Which Value Resort?

[kellia]

Hi! We are going in mid Jan and trying to decide which value resort to stay in. We are going to be getting 2 rooms since there are 5 of us. We have a 10 yr. old and our twins will be turning 4 while we are there.

I've been reading lots of posts on here and have heard that some of the value resorts are noisy and crowded. Are there any that are less so? Do you think it will be much of a problem since it is off-season? I've also read that some say POP is nicer because it's new, is there anything wrong with the All Stars?

Also, I know that the pools are heated, but is it really warm enough to go swimming in Jan? Granted, we do live "up north", so anything without snow will be warm for us!

Thanks so much in advance!!

 

[tjmouse]

I think the quietest value is ASMusic, but my favorite is Movies because of the theming. Depends which week you are going, MLK weekend is in January and it might be crowded around the weekend, but shouldn't be bad at all. Pools are like bath water, it's when you get out that it's cold. I know the feeling. Anything is warmer than Ohio in January!

 

[LauraAnn630]

We always book ASMo. Then the discount codes come out. Ill call to get the discount and they bump us to ASM. We have never paid more than 64.00 a night. We like ASM very much but would love to stay at the ASMo! (with the code)

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We like Pop the best but have also stayed in all the All Star resorts as well. Each resort is nice and we have no problems with either of them.

 

[dzneelvr]

We've stayed at each but love the ASMo and have made that our home the last few trips. The pools are heated and yes, you can swim in them in January. We were the only family when the kids were little to be swimming in them at evening after the parks closed, but hey, it was 10degrees at home and we were having a great time Just be sure and bring along robes, towels, and shoes for the walk back to the room. We adored going in January when the kids were little and could be taken out of school--very relaxing in the parks and we were able to see and do everything.

 

[boomhauer]

I've stayed at all of them, and for me, hands down, it's All Star Movies. It has the best theming of any of the Values. It feels most like Disney. It has the best food court. Bus service is excellent. It has a very inviting bar (which the other All Stars do as well.)

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I would have to agree that ASMU is the quiet one, while ASMO has the best themeing. I haven't stayed at POP and probably won't. We are 2 adults with a 16 year old and prefer the quiet of ASMU.

 

[minnie61650]

Try the All Stars!
I just got back from an eight night stay at All Star Music. We had a great stay there.

I am 55 years old and travel several times a year. I often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe resorts do not have anything special for me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.

All Star Music is my favorite.It is quieter because more couples stay there. I love staying at the Clypso building. It is closer to the pool,food court and bus stop.

Here is a site with a map of All Star Sports and All Star Music.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmap.htm
Scroll down.All Star Music is at the bottom of the page.
The Calypso buildings at All Star Music are #1 and #10 are nearest to the food court and bus stop.
They are the preferred buildings and cost about $12 extra per night.
The Calypso pool at ASMU has Donald Duck.

Here is the map of All Movies.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmovie.JPG
The Fantasia Buildings are the preferred buildings.
The All Star Movie Fantasia pool has Mickey.
It is a great place to stay .
Preschoolers love it.
It is like being in the middle of a Disney Movie Fantasyland.
All Star Movies has pop up fountains now also.
The buses are wonderful.

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot,MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.

I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theaming is pure Disney.
My last 5 visits have been at The All Stars and this fall when we took dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 we are stayed at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?
Have a great time at Disney!
Linda

 

[kellia]

Thank you all so much for the advice! We've never stayed at WDW and I've only been to the park once (that I remember- the first time I was 2), so I have no idea what to expect or what we should do to make it the best experience for the kids! Trying to figure it all our is kind of overwhelming, this board is really helpfull!

 

[D3K]

We loved POP.