Walt Disney World is home to more than 25 unique resorts that range dramatically in both theme and price. The most affordable of these resorts, known as Value resorts, offer families a place to stay in the Disney bubble without spending an absolute fortune. Selecting one of those Value resorts can be tricky as each one has its own unique features.
Disney World’s value resorts are Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Below is a quick look at some of the best and worst qualities of each hotel. We hope it helps you decide!
Note: We won’t touch on some things that all value resorts have in common: no table-service dining, no theme parks within walking distance, etc.
Skip to a resort:
- Disney’s Pop Century
- Disney’s Art of Animation
- Disney’s All-Star Movies
- Disney’s All-Star Music
- Disney’s All-Star Sports
Disney’s Pop Century Pros and Cons
Take a trip down memory lane! Pop Century celebrates all the fads, fashion, music, movies, and more from the 1950s through the 1990s.
Pop Century Pros:
- Convenient access to the Disney Skyliner. This unique transportation system carries guests through the sky to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Caribbean Beach Resort, and Riviera Resort. The Skyliner is arguably the best perk of this resort.
- Retro theming. We love the old-school theming that includes many items from throughout the decades. We also love that Pop Century has a ton of color in its design, which is a refreshing difference compared to other Disney resorts. Some of that color was even brought into the room in a 2025 room refresh.
- The pools are equally well-themed, and while they can get busy, that’s true of all the Value resorts.
- Pop Century usually isn’t as busy as the other value resorts, especially when sports and cheerleading competitions are in town.
- Underrated quick service food options. While Pop Century only has quick service dining, what they offer is surprisingly good. Big shout out to the very unique and delicious Tie-Dye Cheesecake!
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is just a short walk away. This is a nice perk as it allows for exploration and for guests to make use of either resort’s buses.
- Disney buses aren’t shared with other resorts.
Pop Century Cons:
- The retro, nostalgic theming may not hit home with some guests, especially young kids hoping to see more familiar characters.
- Staying at Pop Century usually costs a bit more than the All-Star resorts.
- No family suites.
- Bus lines can get long and there isn’t much shade when you’re waiting. It can get hot.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Pros and Cons
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is about all things – you guessed it – animation. It has rooms and outdoor spaces themed to The Lion King, Cars, Finding Nemo, and The Little Mermaid.
Art of Animation Pros:
- Many rooms are suites that can sleep 6. (Though cramming 6 adults in might be a tight squeeze).
- Access to the Disney Skyliner. Art of Animation shares a Disney Skyliner station with Disney’s Pop Century resort. Like Pop Century, this is a huge perk that stands out from the other values and even some moderate hotels.
- The themed outdoor areas are very, very good. The Cars and Finding Nemo areas are usually big hits with younger guests. It has the best overall theming of any value resort if you want a true “Disney” experience.
- It’s easy to hop over to Pop Century if you want to check out another resort.
- All rooms are accessible from interior hallways. Art of Animation is the only value resort with indoor hallways.
- Great big pool!
- Dedicated Disney buses for transportation. You won’t share a bus with another resort.
Art of Animation Cons:
- The prices are almost always the highest compared to the other value resorts. Even the “standard” rooms themed to The Little Mermaid usually carry a higher cost.
- The standard rooms are the furthest from the lobby, which means extra walking if you don’t book a suite.
- Some guests have complained about the mattresses. As always, your experience may vary.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Pros and Cons
Surround yourself with familiar Disney movies (Fantasia, Toy Story, Mighty Ducks, and more) at Disney’s All-Star Movies resort.
All-Star Movies Pros:
- Massive movie props and figures are a lot of fun!
- The Fantasia pool and the splash area are a hit with young guests.
- The resort’s food court, the World Premiere Food Court, sometimes has surprisingly good options. Seriously. It’s a food court that can bat above its weight.
- The Duck Pond Pool, a pool themed to a hockey rink from The Mighty Ducks, is a great bit of throwback nostalgia.
All-Star Movies Cons:
- Some rooms are a decent walk from the main lobby and food court. Those steps can add up after a long day in the parks.
- Only bus transportation to the parks.
- Long waits for buses, though your experience may vary.
- The resort might feel a bit dated with the movies it references (personally, we love it).
Disney’s All-Star Music Pros and Cons
Disney’s All-Star Music celebrates all of the music genres, including rock, jazz, country, and even show tunes. Surround yourself with larger-than-life musical instruments and more.
All-Star Music Pros:
- The family suites are some of the best bargains on Disney World property.
- Theming is not as kid-focused compared to other resorts, which could be a perk for adults.
- Sports teams and cheerleader groups generally book All-Star Sports or All-Star Movies before All-Star Music.
- Similar to All-Star Movies, we think the food court can roll out some fun specials that are surprisingly good.
All-Star Music Cons:
- We’ve heard the theming described as the “most boring” of the value resorts. Your mileage may vary.
- Expect to hear themed music in each of the resort’s sections. No surprises there, but if you don’t particularly like a specific genre (like country), you may not want to hear it first thing when you leave your room.
- Only buses for transportation.
- The pools aren’t the most exciting, in our opinion. The other All-Stars have Music beat here.
Disney’s All-Star Sports Pros and Cons
Surround yourself with the world of sports! This resort has larger-than-life tributes to football, basketball, baseball, and more.
All-Star Sports Pros:
- This really is the ideal spot for sports-obsessed children. Run on a miniature football field or swim in a pool shaped like a baseball diamond!
- The resort has a more compact layout compared to All-Star Music.
- Sports theming may appeal to kids who feel they’re too old for Disney.
- Because it’s a popular spot for teams, this resort is also a perfect spot for groups.
All-Star Sports Cons:
- Possibly the loudest resort in Disney World. Of course, your experience may vary, but the point below plays a big role.
- This resort is a popular choice for teams competing at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports. That’s true of all the values, but it seems like All-Star Sports is a magnet for the extra loud cheerleading groups.
- Only bus transportation to the parks.
