Which would you stay at? Pop Century or Art of Animation Resort?

[CableKC]

I started recently looking at a side trip to Disneyworld. Because this was a last minute change and I was concerned about the cost, I quickly booked a package at All-Star Movies ( based off of the assumption that it's the cheapest option ). I didn't think to even look at the cost to stay at Pop Century or Art of Animation since those are usually more expensive.

Low and behold after my smarter DW suggested that I look into it, the cost to stay at Pop Century is less than a hundred more and staying at Art of Animation is just $200 more ( which DW doesn't appear to have any issue with ).

Keeping in mind that I'm planning only spending 4 days at Disneyworld itself, I don't plan to spend too much time at the resort itself and most of it at the parks themselves. This means that we won't likely be able to enjoy all of the amenities that a Disney Resort has to offer. We won't likely have the chance to swim at the resort unless it's really late night ( assuming that the kids aren't tired by the time we get back and wants to go swimming ). We also will be going early in the morning to the parks. At most, we may grab some breakfast at the Food Court and maybe some late night snacks. But that's about it.

Any one have any suggestions as to whether to stay at the Pop Century or Art of Animation Resort?

Any Pros and Cons to staying at one over the other?

I think that both have the option to take the Sky Liner to some of the parks. Is there any difference in wait time and/or time it takes to get to and from either resorts to the the Parks?

When it comes to taking just the regular bus to the Parks, which is better to stay at?

Any other things to consider?

Thanks in advance for your response.

 

[wdwrule]

Just my opinion, but I would choose Pop since it’s smaller and closer to everything (the layout) and the rooms are newly refurbished. We were there recently and absolutely loved the updated rooms and had excellent service. Pop is currently not running busses to and from HS and Epcot (but can take the skyliner there) but if you prefer busses, you can hop onto an AoA bus to and from those parks with a quick walk back to your room. If you’re looking for a bigger room, I’d say a suite at AoA. Otherwise I would choose Pop.

 

[shu24]

I would choose Pop because the AoA Little Mermaid rooms are quite a hike from the main lobby. You can walk between both, so you have the benefit of taking the AoA bus or Pop back to your resort. We have many times jumped in the AoA bus line in the parks and just walked back to Pop- it is an easy walk. AoA has a better gift shop and used to have better quick service food options but now Pop and AoA have practically the same food. The pools are comparable IMO.

Skyliner is so nice to have as a travel option. We were happy with All Star Sports, were moved to Pop last Fall because All Stars were closed. It is hard to consider a resort without the Skyliner now. We also loved being close to Riviera where the quick service food options are fantastic.

 

[CableKC]

I haven't been to either resorts before, so I didn't even know that both resorts were literally next to each other

My kids are in their teens, so they won't pay too much attention to the more disney kids stuff that would appeal to younger kids.


Anything else to consider other than what is mentioned above?

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I've stayed at both and the LM rooms are so far from everything! We got rooms on the very end. I like the pop rooms that have a Lakeview. I request those and always get them.

 

[Grand Koalafornian]

Haven’t stayed as AoA, so not super helpful, but I love Pop! It’s easy to find a good room location close to the food court and transportation among the standard rooms.

 

[shu24]

The Little Mermaid rooms did get a refurb with laminate floors and now queen beds instead of full. I watched a video of the LM refurb and appears that Pop has more plugs for phones-that might be a pro since you have teens. There are plug ins right by both beds at Pop, only between beds at AoA LM rooms. Another thing to consider is if you think you may be eating in your room and there will be more than 2 of you. With the Pop room, you have to lift that Murphy bed to have a table to eat at. With the AoA LM rooms you have a seperate table and 2 chairs. We end up eating in bed when at Pop, not everyone is cool with that. We started going to Pop when my kids were teens and they preferred the theming to Port Orleans Riverside. I was surprised at that, but they liked the ping pong table and that the different sections have a theme.

 

[Honeypot]

Beyond the things that have already been mentioned (such as the size of the resort, and location of rooms to food and transport) I would mention that the rooms are slightly smaller at POP, but I find the storage space to be much better. Larger dresser, and lots of cubbies in the bathroom. It really made a difference during our stay to have a place to tuck things in a small room with four of us.

 

[Honeypot]

And I also prefer that POP has a sliding door for the bathroom rather than a curtain.

 

[Becky Mouse]

I started recently looking at a side trip to Disneyworld. Because this was a last minute change and I was concerned about the cost, I quickly booked a package at All-Star Movies ( based off of the assumption that it's the cheapest option ). I didn't think to even look at the cost to stay at Pop Century or Art of Animation since those are usually more expensive.

Low and behold after my smarter DW suggested that I look into it, the cost to stay at Pop Century is less than a hundred more and staying at Art of Animation is just $200 more ( which DW doesn't appear to have any issue with ).

Keeping in mind that I'm planning only spending 4 days at Disneyworld itself, I don't plan to spend too much time at the resort itself and most of it at the parks themselves. This means that we won't likely be able to enjoy all of the amenities that a Disney Resort has to offer. We won't likely have the chance to swim at the resort unless it's really late night ( assuming that the kids aren't tired by the time we get back and wants to go swimming ). We also will be going early in the morning to the parks. At most, we may grab some breakfast at the Food Court and maybe some late night snacks. But that's about it.

Any one have any suggestions as to whether to stay at the Pop Century or Art of Animation Resort?

Any Pros and Cons to staying at one over the other?

I think that both have the option to take the Sky Liner to some of the parks. Is there any difference in wait time and/or time it takes to get to and from either resorts to the the Parks?

When it comes to taking just the regular bus to the Parks, which is better to stay at?

Any other things to consider?

Thanks in advance for your response.

The rooms at Pop and All-Star Movies are basically identical. They were both refurbished, and the rooms at All-Star Movies are newer.
(I'd read the Little Mermaid rooms were smaller, but I'm correcting this post because I guess they are not smaller).

The resort with the most people is Pop Century (All-Star Movies has 1,920 rooms, Pop has 2,880 rooms, and Art of Animation has 984 rooms). That means there are more people using the pools and buses. In the pandemic, I read that Pop is also getting the most bus complaints.

However, the Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation are the farthest from transportation. You'll be having to walk farther to go to the dining hall, the buses, the Skyliner, etc.

So basically pros and cons:

All-Star Movies - Cheapest. Nice rooms (same as Pop but newer). Bus transportation to all parks.

Pop - Second cheapest. Nice rooms (same as All-Star Movies but older). Skyliner to 2 parks, but the wait in the morning can be 45 minutes. Bus transportation to 2 parks, but the buses might be the worst on property right now. Largest resort and lots of people.

Art of Animation - Most expensive. Skyliner to 2 parks, but the wait in the morning can be 45 minutes. Bus transportation to 2 parks. The rooms are a far walk from everything.

 

[CableKC]

The rooms at Pop and All-Star Movies are basically identical. They were both refurbished, and the rooms at All-Star Movies are newer.
(I'd read the Little Mermaid rooms were smaller, but I'm correcting this post because I guess they are not smaller).

The resort with the most people in all of WDW is Pop Century. In the pandemic, I read that Pop is also getting the most bus complaints.

However, the Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation are the farthest from transportation. You'll be having to walk farther to go to the dining hall, the buses, the Skyliner, etc.

So basically pros and cons:

All-Star Movies - Cheapest. Nice rooms (same as Pop but newer). Bus transportation to all parks.

Pop - Second cheapest. Nice rooms (same as All-Star Movies but older). Skyliner to 2 parks, but the wait in the morning can be 45 minutes. Bus transportation to 2 parks, but the buses might be the worst on property right now. Largest resort and lots of people.

Art of Animation - Most expensive. Skyliner to 2 parks, but the wait in the morning can be 45 minutes. Bus transportation to 2 parks. The rooms are a far walk from everything.

Is the bus that stops at Pop Century on the same line and route as the bus that stops at AoA?

Good point about the walking distance to every thing for AoA. DW and I hate having to walk super far to get back to the room after we return from the park.

 

[shu24]

Both Pop and AoA have their own buses. They do not stop at each others' resorts.

 

[DisneyFive]

The renovated rooms at Pop Century are wonderful. They are so well laid out with lots of storage areas and nice clean surfaces. The little mermaid rooms at art of animation are so far away from the main building it is a long walk to do anything. With pop century you have standard rooms that are not far from the main building. We stayed in the renovated pop century rooms the summer of 2018 and we’re very very happy with it. dedicated bus service is a plus And so is the Skyliner access, but I think that is common for both art of animation and Pop Century.

Dan

 

[Becky Mouse]

Is the bus that stops at Pop Century on the same line and route as the bus that stops at AoA?

Art of Animation has its own bussing, and only has 1 bus stop. Same with Pop. However, Pop has about 3 times the number of rooms as Art of Animation, so there are generally more people (although, to be fair, many of the rooms at AoA are suites that can hold 6 people, while Pop rooms can only hold 4).

All-Star Movies often has its own bussing with just 1 bus stop as well, but during slow times, they sometimes share with the other All-Star Resorts. However, right now, none of the other All-Stars are open, so All-Star Movies has always has its own bussing right now, just like the other two resorts.

 

[CableKC]

Unfortunately; in the span of a few hours from when I started this thread to now.....the fates have decided to conspire against me and make the choice for me. I checked the airline availability on the dates that I was planning to fly out and it looks like I would need to shift my arrival date by 1 day.

By doing so.....the rates and availability for Pop Century is no longer an option for the updated arrival date. I would either have to go with All-Star Movies or AoA on the dates that I am now targeting.

Given the added benefit of the Skyliner, it looks like AoA is the better option.

Thanks to all of your responses.

 

[DisneyFive]

Unfortunately; in the span of a few hours from when I started this thread to now.....the fates have decided to conspire against me and make the choice for me. I checked the airline availability on the dates that I was planning to fly out and it looks like I would need to shift my arrival date by 1 day.

By doing so.....the rates and availability for Pop Century is no longer an option for the updated arrival date. I would either have to go with All-Star Movies or AoA on the dates that I am now targeting.

Given the added benefit of the Skyliner, it looks like AoA is the better option.

Thanks to all of your responses.

No offense to those that like the All-Star's, really, but IMO both POP and AoA are head-and-shoulders better. You made a good choice.

Dan

 

[Kerr84]

Pop! The skyliner is amazing. And if your kids didn want a few hours in the pool, it is so easy to take the skyliner back for a mid-day break when you are at HS or Epcot when the parks are hot and crowded anyway.

 

[RoseGold]

I love the Little Mermaid rooms, maybe my favorite on property, but nothing wrong with Pop! I think they're both great properties, and I'd take either over All Stars.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

If everything was equal we like the theme at AOA over POP, especially our DD's. The Skyliner gives POP and AOA a big advantage over the All-stars and with that said we also really like ASMO now that it has been refurbed with queen beds. We have absolutely no issues walking to/from the LM rooms because of the great resort theme. When we stay at POR and have a room in the mansions section, we almost always get off at the front of the resort to enjoy a nice stroll through the resort to get to our room and find that it helps unwind us from a busy park day. I read in a previous post that the walk from LM rooms were a long haul but the walk over to the POP bus stop (which is longer) was an easy stroll. LOL

 

[scrappinginontario]

If you have a standard room booked I would 100% recommend POP. The walk to Little Mermaid rooms is LONG!