Which Value Resort to choose?

[cervonime]

My dh and I will be taking his two daughters to DisneyWorld next year for the first time. They are ages 7 & 11. We have never stayed at one of the Value Resorts but think they would enjoy them best because of the themes. I can't decide between Pop Century and All Star Movie.

Please let me know which you would choose and why

 

[KristiKelly]

DS7 loves the look of Pop Century. We are going to be at the Poly next month with our kids (splurging since it's our 10th anniv.), DS was upset, he wanted to stay at Pop Cent. he loved the pics of it. DH & I stayed at AllStar Music in 1998, it looked like a lot of fun theming as well for kids. Just remember - no slides or themed pools like at the moderate & deluxe. Pool was pretty basic, did have statues of Huey, Dewey & Lewey ( think) in the middle, but that was about it.

 

[JaxCon]

Kids seem to love Movie but we picked the Pop b/c it is newer and I have heard the bus service is a littel better.

 

[GaTech]

We choose the Movies for our October trip because of two reasons...
1) We have stayed there before and know what to expect
2) Our kids know the characters/themes of the Movies buildings. They are too young to know what the icons/decorations at Pop are.

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

Pop Century! The rooms are like new, the resort is laid out great, and they took everything from the All-Stars and improved on them!

Such a fun resort, you'll love it!

 

[storybookmum]

They won't guarantee you a particular resort. We tried in 1997 for All-Star Movies and got All-Star Sports. We tried for All-Star Movies in 2000 and got All-Star Music. Maybe things are different now, but then they it didn't work out well at all for us.

All-Star Sports was no fun. All-Star Music has a great pool. But we really wanted Movies, so the kids could really relate to it all..

Kris

 

[ladydancer]

Originally posted by storybookmum
They won't guarantee you a particular resort. We tried in 1997 for All-Star Movies and got All-Star Sports. We tried for All-Star Movies in 2000 and got All-Star Music. Maybe things are different now, but then they it didn't work out well at all for us.

All-Star Sports was no fun. All-Star Music has a great pool. But we really wanted Movies, so the kids could really relate to it all..

Kris

I find your statement rather odd. We have stayed at the value resort several times and have always gotten the resort we asked for. Perhaps you went during peak season?

We have stayed @ Music, Movies and the coming up trip in Oct. we are staying at the new Pop.

Reasons...

1. New
2. Buses...The buses only serve Pop, they don't share with the other value resorts. All the "other" value resorts share buses. So I'm hoping the buses will get us back and forth faster. It seems like you are forever waiting for a bus, so this is a big plus for us.

 

[scrump]

Both times we've tried for Movies, but have gotten Music or Sports, and we only go for value season. And I thought I gave myself plenty of time to book for both trips. So next year, I am definitely trying for Movies or POP.

I thought Movies had its own bus, as well as sharing with the other All Stars resorts, is that incorrect? If so, then perhaps we will go with POP as well, which we may do anyway, since everything I'm hearing is that they are an improvement on the existing All Stars. Even so, it would be nice to stay at the Movies at least once, since we've tried for it twice and have never gotten it.

 

[DisneyWisher]

Originally posted by storybookmum
They won't guarantee you a particular resort. We tried in 1997 for All-Star Movies and got All-Star Sports. We tried for All-Star Movies in 2000 and got All-Star Music. Maybe things are different now, but then they it didn't work out well at all for us.

All-Star Sports was no fun. All-Star Music has a great pool. But we really wanted Movies, so the kids could really relate to it all..

Kris

I agree with the OP this is a strange. Maybe there was no availability when you booked for a particular All-Star but they have never switched us to a different All-Stars (we've stayed at All-Stars about 15 times). Each All-Stars is its own hotel. They might share buses but thats it. My DDs have loved all of the All-Stars. 1 good thing about All-Stars is that since PC is new more people want to stay at PC.

Pop might not share buses but since it has more rooms you do have longer wait lines for the buses. When we were there over Pres. Day we had a 4 bus wait to MK (standing room only).
PC has 2,880 rooms. Each All-Star has 1,920.

I like the main pools, they don't have slides but to me they seem bigger than the pools at the Mods and Deluxes. I've never had a problem finding a lounge chair or table.

My DDs are now 20, 18, and 11. All-Stars is still their favorite Disney Resort. My older daughters stay there when traveling with friends. Another thing I like is the poolside bar is always open til midnight ( all value poolside bars are) where as WL closed at 8.

Enjoy your stay you will enjoy whichever you choose.

Shirley

 

[clkelley]

Did you use a travel agent?? That may be why it seemed to be the luck of the draw.

The first time couple of times we went to Disney we used a travel agent and we told them we wanted All-Stars, didn't really tell them which one.

They came back with Sports the first time, and Music the second time.

Ever since I have booked Disney myself by calling CRO, I have always requested which All-Stars I wanted. Sometimes they didn't have any availability or discount at the one I requested first, then I would switch to one of the others, but it was always my choice, not randomly assigned.

For example, for our September trip, we booked at All-Star Sports, but when the AP discounts came out, we had to move to Movies to get the discount for a standard view handicapped room.

However, they didn't just automatically move me there, they told me what was available and I chose to move there.

As far as the buses, All-Stars shares buses for Epcot, Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney/Typhoon Lagoon. They each have their own bus for Magic Kingdom, EXCEPT at closing. It is actually easier for them to load all All-Stars guests on the same bus at park closing and run the loop for all three resorts, than it is to have separate buses for each resort.

Pop Century does not share buses with anyone.

One other advantage to Pop Century is that they are located in Orange County where tax is less than All-Stars which is in Osceola County.

You will pay 11 1/2% tax on your room at Pop Century. You will pay 12 1/2% tax on your room at All-Stars.

You will pay 6 1/2% tax on your purchases at Everything Pop merchandise and food court. You will pay 7 1/2% tax on your purchases and meals at All-Stars.

Carol

 

[ladydancer]

Originally posted by DisneyWisher
I agree with the OP this is a strange. Maybe there was no availability when you booked for a particular All-Star but they have never switched us to a different All-Stars (we've stayed at All-Stars about 15 times). Each All-Stars is its own hotel. They might share buses but thats it. My DDs have loved all of the All-Stars. 1 good thing about All-Stars is that since PC is new more people want to stay at PC.

Pop might not share buses but since it has more rooms you do have longer wait lines for the buses. When we were there over Pres. Day we had a 4 bus wait to MK (standing room only).
PC has 2,880 rooms. Each All-Star has 1,920.

I like the main pools, they don't have slides but to me they seem bigger than the pools at the Mods and Deluxes. I've never had a problem finding a lounge chair or table.

My DDs are now 20, 18, and 11. All-Stars is still their favorite Disney Resort. My older daughters stay there when traveling with friends. Another thing I like is the poolside bar is always open til midnight ( all value poolside bars are) where as WL closed at 8.

Enjoy your stay you will enjoy whichever you choose.

Shirley

You are right about Pop having more rooms than each All-Star but since the All-Stars share buses that is apx. 6,000 rooms of guess opposed to 2,880 rooms at Pop. Pop has there own buses. I haven't been to Pop yet but have been told by others on the board that the buses are faster in getting you to where you want to go and getting you back again. Because they don't have to make the stop at the other resorts.

 

[storybookmum]

Well, I don't know....we booked on our own, no travel agents, and we went once in late January and once right after Thanksgiving. So no, not peak times...

I can't tell you why, I just know that we didn't get the hotel we wanted, maybe it's changed now and it's better, but I thought it only fair to warn you. I can't give you a better explanation than that, sorry!

Kris

 

[WDWPartyof5]

We have stayed in All Star Movies twice and loved it. My sister has stayed in all three All Stars, and prefers Movies. We haven't stayed at POP yet but it looks like that is where we are going to stay for our May 2005 trip.

 

[lynn71092]

We've stayed at all of the All Stars and Movies is my favorite, especially the Toy Story Section. The only reason we're staying at Pop this time is because it's the only Value hotel that we haven't stayed at. See you in December!!

 

[disneylovr1]

I've stayed at ASMusic, and this month I'm trying the Pop Century. Last time I was at WDW I went to PC to check it out, and I liked it better thean the All Stars. Simply having the lake made it seem like a more deluxe resort, and I fould the theming more enjoyable.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

we have stayed at asmusic 5 - 7 times. last summer we tried the Movies. this summer back to music, but i would ask for the asMovies next time. i think it just seems brighter and cleaner, ob. cause its newer.. also about 3 - 4 summers ago, i book room only, we could NOT get the Movies. also the following summer we could NOT get movies. so it must depend on crowds.........also we just got back 9/4 and i was really surprised that at the food court the part that has the nice dinner/supper food from like 4 - on , well it was NOT OPEN. i thought that was really strange. so of course they DID NOT even have MAC n CHEESE ..lol......... well we had like 2 DAYS left of vacation and i was talking to front desk about something and she told me that at the Movies they had that part of the food court with the dinners/supper open. She said something like because the asMovies was a little fuller occupancy they kept it open, but closed the music and sports. i was really mad, i thought that was really strange ( of course NONE of us went hungry ) but we had ALOT of people complaining to Mgr. One guy was even YELLING at the food court chef....really, people were BS. we walked over to the Movies when we wanted a NICER DINNER..........we would of moved over there but it wasnt worth it by then. sorry this is so long.

 

[Hippychickali]

Here's a tip: If you are really specific about where you want to stay and details of your trip to WDW in general, DO NOT GO THROUGH A TRAVEL AGENT. Travel agents are fine if you're looking for a deal and are flexible about travel plans, but I always book myself to make sure I get what I want. I have never heard of anyone at this point who booked on their own for a specific All-Star resort and got switched to another. With travel agents, however, it happens all the time because they simply give you an available room in the block of rooms set aside for them. So there may be availability in the resort you want but all of the travel agent rooms are gone so you get switched to another resort.

Ali

 

[lynn71092]

When I went with my niece in 2001 I booked directly with Disney and asked for the Toy Story section at All Star Movies. While they wouldn't guarantee it, they said they would make a note of it. When we got there they gave us the Mighty Duck section. When I requested if there was anything available in the Toy Story section they checked and we were able to change it. So it doesn't hurt to ask at check in if you want a certain location.