Tell me about All Star Music family suites...

[MandiC]

DH kind of threw me off saying we could probably do Disney THIS year (and actually NEXT month! which is sending type A planner me into a bit of a frenzy) if we do the All Star Music family suite. Anyone stay in one? What was your experience?

Mostly I am curious about the space. Also, will I miss the amenities of a moderate? I am also a very light sleeper so I have not been a fan of staying at hotels, what is the noise level in the rooms like? What is the transportation like? We probably could rent a car if it is awful as my husband gets a discount through work on car rentals. What is the food court like? We didn't spend much time at the pool last time and I doubt we will this time either but we did enjoy eating in the POR food court, the food was plentiful and good.
Anything I'm not thinking of?

 

[dwbrewster]

DH kind of threw me off saying we could probably do Disney THIS year (and actually NEXT month! which is sending type A planner me into a bit of a frenzy) if we do the All Star Music family suite. Anyone stay in one? What was your experience?

Mostly I am curious about the space. Also, will I miss the amenities of a moderate? I am also a very light sleeper so I have not been a fan of staying at hotels, what is the noise level in the rooms like? What is the transportation like? We probably could rent a car if it is awful as my husband gets a discount through work on car rentals. What is the food court like? We didn't spend much time at the pool last time and I doubt we will this time either but we did enjoy eating in the POR food court, the food was plentiful and good.
Anything I'm not thinking of?

Can't give you specifics on the room itself since we stayed in the Broadway section but here's what I can tell you:
Transportation: Buses are every 20 minutes. For all but MK (and maybe AK? I forget now) the buses service all 3 All Star resorts and you are the middle stop in the rotation. The first bus is generally an hour before RD (unless you have an early reservation). For the most part if you took the early bus you were near the very front of the RD crowd, in fact we were next to the family selected to open the park. I wouldn't both renting a car.

The QS there is ok, nothing to write home about and you can likely get better at other resorts, but I haven't done others.

Pool is no frills, bring your own towels to the pool with you.

Think I answered what I could - here is the yelp review I provided after our stay to show my honest opinion.
---
Stayed here for a Christmas vacation with my wife and two kids, it was about what I expected based on reviews I read, but not nearly as bad as some make it out to be.
First, set your expectations right - this is not a hotel it is a motel and you are paying for the quality you get - and you're not paying much compared to other DW resorts. The beds are just full beds and the room overall is very small.
Service was fairly prompt - we had two different occasions we needed extra towels brought to our room and they had them there within about 20-30 minutes which was about what I would expect.
Transportation was a bit of a hike (maybe 5-10 min walk?) but you're taking the bus to walk around a park all day so you shouldn't struggle with that - or am I missing something here? However, if you do miss the bus you are looking at about a 20 minute wait which is a pain.
Food court - choices were meh - they work but not that great
Pool - Pool was a no frills pool with some entertainment for kids going on. The lifeguards are VERY attentive to ensure kids are safe in the pool.

Would I stay here again? probably not but just because I'd want to move to a moderate resort next time.

 

[Bob P]

Hi,

Have you been over to the resorts board?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3042913

 

[smbowtie]

Here is the room layout.

https://www.google.com/search?q=all...s-at-disneys-all-star-music-resort%2F;437;389

 

[sunflowerfields]

My family stayed at music in 2013 and loved it. We had 3 adults, a 17 yr. old and 5 and 11 yr. old. I know everyone's idea of something is different, but to me, I would compare it to a Holiday Express or Comfort Inn type room. The space was small, but we didn't spend any time in the room other than to sleep and shower. The full bed was comfortable and so was the cot and pull out chair. I felt the couch made into a bed was not all that comfortable. I don't think any pull out couch really is.

Our room was on the ground floor toward the back and we were not bothered by any noise.

We never waited more than 20 min. on a bus in the mornings even though they did stop at the other resorts. Coming home from the parks at night took a little longer a couple of times but nothing too bad.

We had only two meals at the food court and they were fine. We mostly had ice creams/snacks there. Our room was so close to the food court and bus stop it was so worth it to stay there. Also the food court is being redone now....maybe it is finished.

We used the pool a few times and it was nice, but we are not really swimmers so it didn't bother us that there were no slides et. The kids liked the movie in the evenings and also liked watching the games being played as we walked by.

My sister and I went back in Sept. and stayed at music again we liked it that much. The bus service was the same as the first trip. The best part for us on both trips was having two bathroom/dressing areas, and also the kitchenette. There was never a rush or anyone having to wait to get ready in the mornings.

 

[MandiC]

Thanks so much! I do like the layout of the rooms but it is so hard to tell by a drawing sometimes. I am probably just really overthinking it because like you sunflowerfields we rarely spent time in our room at POR too and I doubt we would this time either. The separate room might be nice, it's just I have been planning our next trip in my head for almost a year now and now I am trying to wrap my head around something different than I was picturing! LOL but who can complain about a Disney trip?!

 

[donac]

We stayed there with ours sons and their gfs 2 years ago. Even with the bigger kids (21 and older) it worked out. You have smaller kids so it should be fine. We loved the food court and the buses were fine. We had no problem with noise.

 

[maxiesmom]

My family stayed at music in 2013 and loved it. We had 3 adults, a 17 yr. old and 5 and 11 yr. old. I know everyone's idea of something is different, but to me, I would compare it to a Holiday Express or Comfort Inn type room. The space was small, but we didn't spend any time in the room other than to sleep and shower. The full bed was comfortable and so was the cot and pull out chair. I felt the couch made into a bed was not all that comfortable. I don't think any pull out couch really is.

Just to clarify, the bed in the bedroom area is a queen, not a full.

 

[Feberin]

I have no experience with All Star Music but we stayed at All Star Sports so I do have an idea about the buses. When we went last May the All Star Resorts didn't share buses during high traffic times. So in the mornings our bus took us directly to the park. I think it was the same in the evening but since All Star Sports gets off first I could be mistaken. The only time we stopped at the other resorts we were getting on the buses in the middle of the day or coming back early evening.

For us we spent almost not time awake in our room so the value definitely superseded the room quality. I was also very pleased with the food at the Sports food court. In my opinion it tasted great and there were plenty of options.

 

[MandiC]

My husband is a big guy so I'm sure the queen bed will be a welcome perk for him
Good to know about the food, we don't require anything too special. Are the All Star resorts all close to each other, like could you walk from Music to Sports?
I may actually have talked my husband into waiting. It was a hard decision but our little one is only an inch away from 40 inches and I'd really like for him to be at least that before we go with him (not only that, he's freshly potty trained!), plus if we were to go next month there are NO reservations for our favorite restaurants and of course the FP+ too. I'm hoping for fall, but this has been a good thing because we'd save a good amount of money staying at ASM compared to FW where I had planned on staying and I think I have convinced myself that it'd be worth it for us.

 

[dwbrewster]

In some ways they are close enough to walk to, probably about 5 minutes from sports to music and then music to movies (10 minutes or so from sports to movies is what I'd guess.

If you are OK waiting until fall and taking the savings for a better resort I would recommend it! We booked our vacation with just under 2 months lead time and went with the cheapest reservation we could find (music was cheaper than movies). As soon as I got home and was hooked I checked out the price of moderates for 9 months to a year out and were about the same price as I paid without any special deals! The further you plan out the more bang for your buck you'll get.

 

[sunflowerfields]

thanks for correcting the bed size maxiesmom. I know the bed size might make a difference to some on if they would stay or not, and I really think this resort is pretty good!

 

[dwbrewster]

Just to clarify, the bed in the bedroom area is a queen, not a full.

I'm guessing you are only referencing the family suites? In the standard rooms I am pretty sure it's a full...or it is the smallest queen we've ever slept in.

 

[Heidi K]

We stayed in an AS Music family suite for 11 nights in August. Kids were 8, 5, and 2. We LOVED it. Food court was being renovated, so that was the biggest downside--but now it's open and brand-new! Kids loved the pool. I loved having the separate areas--our own bedroom, kids in their room, kitchenette, TWO full bathrooms. Our kids sleep 11-12 hours at night, plus the 2-year-old was still napping, so the extra room was crucial for us. We wouldn't have chosen a deluxe even if we could afford it if it meant all staying in one room.

We were on the 2nd floor facing the pool and it was noisy, although it never really bothered us or kept us awake. I think a non-pool-view would be better, though.

Transportation was fine. We generally waited 5 to 15 minutes, with one or two really long waits. Renting a car is a good idea.

My husband's biggest complaint was that the resort in general seems worn around the edges, which is definitely true. Paper towel holder was broken, carpet was worn, etc.

 

[501]

We have stayed at either Movies or Music the last 5 times we've gone and love it. Food courts are not bad, love the big breakfast. If you don't plan on being at the resort for more than sleeping, then why pay the extra money for a fancier resort!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

We stayed in an All Star Music family suite this past November. Loved the extra space, two bathrooms, two closets and kitchenette. We didn't have any issue with noise, we were in Jazz and our room in the back facing the little playground. I would not have wanted to be facing the main pool. We never heard our neighbors but that probably depends on who you are next to. Food court was closed when we were there but it was a quick walk across the street to All Star Movies to use theirs. We eat most 99% of meals out at the parks anyway, if we eat at the resort we have food in the room.

My mother preferred ASMu over the Beach Club, go figure.

 

[ncdj2013]

Is there a tub in both bathrooms? or does one have a shower.

 

[Heidi K]

They both have tubs (with showers)

 

[mommyrulesx3]

We didn't stay in the All Star Suites, but we did stay in the Art of Animation ones! Those are very nice and just about the same price. I'd recommend those. You get 2 bathrooms in those suites and I think they are a bit bigger. Me, my mom, and my 3 kids (11, 8, 2) stayed in one and loved the space. Very good for a hotel like room, didn't feel cramped. And all my kids wanted to sleep in the table-turned bed (very cool).

 

[maxiesmom]

We didn't stay in the All Star Suites, but we did stay in the Art of Animation ones! Those are very nice and just about the same price. I'd recommend those. You get 2 bathrooms in those suites and I think they are a bit bigger. Me, my mom, and my 3 kids (11, 8, 2) stayed in one and loved the space. Very good for a hotel like room, didn't feel cramped. And all my kids wanted to sleep in the table-turned bed (very cool).

The ASMu suites have 2 bathrooms as well. And both bathrooms have tubs. Don't the ones at AoA have 1 tub and 1 bathroom that is a shower stall only?