All Stars - buses and rooms!

[button409]

Hi all,

I have visited WDW many times but not been since 2013, and now have 3 kids in tow, and looking to book our first family trip (kids will be 5,3 and 1 when we travel). Previously we have stayed at moderate resorts, but the budget really wont stretch to this now there are 5 of us. As expected, All Stars are coming in at the lowest price, so here are my questions. Are the buses terrible for these resorts? We won't have a car so will be relying on the buses for transport. Secondly, are the rooms decent? We will obviously need a cot as well as the 2 beds in the room, so a bit worried as I know that the vale rooms are smaller than the moderates. And finally, I am aware that Movies has had a recent refurb, but rooms here are coming up at £300 more for our stay than the other 2 values - we would rather use this money for spending, but really wondering if the refurb rooms are worth paying the extra for. Any help much appreciated!

 

[danielocha30]

Buses will be Ok, now the new refurbished rooms have queen beds and there is no room for a cot. A pack and play still fit in the room and that’s where my 1 year old sleept when we stayed last time, she is a big girl and after all day in the parks she did fine, they provide a 2 inch mattress and sheets for the pack and play.
edited to add: We are a family of 5, I managed to fit all our luggage, pack and play and even our stroller we don’t hang in the room to much so it was fine for us, at daytime we pull up the murphy bed and had plenty of room for the kids. Bathroom was full of storage.

 

[button409]

Buses will be Ok, now the new refurbished rooms have queen beds and there is no room for a cot. A pack and play still fit in the room and that’s where my 1 year old sleept when we stayed last time, she is a big girl and after all day in the parks she did fine, they provide a 2 inch mattress and sheets for the pack and play.
edited to add: We are a family of 5, I managed to fit all our luggage, pack and play and even our stroller we don’t hang in the room to much so it was fine for us, at daytime we pull up the murphy bed and had plenty of room for the kids. Bathroom was full of storage.

That's really helpful thanks - I'm hoping the kids will be so tired after the parks they will just go straight to sleep - we won't be there much but don't want to be too crowded for 2 weeks!

 

[button409]

@danielocha30 did you stay at Movies?

 

[HolRae]

Only half of the rooms at movies are done and there is no guarantee you will get a refurbished room. The buses are not any better or worse than the moderates.

 

[danielocha30]

@danielocha30 did you stay at Movies?

Yes, good point of the poster who mentioned that Movies still have old rooms, a cot will fit on those. Like I said if the cot was intended for your toddler, go ahead and ask for refurbished room and used the pack and play.

 

[TotallyTink]

I've stayed at All-Star Sports and I thought the bus service was great! I have personally had better bus service at the All-Stars and Pop than I have had at moderates.

 

[DCLPrincess]

I've stayed at AS Sports (as well as AoA and Pop) and the buses are the same as the moderates and deluxes I've stayed at. Most days the buses are good but you can have a bad bus day at any resort. I really enjoyed Sports and I wasn't sure I would. The rooms are very nice. I actually booked Music for my next trip.

 

[Pmlocke]

OK, here we go again. Just got back from a week at AS Music (2/25-3/1). We shared a bus only once during our stay and that was to go to Animal Kingdom at 3 PM. In the morning and in the evening we did not share, ever, once even. The sharing happens in the afternoon when there are usually 3-5 people standing in line to go to anywhere. Where is the sense in using one bus for 3 people. It may add a few minutes to the ride. Big deal. I have stayed at Music every year since 2009 and this is how it has always been. I don't understand how rumors of constant bus sharing ever got started. As for the waits. The longest we waited for a bus was 9 minutes, going to the Magic Kingdon at 9 AM and 7 minutes waiting to return from Epcot one evening.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I thought the Value resorts don't provide cots?

 

[bigbabyblues]

Value resorts (and moderates, as far as I know) don't provide cots. You'll have to bring an air mattress if you need another sleeping space.

We are now off-site people, but we never had bus issues at the All Stars and most of the time, we didn't share buses except the middle of the day. Never for park opening or park closing.

 

[Allison]

How old are your kids?

 

[Amanda999]

I think the bus service at the values is better than at the mods and deluxes. Especially Pop, because you can take either Pop or AoA bus from the park to the hotel, and walk across the bridge from AoA to Pop. And I much prefer the cattle line rope queu at the values. At the mods (less so deluxe, because fewer people) its not always an orderly queu when a bus arrives. The All Stars are farther from the parks (except AK) than Pop, so based on bus service alone I'd choose Pop. If you are going when the gondola is up and running, that will be at Pop (and AoA), but not the All Stars.

 

[hammie59]

The busses are not horrible and the rooms are definitley decent. ASMo always costs a little more since it usually doesn't qualify for many discounts (very popular resort). Now that it’s had the refurb I’m sure it’s worse. I think it’s the most Disney themed resort on property other than AoA and I love it. ASMu is a nice 2nd and literally right next door. We’ve stayed there twice, two years in a row. Currently it’s slated for the same type of refurb as ASMo, not sure if they’ve started yet. I definitely recommend it. Values provide pack-n-play style cribs/cots (I’ve done it) Request it on your resv and call housekeeping if it’s not already in your room when you arrive. You can also request bedrails for your older kids (I’ve done this as well). I’ve never stayed at ASSp only because the theme doesn't appeal to me, but it’s not much different than the other two. With small children, I’d probably pay for a preffered location since that will put you closer to buses and food court. Also, you’ll find that a first floor room is extra conveinient in your situation. Have a great trip

 

[hammie59]

I thought the Value resorts don't provide cots?

Value resorts (and moderates, as far as I know) don't provide cots. You'll have to bring an air mattress if you need another sleeping space.

I think the OP is referring to a crib hence the Euro symbol.

 

[Disneypro1]

Music is the nicest of the all stars for sure. The bus system is flawless. Sure they get crowded..but its free and they get you where you are going. In all the years we have stayed at Music..never a bus issue. Or a long wait.

 

[button409]

How old are your kids?

They will be 5, 3 and 1 when we travel

 

[button409]

I thought the Value resorts don't provide cots?

I mean a crib for the baby (sorry UK terminology!)

 

[Eeyore daily]

I stayed at All Star sports last summer and in my opinion the bus was always super crowded, there’s not really any shade to wait and waiting always took so long in comparison to staying at the moderates like we normally do. The few times we shared buses were coming back to the resort at night so thankfully we got off first. As for the rooms, it was only two adults and a small child in ours but it still felt very small especially getting ready in the morning. For a few days that’s fine but I wouldn’t want to stay there for a week long vacation.

 

[button409]

I stayed at All Star sports last summer and in my opinion the bus was always super crowded, there’s not really any shade to wait and waiting always took so long in comparison to staying at the moderates like we normally do. The few times we shared buses were coming back to the resort at night so thankfully we got off first. As for the rooms, it was only two adults and a small child in ours but it still felt very small especially getting ready in the morning. For a few days that’s fine but I wouldn’t want to stay there for a week long vacation.

Thanks, that was my worry, we will be a family of 5 and staying for 2 weeks. We won’t be in the room too much obviously at night and possibly for daytime naps if the kids are tired, but don’t want it to be too cramped.
Planning to go in January so hoping crowds won’t be too bad and that the buses won’t be as busy then