STILL agonizing over ASMu vs POR!!!

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

I am still agonizing over this decision. I know if I don't make it quick there may be no more fs at ASMu. This will be our first stay onsite.
Poly and BC look awesome, but I doubt the budget is gonna take that. So I am just banking on the two safe choices right now. I have to decide soon, so if anyone has any knowledge that will help put me over the edge and make me decide, then bring it on!!
The main thing I hear is ,of course, the room in ASMU for my family of 5. I realize this, but I also keep looking at the beautiful grounds of POR..boat rides, etc.
Any similar situations with outcomes that you want to share??

edited to add...the family suites at ASMu are what we are considering vs. POR alligator bayou trundle room

 

[disneyfan55]

ASMu has recently been refurbished and they do have daily activities at the main pool. There is also a nightly movie. I don't know if you would be getting 2 rroms there or at POR. ASMu per night costs is less than POR. POR does have more theming as do any of the moderates. You really aren't comparing equal types of hotels as far as what is offerered. At ASMu you will find clean, themed rooms for a very inexpensive cost when you weigh everything. We are staying there in 3 weeks for 54/night with our AP. Can't beat that.

 

[SusanDK]

Were you considering just one standard room at ASMu? I'm not sure you would be able to do that. Your signature line lists your youngest child as 3 years old and I think you can only put a 5th person in the room if they are under 3. Or is it 3 and under?

I'm sure some more experienced DISers will be able to chime in and help. Apologies in advance if I misunderstood.

Susan

 

[dizneyluv]

You would definitely have more room to spread out in the family suite at ASMU versus the one room at POR. It depends on personalities, do you all share one room well? Would you like the kitchenette and two bathrooms?

There is a person on the boards with beautiful pics of the ASMU family suites. You can see from those pics if the room layouts would work for you. Maybe they will post or you can find that link with pics.

We did two rooms at All Star Movies because we needed more room. I would have loved the ASMU family suites but the layout just did not work well for us with a teenager and preschooler. Two rooms with two double beds in each room were better. One room at POR would not have worked well at all for us but we have friends who do it with their 3 children and love it, they have been twice to POR in the last two years.

It's what is best for the personality of your family. Look at the room layouts, decide how much time you'll be there and what kind of personality your family has. That's the best way to decide.

We loved the amenites of the All Stars, we used their pool because the Movies pool was closed at the time. We also used their food court while at the pool. Our kids thought it was a great place.

If you share well in one room then POR is quite pretty and also has nice amenities. We walked through while visiting resorts.

Whatever you choose I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[GovieMom]

I would definitely go with POR. It is absolutely gorgeous, and the room is plenty spacious enough for 5 of you. The grounds there are beautiful, and the boat ride to DD (or POFQ) is so nice and relaxing. Nothing against the All-Stars; they're kept up nicely and very clean, but remind me of staying in a Disney-themed Comfort Inn. Whereas POR takes you to a whole other world.

 

[minnie61650]

Here is a photo of the All Star Music activities board taken in June 2008:

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Family Suites at All Star Music vs. POR

The Family Suites run about $35 more than a standard room at POR-AB.

Comparisons:


The Family Suites has 2 seperate sleeping areas.
POR has 1.

The Family Suites are 520 square feet.
POR is 314 square feet.

The Family Suites has 2 bathrooms.
POR has 1 bathroom.

The Family Suites have 2 dressing areas with a privacy curtain.
POR has 1 dressing area with a privacy area.

The Family Suites have 2 sinks( 1 each next to the bathrooms), 2 closets, 2 safes, & 2 hair dryers.
POR has 2 sinks ( a double) .1 closet,1 safe, and 1 hair dryer.

The Family Suites have a kitchette with a nice storage area,lots of counter space, a microwave , paper plates & bowls, plastic ware, can opener, Paper towels, fridge,& coffeee pot.
POR has a fridge &a coffee pot.

The Family Suites -Sleeps up to 6 (plus one child under age 3 in a Pak-n-Play crib)
POR-Sleeps up to 5 (plus one child under age 3 in a Pak-n-Play crib)

The Family Suites--Queen bed, full-size pullout sofa, convertible ottoman & chair sleepers (4 separate sleepers) & 2 TVs.
POR has 2 double beds and a trundle bed&1 TV.

The Family Suites -Studio amenities and separate sleeping areas giving more privacy than a standard room.
POR is a standard room.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Here is the layout of POR:

POR room lay out

Family Suite layout
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Here are some photos of the POR room with the trundle bed from Allearsnet:

the trundle bed

-------------------------------------------------

Here are some photos from the DIS resort website:

** NOTE there is a wall mounted hair dryer next to the bathroom sink.
Look at 8th and 10th phots down and you will see it.

For more info about the All Star Resorts Please visit the FAQ thread:

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





Have fun at Disney wherever you choose to stay!

 

[minnie61650]

..boat rides, etc.

To me Disney's value resorts are a total bargain. You get so many perks (Disney themeing, Disney transportation, and EMH)
Any of Disney's resort guests (even those staying at a value ) are allowed to shop, dine, use the transportation, visit other resorts, rent boats, bikes, go horseback riding, or use the spa facilities at any of the Disney Resorts. (Of course pool hopping is not allowed.)

 

[rentayenta]

The suite looks awesome! We stayed at the POR and while we liked it, I don't really want to stay there again. I am also debating the same thing.

 

[thumperjr9]

The ASMu family suites look very nice. There are only 3 of us this trip and we will be staying at POR. If we had 5 I think the family suites would be very appealing.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

Hi, original poster here.....yes we were considering the family suites..not two rooms at ASMu.

 

[dizneyluv]

Wow Minnie616050! That is an awesome message you posted with the pictures. Just what the OP needs as a comparison.

I hope the OP sees it, just what the disboards are about, sharing information to help another person in their Disney Journey!

 

[kileybeth]

Hi there, We have stayed at POR-AB and frankly we were given the best possible location (right next to Mill and pool and steps to our car and even just steps to bus) and I still did not like the themeing I guess. My kids loved having 2 pools with slides to choose from but other than that? Not so much. Rooms felt so small. And dark. JMO.

So if you are thinking room only vs room only, go with the FS at ASMu, I have toured that baby and it is very nice. Tons brighter and bigger. Does cost more then a moderate does but the little kitchen area adn two bathes can make all the difference.

If resort itself is more important to you, I guess I'd have to go with a moderate as the amenities are just a bit nicer and the landscaping and the buses and the food courts. . .

tough choice!

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

sorry, double post

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

To me Disney's value resorts are a total bargain. You get so many perks (Disney themeing, Disney transportation, and EMH)
Any of Disney's resort guests (even those staying at a value ) are allowed to shop, dine, use the transportation, visit other resorts, rent boats, bikes, go horseback riding, or use the spa facilities at any of the Disney Resorts. (Of course pool hopping is not allowed.)

Thanks so much for the comparisons again Linda!!! I hope you aren't getting tired of having to repost that for people like me who can't make up their minds!!! Your posts have helped me immensely!! I just have to make up my stinkin mind now!!

 

[sraiford]

I had the Asmu family suite booked for our Nov 30-Dec 6 upcoming trip. When the code came out I ended up switching to POR. I saved around $700 I was really looking forward to the Q bed and the seperate room for our kids in the suite. Now we have requested POR-AB. I am hoping that I will not regret this decision. Either way we are still going to Disney! What ever you decide I am sure you will have a great time!

 

[Rylee]

Having just stayed at both resorts on our recent trip, 8/24 - 9/2 ...

(POR - 1 room - me and 4 children, ages 23, 17, 10 & 7)
(ASMusic - 2 connecting rooms - after DH flew in)


I, (and all 4 of the kids) would definitely choose POR.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

Having just stayed at both resorts on our recent trip, 8/24 - 9/2 ...

(POR - 1 room - me and 4 children, ages 23, 17, 10 & 7)
(ASMusic - 2 connecting rooms - after DH flew in)


I, (and all 4 of the kids) would definitely choose POR.

Could you please explain what made you all love POR the most?? Thanks

 

[Magalex]

Our next trip will be in June 2009! ASMU is on top of our list too. Yes debating about a moderate too. But I think we will stick with ASMU. Our DS is 8. ASMU is a popular value level resort on the boards. The pool activities look fun, rooms and atmosphere seem cheerful. Plus we might be able to add on the Water park option which we never did before. Blizzard Beach is close to the All Stars. BTW the food court is getting a small rehab this month too.

 

[Rylee]

Could you please explain what made you all love POR the most?? Thanks

This was our first stay at both of these resorts, although we have stayed on-site many times at both, deluxe (Beach Club) and value (ASMovies) resorts. (Where we stay is usually based on how many our of children will be vacationing with us (older kids with college/job conficts, or before the 2 youngest were born) and how many rooms we'll need.)

We found POR had more of a "resort feel" and was so much more relaxing.

Although we spend most of our time in the parks, we really enjoyed spending time at the POR resort. The resort creates a feeling of "days gone by" of a time when life seems as though it was calm and less hectic. The beautiful lush landscaping really makes you want to "stroll," rather than rush to other places. The kids loved spending time in the pool and I thought the atmosphere at the pool was quiet and relaxing. We took the boat to FQ, where the kids spent some time in that pool, and also to DTD. It was nice to have another means of transportation to DTD. We also enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at an outdoor table over-looking the marina. The boys, 7 & 10, wanted to go fishing and use the arcade, but we didn't get time.

To be fair... ASMusic was being refurbished during our stay, (no acknowledgement of this until our arrival) and we found it to be very inconvenient. (The floor in the lobby, was being redone, and we could not walk from the front doors, where you catch the buses, to the back door, to get to your rooms, or from the gift shop and the lobby, to the food court. We had to walk around the building.)

Aside from the inconvenience, we found the resort to be loud, crowded feeling, and with all sorts of craziness going on. The pool activities added to this atmosphere, although, some people obviously enjoy the scheduled activites.

Bus service was better at POR.
Both resorts were clean, and housekeeping was equal, although, our housekeeper at ASMusic, not only left towel animals, she had quite a sense of humor... DS7 brought along a stuffed dog, and each night we would return to find the "dog" had gotten into some sort of mischief... one night he had unrolled the TP, dragging it into the other room, another night, we returned to find the TV on... the dog was on top of the pillows with his foot on the remote!

None of us have any desire to return to ASMusic, including DH, but we have always loved our stays at ASMovies. Since both are value resorts and very similar, we have no explanation as to why we feel this way, other than our previous visits have been more relaxing at the resort, something we look forward to after a long day in the parks. Perhaps it was the time of year we visited.

(Just to hear their reaction, I yelled out to the boys, and asked... would you guys rather stay at POR or Music, the 10 year old came in and said," Mom, they don't compare." The 7 y/o said, "Riverside, cause we had to walk so far at Music." (We were in the farthest building from everything at POR.) And, DD17, yelled in and said... "Mom, why would you even ask that?")


Please excuse any errors... we just flew home last night, from our 12 day Disney stay, and I haven't unpacked yet... have no idea where my glasses are.

 

[kileybeth]

Rylee,

Thank you so much for that great evaluation. Our families sound a lot alike. We have stayed at POR-AB and altho we did not like the themeing (to back woods for me) we did like the resort feel and amenities. We also loved swimming over at POFQ ( a legal pool hop)with our two youngest. We also have 6 kids so know the feeling of having to do/go where it works each trip based on how many of us go. Perhaps POLY CL really did spoil us more than we know.

We have an upcoming ASMu stay on 9/20 -25 and I am soooo nervous. Just 4 of us this time and this is a last minute trip so budget. . .are we gonna hate it? Will the construction be done? oh dear. Never stayed value before altho we have walked around and visted each of the 4 values. We will definitely miss the pool slide. wondering how much it would be to upgrade to a mod or if any FD availability anyway.

sorry to highjack the thread, just been popping in and reading everything I can find on ASMu and now kind of wishing I didn't know so much! ahh!