All Star Resorts

[Frozen2014]

We've only been to Disney World once and stayed at Art of Animation (cars room). We loved it there and especially loved having 2 rooms and 2 bathrooms. And theming was adorable.

Next summer we are looking at possibly adding 3 park days to the end of our cruise as it's out of Port Canaveral. Trying to keep costs down since we are already spending on a cruise so AoA is too much. How are the value resorts? What about All Star Music as it's the cheapest? Any better in terms of busing (not sure if we'll rent a car for the few days for the convenience).

If free dining is introduced, I think it's the All Star movie that is typically excluded? (Even if they add it, we probably aren't staying long enough anyways)

Another question...what is a Skyliner? I don't remember seeing this in the past but it's listed with Pop Century (which is also more than the All Stars) and AoA.

 

[dansdad]

We've only been to Disney World once and stayed at Art of Animation (cars room). We loved it there and especially loved having 2 rooms and 2 bathrooms. And theming was adorable.

Next summer we are looking at possibly adding 3 park days to the end of our cruise as it's out of Port Canaveral. Trying to keep costs down since we are already spending on a cruise so AoA is too much. How are the value resorts?

AoA is a Value Resort.

What about All Star Music as it's the cheapest?

We've thoroughly enjoyed our stays at all 3 All Stars. Other than theme, they are pretty much the same.

Any better in terms of busing (not sure if we'll rent a car for the few days for the convenience).

No better or worse than any other WDW resort.

If free dining is introduced, I think it's the All Star movie that is typically excluded? (Even if they add it, we probably aren't staying long enough anyways)

Sometimes the Family Suites at Music are excluded, never seen Movies or Sports excluded.

Another question...what is a Skyliner? I don't remember seeing this in the past but it's listed with Pop Century (which is also more than the All Stars) and AoA.

It's the new, not operational yet, Gondola system connecting Pop/AoA, CBR, Riviera Resort to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, AoA is under a value resort but the rooms are $449/night vs $138-$194 at the other resorts (and we're Canadian so worse when convert that to CAD). And no way our son would stay in a Little Mermaid room.

For the Skyliner, it goes to Epcot and HS but not Magic Kingdom? Does it take the same time as busing? We could book POP for the flexibility (which is the $194 resort) - or just stick with All Star Music since you mention they're pretty much the same.

I could be wrong but I thought one of the All Star resorts was excluded in this year's free dining.

 

[dansdad]

For the Skyliner, it goes to Epcot and HS but not Magic Kingdom?

Correct.

Does it take the same time as busing?

Will be quicker than the buses.

We could book POP for the flexibility (which is the $194 resort) - or just stick with All Star Music since you mention they're pretty much the same.

I meant the 3 All Stars are the same except the for the theme. Pop is a bit different in that it has been upgraded to 2 Queen beds and the All Stars are mostly 2 doubles. Movies is currently getting upgraded to 2 Queens but is about 75% complete.

I could be wrong but I thought one of the All Star resorts was excluded in this year's free dining.

I think the Family Suites at All Star Music were.

 

[shocker]

Since the OP is discussing transportation issues & I'm SUPER fixated on transportation vs price points like the OP. I learned a tip on the DIS that I did indeed book & use (though not every stay). If you book a standard room at Movies & request the Mighty Ducks section (farthest from the lobby so not a lot of competition for this request). These rooms are closer to the bus stop & lobby of Music than most of the rooms at Music. You get a standard rate for being in a preferred location for another resort. MD section also has its own quiet pool and a laundry facility. The only thing you will miss is the app only shows bus times for your resort, so you won't be able to see bus times for Music until you are at the bus stop. You'll also have to trek back to Movies for MDE or cruise drop off if using that. But all other lobby needs (food court, mug refills, gift shop, etc. will be closer to go to Music). Music also has a wonderful cupcake offering, if your into that sort of thing. And I learned on my last trip that Music gift shop has a few more food offerings not at the other all stars due to the suites.

 

[WEDWDW]

I learned a tip on the DIS that I did indeed book & use (though not every stay). If you book a standard room at Movies & request the Mighty Ducks section (farthest from the lobby so not a lot of competition for this request). These rooms are closer to the bus stop & lobby of Music than most of the rooms at Music. You get a standard rate for being in a preferred location for another resort. times for your resort

No doubt!

We call staying at Ducks "All-Star Movic"!

It really is like staying at TWO Resorts at once!

How close is Ducks to All-Star Muisc?

THIS CLOSE!!!!
Near building is Intermisson Food Court at Music and far building is Ducks!

 

[Frozen2014]

Thank you for your help. Yes, I figured the themes are different at the All Stars but good to know about the bed. Maybe POP is worth the extra cost with the Skyliner (as we would prob select Epcot for one of our days and HS for another one). It lists a table bed for the standard room. Guess that is something like the AoA bed?

Or Movies is good price point and queen is better than double beds (esp as our kids will be 15 and 11 for this trip).

shocker...thanks so much for the tip about transportation. Last trip we rented a car, but not sure if we would bother for just the 3 nights. I have noted the MD building if we select All Star Movies and stick with the bus.

 

[Frozen2014]

No doubt!

We call staying at Ducks "All-Star Movic"!

It really is like staying at TWO Resorts at once!

How close is Ducks to All-Star Muisc?

THIS CLOSE!!!!
Near building is Intermisson Food Court at Music and far building is Ducks!

Thanks for the visual. I see now too that they are side by side.

PS - If selecting POP, any specific building / area to request?
I feel so out of touch with WDW as our last Disney trip was Disneyland and lately as well we've just been doing cruises.

 

[Frozen2014]

PS - Just found a confirmation that All Star Movie was excluded from free dining this year. But, if next year is the same as this year, we aren't staying long enough anyways to take advantage of the offer (nor would we do park hoppers)

 

[shocker]

No doubt!

We call staying at Ducks "All-Star Movic"!

It really is like staying at TWO Resorts at once!

How close is Ducks to All-Star Muisc?

THIS CLOSE!!!!
Near building is Intermisson Food Court at Music and far building is Ducks!

On a recent trip, all stars was sharing a bus, as we pull out from Music to head to Movies a lady exclaims 'our room is right there!' and she pointed to it. I told her to always use the Music buses & she said they left the next day. She'd really missed an opportunity & had been trekking back & forth across Movies. And probably hadn't shared a bus to really see the closeness. Thanks for the pic!

 

[shocker]

shocker...thanks so much for the tip about transportation. Last trip we rented a car, but not sure if we would bother for just the 3 nights. I have noted the MD building if we select All Star Movies and stick with the bus.

So many are choosing not to rent with the addition of & then almost immediate increase in what Disney is going to charge you to park that rental car at their resort.

 

[Frozen2014]

So many are choosing not to rent with the addition of & then almost immediate increase in what Disney is going to charge you to park that rental car at their resort.

Good point. When we came last time there were no parking fees.

 

[ShyMiss]

HHhhm. So are there any Music standard rooms that are close to Movies amenities? or Music standard that are close to sports amenities?

Can you tell we are staying at Music in a standard? lol

 

[pens4821]

I learned a tip on the DIS that I did indeed book & use (though not every stay). If you book a standard room at Movies & request the Mighty Ducks section (farthest from the lobby so not a lot of competition for this request). These rooms are closer to the bus stop & lobby of Music than most of the rooms at Music. You get a standard rate for being in a preferred location for another resort.

I plan on doing this if we stay there, as I've read that before. We were thinking about it last trip, but ended up at CBR. I was thinking of calling in a room request of might ducks, first floor, close to music. Figure if you could get a room on the first floor near the sidewalk, you could be there in no time.

 

[Tallis]

At times when all 3 All Stars are sharing buses, Sports gets picked up first. It's also sometimes the cheapest. The prices change so much, it's hard to tell which Value will be less expensive each time. The only given is that Pop is always a little more. But with the All Stars, it's anybody's guess which will be the best deal at the time. We usually stay at Sports just because the bus gets there first and fills up by the time it gets to the third All Stars.

 

[DJFan88]

I stayed at Sports, but next time am going Music since I like to walk between them and its in the middle. Also, I liked the food options better at Music. Agree on the cupcakes, they had the best. Movies also had a great chicken parm type sandwich. Music and Movies is definetly better between them, because there is a parking lot between Sports and Music that was a little intimidating to cross during a thunderstorm. ( Only a factor if you're like me and like to run around through all three like theyre one resort!)

 

[whitney37354]

We have stayed at ASSports & AS Music and we enjoyed both resorts. We will be at ASMovies next year. If you want to be first on the bus route, stay at ASSports.

 

[shocker]

HHhhm. So are there any Music standard rooms that are close to Movies amenities? or Music standard that are close to sports amenities?

Can you tell we are staying at Music in a standard? lol

I would say nothing like the MD/Music beauty. But, as you can read, others do walk between them. I walked from Sports to Music to shop for more food items I mentioned above. With shared busses in the mid-day or just coordinate on the way back from a park, its super easy to only walk one -way & just bus directly to the resort you want. Its also worth some photo ops to visit the others.

 

[shocker]

I stayed at Sports, but next time am going Music since I like to walk between them and its in the middle. Also, I liked the food options better at Music. Agree on the cupcakes, they had the best. Movies also had a great chicken parm type sandwich. Music and Movies is definetly better between them, because there is a parking lot between Sports and Music that was a little intimidating to cross during a thunderstorm. ( Only a factor if you're like me and like to run around through all three like theyre one resort!)

Also worth mentioning that Sports is the shortest walking distance to McDonald's. I've been a few times & I went a few weeks ago on a solo trip. I will say it wasn't worth as much for just one person. But, if I had many people & could save $2-3 each I would do it again. But, I also bought a couple yogurt parfaits to take back to my room for breakfasts & a couple cookies to keep around for treats.