Disney World has five value resorts to choose from and they all promise the same thing, an affordable way to stay on Disney property. But they are not all created equal. We have personally stayed at three of the five: Pop Century, Art of Animation, and All Star Sports. In this post I am ranking all five from our honest experience staying and exploring the resorts.
One of the biggest pieces of a Disney World budget is deciding where to stay and how much you want to spend on your stay. Many guests want to stay at a value resort to save money and stretch your vacation dollars.
We almost always choose a value resort because they still have the Disney feel and we can find comfortable accommodations for our family of five. If you are trying to decide between the value resorts, this ranking should help you figure out which one is the right fit for your family and your budget.
Planning your full Walt Disney World vacation? Check out my complete Walt Disney World Guide for everything you need — park guides, planning tips, and resort comparisons.
Disney Value Resorts Ranked
Deciding which value resort is best for your Disney trip is a personal decision, but there are a few difference you should be aware of to help make the decision.
There are 5 value resorts at Walt Disney World. They are:
- Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
- Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
- Disney’s All Star Music Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century
- Disney’s Art of Animation
The All Star Resorts are the least expensive value resort options. They offer complimentary bus transportation to and from the parks, have multiple pools, and an on-site food court.
Disney’s Pop Century and Disney’s Art of Animation will cost you a bit more because of their proximity to the Disney Skyliner transportation system.
The Disney Skyliner provides gondola transportation to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios from these parks. Bus transportation is provided to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom as well as the water parks and Disney Springs.
If the Skyliner doesn’t matter to you it is worth checking out the All-Star value resorts to save the most money.
If I was going to rank the Disney Value Resorts it would be like this:
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s All Star Sports Resort
- Disney’s Art of Animation
- Disney’s All-Star Music or Movie Resort (Choose the theme you like best because I think they are all comparable.)
Disney’s Pop Century is first because it is in the middle of the price range for value resorts, it is on the Skyliner, and it has a great vibe.
I ranked Disney’s All Star Sports Resort second because we really liked it on our most recent trip, if you are not a sports family check out Movies or Music.
We also are a family of 5 and booked connecting rooms. This was less expensive than booking the family suites at Art of Animation.
Art of Animation is third for me because of the price point. Although it has the most “Disney” immersive theme the price is the highest of the value resorts. The family suites are often priced over $400.00 a night. If you have younger kids you may want to stay here but there other value resorts offer a better value.
The other All Star resorts offer the same value as All Star Spots, just different theme. If you are looking to book the least expensive option check prices for all three All-Star resorts and go with the cheapest.
#1 Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Pop Century takes the top spot for us. The combination of value, theming, and Skyliner access makes it the easiest recommendation of all five value resorts.
The rooms have been refurbished with bright, fun decor that still feels playful without being overwhelming, and being on the Disney Skyliner means direct gondola access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, no bus transfer required.
Pop Century also offers connecting rooms which work beautifully for families of 5, giving you two bathrooms and significantly more space than a single room at any value resort.
Read our full Pop Century Resort Review →
#2 Disney’s All Star Sports Resort
All Star Sports is the most budget-friendly resort on this list and it offers nearly everything Art of Animation does at a lower price point. The main difference is theming. The rooms have been refurbished and feel fresh, the pools and food court are solid, and connecting rooms give families of 5 the space they need without paying suite prices.
Neither All Star Sports nor Art of Animation is closer to the theme parks, and while Art of Animation has Skyliner access, we do not think that should be a deal breaker.
If Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom are on your itinerary, neither park is served by the Skyliner and bus transportation is the only option from all value resorts. For overall value, All Star Sports comes out ahead.
Read our full All Star Sports Resort Review →
#3 Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Art of Animation has the best theming of any value resort, hands down. The four immersive areas: Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid are genuinely impressive and make for some of the most photogenic spots on Disney property.
That said, the standard Little Mermaid rooms are smaller than rooms at the other value resorts, and the family suites, while spacious, come at a significant premium, often well over $450 a night. We found connecting rooms at All Star Sports gave us more space, two bathrooms, and a lower overall cost than a single family suite here.
If the theming is a priority for your family, Art of Animation is absolutely worth considering. For pure value, it ranks just below All Star Sports for us.
Keep in mind Art of Animation and Pop Century have a connecting bridge. Guests staying at Pop Century can walk around Art of Animation to see the themed areas.
Read our full Art of Animation Resort Review →
#4 Disney’s All Star Music Resort
We have not personally stayed at All Star Music, but having stayed at All Star Sports we can tell you the rooms, amenities, pools, and overall experience are nearly identical across all three All Star resorts.
The only real difference is the theming you’ll be surrounded by, giant instruments and musical icons throughout the resort. If the music theme excites your family more than sports, that’s reason enough to choose this resort over the others.
Pricing is typically comparable to All Star Sports and All Star Movies, so we’d suggest checking rates across all three and booking whichever theme you like best.
There is also a Broadway section of the resort that we thought was really cute. If you are staying at an All Star resort you can walk between all three of them to check out the theme.
#5 Disney’s All Star Movies Resort
Same situation as All Star Music, we have not stayed here personally, but All Star Movies Resort offers the same room types, amenities, and value as the other two All Star resorts with movie-themed decor throughout, including giant icons from Toy Story, 101 Dalmatians, and Fantasia.
If you have a family that loves classic Disney films, the theming alone might make this the right pick. Pricing is generally comparable across all three All Star resorts.
How We Ranked These Resorts
A few things factored into our ranking:
Value for the price. All five resorts are in a similar price range, but the difference between a standard room and a family suite at Art of Animation can be hundreds of dollars a night. That price difference matters when you’re comparing it to connecting rooms elsewhere.
Skyliner access. Pop Century and Art of Animation are the only two value resorts on the Disney Skyliner, giving direct gondola access to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It’s a genuine perk but not a must-have if your trip is centered around Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.
Room options for larger families. All five value resorts offer connecting rooms, and Art of Animation and All Star Music also offer family suites. We have found connecting rooms to be the better value for families of 5, especially when visiting Disney World with teens. More space, two bathrooms, and typically a lower total cost than a suite.
Theming. This is the most personal factor on the list. If a specific theme genuinely excites your kids, it might be worth ranking that resort higher for your family even if it’s lower on our overall list.
Value Resort Locations
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort are both located near the ESPN Wide World of Sports area (although there is no bus transportation there) and share a Disney Skyliner station.
Disney’s All-Star Music, All-Star Movies, and All-Star Sports resorts are located near the Animal Kingdom area and are close enough to each other that you could visit and explore all three during your stay if you’re curious before booking a future trip.
All five resorts offer complimentary bus transportation to and from every park, multiple pools, daily activities, a quick-service food court, and evening pizza delivery to your room.
Is a Value Resort Right for Your Family?
Value resorts will save you real money on your Disney World trip, but it’s worth knowing what you’re giving up compared to a moderate or deluxe resort:
- No on-site table service dining, quick service only
- Basic pool areas without water slides
- No walking or monorail access to any park
- Standard rooms are smaller than moderate or deluxe options
On our trips we spend the vast majority of our time at the theme parks and really only use the hotel room to sleep, shower, and get ready for the day.
For that style of trip, a value resort makes a lot of sense. There’s no reason to spend a larger share of your budget on a hotel you’ll barely be in. If you plan to spend more leisurely time at your resort, relaxing by the pool, or want table service dining on property, it may be worth increasing your budget for a moderate or deluxe resort.
Traveling as a family of 5? Read our Best Disney Resorts for Families of 5 for our complete comparison across value, moderate, and deluxe resort options.
Still deciding between on-site and off-site? Read our Should You Stay On-Site at Disney World guide for the honest cost breakdown.
Final Thoughts
All five value resorts will get the job done. Complimentary transportation, comfortable rooms, and that unmistakable on-property Disney feeling without the deluxe price tag.
Our honest ranking puts Pop Century at the top for the combination of value and Skyliner access, with All Star Sports right behind it as the best straightforward budget option.
If theming is what matters most to your family, don’t let our ranking talk you out of Art of Animation, All Star Music, or All Star Movies. The resort that gets you and your kids the most excited is worth moving up your personal list.
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Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.