Which Value Resort?

[dreamerkath]

I'm about your age and in the same mind-frame as you (budget is very important to make the trip happen!). I've stayed at both Music and Sports, and am trying Movies in September. So far, I've preferred Sports over Music, just in terms of the theme. I got a bounce back on Movies so that's why I'm trying it this trip, but I love the huge Disney statues, seems so magical! As much as I love Disney, I would not spend the extra 15$ a night for Pop right now; it may seem like nothing to some people, but for young adults on a tight budget, every dollar makes a difference.

January will give you good room rates and possible discounts, whereas late August you might be able to get free dining or a room only discount. It's important to crunch the numbers and see if free dining is the worth it or if the room only discount is better for your group. For me and my friends staying at a Value resort, free dining is a much better deal. The room rates are already pretty cheap since the summer is mostly over (I think it's considered value 2 in terms of room rates, almost the cheapest they go), and free dining saves us a few hundred dollars.

Hope this helps!

 

[MN96]

I'm about your age and in the same mind-frame as you (budget is very important to make the trip happen!). I've stayed at both Music and Sports, and am trying Movies in September. So far, I've preferred Sports over Music, just in terms of the theme. I got a bounce back on Movies so that's why I'm trying it this trip, but I love the huge Disney statues, seems so magical! As much as I love Disney, I would not spend the extra 15$ a night for Pop right now; it may seem like nothing to some people, but for young adults on a tight budget, every dollar makes a difference.

January will give you good room rates and possible discounts, whereas late August you might be able to get free dining or a room only discount. It's important to crunch the numbers and see if free dining is the worth it or if the room only discount is better for your group. For me and my friends staying at a Value resort, free dining is a much better deal. The room rates are already pretty cheap since the summer is mostly over (I think it's considered value 2 in terms of room rates, almost the cheapest they go), and free dining saves us a few hundred dollars.

Hope this helps!

Definitely helps! Free dining would be awesome for saving money even if we went two to a room probably, since the discounts with room only at the value aren't big enough to be worth more than food for the day! It'd be great if we could get it. I ended up looking at rates from this year, the January rates this year were close to the last week of August rates this year, but the jan rates jump a little during the marathon. My college starts classes in September, but I think some of my friends start in late August. And I love the disney statues too! When I stayed at music two trips ago in 2011 I made a walk over to look around at the big statues to see them as a teen since I haven't stayed there since I was a little kid. Thank you for all your info!

 

[MADnNOLA]

Put me in for ASMusic. I have stayed at all the values, and find it the quietest of all. It also has a newly renovated food court.

The fact that Pop does not share buses makes me laugh. Wait until you walk up to a bus waiting area at the resort (not a park) and have 50+ people in front of you and have to wait for a 2nd and even 3rd bus to arrive.

The AS bus sharing is only during slow periods of the day - mid afternoon. During the morning and evening hours, they have dedicated buses. And after staying at a moderate (CSR) that has makes several stops within the resort, the 3 stops at the AS resorts is just as quick.

 

[MN96]

Put me in for ASMusic. I have stayed at all the values, and find it the quietest of all. It also has a newly renovated food court.

The fact that Pop does not share buses makes me laugh. Wait until you walk up to a bus waiting area at the resort (not a park) and have 50+ people in front of you and have to wait for a 2nd and even 3rd bus to arrive.

The AS bus sharing is only during slow periods of the day - mid afternoon. During the morning and evening hours, they have dedicated buses. And after staying at a moderate (CSR) that has makes several stops within the resort, the 3 stops at the AS resorts is just as quick.

The new food court is definitely a plus.

Is POP significantly larger than the all stars?

When I stayed at ASMu last August I had no problem with the buses, I didn't think the occasional extra stop was a big deal at all, definitely less hassle than having to wait longer for a second or third bus!
Thank you for your info and insight!

 

[MADnNOLA]

Is POP significantly larger than the all stars?

Pop - 2880 Rooms
All Stars - 1920 Rooms each

This may not seem like much if you add the AS together, but it does make a difference in using the bus system and managing the food court during busy times.

 

[MN96]

Pop - 2880 Rooms
All Stars - 1920 Rooms each

This may not seem like much if you add the AS together, but it does make a difference in using the bus system and managing the food court during busy times.

Wow, that is crazy, I never realized POP had that many rooms, with 50% more guests I can imagine the buses would be much more crowded!

 

[bookgirl]

I am actually staying at POP next (it's the last value then I'll have stayed at all of them) but I found the buses at AoA to be much worse than any of my AS stays. Lots more people and sometimes having to wait for multiple buses.

But honestly I think choosing a hotel based on bus service is a bad idea. There are going to be great days and bad days at all the resorts (and any bus to DTD sucks LOL) as far as bus service goes so I would not use the "single/dedicated bus' argument as a CON or PRO for POP.

 

[MN96]

I am actually staying at POP next (it's the last value then I'll have stayed at all of them) but I found the buses at AoA to be much worse than any of my AS stays. Lots more people and sometimes having to wait for multiple buses.

But honestly I think choosing a hotel based on bus service is a bad idea. There are going to be great days and bad days at all the resorts (and any bus to DTD sucks LOL) as far as bus service goes so I would not use the "single/dedicated bus' argument as a CON for POP.

That's true too, I remember I went to go to mk after an afternoon break and watched 3 ak busses come before our mk bus, and the family in front of us said they'd been there for awhile before we got there and that there'd really been 4 or 5 to ak that they'd seen while waiting for an mk bus. So it does really all depend on the day the busses are funny some time!

 

[tinkerbesh]

Price everything out (I like to make a spreadsheet ) and go with the cheapest. Most likely that will be Sports, Orbitz, and UCT. That will give you the most cash in your pocket for food, souvenirs, etc.

Sports is quite compact, easy walk to main bldg without having to pay for preferred. And it's great bring the first pickup & first dropoff on the bus. Sometimes you may not even have to share a bus.

And I'm guessing you'll be spending very little time at the resort, so I wouldn't get too hung up on theming.

 

[MN96]

Price everything out (I like to make a spreadsheet ) and go with the cheapest. Most likely that will be Sports, Orbitz, and UCT. That will give you the most cash in your pocket for food, souvenirs, etc.

Sports is quite compact, easy walk to main bldg without having to pay for preferred. And it's great bring the first pickup & first dropoff on the bus. Sometimes you may not even have to share a bus.

And I'm guessing you'll be spending very little time at the resort, so I wouldn't get too hung up on theming.

You've touched on just about everything I wanted to know thank you! It probably will just be a place to sleep and store our stuff, so that might be the best option, the shorter walk to the food court would be great!

 

[IndyRnRfan]

Good to hear that you've had positive experiences at sports! Sorry about Pop though, what went wrong there if you don't mind me asking?

Sorry for the late reply. It took 3 rooms before she could get one that suited her needs. The problems were: leaking bathroom sink(drain pipe was not there), one of the beds had a water stain about about 2-3' diameter, this was caused by a leak from upstairs because the ceiling was brown from a water stain and it was even larger than the one on the bed, and the door handle just fell off when we went to insert our room key. Couldn't get in the second room. What my wife was really upset with as if this wasn't enough, they wanted her to walk up to the main lobby for a second time to change rooms after she did it when the first room didn't work out. They met her at the 3rd room. Not a great way to start off a vacation. Everything else was great after this.

 

[MN96]

Sorry for the late reply. It took 3 rooms before she could get one that suited her needs. The problems were: leaking bathroom sink(drain pipe was not there), one of the beds had a water stain about about 2-3' diameter, this was caused by a leak from upstairs because the ceiling was brown from a water stain and it was even larger than the one on the bed, and the door handle just fell off when we went to insert our room key. Couldn't get in the second room. What my wife was really upset with as if this wasn't enough, they wanted her to walk up to the main lobby for a second time to change rooms after she did it when the first room didn't work out. They met her at the 3rd room. Not a great way to start off a vacation. Everything else was great after this.

Wow that's not a good start, I'm glad it got better for you though!