stayed in a preferred room at AS Sports just to try something new and was really surprised at how much I liked it. I really liked the Surf's Up theme, the resort was smaller and quieter, and the buses were even better than at POP (even with having to stop at AS Music and AS Movies). They were never crowded. The resort was clean, staff members friendly, and I received a pleasant surprise when I opened my door and found a king size bed and a huge bathroom with a nice tub.

In Sept/Oct I'm trying a preferred room at AS Music and am looking forward to it.

For my Dec trip I had POP booked again. However, I was unable to get it with the new codes, so switched to AS Sports.

OT: I've stayed at WL, AKL, Boardwalk, POFQ, CSR, and CBR as well as the Values. I've enjoyed every trip. Last Dec I was unable to get a preferred room at CBR for my entire trip, so had to do a split stay spending the first two nights at POP, before switching to CBR. I found I really missed POP and did not care for CBR at all. CBR was just too big and the bus service was horrible. My standard room at POP was much closer to the main building and bus stop than my preferred room at CBR was.

I would at least try another resort. You might be pleasantly surprised and you may even find a new favorite.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thank you for your input. I was most concerned about the bus situation, so your comment on that is appreciated.

 

[daisyduck123]

My opinion....stay with POP!!

POP is such a step above the All Stars, IMO.
We've never stayed at the All Stars, but during our last trip (2 weeks ago), we wanted to see them since they were the only resorts we'd never vistited. Well, it was SCARY over there!!

We had decided a long time ago that we'll never stay at POP again (joined DVC) because we love the moderates & deluxes. Well...POP is sooo much nicer looking & not scary!

 

[jonna30]

My opinion....stay with POP!!

POP is such a step above the All Stars, IMO.
We've never stayed at the All Stars, but during our last trip (2 weeks ago), we wanted to see them since they were the only resorts we'd never vistited. Well, it was SCARY over there!!

We had decided a long time ago that we'll never stay at POP again (joined DVC) because we love the moderates & deluxes. Well...POP is sooo much nicer looking & not scary!

What do you mean scary? I am booked there in 3 weeks for 3 rooms. What specifically is scary? Should I change my ressies?

 

[GEM]

I've had enough horrible experiences with the bus service at the All Stars that I've sworn them off forever. I'd stick with Pop.

 

[Bouncing4Tigger]

I have stayed at Pop, All Star Music and All Star Movies. I enjoyed all 3. However my fave is All Star Music. I have never found the All Stars scary at all.

As far as busses go I find them about the same. I have had the worst experience with the busses at Pop, but overall I find them the same crowdwise.

All Star Music I found to be the quietest. All Star Movies I found more family oriented.

 

[daisyduck123]

What do you mean scary? I am booked there in 3 weeks for 3 rooms. What specifically is scary? Should I change my ressies?

I'll just say that it was not what we're used to.
Many people like it. It just definitely isn't for us.
I just think POP is a whole lot better, that's why I wrote, "IMO".

 

[MickeyMacks]

Keep your ASMu reservation, you won't regret it. It's a fun resort in the middle of the All-Stars section, you can walk around and explore the others. I love the landscaping at the Music and the bus situation was okay for us as we usually were up and away before the crowds got to the bus stops. Had to stand sometimes coming home from the parks. I've never stayed at any other WDW resort so have nothing to compare the bus service to.

I was at ASMu for 10 days during Pop Warner week 2 years ago and even then didn't find it too noisy. The pools were busy in the evenings when we came home but we were staying in Jazz so were out of the noise zone but not far from the quiet piano pool, which was never crowded.

Go for something new, and take the time to walk around the other two All-Stars too. I liked Intermissions and the gift shop and mousekeeping was good, too.

 

[minnie61650]

My choice would be Music.
In fact my sixth stay since 2001 is coming up in Sept.

Music has added games and contests by the pool in the afternoon and has movies by the pool at 9 PM.

All Star Music started showing the movies the beginning of this Summer.
It was in one of Mouseplanet's updates:
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From this website:

http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=wd070618mg

As we noted on last week's MousePlanetWatch news podcast, We've gotten a couple of reports about the "something special" that we were told to keep our eyes out for at All-Star Music and Yacht & Beach Club. At All-Star Music, we've heard that folks have found karaoke sessions for dance parties near the pools, a nightly movie by the Calypso pool and in increase of staff to make it easier for guests to find assistance. ......
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Sever DIS'ners have posted about the games and movies. here is quote from a fellow DIS'ner:

We were there July 10-19th in Calypso.
I thought the new rooms were great! Loved the peg board to hang hats etc... My parents had the handicap/king room and they loved it. Housekeeping was good.......

Besides the evening fun, in the afternoon they played games with the kids. Hula-hoop contests, musical chair type game, hit a target with a beanie and someone gets wet with a water balloon and a "Guess the song" game. The kids could win prizes like Twister or a Super Soaker etc....Adults could play too, but it was mostly kids playing.

All Star Music is my favorite Disney owned hotel.

Please see my info thread for more of the reasons why I enjoy All Star Music so much.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18641909#post18641909

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Have fun at Disney!

 

[minnie61650]

The rides to parks are shorter on the All Star bus according to my Passporter book,

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.

A WORD ABOUT BUS SHARING

To me Bus Sharing at the All Stars is really a non issue.

In the mornings during Park opening hours each All Star usually has a dedicated bus.
During mid day it is usually just our stop and maybe one more on the way to the parks. On the way back sometimes it is all 3 but often Sports and Movies share and Music has it's own bus back. Each of the All Stars usually has it's own dedicated bus back from the MK.
That is a big plus. It seems like the Music bus stop usually has the shortest of the three All Star bus lines.

I guess some people who stay at POP see all 3 All Star names on the return sign of our bus stop when they head to the POP bus stop and think All Stars also has 3 stops on the way to the park.

(Even when we stop at another AS resort to load up it has not taken more than 5 minutes and we are on our way!)