Which AllStars Resort?

[Luvdancink]

We are planning on going to Disney (my boyfriend and I). Since I'm a struggling college student, we will have to stay at a value resort. Any suggestions on which allstar is the best for late teens/early twenty's? Oh yeah and do they have a minimum age for checkin? I'm not twentyone yet. Is that a problem? Oh and I'm new to this... and other than mousesavers what are ways to get good deals on park tickets? Or should I get a package? Any help is appreciated.


~Kristy

This is my first post on the board.

 

[buzz2400]

Basically, if you like sports, pick sports. If you like music, pick music. If you like movies, pick movies. The three resorts are basically the same except for the themes (meaning they have the same layout and the rooms, food court and pools are the same.) These resorts also tend to have a lot of children.

With regard to purchasing a package v. buying tickets separately: You need to price everything. Sometimes you can find a better deal when you purchase your tickets separately from the room. When you buy WDW package deal you get an ultimate park pass which is good from the time you check in to midnight of the night you check out. You pay more and it is good for the four parks, two water parks, DQ and Pleasure Island. If you won't be going to some of these parks it is not worth it.

 

[Kaa]

If you are looking for discounted room rates, you will have better luck if you are booked at either All-Star Sports or Music. All-Star Movies is the most popular of these resorts and there are times when discount rates offered at the other two are not available at Movies.

The answer to booking a package lies in the type of touring you think you will be doing. If you plan to only visit the theme parks, I wouldn't bother with the package. If you want to visit Pleasure Island, the water parks and DisneyQuest, then the package would be most beneficial. Depending on when you go, there may be discounts on the packages that are equivalent to the room discounts available for those with room-only reservations.

Good luck!

 

[jaccceee]

All Star Music/Calypso section/Facing pool

 

[kayeandjim00]

We have only stayed at All Star Sports but we really liked it. I have heard that it's easier to get discounts there and at All Star Music than All Star Movies. Personally I think you do better buying things seperately (doing some research) than buying a Disney Package, but that's just my opinion! Hope you have a good time whatever you decide!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I was at ASMusic last year and was amazed at the large numbers of college aged kids there. I have 2 DSs in college and I kept thinking how they'd feel right at home. ASMovies was mostly families with young children. ASSports I only spent one night at this year, so I didn't really see many others. But I'd recommend ASMusic.

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

OH great. I'm going solo and I'm staying at ASMu and I'm a 33yr old mom... and look it.
LOL
I'm gonna be like the old-fogey at that resort eh?

 

[TreeOfLife]

So... Old fogeys have fun too!

There are tons of kids everywhere you to in Disney. Traveling solo can be a little frustrating, especially when they ask you "how many?" Before going on the rides!

Oh, just have fun and think about the peace and freedom you'll have: Nobody else will make you change plans because of being tired, cranky or what have you! You'll see aggravated parents sweating their frustrations away while you remain as cool as a cuccumber.

But what I want to see if the faces in paper bags of the Imagineers who designed it when they open that hideous looking Pop Century resort... Maybe it will force Disney to offer the most incredible discounts to have more than air in those rooms.

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

OH that's true. I'll see them and be like "that was me a few weeks ago... but I'm alllll aloooonnnneeee now! hehe" (but not in their faces- just in my mind ofcourse)

I will happily exclaim ONE when they ask me how many riders. LOL I'm kinda used to that already though because of having to ride alone (and switch with the kids with my husband) on rides with height restrictions over 42'. Because usually on those rides- my oldest daughter who COULD ride didn't want to. She doesn't share my love of thrill rides... yet. LOL (did get her on the RockNRollerCoaster TWICE though. LOL)

So Pop Century is hideous huh? When does it open?

 

[DMRick]

when they open that hideous looking Pop Century resort...

We thought the present All Stars were hideous when we first saw them..all those oversized relics from old Dis movies. Now I think they are cute. We have been watchng the progress of Pop Century on each trip. We can't wait to stay there. It's right in style with our ages LOL! I sure do hope they give us a real bargain for staying there..and i hope it's a a nice quiet resort!

 

[TreeOfLife]

i hope it's a a nice quiet resort!

Rest assured, I get the feeling it will be the most quiet one.

 

[DMRick]

Shucks, I remember them saying that about the old All stars when they were getting ready to open. And remember when Carribean opened, and it was cheap in price? People complained it was so far away, and not as nice as the others, and too many kids stayed there (because it was cheap).
I know lots of people who are anxious for Pop Century to open. They don't all post here, because the consensus is usually to knock something new Dis does, and they don't want to get caught in the crossfire, or admit they dont' mind it, LOL! I'm not afrraid to say I can't wait to stay there..and if it's cheap and quiet..all the better LOL.

 

[ceecee]

I used to think they weren't as nice looking as the classier resorts. But now I LOVE them, they are FUN!!!!!!!!!!!! And isn't that why we go to Disney to begin with? I think Pop Century looks like it will be neat too. We always think how much $$ we save and can't seem to move up now.

 

[TreeOfLife]

It is not about being economical, it is about being bad looking!
The value resorts are esthetically acceptable, except for the Pop Century which looks like a cheap motel.

Or maybe after seeing the ingenious way that they designed a value hotel like the Movies many guests expected the new one to be as beautiful or better. I don't think they'd gone wrong if they'd selected movie themes that were skipped in the ASMo resort rather than "where's the beef" and "platform shoes" nonsense.

I honestly think the value hotels improved in looks as time went by, until now. I never thought they were hideous myself.

But I have to say again that I agree, it will have the most peace and best bargains around. Some people only care about a place to crash and bathe so if they take a HoJo, a Days Inn or HI with offsite transportation they'll take anything that provides Disney transportation, e tickets and ee.

 

[DMRick]

It is not about being economical, it is about being bad looking!

But you see..I don't agree with you. I like the looks of it..lots of memories for me. We've taken pictures all through the building..and we think it's a hoot to visit each trip to see what's new. The point I was trying to make, is some people hated the All Stars when they first came out. I have friends who will still never stay there..they think they are cheap looking. I have seen many many people asking about staying at Pop Century, and being disappointed when they didn't open as scheduled on this list, around the time we expected them to open. I think people don't say much now, because of the people who keep telling us we shouldn't like Pop Century. Just on this thread, we have someone who has never seen it, being told Pop Century is hideous..how do any of us know that person will feel that way? One person may not like it, and another will love it. We would never stay at the Poly for lots of reasons, but others love it, and I wouldn't try to talk them out of staying there if they never had.
The other thing is, people are more likely to say something (or complain) if they don't like something, than if they do..becasue if you like something, there is nothing to complain about. Come back after they have been open a year, and we'll discuss this, and see if people filled it, just like they did the All Stars.

 

[TreeOfLife]

There will always be people who will take second best, Rick. And people who may genuinely like it, like it sounds you do.

But I still think the ASMo is perhaps what Disney should have started with and one of the most beautifully themed resorts ever built. Had they chosen even themes from oldie, black & white cartoons, that new Pop Century might be far better looking. Those cut outs and phrases make it look like a second class, not well thought out plan to me.

I foresee the ASMovies to be in high demand for a very long time to come, and wonder why after that success they did not keep the movies theme or created a cartoons themed resort!

And sometimes I wish Disney just took time to ask guests for their opinions rather than just "shoot in the dark and see what happens" thing.

 

[n2mm]

Like DMRick, I like the All Stars, but I like WL too. We go often and sometimes want a nicer resort, but other times we want the basics. My husband loves the all stars. The CMs are great, and we have been there so many times, most recognize us and we get lots of hugs. We know most of the store managers by first name. When we stay for our 2 weeks in the Spring, we always stay at the All Stars, mostly for the price for that longer trip. We, like most, prefer the Movies (the hardest to get into), but the others are fine too. We try to be diverse, with our May trip at the Music, our Summer trip at the Contemporary, and our Fall trip at Dixie Landing. (We have a short 6 day trip in Septmber, and opted for the All Star Music again). I think I had a bad first impression the first time I saw All Star Sports (the only one at the time), but then I stayed there and that all changed. I personally never intend to stay at CS (but that's a different story). Regarding Pop Century....did anyone forget why Pop Century was built??? How quickly they forget. This resort was built to house ALL of the sporting event participants because of it's close proximity to the WWS. Leaving the All Stars for the family type vacationers. This was repeated to me during my trip in october. We made friends with the manager of the food court at the Movies (Hurley) and we talked about it. He told us that the Movies food court was getting the kitchen equipment that was in a warehouse because they need it now and there was no word on PC openning. Also, all of the TVs that were for the PC rooms were recently sent to CBR. He also told me a scarey thing. Did you know that PC will be the same size as ALL 3 of the All Stars put together--yet one BIG resort, and that there will be ONLY ONE food court (a really big one). That bothered me a little. So I may try PC during a slow period if we can get a CM rate, but won't be one booking PC anytime soon. Not because of how it looks, but because of the "groups" and the 1 food court. Looks like we'll just drive over once it opens.