I cant decide where to stay!! HIFS or 2 All Stars Rooms

[vellamint]

Help - I am holding reservations at both right now. We are a family of six. Do we go with the HIFS, 3 separate rooms and 3 TVs and free breakfast OR do we go with 2 connecting at the All Stars -

HIFS - Pros -
3 rooms, 3 TVS, free breakfast

Cons-
Not Disney, 1 bathroom, family travel restricted even with a car (must leave and arrive together even is some are exhausted and some are not.)

All Stars- Pros
2 bathrooms, Disney atmosphere, EE, family can separate if desired!

Cons
2 TV's (1 for hubby - 1 for kids wahhhhhhhh)
Will have girls room/boys room as my sons REFUSE (dont get me started on this one) to sleep in the same bed.


I really want to stay onsite but I think hubby prefers HIFS because of king size bed (wink-wink). I dont think the kids will care one way or another.

What do you guys think!?

 

[Robinrs]

Those are some pluses and minuses!

I noticed that PRICE never came into play. That ALWAYS matters to me!

TVs matter to me, too, so the fact that there are 3 TVs in the HIFS makes it a big plus for us.

How old are your kids? Do they go to the park alone or are you talking about the parents splitting up? If so, the split off group can always take HIFS' shuttle and you all can meet up later.

The buffet, the games and the karaoke in the HIFS make it a great place to hang out. Of course, All Stars has it's food court, which some people like but I found it overpriced and tasteless.

Your DH's wink wink is warranted, there is a DOOR on the master bedroom of the suite in HIFS!

I'll tell you, my son loved the HIFS and would NOT consider the All Stars ever again. I tend to agree.

 

[taylor1293]

I think you've listed some great pro's and con's.

What is the price for HIFS vs the two rooms at the All-Stars?

Teresa

 

[BarryHom]

All-Star rooms tend to be a little small, but they are more family oriented than the other WDW resorts. Plus, the toliets are the most powerful on WDW property!

 

[hercamore]

My .02 is neither place.

With a large family, I'd rent a 2 or 3 br condo offiste for less than $80 a nite usually at www.closesttodisney.com


Or, stay at Vilstana resort, Vistana Villages, or Residence Inn in a true 2 br 2 bath unit.


Herc.

 

[vellamint]

Well the adults would be splitting off - 1 taking boys to older stuff - 1 taking girls to Fantasyland....etc. I dont know if either of us would handle the shuttles....I used to have the schedule saved in my favorites but lost it.

Price for Holiday Inn $126 tax included
Price for 2 rooms at ASMO $146 tax included

Sounds like I am talking myself into the HIFS as I look at the difference in price and add another $30 - $40 a day on for breakfast!!!

Anyone want to talk me back into the Movies!!!!!!!!!! I guess I just really like the idea of staying onsite but cant justify the extra expense.

And to the poster who suggested Vistana's - they are currently WAY over my budget and the price of either one of the above hotels or I would jump on them. As for a 2 or 3 bedroom condo....I have been looking and will check Sky Auction often but I figured HIFS would be a cross between a condo and a hotel....more space/rooms but still have hotel amnenities like poolside bar/activities/crafts. Gift shops, restaurants etc. Believe it or not - those things are part of the vacation experience for us.

 

[coachv]

I would choose HIFS and you can find a better rate there also. I think the entertainment book rate is $99.50 and if you call HIFS directly and tell them you are staying an extended stay (5 plus nights) they can give you a rate of $102 a night. Be nice but firm and tell them you can find better deals at other area hotels. It has always worked for me. In June '01 my rated started at 130 an night and by the time I arrived it was $89 a night. Good Luck!!

 

[hercamore]

The Vistana resort used to honor the entertainment card. also, they have good rates on hotelkingdom.com.


Herc.

 

[Lisa P.]

Well the adults would be splitting off - 1 taking boys to older stuff - 1 taking girls to Fantasyland....etc.

Get a pair of little walkie-talkie radios with a 2 mile distance. It would enable you to separate at the parks, then reconnect later. If one group decides to return to the hotel earlier, you could take the Disney transport to a nearer area of Disney property (DD if you're staying in LBV, AK or MGM if you're staying in Kissimmee) and catch a short taxicab ride from there to your resort. The other group could return later with the car. If one group needs to return to the resort for a few hours' rest/swim and the other wants to stay through the entire day at the parks, the first group uses the car to go. On return to the parks after a certain agreed-upon time, the walkie-talkies will help you locate one another.

...space/rooms but still have hotel amnenities like poolside bar/activities/crafts. Gift shops, restaurants etc. Believe it or not - those things are part of the vacation experience for us.

Those things matter to me too. That's why we like the nicer timeshare condos. They usually have all that. Look for deals on 2BR condos at any of the Marriott timeshare resorts next door to Marriott Orlando World Center (Royal, Sabal or Imperial Palms), Vistana Resort or Silver Lake Resort. These are all very close to Disney property, with easy access to nice pool areas that include a poolside bar/activities/crafts, as well as gift shop, fitness center, game rooms and other amenities.

A 2BR condo at these resorts have a king MBR suite, 2 full baths, full size kitchen w/full size appliances incl microwave & dishwasher, inroom washer/dryer, dining tables that seat 6 or more, regular LRs w/sofa & chairs, balconies/porches, 3 TVs, all the extras. As long as the room you book sleeps 8 people, you & DH would get the king MBR, and the kids could share the BR's 2 double beds, plus the LR sleeper sofa if needed.

Look for deals through Ent. Book or SkyAuction or rent a week from an owner's classifieds listing on TUG. HTH!

 

[Gillian]

Ok, here it is! Have you ever stayed onsite before? If you haven't, since the price isn't that different, I'd say stay onsite! It seems like the ideal situation for you. It sounds like you might have a car, so you can easily get around to different resorts at night if the AS gift shop gets boring.

I don't know how good the HIFS shuttle is, but if you are going to split up & only have 1 car, I think the onsite transportation is worth it. You can save money other ways by eating in the room (cereal & stuff), bringing your own snacks/water & sharing counter service meals for lunch.

I've stayed offsite, and it can be great, but I wouldn't bother unless the savings were significant or the space much greater.

And my other suggestion is to tell the boys that they deal with the sleeping arrangements or stay home Let them sleep on the floor in the kids room!! Can you tell I'm a mean mom?

 

[BedKnobbery2]

I would suggest poking around and seeing what else you can find. For example, I guess-timated your travel dates as mid-August (from the countdown clock in your sig) and checking Aug. 11-18 on hotelkingdom.com, I see you can get a 2 BR place at Sunterra Cypress Pointe for $88, or $97 with tax. This will get you a private master bedroom, a 2nd bedroom, and a sleeper sofa in the living room. According to their site, you can also request a rollaway bed. You'll not only save $30 off the HIFS rate, you'll also have full cooking facilities, a washer & dryer, and a roman hot tub in your master bedroom. You could also get a 3 bedroom for $143 per night, with tax, so everyone would have their own bedrooms, and no one would be sleeping in a common area.

I'm willing to bet you can bring that figure even further down if you are willing to do a timeshare presentation somewhere.

Just another thought!

Have fun!

BK

 

[dthogue]

We just got back on Tuesday and here is my opinion. We spent one night at the All Star Sports resort. Arrived at the resort at 11:30am on Sunday and waiting in line for over 30 minutes to check. Room was ready thankfully. Headed to the food court for a quick lunch prior to heading out to the parks. We waited well over 45-minutes to get waited on and receive our food and then another 10 minutes in line to check out. The food court was mobbed and the seating area was very dirty.

We unloaded our car and walked and walked to our room. Dumped the luggage and headed to the bus stop. We waited 30 minutes for a bus to the Magic Kingdom. After a very long ride we finally reached the MK. We left the park before the fireworks to avoid the mass rush and ended waiting 25 minutes for a bud back to the All Stars, while busses for Movies and Music went by empty.

Our plans were to stay one night and then move to HIFS. The location wad this hotel is so convenient. Located just off Disney property, but so much closer to everything than the All Stars are. Check in was a breeze. We parked right outside of our building, took the elevator up to our room. My kids were in heaven with the room. Bunk beds and a pull out bed in the kids room made everyone happy (no bed sharing here). The master bedroom was great as well as the living room w/ micr, fridge and sink.

The pool is fantastic, with a hot tub, mini golf, shuffle board and ping pong and a playground. The kids eat free program and the free hot breakfast were also terrific.

We drove to the parks every day. On the night we stayed for Illuminations we were back in our hotel by 9:40pm. No hour long wait for the bus.

In my family's opinion we will not stay at a Disney resort again (and we have stayed at several different properties throughout the years). The HIFS is the best hotel, hands down for us.

Sorry this is so long, good luck with yoru decision.

Tammy

 

[toystorymom]

I was in this same situation last summer! We were travelling with our 3 kids and I had reservations at both the AS and HIFS. I really struggled with this decision. For us though, it would have been 1 room at the All Stars because our youngest was a baby.

In the end, we went with HIFS and it was ideal. We had our own car and the drive to the parks was quick and easy. The only downside was having to go to the TTC and then get on a monorail or ferry to the MK, that took awhile and it was always a mob of people. The other parks were very easy though. The space in the rooms was perfect. The boys loved the bunk beds and the pool area although we didn't get to spend much time there since it pretty much rained every day! And we certainly got our money's worth with the free breakfast buffet and the kids eat free program. There were alot of evening activities for older kids which seemed to be quite popular. No complaints about this hotel.

OK, having said all that...I still would really like to stay on site and I wonder what it would be like. We are thinking of planning another trip and I am already thinking HIFS or AS. I know the boys would LOVE the theming at the AS but DH and I love the space of the suite. What to do, what to do??

I'm sure I haven't helped at all! Good luck and let us know what you decide!

 

[vellamint]

I asked one of my daughters if she would rather stay at the ASMO (which is where I told them we would probably stay on our next visit the last time we were down) OR at a hotel that is similar to the one we stayed at in 2000 (Sunspree) and she very quickly said the hotel with the bunkbeds!!!!!!!! I think my whole family is going to vote that way....oh well....think of all the time and money we will save on breakfast.

We are also renting a car....

Above poster....how long did it take you to get from MK back to hotel and from MGM/Epcot back to hotel??

Also - did you try the pullout couch at all....my 12 year old will probably be the one assigned to the couch (I can hear the arguing now) and I hope it is at least comfortable!

Thanks.

 

[Debbie]

We've done the split stay twice~the year we had annual passes. The first was HIFS and Beach Club, the second was HIFS and Dixie. Both times, we required 2 rooms onsite-5 kids ! While the kids enjoyed the pools onsite, they've always maintained that HIFS was so much more fun! The pool, the afternoon pool games, the shuffleboard, the pingpong, the karaoke, the bingo, the food (heck with 6 and 7 of us, they practically <i>paid</i> us to eat there) . . . .

We haven't been back to HIFS since 2000 because we have done 2 truly budget trips, but I wouldn't hesitate to go back again just because it <i>is</i> so close to everything. (And my kids count the tram ride from the parking lot as their first and last rides of the day! )

 

[BrerMom]

Our first two trips we stayed "off-site" at DH's grandparent's house about an hour away. After their deaths, we've stayed on-site, except for this last trip.

We spent the first two nights at HIFS. It was really very wonderful. The bunkbeds are great for the kids, the separate rooms make it feel like a "real" vacation as I could actually unwind while the kids played nintendo64 (bring some games - renting was horribly expensive compared to just buying used and bringing them), and the breakfast was very good. We agreed that it didn't seem to take us any longer to drive to the parks from HIFS than it did from Port Orleans. I would definitely stay there again.

Then we moved on-site and I had a "ahh, this is it" feeling that I wasn't expecting, so I know that I prefer on-site if it's in the budget. We haven't stayed at All-Stars, so I don't know if this is true, but I hear a lot of people complaining about noise and waiting for buses.

It will be a magical stay wherever you stay because you're at Walt Disney World!!!

 

[Debbie]

Above poster....how long did it take you to get from MK back to hotel and from MGM/Epcot back to hotel??

Also - did you try the pullout couch at all....my 12 year old will probably be the one assigned to the couch (I can hear the arguing now) and I hope it is at least comfortable!

vellamint, my 2 boys used the pullout couch (they were 13 and 15 the first year) and it was fine.

MGM is so close you could probably walk it! lol In fact, when we were there, we'd watch the MGM signs and follow them. The exit to the hotel was the next road or so. Magic Kingdom is farther (10? 12? minutes) but the roads are well marked, and there's always lots to see! HTH

 

[vellamint]

So you would say maybe 15 - 20 minutes to leave a park to go back for a swim??? I know the MK will be a little longer but did you go back for an afternoon rest and return to the parks?

Thanks for the info on the open up couch - the child assigned there will be disappointed with not having individual speaker/light as it is and I was hoping the bed would at least be comfortable...glad to hear it is!

 

[Debbie]

Yes, we did go back for a rest and swim on many of the days that we were there! I remember leaving DH and the youngest at the hotel, getting to AK, and having to return 'cause my oldest had forgotten his pass! We were still in AK before we knew it. The roads are so well labelled at WDW, and you travel quite quickly.