Pop Century and the All Star Resorts are the most cost effective 4 motels at Walt Disney World which have comparable eating, swimming pools, and rooms–however theme and transportation variations. Trip planners on tight budgets would possibly marvel which to decide on, and whether or not it’s value paying a premium for Pop. This head-to-head comparability helps reply frequent questions.
Making an attempt to decide on between the All Stars and Pop Century is frequent for guests to Florida attempting to do Disney on a Dime. These Worth Resorts are among the many largest at Walt Disney World, all have numerous goal promoting factors in addition to comparable drawbacks. Being Worth Resorts, all of them additionally cater to comparable visitor demographics.
Regardless of this, there are some pretty vital variations. The primary is in fan following. Few Walt Disney World resorts have as passionate of a fanbase as Pop Century. It’s proper up there with the Polynesian, which is a very completely different resort. The All Stars are nearly the precise reverse. A number of the similar individuals who completely adore Pop Century flip their noses up on the All Stars. Truthfully, it’s baffling.
In fact, there are variations past simply the fan response to every. Pop Century is newer, has its personal distinctive premise, a sister resort in Artwork of Animation, and the Skyliner gondolas transportation system. There are different smaller variations amongst these resorts, which is the place this comparability comes into play.
What this resort ‘versus’ put up will search to deal with is whether or not it is best to persist with fan and family-favorite Pop Century or go for the cheaper choices on the All Stars. With that in thoughts, we’ll examine theme, price, eating, swimming pools, and different facilities that will help you decide which is best for you…
Theme: Toss Up – This actually comes down to non-public desire. Because the title (sorta/largely) suggests, Pop Century is themed to popular culture from the final century.
Initially, it was meant to supply sections devoted to the “Legendary Years” and the “Traditional Years” to divide the property by the primary and second halves of the century. For causes past the scope of this put up, solely the latter was constructed. That means that the buildings of Pop Century characteristic visuals from the Fifties to 90s.
In contrast, the All Stars are themed to motion pictures, sports activities, and music—all as seen by way of the lens of Disney characters and films. If you happen to or your children are into any of these ideas, you’ll love the All Star Resort reflective of that.
Pop Century does obtain some complaints that it’s “not Disney sufficient” as in comparison with the All Stars. There’s positively much less Disney within the design, however I’d say it’s fairly outstanding. The outsized icon visible type is used in any respect three, and I believe ultimately, this comes down to non-public preferences.
My thematic rankings are Pop Century, All Star Sports activities, Music, and Films—in that order. However I don’t faux that that is definitive. You possibly can simply make the case for any of those being first or worst.
Rooms: All Stars (Barely) – All of those Worth Resorts have acquired very comparable reimagined rooms, with the All Stars getting utterly equivalent designs. Above is a photograph of the brand new room at All Star Sports activities; beneath is a brand new room at Pop Century. Can you see the variations? (Except for the curved traces in a single–that’s as a result of I used a fisheye lens.)
It actually simply comes right down to the Mickey Mouse artwork on the wall, wooden colours, and a number of the materials used on the curtains and chairs. By way of substance and performance, the rooms at Pop Century and the All Stars are 100% equivalent. Until you are feeling very strongly about kinds of Mickey Mouse artwork, I can not fathom selecting on the idea of room kinds.
As a normal matter, we’ve stayed in these new rooms a number of occasions, and located all of them to be enormous upgrades over their predecessors. They’re not good–you possibly can learn concerning the execs & cons in our Pictures & Video: Newly Reimagined Rooms on the All Star Resorts put up.
The explanation why we’ve given the nod to the All Stars right here, however barely, is as a result of the reimagined rooms are all newer right here. This overhaul began at Pop Century a number of years in the past, and was accomplished at a fully glacial tempo (and paused solely in the course of the closure and subsequent phased reopening).
Consequently, the rooms at Pop Century have seen a number of extra years of wear and tear and tear than a number of the ones on the All Stars. More often than not, this isn’t actually noticeable. In our expertise, these rooms are surprisingly sturdy and aren’t exhibiting a lot indicators of age. However a few of them are, and also you’re extra more likely to see that at Pop Century.
If this issues to you, it’s most likely additionally value declaring that All Star Sports activities was the ultimate resort to obtain these new rooms. Of our three stays right here within the final 12 months, all of them have been in new rooms, and these have had noticeably much less put on and tear than their counterparts at All Star Films. Despite the fact that we’re lumping the All Stars collectively for this comparability, that will be the purpose why we’d rank Sports activities greater than Films.
Eating: Pop Century – None of those resorts have desk service eating places. All have pretty comparable meals courts. You possibly can most likely make the argument that one in all these is best than the others, however I believe that’s a stretch. It was positively true 5+ years in the past when Every little thing Pop and Panorama of Flavors (a brief stroll from Pop Century at Artwork of Animation) have been high tier and had distinctive dishes. By and enormous, that’s not the case–all of those menus are boring, stereotypical theme park delicacies.
The one purpose Pop Century will get the sting is due to Caribbean Seaside, which is definitely accessible in underneath 5 minutes by way of the Skyliner–and thru which you’ll need to transit en path to EPCOT or DHS. Caribbean Seaside has underrated eating choices in Sebastian’s Bistro, Banana Cabana, and Spyglass Grill.
Whereas Spyglass Grill additionally nonetheless has a scaled again menu that isn’t fairly pretty much as good as earlier than, it’s nonetheless higher than the Worth Resorts. Ditto Centertown Market, for that matter. Then there’s Banana Cabana and Sebastian’s Bistro, the latter of which has a new family-style meal that’s the finest dinner deal in all of Walt Disney World.
Swimming pools: Pop Century – None of those resorts make our record of the Prime 10 Swimming pools at Walt Disney World, With that mentioned, I’m a fan of the Hippy Dippy Pool, Pop Century’s 235,000+ gallon characteristic pool that includes flower-shaped water jets and a lazy 1960’s angle. I additionally just like the Bowling Pin Pool and Pc Pool.
I additionally just like the Duck Pond Pool (All Star Films), in addition to the Surfboard Bay Pool and Grand Slam Pool (each at All Star Sports activities). I’m not tremendous eager on the characteristic swimming pools at Films or Music, however that’s largely due to how busy they get.
Greater than some other class, this comes down to non-public desire. By way of ‘cool issue’, I really suppose one of the best entry on this record is the Grand Slam Pool, however I is perhaps biased as a baseball fan.
Transportation: Pop Century – The Skyliner is a large win for each Pop Century and Artwork of Animation when it comes to transportation. Following a fast flight to Caribbean Seaside, now you can get to and from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in a breeze by way of one of many two stations on the central hub.
As a result of Skyliner, bus transportation is just crucial for Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs should you’re staying at Pop Century. It’s crucial for all parks should you’re staying on the All Stars, that means it is best to both be ready for coping with that or have a rental automobile or be ready to pay additional for Uber or Lyft on the All Stars.
Bus transportation isn’t dangerous at both. Whereas Pop Century and the All Stars are huge, neither have inner stops–that’s an enormous win, particularly over the likes of Caribbean Seaside, Coronado Springs, and Port Orleans Riverside within the Reasonable Resort tier. The buses are additionally extremely environment friendly at each in the course of the morning and night rushes, so even when the road is lengthy, it is best to get to your vacation spot rapidly due to back-to-back buses.
On common, bus transportation is best at Pop Century. We haven’t skilled it sharing buses with different resorts in current reminiscence, whereas the All Stars can and do–particularly throughout slower seasons or occasions of day. One other quirk comes on the finish of the night time, when generally the All Stars simply pile everybody right into a single bus and make stops in any respect three motels. That is extra environment friendly than ready for a bus, however it’s nonetheless much less nice general in our view.
Lastly, Pop Century has higher room-door to park-entrance occasions attributable to a extra centralized location than the All Stars. As we’ve mentioned earlier than, there’s nothing magical about driving a bus (even one that claims “Disney” on the skin), and this may get previous over the course of a visit–so we’re hyper-focused on minimizing bus time and utilizing novel types of transportation. That’s exactly why the Skyliner is such a compelling promoting level.
Price: All Stars – On common, nightly room charges are about $40 to $60 greater at Pop Century throughout nearly each charge season of the 12 months for normal rooms on the respective resorts. Costs are a bit much less predictable when you issue reductions into the combo, however the All Stars normally have pretty much as good or higher of particular provides. In addition they are inclined to have higher availability, that means not unnecessarily paying additional for premium view or location classes that you could be not need within the first place.
By and enormous, Pop Century’s premium pricing could be attributed to the Skyliner. Previous to the gondola opening, the fee differential between Pop Century and the All Stars was round $10 to $20 per night time. Since then, there’s been a fairly vital divergence, with Pop Century having one of many largest worth will increase for a number of consecutive years–proper up there with Caribbean Seaside (one other Skyliner resort).
We’d contend that the Skyliner is definitely value paying additional per night time. What’s debatable is how a lot that premium is value. Regardless, that’s why Pop Century has the sting within the transportation class above.
Verdict: Pop Century – We’re declaring Pop Century the winner right here, which shouldn’t be an enormous shock since (spoiler alert) it ranks because the #1 resort on our Rankings of ALL Resort Inns at Walt Disney World from Worst to Finest. In contrast, the All Stars rank #18, #22 and #23 (that’s useless final). So the end result might sound clear from a fast look at that.
Nevertheless, the truth is that it is a a lot nearer name than you would possibly anticipate. As talked about elsewhere, the All Stars are one in all my go-to resorts for solo analysis journeys once I’m attempting to do issues as inexpensively as doable. In my opinion, they’re nice for visitors on an extremely tight funds who’re debating not between Worth Resorts and higher-tier lodging, however Worth Resorts versus staying off-site to save cash. When you consider the price of parking, transportation, and worth of Early Entry–plus the general high quality–a compelling case could be made for the All Stars.
It’s most likely secure to imagine that’s the viewers studying this comparability. You’re not debating between these two motels and the Grand Floridian or Seaside Membership, and possibly don’t have the funds for the latter with out breaking the financial institution. For many, the Deluxe Resorts are full non-starters.
With that in thoughts, it comes down as to whether it is best to save by staying on the All Stars or splurge on Pop Century. And it’s in that state of affairs the place this turns into a a lot nearer name, and actually dependent upon simply how massive the pricing hole is in your journey, and the way a lot you’d must splurge to make Pop Century occur.
The Skyliner is a complete game-changer for us. Transportation was irritating at each of those resorts for all parks, and now that’s solely true on the All Stars. That is the form of transformational, purposeful addition that by itself outweighs actually all the pieces else. The Skyliner makes getting from Pop Century to EPCOT or DHS a complete breeze, and we regularly begin at a kind of parks and hop from there to Animal Kingdom or Magic Kingdom consequently (or simply use Uber/Lyft).
We’re enormous followers of the Skyliner, and we’d actually put it above the monorail when it comes to the transportation benefit it provides. (Simply look how excessive the monorail pricing premium is for the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Modern!) That one characteristic alone makes the charges charged at Pop Century justiable. Every little thing else is icing on the cake.
With that mentioned, there’s actually not that rather more—the Skyliner is outcome-determinative right here. That means that should you dislike the gondolas for no matter purpose (worry of heights, storm season downtime, and many others.), then it is best to completely save the cash and guide the All Stars as an alternative.
Our view is that Pop Century punches above its weight, delivering robust lodging, environment friendly transportation, comfort to Artwork of Animation by way of Era Hole Bridge, and very reasonable worth factors in mild of what it provides. For individuals who have an off-site or Worth Resort funds and might want to splurge to maneuver up from the All Stars to Pop Century–particularly first timers on a once-in-a-lifetime journey, there are few higher methods of allocating these funds than this improve. We’d do it over most upcharges, arduous ticket occasions, desk service meals, and many others.
That’s simply us, although and your mileage might fluctuate. Once you analyze the All Star Resorts ‘guidelines type’ they actually do have rather a lot going for them, particularly should you’re on an ultra-tight funds. As ought to be apparent provided that I keep there a lot, I’ve completely nothing towards the All Stars and have zero hesitation in reserving. If you happen to’re nonetheless involved about this since you’ve seen different followers flip their noses up on the All Stars, we’d encourage you to learn Are Walt Disney World’s Most cost-effective Inns Truly Good? The reply to the titular query ought to be apparent after studying this, however the rationalization will put your thoughts comfy.
However, we might additionally pay the premium costs–with out hesitation and even when that meant sacrificing on different facets of the journey–for Pop Century on a household trip, particularly if we solely might go to Walt Disney World as soon as per 12 months…or ever. The Skyliner is an enormous part of that, however not the one factor. Pop Century simply feels nicer, has or provides entry to higher facilities and eating, and is a sentimental favourite for us. We suspect it might grow to be one for you, too.
If you happen to’re nonetheless having hassle selecting between the 2, figuring out which resort or room kind is best for you, or if some other side of Walt Disney World trip planning is just too overwhelming and also you want one-on-one assist, we suggest contacting a no payment “Approved Disney Trip Planner” or journey agent to get a quote and that will help you plan. They get their fee from Disney, so not one of the approved (key phrase) planners will cost you for reserving their journey and serving to. Right here’s one such Approved Disney Trip Planner that we suggest!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Inns Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the pieces you want to know!
Your Ideas
Do you agree or disagree with our verdict on this Pop Century vs. All Star Resorts head-to-head? What about our conclusions in every class? Is there one thing we missed or bought unsuitable? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
