advice on a potential ASMo stay

[Brina]

I am in the early stages of planning a trip for myself and my three kids; dd 3, ds 6 and ds 6 at the time of our travel. The plan is for us to go at the end of august, leaving dh home. Trip will be 4 days, 3 nights, with 2 days at the park, and a lot of pool time. I am fairly well decided on All-Star Movies, as I think it is the resort most likely to wow the kids. it will be our first time at this resort. DSs are both huge toy story fans. they also love fantasia, and they enjoy the 101 dalmations books. they have no familiarity with mighty ducks or herbie the love bug. I have a couple of questions:

1. What are the chances of getting the toy story or dalmations buildings? I would be very disappointed to get MD or LB.

2. Should I just eliminate the possibility of disappointment by spending the extra money and requeting fantasia? I am trying to do this vacation as cheaply as possible, but I want it to be nice as well.


3. If I do not book fantasia initially and arrive at the resort to find that we are being put in MD or LB what are the chances of getting a (paid) upgrade to fantasia at time of check in.

4. other than location, and the guarantee of the building we want, are their other advantages to the fantasia building?


Thank you in advance.

 

[PeterPanFanWDW]

The difference in price from a standard location to preferred location is around $12 (let's say $15 with tax). So for $45 you can get a preferred location room. That doesn't sound like a huge investment to me to make sure you get what you want.

When you make the reservation you'll want to tell the reservations office exactly what you would like. Location, smoking/non-smoking, floor, theme, etc. Then when you actualy check in, make sure you let them know what you want.

PPF

 

[lovesdumbo]

I just got back from ASMo the last week of August-a pretty quiet time to go. The parks were great. The only thing I used a fast pass for was Soarin. The parks were especially quiet in the morning as people tended to stay at the parks very late and get a late start. I had requested Toy Story, 3rd floor, non smoking, connecting rooms. I got it all but Love Bug. I wasn't real happy when I heard Love Bug but it was actually really great-not too far from food court and really quiet. My DS(4 1/2) loved the cars on the buildings and the winners circle and we've never seen the Love Bug movies.

 

[hobogary]

One thing a lot of people miss at any of the all stars is that your room is facing a different hotel so you see the other theaming (for example, parking lot side of music is facing sports hotels. Fronts of hotels generally face the matching hotel. In other words sitting in your room at toy story doesn't always mean you are staring at woody.

 

[Lizzybee]

I had put on my request (at the suggestion of the CRO) non smoking and either Toy Story and Dalmations. Well when we checked in, we were assigned to 1st floor Mighty Ducks and that would have been my very last choice. I asked if maybe she could check to see if I could have a non smoking Dalmations room on the 3rd floor if possible, and if not Dalmations, then any other section except for Mighty Ducks. We got what I wanted, she made a phone call and it was even ready for us. I think our 3rd floor location of Dalmations 1 (Pongo) was a bit closer to the food court/main pool than parts of Fantasia. The Fantasia bldgs didn't seem too busy so if you wanted to upgrade to avoid MD section and nothing else is available, you probably would be able to do that, unless it's a busy time.