Which resort would you choose in this scenario?

[ColoradoLime]

I have two reservations for the 2023 Marathon Weekend and need to make a final decision on which one to keep. All Star Movies and Coronado Springs Resort. ASM is obviously much cheaper but I have a charity discount rate for CSR so value wise that's the way to go. But still with the discount it's a $600 difference between the two. That's good chunk of money.

It's just DH and I for 4 nights. We don't need fancy but my one major concern about ASM is the noise level. I've heard it can be quite noisy and since I'm running a race I need a good night's sleep and probably at nap at some point!

Do the All Star resorts need to be really noisy? Are the food courts there crazy busy?
Is CSR really that much nicer if all we really need is a place to sleep?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Is CSR really that much nicer if all we really need is a place to sleep?

Gran Destino Tower is. Standard rooms are not.

 

[ColoradoLime]

Gran Destino Tower is. Standard rooms are not.

I'm pretty sure we have a standard room. We had to book that rate through a travel agent so I didn't get to choose and our confirmation has minimal details. But I can't imagine we'd get such a good deal on a nicer tower room.

 

[Dug720]

I found the standard rooms at CSR much nicer than All Star rooms - larger, much nicer bathroom, k-cup coffee maker rather than the pod things, etc. Plus Three Bridges is amazing!!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Plus Three Bridges is amazing!!

Giiiiiiiiiiiirl.

Don't tell anybody.

 

[Disneylover99]

The walls are a bit thinner, but, we’ve never had a loud value room, inside or out.
We close the door to the washroom so that we don’t hear the flushing from other rooms. Lol.

Food courts can be busy in the mornings and early evening as people arrive back from the parks.

 

[lukemorenus]

Yup… as mentioned above, The Bridges alone makes CSR the choice

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Food courts can be busy in the mornings and early evening as people arrive back from the parks.

That's a good point... if QS F&B is important to you, Coronado's is unforgivably bad. Easily the worst on property, and I'm including resorts like Old Key West that don't even have a proper QS F&B.

But Three Bridges does indeed rule.

 

[ColoradoLime]

Thanks all. Three Bridges was already on our list of must go's because it does look awesome. I mean they had me at Warm Manchego Dip.

We might end up flying out a day earlier than planned now that I study flight times a bit better. So if I cut a day off and remain at CSR the budget won't be so bad.

 

[loves to dive]

I've stayed at both and there are pros and cons to both. I have not stayed in the Tower at CSR because frankly, for what it costs I can stay at Dolphin and be within walking distance to both HS and Epcot. I have stayed in the Casitas twice and the Cabanas once.

Since both have outside hallways (motel style) if people walking by are being noisy you are going to hear them. It depends on where you room is located at the values as to the noise level. It it faces a pool, it is going to be noisy.

Pros to Movies: It is less, if it is going to strain your budget at all, go with it.
It has a proper food court.
The value resorts have actual lines at the bus stop, the moderates don't
The new rooms seem a lot more spacious since they have the murphy bed, bonus if you leave it up, you have a table.

Cons to Movies: The food court can get hectic at peak times.
While it has lines at the bus stop, they are not covered.

Pros to standard room at CSR: They are bigger than Movies
The bathrooms have more amenities
The main pool has a hot tub, this is the biggest perk for me.
There is a slide at the pool if that's your thing
There is a quiet pool at each section
Three Bridges is one of the best restaurants on site
There are a big mix of food options
It is a convention hotel so feels a bit like a Deluxe lite, has a fitness room.
The bus stops are covered.

Cons to CSR: It's more expensive
It's big so there are 4 bus stops, travel time going around the resort must be factored in.
The QS is horrible. Basically grab and go under heat lamps. They used to have a proper QS but in the after times they did away with it.
It is a convention hotel so it can be busy
There are no actual ques at the bus stops so if it's a busy time of day, it can be a free for all.

If you just need a place to sleep at night and don't plan on spending a lot of the time at the resort, I'd go movies. Just make sure a request a room that is not facing the pool. If you are actually going to be spending some time at the resort and can swing the money, go with CSR.

 

[ColoradoLime]

I've stayed at both and there are pros and cons to both. I have not stayed in the Tower at CSR because frankly, for what it costs I can stay at Dolphin and be within walking distance to both HS and Epcot. I have stayed in the Casitas twice and the Cabanas once.

Since both have outside hallways (motel style) if people walking by are being noisy you are going to hear them. It depends on where you room is located at the values as to the noise level. It it faces a pool, it is going to be noisy.

Pros to Movies: It is less, if it is going to strain your budget at all, go with it.
It has a proper food court.
The value resorts have actual lines at the bus stop, the moderates don't
The new rooms seem a lot more spacious since they have the murphy bed, bonus if you leave it up, you have a table.

Cons to Movies: The food court can get hectic at peak times.
While it has lines at the bus stop, they are not covered.

Pros to standard room at CSR: They are bigger than Movies
The bathrooms have more amenities
The main pool has a hot tub, this is the biggest perk for me.
There is a slide at the pool if that's your thing
There is a quiet pool at each section
Three Bridges is one of the best restaurants on site
There are a big mix of food options
It is a convention hotel so feels a bit like a Deluxe lite, has a fitness room.
The bus stops are covered.

Cons to CSR: It's more expensive
It's big so there are 4 bus stops, travel time going around the resort must be factored in.
The QS is horrible. Basically grab and go under heat lamps. They used to have a proper QS but in the after times they did away with it.
It is a convention hotel so it can be busy
There are no actual ques at the bus stops so if it's a busy time of day, it can be a free for all.

If you just need a place to sleep at night and don't plan on spending a lot of the time at the resort, I'd go movies. Just make sure a request a room that is not facing the pool. If you are actually going to be spending some time at the resort and can swing the money, go with CSR.

Thanks for all this. I hadn't even thought about a hot tub and that would be a big bonus since I'll be there for the race.