All Star Music FAQ thread and tips

[Daisylover]

This resort definitely sounds like the one for me. I was considering Pop Century but after all this info, I think I'll change my ressie.
Thanks everyone for the great info.

 

[CharlieTuna]

I just got back from All Star Music and I can say it's never been better (12th visit to that resort). My check in was fast and friendly. A lady named Andrena noticed it was our anniversary and gave my wife a rose! Very sweet.

The food court was busy because of all of the groups....and yes - I agree the food is better at All Star Movies - but it wasn't totally crazy. I thought they staff did well despite how busy it was.

The big things that made this trip better:
-The staff (cast) seemed to smile more and ackowledged us. Not just the front desk...but the housekeepers and janitors too.
-Everybody at the concierge desk seemed to know what they were doing. That's not always the case.
-Great games and acitivities at the pool.
-Always very colorful with lots of baloons in the lobby.

I stopped and spoke with one of the Managers named Chris and he mentioned that they are still doing the service enhancements at Music and the Yacht and Beach Club.

Whatever....it's working.

 

[CharlieTuna]

I just got back from All Star Music and I can say it's never been better (12th visit to that resort). My check in was fast and friendly. A lady named Andrena noticed it was our anniversary and gave my wife a rose! Very sweet.

The food court was busy because of all of the groups....and yes - I agree the food is better at All Star Movies - but it wasn't totally crazy. I thought they staff did well despite how busy it was.

The big things that made this trip better:
-The staff (cast) seemed to smile more and ackowledged us. Not just the front desk...but the housekeepers and janitors too.
-Everybody at the concierge desk seemed to know what they were doing. That's not always the case.
-Great games and acitivities at the pool.
-Always very colorful with lots of baloons in the lobby.

I stopped and spoke with one of the Managers named Chris and he mentioned that they are still doing the service enhancements at Music and the Yacht and Beach Club.

Whatever....it's working.

 

[Boardwalk Gal]

Thank you Charlie Tuna for the postive feedback. I am staying at the ASMu for the 1st time (Stayed at Pop 2 years ago and am a DVC member) I am really looking forward for my upcoming trip in Sept.

45 more days!!!!

 

[jetienne]

hi everyone! i just finished my stay at ASMu (and my my first disney resort stay)! and i loved it!

we stayed in calypso room 425, so we got a really convenient location. it was in the back, near the playground, so it was also quiet. really great combo.

we actually checked in at midnight, and there was a computer glitch, so check in was slow. there was barely a line however. overall, service was really friendly, but sort of slow in my opinion (but i always find that to be the case in FL )

the food at the food court was ok, nothing great. my mother was really upset at the fact that we had to pay about $6 for 4 small pancakes. and i didnt like the fact that their cereal bowls were $2.19! it could maybe feed a small child, but not a full-grown person...but there were lots of options for every meal. the food court got really crowded during peak times, so it was hard to find a seat inside, but there was outdoor seating luckily.

yes, they still continue the activities, which i thought were great. ratatouille was showing last night and the dance party was really cute. the whole resort sort of has this festive atmosphere, from the ballons at the front desk to the bright, fun decor.

the pool was heavenly. even though it rained for about 2-3 hours in the afternoon.

as for transportation, 1) all-star music was the first stop when leaving for parks and such, so you were bound to find a seat, but 2) i wish i was aware of how time-consuming the bus system is! it took us almost an hour to get to downtown disney! im sure it takes much less time if you drive yourself

all in all, i'm really glad i chose ASMu, and i would definitely return there (and recommend it to others)

 

[mc'smommy]

Almost an hour to get to downtown disney? Wow....... thanks for the heads up

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Just booked a short stay at ALMU - first stay there! Usually go through special needs, but this is a short trip so decided to try with requests.

Preferred was not available - please - which area should I request to be sure it is refurbished and closest to food court, bus, lobby etc without being preferred?

Thanks so much!!

 

[kath1210]

Just booked a short stay at ALMU - first stay there! Usually go through special needs, but this is a short trip so decided to try with requests.

Preferred was not available - please - which area should I request to be sure it is refurbished and closest to food court, bus, lobby etc without being preferred?

Thanks so much!!

The Jazz buildings are the next closest. Calypso buildings are preferred.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

-Everybody at the concierge desk seemed to know what they were doing.

YAY! That just made me so happy to read!!!

 

[Goofy22]

Just booked a short stay at ALMU - first stay there! Usually go through special needs, but this is a short trip so decided to try with requests.

Preferred was not available - please - which area should I request to be sure it is refurbished and closest to food court, bus, lobby etc without being preferred?

Thanks so much!!

Definitely Jazz we were in this section last year great section not a far walk at all to the main building foodcourt etc... and the piano pool was righ there! AWESOME deal!

 

[pta-mom]

Almost an hour to get to downtown disney? Wow....... thanks for the heads up

Not sure why it would be an hour unless you had to wait for multiple buses. There is a great web-site that shows times to & from each location at

www.ourlaughingplace.com

ASM to Downtown is 27 minutes.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

The Jazz buildings are the next closest. Calypso buildings are preferred.

Thank you!

 

[Wish_I_Was_At_WDW]

Not sure why it would be an hour unless you had to wait for multiple buses. There is a great web-site that shows times to & from each location at

www.ourlaughingplace.com

ASM to Downtown is 27 minutes.

It seems like buses to and from DTD are notoriously slow no matter which resort you are at. No idea why.

 

[mc'smommy]

Not sure why it would be an hour unless you had to wait for multiple buses. There is a great web-site that shows times to & from each location at

www.ourlaughingplace.com

ASM to Downtown is 27 minutes.

that website was nothing more than a travel agency ........

 

[minnie61650]

Almost an hour to get to downtown disney? Wow....... thanks for the heads up

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot, MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is listed as 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.


*Please Note:
In my experience the bus rides are usually 3-6 minutes shorter than the listed times. Perhaps the authors posted the ride times during heavy traffic so the actual times would be less in most cases.

 

[mc'smommy]

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot, MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is listed as 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.


*Please Note:
In my experience the bus rides are usually 3-6 minutes shorter than the listed times. Perhaps the authors posted the ride times during heavy traffic so the actual times would be less in most cases.

This is great information, thank you......

 

[PlutoGirl1117]

that website was nothing more than a travel agency ........

No, scroll to the bottom and click on transport wizard. It is great as you can put in any combo! It's on the bottom right.

 

[coastermom]

We just returned from ASMU and never really had more then a 20 min. wait for a bus or had a ride for more then 30 min and that was to Magic Kingdom.
We only had TWO issues with buses one was in the morning waiting for an Animal Kingdom bus . EVERY OTHER bus came at least once some came twice and the AK bus never came . Someone went to complain and the bus was there in less then 5 min.

The other problem was that on some nights there seemed to be a big push on sharing buses with the other all stars . This is fine IF crowds are light but there were many ,many people waiting for these buses. I remember last year each hotel had their own bus . This year for some reason at the same time they are sharing . I think it has to do with Gas prices. Every bus for almost every hotel was packed or sharing .. Example BC/YC , Boardwalk and something else were all together in one bus. That bus was also packed . Not liking that at all .

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Can anyone that was at Music this summer tell me about the tour groups. We are planning for June 23 - July 2 2009 and I KNOW it will be crowded and the resort will be full. But I would like to avoid the BIG groups of barely chaperoned kids from ANY country! My Dsister really wants to stay at the All Stars. Will Music be a good choice for us? Or do the groups take over all the values resorts? Thanks so much.

PS Just so you know I have no problem with teens (I have one and I teach middle school) I just don't want to deal with the craziness they bring in large groups while I am trying to sleep!

 

[coastermom]

Can anyone that was at Music this summer tell me about the tour groups. We are planning for June 23 - July 2 2009 and I KNOW it will be crowded and the resort will be full. But I would like to avoid the BIG groups of barely chaperoned kids from ANY country! My Dsister really wants to stay at the All Stars. Will Music be a good choice for us? Or do the groups take over all the values resorts? Thanks so much.

PS Just so you know I have no problem with teens (I have one and I teach middle school) I just don't want to deal with the craziness they bring in large groups while I am trying to sleep!

As I said we were just there. We stayed from july 26 to Aug 2 . There was i believe a group at our hotel but I never seen them or even heard them. I only saw the group leader once in the main hall with a flag waiting for the kids. When I finally seen them they had mostly girls and they must have been in the back of the resort. We stayed in the perferd building as we had a family suite. We also had a pool facing room and never had a noise issue at all. many people complain about that but we never had it .