Just Back from WL (with one night at ASMu)

blondemom

Mouseketeer
Joined
Aug 4, 2004
Hi, all. My family of four drove from NJ to WDW. We spent our first night, (6/23) at All Star Music - the Jazz Building. We've never been in a value resort before, and were pleasantly surprised. The room was perfectly adequate for my family. I was expecting a shoe-box with a bed. It really wasn't bad at all. The pool was fun - but crowded. The food court was pretty good, but also kind of crowded. My kids enjoyed the large icons and the other children. They showed Pirates of the Caribbean at night, and that was fun! It really was a pleasant surprise for us.

We checked into the Wilderness Lodge on Sunday, 6/24. We got there around 8:30 a.m. - and SURPRISE - our room was ready. We were given room 6157 - inner courtyard room with bunkbeds and a fabulous view of the pool (and bay lake). We were loving it. Our last trip we had room 6145. We were able to view the fireworks from our balcony. The pool was never overly crowded, and there was always a chair available poolside. The kiddie pool was good for my four-year old - however; he liked the adult pool with the life jacket. Roaring Forks was decent, but always crowded. They did switch over to the new mug design, and I did see the cashiers approach people using the old design. I wasn't too fond of the food choices (or lack of). And, my 9-year old son can eat more than 4 little chicken tenders since he is almost five feet tall! So, they should re-evaluate the kids menu.

Whispering Canyon was a fun time! We ate there twice for breakfast and once for dinner. The food was really good, and we had a blast. There was always a boat within 10 minutes of us arriving on the dock. We always managed to miss the bus we needed, but never waited more than 15 minutes for the next one. The biggest problem was trying to leave Epcot at night and having to wait for three busses before we could board.

Funny enough, every time I walked through the halls at the Lodge, I always felt like I was the only one there!

Oh, and I received five towel animals during my stay!

Any ?'s, please ask.
 
At some point, I thought I'd read that the pool was having 'work done.' If so, is it finished? (I've been off the boards for a while and couldn't find any reference to this when I searched).

Glad you had a good time!
 
The pool was completely open for business - no work being done. There was scaffolding by the outer part of the lodge - the part that faces Bay Lake. If you are looking at the Lodge from Bay Lake, it was the left-hand side. By the end of the week, it was gone, and I honestly couldn't tell what they had done.

We requested bunk beds when we booked. The inner courtyard view was not expected!

:)
 


Blondemom-

Can you tell me more about the movies at ASMU?
Was it outside, what time was it?
We are going to ASMU for the first time in September, since Pop was booked up.
How were the refurb's rooms?
 
Blondemom-

Can you tell me more about the movies at ASMU?
Was it outside, what time was it?
We are going to ASMU for the first time in September, since Pop was booked up.
How were the refurb's rooms?

I would also like to know as we also will be there in Sept (preferred room)

Just to add to jennib5426, what pool was the screen at?
 
Funny enough, every time I walked through the halls at the Lodge, I always felt like I was the only one there!
Oh, and I received five towel animals during my stay!

Any ?'s, please ask.

Isn't that the greatest! :thumbsup2 Glad you enjoyed your stay, how was park attendance?
 


The movie - Pirates - was showing around 9:30 or so (don't know the exact time, only that it was dark outside and we were on our way to the food court for snacks). However, I believe that Lion King 1.5 was showing before that. I'm sure they could tell you the real times when you check-in. The screen was located by the outside bar area and outside seating for the food court (right at the top of the guitar pool in the Calypso section). It had a screen facing the pool, and another, smaller but less crowded screen facing the other side (where you exit the food court). We were in room 9463, ground floor right next to the giant drum set in the Jazz section. Our room faced the pool side (while we didn't see the pool, we saw the "courtyard" area). It was surprisingly quiet.

I can't comment on the refurbishments to the room since I have never been in the rooms before. However, there were two full-sized beds, a small table with two chairs, a television with a dresser. There was a privacy curtain that concealed a sink, closet area, and extra bedding. Also, the bathroom (with its own door). This worked out well as I could change while someone was showering. The room was very comfortable, and again, not as small as I expected. It also was not as - forgive me - tacky as I thought it would be. It was surprisingly nice. I would definitely stay there again. We were a very short walk - minute or two - from the food court. Also a short walk to the pool. The guitar pool has the kiddie pool as well. It was not crowded and just fine for my three-year old. Before dark, the music was full-blast loud (and hip hop stuff that I do not enjoy), but when darkness settled, it was a soft, jazzy kind of music. There were a lot of teens roaming around, but very well-behaved teens. Families were nice and easy to talk to. Again, I really enjoyed the night here. For those wondering, we drove down to Florida and realized we would need one more night at a hotel before checking into the Wilderness. We always wanted to try the All Stars, so that's why we only did the night. A test-drive, you could call it. My kids REALLY loved it. It was incredibly kid-friendly. Oh, and right behind the jazz building - the parking lot side - is a small playground area.

:)
 
Blondemom-

Can you tell me more about the movies at ASMU?
Was it outside, what time was it?
We are going to ASMU for the first time in September, since Pop was booked up.
How were the refurb's rooms?

They started movies each night there around 9pm.

They played Toy Story, Cars, Finding Nemo, Jump (Disney channel movie), The Incredidbles.

They have big screen on the food court side of the pool so the kids can watch the movie. It does get a little crowded.
 
How many actual bedrooms did the room have? 1? 2?

Did your 4 year old sleep in a separate room from your other child, or were they together?

Seems like our kids (3 &5) just don't go to sleep if they're in the same bed!
 
How many actual bedrooms did the room have? 1? 2?

Did your 4 year old sleep in a separate room from your other child, or were they together?

Seems like our kids (3 &5) just don't go to sleep if they're in the same bed!

I am not the the Op but All Star Music has 2 types of rooms.

#1)-----regular rooms sleep 4 persons..

Here is the All Star room layout'

All_Star_Sports_Room_View.gif

All Star room layout


All Star Music is my favorite resort. It tends to be the quietest of all the values.


All Star Music just underwent a refurbishment of all of the rooms and was completed in June 2007.

Here is a website with photos of the newly refurbished rooms at All Star Music.

Look at the Jazz Inn section with new posted:

http://allearsnet.com/acc/g_asmu.htm

Please see my info thread for more reasons why I enjoy All Star Music so much.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18641909#post18641909


----------------------------------------------
#2) The Family suites sleep 6 and have a master bedroom with a QUEEN size bed, a kichenette with a microwave, coffeee pot and fridge , 2 bathrooms and living area with a sofa (which folds out to a double bed to sleep up to 2 persons, a chair (which fold outs to a twin size bed) and an ottoman (which also folds out to make a twin size bed.)

DH and I stayed in a Family Suite at All Star Music ( a value resort) last Sept. (2006)

We really enjoyed the Queen size bed, the kitchenette with the microwave, having a sofa and cushioned chair to sit on and relax after a day at the parks before retiring for the evening.

I thought the pullouts very comfortable.

They are designed so the back cushion and seat cushion of the pullout support the pullout. There is no meatle bar to hurt the sleepers back.

Info thread--Pullouts in Family Suites at ASMU with photos of how the pullout is supported.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18100990#post18100990

Here is the layout of the Family Suites:

ASMusic_FamSuite_layout.jpg



Here is my review of the Suites:

www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=17640774&postcount=7

For more photos and info please see this info thread:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1392879

Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!:wizard:
 
It's great to hear that people are still enjoying the Wilderness Lodge. This will be my #1 choice next time I go to WDW. :)
 
We had a surprise upgrade to 6157 on Mother's DAy! It was so awesome to be able to view the fireworks and electric boat parade from our balcony every night!! I am afraid my kids are spoiled forever, as the odds of getting that room again are very slim.
 

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