Why does everyone say Pop is better?

[Aimee Wolfe]

Hi...just curious why everyone seems to think Pop is the best of the value resorts? I just returned from a 10 day stay at movies and was in a newly refurbished room and the room looked identical to Pop's. In looking at all of the pictures the layout looks very similar, the only difference I can see is theming. I read about bus issues but in the 10 days I was at movies I never shared a bus once and never waited more than 10 minutes. I am booked to back to movies in December and then Music in August but feel like I should change since everyone says Pop is better so please convince me why I should spend $200 US more to change to Pop?! Lol!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I have zero interest in "convincing" you.
Stay where you want.
I've stayed at all the values.
POP is my favorite.
I like the theme, I like the music, I like the layout, I like the food court, I like the efficiency of the buses....

 

[lovin'fl]

I hated my 1 night stay at POP. But I am DVC and don't do the cash hotels all that much (1 night at POP, a week at POR, 2 nights at CR and 2 nights at CSR is all we've done but I loved all but POP, and hated hated hated POP).

 

[gillep]

I actually much preferred my stay at Movies to POP, I personally would not book POP again if I needed to stay at a value. The layout of the resort, especially the contiguous food court/shop area did not work for me and made the resort feel much louder and more chaotic than our stay at movies where there is more separation between the different spaces.

 

[HopperFan]

It's better because .............. it is.

I have stayed in all of them but AoA but have visited, eaten, toured suites etc.

AllStar Resorts are older and built first, POP built later and then AoA. I went to POP kicking and screaming because I was afraid it wouldn't be Disney enough, I mean if you are going for in your face values it needs to be Disney. I was pleasantly surprised and have around 35 stays there.

Differences with POP is that .........
.... POP footprint is slightly longer than say Movies, meaning there is more green space between buildings. The landscaping at POP is noticeably above and beyond the AllStars ... feeling much more lush and green, more like a moderate type of greenery. POP is built on a nice lake and many rooms look out to the lake. It's like getting a deluxe view at value rates. I know many say you have no balcony but you don't at moderates either yet folks often book based on lake, river or garden views. POP guests have access to AoA food court which is much better than all the other values and serves food on real plates with real silverware. POP has three pools, with the two secondary pools quite large. There is never issues with lounges, tables or chairs. The theme is a great mix of Disney and the decades including the decade timeline along the lake pathway. While POP has groups stay, it didn't use to, there seems to be less than stays at the AllStars. And of course now for those it is a perk, there will be a gondola.

For the most part I have never felt POP as crowded or busy and aware of all the other guests. I've stayed in rooms 11 days and never seen another person on our walkway. That hasn't been the case at AllStars. Not sure why, what the difference is, but am always aware of the people staying there ... maybe it's the buildings being closer to each other and how noise carries.

For AllStars rank:
#1 Sports, shocked me too but I like the footprint, the food court, the main pool area and have stayed in every section but football. I won't go back to Tennis again but loved Surf's up.
#2 Movies, only because it's movies but I generally avoid due to all the young families staying there and it was short greenery and too unshaded.
#3 Music, never again, I will stay offsite before I'd go back there. It's laid out like no others with the standards a long walk to front of resort, it's very dark and uncomfortable at night, I don't like being in the back and had only bad stays there.

 

[Aimee Wolfe]

It's better because .............. it is.

I have stayed in all of them but AoA but have visited, eaten, toured suites etc.

AllStar Resorts are older and built first, POP built later and then AoA. I went to POP kicking and screaming because I was afraid it wouldn't be Disney enough, I mean if you are going for in your face values it needs to be Disney. I was pleasantly surprised and have around 35 stays there.

Differences with POP is that .........
.... POP footprint is slightly longer than say Movies, meaning there is more green space between buildings. The landscaping at POP is noticeably above and beyond the AllStars ... feeling much more lush and green, more like a moderate type of greenery. POP is built on a nice lake and many rooms look out to the lake. It's like getting a deluxe view at value rates. I know many say you have no balcony but you don't at moderates either yet folks often book based on lake, river or garden views. POP guests have access to AoA food court which is much better than all the other values and serves food on real plates with real silverware. POP has three pools, with the two secondary pools quite large. There is never issues with lounges, tables or chairs. The theme is a great mix of Disney and the decades including the decade timeline along the lake pathway. While POP has groups stay, it didn't use to, there seems to be less than stays at the AllStars. And of course now for those it is a perk, there will be a gondola.

For the most part I have never felt POP as crowded or busy and aware of all the other guests. I've stayed in rooms 11 days and never seen another person on our walkway. That hasn't been the case at AllStars. Not sure why, what the difference is, but am always aware of the people staying there ... maybe it's the buildings being closer to each other and how noise carries.

For AllStars rank:
#1 Sports, shocked me too but I like the footprint, the food court, the main pool area and have stayed in every section but football. I won't go back to Tennis again but loved Surf's up.
#2 Movies, only because it's movies but I generally avoid due to all the young families staying there and it was short greenery and too unshaded.
#3 Music, never again, I will stay offsite before I'd go back there. It's laid out like no others with the standards a long walk to front of resort, it's very dark and uncomfortable at night, I don't like being in the back and had only bad stays there.

Thanks..that makes a little more sense to me now. All I ever saw people saying is the buses but I had 0 issues with the buses in the 10 days I was at movies. I am thinking of changing for my August trip. Would you pay $200 more for Pop? (I am going for 14 nights)

 

[HopperFan]

Thanks..that makes a little more sense to me now. All I ever saw people saying is the buses but I had 0 issues with the buses in the 10 days I was at movies. I am thinking of changing for my August trip. Would you pay $200 more for Pop? (I am going for 14 nights)

ANY resort ANY level can have transportation issues ANY day. I would never pick a resort based on transportation. I've had good and bad every hotel I've stayed in.

So if you are going next August then all the rooms at ASMo should be renovated so that would have been my #1 reason for choosing POP. Now you are talking $20 per day (10 day trip) ... for me, yes I would likely stay at POP. August - if you plan to use the pools, they are likely to be more used and I like the idea of 3 pools. Yes POP has more rooms, but the secondary pools are large. I also would like having access to the AoA food court. You can even use their bus so if you want to go there for breakfast or dinner, using the bus either way to get there. For me personally, 10 days we would likely take more breaks and down time and I'd like the walk by the lake or sitting by the lake watching fireworks. I never felt compelled in my AllStar stays to ever enjoy the resort grounds ... it was pretty much bus/food court/room.

If I were going for just 4 or 5 nights, I would likely save the money and use if for a dinner out. The longer trips I am more picky about where I stay because I know I'll have more hotel time.

 

[Aimee Wolfe]

ANY resort ANY level can have transportation issues ANY day. I would never pick a resort based on transportation. I've had good and bad every hotel I've stayed in.

So if you are going next August then all the rooms at ASMo should be renovated so that would have been my #1 reason for choosing POP. Now you are talking $20 per day (10 day trip) ... for me, yes I would likely stay at POP. August - if you plan to use the pools, they are likely to be more used and I like the idea of 3 pools. Yes POP has more rooms, but the secondary pools are large. I also would like having access to the AoA food court. You can even use their bus so if you want to go there for breakfast or dinner, using the bus either way to get there. For me personally, 10 days we would likely take more breaks and down time and I'd like the walk by the lake or sitting by the lake watching fireworks. I never felt compelled in my AllStar stays to ever enjoy the resort grounds ... it was pretty much bus/food court/room.

If I were going for just 4 or 5 nights, I would likely save the money and use if for a dinner out. The longer trips I am more picky about where I stay because I know I'll have more hotel time.

Thanks...makes sense. And I do like to have resort time which I why I like the longer trips. I also like the idea of larger pools and nicer grounds amd having access to AofA is a bonus. Think I will make the change. Last question...do you usally pay extra for a preferred room at pop?

 

[HopperFan]

Thanks...makes sense. And I do like to have resort time which I why I like the longer trips. I also like the idea of larger pools and nicer grounds amd having access to AofA is a bonus. Think I will make the change. Last question...do you usally pay extra for a preferred room at pop?

NEVER! The footprint is not that big.
I request a 50's Lake View Room. Standard. Great view.
I like the pool the best.
3 minutes tops to walk to food court and bus.
Also easy walk to bridge over to AoA.

Honestly any of the Standard Lake View will be fine. We drive and have too much stuff and car to room is easier in 50's.

 

[buzznina]

We like ASMO better, especially our DD's, they have nothing in common with the (as our DD would say) "the old days". The only reason we liked POP better was when they had the icee coke machine Buses are buses and can be hit or miss at any resort, and no I would not pay $200 more for POP since they have the same type of rooms.

 

[JennyDrake]

I love the lake view at Pop! With that said, I favor the All Stars - 1,000 fewer rooms = fewer guests. I have multiple stays at each and every value except AoA where once was enough.....

 

[WEDWDW]

1)POP has a Lake!
2)POP has a much nicer Lobby with amazing Shadow Boxes
3)POP has a Pool Bar at the actual Pool instead of "connected" to the Food Court
4)POP has Fireworks Views
5)POP has a better Food Court

However we like the All-Stars just as well,but POP does "feel" like a "Valmod".

 

[djc9699]

It really depends on your priorities for a resort. We stayed at Pop a few years ago. We liked it okay, but getting the bus back from a park was a nightmare EVERYTIME. There are just so many people staying there. The all stars are smaller so less people getting on the bus. We have never shared a bus from the all stars except very early morning. We also liked the all stars because everything is super close. Never far from transportation, food court, or pool. Past couple trips we have stayed deluxe because of good passholder discounts and location. But wont hesitate to stay at all star sports again. We probably wont do Pop. Just not a big fan.

 

[JacknSally]

We've stayed at POP and hated it. We love Movies and would choose Music before staying at POP again if we couldn't be at Movies.

 

[Disneylover99]

I have nothing against the AllStars. We had two great stays there. But once we tried Pop, I just had no desire to go back to the AllStars.

For me, it’s the vibe, the lake, the foodcourt options between Pop and AofA, the buses, and the Hippy Dippy pool.

 

[markb681]

I stay away from the All Stars for one big reason....Youth Sporting Event...I have ZERO desire to hear a bunch of kids running and screaming all day/night.

PLUS the food court at POP is much better.....IMO

 

[Aimee Wolfe]

Lots of different views here...thanks for all your responses. I would like to try pop but the problem I have is the $200 price difference (which is even more for me with the exchange). Hmm...decisions decisions...I don't like the idea of it being more crowded...already enough ppl at DW to begin with. Lol

 

[Aimee Wolfe]

We've stayed at POP and hated it. We love Movies and would choose Music before staying at POP again if we couldn't be at Movies.

I love movies too...going back in Dec. Its the most disney one of them all. However I was offered the free dining bounceback offer and movies was excluded from that offer so couldnt really pass that up.

 

[Aimee Wolfe]

I love movies too...going back in Dec. Its the most disney one of them all. However I was offered the free dining bounceback offer and movies was excluded from that offer so couldnt really pass that up.

What was it you didn't like about pop?

I am baffled when people talk about the bus situation at the all stars...I thought it was perfect. Never crowded except at park close, I always had a seat and never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus.

 

[Aimee Wolfe]

We've stayed at POP and hated it. We love Movies and would choose Music before staying at POP again if we couldn't be at Movies.

What was it you didn't like about pop?