All Star Movies/Holiday Inn

[London Calling]

Planning to book a week at All Star Movies and then a further week at the Holiday Inn resort on International Drive so as to get a feel for the area and access to shopping. Would welcome tips on both hotels.

Specifically about ASM: A bit concerned that this is a valy hotel, does this mean that it is cheap and nasty or just good value. Are the rooms really small ? Is there somewhere wjere I can the kids some milk ? Is it easy to go off site with a couple of pushchairs and how would I get to a supermarket ( wal mart for example) ? Finally, Im a big film fan and last time I was in Florida we stayed at a number of hotels that had free videao rental -is this facilty available at either hotel ?

Thanks

 

[squitty]

Hi

We stayed at the ASMo and loved it, just because its a value resort don't think shabby, cause they aint Just good value for money.
The rooms are not small. They have 2 double beds, TV, small table 2 chairs, bathroom with wc bath and over head shower. There is daily maid service. Our room was always clean.
Milk was available from the food court, which depending on which building you are staying in is pretty close. We stayed in Dalmatians and it was great.

Hope this helps

 

[gilld]

The All Stars don't have VCR's so you aren't able to rent movies. The rooms are fine, not huge but perfectly ok. The themes are great.

You are not within walking distance of any supermarket so would need to drive or take a cab. I suppose you could take the bus to DTD and walk to Goodings, but it would be trek. Although we don't use a car much, we always hire one to give us freedom. After all, wonderful as WDW is, you won't want to be confined there.

 

[Hilary]

I'd recommend staying in the Holiday Inn first, then switching to ASMo, rather than the other way around, especially having children with you - they'll love the Disney theming and may not want to leave!

 

[maleficent_man]

I agree with Hilary 10,000%!!

 

[gilld]

Definitely do I Drive first, you won't want to leave "the world" for accommodation off site.

 

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

I agree, definately stay in the Holiday Inn first.
We stayed at the ASMO last time,for 2weeks and we enjoyed it so much the rooms,arent huge and arent small just right, clean,themed which kids love,we stayed in the Buzz Lightyear section,and Chelsea loved waking up in the morning and opening the door to see a huge figure of buzz and woody!
They are great value and this doesnt mean they are tacky/scruffy infact the oposite!
The food court is great,food is very good, from pizzas/salad/ice cream etc, they have milk sandwiches etc on offer and fruit etc.
They have a disney shop onsite,ideal for picking up anything you miss, games room etc...I definately am going to stay again!!

 

[mumbojumbo]

Hi, I'm planning our first trip in Oct 2006 and wondered the same about value hotels, ie are they tacky or not. You've put my mind at rest but does anyone have pics of inside the rooms? Thanks.

 

[maggs]

We always split our holidays like this - one week on I Drive and one in Disney. In that way you can enjoy the shops, restaurants and attractions - Sea World, Wet n Wild, Universal, IoA etc and then move in to Disney for the magical ending to your holidday.
Dont worry about the value hotels. They are so clean and pristine, as are all Disney hotels. I always stay in the value hotels and All Star Movies is a great choice.

Maggs

 

[Night-train]

You've put my mind at rest but does anyone have pics of inside the rooms? Thanks.

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

Hope this is of some help.

 

[paulh]

weve stayed in values to delux and you are treated the same at all (except concarge think thats how its spelt)
Paulh

 

[feistyblue]

The thing about Value hotels is that they are easily to the standard of very good hotels here. The All Stars Movies room we stayed in was bigger than any Holiday Inn I've stayed in at home, and a lot bigger than the executive room I stayed in at The Grosvenor House in London on Park Lane! It was also brighter and cleaner with a much nicer bathroom. Grosvenor House cost £1000.00 for 2 nights!

I've been fortunate all my life to stay in luxury hotels as my parents are total hotel snobs, I found myself really surprised with the AsMo and loved it. So much so that although I can afford moderates or deluxes, we are going back in November and will be staying at Pop so we can try another Value resort.

Claire

 

[London Calling]

Thank you all very much for the advice.

One question I have, is how far and accessible are the premium outlets at lake Buena Vista. On a map I have it looks close to Downtime Disney and I think there is a bus from the hotel there - is that right ? Also, how do i get to a walmart/kmartt ( wanna buy a gameboy) or a supermarket for grocery provisions allwithout a car ?

Hope you can help

 

[maggs]

If you want to get to Premium while staying at ASM it is easy. Take a bus from ASM to Magic Kingdom. Get on to the monorail to the Transportation Centre - a few minutes ride and catch a Lynx bus No 50 to stop 38. You then get on to the I Ride travelling south and Premium is the last stop. It is much easier than it sounds and costs pence compared to a taxi.
However, why dont you just catch the I Ride close to the Holiday Inn. There will be no changeovers. You just get on, sit there for half an hour and get off at the last stop.
Have a look at these two links

http://www.iridetrolley.com/

http://www.golynx.com/

Hope this helps
PS - Publix (very good supermarket) is across the road from Premium

Maggs

 

[London Calling]

Sorry I obviously didnt make myself clear with regards to the last point.

Its actuallyu the outlets at Lake Buena Vista that I want to get to from the Disney resort, as well as kamrt/wallmart etc etc

 

[maggs]

I emailed Lynx re buses from Downtown to Lake Buena Vista last year. From what I can remember there arent any. Why not email the company - they are great with information and helped me so much with planning.
I dont know if you are going for the first time, but I would say that the Premium Outlets are much better - perhaps you want certain brands though.
Regarding getting to Walmart we caught the No 37 Lynx from Universal after a great day at IoA.
From Disney you have to get the NO 50 to I Ride 38, then the I Ride to connect with Lynx 37 and then on to Walmart.
If all else fails go to Premium for your Gameboy - there is a good shop there where we got games just as cheaply and the gameboy was the same price.
It isnt easy getting to either from Disney but it can be done.

Maggs

 

[paulh]

worst comes to worst take a taxi
paulh

 

[vernon]

I'd strongly suggest you rethink the "no car" aspect of the holiday, even if you just rent a car for a week ( it's often the same price for a whole week as booking a car for 4 or 5 days).
In your situation I would try to have a week off site first. Book a car for the last couple of days of that aspect. Use the car to change hotels, once at the All Star, do some shopping at Walmart. While there buy a styrofoam "coolbox" (about $7-10) and use this while at the AS to store milk, juice, drinks etc. you can get free ice to put in the cooler at your hotel. Do the balance of shopping while having the car to take the stuff back to the hotel. With LBV outlet as well at Belz, it's a big help to have a car to get from one shop to the next, also to be able to store the bags while you go round the next store.

By the time you pay to transfer hotels, a couple of taxis to the stores/malls, a couple for grocery stops it's going to cost you more than an all inclusive car for a week. It's also worth remembering that if you don't have a car, you will be relying on Disney to cover your eating needs. IMHO you pay at least an extra 15%-20 to eat on site. Driving is REALLY easy in the US and shouldn't put you off renting a car for some of your trip. It also opens up other possibilities such as Busch gardens or the Space Centre, that are almost impossible without your own transportaton.

 

[London Calling]

Thanks Vernon, Im recovering from a back problem and will be unable to drive, thats the problem.

We've decided to go to the resort for the first week and get all the disney stuff out of the way, and whilst there wanna go to LBVO. Second week we can always use the I-Trolly to do the shopping and the hotel has shuttles to the two Universal parks.

If I am able to persuade my wife to drive, is it straightforward to hire a car for the day and what would be the cost ?