Please tell me good things about All Star Movies!

[mhingher]

I've been lurking on the DIS boards for a while now, ever since I've been planning my trip for next month. I've seen a lot of negative posts on here about the All Star and Pop resorts... staying at ASMo was the only way we could afford to stay on site, since I caught the $79/night rate. Please tell me some good things about the value resorts, I'm starting to get a little bummed out b/c I wish I could stay in a moderate but I really just can't afford it right now!!

 

[indymom1]

mhingher....I know how hard it is to not worry when it seems like you are seeing a lot of negative posts but the only thing that I can say is not to worry. We have stayed at All Star Music and All Star Movies. Granted we liked movies better than Music but that was just due to theming. We have stayed in them twice and are looking to book POP this July/August. We have also stayed at the Poly and like you this trip we just can't spend the money on the Poly. We really liked the All Star Movies. My son LOVED it. The icons are big and a great place for pictures. The pool is big and they have a nice small playground where they can burn off some extra energy. We really enjoyed the food court. We actually ended up there every night to have a double scoop of ice cream before we would head to our rooms for the night. We haven't had any problems staying in either resort with extreme amounts of noise or bus problems. I am not great at driving around new cities so I look at it as long as I don't have to drive I am very, very happy. Also the greatest thing about DW is that there is a resort there for everyone. Some people love the Values others don't and some people try the deluxes and find out they are not for them. Relax, enjoy your trip and just remember it is better to be at DisneyWorld then at home!!!! I hope you have a great time

 

[720L]

I'm sure you'll like ASM and have a great time. We've stayed at ASMovies, ASMusic, AKL and POP. The only thing that bothered me about ASM is the buses-you stop at other places so it takes longer getting places. I wouldn't call them horrible though. And the noise factor everyone talks about.....you get that at any hotel anywhere. We're going to start requesting being on the top floor so at least the only noise you MIGHT get is beside you. The food court is good-just avoid busiest times and you'll be good. I would rather stay on site at AllStars than a fancy hotel off-site! Enjoy your trip!

 

[simzac]

We stayed at All Star Movies for our first Disney family trip in 2003. We really loved the resort. The boys swam every day in the pool. The room was big enough for our family of 4, and very clean. The food court had alot to offer as far as choices, prices were fair, and plenty of seating. Everything at the resort is within a 5 minute walk. All the CM's were very friendly and helpful. The bus service was fine, I think the longest wait we ever had for a bus was 10 minutes. This is definitely a resort for families. You will have a great time.

 

[Bay in TN]

It's been about four and a half years since I stayed at ASMo with my bestest friend Krisi, but we loved it. Had a *blast*. Maybe it was us -- we're a walkin', talkin' party when we're together -- but I know at least some of it was ASMo itself.

Here's the good stuff: It's pretty. I like it much better than ASMu or ASSp, just because it's prettier. C'mon, this is a no-brainer; Pongo and Sorcerer Mickey are nicer to look at than gigantic maracas and footballs, right? Right!

The food court -- as far as I can remember -- was bright, well-organized, and full of food. And happy Disney CM's. I'll take a happy Disney CM any day over some unhappy employee at an offsite motel. I *swear* I remember seeing sushi at the ASMo food court, but Krisi says she didn't see it.

The rooms are certainly adequate -- typical All Star fare; nothing to write home about, but nothing to sneeze at, either. Again, I would rather stay here than offsite.

Pool was cool, and very busy at all times. (I was there in November, 2000, and it freaked me out to see little British kids swimming at night. Apparently they didn't notice that it was COLD at night!)

The transportation is, IMHO, the best at the "value" resorts. They're so big and have so many people in them that the buses are just constantly running from the parks. I have waited more than half an hour for a bus to the AKL or the WL or the Boardwalk, but I never waited that long for a bus to the All Stars or Pop Century.

But the best, best, best, best, *best* and most Disney-magical part was the music in the courtyard around the pool leading up to the food court. Maybe it was my timing. Every morning as I was trudging unhappily out to get my coffee (I'm not a morning person), the music would start just as I got to the pool, and I *swear* it made me cry every single morning to hear Jiminy Cricket crooning, "When You Wish Upon A Star" first thing to start my beautiful Disney day. By the time I was headed back with my coffee, the music would move along to something from "Cinderella" that also made me cry. I mean, there I was in a sparkling clean, fresh, cool, *pretty* resort, with a cup of coffee, and there's Cinderella singing. You'd have to be Scrooge not to love that!!! Or the evil stepmother....

Don't worry. You'll have a wonderful time at ASMo!!!!!!

--Bay

 

[mhingher]

Thank you so much, I don't know what came over me! I'm going to WDW, who cares where I'm staying, right??

Now all I should be thinking about is that in 4 weeks I will be at the happiest place on earth!!! Thanks again

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Don't worry about it - you'll be at WDW so how could you possibly not have a good time??

Seriously, I've stayed at ASMu and Pop Century (last month), loved both resorts, and we had wonderful trips both times. People are always going to have complaints no matter where they stay, many of them justified. But it would be a cold day before I'd let anything ruin my trip: we work too hard to get there.

I think the Value resorts are very cheerful and colorful, fun and clean. Everywhere you look people are having a good time. I was a little worried about staying at Pop because of some of the reports I've read, but it far exceeded my expectations and I'd definitely stay there again, as I would the All Stars also.

Have a great trip and be sure to let us know how it worked out for you. And remember, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff!

 

[HB2K]

We went on our honeymoon in Oct 2001. I planned every last detail of the trip and was EXTREEMELY concerned about the hotel. I kept trying to justify to myself to change our ressie from All Star Movies to a deluxe like Animal Kingdom Lodge, etc...at twice the cost.

Ultimately I decided the money could be spend elsewhere on the vacation and hey, it's a place to sleep right? Anyway if anything was going to be a "failure", before leaving I would have told you the hotel would have been it.

We loved it.

We've gone once more in 2002 and stayed at the movie's again. We're headed to the world next week and where are we staying?

You guessed it. All Star Movies.

It's a great resort! It's got Disney magic with the building theming, icons, etc.

Have a blast!

 

[melissa5583]

I went to ASMo last year and I really liked it!!!! The rooms were a little small but we were not in them enough to care. The theme is awesome!!! We stayed in Mickey's Sorceror Hat (Fantasia). There is a great pool and there is a bar open for adults. The food court is GREAT!!! (the ice cream is the best)!!!! All the CM were soo nice and there is the souvenir shop in the hotel!!! We had the best time. We cannot afford to go too often. In 2002 we stayed offsite and it was horrible!!!!! After staying at ASMo I will always stay at a WDW resort!!

 

[mommiechewie]

I love all star movies!!!! It was a wonderful place to stay and as someone else said in this thread the only thing that was a bit of a hassle was the transportation. but our problems did not occur coming and going from the theme parks it was downtown Disney. I do think you will be very happy there!!!!

 

[mortimor]

we always stay in the value resorts. My personal favorite is Movies and the rest of the clan is split between Pop and Movies. I like movies because of the themes, pools, food court, and bus service. If you need to use the buses, the value resorts are actually MORE efficient than some of the Moderate etc resorts. There are no transfers, just direct delivery to the parks. One word of advise, stay near Dalmations/Mighty Ducks. Mighty Ducks has its own pool and you are also withing walking distance of the All Star Music main building for the food court and getting on/off the buses. This may not be a big deal during the slow season, but is vital during the busy seasons in getting a place on the bus. Best example I can give is during the busy times at park closing they often have three buses bringing people back to the All Stars, one for each resort. You can choose the shortest line for Movies or Music and save up to a half hour or more standing in another line.

 

[Cookie Princess]

ASMo is our very favorite value resort. We prefer this over POP. You will have fun!

 

[CamColt]

I havent read the other replies so Im sorry for any duplicate answers but, we love ASMO. Weve stayed there 3x now, once in TS and twice in MD.

The theming is awesome, especially for kids.

The food court is convenient and has a great variety...again great for picky kids(and adults like me)

Bus service has always been very good for us.

CMs are friendly and helpful

Weve never had any excess noise...no more than we have heard in moderates and deluxes.

I would stay there over a moderate and the price is just an added bonus.

 

[ballroombelle]

Of the Values, I've also tried the POp and ASMo is our preferred.

The themeing puts me more in a Disney mood and the scale and layout of ASMo feels more interesting and manageable. I just don't like feeling too far away from the resort epicenter as I did at Pop.

The room is not palatial, but it's comfortable, modern, clean and cute. Onsite, with pools, foodcourt and shops...it's a fantastic deal. Have a good time.

 

[Abba98]

Hi there,we stayed at All Star Movies in the 101 Dalmatian part,and it was perfect.The next trip,we stayed at the Country music section of All Star Music,and loved it.And last time,at Pop Century,and that was fabulous (in the 70's part).The food at these places is great,love the tye dyed bread and cheesecake.
You will have a great time!
Enjoy!
Kirsten in Nova Scotia

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

we have stayed at the astars like 7 - 8 times. we liked the Music and Movies. when we stayed at the movies, we were in the Dalmation bldg. great location. its only a min or two walk to the pool and food court. The food court has ANYTHING you could want, the kids love it. we usually go in Aug. so the buses are pretty full, but its ok. We have had really good luck with clean rooms, great people working there . We keep saying we will move up (haha) but we are really not at the hotel much. Oh yeah the pool is fun. I think you will have a GREAT time.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

We've stayed at ASMo two times in the last three years and absolutely love it! The first time we were in the Love Bug building. It was a little further from the food court and bus stop, but not by any means bad. For our trip last Oct, I had requested a Toy Story building, because my DS3 adores Toy Story. I, of course, didn't tell DS this, since I knew those were the most requested buildings. We got the Buzz building, tho, and it was awesome!! DS was in heaven all week! Not only did he get to see and do incredible, fun things in the parks, but his favorite characters were waiting for him, bigger than life, when we came "home" each evening.

The food court is great. We ate breakfast and dinner once or twice there. We often went for snacks and fresh fruit. Just a tip if anyone in your party is a big milk drinker, like my kids. We did not pay extra for a fridge. I carried a collapsible, insulated cooler & filled it with ice each night. We bought quarts or half-gallons of milk at the gift shop for MUCH less than the equivalent in the food court. This way, my kids had cold milk every morning without paying $10/night for a fridge or making a morning run to the food court.

Back to ASMo, the buses were also great. We almost always walked right onto a waiting bus to go to a park. We usually only shared a bus with the other All Star resorts when trying to get back to the resort after a park closing.

I hope you have a wonderful, magical time!

 

[SaraMc]

The last 5 trips to WDW we have gone to we have stayed at a All Star of some type. This time ( next week!!!) were staying at All Star Music. They are all very nice really. Its very family oriented. The only thing we found was that being a couple without kids the last couple of times we were put back farther in the resort where it was quieter. So try to get a map of the resort and see where you would like to be. Try to see if you can get placed where you want. We have had luck with that, however we normally travel in the off season.

I find the bus service is better because more people are at the All Stars so While the bussess fill quickly and you may have to stand, another bus will be by soon.

You just have to think how much time your going to spend at your resort. However I got to say, once you stay on the resort property you never want to go off site again.

Have fun!

Sara