What value?

[nifferdo]

So I definitely dont post here very much at all but do lurk on this board DAILY!!! I just wanted to come out of the wood work to tell you that I to am an obsessed Disneyaholic! My husband thinks I need counceling for it, big time! We go to Disney every single year, Ryan who just turned 5 a few weeks ago has been 5 times and we are planning another trip for May. My husband has out and out refused to go with me again (he is so over Disney) so I have recruited my mom to come with us, who hasnt been in about 4 yrs. My kids LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Disney just as much as I do...which makes it that much more fun! We went in September and stayed at Pop for 8 nights with FREE dining, which was AWESOME! We had the best trip, but had three very young kids in tow, Ryan 4, Mackenzie 2 and Madelyn was only 7 months old at the time! My mom and I are going back at the end of May with just the two older kids (Ryan and Mackenzie) and I am sooo undecided on where to stay. We want to stay value, I have only stayed deluxe once (Grand Floridian) and honestly - hold your breath now, enjoyed the value resorts much better. The Grand Floridian was just TOO STUFFY for me! I do however someday, when I can afford it, want to stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Poly, but unfortunately neither are in my immediate future. So back to this trip...we are going May 27 - June 2 and doing the dining plan and the Pirate & Princess Party at MK. We have stayed at both All Stars Movies and Pop Century and really liked them both. I loved the newness of Pop, loved the Goofy jets and loved the food court (although very crowded to say the least). Movies was a few years ago but loved it to, loved the icons there much more than Pop and my kids loved the Mickey pool! The rooms were definitely older feeling to me and the Pop was bigger and little more alive, if that makes sense. Im not sure if I want to try something new, like All Stars Music, go back to Movies because the kids dont really remember it since it was a few years ago (Mackenzie was just 1) or go back to Pop cause we loved it so much.

What do you expert Mickey goers think?

 

[Jchance]

Well, I don't think of myself as an expert mickey goer, lol, but We stayed at music last year and loved it...I have praised it a few times on this board. I would like to stay at music when we go back, but my DD is saying she might want to try movies this year...

 

[Taja]

You'll get a gazillion different opinions on this! *LOL*

I tend to favour Pop Century due to the location and buses.

However, in your case, I might go for AS Music or AS Sports for a change. Then revisit AS Movies and Pop Century when your youngest is a bit older.

Not sure, but I'm thinking AS Sports is first on and off the bus when the All Star Resorts share.

 

[Kate716]

Hi Nifferdo,

I am also Disney obsessed (and coincidently named my children Madelyn and Ryan!) and I vote for Pop Century. We stayed there in Nov '06 (our 5th Disney trip in 6 years - took a year off when Ryan was born) and we liked it best of all the Value resorts. I must confess we are deluxe resort snobs as we moved from Pop to the Beach Club (our fav) during that same trip but I have to say that the albeit busy food-court and busses there are better than the All Stars (which we've tried before- a while ago).

We are also going in May this year and it will be our first time at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Can't wait! Good luck with your plans!
-Kate

 

[MaryPA]

I think the value resorts are great. I have stayed there a few times. I too have stayed at GF and found it 'stuffy'. We bought into the DVC and stay mostly at the Boardwalk now. We do love it there. Sometimes we stay at BWV for 5 days and go to a value for the weekends.

What I love most about the value resorts is the food courts. Many options to choose from.

My favorite values are All Star movies and Pop.

 

[dawnbu40]

My family stayed at Movies last year and vowed never to return unless we hear it has a major overhaul! When we got to our room it looked as if a big party had been held there and even appeared as if things had been ripped off the walls. When we went to the lobby to complain we noticed how badly the place needed some TLC. The entire lobby looked in need of new paint as there were chips everywhere and many scuffs and it looked rather old and dirty. I expect a "value" to be as clean and up to "Disney standards" but with fewer amenities. We are going back this year to POR where we should have moved to last year.

 

[tipsytrtle]

Pop!! Pop!! Pop!!!

 

[fuji]

I think ASMu is a very good choice some of the buildings have been refurbished and are very new and clean.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

I think ASMu is a very good choice some of the buildings have been refurbished and are very new and clean.

DH & I were at ASMu in January and absolutely loved it. The rooms have been refurbished and new little touches make it so nice. The curtain in the bathroom area made a world of difference to us. We won't go back to POP. After our "unmagical" vacation there in September we decided to move on to a different resort. POP is beginning to show it's wear & tear and since it's so huge there's no controlling the herds of kids running uncontrolled throughout the resort - have no idea where the parents were after 10pm, but they definitely weren't watching the kids!! ASMu was so much quieter and relaxing after a long day at the park & there were tons of activities daily for the kids around the pool and even in the area near the food court. The movies at night were great too! So we'd definitely suggest trying ASMu - I know we'll be going back!! JMHO......

 

[maciemouse]

I have to tell you that I am a POP LOVER. I love all the wild decor at POP. We stayed at AS-sports this November. We went for a short trip to go to the Christmas party. Sports was the only thing they had available. I was dreading it because this trip was with little girls. I have to tell you , we loved it. We never shared a bus with any resort. The buses were quick. And the resort was so clean. The rooms had just been refurbished. The carpet smelled new. It was great. It is smaller than POP so the food court, lobby, and gift shop are not as big. It still had the great disney feel to it. The lay out is just different than POP. Not bad different, just different. Also, AS Music is a short walk (very short) away and they have movie night so we went by there one night. Just thought I would give my opinion, don't be afraid to try something new.

 

[dismom3]

Does anyone which buildings or value resort has more refurbished rooms? I'm trying to decide on music or sports and would like to pick one based on getting a better chance of a rehabbed room. Anyone?

 

[disneydreamin247]

I believe all of ASMu was refurbed and ASsp is in the process of being refurbed.

Also have you thought about double dipping? It might excite the kids to get to stay in 2 different resorts on one trip. Then you could try Pop and ASMu, or you know..any 2 that you choose lol