All-Star Music

[wdw1sttimers]

I leave in 3 weeks with my dh30, dd7, and ds4. I would love some reassurance on the All-Star Music. I mainly chose the hotel because it seemed so kid appealing. Have I made a huge mistake? I want this trip to be magical for them. I just don't think they would appreciate a fancier hotel more than one that looks so much more "kiddish" for lack of a better word. Have any of you stayed at an all-star and a deluxe with children? What was the kids reactions?

 

[musicfan]

We've been going since my son was 10 (he's now 15), and we've stayed at the Poly (deluxe), POR (mod), CSR (mod), Ft. Wilderness campground (value), ASMu (value) and ASMo (value). He prefers the All Stars by a vast margin. We've also visited just about every other resort on property, and he still asks to stay at the Movies or Music every time.

I must say I was very disappointed with the Poly. For a resort that cost us THREE TIMES what the All Stars cost, we certainly did not get three times the enjoyment. The rooms are larger, but they are NOT what I would consider spacious. They are the size of an average room at a Marriott or Comfort Inn that you would rent on the outside for around $90. The room and halls smelled of mildew, and the AC was from the dinosaur period -- a far cry from the All Stars' digital temperature controls. The food court at the All Stars is also vastly superior to those at the deluxes -- WDW seems to think that if you're rich enough to stay at a deluxe, you should be eating every meal in a sit down restaurant.

All the kids I have ever been with at WDW LOVE the themeing at the All Stars. It's big, bold and colorful, and full of recognizable Disney characters.

 

[jennymouse]

My 6yr old DGD and I stayed at ASMu and loved it. I was worried about it too, but there was no need. Very fun. We're going again in October and my DGD wants to stay there again. We're really staying at AKL, but they don't know it. I hope DGD won't be disappointed! She really loves animals though, and AK is her favorite park.

I wouldn't hesitate a second to stay at ASMu again though.

 

[wdw1sttimers]

Thank you so much! That is exactly what I needed to hear. I can't wait!

 

[susy]

We stayed at the Movies in Jan and will be at the Music in Sept.
I did pay the extra $ for preferred building because I wanted to be right by the pool and food court (but I did request the "quiet side"). The thing I loved about the movies was the immediate "fun" atmosphere! Check-in, the store, food court and arcade all together and you walk out and the pool and bar are right there. The rooms are nothing great, but definitely not Motel6ish. Motel 6 doesn't have themed rooms. We also bring our disney stuffed dolls and housekeeping does cute things with them and the towels. I try not to stay in any cheap hotels. Even traveling on the road I always try to stay over night in a Best Western or Marriott owned hotel. I would not consider the AS to be in a cheap hotel category. The rooms are nice, just small and no extras.
We did stay at CBR a few weeks ago and LOVED it!!! the rooms were wonderful. We just didn't use the extra amenities and honestly had more fun at ASMovies. Sorry for rambling!

 

[Madhatter266]

We stayed at ASMu during Christmas week, and really enjoyed it. There were 5 of us in 2 rooms, and we loved it. We stayed in Jazz Bldg 2, and were quite satisfied because we were located between both pools. There was nothing that we felt we did not have that may have been in the Deluxes. We did have a teenager in the group, and to him he felt "deluxed" with the surroundings of the resort. For us, the ASMu was just fine!

 

[wdw1sttimers]

You guys are great! Thanks for your replies. I think the kids are going to love it there! So, you think the Jazz building it the way to go? Do I need to call them and request or wait until we check in?

 

[mabell2]

I've stayed at the all of the All Star Resorts and found them to be very pleasant. The rooms are small but unless you are planning on speding a lot of time in the room I wouldn't worry about it. The kids loved the themed buildings and the food courts are very convenient. We are heading back there in July and staying at the All Star Sports again. Last time it was the Moives. The Toy Story Building was Great.

We've stayed at the Contemporary, CB, PO and Poly before and found that we spend so little time in the room that we decided to save money on the room.

We love using the bus system. Since we live only 2 hours from Disney it's great to get there, Park the car and not have to drive again until we leave.

Have a Great Time..

 

[dopey423]

We've stayed at the ASMu three times already and we've never had a complaint. The rooms are very clean and the a/c works great and we don't spend much time in the rooms anyway. I'd rather save the extra $$ on the hotel and use it on some great meals or souveniers.

Don't worry, I'm sure that they will love it!

 

[sandileigh]

My husband and I have stayed at both the All Star Music and Caribbean Beach (and I've also stayed at Port Orleans, French Quarter with my sister). Even though we really liked the theming of CBR, we weren't at the resort long enough to enjoy the extras we were paying for, like renting a boat or sitting on the beach next to water you can't swim in. We both agreed that we were just as happy at the All Star Music - and we don't even have any kids yet!

I think when we go back in a couple of years, it will be back to the All Stars (unless of course we strike it rich and money is no object - then I'd probably have to stay at AKL or GF out of principle). It will probably be even more enjoyable when we have kids that would get even more of a kick out of the extra huge maracas!

 

[sha_lyn]

We just returned Sunday from a week at the CR and one night at ASMu. I still love ASMu after a week at the CR. CR's food court stinks and the prices at the 3 sit down restuarants are very high. ASMus has a great inexpensive food court (inexpensive compared to WDW prices anyway). The only problem with ASMu is when we stayed there a week there wasn't enough drawer space for all 4 of us.
This trip we walked over and looked around ASMo. Oh boy did I fall in love with that place. If we return to the world agai nbafore SoG reopens I will book ASMo over CR for certain.

 

[adamak]

I have DVC now, and almost always stayed at BWV. I tried OKW, AKL, and AS-Sports. To be honest, AS is still one of the best deal in WDW. Of course, AKL is the best, and very special. But does it really worht the extra $200 over AS, night after night?

I stayed at AS for my honeymoon, and we had a blast. AS bus system is the best. Sure there are screaming kids, but for the amount you're paying, it's totally worth it.

You don't spend that much time in the resort anyways. Leave the deluxe resort for those special nights. My advice is that if you're going to WDW for the park, stay at AS. If you're there to relax and to do the non-park stuff, stay at a better hotel.

 

[DeeP]

I just returned from a 13 day WDW trip: business (4 days) and pleasure (9 days). We stayed 4 nights at ASMU while on the business part and 5 nights at my DVC home BWV and 3 nights at CBR during the pleasure part. We enjoyed all the resorts very much with my favorite of course BWV because of the beautiful villa and the superior location, CBR was great also and the reburbed rooms are wonderful and the whole resort is very peaceful and beautiful. But I have to agree that the value resorts with a discounted rate are a steal for the money! They are clean, delightfully themed resorts with rooms that are really not much smaller than a moderate resort room, the CMs are very nice, the food courts are just as good as any other WDW food court and sometimes better, the bus service is faster than both the moderate & deluxe resorts because you do not have all the multiple stops, you do not have a pool slide, hot tub, bike & boat rentals, or sitdown restaurants and the landscaping/layout of the resorts is not as lush as the moderate or deluxe resorts. But for the cost of the value resorts with a discounted rate they are one of the best deals to be found at WDW resorts. I have paid much more for hotel rooms in other places that were no where as near as nice let alone had the WDW location, the theming, food court, gift shop, themed pool, etc as the All Stars resorts have.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We have stayed here many times over the last 6 or 7 years and really enjoy it. We have two kids who are bothe teenagers now and they still enjoy it when we stay here.

 

[eeyore1226]

We just got back from 4 nights at ASMU on May 20th and it was fun. I, too, had the same concerns that you do but it was very quiet during our stay and the grounds are really beautiful with budding rose bushes everywhere. The buildings are cute too; very kid friendly. It was worth it for only $70 a night but would I stay again? Maybe, if the price was right but I still prefer the mods and deluxes. One note of caution; if you are renting a car and doing your own driving, keep your eyes on the signage; we found it very confusing for the All Star resorts and ended up at the entrance for Animal Kingdom twice. There is a sign for All Star Cafe that tricks people too. We had a car this time but there always seemed to be plenty of busses at the bus stop. The food court was o.k. - nothing to write home about. The pools are great; the guitar one is heated. We only went there cause my young daughter has begged to swim in the piano pool for several years and she finally got her wish. Say hi to Mickey for me

 

[gabylin]

Last year we split our stay between ASMO ASMU and CR we loved
all of them!! We stayed in the Calypso Bldg. she gave us a room
that was around the corner from the pool so it was a bit quieter.
My dd loved going through the maracas!!I also found the food court at ASMO the best, then ASMU and then CR.

 

[ukcatfan]

I actually have a negative review. We stayed there in Nov and upon arrival to our building (Jazz w/playground) we noticed a large amount of broken glass in the back stairway by the lot and the garbage can was overflowing. I called right then to report it. To make a long story short, after calling two more times and telling housekeepers in person three times, it still took THREE DAYS to get it cleaned. In that time, the grass right beside the garbage can was cut twice. After coming back home, I reported the incident and they offered me some incentive to come back. I will be back there next weekend to try again. I expect everything will go just fine this trip