All-Star Resorts ??

[EPCOTLADY]

Hello everyone,
My Dh and I have to go to a family reunion the last weekend in May down by Ocala. Well, since we have anual passes we decided to jump on down for a few days at Disney. We have'nt saved for this so we have to go really cautious, money wise. That said, I have made ressies at the All Star Music and we have only stayed at mod's and deluxe's so far and I am afraid it will not be a good experiece. Can anyone who has stayed at the Value's tell me about your experience? Thank you soooo much. It's so wonderful to know I have somewhere to go with my ?'s and not just have to go in the dark about stuff!! Thanks disboards!!!!

 

[Harambe]

The All Stars are fine if you need to save a few bucks. Since it is just the two of you, the room will be big enough. Our only complaint with the All Stars was the room size for a family of four. Just way too small. You will notice the difference from a deluxe, but you'll be glad you stayed there when you pay the bill!

 

[EPCOTLADY]

Uh Oh! I forgot to say that I will be having my dd and ds with us....really...is it all that small?

 

[momof2sons]

If you are just going to be there to shower and sleep. You will be just fine.

 

[daannzzz]

I have stayed at a lot of the Disney resorts. I was hesitant to stay at the All Star but I did book a room there and it was a fun place. Colorful and imaginative. I was alone so the room was fine and I think I would be okay with 2 adults and 2 kids. I think kids would love it. I have not gone back but not because anything was wrong, just that the other resorts have more allure and call to me stronger!

 

[tampafan]

I would not worry too much. We stay at the All Stars frequently, especially if we are going for a quick weekend where we are not planning on hanging at the resort a lot. If we are planning to spend more than a weekend, then we opt for moderate or above as they have more to offer in the way of recreation at the resort and the rooms do offer a bit more room. The room at the All Stars are 260 sq ft, as opposed to the following: moderates - 315 sq ft, AKL/WL 344 sq ft, YC/BC 380 sq ft, Poly 409 sq ft, and Contemporary 436 sq ft. It is a huge difference with say the Polynesian or the Contemporary, but not so much with the moderates. Having stayed at 12 resorts (ASMu, ASSp, ASMo, CBR, CSR, POR, POFQ, Swan, Dolphin, Contemporary, Polynesian, and AKL) we have no trouble at the All Stars. Just know what to expect!

 

[AspiringCindy]

I have stayed at deluxe, moderates and All-stars. I actually prefered the All-star over the moderate we stayed at. The value resort was a lot less expensive and the food court was massive. The only difference to me was that the theming was not as grand.

 

[grinningghost]

Stayed at All Star Music and loved it. Room was pretty small, but not unbearable. Theming is so much fun there. Don't go there expecting a glamorous, spa-like environment. Go there with the "I'makidagain" attitude and you'll enjoy it completely. Oh, and the food court was great - had just about anything you could want at reasonable prices (for WDW).

 

[CamColt]

Like Aspiring Cindy, I prefer the value over the moderate.
As for size, we had 5 in there, a crib and a double carriage and had no trouble with space. We were only in our room to sleep shower and change.

 

[Poohbear123]

You will be at the Parks all day, so don't worry about the room size...it will be fine!

 

[arielfan]

I stayed at the All Star Movies with my family this past February and we all loved it...We had two rooms there was enough room for what we did, your in the room to sleep and take a shower...

We loved the pools and the themes thru-out...The food courts are very clean we loved having breakfast there and a snack at night...Think you will enjoy it...

 

[ddgirl]

We stayed at ASMu in October '02 and I seriously don't think the room was much smaller than the ones at AKL. Also it was a lot brighter!! We're staying at CBR in late May and from all the pictures I've seen I think it going to be my favorite resort.

 

[EPCOTLADY]

Thanks everyone for all your ideas and opinions!! I feel lots better about it. Hey! It's Disney, huh?!? YEAH!!!!

 

[WIcruizer]

All Stars aren't good or bad, they are what they are... If you are used to a Motel 6, Red Roof, etc. then you will be happy with the All Stars. If you're used to staying at Wyndhams and Hiltons, then you will be dissapointed.

I never understand why so many people put it down. You're getting a VERY basic room which is somewhat overpriced. Bottom Line. It's overpriced because you're staying on site and all the benefits that go with it. So if it's important for you to be on site and you need (or want) to be frugile, stay at the All Stars and accpet what you're paying for. Otherwise kick in an extra $20 a nite or so and stay at eh moderates.

If it's all about price, don't stay anywhere on site cbecause you're paying extra for that. If you shop around you can find places for $20 a night that are clean, basic, and close to WDW. No shame in that...been there done that in the past.

 

[mickeysaver]

Our travel group is just two adults with no kids. On family vacations, I have stayed everywhere from the Double Tree to mom & pop motels. I don't care about fancy. I only care about safe, clean, air conditioned, bug free rooms with a comfortable bed.

We stayed at the ASMu back in September and we we pleased with the room. Even without e-nights & EMH last year, the room was all we could have wanted for the price of $49/nite, it was a steal. The package delivery service to the hotel gift shop and free parking onsite was worth the price! This year, we are definately doing the value resort thing again. But, with Pop Century opening when we are traveling, we have to try it! Mickey

 

[Daxx]

OK, here's my attitude on hotels anywhere, inc. Disney. I am sleeping there. I am not there to spend the entire day in my room. Therefore, I'm going to take the value price hotel.

If you're all about ambiance and looks and decor, hanging about all day in your room, lounging in the lobby, then perhaps a value hotel isn't for you.

However, I am out of that room asap in the morning and when I come crawling in at the end of a long day, as long as it's clean, the bed is comfortable, and I'm on Disney property, I am fine!!!

I have stayed at GF in the suites (won a company contest and that's where they put me) and, while they're nice, I was only in them for a few hours a day... and during those hours, my eyes were closed for the most part! I never enjoyed them b/c I was busy having fun in the parks!!! If they said "either stay in GF suite or take a value hotel on WDW property and we'll give you the difference in cash", I would have taken the value hotel and difference in cash

I would rather save some $$ and spend it on souveniers and treats than on a better hotel! That's just me. I thought the ASResorts were nice ... room was clean, we had enough room for 3 adults and one child, transportation to parks was fine ... loved everything about my stay at ASResorts! Matter of fact, we'll be at the same ASResort when we return in June!

 

[maryliz]

We've done All Stars several times ... and with 2 adults, and 2 kids, and everything that comes with having little ones (and I'm talking playpen, Rock'n'Bounce,portable high chair, 2 strollers, large cooler, large Rubbermaid bucket with snacks, plus enough clothes for both hot and cold weather), we have never found the room at AS to be small. We just did 2 weeks at CBR, and while it was a nice change, I would go back to ASMu over CBR any day! Food courts are much better, and even the furthest building at Music is nothing compared to our walk to OPR at CBR.

You will not be disappointed. I do not agree that it would be compared to a Motel 6 -- it's fabulous and you'll absolutely love it.

Mary Liz

 

[Sandra]

We have stayed at the All Star Movies several times and loved it. My 2 girls (age 7 & 4) LOVE the pool and playground. We were there in Oct. and actually ended up spending a lot more time at the resort (by the pool, etc.) than we had planned! And as mentioned before, the food court is great! It is a very fun place - very family oriented obviously - and I wouldn't hesitate to stay there! Of course it's not as big or nice as the Poly, but it is very fun, a great price, and you still get all the Disney magic! I think you'll have a great time!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Originally posted by Daxx
OK, here's my attitude on hotels anywhere, inc. Disney. I am sleeping there. I am not there to spend the entire day in my room. Therefore, I'm going to take the value price hotel.

If you're all about ambiance and looks and decor, hanging about all day in your room, lounging in the lobby, then perhaps a value hotel isn't for you.

However, I am out of that room asap in the morning and when I come crawling in at the end of a long day, as long as it's clean, the bed is comfortable, and I'm on Disney property, I am fine!!!

I have stayed at GF in the suites (won a company contest and that's where they put me) and, while they're nice, I was only in them for a few hours a day... and during those hours, my eyes were closed for the most part! I never enjoyed them b/c I was busy having fun in the parks!!! If they said "either stay in GF suite or take a value hotel on WDW property and we'll give you the difference in cash", I would have taken the value hotel and difference in cash

I would rather save some $$ and spend it on souveniers and treats than on a better hotel! That's just me. I thought the ASResorts were nice ... room was clean, we had enough room for 3 adults and one child, transportation to parks was fine ... loved everything about my stay at ASResorts! Matter of fact, we'll be at the same ASResort when we return in June!

That's exactly how I feel about it! We aren't going to be IN that room except to sleep, shower/bathe, and change clothes basically. We're not "living" there- just using it as a sleeping/changing/bathing area. I stayed at ASMu by myself and I also want to agree with whoever said it depends on what you are used to... but also what you want. I'm totally NOT into the "view" or living in the room and enjoying ambiance and decorations/etc. We'll be staying at ASSp this time with my family and the decorations and all that will be fine for my children and we'll be in the room only to sleep (nighttime and naps) and bathing/changing. That's it. A view and lavish living areas while on this vacation mean nothing to me. We're there for the FUN that's all outside the room. So we're going as cheap as possible (although doing preferred so not as much walking around the resort LOL) and spending most of our time OUTSIDE of the room. We usually don't even put our clothes out of the suitcases unless it's things that will wrinkle so we hang them up. It's just not worth unpacking and all that for the short amount of time we spend in the room whenever we are on vacation.

 

[goofygreb]

We love the all stars. We have stayed there 4 out of the 5 times we have been to Disney. The one year we stayed at Dixie landings our DD's (now ages 12&14) kept wishing we were back at the ASSR, they complained at how far away every thing was, the food court seemed like a mile away from our room making the use of our refillable mugs almost pointless. The food court was also a distance from the pool, so getting a chilly beverage while were lounging was a pain also.

At the all stars every thing is easy to get to. The food court is near the main pool, so you can get beverages easy, I could also do a quick load of laundry while kids were in pool b/c laundry facilities are near the main pool. The price is also something you just can't beat. I have paid as little as 49.00 a night with AP rate. Well worth it. The room size is alittle small but we unpack every thing and put suitcases under beds or under the sink to get them out of the way, we've never had a problem with space.

have a great trip