All Star Music, is it worth almost $200 to upgrade to preferred from standard room?

[TeresaNJ]

I've never stayed at any of the All Star resorts, and will be staying at Music in June. I'm going to WDW for a work conference being held at WDW, and most of our events are at the Yacht Club conference center. We had to pay for our own rooms, so since I just returned from a trip to BRV last week, and have another trip planned for SSR in September, I'm trying to be economical on this trip, especially since I'm traveling alone. I will be coming in a few days early, and staying for a few days after the conference to do the parks. My concern is that some nights I'll be getting back late, and while I know I'm safer on Disney property probably more than anywhere else, I'm still leery of walking back to my room late at night, especially if it's somewhat of a distance from the bus stop and main building. I just don't know if the $200 is worth it to be a little closer, especially if I end up at the end of the Jazz buildings, which looks pretty close to the standard buildings in the Broadway Hotel and Rock Inn sections. Any thoughts?

 

[leebee]

Hi Teresa! I've stayed in the Broadway section of ASMu several times and never felt unsafe walking back to my room, alone, in the evening. The entire walk is "centralized" so you are always walking by pools or buildings. In fact, the only time we stayed at ASMu when I wasn't comfortable walking back to the room was when we had a car, and parked near the Broadway building as it was a shorter walk. Also a darker walk. Everyone's tolerance is different, but I felt perfectly safe at ASMu.
(And know that we're all still thinking of Dom and hope he's doing well... )

 

[TeresaNJ]

Hi Teresa! I've stayed in the Broadway section of ASMu several times and never felt unsafe walking back to my room, alone, in the evening. The entire walk is "centralized" so you are always walking by pools or buildings. In fact, the only time we stayed at ASMu when I wasn't comfortable walking back to the room was when we had a car, and parked near the Broadway building as it was a shorter walk. Also a darker walk. Everyone's tolerance is different, but I felt perfectly safe at ASMu.
(And know that we're all still thinking of Dom and hope he's doing well... )

Thank you so much, leebee, that makes me feel so much better, and thank you so much for keeping Dom in your thoughts! If you ever want an update on Dom feel free to PM me.

 

[OKW Lover]

No way would I pay $200/night just for a slightly better location

 

[TeresaNJ]

@OKW Lover it's $200 total for eight nights, well, $182.73 to be exact, but I keep thinking that's money I could use for food, etc.

 

[OKW Lover]

Ahh, $25/night sounds reasonable. But yes, that could get you a few good meals.

 

[HopperFan]

Have you looked in to Swan/Dolphin? or Disney Springs?

I've stayed at Music twice, I won't return. I am going in September and opted for unrenovated Sports even though it was the same price for renovated Music. If I were to stay at Music I would totally pay the extra to be closer to the main hub. Music is not like the other two and standard is far back on the site.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Have you looked in to Swan/Dolphin? or Disney Springs?

I've stayed at Music twice, I won't return. I am going in September and opted for unrenovated Sports even though it was the same price for renovated Music. If I were to stay at Music I would totally pay the extra to be closer to the main hub. Music is not like the other two and standard is far back on the site.

Since the conference I'm attending is for Disney travel planners, we are required to stay on Disney property, excluding S/D. Can you tell me why you prefer Sports over Music, and why you won't return to Music, as Sports does have availability?

 

[kwdw]

I’ve stayed just about as far away from the main building you can be at each of the All Stars as a solo, female traveler. Gotten back at 1-3 am in the morning when it was deserted. It can feel empty, especially after dealing with crowded parks and buses, but I’ve never felt unsafe. I prefer being farther out because you are less likely to get noisy groups walking by. At that hour, everyone just wants to be at their room. Yes, I am aware of my surroundings as I walk. The one area I don’t like at night is the Epcot area resorts because of experiences with groups of drunk men.

 

[HopperFan]

Since the conference I'm attending is for Disney travel planners, we are required to stay on Disney property, excluding S/D. Can you tell me why you prefer Sports over Music, and why you won't return to Music, as Sports does have availability?

I have stayed several times, each time in standard. As background I'm a city girl (NJ/NYC) and have always worked (and played) in downtowns of big cities. I have walked the MK parking lot at 2 am to my car ..... never felt unsafe, until I stayed at Music.

The walk from the main hub to the standard rooms is not only a jaunt but it's the darkest resort, very low lit and a resort where I rarely saw any CMs walking around. I've come back to POP many times after EMH or parties or NYE and not only is it bright and safe feeling, there were always CMs cleaning the community areas. I've never felt so uncomfortable so we stopped riding the bus and ran to our car to go to parks.

One trip we got no sleep because teens were all over the place, cheering until 2 am. The hotel would not do anything to stop it.

One trip we had the police called to our building numerous times. I know it can happen anywhere to have drinking, yelling, DV but it's the only hotel I've experienced it after 140+ stays.

One trip our room out back faced the parking lot and a huge group of 18 wheelers and their tractors. It felt like a truck stop and they were coming and going.

I travel mostly just me and my son, who is disabled, and I felt so uncomfortable after dark we skipped dinner a couple nights because I didn't want to walk through the resort.

POP, Movies and Sports are laid out different and more compact, you could have a standard room and be in view of the hub. I'd rather a well lit resort where I feel comfortable.

 

[Disneylover99]

I’ve stayed at music twice and I do not enjoy the standard rooms. They are too far (for me at least) to the buses. I never felt unsafe, I really just don’t like the layout of the resort.

I’d pay to upgrade to preferred at Music. Even then, the furthest Jazz rooms seemed too far away from the main building to be considered preferred. I’d stay standard at Sports over Music.

 

[MinnieMSue]

I stayed in broadway section and did not mind the walk but it took me through the smoking section. Or at least where people were smoking. I would not want to walk from further back in the resort every day. We have stayed in a family suite and it is in the preferred section. Honestly at music I would pay for a preferred room. For a long trip you will be happy with the close location.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Thank you all so much for your replies. I so wish Pop was available for my dates, but so far nothing. I'll keep checking, but in the meantime, I'm going to try to switch to Sports.

 

[figmentfinesse]

Thank you all so much for your replies. I so wish Pop was available for my dates, but so far nothing. I'll keep checking, but in the meantime, I'm going to try to switch to Sports.

Just a heads up though- Sports does not have the updated rooms.

 

[3gr8boys]

FWIW we were in Calypso bldg 1 last month and had a great stay. Preferred location may make worthwhile difference if you can't switch resorts or want to be sure to have refurbished (nice!) room.

 

[lockets]

Thank you all so much for your replies. I so wish Pop was available for my dates, but so far nothing. I'll keep checking, but in the meantime, I'm going to try to switch to Sports.

That’s what I was going to recommend. Pop instead. Especially the conference is at Yacht right? You can take the skyliner and friendship boat to conference.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

We have stayed at Music several times, all standard rooms and never did I feel unsafe or scared. Disney is so busy that there are always people around even late at night when busses return to the hotel full of people. I would only pay to upgrade to preferred if the longer walk will bother you because the standard rooms are way back, especially the country section. The rooms are brand new with queen size beds. Also, remember that the Sports rooms have not been refurbished and I believe that this refurbishment has just started and if so you will have some construction happening. The beds are only double size if that may make a difference to you.

 

[TeresaNJ]

FWIW we were in Calypso bldg 1 last month and had a great stay. Preferred location may make worthwhile difference if you can't switch resorts or want to be sure to have refurbished (nice!) room.

Preferred was available last night, and now it's disappeared again while I was trying to make up my mind. That's what I get for hesitating.

We have stayed at Music several times, all standard rooms and never did I feel unsafe or scared. Disney is so busy that there are always people around even late at night when busses return to the hotel full of people. I would only pay to upgrade to preferred if the longer walk will bother you because the standard rooms are way back, especially the country section. The rooms are brand new with queen size beds. Also, remember that the Sports rooms have not been refurbished and I believe that this refurbishment has just started and if so you will have some construction happening. The beds are only double size if that may make a difference to you.

Walking doesn't bother me too much, but I did have a spinal fusion two years ago, so by the end of the night it's flaring up. Believe it or not, the fact that Sports doesn't have coffee makers bothers me more than the double-sized beds, LOL. I'm so confused I don't know what to do. I think I'll keep my standard room at Music and hope they don't put me in a room that's parking lot facing. I did request an inner facing room, ground floor, as close to the preferred buildings as possible, so fingers crossed that's what I get, and maybe Pop will open up in the next 28 days before I go.

 

[leebee]

All I can say is, keep looking. We stayed at POP in August 2021 and at night, well... it's a big resort, and the path to our building was kind-of winding. DD and I were happy to be at POP but more than once mentioned that it was more of a "straight-shot" to get back to our room at ASMu (in the Broadway section). Honestly? I think you'll be safe wherever you end up.

 

[3gr8boys]

Preferred was available last night, and now it's disappeared again while I was trying to make up my mind. That's what I get for hesitating.



Walking doesn't bother me too much, but I did have a spinal fusion two years ago, so by the end of the night it's flaring up. Believe it or not, the fact that Sports doesn't have coffee makers bothers me more than the double-sized beds, LOL. I'm so confused I don't know what to do. I think I'll keep my standard room at Music and hope they don't put me in a room that's parking lot facing. I did request an inner facing room, ground floor, as close to the preferred buildings as possible, so fingers crossed that's what I get, and maybe Pop will open up in the next 28 days before I go.

If you end up keeping this reservation and end up with a less than optimal room location, I would ask the front desk if anything else is available that would better suit your needs/worries. Can't hurt! Good luck.