ASSports - as bad as I read?

[Goofy4Disney]

We're taking a trip in June that we've only been planning now for a week or two. Since it was unexpected, we haven't had much time to save money and have to stay in a value resort for the first time, which is fine by me so long as I'm at WDW! Last I read about ASSports (mid '07), things weren't in good condition and the mousekeeping wasn't up to par. This was based on several posts here on the DIS.

Has anyone been to ASSports lately? Is it really that bad? We're wanting to stay here since the trip coincides with the football camp my son is going to the following week. You know, sports theming and all for him. Plus, I read that the resort opened on the day he was born, so I figured it's a sign. LOL

Would love to hear what everyone has to say. TIA

 

[dananbethany]

I don't know, but we heard all sorts of horror stories about All Star Movies, and none of them were true. This year we're staying at Pop and we keep hearing horror stories, but we don't expect any of them to be true either!

 

[bicker]

where you have a mass market service offering, you'll have variability with regard to how good the service delivered is, case-by-case, and you'll also have variability with regard to how good invididual patrons perceive the quality of the service, even when the service delivered is the same. So two degrees of variability -- gosh -- you'll read stuff all over the map. I wouldn't let individual reports, either more positive or more negative that the mean, sway you. Chances are, the reality is somewhere in between the top and the bottom, and even then, your personal experience and personal perception of your experience may vary from that of others.

So what does this mean? For me, it basically means that all the economy resorts on-property are pretty-much the same, on average. As long as you don't catch All-Star Sports when it is overrun by a rowdy group, it should be as good as Pop Century (when it isn't being overrun by a rowdy group). Will it be as good as the moderates? On average, the answer will be a resounding no. Will it be better than the Days Inn? On average, it probably will, given all the advantages of staying on-site.

 

[CindyandBrice]

We stayed in All Star Sports this Easter - March 20-27. Room was in good condition. Grounds were wll kept. Buses ran frequestly. My complaint was the large number of sports groups and bands. I did not feel like it was a place for families at all. We were in the minority; at the pool and on the football area. Foot court did not meet my expectations either. I would stay at Pop again over All Star Sports.

 

[jimmytammy]

We have stayed at Sports on several occasions, once at Music, and once at Pop. We also own DVC pts. at WL. I only mention this because we have stayed in a variety of resorts onsite. So I feel I have some insight into it.

We like Sports. It is a bit smaller, or at least laid out that way than the other values. That is a plus in it puts you closer to food court and buses. The food court always provides a good choice, and has been good as well, albeit a little smaller than Pop. But it makes it a bit less crowded. Buses tend to pick up here 1st and drop off 1st.

Im not trying to downplay the other values, as they have their own unique qualities. But I think Sports tends to get a bad rap, undeservedly sometimes.

 

[Time Traveler]

Your stay at Sports can really vary, most complaints have to do with large amounts of sports teams/music groups who get placed there with big package deals. It really depends how many will be there and if they're an annoying group. Most of the time it isn't too bad but its known to have some not so quiet teens

All Star Music is generally the quietest of the 3 Resorts but from what I understand a large chunk of the resort consists of family suites now.

All Star Movies will most likely have the most families, especcially with younger children due to the theme.

 

[mnasmom3]

We loved Sports! Stayed Sept '07. I'm somewhat of a hotel snob and I was reluctant at first. After our stay, we decided ASSports will now be our new home away from home. We will no longer be staying at any mods...which was our resort choice in the past. It was clean, kept up well, we had good service, food court had a typical selection of foods with good service and clean tables, bus service was good and first on/first off during the few times they shared in our week long stay.

Don't go with a negative attitude. You'll only end up spending your time nit picking at any little thing that wouldn't normally bother you. Go knowing that this is a "value" resort and that it can't be expected to live up to standards and ammenitites at mods and deluxes. The rooms and ammenities are basic. That doesn't make it a bad choice though. You'll still have a great time.

 

[Luv4Disney]

We went last May and thought it was fine. We like ASMu better, but still thought it was 10x better than the time we stayed at Pop.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

As far as ASSports for me I thought it was fine, but i didn't like the lay out as much as some of the other resorts, but it was no issue really. And with the ASSports I didnt think the pool theming was as cute as say ASMu or POP but you win some you lose some. The busses hit that resort first if they include all the AS's so thats a nice perk! Not being a sports fan and it being all that was available for my stay I wasn't a huge fan but if I had been a sports fan everything seemed nice! The food court was OK I find ASMo and POP have far better ones, but its still decent! The arcade was good, bus systems good, there is the waiting area with the tv like the others in the lobby. We stayed in the Football section and it seemed quite cute maybe request that if your son is doing football to psyche him upmore it wasnt too much walking but is still Standard I believe. Hope you have lots of fun really the Hotel for meanyways is just a place to sleep and bathe im more about the parks!

 

[disnut8]

Last I read about ASSports (mid '07), things weren't in good condition and the mousekeeping wasn't up to par. This was based on several posts here on the DIS.

But you don't know anything personally, right?

Think about it this way. You go out to dinner at, say, Chili's. Average restaurant, no big deal. Your server though, goes out of his way to make sure you have everything you need. Even wipes the spit off your baby's face for you. Steers you away from the French onion soup because a fresh batch will be out in just a few minutes. You tip well and go on your way.

But the next time, it's horrible. The server makes comments about your child, the French onion soup tastes like two day old bread. You leave.

Which situation would have you ready to send a note to the management? Which situation would you relay to your friends to give them advice on where to eat?

People will complain. All the time. People very seldom gush. Like your boss.

If the All Star Sports was such a horrible place to stay, it wouldn't be a Disney resort. Relax and enjoy your stay.

 

[december]

The whole resort has just been renovated. We stayed in a new room Thanksgiving week. It is really cute-and very clean. We've stayed there twice and would love to stay there next trip, but we have to find room for 5.

 

[pamjb]

Perfectly Said disnut8 !

I stayed at Assp in Feb 2008.....with cheerleaders and what seemed to be 500 Argentinian students. We stayed in one of the freshly updated rooms. The bus transporation was fine, the food court was good, as long as you avoided peak times (breakfast especially). We didn't have any problems with housekeeping. We were given a preferred room, without paying extra. Unfortunately, we faced the pool, which cause a noise issue. I have also stayed in the Home Run builiding, which seems to be the farthest out. While it is a distance, it really isn't that far, in my opinion.

My one warning would be to stay away from the Touchdown building. The noise level can be very, very load from the football field that lies between the two buildings. However, if you stay on the opposite side of the building, it is much, much quieter.

But you don't know anything personally, right?

Think about it this way. You go out to dinner at, say, Chili's. Average restaurant, no big deal. Your server though, goes out of his way to make sure you have everything you need. Even wipes the spit off your baby's face for you. Steers you away from the French onion soup because a fresh batch will be out in just a few minutes. You tip well and go on your way.

But the next time, it's horrible. The server makes comments about your child, the French onion soup tastes like two day old bread. You leave.

Which situation would have you ready to send a note to the management? Which situation would you relay to your friends to give them advice on where to eat?

People will complain. All the time. People very seldom gush. Like your boss.

If the All Star Sports was such a horrible place to stay, it wouldn't be a Disney resort. Relax and enjoy your stay.

 

[december]

Good advice from the pp. The football section had kids playing at all hours. The baseball section was so nice and quiet, has its own pool and laundry facilities. And if you look at the map and learn the shortcuts, nothing is very far away.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I started a new thread with this question, but will ask here too. Are all the rooms renovated? We would like to stay in the tennis section, away from pools and noise, but don't know if room renovations are complete yet.

 

[harleyquinn]

There is a really large unofficial ASSports thread that is really great. It's not linked on the sticky at the top of the page though.

Anyway, I gathered from it that yes, the entire resort has been refurbished (and looking at the before and after--it looks great!).

 

[FigmentFinder]

I've stayed at All Star Sports before two times. I didn't think it was any worse than POP which I stayed at last year. In fact I think you luck out with the bussing there. You're the first stop for the All Stars.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

There is a really large unofficial ASSports thread that is really great. It's not linked on the sticky at the top of the page though.

Thanks for the information - I will do a search. We stayed at the All Star Sports in 1995, so I was hoping that all the rooms had been redone since then!

 

[Goofy4Disney]

Thanks for all of the replies. It's also really nice to know that the resort has just been refurbished (I remember one poster last year complaining of paint peeling off the doors, etc and how bad it was looking). I don't expect it to be on the same level as a mod, but I would like it to look nice at least and be clean. Other than that, I'm a happy camper and complain about nothing while at Disney!

There won't be too many times we'll be eating in the food court, so that isn't much of an issue to us, but I was thinking of requesting the football bldg - inner "courtyard" rooms" - but now I'm not so sure if there are kids there at all hrs as the pp said.

I've held off on booking this longer than I expected to, so hopefully I'll get it taken care of later today. Decisions, decisions. Guess I'll have to sleep on it then make up my mind!

 

[mnasmom3]

I think, to be safe, it would be wise to stay away from the football field. But, it's not always noisy. We stayed in touchdown right off of the football field and didn't have any noise issues at all during our 7 night stay, but there were also no tour groups during our stay....at least none that we saw. I was really nervous about the potential for noise, but we got lucky. They do put signs out on the field at night, but I'm sure that doesn't stop everyone.

 

[RJD]

We've stayed at Sports twice, most recently August of 07. We have always been very happy with our stay, especially considering the cost. I think it's a great value. We have never had any problems with the teams, teenagers running around, all the other stuff that's been reported. Our room has always been clean and comfortable. There are 4 of us, me, hubby, and 2 DS (11 and 14 now). If you search, there are alot of positive reviews about Sports. I know there are fans of this resort here on the Dis. Again the bottom line for me is the value you are getting for your money, which is great IMO