Comparing Value Resorts

[SabresFan]

Looking to book 2 rooms for Christmas Week - 12/28 to 1/1. I'll be booking 2 rooms, that don't need to be adjacent, but would like them fairly close together. Either 2 doubles/queens or 1 King would be fine for either room.

We've never stayed in a Value resort before, always Deluxe, but the prices during Christmas week are insane (as expected). I figure by having 2 rooms we should be in good shape comfort wise. Attending will be myself, DW, DD24 and DD21.

All Star Music is $181 per night per room
Pop Century is $200 per night per room
Art of Animation is $220 per night per room

Looking at TripAdvisor, the reviews are better as the price goes up - average reviews are:
All Star Music - Avg. Review is 3.82
Pop Century - Avg. Review is 3.97
Art of Animation - Avg. Review is 4.27

A lot of the rave reviews for AoA refer to the suites, which is not what we would be booking - a pair of regular 1 BR is a lot cheaper, and we are all adults in the group, so no need for a suite. So not sure if the enthusiasm for the suites is skewing that result.

Here's how I would rank some of the considerations
Bus service - Important (really important following the Epcot fireworks on NYE)
Cleanliness - Important
Refrigerator - Important
Bed comfort - somewhat important
Theming - mostly don't care, but we would like AoA the best
Pool - don't care
Food Court - don't care

I know Pop Century is being renovated - what percent do you think will be done by Christmas?

Is it worth the extra money to go with one of the higher rated resorts?

 

[Arielfan98]

Bus service to any All Star will be crowded after a busy day at the park. They put all the All Stars together on one bus generally. In regards to cleanliness, all values are upheld top the same standards as the moderates and deluxes. There will be a mini fridge in the room that works just fine. Keep in mind that unless you are okay walking long distance from your room to the main building/buses, you may want to consider purchasing a preferred room. If your budget doesn't allow this, go for All Star Sports which has close rooms to the main building whether they're preferred or not. People will claim one All Star is better over the other, but I personally find that to be false. All offer the same amenities for a good price, and you might find you like the cheaper one over the other. People who generally complain about the All Stars are people accustomed to larger/deluxe style rooms or those who use it for the pool/nap time. As long as you view it as a place to sleep for the night, you will love it. I'll re-post tips I've shared on another thread. If you have any questions, feel free to ask

All Star Resort Tips:

1) Rooms feature double beds.
2) Non-preferred rooms can be a hike for some.
3) Morning breakfast in the food court can be chaotic.
4) No coffee pots/microwaves in rooms. There is a fridge.
5) Rooms may be considered small to those who are accustomed to moderate/deluxe style rooms. Consider packing organizers for the room to place belongings in. There is plenty of space in the sink area and by the front door.
6) Room features 1 small table with 2 chairs.
7) Pools will be crowded during the day. Pools do not have slides.
8) Do not feel shy about asking to have room features fixed. On one trip a light bulb was out, so we requested to have it fixed.
9) For less noise/traffic, request a room on the 3rd floor if possible and towards the back of the building (away from central walkway/pool area).
10) If you must budget but cannot afford prefer rooms, consider staying at All Star Sports, which has the closest non-preferred rooms to the main building.

 

[Disneylover99]

I've stayed at All Stars, AofA and Pop.

I would choose Pop. By Christmas, more than 50% of the rooms should be renovated, so you have a good shot at getting a renovated room if you make that a request. Bus service has always been great (for us) and you can easily visit AofA and use the buses there as well.

Bus service New Year's Eve is going to be a crap shoot no matter which resort you're heading to. We stayed at POFQ last New Years Eve and went to Epcot. Just hang back an hour and a half or so after the fireworks. Relax somewhere or walk around. Let the crowds clear out before you head to the front and try to take a bus.

 

[Tigger's ally]

One thing to keep in mind when you look at those reviews, I would bet 80% of AOA reviews are from people staying in the suites since that is the majority of rooms there.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

From what I have read on these boards, most are going to recommend Pop. It seems to be pretty darn popular. I have stayed at all of the resorts and found Pop to be my least favorite. I just found it to be louder and more chaotic and didn't care for the theme (or lack thereof) in the rooms. But, it really is perfectly fine as far as cleanliness and comfort go. I also think that the newly refurbished rooms look pretty neat.

My absolutely favorite was Art of Animation. It's true that the Little Mermaid rooms are in the farthest section, but I didn't find the walk to be bad at all. You also walk through the Lion King Section to get to the food court so the walk has fun things to look at. I found it very clean and loved the rooms themselves. The rooms definitely have the most theme of all of the value resorts. If you don't mind the additional cost, this would be the one I would absolutely recommend.

The All Stars are situated perfectly in the middle. They are cute enough and clean. I don't remember ever sharing a bus with the other All Stars except in the middle of the day when there really aren't enough people for one resort to justify its own bus. If I were to rank these I'd probably put Music first (it seems to attract an older crowd and is a bit quieter than the others), Movies second, and Sports third. But, again, I don't really have a problem with any of the All Stars.

And I do think that any of the values is perfectly serviceable.

 

[SabresFan]

One thing to keep in mind when you look at those reviews, I would bet 80% of AOA reviews are from people staying in the suites since that is the majority of rooms there.

Yes, that was definitely the case, at least for the ones I read - I think they were all for suites.

 

[SabresFan]

I think I saw elsewhere that all the regular 1BR rooms (as opposed to suites) are in the Little Mermaid section at AoA - is that the case?

 

[Disneylover99]

I think I saw elsewhere that all the regular 1BR rooms (as opposed to suites) are in the Little Mermaid section at AoA - is that the case?

Yes. All the standard rooms are in the LM section. I found the walk to be too much from the LM rooms. But I like to go back and forth to the foodcourt.

 

[maxiesmom]

OF the 3 you have listed I would go with the All Star Music. More often than not each All Star has it's own bus. And it being much smaller than Pop will be a nice plus, especially when the parks are busy. Less people fighting for space on that bus. For what it is worth, less people at all of the public spaces of the resort--the pool, the bus stop, the laundry, the food court, the gift shop. I've stayed at Pop, and honestly, I don't think it deserves the rave reviews it gets. It is nice, but all of the values are nice. Nothing deserving of the extra $19 a night.

If it is available I would actually go with the All Star Sports. The theming is actually pretty--lots of blues and greens around the preferred buildings by the main pool. And a recently redone food court.

 

[Babsy]

I will add my vote for ASMu preferred or ASSp. Sports is best if you aren't booking preferred (if distance walking to your room might be an issue for you).

Value resorts are great! Comfortable, clean and reasonably priced!!! Nothing fancy, but Disney themed and everything you need, for sure. We always have enjoyed our stays there.

 

[dansdad]

Bus service to any All Star will be crowded after a busy day at the park.

That is true for just about every WDW resort.

They put all the All Stars together on one bus generally.

I wouldn't say generally. I would say very rarely do they all share one bus. When they do, it's in the middle of the day when there are a small amount of guests traveling to each resort.

 

[ulcards99]

For end of December, I would book Pop Century. You get queen size beds with the renovation. We stayed at Sports in May for a couple nights and it was looking pretty old and outdated. I was not a big fan of Pop before the renovation, but I'm excited about the new rooms.

 

[HopperFan]

All Star Music is $181 per night per room
Pop Century is $200 per night per room
Art of Animation is $220 per night per room

Going to be busy so all the hotels will be full, will have busy buses and busy food courts ... so ...

Way too much money for Music standard room, especially since it's just $19 less than POP, that is just ridiculous.

POP Century, good shot at new room, nice for your adult group. Resort well themed for adults, landscape is a step up from Allstars and ... having stayed there last New Years, we found it very quiet. You can use POP or AoA food court easily.

AoA is just a great resort, great food court, highly imagineered. The LM rooms would be the newest if POP weren't being renovated. LM are highly themed rooms so not sure if as all adults it would be my first pick, especially with price.

I would probably pick POP in hope of new room for the lower price, but LM rooms would be fine just know they are more themed.

 

[maxiesmom]

For end of December, I would book Pop Century. You get queen size beds with the renovation. We stayed at Sports in May for a couple nights and it was looking pretty old and outdated. I was not a big fan of Pop before the renovation, but I'm excited about the new rooms.

But one is a fold out, right? Not a normal bed?

 

[Aliceacc]

My overwhelming concern would be the buses.

Based only on what I've read, that would mean POP over the All Stars, regardless of the slight difference in price.

 

[dansdad]

But one is a fold out, right? Not a normal bed?

Yes, one of them folds up into a table when not in use. But both beds are queens with the same mattress. The only difference is one bed platform folds up and one does not.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

But one is a fold out, right? Not a normal bed?

It's a pull down murphy bed.

 

[maxiesmom]

My overwhelming concern would be the buses.

Based only on what I've read, that would mean POP over the All Stars, regardless of the slight difference in price.

From what I have experienced, that is not true. I have found the bus service at the All Stars to be a slight bit better than that at the Pop. Less people fighting for seats on the buses at the All Stars. And the bus stops tend to be a smidge closer to the gates than the stops for the Pop. Going on bus service alone no way is the Pop's service $19 a night better. It probably isn't $5 a night better.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yes, one of them folds up into a table when not in use. But both beds are queens with the same mattress. The only difference is one bed platform folds up and one does not.

I just think it is important to word it that way, instead of saying they have 2 queen beds. I know many posters hate the idea of fold outs of any kind.

 

[dansdad]

I just think it is important to word it that way, instead of saying they have 2 queen beds. I know many posters hate the idea of fold outs of any kind.