Doubletree vs. All Star Sports

[scrappinam]

We currently have 2 rooms booked at All-Star Sports for week of July 4. We chose this hotel because

1. Value
2 We have stayed here before and the kids like it
3. We have 2 teenagers who like to stay out later than their sisters and use Disney transportation to get back to the hotel.
4. EMH

I am thinking of switching our stay to the Doubletree at Disney Springs but am not sure how their transportation works. We have a car and usually drive to the parks each day. But the boys often use Disney transportation to go from one park to another.

Positives/Negatives of each hotel???

Thanks!

 

[BigredNole]

Park-to-park is pretty much the same as staying onsite. Parking your car will cost unless you have annual passes. I am not sure about the DT shuttle bus, but Uber is the best thing I have found for down there. Trips were about $6-$10 for us and we stayed onsite. Unreliable Disney Transportation is not something I put trust in.

 

[queenofthehive]

For the teenagers scenario above, I would stay onsite for the transportation benefit alone. Also, they will be able to use the evening magic hours. I have stayed at the Doubletree years ago and it was very nice but with the teenagers traveling back and forth to the parks, I would feel more comfortable using the Disney buses.

 

[writerguyfl]

Here's the dedicated thread about the Disney Springs Hotels shuttle buses: https://www.disboards.com/threads/disney-springs-hotels-bus-information.3653605/

For the teenagers scenario above, I would stay onsite for the transportation benefit alone. Also, they will be able to use the evening magic hours. I have stayed at the Doubletree years ago and it was very nice but with the teenagers traveling back and forth to the parks, I would feel more comfortable using the Disney buses.

Mears Transportation runs the buses for the Disney Springs Hotels. In literally hundreds of trips I've taken on those buses over the years, I've never seen anything remotely concerning with regard to their operation. Mears has been a Disney partner for decades. They currently operate Disney's Magic Express Service (and I think the Disney Cruise Line buses).

Positives/Negatives of each hotel???

For recent opinions on the DoubleTree Suites, just search "DoubleTree" on this forum or click here: https://www.disboards.com/search/117961181/?q=doubletree&o=date&c[node]=15

Note: Sorry to just provide that link, but questions about the Disney Springs Hotels get requested a lot around here. Those of us with experience staying at those hotels do our best to answer each thread. However, sometimes we don't have the time to answer every open-ended question. You'll get a variety of opinions just by looking at the a couple of threads on that first page of search results.

 

[scrappinam]

Do Disney Spring hotel buses just run back and forth between hotel and park? If so, those of you with experience, how do you park hop?

 

[Sue M]

Doubletree was great. We only stayed one night because we decided to arrive a day early. The perils of having an AP. Huge 1 bedroom suite. 2 beds in bedroom and 1 pull out queen in living room. Large bathroom in bedroom. Kitchenette and dining table.
We got a great rate plus free breakfast.
Busses in Disney Springs Resort area run continuously every 30 min to the parks. Park to park just use WDW bus. Also Disney Springs Hotels now get EMH & 60 day FP.

 

[writerguyfl]

Do Disney Spring hotel buses just run back and forth between hotel and park? If so, those of you with experience, how do you park hop?

As Sue M notes, you are welcome to use Disney transportation (buses/monorails/boats) to park hop.

Also Disney Springs Hotels now get EMH & 60 day FP.

FYI: Those perks are only available for stays in 2018. Those of us that usually stay at the Disney Springs Hotels are hopeful that the program will continue in 2019.

 

[Sue M]

Just wanted to add the room discount and free breakfast was thru a Mousesavers.com code. You may want to watch their web site and sign up for the newsletter to get their Hot Deals. The Doubletree is one of their preferred hotels and freq have discount codes.