What do you think of the Value resort, truthfully?

[absame]

I wouldn't be on this web page if I didn't know that!!! Hope you were being facetious -- once upon a time I used to own a 1960s Herbie look alike, just without the stripe!

 

[MEM]

Here is my opinion of the Value Resorts (long). I squeezed in a spur of the moment trip to WDW when the unheard of fare of $99 RT from Boston to Orlando appeared after 9/11. We booked ASMu for $49 AP rate and had a wonderful week for $750 room and airfare for 4 people. This was in late January,early February 2002 which I suspect made the difference. ..not crowded. The resort was clean and well-staffed. We loved it, especially sitting in the warm sun in the fully blooming rose garden when Boston was in the single digits. We decided to book ASMu again for our trip to the Food and Wine Festival in November 2002. This turned out to be a mistake. It was the infamous "New Jersey Week" as well as Super Soap Weekend and FWF. I can only surmise that the crowds and demand on the resort led to our problems. We were booked in a non-smoking room, in a non-smoking row no less, but the previous occupant HAD been smoking in our room, heavily. When I reported the problem and asked to be moved, I was told there were no vacancies but that they would send up a mousekeeper. Well she fogged the room with an industrial strength air freshener, making the room unusable. So, we went to the parks, trusting Disney to fix the problem. When we came back the room smelled like perfumed cigarette smoke. We decided to live with it, believing the CM when he said that was the best he could do. (Yes! I have since learned to be polite but insistent when not satisfied). To make the smoking worse, the folks in the room connecting ours were smoking and it seeped under the door! I reported that too, to no avail. Also, people smoked heavily on the walkway outside our room so there seemed to be no escape. The overall cleanliness of the resort was poor - barf in stairwells not cleaned up, pizza from the night before being torn apart by birds at poolside. How do I know? the box was there at 10 p.m., still there at 7:30 a.m., still there at Noon!! We also had the Dinosaur family staying above us making it impossible for me to get to sleep until after 1:00 a.m.

My DH said, "never again!" to ASMu. We were very lucky to get WL for $114 AP rate for late August 2003 and fell in love with it. Not just the resort, but the atmosphere, the CMs, the guests, all had a more genteel air about them. And quiet!! DH agreed that we would rather spend fewer days at WDW (gasp!) than stay at ASMu again. I have not ruled out ASMo, but unless I can get an AP rate of $59, I'd rather cough up extra for a moderate or deluxe.

Just my experience,

P.S. With regard to Lovebugs, the mousekeepers had to sweep them off the balconies every day at WL -- they were that bad.

MEM

 

[yecats]

I say stay at the Pop Century as it will be brand new and enjoy.

 

[Grumpy37]

A close friend tells me we spend WAY too much money staying at the deluxe resorts, but we don't agree. We've done the commando thing at WDW (every park every day every minute they are open and back to the room just to sleep). Ugh. That's not much of a vacation to us.

We want to be able to relax, have fun, visit the parks, swim in the pools, walk on whitesand beaches, play a little golf, sit down for meals, drink an occasional umbrella drink, etc. The All Stars have very little in common with that kind of <i>resort</i> experience, IMO.

Obviously everyone's expectations are different, but we probably wouldn't go at all if we couldn't spring for either a Deluxe or Moderate resort so we can relax. FWIW, we also wouldn't stay off property again, either, which I think is the worst of all possible ways to do Disney.

YMMV.

 

[Jynohn]

I've never stayed at the All Stars myself, but my mother, sister and son stayed there last February. They were at the WL the week prior, but couldn't get a room there for the last three nights. They absolutely HATED the All Stars. They told me that it was noisy and tacky, and that their room was filthy.

To be fair, my mother is sometimes prone to exageration, but they disliked it so much that when they couldn't find another room in a different hotel after the first night, they decided to cut their trip short and came home two days early. When I told my DS (10) that we were going to Disney again this December, the first thing he said was "as long as we don't have to stay at the All Stars..."

I've read many positive reviews of the All Stars on this and other boards, so I think I'd have a hard time believing from my mother and sister that their stay was THAT bad unless a 10 year old boy said the same thing too. Maybe they just hit it at a particularly bad time. I hope I'm not being too negative, again I've never been myself so I can't pass judgement, just passing on what I've heard from others...

 

[Planogirl]

I think it depends on what you're personally looking for.

We tried the Allstar Movies a few years ago. I thought the place had cute icons and was reasonably clean but I wasn't particularly impressed otherwise. I didn't think it was very attractive and I wasn't thrilled to not have an actual restaurant on the premises but we just ate at the parks or other resorts the whole week. It was a bit noisy and the bus service was AWFUL but I've been told that the bus service is normally good so maybe we hit them at a bad time.

But then my 8 year old asked one day why we couldn't stay at a "nice hotel" when we went to WDW. We were doing some resort touring and he always liked the Polynesian (we've stayed there before) and he admired the BC/YC pool and both AKL and WL. I'd always heard that kids enjoyed the Allstars; so much for that theory!

We have stayed offsite a few times too. One place in Kissimmee was particularly gorgeous and I drove to the parks each day faster than waiting on that silly bus at the Allstars. So I've decided that I will stay offsite before I will stay at the Allstars again. However, show me a reasonably priced onsite moderate or deluxe and I'm there!

 

[kaabost]

It's amazing how bipolar all of these opinions are. It just shows how incredibly different experiences and opinions can be about a place. We have stayed in AS hotels 5 times over the past 6 years and have never had a bad experience. The resort has always been very claen and maintained. The theming IMO is wonderfully tacky.....very detailed. We always visit WDW for the parks-not the resort. Therefore, all we need is a clean comfortable place to stay where we do not have to exit the Disney theming, attitudee, service, etc. Several posters have referred to the AS resorts as "basic." While they are are not super full of amenities (that I would never use...because they would use treasured up park time) the theming IMO prevents them from being "basic."

I think the main thing is this.......
If you are going to stay at the AS Resorts, don't expect them to be like the deluxe resorts. I agree with a couple other posters in that they are just as fun (if not more fun) than other resorts but they don't break the bank. Keep in mind that they are ideal for people who visit WDW for the parks and entertainment....not the resort.

 

[Micca]

Planogirl what was the place in Kissimmee? We stay on-site, but there have been occasions where if we couldn't find what we wanted we'd have considered staying elsewhere. Thanks

 

[Jazzy]

Mt 14 year old son and I just spent a week at the All Star Music Resort in August and we absolutely loved it! This was our first time to stay on the property, so we can't compare it to any of the other resorts, even though we did vist many of the deluxe resorts during our trip. Our room was very clean and comfortable. I thought the theming was bright, cheerful, and lots of fun. We enjoyed the food at the food court, the pools were great, and the CM's were all very friendly and helpful. I would definitely stay at the All Star Music Resort again!

 

[dsnylndmom]

For our first family trip to WDW we choose ASMo, simply because of the price and theming. We hated it. The buses were HORRIBLE, there was peeling paint all over the place, we itched after using the pool(even after showers), there was gum stuck all over the Toy Story poster in our room and the worst part was the bugs. There were HUGE roaches that we woke up to each morning. We got there on a saturday, tried to move on sunday couldn't and forced them to move us on Monday(they tried to tell us the entire resort was filled so we called WDTC ourselves and marched down to the front desk and got ourselves a room! LOL)

I will say the food court was good, very good(panini sandwich yum)and the mousekeeping staff was good, other than that we liked nothing about the all stars.

We moved to the Caribbean Beach and I can't say enough good at it!!!

 

[luvmy2prncss]

We loved the ASMu resorted when we stayed 2 years ago. We also like Sports but would pick Music over Sports.

 

[Lesley]

I'm probably not saying anything that hasn't been said....but I don't find the "value" resorts much of a value at all. The rooms are tiny and cramped, the decor of the rooms and resort really don't do anything for me, and the location isn't really any better than being off site if you have a car. The resorts are also very crowded.

I will give them credit where its due though....housekeeping does a excellent job and the cm's are very pleasant. The resorts are very clean.

But honestly, I can spend less money...or the same....and get a larger room that fits my tastes much better...where I feel I can relax. I'm going to be spending a night at the Wyndham in Nov. for less than I paid at ASMo....and the resort is far superior, IMO. The rooms, the pool and the location all exceed what Disney calls "value". Granted this was through Priceline...but all the resorts I could have been sent to top the AS resorts, imo....and for less money.

We love the moderate and deluxe resorts in WDW...and love our DVC rooms most of all....but we'll stay off site (probably via priceline) before staying at a Disney value resort again.

It really is a matter of opinion....but I definitely feel the value resorts have very little value for my family.

 

[joyful1nh]

I stayed one night at ASMu and it was one night too many for me. Tiny rooms, mold in the bathroom, what seemed like a two mile walk to our room from the parking lot, people everywhere....

But obviously not everyone feels the way I do

 

[epcotfan]

Originally posted by bethie
I have stayed both deluxe and moderate, but was considering staying at one of the value resorts for a quickie trip in January. What do you think? I love the WL and ideally is my first choice.
Beth

Me too. That is exactly what I did when I went to Disney in January of 2002 for a quick theme park visit. I stayed at the All Star Music because I knew I probably wouldn't be swimming and just basically needed a bed. (Ironically the weather was warmer than usual and I didn't pack a bathing suit - oh well) I went there for 5 nights and it was great. The room was very clean and the bed was comfortable.
I would not hesitate to stay at an All Star. However, when the weather is guaranteed to be warmer in the summer I like a resort that has a few more ammenities since I tend to hang out there longer.

 

[arminnie]

I did not have a problem with the All Stars although I have not stayed there in about 5-6 years. Since I always have a car and do not use the buses I found it more convenient to stay off site if I wanted to save money.

I've stayed at the Fairfield Inn Lake Bryan right across I4 from Downtown Disney for as low as $42 a night (direct from Marriott - not Priceline). No theming at all but immaculate, free breakfast and free refrigerator.

BWI is the only Deluxe I've stayed in and I had a horrible experience. The service was awful. I had a 10 year old with me who did not like any of the restaurants at Boardwalk - she would have been much happier with a food court. We ended up ordering hamburgers from room service and then waiting 2 hours for them to arrive with no silverware. Multiple calls to room service and we never got any silverware. Valet parking took 30-45 minutes to get the car, Self parking entailed a long, long walk. Getting to the room required going up stairs - no elevator.

For a deluxe experience I loved the Hyatt Grand Cypress Resort.

I looked at DVC when I stayed at Boardwalk Inn but did not like my Boardwalk experience and did not want to be part of it.

I recently bought at SSR and look forward to being close to DTD and PI.

I used to travel extensively on business and have stayed in many a 5* hotel across the US and overseas. I learned that if I was never in my room all of the luxurious amenities were wasted. I can't tell you how many times I got to a fabulous hotel at 10 pm and checked out the next morning.

If going to WDW means that you leave early in the morning and don't come back until bedtime then a value resort should be just fine.

 

[ASFCurly]

I have gone twice, I stayed in the Contemporary once (free upgrade from CBR to CR Tower), and loved it, and I stayed at ASMu the other time, I loved the CR and really liked ASMU, (obviously as I am staying at ASMu again in December) but I also stayed in a closer building, while I still would have liked the resort, I wouldn't have liked it as much if I had a really long walk, I would do CR over ASMu anyday (when I could afford it-I can't solo) but would do ASMu over the Poly or GF or Boardwalk in a heartbeat.

I also don't spend a lot of time at the resort, and if I did it would only either be in my room or at the pool, so that wouldn't really matter.

 

[Planogirl]

Originally posted by Micca
Planogirl what was the place in Kissimmee? We stay on-site, but there have been occasions where if we couldn't find what we wanted we'd have considered staying elsewhere. Thanks

It was a huge Doubletree resort on Irlo Bronson that I've heard has unfortunately been sold to another owner. However, since I'm a Doubletree fan, I'll probably try the Doubletree Resort Villas in Kissimmee eventually. I'm also itching to try the Peabody but I'm a little leery of the traffic on International Parkway.

 

[susy]

Beth- for a quick trip in Jan, you should be fine. We stayed at ASMo in Jan 2002 for a weekend. It wasn't at all crowded and we had a great time. It gets cold, so you probably won't be in the pool much and with shorter park hours and nice weather, you will probably be at the parks, for the most part.

We have stayed at all levels an the AS are fine for a quick trip. I think the cool weather and low crowds will only add to the resort's good points. Have fun!

 

[*Fantasia*]

We have stayed at the Movies and the Sports and visited the Music. My son always ask to stay at the Sports. We enjoy staying here. We always receive great sevice.

We get our deluxe at the Universal!

 

[CindyAnn]

Well, my first choice would be to stay in a deluxe, and my DH and children would agree. However, we're only willing to spend the money for a deluxe if we can spend at least 1 full day just enjoying the amenities of the resort. Most of the time we're out of the room for at least 12 straight hours. We've stayed at ASMu, ASSp, Poly, AKL and CBR. I know some people feel the moderates offer a great compromise between cost and amenities, but we feel that we'd rather spring for a deluxe or go for a value. We always have a car with us, though, which alleviates two problems - we don't have to rely on Disney transportation to the parks and we can drive to another hotel (or off-site) for a meal whenever we want. So, for our next Disney vacation this December, we'll be staying 4 nights at Pop Century, 3 nights at WL, 4 nights cruise, and 3 nights Poly.