All Star Movies - Why the bad reviews?

[FergieTCat]

Is there anything I should know about the All Star Movies?

I am thinking about going in the beginning of December (before the Free Dining discount begins). I want to stay at the All Star Movies, but I've been reading bad reviews -- dirty rooms that need renovations (?) I can't believe WDW would have any rooms that warrant bad reviews.

Anyone have any insight? Maybe it's false reviews from rival hotels?

Thanks!

 

[aaarcher86]

I love Movies. We've stayed at several properties and I've never had a 'dirty room.'

I honestly take most reviews with a grain of salt. The things I've seen some people complain about I'm sure occasionally there is a room that's not up to snuff, but as a whole, I wouldn't be concerned.

I will say though that I don't go in analyzing the snot out of my room either!

 

[shyjade]

We stayed there May 2012 and there was nothing we found to warrant a bad review whatsoever, and the rooms had recently been renovated. In fact, it was nicer than we expected for a "value" after having only ever stayed at Poly & AKL in the past.

We would have returned there last year but free dining wasn't offered at ASMo so we tried POP for the first time. We will be returning to POP on our next trip because in our opinion it has a slight edge over ASMo with the dedicated bus service, lake, and walking distance to AoA.

There are good and bad reviews for all hotels and I wouldn't worry about it. In fact, ASMo is sometimes excluded from discounts because the resort fills on its own and doesn't need extra incentives to bring in guests which I think is a good sign.

 

[DisneyDanielle85]

I didn't like it when I stayed there. However it wasn't becasue It was dirty or needed an update becasue it was a clean room and was decent for the price. However I don't have children so for me something a little quieter is prefered. I also don't do well with crowds of teenagers, which happened to be the case when I stayed at Movies. There was a Cheerleading competition. The themeing is fantastic, very ornate and VERY Disney which was cool to see once. It's based on personal preference. I don't like the value resorts, but thats just me. There isn't anything wrong with them though.

 

[mevelandry]

I've never stayed at the Movies but one thing I noticed is that as soon as they pay 100$+/night, some people are expecting a castle (or brand new/refurbished room), which is delusional.

Have a room used by families (with kids) 365 days/year for 3-5 years... you cannot expect it to look brand new. But it might be very clean.

While you read reviews, you'll notice that a lot of complainers never actually took the time to call or go to the lobby (it's the most efficient way) to ask for a better room or ask for the room to be deep cleaned. If they did, their stay would have been better...

p.s.: The worst room I've had was actually at the Polynesian Resort (smelled bad and was connecting to a room filed with children screaming like they were being murdered --I'm not kidding, I was worried at some point) ... They switched us to another longhouse and we've had an amazing stay.

 

[colemarie]

We stayed at ASM a little over a year ago. We really liked it. We don't spend a whole lot of time in the room but my kiddos loved the Toy Story area and the pool was really cute. No issues with cleanliness or anything of that nature. At the time I read reviews similar to the ones you seem to have come across so was a little nervous but no issues at all!!

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

I stayed there in December for a night before moving to WL and was extremely satisfied with the room and resort. If my budget only allowed a value resort I would not hesitate to stay there again.

I will echo what the pp said. Some people who complain never take the time to call and report their problems to housekeeping. A dirty room could happen anywhere, even a deluxe. Disney usually does an excellent job at addressing the concerns of their guests.

 

[shyjade]

Yes, the dirtiest room I ever had on property was at AKL. The room was filthy! We later found out the room had been sitting vacant for over a month and hadn't been re-cleaned before they assigned it to us. Seriously, there were dead flies on the desk and night stand! The dust was so thick that the towel animals were grey on the top from where the dust had built up.

I went back to the front desk, asked to speak to a manager and for the room to be cleaned and was assured it would be done by the time we returned from the Epcot (later realized it wasn't a manager I spoke with, but a CM who likely figured I was exaggerating). It wasn't touched when we got back for our 6pm ADR at Boma. We ate dinner, checked the room, and still nothing. Went back to the front desk and they said they would send the housekeeping manager to the room. She got there, immediately deemed it unacceptable, apologized up and down (claimed the front desk never told them about the problem) and had the front desk move us to a different room. NOT a magical first stay on property. We have never returned to AKL again.

 

[NicoleLarson]

Let me start by saying we are DVC members and even if we are not using our points we still stay deluxe. With that being said, I was really impressed with ASMo when we stayed there for 1 night a couple of months ago. Our DD5 even commented how extremely happy and couldn't believe that she was able to stay there. She has never said this when we stay deluxe! We did not have any room issues (we had connecting rooms) and both were in very good condition, so good that I even commented that they must have been updated recently. Later I learn this was not the case. We stayed in the love bug rooms and was probably in one of the farthest rooms from the pool and yet it only took about 5 minutes to get there. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again. The only slightly negative thing would be that if the all stars are sharing buses you are the last stop. If that is the case, I would walk to sport and get on there instead.

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

So glad to hear the good reviews! We are staying there for the first few nights of our stay, then switching to Pop. We've stayed at Pop 2x and loved it but excited to give Movies a try! I know my kids are going to love the theming.

 

[aaarcher86]

So glad to hear the good reviews! We are staying there for the first few nights of our stay, then switching to Pop. We've stayed at Pop 2x and loved it but excited to give Movies a try! I know my kids are going to love the theming.

I don't think you'll be disappointed. Especially if you know what to expect going in.

If you know you're getting double beds and there's no coffee pot right off the bat, you aren't going to be upset when you don't walk into queen beds and coffee at the QS location.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[kitkat4622]

also glad to hear this...we are staying at ASM in November

 

[Amy&Dan]

If you are seeing these reviews on sites like Tripadvisor, that may explain things.

I like tripadivisor but I seldom use it for WDW. WDW resorts are a different breed of resort/hotel. The "value" in any of them isn't really there. For example , I often stay at Hyatt Place when I travel to see family. Generally they are under $100, I get a very modern room, that is spacious, spotless and it comes with a free breakfast. There is nothing for even $500 a night at WDW that compares to that. So if I have to review a WDW hotel and in my mind I am comparing it to other brands I stay at, my review will reflect that.

Disney resorts are just impossible to compare and any of us on this board have a love of Disney that makes our reviews based on more than just the room amenities.

For the record, I have stayed at Movies and all the other values and never had anything but a clean room, with great castmembers and a great stay.

If you have any problems with your room, do not call housekeeping. That's just a call center. Go down to the desk and speak to a manager and your problem will be addressed.

 

[aacvacation]

Sorry to be the one that bursts the Movies bubble.

I am a housekeeper at a beautiful yet dingy (seeing as it was built in the 40s) hotel by the beach in my Coastal town. I love my job and am about to be a Housekeeper at Disney in October.

I recently stayed 2 nights in the All Star Movies resort, and not only did I receive some of the worst costumer service I have ever experienced, but the room was so dirty it was actually frightening. The first night I was so tired I had to just suck it up and strip what I could and use my own blanket from home. The next morning when I woke up I basically tore the room apart and had someone from housekeeping come to clean the room with me there because I was SO grossed out. (Again, coming from someone who regularly has to clean other people's messes and shouldn't be bothered by the state of a 'clean' hotel room!)
No, I was in no way expecting a super luxurious room. I needed some place cheap for sleeping, and I couldn't even comfortably do that. The room was infested with bugs, I could distinctly smell a man's cologne in the sheets of the bed I tried to sleep in, and when I turned on the lights, hairs were in the covers. (And checking the next bed the next day, there was food mess all over it which atteacted bugs!) There was uneaten food left in the dresser drawers. The drawers. Not the fridge, but drawers. And they had not been checked at all, as they were also filled with receipts and bags and jewelry. I'm serious, the list just goes on and on and on.

I'm positive everyone who goes there doesn't have such an awful experience, but never in my life would I suggest it or stay there again, and I think anyone who does is risking that sort of service.

 

[Nohal]

Sorry to be the one that bursts the Movies bubble.

I am a housekeeper at a beautiful yet dingy (seeing as it was built in the 40s) hotel by the beach in my Coastal town. I love my job and am about to be a Housekeeper at Disney in October.

I recently stayed 2 nights in the All Star Movies resort, and not only did I receive some of the worst costumer service I have ever experienced, but the room was so dirty it was actually frightening. The first night I was so tired I had to just suck it up and strip what I could and use my own blanket from home. The next morning when I woke up I basically tore the room apart and had someone from housekeeping come to clean the room with me there because I was SO grossed out. (Again, coming from someone who regularly has to clean other people's messes and shouldn't be bothered by the state of a 'clean' hotel room!)
No, I was in no way expecting a super luxurious room. I needed some place cheap for sleeping, and I couldn't even comfortably do that. The room was infested with bugs, I could distinctly smell a man's cologne in the sheets of the bed I tried to sleep in, and when I turned on the lights, hairs were in the covers. (And checking the next bed the next day, there was food mess all over it which atteacted bugs!) There was uneaten food left in the dresser drawers. The drawers. Not the fridge, but drawers. And they had not been checked at all, as they were also filled with receipts and bags and jewelry. I'm serious, the list just goes on and on and on.

I'm positive everyone who goes there doesn't have such an awful experience, but never in my life would I suggest it or stay there again, and I think anyone who does is risking that sort of service.

Wow as you can see I have stayed at ASMO just a "few" times and have never experienced any of the problems that you did. I hope you called a manager to see the room and I hope that they at least comped you the room or moved you to another room.

 

[chigirl]

I've stayed twice: June 2009 and September 2012 in Fantasia and loved it! I travel frequently for work, so I've stayed in 5 star hotels and dumps in my life...ASMo rooms are tiny, but clean. The grounds are nice. Staff was always friendly. Never had a dirty room yet at WDW.

 

[Mom2Luci]

We stayed at Movies in February for DD's birthday, and had no complaints. The room was clean, comfortable enough and in a good location. I had great service everywhere I went at the resort. I would definitely stay there again, but DD wants to go back to POP.

 

[DianeV]

We just got back from 6 nights at Movies. Preferred it much more than Music where we stayed in March. We didn't have any problems with the room being cleaned well. In fact we left the do not disturb sign one day for a good part as we wanted to just chill for a little bit. When we left we took it off and when we got back there was a bag on the door with new towels and toiletries. Probably because by the time we left housekeeping was pretty much done for the day, but she made sure to leave us those items.

No problems in the food court either. Just gets pretty busy in the morning and evening as expected

Pool was nice enough and they had lots of fun things for the kids to do (not our kids, we just watched the little ones)

 

[Mom2Luci]

We stayed at Movies in February for DD's birthday, and had no complaints. The room was clean, comfortable enough and in a good location. I had great service everywhere I went at the resort. I would definitely stay there again, but DD wants to go back to POP.

 

[jenrose66]

Is there anything I should know about the All Star Movies?

I am thinking about going in the beginning of December (before the Free Dining discount begins). I want to stay at the All Star Movies, but I've been reading bad reviews -- dirty rooms that need renovations (?) I can't believe WDW would have any rooms that warrant bad reviews.

Anyone have any insight? Maybe it's false reviews from rival hotels?

Thanks!

The last time I stayed at All Star Movies was 2011...I also stayed there once before that, I can't remember the year off the top of my head...

Anyway I loved it there. We were in the Herbie section both times. The rooms were clean, I liked the gift shop and food court. The layout of the resort was nice and compact. I found the bus service to be fine. I actually liked AsMo better than POP.

I have stayed at all the values except Sports and with the exception of the family suites at AoA, Movies is my favorite