How are the All-Star resorts? Asking for the far-off future

[ellbell]

I hated All Stars Sports when I visited a year ago in January.

We booked with two weeks notice, and when we arrived, I was so disappointed. It did not feel, to me, like a "Disney" property. I'd only ever been to DLP at this point, mind. We checked in, walked to the food court and MY GOODNESS I was overstimulated. It was late, loud and hot. Stuffy hot. We picked our resort mugs up and headed to the room.

Walking in, my disappointment peaked. Very minimalDisney themeing.... read that as ONE piece of art on the wall, and one Mickey Mouse Alexa device. Nothing else - anywhere -was Disney themed. Just a basic (but clean) room.

Only when we pulled down the extra bed did we find a large Disney piece of art. A shame it was hidden really.

We also had Cheerleaders being SO LOUD the entire time, early, and youths drinking alcohol and being rowdy in an evening.

So we purchased DVC a few days later and not looked back.

All jokes aside - it's fine, if you understand the Disney theme will be MINIMAL. It's clean, convenient transport and a decent price.

A way to minimize this disappointment is to watch youtube videos so you are able to manage expectations.

 

[DanceDisney23]

One caveat - the Disney theming will be minimal in the room. The exterior spaces will have larger than life themed decor everywhere.

 

[Disneylover99]

Walking in, my disappointment peaked. Very minimalDisney themeing.... read that as ONE piece of art on the wall, and one Mickey Mouse Alexa device. Nothing else - anywhere -was Disney themed. Just a basic (but clean) room.

Only when we pulled down the extra bed did we find a large Disney piece of art. A shame it was hidden really.

I feel like most Disney resorts (as they do their refurbishments) go minimalistic Disney.
I think the trend is to offer a calmer room, which I really appreciate.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

I have stayed in all of the value resorts (as well as most of the moderate, deluxe, and DVC resorts). I have stayed for as long as ten nights, with three adults in the room. They are set up for keeping things organized, with a lot of storage space. The beds are comfortable. The transportation at All Star is all buses, but it is very efficient. Pop and Art of Animation have buses and the Skyliner (depending on where you are going). We like the Skyliner, but the rooms at Pop and AoA are a little more expensive as a result, so I would say we stay there during the times when overall rates are lower and at All Star when the overall rates are higher. We still occasionally stay at a deluxe or moderate resort, but most of the time we stay at the value resorts.

This is our family as well. We have stayed at all 3 levels and have enjoyed our stays at value (mainly POP) just as much as a Mod or deluxe. Over the last 4-5 years, we cannot even come close to justifying the cost of deluxe resorts and we will do a Mod once in awhile, plus we also would rather have a good food court over a TS restaurant.
ASMO is our favorite All-star followed by ASMU, not a fan of ASSP. We love the murphy bed because once you lift it back up, it really opens up the room. I also would not waste $$ for a preferred room, unless you have health issues or really want to be in a certain location, because the walking distance is not bad at all from any room. You will have a GREAT time!

 

[ThatCubT]

I feel like most Disney resorts (as they do their refurbishments) go minimalistic Disney.
I think the trend is to offer a calmer room, which I really appreciate.

It’s interesting. That was my first stay on property (and indeed first visit to WDW), so I felt disappointed. Not angry, not upset. Disappointed.

I’ve since stayed in a fair few of the DVC properties, including:

Grand Floridian x 2
Wilderness Lodge
Polynesian (our home resort) x 2
Old Key West
Animal Kingdom Lodge x 2
Boardwalk

I really do enjoy the themeing of these (aside from OKW) and the need for everything to be Disney is not something I now hold. I do enjoy a nice room with hints of Disney rather than a full on assault. And as far as All Stars…. I’d actually return there if coming with a big group and my DVC points were running low. It was fine. Inoffensive. Clean. Easy to get to the parks and a low price. That’s what matters.