LIVE from All Star Music Family Suite!!

[jodyb]

Hi Dis people! I'm writing to you in my jammies on the lovely and comfy queen sized bed in our Family Suite at the All Star Music Resort!! On a scale of one to ten, the suite comes in as a solid 8.5!! We are very comfortable and happy here! YAY! We checked in Tuesday for a 9 day stay. I will qualify by staying that we only have a 15 year old with us, but I truly feel that a family with several children would be VERY comfortable in this suite. Our alternative was going to be two adjoining rooms (my SO is not DD's Dad - he is an established BF but hates that term! -anyway, it would have been weird to share one room) but this is SO MUCH BETTER! We love having a queen bed, and the kitchen, which I didn't think we needed, has turned out to be so convenient! Rather than run to the food court for coffee I can brew a pot here in a few seconds. We're on the food plan and so far have brought back all of our desserts so having the fridge is wonderful. And last night we were so exhausted we couldn't even sit up straight enough to eat in the food court, so we brought the food to the room, and were able to microwave everything to perfection after we got all cozy and settled in front of a Disney movie.
The layout is wonderful. The "master bedroom" is not huge, but they've made the best use of the space and it's comfortable, attractive, and has everything you need. Unless you absolutely must have a King sized bed, this room is really nice.
Two bathrooms, two televisions, two internet outlets (internet connection is a bit slow and unreliable but I don't think that's a suite-related problem - I'm sure we'd have had that same problem in any room)
I Love that we have an actual desk in addition to the table and chairs in the "living room". The fold-out beds are EASY to open. We open them in the evening and reveal a completely made up bed, then we leave it open in the morning while we're out and mousekeeping remakes it and folds it back into the couch. DD reports the bed is VERY comfy.
That's all I can think of at the moment but I have to be online twice a day for work, so of COURSE I'll be logging onto the DIS and will see your questions so fire away. I really think these suites are brilliant.
Anything negative?
Just that the master bathroom is not "attached" to the master bedroom. If I get up in the night (and trust me I do) to use the bathroom, I have to walk past the kitchen and disturb my DD by opening and closing our bathroom door. (Actually this is only hypothetical - she sleeps like a ROCK in Disney.. but still I wish it was an actual Master suite with attached bath. But this is MINOR and actually I see how it couldn't have been avoided since they remodeled two existing AS rooms to make the suite. I'll be curious to see if the newer suites they are going to build at POP will have a better layout.
Other than that - nothing but positive review here!
Off to Expedition Everest! catch you later!!!

 

[phillytwins]

Hi Jody,
Congrats on making it to Disney!
Which building are you in? floor? Did you request a certain one, and did you get it?
I am thinking about staying there in April, and will bring my DH, 2yo twins and their Grandma. Do you think we'd be comfortable?
Could we fit 2 cribs (pack n plays) in the master bedroom? That's my biggest concern.
How is transportation?
Are you glad you chose the DDP?

You said to fire away with questions!!

Thanks,
Carolyn

 

[jodyb]

Hi Carolyn!

I'm not sure about the cribs in the bedroom.. and pardon my ignorance, my youngest is 15.. what is a "packn play"? the bedroom does not feel cramped, but it is "full" - perhaps you can move the armchair into the livingroom which would give quite a bit of room and maybe enough for the babies. Let me know how big the cribs are and I'll tell you for sure.

Grandma will be very comfortable - she'll have her own bathroom, TV, and queen sized bed - albeit it a couch foldaway bed, it's very comfortable! With the babies I think you'll really like having the "apartment" feel that you would have in the suite, with the kitchen, microwave, fridge, etc.

The DDP is off-topic here, but yes, we are enjoying it. It's WAY too much food, but fun to not have to worry about how much things cost, etc. Be SURE to make ADR's - lots of them so you can have flexibility!

 

[phillytwins]

Thanks Jody,
The pack n plays are just portable cribs. You may remember them as a "play pen". I think they're about 3' x 4'. That's a guess. I'll check the web and re-post if I'm way off.


edited to add -- Just checked: 32" wide x 42" long.

 

[Buzz2001]

Have a great trip!

 

[jodyb]

I think it would be tight in the master bedroom. Can the twins sleep in Grandma's room? (living room) There is SO much room in there! One of the walls in the master bedroom is diagonal.. there still might be enough room though.

It's pouring rain here so we're hanging out in the suite this morning and have postponed AK for the time being. It's great being here for 9 nights - we don't feel like we'll miss something if we don't keep to my obsessively made plan to the letter!

I just realized I never answered your other question. In the end I decided not to request a specific building or location and we got Calypso 10, 3rd floor, facing the little garden in back. It's wonderful. Close to the main building and food court, quiet and even the view is nice!

 

[minnie61650]

Hi Jody ,
I am glad you are enjoying the Family Suites.
I am sorry about the rain.
I hope it clears up up soon.

The pack and plays are about 28 inches by 40 inches which would be about 72 centimeters by 102 centimeters.
I am not sure which kind Disney uses but I copied a photo one I found on the internet.

Here is a photo :

I am hoping you have a magical stay at the Family Suites!

 

[SteamBoatWillysKin]

I've been trying to decide between doing Coronado Springs again or trying the allstar suite. I would like to see a floor plan and have not been able to find it anywhere. Does anyone know where the floor plan is located on the web?

 

[minnie61650]

I've been trying to decide between doing Coronado Springs again or trying the allstar suite. I would like to see a floor plan and have not been able to find it anywhere. Does anyone know where the floor plan is located on the web?

Here is a link to the All Star Family Suites FAQ thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1072409


Here is the layout of the Family Suites:

Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[jodyb]

Two of those would definitely fit in the master bedroom IF you move the armchair into the livingroom (should not be a problem). They look small for 2 year olds, but it's been a while.. what do I know!

Still raining here at the World.. but we're going to brave it and try to have some park fun regardless. I'll be back to answer more questions later!

 

[SteamBoatWillysKin]

Thanks for the link to the room layout! It appears that the layout is a retrofit of two rooms. Is there any better layout for having 4 adults and two kids ages 7 and 4? My wife and I are looking to bring with us on this trip a newlywed couple that is very close to our kids. We want to pay for their accomodations and would prefer some type of arrangement that would allow for their privacy at night. I don't see how this layout would work for our situation. What's the best option for this arrangement at DW?

 

[minnie61650]

Thanks for the link to the room layout! It appears that the layout is a retrofit of two rooms. Is there any better layout for having 4 adults and two kids ages 7 and 4? My wife and I are looking to bring with us on this trip a newlywed couple that is very close to our kids. We want to pay for their accomodations and would prefer some type of arrangement that would allow for their privacy at night. I don't see how this layout would work for our situation. What's the best option for this arrangement at DW?

A 2 bedroom DVC or a Junior Suite at CSR may work for you.

The Junior Suite at CSR is also a combo of 2 standard rooms.
One room has a pull down murphy bed and the connecting room has either a king bed or 2 doubles.
There is a mini fridge and a coffeeepot but no kitchenette or microwave.



Here is the layout of the Junior Suite with 2 doubles:

They are a bit more expensive running $315 during value season to $515 during the holiday season.

Have fun planning !

 

[SteamBoatWillysKin]

I looked at the AS Suite link and it does appear that not only does the sofa turn into a double bed, but also the chairs. They are showing two single bed conversions. It might be the footstool that turns into a bed. So it does appear that under the most advanced situations that the AS suite would work for 4 adults and 2 kids. I'm just wondering how comforatable this layout would be for that situation.

 

[minnie61650]

I looked at the AS Suite link and it does appear that not only does the sofa turn into a double bed, but also the chairs. They are showing two single bed conversions. It might be the footstool that turns into a bed. So it does appear that under the most advanced situations that the AS suite would work for 4 adults and 2 kids. I'm just wondering how comforatable this layout would be for that situation.

Yes, the sofa folds out to sleep 2 and the chair and ottoman each fold out into twin size beds.

Also the All Star Suites do not the extra fee for extra adults(more than 2) in a room like the standard rooms have.

1-6 adults can stay in the Suites for the set cost!

Here is a link to my review of the All Stars Suites:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1239232&referrerid=&highlight=

You will also find more of my photos of the Suites on page 11 of the FAQ thread:


Have fun at Disney!

 

[phillytwins]

Two of those would definitely fit in the master bedroom IF you move the armchair into the livingroom (should not be a problem).

Thanks Jody.
Is the armchair easy to move? I would be happy to do that if that will help the cribs fit.
Sorry about the rain!

Hi Linda,
Thanks for the pic. That looks like the one that most hotels use.

~Carolyn

 

[SteamBoatWillysKin]

We always go for 10 days. So it looks like my wife and me and the kids would be in "the room of all the foldouts". How comfortable are they. Are they like most foldouts where if you don't lay completely flat you feel that bar in your back all night? BTW- Minnie your link was very detailed an most helpful.

 

[minnie61650]

We always go for 10 days. So it looks like my wife and me and the kids would be in "the room of all the foldouts". How comfortable are they. Are they like most foldouts where if you don't lay completely flat you feel that bar in your back all night? BTW- Minnie your link was very detailed an most helpful.

You are most welcome.

No ,the fold outs do not have a bar across the back. (At least the sofa and chair don't. I did not fold out the ottoman. )

I have an inoperable spinal condition which causes me much pain and limited mobility but the fold out was so comfortable I wanted to buy one for our extra guest bedroom.

These fold outs are designed so the mattress is supported by the seat and back of the sofa or chair.The only time I felt any metal was the metal frame on the outside edge of the bed when I went to get out of the bed.


See theses photos:

I called Disney but it turns out that the fold outs are an exclusive design and they are made exclusively for Disney.

See this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1236271&referrerid=&highlight=

Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[jodyb]

Hi everybody, I'm back from a drizzly but really fun day at the AK.

The foldout beds are very comfortable and VERY easy to fold out! Mousekeeping folds them back in after changing linen while you are out. The design and comfort are really excellent.
Carolyn, yes I think it would be pretty easy to get the armchair into the livingroom. There is room for it there, and it fits okay through the door.

any other questions? I am loving the suite. Just brewed some decaf to keep me warm on this rainy afternoon - not having to run to the food court is such a pleasure! And we have a fridge stocked with fruit and desserts we saved from the huge meals on the DDP! Life is Good!!!!

 

[aldisneygrl]

Jody,

I am so glad you are enjoying the Family Suite. I wish they would hang a curtain (like in the bathrooms) across the opening between the kitchen and the living room. I agree, we didn't like it, but our kids slept through all the middle of the night bathroom trips.

Did you get in Calypso 10? You are making me miss ASMu.

Glad you are having a great time though!

 

[nhpooh]

This sounds so nice, we will be going in June after my DD graduates High School. We will be taking her best friend, so we will have two 18yrolds with us. Having the suite makes more since for us. We might even let them sleep in some days while we go to the parks. My DD has been many times she knows how to get around very well. This is the first time for her friend, we all can't wait. Keep the reports coming, I love living thru other peoples trips.


Have Fun