Convince me I'll like All-Stars if we've stayed at POR before

[Obsessed w/Disney in OH]

We are planning our trip for December, 2003. The last two trips to WDW, we stayed at POR and have been very happy with the grounds, service, food court, etc.

My family of 5(kids' ages next year is 15, 12, 8) is requesting a change of scenery for our next trip. We were all happy at POR, but they want to try something different. Our obvious affordable choice is to get 2 rooms at All-Stars.

I am hesitant. Will the service, transportation, rooms, noise level, food court, "magic" etc. match up to our POR expectations?

???

 

[CamColt]

As you can see in my sig, I have stayed at both, 2x each. We stayed at POR first and really liked it, no complaints really except for the set up. I felt it was too spread out and going anywhere was a hike. But that wasnt really a problem. Then we stayed at ASMO and fell in love. I would have a hard time going back to POR over ASMO now. We found everything either equal or better at ASMO, except for 1 thing. We really enjoyed Bob the piano player in the lounge at POR, but, on a family trip to WDW, lounge entertaiment isnt top priority.
We didnt find ASMO to be much smaller than POR. We even had 3 adults & 2 kids (1 in a crib) in ASMO and had no problem with space.
I think if you know what to expect going in, and dont expect all the moderate perks(water slide, restaurant, etc...), then you wont be disappointed.

 

[jwwi]

I think you will enjoy the All Star. With the ages of your kids I would try to get Movies or Sports. The theming is really great at both. My kids really liked the food court at AS better than a POR. I also think you will enjoy the space you have with two room/two bathrooms. Esp teenagers. While the rooms are larger at POR, having extra beds, and tv is nice. If you plan on spending most of your trip at the resort then I think a moderate is better, but the transportation is good at AS. The overall service and noise level at an AS doesn't match the mod, but it still has a disney feel. I am always surprised how few people I see while staying at a mod. (except at main pool and food court early am)

 

[Obsessed w/Disney in OH]

OK, about the noise--I am a light sleeper--is it noisier because of the building set up or foot traffic or more kids--??

 

[Pembo]

We've stayed at POR and ASMo. The biggest difference to me about ASMo was the atmosphere. IMHO POR is very quiet and serene. The lighting at night is very tranquil. When you walk about the resort it is very rustic feeling. ASMo was very brightly lit, not as much landscaping and noisier.

As for sound in the rooms, we heard NONE! In fact it was so quiet that we slept great! And the curtains really blocked out the light so it was dark.

Welcome to the DIS! Not sure where you are in Ohio but there are quite a few of us and we have meets coming up almost monthly. We post them on the Community Board, so check us out!

 

[Obsessed w/Disney in OH]

I love DIS. I found it in 2000 and have been hooked ever since. I have to curb my addiction to DIS at times and go cold turkey for a while! When I returned this most recent time, my former posts were ALL GONE!!

It sure would be nice to be with people that understand this sort of addiction! I will check the Community Board.

 

[Badger Brent]

We have also done both and found nothing wrong with the all stars at all. We didn't have a noise problem and we enjoyed the food courts at All stars better then the POR. Have fun with whatever you decide!!

 

[n2mm]

We do both resorts several times a year and love both. They each have their own advantages. Often we get frustrated with something at the All Stars and said "why didn't we stay at Dixie landing." Then when we're at Dixie Landing and the vacation comes to an end and we realize that we didn't use the hot tub or water ferry, we say, why didn't we just stay at the All Stars. So, in the spring we stay at the All Stars (because 14 night price), we love the food courts, the parks stay open longer, so we spend more time away from the resorts, the pools in the spring have been manageable. In the Summer we never stay a the All Stars (I just don't want to go there with an explanation), so we stay a Dixie or a Delux. Then in the Fall we like to stay at Dixie landing, the relaxing atmosphere, the restraurant, the shorter park hours and the fact that it gets dark early, we tend to spend a little more time at the resorts then. No matter how you try, you will compare the 2 resorts and there are positives and negatives of each resort. My grandson stayed with us at the AKL in January, and he loved it, but he also loves the All Stars too. For the cost of the all stars, I feel you get your money's worth.

 

[jiminyfan]

last trip we stayed at Movies after a lot of talking and discussion. This trip we are back at All-Stars - Music this time.

WE didn't find enough difference between the mod and value to spend the money. Our favorite is still AKL, but bang for the buck for us AS is fine.

I as mods go I really like Coronado.

Just remember its Disney, so it is better than being at work!!!

 

[Obsessed w/Disney in OH]

Thanks for the input. For us, the money would be about the same because of needing 2 rooms at AS which would be about the same $$ as one room at POR. The only difference would be somewhere new as requested by my family(and 2 bathrooms!)--all girls, ya know!

It sure would be nice if Disney offered us families of 5 more options!!

 

[Miffy]

Hello Obsessed w/Disney in Ohio.

This is to address your question about noise.

My dh and I just spent 5 nights at ASMusic. I do not consider myself a light sleeper, however, I had a very difficult time sleeping there because of the noise level. The resort was very crowded (probably completely booked) for at least the first 2 nights we were there, so this may have had something to do with it. So please consider that when you read my comments that follow. Another caveat: we don't get up early at Disney (!), so lots of noise at 7 am was getting me up 2 hours earlier than I wanted to.

The toilet-flush noise is legend, so I won't go into it here. Keeping the bathroom door closed at all times helped a little bit. We were on the 2nd floor and could hear people talking, babies crying (one night this went on all night....the poor parents!), and other activity in rooms on both sides and above and below us. We could also hear luggage carts rolling by outside the door. We weren't near a pool, so I can't say if the noise from the pool carries to the rooms.
We stayed at POFQ 4 years ago and had absolutely no noise issues, however, we were there when the resort was pretty empty.

The only resort I can give you a direct comparison with is AKL, where we spent the final 5 nights of our just-returned-from trip. Although there is a bit of noise that carries from the hallways, because they're carpeted, the sound is muted. Room-to-room noise there seemed nonexistent. Toilet flush noise is still present, but much less so than at All Stars.

My feeling is that if you get up early in the morning at Disney, the noise probably won't bother you at the All Stars, but my dh & I have decided not to stay there again even though the price was terrific (as was the bus transport).

--miffy--

ps: I'd be happy to answer any other questions you may have. We're only back 2 days and I've got major Disney withdrawal!

 

[BethC1952]

We were a little hesitant about All Star Music in December, but we really liked it.

We've decided that, if we stay at an All Star one trip and stay at POR another, we can do two trips in a year. Therefore, I love the All Stars!

You can see pictures of our stay at All Star music at All Star Music.

I can't wait to go back...planning a trip for my birthday to the Flower and Garden show, and staying at All Star Music again!

Beth

 

[susy]

We stayed at the ASSp in Nov with my niece and nephew (16 and 13). It was very nice for the kids to have their own space and bathroom. One night I opened the door between our rooms and the kids were gone! No problem- they were just enjoying themselves at the arcade and food court. What's so nice about on-site is that the kids can have a little freedom and that gives the adults freedom! The bus service is great at the AS and the food court is also wonderful! The pools are just themed pools, but girls that age aren't into actual "swimming". The AS is great for just "hanging out"-perfect for teens!

 

[Jordan's MOM]

We are AS fans and are going back this year. Our only complaint has been the noise but we were pool front, and we go to bed early. We have learned to take our white noise machine and we are just fine. With 2 rooms at AS you also get 2 bathrooms. A great plus at getting everyone out the door in the AM.


Jordan's mom

 

[ScottOKW2K]

I don't think i'll be able to convince you. You see, I'm a Riverside fan but not an all-stars fan. I've stayed an Riverside (Dixie Landings, in my heart) several times, and AS Sports once. That stay was enough to convince me that I was not an"all-star" person.

Let me explain. We enjoy the resort experience at WDW almost as much as the park experience. We are not the "commando" type so we do not spend every waking moment at the parks. If you are staying at the All Stars, once you are up, clean, and fed there really isn't much to do there unless you want to swim. At Dixie, you had the boats, canoes, surrey bikes, boat to DTD, bob Jackson, and real sit-down restaurant, ducks, rabbits, more ducks, and a very relaxing and sedate atmosphere. There were days that we didn't care if we went to the parks at all - and I never had that feeling at AS Sports.

To me and my family, the moderates have more "value" than the value resorts. Whichever you choose, I hope you and yours hve a great trip.

 

[Hagred]

Thanks for the pics, Beth! I'm looking for anything that gets me more excited about my upcoming trip. The recent photos are great!

As to the original question: you'll love the All-Stars, don't worry! Just don't make the same mistake I made in 2000:

On my night of arrival, I stayed at the airport Hyatt. VERY nice! Then I moved to the Sheraton near US/IOA for two days - again a VERY nice hotel with all the perks. Then (and this is where my mistake was made) I stayed at the ASMu for a few days. I was disappointed with the ASMu at that time because I had just come from two "deluxe" hotels and the ASMu seemed like a Motel 6 to me after those pampering stays.

This time, I'm doing it up right! I'm giving the ASMu another chance and staying there for 7 days. I will NOT compare it to any deluxe or moderates - I'm just going to take it as it is: a quality on-site room with festive pools and convenient food court. I'm EXPECTING to have a wonderful time no matter how many turbo-flushes I hear.

(besides, when you get home I think you'll probably look back in nostalgia thinking about the turbo-flushes. After all, turbo-flushes mean you're in WDW!!!)

 

[candleonwater]

Okay, I've never stayed at POR, but have stayed at PO FQ (and visited POR)... and I've stayed at ASMo and ASSp... I have found pros and cons for each... I loved PO FQ, preferred the POR food court though, and while my daughter preferred the ASMo atmosphere, she loved the pool at PO FQ... and loved the water taxi...

In the past, when we have had 3 generations going on a trip we have opted for the less expensive resort so that we could use the extra $ towards a second (connecting) room - loved the additional space. We honestly have never heard this "toilet noise" people refer to (at the AS)... heard it for the first time at the PO FQ.

My favorite thing to do is try a different resort each trip - my only regret is having stayed at the BC... because nothing ever measures up!

 

[Limmer]

Beth, I live that Disney Pix site. Thank you!

 

[Obsessed w/Disney in OH]

I truly appreciate ALL of your input. One thing I have found about DIS is that everyone has different views and aren't afraid to share their honest opinion. I appreciate that.

I am not sure we will be staying at All-Star after all. We would have to spend the same amount of $$ since we require 2 rooms and our heart just wasn't in it. The kids really wanted something different, but I just can't picture us at the All Stars. Sooo--still not sure what we ARE going to do, but again, I appreciate the input.