Which value resort do you prefer and why?

[mrudman]

The last time we went to Disney was in 2008, and am really itching to bring my daughters back this year... we definitely can't afford to make it like our last trip (moderate resort with dining plan).

But with the free dining going on in late November, I was thinking we could stay at a value resort, and make this trip somewhat doable since dh and I both agree we'd be fine with counter service places.

So now we're trying to decide which value resort is the nicest. We've only ever stayed at POR, so have no idea what the values are like.

Can anyone give me their opinions on the values and which you prefer (and why)? Also, which one is the best in terms of bus stops (we'd be driving down but prefer to just park the car for the week and take disney buses. Do values only have 1 bus stop, or are there multiple? And do any of them share buses?

 

[Disneylover99]

A of A and Pop each have there own bus stop and do not share with other resorts.

The three All Stars....Sports, Music and Movies each have there own bus stop, but sometimes share with one another.

 

[MeeskaMomma]

We loved AoA. We were in the cars suite though. I have heard the standard rooms at Pop are a lot bigger than the LM rooms at AoA, but at AoA you feel like you are in a cartoon. The Disney characters really come a live.

 

[Reddy]

AoA is more price wise - All Stars are cheapest of the values
they are all basicly the same size unless you do the family suites but those are double the price of the single room

I would go look at the different resorts pics & see which your family would like the most

just think that All Stars & Pop is about the level of a Motel 6 but with better theming outside of the rooms then you would be fine at any of them
remember it is full size beds & not queen in the standard rooms

 

[mjperry]

You can't go wrong with the POP

 

[ronnie2hotty]

My wife and I have stayed at 3 of the 5 values and each one has it's pros and cons.

Art of Animation - Pros: the theming of AoA is really far superior to the others as far as theming; dedicated bus service... Con: the price, while cheaper than a moderate, is still more expensive than the other values.

Pop Century - Pros: dedicated bus service; the theming is more "pop culture mixed with Disney" rather than 100% Disney... Cons: the theming is more "pop culture mixed with Disney" rather than 100% Disney", especially if you want a full "Disney vacation"...

All-Star Sports - Pros: cost, while usually the same rack rate as the other All-Stars, it is usually the value that gets the biggest discounts first; when buses are shared, Sports is the first one picked up and dropped off... Cons: the sports themes is rather generic. During certain times, the buses do have to share routes with the other All Stars.

All-Star Music - Pros: cost; Music is located in the middle of the three All-Stars, meaning it is easy to walk to the other All-Stars for pool hopping, going to the other food court, watching a different nightly movie, or just general sight seeing... Cons: the music these is rather generic; during certain times, the buses are shared between the other All-Stars.

All Star Movies - Pros: In my opinion, it is the best themed of the three All-Stars; Most "out of the way" of all the values, meaning, that if you are in the Toy Story buildings, it is usually the quietest of all the All-Stars... Cons: during the times when buses are shared, Movies is always the last one picked up and dropped off

The best thing for you as a family may be to way out each of the pros and cons compared to which theming appeals to your family the most.

 

[Disneylover99]

I have heard the standard rooms at Pop are a lot bigger than the LM rooms at AoA, but at AoA you feel like you are in a cartoon.

Actually, both the standard Pop rooms, standard All Star rooms and the LM rooms at AofA are approximately 260 sq. feet. I've heard the AofA rooms are slightly bigger.

 

[LovetheMouse12302]

We stayed one night at Pop last week before we moved to the Polynesian for five nights then we moved to Art of Animation for one night (little mermaid section). Out of the two value resorts we prefer Pop. I've stayed in several Disney resorts of all types and I think the Pop Century room was probably the cleanest room I've ever stayed in at WDW. The room felt very clean and comfortable. I would not hesitate returning to Pop Century.

 

[mom of princessx2]

I do not believe AoA LM rooms are not included in FD and if that is the case I would choose Pop. We really enjoyed our stay there and if you do CS FD their "food court" is pretty good. I think they just changed the menu a bit and it even looks better now. Good luck with you decision!

 

[mrudman]

Thank you all! Sounds like i need to look into POP,

 

[freckles04]

We loved POP. We are doing a moderate this fall, but heading back for more POP on Spring Break.

 

[lovedonald]

I give another vote to POP. It is really fun for all ages. The rooms are also very clean and the food court is nice and convenient. The bus transportation is also really good there. The lake is really pretty and now art of animation is right across the bridge.

We also stayed at all star movies and really liked that resort as well. The only drawback for us was when the buses were shared movies is the last one to be picked up so there were rarely ever any seats left.

 

[MomToOne]

I've stayed at ASMovies, ASMusic and Pop.

ASMusic is our favorite - I don't find the "shared buses" a big deal at all the rare times we encounter them. I like that it's smaller than Pop - I personally found the theming at Pop horrendously gaudy (just my personal taste), and I felt like I was lost in a VERY large crowd. And while we love the theming at ASMovies and it's basically the same size as Music, ASMovies always books up fuller and the discounts aren't as good.

 

[KELLY]

Pop is our favorite as well. The only other value we have stayed at is ASMO. We have been over to AOA but they never offer a discount and we prefer the food court st pop over AOA. When on the QSDP the food court is important to us.

 

[sharadoc]

I've stayed at ASMovies, ASMusic and Pop.

ASMusic is our favorite - I don't find the "shared buses" a big deal at all the rare times we encounter them. I like that it's smaller than Pop - I personally found the theming at Pop horrendously gaudy (just my personal taste), and I felt like I was lost in a VERY large crowd. And while we love the theming at ASMovies and it's basically the same size as Music, ASMovies always books up fuller and the discounts aren't as good.

This is a good analysis. I also like the fact that you have a choice of 3 different food courts when you stay at Music, which could come in handy on the QS dining plan if you plan to eat at the resort a lot.

ASMovies is the last one that was renovated so they either have smaller discounts or sell out faster. It's close enough to Music that you can walk over and do a lot of the photo ops before or after a meal at the food court!

We've been at ASMusic 3 times and liked it every time.