Disney Value Resorts are for the whole family
(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - December 7th, 2014 - My family and I have stayed at all the Disney Value Resorts and have had great experiences at each. Value Resorts are a good choice for first timers with children, and those sticking to a tight budget. I always tell people, not to count them out…they are Disney Resorts after all! If you start you Disney Vacations at a Value Resort, you can always move up to a Moderate or Deluxe on the next visit (and it always gets better!) I am a self-proclaimed Princess of the Value Resorts! Ask me anything about them!
So, Which Ones Are the Value Resorts?
Pop Century, All-Star Sports, All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, and Art of Animation. The Value Resort buildings are big, brightly-painted, identical buildings divided into sections on the resort grounds by particular themes. All resorts have the same outdoor balcony-style corridor, except AoA, they have indoor corridors.
Things to know:
The Value Resorts have basic amenities such as a food court, pool bar, arcade, and gift shop.
The 3 All-Star Resorts have two pools each. Pop Century and Art of Animation have three pools.
Transportation to all other areas of Walt Disney World is by WDW Motor-coach only.
The Value Resorts offer complimentary wi-fi access in the rooms and select public areas. All rooms have mini-fridges and flat screen TV’s with cable.
Pop Century- Pop! (as my kids call it) features sections dedicated to each decade from 1950’s to the 1990’s. It includes 3 story tall characters like Lady & the Tramp, Mowgli and Baloo from The Jungle Book, Mickey, the Potato Heads and many more toys and memorabilia. It has fountain play areas for kids. Pop Century also has its own separate bus service.
We stayed at Pop Century this October for an amazing price! We stayed in the 80’s section right near the Pool. It was quiet, had laundry close, the bus stop was a 2 min walk and the gift shop had a lot of great options. We liked the new linens on the bed since they replaced those old comforters. We didn’t enjoy the theme as much as we did at AS Movies, but liked the pool and how quiet it was around the resort at night. The food courts at the Values are all similiar; very decent, lots of choices for everyone. It’s no 5-Star Restaurant, but it’s better than the average mall food court.
All-Star Sports, Movies, and Music- There are not many differences between the three All-Star Resorts as far as accommodations. Just pick whichever one offers the theme that appeals most to you!
Sports- The five featured sports themes are: football, tennis, baseball, basketball and surfing. The two 3-storyTouchdown buildings face each other across the football field. Giant helmets enclose the stairwells and the lawn looks like a play book!
Music- Features giant icons that that pay homage to classic music genres including Broadway, Calypso, Country, Jazz and Rock’n’Roll with huge novelty items such as guitars, trumpets, and drums, a guitar pool and piano shaped pool.
Movies- (My kids’ favorite All-Star Resort!) With the giant Buzz Lightyear and Woody statues, Green Army Men on the roofs, Bo Peep and Rex, the Toy Story building was our favorite area we’ve stayed at yet in a Value. It’s called it “Andy’s Room.” The other areas include Herbie the Love Bug, Fantasia, and 101 Dalmatians.
Art of Animation- Art of Animation is considered a “Value-Plus” resort because it is primarily composed of family suites, offers interior corridors and has a bigger, better food court. Standard rooms at Art of Animation are about $10/night more than the rooms at the other Value resorts. Family suites at Art of Animation are about $50/night more than the suites at All-Star Music Resort.
The largest pool, The Big Blue Pool in the Finding Nemo courtyard, is zero entry (like a beach, no stairs) and has an underwater sound system! There is a water play area, a playground, arcade and gift shop. There are two smaller pools also, located in the Cars and The Little Mermaid courtyards.
There are character statues and landscape features that immerse you into the movies of The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and real sized Cars such as Mater and Lightening McQueen.
The AOA standard rooms include two double beds or one King bed, for a maximum occupancy of 4 people (plus one baby under age 3 in a crib). The room decor is Little Mermaid-themed.
The AOA family suites sleep 6 (plus one baby under age 3 in a crib). There is a Queen bed in the master bedroom, which has its own private bathroom. The living room includes a full-size pullout sofa and a full-size pull-down bed that converts from the dining table. There is a small secondary bathroom off the living room. The “kitchen” is an area within the living room that has a small sink, mini-fridge and small microwave. The family suites’ decor is themed to Finding Nemo, Cars or The Lion King.
I honestly love the Value Resorts’ over-the-top decor and characters! They are great for families with young children, like ours. We have to stick to a budget when we travel, and by staying in the Values we have more money to spend on dining and party tickets. As our kids grow, so will our Disney Resorts. Do you think they’d be a good choice for your family too? If you need to price out your vacation let me know, I can send you a free quote!
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