The All Star Resorts....need opinions

[EJ Gracie]

Fiance and I always go back and forth as to the merits of the All Star Resorts.

I think that they're pretty cool in their surreal way. The rooms are fine and I enjoy the food courts.

Michelle won't stay there...she says the rooms are too small and she would rather stay somewhere else...

So help me settle the issue...what do you all think?

 

[VickiVM]

Under various circumstances, they are just fine. Like for us last year we booked AS for our first night of vacation because we didn't want to rent points for BCV on a Fri or Sat since they're twice as much as Sun-Thurs. We had two rooms for 6 of us. But they are small and not what I would call romantic. I see you're planning your honeymoon. Do you and your fiance a favor and do up your honeymoon in an unforgettable fashion...go up to a moderate at least - say, maybe Carribean Beach. Or if expense is an issue, maybe split your stay - ending with the upgraded resort.

Save AS for when you have kids and ambience isn't so much a factor.

Having said that, we'll probably do the same next June and start with AS our first night and rent points for BCV the rest of the week. The value just can't be beat at AS and they more than serve their purpose which is to provide a more economical way for people to enjoy the Magic.

 

[Cindy B]

It all depends on money factor. We have stayed in sports three times, and four different rooms.

2 of those visits were with our kids, and one visit was an adults only trip.. (10 year wedding anniversary)

Personally we aren't in the room much, and we got the $49 room rates so it was worth it to us to be able to save..


Personally there is nothing wrong with it. You do have the onsite conveienence, and if you are in Sports, you get first off/on busses (at least that was our experience for the last few trips)


You coud go for less money, and spend the money on a nice meal, or a carriage ride, or something like that.

 

[jwwi]

Stay at a moderate, if you can afford it, for your honeymoon. The difference in theming is worth it alone. Plus it is much more private, rarely do you see alot of people, except in main areas; ie food court, main pool, hot tub. Plus if staying at POR you get the romantic boat ride to DD, or carriage ride(extra charge). The quite pools are so nice. I really love CBR also, love the corner room with king bed. Now if you plan on very little resort time, no pool, parks from open till close, well then go for AS. But make sure you price both.

 

[CamColt]

I chose the first option because we really do enjoy ASMO, however, there is one catch to that answer. We could afford a moderate for most of our trips and it wouldnt break the bank, but we still choose ASMO over a moderate. I dont see much advantage of a moderate over ASMO, when traveling with my kids. On the other hand if I had money to burn and could afford a deluxe for every trip, then I definitely would choose a deluxe for at least part of each trip, probably still spending some time at ASMO for the kids(ok, and me )

So if money were no issue, I would pick ASMO over a moderate all the time, but only over a deluxe some of the time. Does that make sense?

 

[polkadotladybug]

Well if money was no object, of course I would go deluxe - I would also go to WDW more often along with traveling elsewhere too! We went to ASM for our budget honeymoon - although it was fun - if I could have sprung for more for our honeymoon, I would have! We did what we could afford. I can see your fiancee's point! We liked ASM better than I thought I would - but still if on your honeymoon - go as nice as you can afford!

But since we pay for it.....I choose the ASM to experience staying onsite but still have some money to experience Disney....we are a one income family (I stay home and sell on ebay) and have two little girls - with the 6 month no interest on the Disney Visa and selling on ebay - we are able to go - without either - we would be staying home! (As you can see - we haven't been on a real family vacation since our honeymoon!) (the Wonder was a incredibly generous offer from my sister to tag along and I only took my 6 year old)

So cheap is the word - but hey - if we won the lottery (wait - we would have to play it first) - deluxe all the way! Hope all that makes sense!

Carol

 

[BethC1952]

We've stayed at all three levels of resorts, and liked them all. We're staying at All Star Music for a few nights in December between our cruise and opening night at the Pop Century. I don't use a lot of the services that the deluxe resorts offer, and I don't think the rooms are too small. We do spend some time at the resorts while on vacation, and will use the pool for a little while (if it's warm enough, which it certainly wasn't last December), but we don't use water slides and other "fancy pool stuff".

I prefer to save some money and stay longer!

Beth

 

[tricia]

The AS are OK, if I won the lottery it would be Deluxe all the way, but for now I prefer to save the money for a longer stay, or better meals, or more souvenirs.

 

[WDW4us2003]

Yuck. Don't do it. We planned our 8 night stay at ASp 4 years ago, checked in, walk around for two hours, and checked out. It was dirty, loud, full of obnoxious teenagers, the food court was a mess, and the pool was jammed with kids and smelled like urine. I was very shocked, cried for a half hour, called the reservations office from the lobby, and got a room at the Coronado Springs. There was no Disney "magic" for us there, just a huge disappointment. I am sure that I caught it on a bad day, as I know most people enjoy these resorts, but don't take the chance. You only get one honeymoon!

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I would stay there *ONLY* if I didn't have enough money to stay anywhere else and still be on WDW property.

Uh........You might say that the All Stars would be my last resort.

( pun intended )

 

[MJames41]

I think I will always have special memories of All Star Sports (our first Disney resort). I love the All Stars myself, and would gladly stay there at any time, although we also like to resort hop and stay near the park we are going to be at. I've found that as long as I know what I'm expecting, it makes it a lot more enjoyable.

 

[Miscrapper]

I have only stayed in Downtown Disney hotels or at All Stars Music. We considered booking a moderate for our trip this fall, but my mom is paying for 10 of us to go, and my niece is only 4 and LOVES Toy Story and the Dalmations so we are staying at Movies.

If I weren't bringing a family though I would definitely upgrade. The theme appeal esp at movies is soooo strong for kids but not so much adults.

For a Honeymoon I would definitely go moderate or deluxe. The moderates aren't much more right now on Fairytale package. The CBR does seem very nice too for a honeymoon!
I hope our next trip to stay at Animal Kingdom lodge - they seem pretty reasonable esp if you get a special.

Good luck deciding!

 

[susy]

I like the AS just fine. Sports in not my thing, but I do like the ASMo and want to try the music. The rooms aren't small to me, but it's just DH, DS and myself and we are "small" (thin) people. We ony go for few days, so we don't have much in the way of luggage. We do spend time at the resort, because we like to take a break. I don't know if I would make it a week, though!!!!

 

[summerrluvv]

I have stayed at the YC and the AS resorts. Of course there are HUGE differences between the two, but now that I can only afford the AS that is where we are staying. If I had the money I would stay at the YC again. When we did stay there, we got a rate of $199 a night though, so that wasn't too bad. I've never stayed at a moderate and could afford it, but I just don't see that much more that they offer, so may as well go cheap!

Honestly though, I think my four year old would prefer ASMo over the YC anyday. He loves Toy Story and Dalmations so it's perfect for him.