All Stars or offf site???

[ebutte]

Help i am really nervous about our up comming trip. My DD{21} DS{20} and our youngest DD{12} are all comming to WDW with myself and DH. My question is since i have older children and defiently need 2 bathrooms in am and 4 beds do to snorers, i booked 2 rooms at allstar music for us but ive heard people complain lately about the noise and all. Am i better off getting 2 rooms off property? i cant afford anymore a night to move up to a mod. We do however have a car the whole time. Do you all think older childen will enjoy the all stars or do you all think older kids would apprishate off site more? Im a true blue disney girl anything disney will be allright for me. I got an AP rate for 77 per night per room including tax.
Thanks for your input this is DS first trip i want him to enjoy himself we took DD{21} in 2000 and stayed at POFQ. She loved that, do you all think allstarmusic will be a let down? We have never been there and have no idea what to expect.
Lisa

 

[tink2dw]

I was less than fond of All Stars Music-Jazz building.
.Our first suprise was the SOPPING WET carpets!! They would not move us to another room!!
.the soap despenser in the shower was broken.
.The bathroom wallpaper has MEN all over it,one watchs everthing you do with a peeping tom evil eye,even in the shower,too gross!!
.The only themeing was a Star wall Light,that glared so much we left it off.
.The bed speards were just regular hotel spreads,no themeing.
.It was a good thing I brought bar soap,we didn't get any of the boxed Mickey Soap till day 3 after Dh ask about why there wasn't any soap in the room.
.They Don't change the sheets while you are there!!

I guess We[dh,dw-me,dd-22and gdd-2,and dd-14.] had been spoiled by the
Holiday Inn Family Suites. We had a Kidsuite that slept 6. Dh and I had the Master Suite with a door! Dd-14 took the bunkbed room,dd-22 took the fold out sofa so the crib could be near it. When then the sofa was folded up we had a small livingroom/kitchen. We split the showers dd-14 and I took evening showers,the others took morning showers. The bathroom was large with extra storage. There were 3 tv's dh could watch Star Trek,dd-14 was playing the in room nintendo 64,and I rocked grand-dd-2 to sleep to country western music!!

And the WDW Themeing was so whimsical,I still smile!! We found magic offsite and misery onsite!
here is the link to check out the suites to see if they fit your needs!! ps.if you have a family member 50 or older HIFS gives you a GREAT rate!!
http://www.hifamilysuites.com/index.html?
or
this places get lots of raves over on the resorts board!

Tropical Palms Fun Resort,cottages sleep 8 and they are in the $79. to $99. rage depending on dates.
http://www.tropicalpalms.com/vacation-cottages.aspx

ps. I used to live in Boise,in the ave's behind the capital,a couple of streets over from a awesome pizza place. While dh was going to Boise State college.

 

[ncbyrne]

We did not like All Stars either. For the same price you can get a very nice hotel off site. For our next trip we got TWO, 2-room suites at the Calypso Cay Country Inn and Suties. We booked online for only $54 per suite and it includes breakfast! The only real advantage we ever saw to staying in the All Stars was the bus system to the parks, but we always rent a car, so never used the bus anyway.

 

[Took]

Our experiences with the AS resorts has been more positive. We have stayed at AS Sports and Music and truly loved our time there, though we found the rooms rather small and (compared to the deluxe rooms) ordinary.

Whether you have an enjoyable time or not partly depends on "luck" (wet carpet is bad luck in any vacation), partly depends on expectations (the AS are "budget" accomodations, at least in the WDW scheme of things so they lack certain ammenities) and partly depends on your desire to be "on-property." I've read dozens of posts that were from individuals who really loved their AS visits--they got clean, quiet, fun accomodations at a reasonable price and got to use the WDW transportation (by far the easiest way in and out of WDW). I've also read posts like the others here who reported less than enjoyable (even miserable) stays.


Good luck deciding which options are most important for your family. With a good attitude, you will probably have a blast no matter where you stay!

Took

 

[emmalgin]

For the 100th time (or so it seems), why not look at a 2 BR timeshare or vacation home?

Orlando is overrun with Hotel rooms and tons of timeshare properties and suite hotels. If you are coming offseason, these are cheaper then one room at the All-Star.....

With kids this bigm, I think they want their space....

 

[klynn]

How about a 2 bdrm/2 bath, full kitchen condo that sleeps 8? I reserved the Oak Plantation with the entertainment rate of $72.50. If you don't have the Entertainment Book, I saw it advertised at hotelkingdom.com for $89.00, which is still a good rate. This does NOT require a ts tour!

 

[Cindy B]

I have had a fine time at All Stars, we have been three times in three years. We have had no problems at all in Sports.. we were in tennis, football, basketball and Surfs Up Buildings.

But we didnt have two rooms.

We are trying off site for the first time this year thought a $39 night Hampton Inn rate. $39/night with free breakfast versus $74 /night no breakfast at All Stars...

Hmmm... which one would you do?

 

[travelin' tigger]

I have stayed at ASMu twice in the past 6 months and both times were great. Rooms were clean and never had any problems with noise...even with groups of cheerleaders onsite. First time was third floor Jazz and last time was third floor Broadway. Planning to go back again in Dec.!!!

 

[USA_mad02]

We stayed at the All stars in the music area. We were happy with our room. It was kept clean and everything worked ok within the room. The only complaint I would have was that the pople that worked in the food court were not that happy and the prices were high for the food. We enjoyed our stay though.

 

[msr709]

I think it is a matter of luck with all these places. I had a very nice stay at both ASMu and ASMo. I stayed at Calypso building at ASMu (right next to the main building and directly in front of the pool, but on the 2nd floor) and in the Fantasia Building, facing the parking lot but had the corner room. I found both to be clean, quiet and comfortable. I went with my 70yo Mom to ASMo and my 16yo niece to ASMu and we all had a wonderful time. My visit to ASMo was in Feb. 2000, and ASMu in Aug. 2001 and we had a very nice time. I tried staying offiste this past Dec. with my Mom and will never do it again. Too far for my Mom to walk to places and the bus service doesn't compare. But since you are travelling with older children it should be OK wherever you stay since you will have a car. I don't drive so it was not an option for me. Good luck and have a safe and wonderful vacation!

 

[mom2boys]

I would stay on-site if at all possilbe. It is so much more convenient - even with a car.

We have stayed in every type of WDW accomodation. We have decided that IF we can go back in the future, we will stay at the All-Stars. It is definitely the best value for the money. WE've stayed at All-Star Movies & All-Star Sports - never Music. We have had better luck (quiet wise) with rooms that are away from the courtyards. Basically these are on the parking lot side of the buildings but Disney does a nice job with landscaping so that you are actually looking at lawn, trees & Shrubs. We found it very comfortable & never heard or saw any neighbors. (That was not the case at Sports when we were on a courtyard & across from another building.)

 

[ebutte]

You guys are awsome and fast!! Im printing this off for kids and DH to read i feel totally incompandant to make decisions this trip. I sure appreciate ALL your responces, i think im so badly wanting a great trip, this will probably be one our last family trips, then i could be wrong. Its defiently our first in 4 years. Someones always busy with collage or work and cant make it. Anyway {{{{{{{PIXY DUST}}}}}}} to all you kind people who took the time to share withme your experciences.

Lisa

 

[SleepyatDVC]

Lisa,

One thing to consider is if your family will be spending all your park time & free time together. Since your "kids" are older (20 & 21), they may decide to go off on their own, keep on going when you are ready to head back, or enjoy the nightlife at Pleasure Island.

Even though you will have a car available, the buses on-site will make it easier for them to split off and do their own thing IF they desire - unless you will have 2 cars available for your off-site accomodations.

Just something to consider.

 

[Keeva]

Lisa,
We have stayed at all three Allstars,CBR. and PORiverside(DixieLandings)
My personal favorite is Music.Sports and Movies had more small children,but the food court is better at Movies.I too would suggest you stay on site with older children so you can come and go as you please.It is so easy to split up and not waste time with check points.Have a great trip whatever you decide.

 

[NotTooGoofy]

I stayed at ASMovies last Nov and then later at CSR. ASMovies room was noticeably smaller than CSR. The way I looked at it was since I went to WDW during the off-season (with limited park hours, no EE), I was in the room more and the smaller space made a bigger difference. If had gone when the park hours were longer, I might not have care as much since I'd only be there to sleep and clean up.

ASMovies theme is great for younger kids with a number of pools and food court choices. The only other thing I can think of is that if you're coming at a more "crowded" time of year, it might be better staying AS and take the WDW bus to the parks versus fighting the traffic getting in and paying extra for parking.

Good luck either way!

 

[musicfan]

We've stayed all over WDW and like the ASMo and ASMu best! I have a teenage son, so his ability to get around WDW on his own on WDW transportation is a big perk for us, since he likes to go his own way occasionally.

I disagree that the rooms are "plain". The bedspreads in both Movies and Music are themed, as are the bathrooms, the light fixtures and the border that runs at the top of the walls. I have had (and heard about) VERY bad luck with non-disney hotels -- especially in the "value" category -- dirty floors & walls, suspect sheets, bad beds and stained bathroom fixtures. We LOVE the WDW hotels, and have always found them clean and quiet, even when there is considerable noise outside.

I had no problem with the wallpaper in Movies and did not notice lots of "eyes".

The theming outside and in the food courts of both the Music and Movies is EXCELLENT, and kids really seem to love it. The resorts that my son prefers are the ASMo and the Contemporary (and we've stayed at the Poly and PORiverside -- two resorts that get rave reviews!), if that gives you any insight into the mind of a teenager. He thinks they are"pretty comparable", so I usually go with Movies since it's $200 less per night (did I mention that he only likes the tower rooms at the Contemporary?)!

Anyway, I think you'd be happy at the Music or Movies. I can't vouch for Hampton Inn because I've never been there, but the convenience of WDW transportation for your older kids might tip the balance.

 

[tink2dw]

The haunting "Evil EYES" were at A. S. Music in the Jazz Building!!