Questions about resorts (and resort hopping)

[The Sybah Shelstah]

Just curious on a few things and I'm hoping that the more experienced WDW travellers will know the answers!

First off- does the ASMu have a microwave for use in the foodcourt?

Secondly- I plan on some time to do some resort hopping on this trip. Mostly to check them out to help decide where we'll stay on our next trip (because our next family trip, whenever that will be, will be onsite the next time!) but also..... I was reading about lots of things to do when resort hopping and I'm wondering if anyone knows of things that there are to do at certain resorts that are LIMITED to ONLY that resort's guests being able to do?

In other words -things are mentioned on many websites about things to do at this resort and that resort- some even mentioning them as things to do when resort hopping so obviously you probably aren't staying at that resort- but on a lot of the things it's not clear cut if you are allowed to do those things if you are staying onsite yet NOT in that particular resort. Especially because some of these websites are outdated.

So are there things at particular resorts -that you know of- that are things that ONLY that particular resorts' guests can do? I don't want to be embarrassed to try to do something- like a boat ride/sitting in a rocking chair/etc. etc. to find out they don't allow that unless you stay at THAT resort!

TIA if you can help.

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

Also- at ASMu during value season with AP discount I don't exactly expect royal treatment (good thing huh? LOL) but I am curious how they handle housekeeping at ASMu.
Do they come in everyday and atleast give you new towels and tp and stuff? Or do you just go your entire stay and only ask if you need those items? Or is it every few days or what? I'm curious- because I'm staying 9 nights so obviously I am not going to be able to go that long without ANY housekeeping. 9 nights with the same sheets, towels/etc? Not possible.
Right?
LOL

 

[DMRick]

As far as housekeeping..they come in every day. They rplace the towels that are not on the rack (and usually there is a note to that affect). Sheets are, I think every three days. Bedspread..only if your kid throws up on it (what fun that was!). We found housekeeping to be wonderful at All Stars. What a thankless job.

As far as resort hopping..I know you can only use your resort pool (or sister resort pool). In the "olden days", the joy of staying on site was you could use any pool..but some pools are a lot nicer now, so it's only your pool.

At all the resorts, you are welcome to eat in their restaurants. In Fort Wilderness. You are welcome to join the campfire, and sit a spell in the rocking chairs on the porches of the restaurant. You can go to the Hoop da do review. We've played tennis there, after renting equipment, and that wasn't a problem.

At Animal Kingdom lodge, we've gone in and said we were staying at POR and heard about the story telling. They gave us the times and locations, and suggested we visit the animals or enjoy their porches or campfire, which we did.

At Wilderness Lodge, we went in and told them we were staying at All Star Sports and heard about Hidden Mickey's. They gave a sheet with different places to look and off we went.

I was told all the transportation is included when staying onsite. I asked when we stayed at POR, if we would be able to take the boat over from DD in the evening when we aren't staying there, to hear Bob play the piano..and was told that the transportation was for all Disney guests.

So that's my little bit of experience.

We've been to all the resorts to shop, eat, and enjoy the Christmas decorations.

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

THanks for the great post!
So basically it's only the pools that are out- which is fine with me because I HIGHLY doubt I'd want to go in a pool in January and anyway.. getting into a swimsuit is not something I want to do often with this bod. LOL (Only when the kids force me to take them to water parks around here in the hot Texas summers. LOL)

Thanks bunches!

 

[Samsma]

Can you not pool hop between the all-stars?

 

[maryliz]

You can pool hop at "sister" resorts -- ie. a guest at any of the 3 All Stars resorts can use any of the pools at the 3 resorts; POFQ and POR can use each others pools. When we were at Music in the fall, we were pretty close to the quiet pool at Sports so we went there a couple of times. Yes there is a microwave in the food court at All Stars. At Music it was right next to the window where you pick up your pizza (in the tables area). Housekeeping does come in every day. One day they knocked and asked if we "wanted" service that day, or just fresh towels ? I kind of laughed because with 2 small children, our room was always in need of a good vacuum. I thought it was kind of nervy for them to ask since we were paying to have housekeeping every day, but it only happened the once.

We always say we want to do more resort hopping when we are there ... but we just love those darned parks too much (LOL). We have found that booking a character meal at a resort is a great way to get ourselves over there. I highly recommend going over to AKL to just enjoy the resort. The CM's are so willing to talk about the animals. It poured rain the first day we stayed there, but we filled the day by walking all over the resort because there's lots of places to view the animals even from the inside of the resort.

 

[bobcat]

There is a microwave in the food court. We used it to pop popcorn. Be aware that it is very powerful.

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

Thanks for all the answers/comments!

I kinda thought that didn't make sense (when I read it... whereever it was that I read it. I've read a lot about WDW, the resorts, etc in the last 2wks. LOL) that ANY resort guest could use ALL amenities of every resort (ie: even pools mentioned!) -because then why would you pay for that resort but for just wanting that room or to be closer to the amenities or something? Just didn't seem like it made it worth it for some people. So only using "sister" resorts pools makes more sense to me. Not that I plan on getting in the pool anyway. It would have to be a very very hot day in the summer for me to ever go to WDW and get in a pool there. LOL

We always say we want to do more resort hopping when we are there ... but we just love those darned parks too much (LOL).

I hear ya. I plan on spending the majority of my time in the parks- but I have left my itinerary open to hopping resorts on most evenings after the parks have closed and maybe even some middays (especially if they end up getting busier than I hope for this time of year) or what I'm calling "off days" after just going to the parks for EE, character breakfast on one day, and maybe a few hours until the parks start picking up and lines get longer.
I have to try to get everything in this trip that was missed on our last trip because I don't know when I can go back again. Although if I don't get it all in... maybe I can justify another trip later this year then! LOL
I also plan on checking out DTD and PI this time. Can you believe we were there staying 9 nights and never stepped foot anywhere near there? LOL

 

[Elysiannn]

Last year when I stayed at All Star Sports I had the housekeeping staff ask me if my room needed cleaning or not. I'm always neat in my room anyways (I travel solo) and I'm used to using towels twice or three times. There are cards explaining Disney's desire to conserve energy and water and telling you to put the towels you want replaced in the tub I believe. I did notice if you tip housekeeping you tend to get an extra supply of towels in your rooms with the washcloths orgami'd (sp). I plan this year (yippe - hour days till I'm there!!!) to ask for early housekeeping since I'm at the parks when the ropes drop and then wanting to come back and rest 2-3. A few times last year when I returned my room hadn't been cleaned yet and that interrupted my nap! LOL

As for resort-hopping. Go and enjoy!! This year I plan on going to AKL for dinner at BOMA then relaxing around the resort and pool for the evening. You get all the joys of AKL without the cost!! Last year I did this at the Polynesia and had a wonderful dinner and viewing of the fireworks at MK. I want to go and visit Riverside and the Beach Club this year.

Enjoy your trip and the resorts!

 

[snowmouse]

One word of caution about resort hopping; this is very time consuming if you don't have a car. Buses do not run between resorts, so lots of transferring is involved.

Everything that the posters have stated about resort hopping, is what I understand as well. However, I have had two phone conversations this week (one with CRO and the other with a CM at the POR front desk) that totally contradicted the pool hopping situation. I know this is very controversial, and I'm just repeating what I was told. We had planned to split our stay between POR and YC in order to take advantage of the pool. No availability at YC so far, and when I expressed my disappointment I was told, "well if your only interested in the pool, you'll have no problem, just go on over. Make sure you bring your own towels from POR!!" To say the least, I was shocked and told the CM that I understood the policy to be very strict at SAB. He insisted I had been misinformed. Later, I called POR front desk with some other questions and was given the same answer. They added, that perhaps they're being a little lax due to the pool construction at POR, right now.

Does this sound right to anyone else? I thought they issued wristbands at SAB and were very strict. Has this lightened up lately? I would love this to be true, but am very skeptical.