All Star Movies FAQ!!!!!

[Minnie's Pal]

I am going to ASMo this upcoming Nov and need and want all the info I can get on it. Not to mention, all those who visit this board and are looking for the info too. So here is an attempt to start a thread on all the input from ASMo.

So all you All Star Movie veterans, PLEASE reply with any tips, room suggestions, comments, questions, etc you can. (On behalf of everyone reading this post), Thank You!

 

[cinmell]

I've never stayed at an All Star's Resort so I can't tell you anything about them. However, here's the link to the All Star FAQ on Deb's page. This is the only one I've ever seen. I hope it helps you.

http://www.wdwig.com/faq_asmv.htm

 

[SpecialFXKid]

Hey, Minnie's Pal, i'm heading off to ASMo in a few days. I've been in alot of the other resorts but this will be my first stay at ASMo, so i'll give you the lowdown of what I thought when I get back.
I think that every resort should have a FAQ, including ye olde Value Resort All-Star Movies.

I wish there was a FAQ to help me out while I was planning this vacation, but I managed just as well with Deb's page, the Boards, and a few other pages. Good luck gathering what you want to know by Nov!!


Here's to hoping this post catches and we can start the FAQ here and now. .

 

[susy]

By no means an expert, but will give it a try!

The All-Stars offer a truly wonderful onsite experience for those on a budget or for those who wish to enjoy the amibience (yes, ambience) of these unique and playfully decorated,"fun" hotels!

There are three themed-to-the-max resorts:

All-Star Movies
All-Star Music
All-Star Sports

Each resort features two themed swimming pools with outdoor pool bars, seating, and hair wrap stations. The check-in areas are part of brightly decorated lobbies, which also house the resorts' food courts, arcades, and Disney gift shops.
The resorts have 1920 rooms each, contained in 10 three-story buildings at each resort. There are stairs and elevators in each building, in addition to HUGE icons depciting different aspects of the particular resort's theme.


Rooms

Guestrooms are 260 square feet and accomodate four guests. There are two double beds, a table and two chairs, a dresser and TV, space to hang clothes, a sink outside of the bathroom and toilet and tub inside the bathroom. Mickey soap is provided in the sink area and there is a "line" for drying wet suits inside of the tub. A dispenser with shower gel and shampoo is located in the shower.
Some rooms have 1 king bed and these rooms are handi-cap accessible.

 

[CamColt]

We feel the theming of ASMO cant be beat. If you are looking for "Disney", you are surrounded by it. While some people dont care for it, we thought it was very cool. Definitely prefer it over the moderates.

SpecialFXKid, we will be there too, arriving a week from tomorrow!!! Hope to see you. BTW, we have requested Mighty Ducks area, so hopefully we will be there.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Will this be a general All-Star or just All-Star Movies FAQ? I'll be staying at the Music (second time) in a couple months (just for a night, before moving to the Beach Club).

 

[Magic2000]

In Nov/Dec, 2000, we decided to visit Disney to see the Christmas decorations. It was our first time going in Dec (we usually go in the summer). That July, when we were there, my 5 yr old and I visited the Movies and she loved it!!! When it was time to book the hotel, Allison reminded me that she would like to stay with Jessie (Toy Story 2).

I did request Toy Story, but when we checked in, we were given Love Bug. We loved this area - it was so quiet, and just a short walk to the food court/bus stop. It was always cleaned and everyone was so nice! We thought the "popcorn" light fixtures were so cool!! Everything about this hotel was so DISNEY!! The gift shop is great, and the food court was really good! Each night, when we got back to the room, the girls and I would walk back to the food court and refill our mug. We passed by the kiddy pool, and the main pool. We thought it was too cold to be swimming, but there were some kids playing in the water.

Last Dec, we decided to go back again for the Christmas decorations. And we chose All Stars again! (And we got the $49 rate!) This time, we got 101 Dalmations. Allison was so excited, she practically danced all the way to the room (our plane arrived at 12:30 AM! But she was so happy to be with "Oddball"). Every time we were going to our room, or leaving, she had to be on TV and talk with the little puppy watching her! She had such a good time playing! Again, our room was very quiet and we were a short walk to the food court/bus stop. By the way, for both of our stays, we had the best bus service!!!

I would highly recommend the All Stars!!!

 

[mark & sandra]

Hello Minnie's Pal- We've stayed at ASMo quite a few times and the one silly thing that stands out is how compact the resort is. After a whole day of walking the parks, I don't like the thought of having to hike to the car or for food. At the ASMo, there are several smaller parking lots around so that you can park close to your room. We stayed in the Toy Story bldg. on our last visit, rm.9712 , ground floor behind the kiddie pool area. We parked in lot that left our car about 25 feet from our room. It was great for carrying sleeping kids to our room after full day out. Food court was a 2 minute walk away.

 

[Minnie's Pal]

OK, to make a reply to my own post, I want to tell everyone why we chose a value over a moderate. And it wasn't just because it was cheaper (although that did help). When I went to WDW for the first time a couple years ago, I really wanted to feel like a kid again. I thought the minute we pulling up at Dixie Landings I would get "Disney Fever." And don't get me wrong, DLandings was nice, but I, speaking totally for myself, didn't get the fever from it. It just felt like a really nice resort. I think what I was expecting will be at any of the value resorts. Oversize animations, etc. I know the minute me, or my kids, see the huge pupppy dog (101 Dal.) or the oversized Andy, we are going to totally flipout. That is what I wanted the first time I came so that is why we went with the value resorts.

 

[SpecialFXKid]

CamColt, maybe i'll see you there. I've requested the Toy Story area, but i'll be happy with anything there.

Isn't there something that DIS Board members wear to recognise each other at the World? Like a ribbon or something? I vaugly remember something about this.....

 

[susy]

Rooms (cont.)

Each resort has "preferred" buildings. They are the buildings closest to the main pool and lobby. There is a $10 per night charge for these rooms.
The preferred sections at each resort are:
All-Star Movies: Fantasia
All-Star Music: Calypso
All-Star Sports: Surfs UP

There is also a $10 per night charge for each additional adult
over 2.



It's lime-green ribbon!!!!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Rollaway Beds are available for $15 per night plus taxes ($16.80) based on availability. Call housekeeping to have one sent to your room (Disney Reservations offices will tell you they are not available).

 

[Chance's Mom]

2 really good things about the ASMo:

The resort is relatively new, I have found it to be very clean

The heating system is a built-in, quiet unit with a digital thermostat, much nicer than those old, noisy in the wall units with buttons that never seem to adjust quite right.

The resort is very busy at all times of the year (with great rates, it's no wonder). Do not choose this resort if you want a relaxing, low key atmosphere! It is Disney "in your face" 24 hours a day. For some families, that is the fun of being at ASMo.

For a larger family, 2 connecting rooms at ASMo can be cheaper than squeezing everyone into one room at a moderate. And, you get 2 bathrooms!

The best part of the resort is that you are getting a lot of bang for your buck in my opinion!

 

[parrotheadlois]

We stayed at ASMo in November 2001. My husband was apprehensive, we'd only stayed at Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk, but we were taking the grandkids soo - we totally enjoyed it and would go back! We liked the food court, we liked the pool, transportation was great. We stayed in the Toy Story area (specifically Buzz's building). As you can see, we're going again and are staying at other resorts, but when we take the kids again, this is where we'll be!!! HAVE FUN!!!!!

 

[Minnie's Pal]

OK, on to the same old question. Are the prefered rooms worth the extra money or not? Personally, I opted for the prefered. I have heard alot say its not worth the money and I have heard some say it is.

 

[susy]

I had th eToy Story section and didn't find it any further than Fantasia (except for the buildings right next to the pool). If yu want to be guanranteed a close room, then I would pay the $10, if the extra expense is not going to take away from another part of the trip.

 

[mark & sandra]

Remember the 10.00 extra is for the preferred bldg. only. You still might get a room on the third floor in the back facing the parking lot. If you could get a pool facing room with your 10.00 extra payment then it might be worth it, otherwise there are rooms that are just as close in both Toy Story and Dalmation's bldg.

 

[Buzzlightbeer]

MY kids love ASMo. We stayed in toy story and in Fantasia and we loved it. Save your money and go for Toy Story.
Bus service is great.
Food court is not bad( we bought cookies and donuts at store for breakfast). Cheesesteaks there were really good.

Does anyone know if the resort does anything during the holiday season ?
Also do they still have the character caravan ?

Buzz

 

[Neeter]

I am soo happy someone started this thread! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Hopefully we can all keep it going! I love the All Stars and have always wanted them to have their own FAQ thread! LOL!

My tips:

1.) Don't pay extra for Fantasia if you don't absolutely have to be within steps of the pool. We were in the Toy Story section Buzz Building and we would walk to the bus stop from the sidewalk there to the front without going through Cinema Hall. It's a closer walk than from the Fantasia buildings.

2.) If you get there early like we did (9:00am) and you've faxed your room request but aren't given what you had wanted first thing... don't give up! We had faxed in our request for connecting rooms in the Toy Story section. However at check-in we were told that we were to be put in the Love Bug section. Not that it's a bad section but my 7 year old niece loves Toy Story soo much and has since the original movie came out... we were soo dissappointed. We just asked the CM if she was sure there wasn't anything else available. She pecked around on the computer and said the only other thing she had was two non-connecting rooms in the Mighty Ducks section. Okay we were all very dissappointed and told the lady so. We were not rude to her in the least we just let her know how much we were looking forward to sleeping next to Buzz & Woody! We didn't see how all of the rooms in Toy Story could be taken at 9:00 am. She told us to hold on a second and went into the back room. She was gone for probably 10 minutes. When she came back she had 2 connecting rooms in the Toy Story section for us! We were soo excited.

I'm not saying that this would work everytime but give it a try if you don't get what you request the first time. I wanna say again that we were not rude and hateful with the lady in the least... we just told her how dissappointed we were and I think she could see that. Also, we wouldn't have been as vocal if it had been closer to check in time. We were early and I think that helped to! Just wanted to post this in case it would help out anyone!

3.) Do not hesitate to book at ASMO! You will not regret it! It has the best Disney Atmosphere of any hotel I've stayed at there! We never felt like we left the magic behind at the parks. We all always got these big smiles on our faces when we'd walk through "Andy's Room" to our room each day! I've stayed at DxL too and like a previous poster said it just didn't have the WOW factor for me either. Plus I hated to layout of the place and the bus service was awful.

The bus service is excellent at the ASMO! We were even there during a very crowded Easter week and we had no complaints.

The food court has a really nice selection! We loved it. Ate there almost every day when we came back to our room to rest in the afternoon.

Also the CMs are soo great! They always seem to be in the best moods! I swear I think that the place just seems to bring out the best in everyone there! LOL!

4.) Have a great trip! You won't regret booking at ASMO!

Okay where do I get my Official All Star Movies Cheerleader uniform??

 

[Zandy595]

We LOVE All-Star Movies, but it wasn't available for the dates we are going so we are staying at ASMu. I requested one of the Jazz buildings (don't want to pay extra for the preferred Calypso) since they are 2nd closest to the foodcourt/buses.

We have never faxed in a request for a certain building. Can someone please post the fax #, when to do it, and any other tips?