Help!!!

[Suzanka]

Hello,
I was forunate to have found this site but feel really lost. I am taking my 13 year old to Disney World for the first time in July. She is going to be performing with her dance team. I have no clue which hotel to choose. I also am trying to find the best prices I can. The rest of the team is staying at All Star Sports but I haven't read too many great reviews. I found a great price on a hotel in Downtown Disney I believe it was called the Disney Hotel but I am concerned it is too far. Like everyone else I don't have a ton of money to spend and would like to maximize what I have. Is it benificial to get a Disney Visa or join AAA for this trip? Any help suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[pat fan]

I think the Sports is a fine choice, especially if that is where the rest of her "team" is staying. We all have our value preferences, mine is Music, but if everyone was staying at Sports, I wouldn't hesitate to stay there. The theming is the big difference really, and if they are there for a sports thing, I think it would be very fun! You can't go wrong with any of them, and IMO, it's a better choice than a Downtown Disney hotel.

AAA will give you a discount (if there are any left) so I would suggest getting that if you can. I used it last year and saved quite a bit.

The school/organization isn't helping out with this? My DS went a couple times with the band/chorus and we just had to pay X amount and that was it (besides sending food & spending $$). If there's anything else I can help with, feel free to ask!

 

[VMK_Mouse]

I found that my discount using the Disney Chase Visa Rewards card is better than AAA. However, after I used my Visa a public code came out which resulted in a $108 reimbursement. Woot!


Maybe you could consider staying at Pop Century. That would allow you stay in the budget pricing range, but not at the AllStars. A lot of people are happy with Pop Century.

 

[Sparkie]

Are you going to be there for the Dance America/Dance Olympus Nationals?

The host hotel is the BuenaVista Palace. Most of our team is staying there but we are staying at the PopCentury. It is 0.7 miles from the Buena Vista. I think it is reasonably priced. About $121 for weekday and $136 for weekend/holiday rate. There are alot of hotels on Buena Vista drive and at the Downtown Disney. But I like staying on Disney property so I can use their bus system and being a resort guest has some advantages as well such as Extra Magic Hours. Every day one park will open 1 hour early and one park will stay open 3 hours after regular closing time. It is only available to resort guests and is no extra charge. We are flying in and I have made arrangements for a rental car. I'm on a fridge swap on the budget board so I can have a fridge in my room -for FREE! I have used gardengrocer.com to have groceries delivered to the hotel so I dont have to try and find the walmart.

I could go on and on- I'll be more than happy to help you in anyway I can and I hope to see you in July!!

 

[spiceycat]

hey Walmart and publix are easy to find.

if you don't like the All stars then Pop century.

how is she getting back and forth to the competition?

if you stay some place else than what you were told -then Disney won't provide transportation to her events.

 

[Sparkie]

I would assume that their team would drive over to the event. That is what I am planning to do and why I rented a car. I live close enough to drive but got spoiled last year when I flew for the first time- ever- I was nervous on the plane and had a mini panic attack but am willing to risk it to be able to be there in 1.5 hours vs 12 hours of driving.

 

[allaboard]

You really can't go wrong with any of the WDW resorts especially if this is her first time. I would also recommend that since the rest of her team will be staying there that you stay there too. I have a 12 year old daughter and she would not be happy with me if we chose to stay elsewhere while her friends are all together somewhere else. Talk to her first before making the decision...if she is ok with staying somewhere else, then go for it.

My two cents...!

 

[Shmily1]

Just a suggestion, but if most are staying at ASSports and you really don't want to, then I would choose AS Music. It has been newly refurbished and is a great place to stay. You can stay in the Calypso, Rock, or Country sections and be just across the parking lot from ASSports. DS17 loved it when we stayed there in December and he wished we had longer to stay. With your DD being at WDW for dancing, it is very evident that she loves music. This resort will fit her just fine!!

Several years ago, DD16 was participating in Twirlmania. We ended up staying at CSR but most everyone stayed at ASMusic. We had a code out of a local newspaper that worked for CSR but not ASMusic.

Have a great time!!! There's nothing like watching your DD perform at WDW!!

 

[karmalicousss]

Since it is with her Dance team then i would choose all star sports also so she can be with the rest of her team.

But if you really don't want to then POP Century.

 

[Sparkie]

bump

 

[Suzanka]

Thanks to all of you who posted to my cry for help! I took your advice and we'll be staying close to the All Star Sports. I got a price of $132. a night for Pop Century and it looks as though it is within walking distance of All Star S. Is that a good deal? We are driving from Ohio so I will have a car but hope to just park it while we are there. The group will be taking hotel transportation. I am getting SO excited!!

 

[Charleyann]

I don't believe Pop is in walking distance to All Star....


Charleyann

 

[krissyh]

You will not be walking from Pop to any of the AS resorts.
WDW is huge (bigger than many cities) and the roads connecting resorts/parks are four lane highways.
If I stay value, I stay at Pop Century. That said, I would really try to get a room at AS Sports. If the team is staying there, your daughter will probably be much happier with her friends and value resorts are the same prices.
I can't imagine knowing that all of your daughter's friends are staying at one resort, bonding, and making memories and she will be at a different resort missing out on that.

Items to consider (and ask - there are a lot of experts on the dis)
- How many days are you planning to go to the parks (tickets get cheaper the more days you buy, but do expire unless you purchase that option)
- What are your plans regarding dining? Is the dining plan right for you? Table service restaurants generally require ressies made far in advance.

I would suggest going to www.allearsnet.com - you will find a ton of information on resorts, tickets, transportation, menus at WDW restaurants.

Good luck and happy planning.

 

[d1gitman]

I think the Sports is a fine choice, especially if that is where the rest of her "team" is staying. We all have our value preferences, mine is Music, but if everyone was staying at Sports, I wouldn't hesitate to stay there. The theming is the big difference really, and if they are there for a sports thing, I think it would be very fun! You can't go wrong with any of them, and IMO, it's a better choice than a Downtown Disney hotel.

AAA will give you a discount (if there are any left) so I would suggest getting that if you can. I used it last year and saved quite a bit.

The school/organization isn't helping out with this? My DS went a couple times with the band/chorus and we just had to pay X amount and that was it (besides sending food & spending $$). If there's anything else I can help with, feel free to ask!

Hi Pat Fan, I can't resist...where are the three asterisks by the pic's of the rings? Are those still photos of the rings or from a video tape. sorry, but i live in MA and can't help myself. Me, i'm a diehard pittsburgh fan.

 

[Princess_Belle]

You should also know that the rooms at All Star Sports are being refurbished now! I think they should all be done pretty soon. So if you decide to stay at ASSp you will be staying in a newly redone room. The rooms at POP have not been redone recently. Im not saying that the rooms at pop arent nice but just not as new as ASSp. Also I would not have been happy if my mom made me stay at a resort away from my friends. In high school chorus we went swimming at night after a long day at the parks. I have noticed that several other groups of kids do the same thing. I think your daughter would enjoy just being at the same resort as the rest of the group. Even if they arent in rooms near each other.

 

[joepic]

Hello,
I was forunate to have found this site but feel really lost. I am taking my 13 year old to Disney World for the first time in July. She is going to be performing with her dance team. I have no clue which hotel to choose. I also am trying to find the best prices I can. The rest of the team is staying at All Star Sports but I haven't read too many great reviews. I found a great price on a hotel in Downtown Disney I believe it was called the Disney Hotel but I am concerned it is too far. Like everyone else I don't have a ton of money to spend and would like to maximize what I have. Is it benificial to get a Disney Visa or join AAA for this trip? Any help suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks!!

My school's dance team competes every year. They stay at the sports every year as well. They just got back actually, they came back in the beginning of Feb.

 

[pat fan]

Hi Pat Fan, I can't resist...where are the three asterisks by the pic's of the rings? Are those still photos of the rings or from a video tape. sorry, but i live in MA and can't help myself. Me, i'm a diehard pittsburgh fan.

I think I just got them off the Patriots website. Would have been nice to add one more, but the "O" line forgot they actually had to play a game before heading to Hawaii . Oh well. Doesn't it seem forever until pre-season?

 

[mickey2minnie1]

I think you should stay with the team. Practices late into the night and first thing in the morning will be so stressfull for you to make. She is going to want to hang with her team down there, don't you think????

I do not believe you will be able to catch transportation from your hotel to the other. Meeting at the parks with the other girls at a certain time may prove to be tricky because the bus system may not be running at the exact time.