Which Value Resort?

[sdrsdd]

We are planning a trip to DW in March 2012 on our school's spring break.This will be our 3rd trip but our 1st time to stay at a value resort. We are a family of 5 BUT grandparents are coming so we are getting 2 rooms and one child will sleep in their room with them. I was thinking POP, but my oldest son (who will be 9 when we go) really wants All-Star Sports. My other children will be 7 (girl) and 3 (boy). I wasn't sure if my daughter would like it???? Which one do you all prefer? Bus service is important and I want a good food court (I think we will be skipping DDP this time and just paying OOP---I think we can save money this way.) Thanks!

 

[Disneyhenry]

i loved sports when i stayed there this up coming trip i am staying at POP

 

[Remmy]

We stayed at POP in 2009 and liked it. We found the food court selection to be excellent and we went in the off times and didn't have an issue with long line ups at all.

The buses when we were there could be a very long wait depending if you went before the park opened and at closing times at the parks. I do have to say, for the most part we found them very organized and Disney kept the buses coming for the large crowds.

We were thinking of going to the All Stars and on a "resort hopping" day, we went from DTD to the All Stars. The buses we rode stopped at all three resorts. We found there was an extreme walk for us, from the furthest back room at Music. Yes, it was nicely themed but too much of a distance for us if you wanted to refill your mug or to get to the buses in our opinion.

If we wished to stay at a Value resort again, we would choose the POP. I cannot resist the dedicated bus service (this is our biggest pet peeve about some of the other resorts we have visited on our non-park days).

I wish you the best and I hope you have a wonderful vacation wherever you choose to stay.

Remmy

 

[cbg1027]

I've stayed at all four value resorts and they're 95% the same. If I'm booking a value resort, I try for POP first, but only because they never share buses. That said, In my stays four stays at the various All Stars, I only rode a shared bus two times.

So I would pick based on which theming your family will like the most. I guess in your case I would not pick Sports since there isn't much to offer for a little girl who isn't in to sports. Although the main pool area has a surfing theme so that's a little more neutral than, say football or baseball.

Movies might be a good choice since the themed buildings are Toy Story, Fantasia, 101 Dalmations, The Love Bug, and Mighty Ducks - so you get a mix of things to appeal to your sons and daugther.

 

[albertotahiti]

We are planning a trip to DW in March 2012 on our school's spring break.This will be our 3rd trip but our 1st time to stay at a value resort. We are a family of 5 BUT grandparents are coming so we are getting 2 rooms and one child will sleep in their room with them. I was thinking POP, but my oldest son (who will be 9 when we go) really wants All-Star Sports. My other children will be 7 (girl) and 3 (boy). I wasn't sure if my daughter would like it???? Which one do you all prefer? Bus service is important and I want a good food court (I think we will be skipping DDP this time and just paying OOP---I think we can save money this way.) Thanks!

I've stayed in the Calypso at All Star Music and it was pretty nice. It's a preferred building close to the main hall. But, I really rather Pop Century. It's set way off the road, and it has a really nice body of water. Plus, there is Generation Gap Bridge that will connect the new Art Of Animation Resort. If you do choose Pop, my suggestion is to ask for the 1950's section with a water view. To my knowledge, it's a standard price section and it's pretty close to the main building. And in some sections of the 50's building, you can get a pretty good view of EPCOT in the not so far distance. I've stayed there three times and I really like it. The lobby has some pretty cool pop culture things to view too.

I hope this helps, and have a GREAT time!

Brett from Baton Rouge, La.

 

[mommy-3]

PLEASE do not the let the bus issue bother you!! We just got back from ASSp. We did "share" buses a few times, BUT it is not bad! Many of the more $$ resorts have several stops before heading out to the parks. We NEVER had any issue with this, it may take 5 min or less to stop at the others, sooo not a big deal!!

The food court is okay. Not much of a selection, pretty basic. We actually left ASSp and took a trip to POP for dinner one night. It's amazing at the difference. We stayed at POP last year, I must have forgot how BIG the food court area actually is, lot brighter too! HOWEVER ASSp is MUCH less crowded!! We could always find tons of empty tables, it was nice and clean too!!

The theming is good at sports too. My kids (2 boys and 1 girl) loved ASSp and all the icons. They really liked the big football field to play and run around! POP's themeing is cute, but I always wonder if the kids can recognize most of the stuff.

Before we went to POP last year I read that you do not need to book preferred as it small. NOT true. When we were there it was a 10 min walk through a parking lot to get to the main building. The parking lot was actually a short cut. It was bad!!

Overall, both resorts are nice and each has their own pros & cons. If I were you, I would look into ASMo. They are refurbing rooms right now, VERY Disney themes that all kids enjoy, and a cute pool!

Good Luck in your choice, no matter what have a great trip!!