your favorite value and why

babyruth

for the first time in forever
Joined
Jan 24, 2008
Messages
764
title says it all! help me learn about the value options and why you love them, so maybe I can pick one! sell it to me :chat:
 
I’ve stayed at Sports, Movies, and AoA. We stayed in a suite in AoA and we loved it. The resort had a more mod vibe to it we felt. Not quite as loud and hectic feeling as the All Stars. However you’re paying a premium cost for it, so I wouldn’t really say it’s a fair comparison.

As for the other two, we liked Movies a little more. We stayed in the Ducks section so we could easily walk to Music for the bus. It was like a preferred location to Music. We faced the pool so it was quite loud in the evening until around 11 PM, but during the morning and afternoon it wasn’t bad. Being that we were there and walking to Music, we really didn’t encounter crowds at all walking to/from the bus.

Stayed at Sports twice. Once was the tennis section and that wasn’t bad. It was quiet. Homerun section was loud with the pool (same as movies). Both were loud and crowded walking to the buses. Tennis you walk by the main pool, and Homerun you walk by the football field which always seems to have people out on it (don’t blame people for having fun, just stating a fact).

If money doesn’t matter I’d go with an AoA suite. But honestly at that point I’d consider a mod or even one of the lower cost deluxes (unless kids would like the theming of AoA). If it’s a consideration, I’d do Movies requesting the Ducks section.
 
I'm an All Stars girl - either Sports Preferred or Music. Never stayed at Movies, but I'd do that if it was Movies or one of the Skyliner ones.

Mainly because I am not a big Skyliner fan. 1 - the scramble for busses to get going when it breaks down or is shut down due to weather; 2 - I'm not a fan of being stuck in the air in an enclosed capsule with strangers; 3 - I don't feel like I'm in Epcot unless I enter through the front and short of taking a rideshare there's no way to do that if at Pop or AoA.
 

I am Sports, because Pop and AOA are too expensive for my sad wallet.....we always go when there are NO sports/WWoS teams, so it's just families, and it seems like it's less popular than the others....and its THAT much closer to the front of the complex (saves like 15 seconds! hahahaha) and maybe we're used to it......

the last time we went (labor day weekend, AMAZING) we were probably the 3rd closest room to the main hall and the walk was AMAZING haha but I have definitely been in Home Run a few times too haha
 
#1 will always be POP Century ..... but :sad: the SkyLiner greatly impacted the price point. I originally moved mostly offsite but last couple years have stayed AllStar Sports often (just got back, and return in August).

POP Century has more landscaping, lusher landscaping, a lake and nothing feels on top of each other. Began staying there regularly a long time ago, requesting lake view rooms (for the price of a value) and looking at the ghost of POP's Legendary years. The food court is bigger and more comfortable to eat at. There are two quiet pools, and the Bowling Pin pool is our favorite. But the main pool and kids area is still nice and doesn't feel overcrowded. I just stayed at POP for a week in May (in a new room), and just stayed at AllStar Sports last week ~ so with a close comparison, POP really does stand out as nicer and above the AllStars.

Art of Animation has the plus of three AWESOME pools and incredible theming and decor around the property. LOVE walking about taking photos and enjoying the great imagineering. It has the SkyLiner as well. The downside for ME is the Little Mermaid rooms seem a bit farther but mostly disconnected from the main hub. We don't need a suite at Disney prices.

AllStar Sports is our most recent go to and I am surprised Iike it. I think it has the best pool of the AllStars, with the whole boardwalk and surf theme around it. The footprint is fairly tight and so even if I get stuck with a farther room, the walk is still do able. The gift shop is apart from food court so you have access to the drink machines even after hours. I've probably had around 15-20 stays here and it works out fine for us. We are mostly park centric but this main pool is appealing to us as well.

AllStar Movies is fun, the most Disney themed of the AllStars. Love the 101 Dalmations and Toy Story sections are so cute, great for photos. I think Love Bug feels a bit removed so I wouldn't want that area. We haven't stayed there much, I think Sports setup works better for us (we usually book standard).

AllStar Music
is our least favorite resort overall and unless I was boxed in a corner and needed a suite there, I will not return. We've had multiple bad stays there (safety, to location, to noise, to food court issues) and as someone who travels alone with my disabled son, I don't feel safe there. One side borders on large parking lot with laundry facility there. Often large 18 wheelers parked there. We've dealt with police called to nearby guests issues more than once. The layout is awful with the hub being at one end and standard rooms at other. The walk can be very long and the resort is very dark. I don't feel safe there and I'm a city kid.
 
POP. Love the theme, good food, and good Transporation.

But it is pricey for no good reason in my opinion so now if I stay value I tend to stay at Sports because its the cheapest.
 
For our family it's very easy and it's POP. The skyliner is a game changer for us, we love it. New food court, and just really like the theme and being by the lake. We have stayed there 5 out of the last 7 trips and during the 5 trips, the skyliner was only down twice and it was not a big deal to us to then walk and catch a bus.

The all-stars, for us, they rank Movies, Music and then Sports.

AOA, we have not yet stayed there, mainly because we like POP so much.
 
Pop Century gets the nod over the All-Stars for many reasons.

Disney Skyliner
Hourglass Lake
Walking/Jogging path around Hourglass Lake
Best Soundtrack on property IMO
Pool Bar "detached" from the Food Court
Business Center
Fireworks views
Great Rocket Launch view

Having said that All-Star Sports will always be my favorite Value Resort because it is the first WDW Resort I stayed at and I just love the "vibe" at Sports,especially Surfboard Bay.

It feels like Home there.

And the All-Stars do have the huge bonus of 24/7 Beverage Island access and also Sports is a very easy walk to McDonald's. Lol
 
I used to say whichever one was less at the time I'm booking but now I've ruled out Pop and AoA because I'm not a fan of the sky liner. So if I'm staying value it's one of the All Stars. To be honest, I've never stayed at AoA. I could never justify paying more for it. I've never needed a suite and even the one section that isn't suites was usually more expensive then other values. As far as the 3 All Stars, for me, it's 6 of one half dozen of the others. They all three are fine for my purposes if I'm staying value.
 
I used to be a "I will only stay moderate or above" girlie. Then I tried Pop and the skyliner and there is no going back! If I couldn't stay at Pop, I wouldn't stay at any other value resort. The vibe at Pop is great, I enjoy the food court (although I wouldn't hate more options), and the bowling pin pool is almost never crowded and a great place to relax.
 
I used to say whichever one was less at the time I'm booking but now I've ruled out Pop and AoA because I'm not a fan of the sky liner. So if I'm staying value it's one of the All Stars. To be honest, I've never stayed at AoA. I could never justify paying more for it. I've never needed a suite and even the one section that isn't suites was usually more expensive then other values. As far as the 3 All Stars, for me, it's 6 of one half dozen of the others. They all three are fine for my purposes if I'm staying value.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who isn't a Skyliner fan. It can feel lonely on here with almost everyone gushing about it.

Prior to it, Pop was my favorite. But I outlined my reasons for avoiding the Skyliner above. So it's All Stars - usually Sports Preferred (I just prefer the Surfs Up themeing and if I list that as my first priority I've always gotten somewhere in those buildings) or Music (I'm the odd duck who's fine with Standard...though I request Broadway for the Standard section). I've never stayed Movies - I'd probably get put in Fantasia and those figures scare me. LOL.
 
If all value prices were the same, I’d probably choose the Little Mermaid rooms at AOA. The rooms are super cute and that area has a Little Mermaid pool. But I also love the Nemo and Cars pools. Plus they have the Lion King theming too. Overall I consider AOA to have the best “Disney” theming in all the resorts. Plus they have the Skyliner access.

I like Pop for the Skyliner access as well, but I typically choose All Stars because it’s cheaper. My favorite is Movies. It’s my favorite because of the theming, especially Toy Story. Although there is no Skyliner access, we always take the bus to HS. Then we get on the Skyliner to go over to Epcot. So I’m saving money, but still get to ride it!

In my opinion, ALL the values are a perfect way to get the Disney resort experience, without breaking the bank. If it meant a trip to Disney, I’d stay at any of them!
 
This is interesting to me since I'm probably going to be booking one of the All Stars for my one evening stay in April for a race.

They all seem fairly interchangeable to me and was going to probably book Movies since I figured Sports and Music would have a larger chance of being overrun by sports and music groups. Am I wrong? If I am then I'll just book whichever one is cheaper!
 
Before the Skyliner, Pop was my by far favourite value to stay at. I find the Skyliner lines first thing in the morning stress inducing. I prefer when they had buses to Epcot/HS that time of day. Much quicker IMO. And I hate having to worry about the Skyliner going down in inclement weather and how long it will take to get the buses up and running. Something else to worry about.

I’ve stayed multiple times at the AllStars. Movies is my favourite. I just like the theming best and close/easy walking proximity to Music. Plus you can swim at any of the All Star pools.

AofA is probably my least favourite value to stay at. The LM rooms are too far away and Suites are expensive and not necessary for us.

So I guess my favourite value is Movies, followed closely by Pop.
 
This is interesting to me since I'm probably going to be booking one of the All Stars for my one evening stay in April for a race.

They all seem fairly interchangeable to me and was going to probably book Movies since I figured Sports and Music would have a larger chance of being overrun by sports and music groups. Am I wrong? If I am then I'll just book whichever one is cheaper!
I’ve never really noticed a big difference in what groups are staying. As a matter of fact, it seems like most guests are just regular family groups. And I’ve stayed at all 3 multiple times. But I’ve never been in April, so maybe it’s different then. Honestly I’d just book whichever one is cheapest. I highly doubt your trip would be impacted by any guests/groups that are staying no matter which one you choose.
 
I’ve never really noticed a big difference in what groups are staying. As a matter of fact, it seems like most guests are just regular family groups. And I’ve stayed at all 3 multiple times. But I’ve never been in April, so maybe it’s different then. Honestly I’d just book whichever one is cheapest. I highly doubt your trip would be impacted by any guests/groups that are staying no matter which one you choose.
Last week in April is always Cheer and Dance Worlds.

Sports is affected most,but Music and Movies can be affected as well.

BIG competition.
 














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