Marrriott Courtyard vs. All Stars

[monte]

For about the same price I can stay at either property, which would you choose? (It's just hubby and I). I'm torn between a Disney property, or being able to stay at Downtown Disney. Please help.

 

[DeeP]

I have never stayed at the Courtyard Marriott but I have returned/picked up Dollar rental cars there on quite a few occasions. Matter of fact will be doing this again in just 33 days!!! The first time I returned a car there, I did not realize that Dollar rental car would drive us back to our Disney resort, so we waited for a bus to any Disney park so we could then take a bus to our Disney resort. The bus transportation from the Courtyard was horrible! Not only did we wait at least 40 minutes for a bus but then the bus stops at ALL the other DTD hotels! We were less than impressed to say the least. We also are not impressed with the look of this hotel at all, nothing much for a lobby, etc. We have stayed in almost every Disney resort there is and for us, we would pick an All Star resort over the Downtown Disney resorts in a minute!

 

[caskar]

I have stayed in both.

The Courtyard is a Marriott hotel. Nice, BUT it needs to be renovated. The atrium isn't anything special. The views from certain sides of the hotel are nice. We had a nice view of Downtown Disney one time - nice to watch the fireworks from Pleasure Island but very few. The wing rooms all face the pool. They have an ok view but of only the pool. Buses ran on a schedule. Good at pick up - right in front of the hotel door. Courtyard is the first pick up but then it stops at almost every other hotel except Hilton. This increases travel time to parks. Pick up at the parks were on schedule but we either stood in the parking lot waiting on a specific spot(serious)or we had to walk across the parking when the bus arrived. No underneath a canopy for these buses.
Food - we only ate at the little snake bar - Pizza hut pizza-good. Nothing special here.
You can walk to Downtown Disney 5 minutes or more. The walk was nice except crossing the busy road(I don't know the name) near the shopping. There are crosswalks available but two years ago we had to cross the street in front of the Courtyard to get the crosswalk at the busy road. We found this out when we ran out of sidewalk near the Hilton. We were stuck jay walking(running). You can easily drive there but parking is packed.
Rooms large clean but didn't sparkle(old hotel). Bathrooms were old with mold around caulking. I don't thing the hotel is dirty just old and needs some updating.
The hotel had the best Free coffee.

All-Star Movies is where we stayed. Nice, Disney, but noisey. I was spoiled by staying at the Poly, Dixie Landing, CB, PO, CR... So to me it wasn't as special.
Bus service was good.
The pool was nice.
Food court was a nice food court.
Rooms smaller than Courtyard but cleaner(newer). No free coffee.

If the price was the same with my family of 4, we would probably stay at the All-Stars.

 

[susy]

I recently stayed at both and enjoyed both!
The Courtyard-
We stayed here Nov 2001 for $25 a night (due to 9/11). We booked through Dreams Unlimited and were very happy. Even with paying just $25 , we got all of our requests (NS, tower room, high floor overlooking DD). The rooms were very large and had amenities such as hairdryer, coffeemaker, iron, board, safe and toiletries (don't remember exactly what). The atrium was nice, with a glass elevator and they had a bar, snack bar, and a nice breakfast buffet for $6.95. There was also a very nice little Disney Store. The pool area was nice with two pools (one heated) and a kiddie pool and playground. They also had a sit-down rest. ,which was closed at the time due to 9/11. We had our own car and made it to the parks very quickly and easily....


The All Star Movies -
We stayed here Jan 2002 for $49 (FL Res rate). We had two connecting rooms on the first floor (NS) in Toy Story (quiet side, away from Andy's room). The room didn't have many amenities (just Mickey soaps!), but Mousekeeping did very cute things with our stuffed animals and towels, washcloths, etc... My mom also brought her own 4 cup coffeemaker. It was just a few steps to the main pool and lobby/food court/playground. The pool area was great and had lifeguards. There was a pool bar and someone doing hairwraps . In the main bulding was a huge arcade and huge Disney Store.The food court was amazing! We never actually ate in there, but went very early in the morning and brought food back to our room on the tray and late night snacks. There was a convenient grab and go deli section with everything! We did use the bus servcie one night and it was great! We also didn't have to pay for parking at the parks .

If I had to choose between the two, I would choose ASMo. We just had more fun there!!!

 

[monte]

Thank you for your input as to which resort to stay at. I'll see if the Marriott's rate goes down alittle before making a decision. My husband & I are going 9/28-10/7, checking into to the Yacht Club on 9/30, so it would be just 2 nights (9/28 & 9/29). Decisions, decisions.... I'm leaning towards the All Stars, but hubby doesn't want the noise factor, which I can't imagine would be much considering the time of year we're going. I'm such excited to be going, but I do think that the All Stars would be more fun!

 

[monte]

One more question (sorry), which value resort would you stay at? My husband and I are in our mid 40's with no children, with that being said, which All Star would you choose, or would Pop Century be a better choice? Room locations/numbers would be helpful too. Thanks again.

 

[allykat]

I've stayed at ASMu and ASMo. At ASMu, it was in December so the crowds were down. We were in the back in the Broadway building and the noise factor was nonexistent. Granted, it was a slower time to be there. The only drawback to being that far back is the walk to the bus stop.

On our most recent trip to ASMo, the place was packed. We were in the Herbie the Lovebug building, again in the back. There was no noise at all and for some reason, the walk to and from the bus stop didn't seem bad at all.

I'd definitely stay at both again!

 

[maryliz]

Since you don't have kids who will want nothing but to stay where the big Buzz Lightyear and huge Dalmations are, I would suggest All Star Music. We've done both Movies and Music -- the kids like Movies, but we found Music to be much quieter, and a beautiful atmosphere to take walks at night.