newbie to all star movies with ?

[momtimesone]

We have stayed at POP the last two times we went to Disney. For next yrs Sept trip we would like to try out All star movies my questions are, does this hotel have airline check in like pop?. Are the buses really all that bad as I have read? We are looking to go at the end of sept early Oct. Thanks to all that respond and we can't wait to try it out.

 

[StrwLady]

Well opinions are subjective but I can say I have really not had trouble with the buses at any of the All Stars. If remembering correctly The Movies is the last stop. So I might think that at busy times the bus may show up close to full and then you would have to wait. But thats just a guess. I haven't stayed at the Movies in quite a while.

 

[skifast22]

When I stayed at the ASMo last September, the only issue I had with the buses was returning from the MK following Wishes. We had watched the show from the Flag pole on Main Street so i thought we'd beat the crowds. I thought wrong. The entire queue was full and the line extende past 2 other resort queues. We ended up going further down and taking the bus to ASSp, which had a very short line then walking back to ASMo from there. The rest of the week the buses were pretty good. The only other time I had to wait for a couple of buses was again returning from the MK later in the week, but it was not as bad as the previous time.

 

[minnie61650]

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot, MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.

A WORD ABOUT BUS SHARING

To me Bus Sharing at the All Stars is really a non issue.

In the mornings during Park opening hours each All Star usually has a dedicated bus.
During mid day it is usually just our stop and maybe one more on the way to the parks. On the way back sometimes it is all 3 but often Sports and Music share and Movies has it's own bus back. Each of the All Stars usually has it's own dedicated bus back from the MK.
That is a big plus. It seems like the Music bus stop usually has the shortest of the three All Star bus lines.

I guess some people who stay at POP see all 3 All Star names on the return sign of our bus stop when they head to the POP bus stop and think All Stars also has 3 stops on the way to the park.
(Even when we stop at another AS resort to load up it has not taken more than 5 minutes and we are on our way!)

 

[PrincessKitty1]

DH and I have stayed at Pop about 7-8 times and at the AllStars 7-8 times. We really have seen no difference in the bus transportation. Sometimes there were longs waits, sometimes there were not, in both places. Overall, we were very pleased with the bus transportation. Be aware that at busy times, you will have to stand in the bus (drivers will pack in at least as many standers as sitters) so be prepared for that.

Expect long waits whenever you leave a park at closing time. The only way around this (that DH and I have found) is to leave an hour before closing (you CANNOT beat the crowds by leaving 20 minutes before closing, in our experience ) or 45 minutes after closing. That's right, you can walk around in the parks after they close (main gift shops will still be open). DH and I will browse in the shops for 45 minutes, then go catch the bus back to the resort.

Sorry, I don't know anything about airline checkin since we drive.

 

[Mom2Evie]

does this hotel have airline check in like pop?. Are the buses really all that bad as I have read?

The All Star hotels offer airline check-in for specific airlines like most resorts, but not all. I've been looking for the list online because I know I've seen it but can't seem to locate it right now. I know that just recently they added Airtran to the list of on-site check in airlines. I also remember that American & Delta were available.

Regarding the busses, I wouldnt' worry. I've been on a bus being dropped off at ASMo and heard the bus driver call back that the lines were large at a particular park. The reply comes back that they're sending another bus. In my opinion & experience, it isn't any better or worse than any other resort. I think the perception is that transportation is bad because all three All Star Resorts might have one queue at a park. What people don't pay attention to, as they walk right past to their own queue is that each resort has a bus that picks up. Only during slow times are people from each resort on the same bus. The line looks "3 times" longer than it is for any given resort.

 

[momtimesone]

You diser's are the best thanks for helping me plan This will be our first time ever going in sept and first ever time staying at all star movies and from what I have read here its a resort we would love to try. Guidebooks are great for info but theres nothing like DIS reading your first hand accounts helps me plan our vacation so thanks a bunch

 

[JMCDisneyBound]

FYI---If you are not wanting to stay in preferred location (Dalmatian, Toy Story or Fantasia bldgs) then request Mighty Ducks. This building is close to All Star Music and you can use their bus stop. We have done this both times and it has worked out great for us!!