WDW Value Resorts, which one to choose?

[Bit Bucket]

Hi Everyone!
I am reading this GREAT forum since about a week, and I am a big fan of the Value Resorts because they are really the best value for my money.
After experienced ASMusic a few years ago, I'm very tempted to go to POP Century next May, but sometimes I read posts that say that All Stars are better, so I think that a poll may be a good idea to hear everyone opinion.

Since the poll system can't deal with more the one single question, I made a "primary" poll where you simply may vote your preferred Value Resort, but since I'd like to have your opinion over others aspects, here are the questions that you should answer giving a score between 1 (worst) to 10 (better) and a few words to explain why you give that score to your preferred value resort. When we'll have a good number of partecipant, I'll compute the score for each resort and will post the results here. I hope a lot of people will vote!!

Here are the questions: simply copy and paste (or use the quote button)

1) Please write the year of your last visit to this Value Resort
2) In room noise from outside (1=very loud!, 10=no noise at all)
3) Noise while outside (1=very loud!, 10=no noise at all)
4) Pools: theme
5) Pools: dimensions
6) Pools: crowds
7) Food court: quality of food
8) Food court: crowds
9) Food court: how easy is to find a table near the beverage point
10) Transportation: going to the parks (1=a long wait, 10=very short wait)
11) Transportation: coming from the parks (1=a long wait, 10=very short wait)
12) Prefferred building

I hope to read your answers!!!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

I say go for POP-it has lots of fans!

 

[minnie61650]

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.
They are the preferred buildings and cost about $12 extra per night.
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-POP buses---CSR buses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 25 min-----15 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 20 min-----15 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----15 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------15min-------10 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------35 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.

Answers to Your poll:
1.2004
2.7
3.9
4.10 Donald and friends (excelent)
5.10 .Very large shaped like a guitar (LOved it)
6.10 Light
7. 9 very good lots of choices
8. 7 somewhat but very manageable
9. 8 quite easy
10.10
11.8
12. Calypso
I love the All Star Resorts --they can't be beat. 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 4 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we take dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 we are staying 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?
Good Luck on your poll!
Linda

 

[bigbabyblues]

1) Please write the year of your last visit to this Value Resort Sept 26-Oct 4, 2004
2) In room noise from outside (1=very loud!, 10=no noise at all) I'd give it an 8. There was one family beside us that insisted on running up and down the oustide corridor multiple times in the morning and evenings and yelling at the top of their lungs. They also seemed to be drunk alot of the time. I realize that is NOT a fault with the resort, and after they left, we didn't have any problems with noise.
3) Noise while outside (1=very loud!, 10=no noise at all) Not sure what you're looking for, but we didn't run into any large groups (or small ones either) of screaming, loud, obnoxious kids.....I'd say a 10
4) Pools: theme We liked the pools, the theming at the main pool was pretty good, I liked the squirting statue thing (that IS it's correct name, BTW). Didn't pay much attention to the quiet pool. I give it a 9
5) Pools: dimensions The main pool was large enough for us to have a space away from other people, which was nice. I give the pool size a 10
6) Pools: crowds There were other people in the pool, but we didn't feel crowded. It was pretty hot out (upper 80's, mid 90's all week) and we didn't have a problem. 8
7) Food court: quality of food We liked the food court! As far as I know, we didn't get anything that we didn't like. I loved the taco salad, DH had the London Broil a couple of times. Everything seemed hot, even the kids fries. The pizza was not really good, but I don't know that any Disney pizza is really good! I give it a 9.
8) Food court: crowds The only time we had a hard time finding a table to sit down was the evening the food court reopened after the hurricane went through. We ate at our normal dining times. I'd say an 8.
9) Food court: how easy is to find a table near the beverage point We were looking for a table where the boys could see the TV (the far end, closest to the TS buildings). No vote on this one.
10) Transportation: going to the parks (1=a long wait, 10=very short wait) The only morning we waited more than 10 minutes was the day we went to Epcot, that was probably a 20 minute wait. We left for the parks to get there at or before opening. We only had to stand one morning, and I think it was only DH that stood. I give it an 8.
11) Transportation: coming from the parks (1=a long wait, 10=very short wait) We left the parks at closing every night, and there were crowds. Usually there were 2-3 busses arriving instead of just one. The busses were crowded at closing, a couple times we had to stand, or else we just moved aside and let others get on the crowded bus, then waited for the next one to come so we could sit (it's hard to stand with two toddlers and a stroller to keep track of). I give that a 7.
12) Prefferred building We were in the Buzz Lightyear building, I *think* it was 10 but I can't remember for sure now. It was only a 2-3 minute walk to the main building, and I don't think I'd pay extra for the preferred buildings. Some of the rooms in the preferred buildings were quite a way back, and I didn't like the way the one Fantasia building looked (not the one with the sorcerer's hat, the other one).

Hope this helps!

 

[Bit Bucket]

Good and detailed answers! Thank You!
I'm going to sleep now (it's already Wednesday here!), hoping to read more answers tomorrow!!!

 

[Melwood23]

I have been to All Star Movies twice and Pop Century was my last stay. I like both, though it seemed ASMo had more kids, if there is such thing as less kids
As a solo traveler, I was in the Herbie Building both times at ASMo. Very quite since it is farther from the pool area.

1) Please write the year of your last visit to this Value Resort
2004 at Pop Century; March 2006 Pop Century

2) In room noise from outside (1=very loud!, 10=no noise at all)
5 about the same as I would hear from any decent hotel that has outside walkways. The door slamming next room was a bit annoying but have heard that even at Coronado Springs

3) Noise while outside (1=very loud!, 10=no noise at all)
Not sure what is meant by that, if you mean if outside could I hear inside a room. Only if people were yelling, kids screaming, etc. But just reg talking not any diff than again, a regular hotel

4) Pools: theme
PC definitely has better pool themes, but then I only went to the main pool at ASMo. I was very close to the computer pool @ PC and liked it better than the main pool (petal) not as crowded, less kids.

5) Pools: dimensions
Petal pool is very big, but cause of the design hard to do laps
another reason for the Computer pool, square sides. Though I would like to try the bowling pin pool next time

6) Pools: crowds
Petal pool was always crowded

7) Food court: quality of food
I found both ASMo and PC to be very simular, just diff themes. I did enjoy the tie dye cheesecake, and the twinkie tiramisu

8) Food court: crowds
Both were about the same, depending on the time of day of course, and if a hurricane is coming...it is a freaking madhouse!!!

9) Food court: how easy is to find a table near the beverage point
Again depends on the timing. If you get there very early (6am) no problem, but by 7/7:30am it is getting crowded. Same for early evening.

10) Transportation: going to the parks (1=a long wait, 10=very short wait)
I found it varied, depending on time of day at both PC and ASMo. I always seemed to have just missed the bus I needed, so usually it was about 20mins, but not always, sometimes it was less, sometimes there was a problem; traffic/delays that caused the next bus to be very late.

11) Transportation: coming from the parks (1=a long wait, 10=very short wait)
Are you serious??? Ok...most of the time again, it is not bad, except again I always just get to the line as the bus gets there, and if it is along line, I WILL wait for the next one so I can sit, especially after being at the parks all day.

12) Prefferred building Only been in one building both times at ASMo, the LOVE Bug, even the same floor, exact same building, but on the opposite side. I was in the 70's Building, which at first I had hoped the 50 or 60's building, but my room was around the corner from the bus stops, so I just would go around the little road/parking area, and there I was.

I think as an older sole traveler, I prefer PC, because it has alot of nostaglia for me. Brings back alot of childhood memories with all the icons.

 

[TENIA66]

) Please write the year of your last visit to this Value Resort JULY 2002
2) In room noise from outside (1=very loud!, 10=no noise at all) 10 no noise at all
3) Noise while outside (1=very loud!, 10=no noise at all) 5, not bad, even in pool areas
4) Pools: theme great for kids
5) Pools: dimensions didn't appear very full at all
6) Pools: crowds not bad
7) Food court: quality of food basic, good food
8) Food court: crowds moderately crowded even early
9) Food court: how easy is to find a table near the beverage point not bad
10) Transportation: going to the parks (1=a long wait, 10=very short wait) not bad going
11) Transportation: coming from the parks (1=a long wait, 10=very short wait) 30 min or more wait to get back
12) Prefferred building country music

 

[Bit Bucket]

OK, your answers are coming and 19 already voted the poll, but I'm sure you can do better!!
So please, continue to vote your best loved WDW Value Resort!!!

 

[boomhauer]

Stayed at all 4, and my choice is All Star Movies.

1) Please write the year of your last visit to this Value Resort: 2004
2) In room noise from outside (1=very loud!, 10=no noise at all): 5
3) Noise while outside (1=very loud!, 10=no noise at all): 5
4) Pools: theme: Fantasia pool is awesome.
5) Pools: dimensions: Very large.
6) Pools: crowds: Very crowded.
7) Food court: quality of food: Decent.
8) Food court: crowds: Heavy.
9) Food court: how easy is to find a table near the beverage point: I never had a problem.
10) Transportation: going to the parks (1=a long wait, 10=very short wait): 7
11) Transportation: coming from the parks (1=a long wait, 10=very short wait): 7
12) Prefferred building: Toy Story or 101 Dalmations

 

[Bit Bucket]

Bump!

 

[LoriLea]

1) Please write the year of your last visit to this Value ResortAug 28 - Sep 6 , 2004 (Pop Century)
2) In room noise from outside (1=very loud!, 10=no noise at all) 8 - and we faced the pool. Did not see any of our neighbours the whole week!
3) Noise while outside (1=very loud!, 10=no noise at all) 8
4) Pools: theme Stayed in 50's so had the bowling pin pool. Loved it! Was never too busy. Didn't mind the 50's music.
5) Pools: dimensions As above, bowling pin shaped, fairly large and not busy.
6) Pools: crowds Again, not busy. Swam in evenings after we finished at the parks - 9 pm until midnight.
7) Food court: quality of food Food was good, large servings and good value. Lots of choices.
8) Food court: crowds Not too busy until later in the week as Hurricane Frances approached. Everyone was stocking up.
9) Food court: how easy is to find a table near the beverage point Easy!
10) Transportation: going to the parks (1=a long wait, 10=very short wait) 10
11) Transportation: coming from the parks (1=a long wait, 10=very short wait) 7 - Most of the time it was pretty good but the Pop Century stop was always the furthest from the park entrance. It was a long walk after walking through the parks all day.
12) Prefferred building We were given a choice at check in and I based on my research decided upon the 50's. We were very close to Everything Pop, faced the pool, not far from the bus stops. I would choose the 50's again.

We loved this resort and would not hesitate to stay here again although our next trip will be to a deluxe.