Which Value Resort is the best in your opinion??

[baby1disney]

OK..I'm having trouble picking between the value resorts. This will be my first time planning a trip and staying at a value. It's just goin to be me and my son..so I'm reaaaally excited about it. He's 8yrs old and I'm just not sure which resort to choose. I guess I have a few questions about it:

Which one has the best bus service?
Which one has the nicest pool?
Which one has the best food?
Which one has the best rooms?

I figured out that I could do a trip for in January of 2011!! I'll be on break from school so I won't miss any classes. I don't think he will either..but if he does..it'll only be a couple days.

He has no idea bout this!! I can't book anything until mid to late November when I'll have the money by then!! I can't wait!! I think I'll surprise him at Xmas with it!! And my stupid DH said that I couldn't afford it on my own!! HA!

 

[Justin Jett]

In my personal opinion, Pop Century has the best bus service. Also, Pop does not have those "star lights" over the bed.

 

[MatthewT212]

When you post a question like this expect to get many answers (both useful and not). I think overall you should go with your gut. There will be good and bad with any choice but in the long run it should be your choice.

With that said I have stayed at the Pop, All Star Music and Movies and have enjoyed them all. If I had to pick one I would pick Pop. This is not saying the others were bad at all.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Justin Jett]

When you post a question like this expect to get many answers (both useful and not). I think overall you should go with your gut. There will be good and bad with any choice but in the long run it should be your choice.

With that said I have stayed at the Pop, All Star Music and Movies and have enjoyed them all. If I had to pick one I would pick Pop. This is not saying the others were bad at all.

Good luck and have fun!

Well said....I agree

 

[Cherinva]

I've stayed at the AS Movies and AS Music. I like the pools better at the Music, but I prefer the food court at Movies. Both are nice resorts...I've never had any problems....although, the All Stars share the buses. I haven't stayed at POP...but I will be next week...I'll know better then....

Have a wonderful time.

 

[kaligal]

IMO, the best one in any category is always the one with the theme you like.

I like Pop best because I remember lots of that stuff and even with stuff I don't remember, it is "funner" to me than movies, music or icky sports.

Most kids, given their choice, will choose an AS hotel. What do they care about the 1970s?

Pools are pools. Food court food is food court food. Rooms, again, are better depending on what you like.

I don't ride the bus and know nothing about that. On rare occasions I'll take the bus to the MK, and have found it the same everywhere: fine.

 

[bdoyledimou]

I have stayed at the Pop and at ASMovies..

Bus service -- POP can't be beat.. they have their own bus, its less crowded, but the bus stops tend to be furthest away.

Pools are Pools, but the Pop has three pools all nicely themed.. Hippy Dippy pool is the central one, and busiest, with the computer pool and Bowling pin pool being smaller but also less crowded.

I actually prefer ASMovies food court over Pop. They have a make your own salad area there, which the kids loved..there is a Salad station at Pop, and while it is built in front of you, they only have a few choices. Of course, Pop does have Tye-Dye cheesecake.. so.. even then its a trade off

The rooms are for the most part identicle except for the trim/blankets which are themed to your room. ASMovies has Movie themes, Popcorn light shades, and POP has regular light fixtures and a Decades motif around the room. Pretty much a toss up.


Whichever you pick though, you will NOT be disappointed!!

 

[jessrose18]

I have stayed at Music and Pop. We prefer Music. It feels "homier" with less rooms. I love their pool and bus service was great. In fact the weeks that we were there bus service was better than pop. At pop we would see 5 buses for some parks in the morning before we got one for our park. Either one is great, but we would stay in music again over pop.

 

[dpuck1998]

Pop, imho

 

[SDSorority]

I've stayed at MO and MU and both were just fine! We didn't use the bus at MO because we had a car...

I would say POP would be your best bet though.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Another vote for POP. I have stayed at ASMovies and POP at the same time of year - value season, similar to you in January. At that time of year when there are typically fewer people, the All Stars share buses. But POP will still have its own buses and has no other stops. Most other things (room size, food courts, pools) are pretty similar.

However, if your son or you prefer the theming at an All Star, I agree that one of them might be better. Maybe since this is a trip for just the two of you, look at pictures and decide together if you don't mind spoiling a surprise.

 

[baby1disney]

Thanks everyone for your honest opinions!! I really appreciate them.

I also have another question: When I book the room in mid to late Nov..do I have to pay for the room all at once?? Someone told me that I have to have everything paid in full 45 days til the arrival date!! I just wanna know if this is true or not.

Idk if I wanna show him pics or not of the different resorts for value..he's a VERY smart kid and he might figure it out!1 LOL But..maybe I can come up with something on my own..hehehe

 

[mainegal]

If paying only for a room, you make a small deposit and pay the rest when you arrive. That is what I did two years ago.
If you are buying a package (room with tickets and dining), then you pay 45 days before arrival.

 

[julluvsdisney]

POP for sure! I have stayed at ASSp ASMu and POP and POP is the best! Bus service was great the theme was great! My 8 year old DS LOVES POP!!!! have fun with whatever you pick!!!!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Pop for sure! Staying there in August...can't wait! Also love ASMo

 

[baby1disney]

Thanks Mainegal for that info!! We're only paying for the room. I already have my tickets..so we just need the room!!

I told DS that I needed his help picking out a resort for my friend who's going to WDW and that she has a son who likes the same stuff as him. So..we looked at the pics on allears.net and at first he choose ASMovies and then he seen POP and said..yup!!! That's the one..MOM!! LOL..so POP it is!!!

I'm sooo nervous too!! We've never had a vacay with just the two of us and I've never planned one either!! But..I know that this will be worth it!!

 

[mainegal]

I stayed at Pop for a week two years ago. Had a great time. Did not eat much at the food court, mostly just refilled mugs. No problem with the bus service.

The outside decor for the decades probably won't make sense to him. But the oversize colorful icons are great fun for all ages.

Don't bother spending the extra money for a preferred room. View is not better, it is just a little closer to the bus stop. You will have no problem walking the distance.

My room request was for seventies (high school and college in the 1970's for my friend and I) looking towards generation gap bridge. I did not want a view of the pool, thought that would be noisy. We were on the fourth floor near the stairs. Sometimes we took the stairs, sometimes the elevator, depending on how tired we were.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Hooray for POP! I agree that a preferred room isn't worth the money for this resort. Have a great time!

 

[DaParkers]

Pop has newly refurbished rooms.

 

[baby1disney]

I think we will go with Pop!! He said he liked the rooms there better than ASMovies. He was all for ASMovies(he watches Disney movies and other movies all the time)until he seen Pop and he was like..I pick that one!! LOL It was too cute!!