Value Resort Stay

[ljl14]

To try to save a little dough, my family and I are planning a vacation stay at a Value Resort next April. We've only done moderate during our past stays. Can anyone give me some insight and info into the various value resorts? Food, bus stops, best one to stay?

Thanks for the help!

 

[New2WDW]

Big topic!

There are probably tons of threads on these questions (if you like to read til you pass out:snore: ) but I will throw out some basics. My family has only stayed at All Star Movies and Pop Century. We do not have a lot of money to go to the other resorts but after looking at them while down at the World we like the Movies most because of the decor! (we have little girls who like it as well)

Anyway, here is a great site to check out the Value Resorts with many pictures etc. http://allears.net/acc/faq_hot.htm

As far as Bus transportation most people will say go to Pop Century because it has its own bus whereas the All Stars have one bus between the three. The times we were down we had a bus specifically for Movies almost every ride.

Many people will say check into Disney's schedules to see if any cheer/band/gang groups will be there at the time you want to go and thus stay away from the All Star Resorts and go to Pop.

Also, Pop is the new Resort and many will say it is cleaner, etc.

Hope this is a start, feel free to ask more questions and I am sure people will answer.

New2

 

[Moustronaut]

The values have just about the same services. Each has its own food court in the main building. This is exclusively counter service. There is no sit down restaurants at the Values.

Each resort has 3 themed pools, one large and two smaller ones.

There is one central bus stop at the main building with slips for various destinations. One for MK, one for Epcot. Pop almost never shares a bus run with anyone else. The individual All-Stars have their own buses in the morning to the parks, and in the evening back to the resorts. During mid-day, they lump all three All-Star resorts onto one bus.

Pop buildings are 4 story, All Star buildings are 3 story. To me, Pop feels more spread out. The All Stars feel a little cozier. Could be that the trees have had 5-10 more years to fill out at All-Stars than Pop.

I also feel that Pop theming is less Disney Characters than the All-Stars. But both resorts go for iconic whimsical conceptual theming instead of trying to simulate a geographic place or era of time.

The moderates and the values are different, but both had their own pluses and minuses. My wife and I have enjoyed both over the years. We hope you do too on your trip... even if you are a Mets fan!

 

[Cindyrella]

Imho, Pop felt more like a moderate than did any of the All Stars. I like that Pop is newer and has a dedicated bus service. Have fun wherever you decide to stay!

 

[coltow]

Your choice should depend on your family and their likes and dislikes. Look into the theming at all the resorts and pick from there.

Everyone has a favorite for different reasons. And so here's mine, I prefer Pop. It has it's own bus and the All Stars usually all share 1 bus. I also liked that it seemed less busy than the All Stars. Music is the quietest of them and Movies probably has the most amount of kids. Sports though is the 1st stop for the bus which I think is a draw.

There are pros and cons for each value, and only you can decide which is best for your family.

 

[Dwarful]

Going in April, you may run into bus sharing, although we have stayed numerous times at all of the all stars and pop and at the all stars we never shared a bus...perhaps because we are always up early, stay late and they all needed their own bus service?
Children? How old? We are going back in June to Movies because we are going w/ a girl scout troop and the girls loved the theme of movies the most (over pop). Pop, being newer seems to have a few more water features for little kids that the all stars don't have. Although, if you get into some of the bldgs at pop you''ll have a bit of a walk. We like Movies best, Pop next, then Sports and Music. But again, its all opinions. Food courts are similar but offer different choices..my girls are big into grilled cheese..couldnt get them at Pop.

 

[ljl14]

Thanks!

Thanks for the great info everyone. I will go back and check out some older threads. My boys will be 9 and 15 at the time of our visit. We love to sit down and plan things out so thanks for the help!!

 

[ljl14]

Thanks for the Help

Thanks Everyone! We've decided on the All Star Movie Resort. I think we'll rent a car to avoid the bus issue.

You guys are great and a wealth of information!!

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks Everyone! We've decided on the All Star Movie Resort. I think we'll rent a car to avoid the bus issue.

You guys are great and a wealth of information!!

Unless you are going somewhere off property I would not rent a car. A rental car will cost you a minimum of $20 a day and a more realistic number would be closer to $40 per day. I drive to WDW and even when we stay at the All Stars we leave the car parked and use Disney transportation. The only time the busses are slower are during peak times (park opening and closing). If you have used the transportation at any of the moderates and found it acceptable the All Stars bus service will suit you fine. The moderates have an average of 5 stops on their route where as the All stars have only 3 total.

 

[orangewarrior]

On the other side, I would definitely rent the car if its economically feasible for you to do so. Having the ability to go where you want when you want, instead of relying on Disney transportation is a tremendous advantage.

We visited with another family last June. They stayed at Pop Century. We stayed at Port Orleans Riverside. We had a car, they didn't. Several times we would pick them up, to take them to the parks. They thought the bus system was doing a good job, until they rode in a car. It just made a huge difference and one that you don't always realize, until you have your own transportation.

Basically, you can look at this way. All the time you spend waiting for the bus, or making stops along the way, is lost. With your own car, you do not have that time. However, you do have additional time getting from the parking lot to the park. Most times that time does not equal what you're losing in waiting for a bus.

Now granted we aren't talking about major time differences. Maybe a savings of 10 minutes on average each way. But that 20 minutes a day, may allow you to do one more attraction, get that extra time in the pool, or 20 minutes more of rest or relaxation, whatever the case maybe.

I always have a vehicle at Disney. And even though the Disney transportation is adequate, it doesn't measure up to having your own vehicle.

 

[Master Yoda]

On the other side, I would definitely rent the car if its economically feasible for you to do so. Having the ability to go where you want when you want, instead of relying on Disney transportation is a tremendous advantage.......

Surprisingly driving is not always quicker. Due to this frequent debate on this site I did a couple of my own personal time studies on this to get an idea of who is correct. While driving times are more consistent due to fewer variables (which stop you are at wait time etc) the overall room to turnstile time fell in line like this.

Bus vs. car equal to MGM, AK and Epcot.
Bus is faster to MK
Bus is slower to DTD.

What I think happens is many people perceive driving time to be shorter because there is no down time waiting for the bus. We have all heard the phrase "A watched pot never boils" this is because time passing when busy seems to pass quicker than when inactive. Also many people forget to add the trip from the parking lot to the turnstile. In the case of MK the monorail or ferry ride can easily add 15 minuets to the trip.

 

[coltow]

I would never drive to MK no matter which resort I was at, car or not. The bus drops you off right at the gate. If you drive you have to park, ride the tram, then either momorail or ferry to the gate. I'd rather have my ride drop me off and pick me up right at the gate.

I agree that the bus system for the most park works just fine. But, if going to the parks at opening and leaving at closing means you will probably have a longer wait. Also traveling with small children the buses are not always easy to handle and if you have a stroller it's even worse. I got on a bus with my DH who was holding the stroller and DS (then 8months) asleep in my arms and NO ONE offered me a seat. I had to ride from MK to ASMusic trying to hold my son and a hand rail. One guy even told me that a turn was coming and I should hold on tight. That was the worst experience I had. I don't mind waiting a few minutes for the ease. But we did have a car on our last trip and it worked out great for us getting to/from all the other parks.

 

[bgraham34]

I stayed at the Pop Century for 1 night 2 weeks ago and I liked it better then the All Stars. I was not fond of the mattress's but still the resort was nice and the food court and gift shop were great.

 

[NadieMasK2]

Quick question: When you stay on property and drive to the parks, do you have to pay for parking? That would be a huge deciding factor!

 

[Nemo14]

Quick question: When you stay on property and drive to the parks, do you have to pay for parking? That would be a huge deciding factor!

No, if you are staying at a WDW resort, you will be given a parking pass that allows you to park free at any of the parks.

 

[minnie61650]

Thanks Everyone! We've decided on the All Star Movie Resort. I think we'll rent a car to avoid the bus issue.

You guys are great and a wealth of information!!

I love the All Star resorts.
Here is a little info:

I am 56 years old and travel several times a year. I often stay at 4 star hotels.
So the deluxe and mod resorts are just another hotel/motel to me.
All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.

All Star Music is my favorite. It is quieter because more couples stay there.

The buses are wonderful.

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars

All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot, MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.

A WORD ABOUT BUS SHARING

To me Bus Sharing at the All Stars is really a non issue.

In the mornings during Park opening hours each All Star usually has a dedicated bus.
During mid day it is usually just our stop and maybe one more on the way to the parks. On the way back sometimes it is all 3 but often Sports and Music share and Movies has it's own bus back. Each of the All Stars usually has it's own dedicated bus back from the MK.
That is a big plus. It seems like the Music bus stop usually has the shortest of the three All Star bus lines.

I guess some people who stay at POP see all 3 All Star names on the return sign of our bus stop when they head to the POP bus stop and think All Stars also has 3 stops on the way to the park.
(Even when we stop at another AS resort to load up it has not taken more than 5 minutes and we are on our way!)

The pools at The All Stars are very kid friendly.

When staying at the All Stars you can use any of the All Star pools.That means 3 main pools ,3 quiet pools and 3 kiddie pools to chose from.

The All Star Movie Fantasia pool has Mickey.

The Calypso pool at ASMU has Donald Duck.

And the Surfs up pool at All Star Sports has giant surf boards.

I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theming is pure Disney.
My last 5 visits have been at The All Stars and last fall when we took dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3 for 8 nights we stayed at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse at the pool?

Have a great time at Disney !

 

[KrazyKowboy]

I've got to agree with minnie61650 that the All Stars are total immersion into WDW theming. For families with kids and adult couples that just want this type of experiance, this is the place to stay.
This will be our third year at the All Star Music and we're as excited about this trip as we were for our first. Indeed an exceptional value.
My wife and I travel frequently to other locations across the country and enjoy staying at some of the more upscale hotels like Doubletree, Four Seasons, Belagio, Beau Rivage, Sheraton, and Westin. But when I'm at Disney with the family, it's nothing but fun at the All Stars.

 

[Dagger]

One guy even told me that a turn was coming and I should hold on tight. That was the worst experience I had. I don't mind waiting a few minutes for the ease. But we did have a car on our last trip and it worked out great for us getting to/from all the other parks.

This happened to us on our trip with our daughter, and while I didn't mind, I am so the person that would give up a seat for someone with a baby/elder, so I can't see that healthy 20-40 year old men and women wouldn't do the same :shrug: