Coronado or All-Star Movies?

[Kestryl]

We’re looking at an end-of-May trip with 7 nights in either Coronado (standard room) or All-Star Movies (preferred room). The price difference is $375 more for Coronado (which includes the parking increase- we’re driving in, not flying).

Pros of All-Star: single bus stop (if not shared), cheaper.

Pros of Coronado: just an overall nicer hotel, does not share buses

So things that narrowed it down to these two included price... well, mainly price. Coronado was just a low enough moderate to make me look. I also have a loose idea to not stay in places I’ve been in before, so that rules out All-Star Music (way back in 1998!), Caribbean Beach, Wilderness Lodge, and Pop Century. Also my husband will flip if we have to rely on the Skyliner at any point.

It’s just my husband and I, so we don’t have a problem with space.

We’re relatively park warriors, so I’m not sure how much the actual resort will really matter. We might do a half pool day. We never stepped foot in the pool at Pop Century, but part of that was because we went to the water parks. That’s not in the plan this trip, hence maybe we’ll end up in the pool. Maybe.

Where would you stay? Slightly nicer with a bus loop (Coronado); or save $375 with possible shared buses (All-Star Movies).

 

[SarahC97]

I am a huge fan of Coronado Springs, it's simply a beautiful resort with beautiful rooms and a very deluxe feel to it. It has a fabulous pool, too. If price is not going to be an issue, then I'd pick CSR over an All Star any day of the week -- and I like the All Stars!

 

[Naomeri]

Personally, I didn’t like how spread out Coronado was when I went in September 2017. I think my room was as far as possible from the main building, so I never ate at the resort or got much use out of my refillable mug. The room was really nice and comfortable though. I’ve chosen ASMo for my trip in 2 weeks.

 

[loves to dive]

If the money is not a problem, I'd go Coronado. If it were just for a night or two, I'm o.k. with the value resorts but any longer trips, I'm all about a little better resort. We love CS, it is probably my favorite moderate, I don't find any of the resorts that long of a walk from the farthest room to the front, I guess maybe I just like to walk and stretch my legs.

 

[SarahC97]

Personally, I didn’t like how spread out Coronado was when I went in September 2017. I think my room was as far as possible from the main building, so I never ate at the resort or got much use out of my refillable mug. The room was really nice and comfortable though. I’ve chosen ASMo for my trip in 2 weeks.

In fairness, things have changed a little bit since they built the Three Bridges bar and grill in the middle of the lake. There's essentially a shortcut through the middle of the lake to El Centro and that makes things a bit easier. Also, you can fill your refillable mug at the pool if you're back in Cabanas or Ranchos.

As an aside, we'll be at AS Movies in two weeks too!

 

[CalSea12]

I think they are both great resorts! I personally like the value resorts though. I think it depends on how much you plan to use the resort. I like the values because:

1. Short walk to the front and pools
2. I like how the bus stops actually have a line. Anytime I have ever stayed at a Moderate the people at the bus stop rush to be in front once the bus gets there... it drives me crazy.
3. Since I am not there all that often its a great place to sleep and change.

Mods are nicer of course and have a few more amenities but I hate walking to the "main area". I also really dont like the bus situation.

 

[Kestryl]

I am a huge fan of Coronado Springs, it's simply a beautiful resort with beautiful rooms and a very deluxe feel to it. It has a fabulous pool, too. If price is not going to be an issue, then I'd pick CSR over an All Star any day of the week -- and I like the All Stars!

Money is a factor but it’s not, you know? Like yeah, it’s not much more and it won’t sink the trip, but the $375 could be used for something else. If money was no factor I’d be buying DVC.

Personally, I didn’t like how spread out Coronado was when I went in September 2017. I think my room was as far as possible from the main building, so I never ate at the resort or got much use out of my refillable mug. The room was really nice and comfortable though. I’ve chosen ASMo for my trip in 2 weeks.

I imagine we’ll eat at the hotel once, if at all. All be busy filling myself with Dole Whip and Cheshire Cat Tails, ha.

If the money is not a problem, I'd go Coronado. If it were just for a night or two, I'm o.k. with the value resorts but any longer trips, I'm all about a little better resort. We love CS, it is probably my favorite moderate, I don't find any of the resorts that long of a walk from the farthest room to the front, I guess maybe I just like to walk and stretch my legs.

Plus what’s a few more steps when you’re already walking 25k steps. Ha.

I think they are both great resorts! I personally like the value resorts though. I think it depends on how much you plan to use the resort. I like the values because:

1. Short walk to the front and pools
2. I like how the bus stops actually have a line. Anytime I have ever stayed at a Moderate the people at the bus stop rush to be in front once the bus gets there... it drives me crazy.
3. Since I am not there all that often its a great place to sleep and change.

Mods are nicer of course and have a few more amenities but I hate walking to the "main area". I also really dont like the bus situation.

Have you had problems with the All-Sat buses getting crowded and skipping over Movies? That’s my biggest issues with them.

 

[dansdad]

Have you had problems with the All-Sat buses getting crowded and skipping over Movies? That’s my biggest issues with them.

They normally only share buses during the slow times of the day so that's never happened in our many stays. Most of the time there's only a handful of people on the bus when they're sharing.

 

[5kidsmommy]

I would always pick a moderate over a value just for the hot tubs alone especially on adults only trips. That being said we are staying at music in a couple weeks but only for two nights.

 

[CalSea12]

Money is a factor but it’s not, you know? Like yeah, it’s not much more and it won’t sink the trip, but the $375 could be used for something else. If money was no factor I’d be buying DVC.


I imagine we’ll eat at the hotel once, if at all. All be busy filling myself with Dole Whip and Cheshire Cat Tails, ha.


Plus what’s a few more steps when you’re already walking 25k steps. Ha.


Have you had problems with the All-Sat buses getting crowded and skipping over Movies? That’s my biggest issues with them.

In about 10 trips to the AStars I have only shared a bus with the other AStars a handful of times and as others have said it was during really slow times. For me with my preferences it doesnt make sense for me to pay 700 plus just to update to a mod.

 

[CalSea12]

Money is a factor but it’s not, you know? Like yeah, it’s not much more and it won’t sink the trip, but the $375 could be used for something else. If money was no factor I’d be buying DVC.


I imagine we’ll eat at the hotel once, if at all. All be busy filling myself with Dole Whip and Cheshire Cat Tails, ha.


Plus what’s a few more steps when you’re already walking 25k steps. Ha.


Have you had problems with the All-Sat buses getting crowded and skipping over Movies? That’s my biggest issues with them.

I also just wanted to say I love your profile picture! That commercial always gets me right in the feels... such a huge Donald fan

 

[CastAStone]

They normally only share buses during the slow times of the day so that's never happened in our many stays. Most of the time there's only a handful of people on the bus when they're sharing.

This. If you are park warriors, you won’t have to deal with shared buses. Also if you are driving you can avoid the buses entirely, and at AK, Epcot and DHS I probably would. And I’m not sure the All-Stars ever share buses to MK anymore.

A lot of the All Star bus horror stories are from 3+ years ago at this point. Disney has really worked hard to eliminate reasons for people to rent a car (because anyone with a car might just find themselves at Sea World or Universal or - the horror! - an off-property restaurant!).

 

[kwdw]

I was at both an All-Star and Coronado this past fall. I definitely preferred the buses at my All-Star resorts; I think the single bus stops means you never have to suffer through the drive around the resort. I rode a shared bus ONCE at All-Stars in 5 days - at 11 am headed from a park back to the resort - there were less than 10 of us on the bus. And lining up to wait is great because its fair and defines appropriate behavior everyone know how to follow.

I think the Coronado Tower rooms - with their easy access to the food court, restaurant and lounge, the gift shop, potential for nicer views from your room window, and inside hallways - feels MUCH nice than a value, but I am betting the price difference you are citing means you aren't talking a tower room. I do love the pool with slide and hot tub at Coronado and I like the remote feeling of the buildings - especially the Ranchos. BUT - then you lose the benefit of the amenities in the central area. Beds and towels are nicer than at the All-Stars, but not by leaps and bounds. The rooms are also a little bigger.

For that price difference - this is tough call. For ME - it would be about how I wanted this particular trip to feel.

 

[tguz]

I personally do not care for Coronado so I would take ASM and save the money. We could then justify my $199 light saber and my Fiancees Avatar or Banshee. We aren't big souvenir people but we would like those.

 

[Disneyfan754321]

$375 would buy a lot of minnie vans, base your decision on the room and the beds. We really like ASM especially after the refurbishment. On our next trip we could not get a room for the whole time its so popular.

 

[stinkpickle]

CSR is probably worth the extra $53.57 per night if you plan on spending any time at the resorts.

 

[Kestryl]

I would always pick a moderate over a value just for the hot tubs alone especially on adults only trips. That being said we are staying at music in a couple weeks but only for two nights.

There something about hot tubs and Florida that don’t mix well with me, ha.

I also just wanted to say I love your profile picture! That commercial always gets me right in the feels... such a huge Donald fan

Thank you! That commercial makes me have what I call retroactive nostalgia- like I was never a huge Donald fan when I was little, but that commercial makes me feel like he was my everything. I made a shirt for my trip last year with a duck and “to dream the impossible dream.”

This. If you are park warriors, you won’t have to deal with shared buses. Also if you are driving you can avoid the buses entirely, and at AK, Epcot and DHS I probably would. And I’m not sure the All-Stars ever share buses to MK anymore.

A lot of the All Star bus horror stories are from 3+ years ago at this point. Disney has really worked hard to eliminate reasons for people to rent a car (because anyone with a car might just find themselves at Sea World or Universal or - the horror! - an off-property restaurant!).

That’s good to know! We figured we would probably end up driving for DHS (cause Star Wars), but I’ve always been a fan of just parking the car and not seeing it for a few days. But we’ll see- maybe after driving to DHS we’ll completely switch over!

I was at both an All-Star and Coronado this past fall. I definitely preferred the buses at my All-Star resorts; I think the single bus stops means you never have to suffer through the drive around the resort. I rode a shared bus ONCE at All-Stars in 5 days - at 11 am headed from a park back to the resort - there were less than 10 of us on the bus. And lining up to wait is great because its fair and defines appropriate behavior everyone know how to follow.

I think the Coronado Tower rooms - with their easy access to the food court, restaurant and lounge, the gift shop, potential for nicer views from your room window, and inside hallways - feels MUCH nice than a value, but I am betting the price difference you are citing means you aren't talking a tower room. I do love the pool with slide and hot tub at Coronado and I like the remote feeling of the buildings - especially the Ranchos. BUT - then you lose the benefit of the amenities in the central area. Beds and towels are nicer than at the All-Stars, but not by leaps and bounds. The rooms are also a little bigger.

For that price difference - this is tough call. For ME - it would be about how I wanted this particular trip to feel.

Yeah, it would not be the tower. We stayed at Pop last year, and it looks like ASMovies has a similar set-up now?

I personally do not care for Coronado so I would take ASM and save the money. We could then justify my $199 light saber and my Fiancees Avatar or Banshee. We aren't big souvenir people but we would like those.

I am ALL about the lightsabers this trip! It’s happening. I need it.

$375 would buy a lot of minnie vans, base your decision on the room and the beds. We really like ASM especially after the refurbishment. On our next trip we could not get a room for the whole time its so popular.

I guess that’s double edged- popular, so it must be good, but also more people, ha. That’s why we’re looking at preferred. All the standards are gone.

CSR is probably worth the extra $53.57 per night if you plan on spending any time at the resorts.

Thank you! I’m not sure how much time we’ll be there, other than sleeping. I have this weird feeling we’ll spend more time at other resorts than our own.