Pop or All Star Music?

[Caryn220]

Hi all! New here so hoping I post this in the right place. My fiancé and I are looking to go to Disney in late October to be there for Halloween and the food and wine festival. We need to be as buget cautious as possible. I've been looking into both pop and all star music. The overall difference between the two for the entire vacation is about $50. Here are some things I already know;
-pop has its own buses while all star music does not
-musics food court was refurbished recently
-musics decor is not as kid friendly as pop (we have no kids so that doesn't matter)

Our main thing is, we are set on getting a king room. It is totally pointless for us to have a double bed room when one bed would just be taking up space. I am trying to figure out which resort I would have a better guarantee in getting a king room with out paying extra for a preferred room. I know at music, only 4 buildings have king rooms. The Jazz section is not considering preferred from what I can tell, but it's located right after the two preffered room buildings.

Overall, just looking for opinions of those of you who have stayed at one or the other. Thanks in advance!!!

 

[DVC4bestvacations]

My vote goes to POP. Stayed at both, both are nice, POP seemed cleaner/newer.

 

[SteveW]

POP has rooms with king sized beds that are not preferred. I called the resort after making my reservation online and asked for that preference.

 

[PrincessRachelT]

I'd stay at Pop. The food court is fun, and it seems to be quieter.

 

[patch553]

Pop, it's great fun and there's a bridge to AoA so I'd recommend exploring there too

 

[Dad 2 M & M]

Pop is better, but don't use the "shared buses" at All-Stars as a reason not to stay there. We have NEVER experienced shared buses at an All-Star (see my sig...we've been to All-Stars many times).

 

[Flyersgirl17]

we went to all star movies the first trip and this last trip was pop. I have to say we liked POP sooo much better. the cast members were nicer and more pleasant. it seemed cleaner. Also we didn't have to wait for buses nearly as much as with all star since it stops at 3 hotels and POP just does the one.

 

[Master Yoda]

I am sure you are sensing a theme...Pop is better.

Regarding the king bed room...The rooms with a king beds at the Value resorts are the handicap accessible rooms. They can be requested, but can not be guaranteed and those needing a handicap accessible room will get preference over those that do not.

If you absolutely must have a king bed room you will need to switch to one of the moderate resorts where a king bed room is a room type that can be booked and guaranteed.

 

[Caryn220]

I am sure you are sensing a theme...Pop is better.

Regarding the king bed room...The rooms with a king beds at the Value resorts are the handicap accessible rooms. They can be requested, but can not be guaranteed and those needing a handicap accessible room will get preference over those that do not.

If you absolutely must have a king bed room you will need to switch to one of the moderate resorts where a king bed room is a room type that can be booked and guaranteed.

Thank you. It's not necessarily "needed" but it doesn't make much sense for there to be two beds when only one is needed

 

[Master Yoda]

Thank you. It's not necessarily "needed" but it doesn't make much sense for there to be two beds when only one is needed

True, but parties of 2 at the value resorts are way, way in the minority which is why there are no "bookable" king rooms.

Oddly enough, you being a party of 2 will work in your favor. If the front desk has the option of putting you in a king room over a regular room they will often do it even without the king bed request to free up a room that will allow a party of 4. The wife an I are batting about 500 on king rooms at the values when we go solo and we have never once requested it.

 

[Caryn220]

True, but parties of 2 at the value resorts are way, way in the minority which is why there are no "bookable" king rooms.

Oddly enough, you being a party of 2 will work in your favor. If the front desk has the option of putting you in a king room over a regular room they will often do it even without the king bed request to free up a room that will allow a party of 4. The wife an I are batting about 500 on king rooms at the values when we go solo and we have never once requested it.

Didn't even think of that, but that's very good to know that you got a king room with out even asking! I do know when you go to book online, pop specifically says you can get a king or two doubles but the all star resorts do not say that option but I know they have a few king rooms

 

[Master Yoda]

Didn't even think of that, but that's very good to know that you got a king room with out even asking! I do know when you go to book online, pop specifically says you can get a king or two doubles but the all star resorts do not say that option but I know they have a few king rooms

I would not read too much into that. Since it does not allow you to select a king room it still falls under request and can not be guaranteed.

If you take a look at Port Orleans Riverside you will notice you can actually select a king room.

 

[Miceberg]

No contest, POP. I've stayed at both and several other WDW properties and the only problems I've ever had was at an All Star (and there were several problems).

 

[Dad 2 M & M]

we went to all star movies the first trip and this last trip was pop. I have to say we liked POP sooo much better. the cast members were nicer and more pleasant. it seemed cleaner. Also we didn't have to wait for buses nearly as much as with all star since it stops at 3 hotels and POP just does the one.

When did you experience shared busing at All-Stars? Just asking as we have NEVER (and was beginning to think it was an Urban Legend) had the shared busing.....Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? And, was it peak season? Or slow?

 

[Master Yoda]

When did you experience shared busing at All-Stars? Just asking as we have NEVER (and was beginning to think it was an Urban Legend) had the shared busing.....Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall? And, was it peak season? Or slow?

We experienced in nearly every stay we had there up until about 2010 +/-.

It is my understanding that they currently are dedicated during peak hours and can switch to share off peak.

 

[Dad 2 M & M]

Thanks homie....what surprises me is we only go off peak....I was wondering if it happened (or was more likely to happen) now, or in the past...

We usually stay at Music/Rock Inn, walk to Sports and take that bus A.M. and take the 1st bus that arrives at the Park....that said, if we stay at an All-Star instead of Pop

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks homie....what surprises me is we only go off peak....I was wondering if it happened (or was more likely to happen) now, or in the past...

We usually stay at Music/Rock Inn, walk to Sports and take that bus A.M. and take the 1st bus that arrives at the Park....that said, if we stay at an All-Star instead of Pop

Peak as in peak bus usage for the day. (eg park opening and closing)

 

[Dad 2 M & M]

Peak as in peak bus usage for the day. (eg park opening and closing)

I get it.....maybe we haven't had shared because we get there at rope drop and leave at or close to park closing. Never even considered mid-day would be off-peak and thus shared.


As always, thanks dude....

 

[Miceberg]

During our February 2016 visit to All Star, we had to share buses periodically throughout the week.