Trying to decide between the two… lemme know the good, the bad and the ugly!
I would never choose the LM rooms at AoA over a room at Pop. They are sooooo far from the lobby/bus/main pool etc. If I could afford the $500+/night suite at AoA I would stay in one of those though.
Love the pull down bed at Pop. Gives you so much more space in the room when you put it up and a nice sized table.
As two 60+ adults, DH and I enjoyed staying at Pop on our last three trips to WDW. We didn’t have young kids along to try to impress with the more showy decor of AOA. At Pop, we were able to stay in a preferred room on our first trip, and in standard rooms that met our requests for being near transportation (bus or skyliner) on the later trips.
You can’t do that at AOA. The only standard rooms (there are no preferred) at AOA are in the Little Mermaid section, which is the area furthest from the bus and Skyliner. If you want to be close-in, you have to stay in the more expensive family suites. Little Mermaid rooms do have a regular table and a second queen bed, while Pop has the pull-down queen bed with the table attached on the underside - you can’t have both beds in normal position AND a table at Pop, you get one bed plus bed-or-table (in rooms with two queen beds).
I loved the theming of the Little Mermaid rooms at AoA, but the walk to and from the room was a killer. If you have a car that you’ll be driving to the parks that’s less of a thing, because you can request to be on the parking lot side and be very close.
The AoA suites are great if you don’t need to sleep more than one adult/teen or two littles in either the murphy or the couch bed. My aunt actually just slept on the couch with sheets on it and said that was comfy just the way it was.
The food court at either one is great… values are where it’s at for resort QS!
You don’t say which room types at AoA. The 2 bathrooms are great. They are very pricey though. Mermaid rooms are never eligible for discounts.
Unless you are doing a suite at AoA, Pop wins. The Little Mermaid rooms as AoA are really far away. Pop has two queen beds, lots of storage, is convenient to other resorts via skyliner for other food options. Pop has a sliding door between the room and the sink area, LM rooms have a curtain (I think). Pop is cheaper than LM rooms.
I haven’t stayed in any of the family suites at AoA, so this is based purely on a stay in the LM rooms, in just about the furthest away room possible:
Good:
over-the-top (in a good way) theming
food court options
dedicated bus
skyliner access
for families this can be a great option, with 2 full baths and plenty of room for larger parties, including a separate bedroom for a set of grownups
Bad:
- LM rooms are small
- LM rooms are far
- No TS
- Bar is outdoors
- No hot tub
Pop has my heart in the value category, far and away above any of the values.
Good:
- quieter than the other values
- somehow feels a little more upscale than the other values
- fun theming
- dedicated bus
- skyliner access
- king rooms available
- can create a larger room for a smaller travel group by keeping second bed stowed
Bad:
- bar is outside
- no hot tub
- no TS
and skyliner
My room was so far away from everything that I was actually closer to Pop rooms. I hated that stay for that reason and it might have me jaded in a way that is unfair.
Thanks for the input everybody. Because we don’t need a suite, we opted for Pop. Its just a quick weekend trip and we like the option of skyliner.
Had to get a “standard” room at Pop as preferred were not available. I would take any recommendations for buildings/areas etc for a room request if you have any!
Thanks again!
I liked the 50s section. It somehow felt closer than other standard room locations.
I prefer the 70s bc it’s on the same side of the resort as the dining hall/store and a quick walk to both skyliner and buses.
50’s, 60’s, and 70’s all have standard room that are close to the Skyliner and Classic Hall.
Definitely 70’s. Close to skyliner, hall and pool.