All Star Music Vs. Buena Vista Palace

[Katems]

What would you do?? Stay at the value Music resort, with the Magical Express option, and abundant Disney transportation, and the extra magic hours and option for the dining plan, or stay in Downtown Disney at the Buena Vista Palace, which is a much nicer hotel, with plusher buses, but which offers no free airport transporation like Magical Express, and no special hours or dining plan. If we stay at the Palace we would rent a car.

So....

All Star Music WITH Magical Express, extra hours, five day hoppers, and dining plan $1767 (also may be a HIKE to the buses and food court....)

or

Palace with a rented car and buying food out of pocket and buying tickets out of pocket....$1375 BEFORE food, probably $2000 WITH food (no hikes to food or buses or parking lot, just take the elevator down....)

One adult, two kids, 11 and 7.

What would you do? Nicer hotel (Palace) with fewer perks and a bit more money, or the chaotic Music resort with all the perks and saving a few hundred dollars?

The trip would be soon, November 24-29.

Also, does the Music resort have a jacuzzi?

 

[Katems]

Oh, I forgot....the price for the Palace does not include the rented car, or an airport transportation of Mears if we forgo the car....so I'd need to add at least another $100 to the Palace quote.

 

[spiceycat]

all star does not have jacuzzi. It is a value resort.

you won't have a long walk to anywhere. the resort is not big. Lots of people - in a small place.

I stayed at LBVBW not long ago. It was a nice area.

although I like WDW buses better than DD buses.

just make sure the place you are talking about is this one
http://www.downtowndisneyhotels.com/bvp.html
and not this one
http://www.buenavistasuites.com/

both are nice - but one is almost onsite so better bus transportation, the other is definitely offsite.

so would include a car rental then the parking lot - $12 per car per day.

would go with AlSmu - just to have the EMH. the only DTD hotel that offers that is the Hilton.

 

[WDWAliceFan]

I think you should nix the BVP, upgrade to a moderate resort like the French Quarter and then you get all the perks of staying onsite.

The French Quarter is an intimate resort with minimal walking, the buses in my experience have never been that crowded and if being close to DTD is what you wanted, they have a boat service from the resort directly to DTD.

I've been to BVP and it's a HUGE resort, don't let the front fool you. I had relatives stay there just last month and the walk from the front entrance to her room was a good 10-15m walk, I realize you would have your rental car but if your going to Disney, I would stay on Disney property, but that's just me. I'm sure you have your own preferences that work for your family.

 

[Shmily1]

We always prefer to stay at a Disney resort. Other than that, the Swan and Dolphin. Even if it is a lot more, we would still choose a Disney resort just so every thing is Disney. The rest of my family may say different, but I make the ressies here!

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

We LOVE the BVP and the Mods & Values that we've stayed at for our WDW vacations. However, if you're truly planning alot of Park visits - I'd stay onsite instead of the BVP. We stayed there many years ago but we were only going to one park and then mainly doing Downtown Disney. If we were doing more than that I would have gone nuts with the transportation issues. When we stayed last August @ BVP we ended up using valet parking just to get across the street to DTD because the transportation wasn't running at the time we needed it. At least with staying onsite you'll never have any issues with transportation.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I think that most kids would really get a kick out of the themeing at the value resorts.. but of course, you know your kids better than I ..

 

[klofan]

I didn't find ASM to be a hike from anything. We stayed in the last building back in Country Fair and it was MAYBE a 3-4 minute straight walk to the food court/lobby/bus stops. It really is a great value for what you pay for.

 

[G8r4evr]

Tough choice....the Palace is a much nicer resort, but the added perks and cheaper price of Music make it a tough choice. Have you considered not renting a car at the Palace? There are so many options within walking distance and the last time I stayed there, the trasnportation was good to the parks. Tough call, but I would probably lean towards Music...as the kids might enjoy it more as well.

 

[DisneyRulz07]

When staying off property like that can you still take advantage of the Magical Hours? I stayed on property and was in the parks 1 hour prior, and it really helped with 2 kids (4-5yrs old).

 

[freshstart19]

I, too, have been trying to decide on a All Star Music Family Suite or a suite in a DTN Disney hotel. I have 2 18 year olds and a 5 year old along with my husband. We really wanted a suite arrangement with a separate bedroom so the "new" adults can stay up late and not bother the 5 year old. I'm still amazed that my newly 18 year old is costly me more to stay in the hotels! Anyway, we've been given a quote of $2118.24 for the All Star Music for a suite and $3,045 for a 2 bedroom villa in the Saratoga Springs. What a difference? I wanted to be close to DTD for the girls and thought we needed a disney resort for the early/late hours. Now, I'm debating. Is it worth that much extra money for 3 late hours in MK and MGM? I can find a suite in DTD area for much less that would include breakfast. Is the All Star Music too "themey" for the 18 year olds? Oh, it would cost us the same as the Saratoga Springs to stay at the Polynesian all in one room.

 

[minnie61650]

I, too, have been trying to decide on a All Star Music Family Suite or a suite in a DTN Disney hotel. I have 2 18 year olds and a 5 year old along with my husband. We really wanted a suite arrangement with a separate bedroom so the "new" adults can stay up late and not bother the 5 year old. I'm still amazed that my newly 18 year old is costly me more to stay in the hotels! Anyway, we've been given a quote of $2118.24 for the All Star Music for a suite and $3,045 for a 2 bedroom villa in the Saratoga Springs. What a difference? I wanted to be close to DTD for the girls and thought we needed a disney resort for the early/late hours. Now, I'm debating. Is it worth that much extra money for 3 late hours in MK and MGM? I can find a suite in DTD area for much less that would include breakfast. Is the All Star Music too "themey" for the 18 year olds? Oh, it would cost us the same as the Saratoga Springs to stay at the Polynesian all in one room.

Just an FYI

The Family Suites at all Star Music do not charge extra for extra adults 1-6 adults can stay in the Family Suites for the same set price.

More than 2 adults in a value room is an extra $10 a night each.
More than 2 adults in a mod room is an extra $15 a night each.
More than 2 adults in a deluxe room is an extra $25 a night each.

BTW:

The All Star Music theme seems to appeal to the adults a little more
since the theming and resort seem be a little quieter.
All Star Music is my favorite Disney owned resort.
Please see my info thread for the reasons why I enjoy All Star Music so much.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18641909#post18641909

Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[StormTigger]

Katems: I would go w/ WDWAliceFan and compare all the extra money you'd spend w/ offsite to a price for a moderate. You'll get the best of both worlds that way.

freshstart19: I know it's almost $1000 more, but I'd definitely would go w/ SSR. The rooms & living areas are bigger, you'll get a full kitchen, washer and dryer in villa, walking distance to DTD, and while the 18 y/os will enjoy having their own room, you'll get to enjoy the whirlpool tub after the 5y/o goes to sleep. Just be warned, once you stay in a 2bedroom villa, everything else is just a room. You also might want to check the DVC Rent/Trade board, you maybe able to rent points from a member for cheaper. (note there are risks involved in renting points so read carefully on this.)

 

[freshstart19]

StromTigger, where do I find the DVC rent/trade board? That's an intriguing idea!

 

[freshstart19]

Nevermind, I found it! It's early. I'll check it out.