All Star Resorts Question

[Dean Kennedy]

I managed to convince my SO to return to Disney World this year for the third year in a row. We had a blast the last two years staying at the Port Orlean’s French Quarter both times.
We were going to skip a year...but I convinced a return based on the idea that we could stay at a less expensive hotel. We are looking at the All Star resorts and was wondering how different our experience might be at these budget friendly resorts.
Is anyone familiar with these resorts that can provide a comparison review? Part of the previous experiences I found so wonderful was the time spent at the resorts...even though the majority of the time is out and about at the parks. The late night food, breakfast in the morning, the bus pick up experience, the friendliness of the staff, etc.

 

[Dean Kennedy]

Hey, ASM is the best of the ASR. Simone replied stay at AoA but price is only comparable if you bet a regular, none of the suites which at times are more that moderate resorts but it and PC are right at the Skyliner which is super.

 

[hdrolfe]

When are you looking to go? I've been watching to maybe book a trip next year but only Movies will be available (so far). We stayed there summer 2019 and it was updated, the rooms are like those in POP. We enjoyed it, but it was precovid so things are different. We enjoyed being able to get drinks/food at Music, take any of the All Star buses. If I had too choose though, I'd pick Movies for the updated rooms. So I'm glad it's the one on offer so far. They all had slightly different lunch/dinner menus, with the regular stuff plus a couple different things. My son liked the steak and shrimp at Movies. The pools were fine, of course no water slide like at a Mod or Deluxe.

While we really want to ride Skyliner, I'm not sure if we'd pay more to stay at POP now. I was sure we'd prefer it but we actually really enjoyed ASMovies.

 

[redrosesix]

Have you considered POP? The price isn't that much different and it's in the "value" catagory. They have the skyliner to help with transportation. I haven't been since the skyliner opened but I hear it's hit or miss just like the buses and if the other 2 All Stars open by the time you go, the 3 of them share buses. It's also not as large as the All Stars so, depending on what catagory room you choose, the walk isn't as far to the main building. BUT, I've never stayed anywhere but the values so I can't give an unbiased opinion. My thing is I'd rather have the extra money saved on accommodations to spend elsewhere. We only shower and sleep there.

Not quite true. All of the All Stars together are bigger than Pop, but Pop is 50 percent bigger than any All Star with its 2880 rooms. The layout of Pop makes it significantly larger than Movies and Sports and slightly larger than Music...but remember that when it was being built they had planned for 2 resorts side by side laid out lengthwise.

There used to be a lot of bus sharing, especially mid afternoon but there were often additional buses thrown in at park opening and closing times and we never waited more than 15 minutes for a bus. A few years ago, they cut back on the sharing...which meant longer wait times for buses and I much prefer bus sharing to bus waiting. Each All Star only has 1 stop so it's not like the multiple stops you have at the Mods...which is the reason our friends no longer stay at CBR.

We don't live in our rooms either, and that's true no matter where we stay. But I would rather spend money on a dessert party or a show because you'll remember those much more than the room you slept in since all of the beds in Disney are good.

 

[joelikesbeer]

Either of the All Stars are fine. I think they are less "hectic" than Pop Century, but all those value resorts are good. Like the other's said, depends on what you're going for. Pop has the best pool, but hit the food court before 8:00am, 8:30 at the latest.

 

[Aprilshack]

When would people think that they would announce music would open or say for sure that it isn't?

 

[Disneyfan754321]

When are you looking to go? I've been watching to maybe book a trip next year but only Movies will be available (so far). We stayed there summer 2019 and it was updated, the rooms are like those in POP. We enjoyed it, but it was precovid so things are different. We enjoyed being able to get drinks/food at Music, take any of the All Star buses. If I had too choose though, I'd pick Movies for the updated rooms. So I'm glad it's the one on offer so far. They all had slightly different lunch/dinner menus, with the regular stuff plus a couple different things. My son liked the steak and shrimp at Movies. The pools were fine, of course no water slide like at a Mod or Deluxe.

While we really want to ride Skyliner, I'm not sure if we'd pay more to stay at POP now. I was sure we'd prefer it but we actually really enjoyed ASMovies.

We were AS only till this year forced us out.. we like pop but the inside of the rooms look the same, the buildings are built the same. We only visit HS once on a trip and normally skip Epcot so it does not make sense to spend the extra money to take it once to HS. So as soon as All stars opens we will be right back. Last March we stayed at ASM we used the music buses because they were closer than the ASM lobby. The only sharing we did was our mid day run back to the room for lunch... ASM was first because that's the order they go in movies, music and then sports but I dont think that's an issue this year anyways. ( it's really strange to think we were the last family in that room and it was a year ago next week)