ASMu preferance for two adults?

[maddiebee]

This will be our first trip onsite and we've never been to the resort we're staying at (ASMu) and I'm wondering how much of a difference what room you have is? We're are two adults and I think my only preference would to be close to the bus, but again, does it make a huge difference? Is it big enough that the walk to places like the bus/pool really differs?
Thanks!

Eta: I'm also wondering if we would benefit from online check in, since I don't have a huge preference of where we are and want to head to the parks ASAP. Well be arriving around 11am.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think the preferred location is worth the extra cost. It puts you that much closer to the bus stops and food court and gift shops. It is especially nice when it is really hot or really cold out!

If you don't care where your room is located, then on line check in is perfect for you! They will assign you a room that is ready when you are due to arrive. All you have to do is pick up your packet and go! Actually that is the only time when I would recommend doing on line check in, when you don't care where your room ends up.

 

[HopperFan]

ASMu it does matter. I would pay the extra to be closer.

 

[buzznina]

For us saving a few minutes walking is not worth paying more $$, unless you have some sort of health issue.

 

[maddiebee]

How long of a walk is it? How long does it take the walk across the whole resort?

 

[maxiesmom]

How long of a walk is it? How long does it take the walk across the whole resort?

I'd guess maybe 10 minutes, if you are at the back of the resort. That 10 minutes may not seem like much, but when the weather is extremely hot or extremely cold, it seems like a long time! My last stay at ASMu was in 2010 when they had that record cold snap in December. I can tell you that walk from my room to the bus stop seemed to last forever! And it made popping over to get my mug filled at the food court out of the question.

 

[maddiebee]

What section should I ask for that would be close to the bus but not have to be in a preferred room?

 

[bookgirl]

I"ve done a preferred and a non preferred at ASMu.

Frankly I was fine with both.

The first time I was in Calypso and on the backside away from the pool. It was nice to be close (parent's were with me for that trip so they appreciated the shorter walk). It wasn't too noisy and we were actually kinda equal distance from food/bus and the lot where I parked. It was $10 bucks more per night at the time and worth it.

Second time I was in Country Fair and doing a solo stay, the location is at least straight back (broadway is back and then to the left) and was a really easy walk. I was on the back side away from the quiet pool and even when they were playing music I didn't hear it. I thought the walk was completly managable.

I"d probably not do a preferred if I didn't have to worry about kids/grandparents. I think it is a managable size walk (5 min leisurly pace, and frankly I prefer being away from the main pool.

 

[maxiesmom]

What section should I ask for that would be close to the bus but not have to be in a preferred room?

Ask for Jazz Inn. But keep in mind you are only requesting a location. It is just as possible that you could end up back in Country Fair. I like the All Star Music but I have no luck getting my requests met whenever I stay there.

 

[JennyDrake]

ASMu is my favorite value! To ME it is not worth the money for a preferred room. 7 min tops from any location (and I don't walk briskly) to main building. Also, if you have a preferred room you may be facing the pool, which can be rather noisy if you like an afternoon nap.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

Actually Jazz and Calypso are both preferred buildings that you have to pay extra to be in. They have family suites and preferred rooms in those 4 buildings.

If you plan on having a refillable mug or if you are going to be eating at the food court I would definitely pay for the preferred room.

Otherwise if you are only willing to pay for the standard room you could be anywhere. I would call and request they add a room request to your reservation and ask to be placed near a bus stop if you are going to be using the buses.

Asking to be close to the food court is really not going to get you close to the food court because the closest they would put you is the third building back past Calypso and Jazz. That wouldn't be too bad. But if you are all the way at the back I think it would suck.

I wouldn't ever stay there without getting a preferred room. But our kids use their mugs and we eat breakfast in the food court every day and may occasionally go there for a quick dinner on the nights we don't have ADRs.

I will be walking a thousand miles every day in the parks so I don't want to be walking forever at my resort either.

 

[Babsy]

ASMu spreads back away from the main building quite a ways, but it really is less than a 10 minute walk to any room. That isn'tba huge problem for many people, but some prefer to be close to the action. THere is only one bus stop at the ASMu so if you are in a preferred building you are close to check in, food court, bus stop gift store, etc. If you aren't in a preferred room, you have a walk to it all.

It is up to you if it is worth the extra $$ to stay close. The Calypso buildings are preferred and the Jazz Inn are the suites, I think? There may be some preferred rooms in Jazz as well, but I'm not sure of this.

I have stayed in Jazz (before suites), Calypso (can be noisy, but convenient) and CountryFair (quiet, but a walk). I liked all the rooms for different reasons. If you book preferred be sure to ask for a room facing away from the main pool to aviod noise issues.

I love ASMu. It is my favourite All Star resort for adults. The JAzz Inn area is the absolute best! It is close to the main building, borders a lovely rose garden, and is away from the noisy main pool. Heaven in a value resort, IMHO. ALMOST as good as a moderate resort.

If being close to buses is important and you don't want to book a preferred room with the additional cost, perhaps sports or movies might be a better bet. The rooms at these are laid out differently so that the furthest rooms are not as far away from the main building and buses as at ASMu.

 

[disneycrazi]

We stayed in Jazz and it was great. We didn't pay extra so maybe we had one of the non preferred rooms in that building, but it was a quick hop to the main hall and the bus. Plus we love Jazz so the music piped in around our building was awesome. Enjoy!

 

[maxiesmom]

Actually Jazz and Calypso are both preferred buildings that you have to pay extra to be in. They have family suites and preferred rooms in those 4 buildings.

That is what I had thought too, but when I checked All Ears it only lists Jazz as the preferred section.

 

[strmtroopr96]

That is what I had thought too, but when I checked All Ears it only lists Jazz as the preferred section.

I have only heard that Calypso are the actual Preferred buildings but that both Calypso and Jazz are where the suites are located.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

Personally, I would pay for the preferred at that resort. When we stayed in ASMovies, we were in the Mighty Ducks section and it was what seemed like a FAR ways away from everything. And we walk a lot all the time at home etc. But after being in the parks all day, that trek to the room, back to the food court with your mug etc...it feels like a long long ways.

It's just going to be two adults, me and my husband, and we're going to stay at Pop Century. We love it and don't pay for preferred there as we've been lucky to get the 60's building when requested and the walks aren't as bad from the standard rooms there I don't think.

 

[maddiebee]

I've also been thinking about requesting a room with a single king bed and not the two fulls? Is this something easily accommodated/worth asking for?

 

[canoeingmonkey]

Actually Jazz and Calypso are both preferred buildings that you have to pay extra to be in. They have family suites and preferred rooms in those 4 buildings.

Calypso consists of preferred rooms and family suites. There are no standard rooms in those two buildings. Jazz consists of standard rooms and family suites. There are no preferred rooms in Jazz.

 

[Gamegrl1]

Calypso consists of preferred rooms and family suites. There are no standard rooms in those two buildings. Jazz consists of standard rooms and family suites. There are no preferred rooms in Jazz.

Forgive me for being a nerd-person but the info I had also was that Jazz & Calypso are the Preferred buildings at ASMu. I saw there was conflicting info here and decided to call Disney directly to clear it up. The CM I talked to clarified that Jazz & Calypso are the Preferred buildings at ASMu. Their # is (407) 939-5277.

 

[maxiesmom]

Forgive me for being a nerd-person but the info I had also was that Jazz & Calypso are the Preferred buildings at ASMu. I saw there was conflicting info here and decided to call Disney directly to clear it up. The CM I talked to clarified that Jazz & Calypso are the Preferred buildings at ASMu. Their # is (407) 939-5277.

I still don't think that is right. Two other well trusted Disney web sites (All
Ears and MouseSavers) list only the Calypso buildings as preferred. It wouldn't be the first time that the Disney call center (which is who you spoke with) got something wrong. They are in fact kind of known for it, unfortunately.