WL or ASMu

[CleKait]

For our May trip my mom and I have been discussing where we want to stay. I want to go back to the Wilderness Lodge but she would be just fine with staying at All Star Music mainly because it’s cheaper. She’s also one of those people who don’t really care about the décor of the hotel; she’s just sleeping and eating there.

I would be willing to stay at the Music resort, but I am pitching in my fair share of the money to pay for this trip, so I’m trying to convince her that the Lodge would be better, even though I can think of reasons that the ASMu would be better.

So ignoring the obvious cost factor any suggestions?

 

[robinb]

Have you ever stayed at a Value resort? If not, I would give it a try to make your mom happy. It will save both of you a boatload of money that you can spend somewhere else. I have stayed at every level of WDW resort and I am perfectly happy staying at a Value resort if I'm having a "value vacation on a budget".

While the WL is better is almost every single way (except for food court) that really doesn't mean a thing. You're comparing apples to oranges. The WL is prime rib and the All Stars is ground round. Both are good if that's what you're in the mood for. I would recommend making yourself in the mood for a tasty hamburger and saving your money for something else.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

We are just like your MOM and a bed is a bed . We are starting to enjoy the resorts a bit more now with our DVC but have no problem for a quick trip to a value just so we can go.

May even just drop down to a Mod (POFQ is very nice)if you can get a good price .

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

we were in the same situation last May. My dad is in love with WL but we thought maybe saving some money and staying in 2 rooms at POFQ where we used to stay when my brother and I were smaller and wouldn't mind sharing a bed lol. We ended up with a bunkbed room at WL and as it turned out, we were only in the room for sleeping, naps in the afternoon, and that was pretty much it! We usually take a day off to stay around the resort but the one day I did the Dolphin tour at Epcot and the other day we ended up staying at the park longer and only had some time at the resort for 2 hours or so.

Now for this Feb, my fam is coming to visit me while I work at WDW and they want to save $$$ and stay at POP even though I will have 50% off. My dad has always called the value resorts "ghetto" even though he has never stayed there!!! My brother and I would LOVE to stay at Beach Club and even said we would give up our birthdays (both in march) to be able to stay there but he is not going for it I really don't see him staying at POP and 2 rooms at POFQ would be the same as 1 at BC.

I'm not really sure what will happen bc I can't book the room until Jan but we're still hoping for either BC, WL, or even AKL, I really can't see my very "uptight" father staying anywhere less!!!

 

[CleKait]

We're still open to other options, these are just are favorites. Thanks for the opinions so far!

I've never stayed at a value resort like Disney value resorts but one thing that bugs me is that you open up the door and you're immediately outside. We go on vacation in Ohio every year and stay in a hotel like that, so with the Lodge it's something different.

 

[disneyholic family]

we have only stayed deluxe concierge for the past several years (as you can probably figure from my signature), but this last trip was just my daugther and me, so i decided we'd save money and stay at the all star music (the last time we stayed in a value resort was in 1995).

We were at the ASMu for 9 days in November and it was great!!!

when it's the whole family traveling, we spend much more time in the room, but this time it was just the 2 of us and i let my daughter (23 years old) lead the way .......she had us out and about from opening until closing, so we literally were only in the room to sleep.
Thank goodness we didn't waste a lot of money on a hotel.

But even ignoring the cost issue, i thought the ASMu was very nice and would be more than happy to stay there again.

and by the way, the bed at the ASMu was the most comfortable bed i've slept in at WDW......the new beds, after the refurbishment are great.......

 

[grannyminnie]

I had my trip booked at ASMu and changed over to WL because (1) my sisters and I just stayed at the GF and I thought I might have a stroke if I had to stay at Music and (2) I'm taking my daughter and grandkids and feel like being at the WL will much simplify the transportation to and from the MK. I do have some guilt about the money we will NOT save, but I balance that out by the fact that it will be so much more convenient for us...not to mention the fact that there no coffeemaker at the Values, according to more than one CM!

 

[minnie61650]

......
and by the way, the bed at the ASMu was the most comfortable bed i've slept in at WDW......the new beds, after the refurbishment are great.......

Yes,yes,yes! I second that.The new pillowtop mattresses at All Star Music are so confortable. They are "almost" as good as the Heavenly beds at the Westin hotels!

All Star Music is my favorite Disney owned hotel.

I can well afford to stay at any of Disney's resorts but these are the main reasons I stay at All Star Music:

1. I can book a preferred room location.
The way All Star Music is laid out it "seems" smaller than most of the other Disney resorts. If I stay in a preferred building i only see the Calypso and Jazz builings on the way to to and from the main pool and the bus stop and food court. Since I stay in preferred room I know I am going to be close to the food court, bus stop, & main pool.

2. I enjoy the theming at the All Stars. All Star Music is also is the quietest of the values. Generally less people stay there and there are more seniors and couples and less young children because children enjoy the themes of the other values more.

3. The bus service at the All Star Music is very good. Since I use an ECV good bus transportation is essential.

4. The entry at the values and Mods are much more Handicap friendly.
I am able to get in and out of my All Star room unassisted. This way my husband can go and play a round of golf and know I can leave my room to relax by the pool if I choose.
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All Star Music tends to be the quietest of all the values.


All Star Music just underwent a refurbishment of all of the rooms and was completed in June 2007.


Here is a website with photos of the newly refurbished rooms at All Star Music.

Look at the Jazz Inn section with new posted:

http://allearsnet.com/acc/g_asmu.htm




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DH and I enjoy the landscaping and peacefulness of All Star Music.
We enjoy relaxing by the pool (there are plenty of chairs and lounges), and the beautiful lighting at the resort by night.

I have never had the unfortunate experience of running into the any of the large
groups of teens who sometimes stay at the values on school trips.
As long as you can avoid those large groups I do not think Noise will be an issue.

*HINT if you close your bathroom door at night you might not even hear the turbo toilets.
I close my bathroom door and I don't hear them.
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I love The All Star Resorts.

I am 57 years old and travel several times a yearfor pleasure. I often stay at 3and 4 star and sometimes a 5 star hotels and motels.
So the deluxe and mod resorts are just another hotel/motel to me.
Staying at an All Star is like being in the heart of the Magic and that is where I want to be.

All Star Music is my favorite. It is quieter because more couples stay there. I love staying at the Calypso building. It is closer to the pool, food court and bus stop.

Here is a site with a map of All Star Sports and All Star Music.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/allstarmap.htm
Scroll down. All Star Music is at the bottom of the page.
The Calypso buildings at All Star Music are #1 and #10 are nearest to the food court and bus stop.

The Calypso pool at ASMu has Donald Duck.

The buses are wonderful.

Bus rides are quite short from the ALL Stars according to PassPorter.com

All Star Buses-CBR buses---POPbuses--PO buses--- Contemporary
MK 20 min---- 20 min-----25 min------10 min---20 min(mono)
Epcot 10 min-- 15 min-----20 min------10 min---15 min
MGM 10 min----12 min-----15 min------15 min---20min
AK 10 min------20min-------15 min----15 min---20 min
DTD 15 min----20 min------20 min-----15 min---35 min

It only takes 10 minutes to get to Epcot, MGM and AK from All Stars.
MK is 20 min away. That's the same amount of time it takes on the monorail from the Contemporary.

A WORD ABOUT BUS SHARING

To me Bus Sharing at the All Stars is really a non issue.

In the mornings during Park opening hours each All Star usually has a dedicated bus.
During mid day it is usually just our stop and maybe one more on the way to the parks. On the way back sometimes it is all 3 but often Sports and Movies share and Music has it's own bus back. Each of the All Stars usually has it's own dedicated bus back from the MK.
That is a big plus. It seems like the Music bus stop usually has the shortest of the three All Star bus lines.

I guess some people who stay at POP see all 3 All Star names on the return sign of our bus stop when they head to the POP bus stop and think All Stars also has 3 stops on the way to the park.
(Even when we stop at another AS resort to load up it has not taken more than 5 minutes and we are on our way!)

The pools at The All Stars are very kid friendly.

When staying at the All Stars you can use any of the All Star pools.That means 3 main pools ,3 quiet pools and 3 kiddie pools to chose from.

The All Star Movie Fantasia pool has Mickey.

The Calypso pool at ASMU has Donald Duck.

And the Surfs up pool at All Star Sports has giant surf boards.

Here are a few pool photos.

All Star Sports pool.

All Star Music Donald pool.

All Star Movies Mickey Pool.

I have visited WDW more than a dozen times with the 1st time in Oct. 1971. It was brand new. I've stayed at FW, Disney Inn, a few the of Hotels on hotel Blvd., CBR and the towers at the Contemporary. I got to see the MK from my balcony at the Contemporary and I'm happy I got to experience it once. I just prefer the All Star Resorts.
The theming is pure Disney.

My last 8 visits have been at The All Stars and during the fall of 2005 when we took dd,dsil, and our grandson age 3(at the time) for 8 nights we stayed at the All Stars Music. I thought about AKL and even though we can well afford AKL I just wanted Alex to experience the Disney Magic at the All Stars on his first visit.
Where else can one find Donald Duck , Goofy or Mickey Mouse at the pool?

Have fun at Disney whevere you choose to stay!

 

[boomhauer]

As a die-hard ASMovies fan, I have to say, after staying at Wilderness Lodge last week, if you can afford it, stay there. No contest.

 

[simonkodousek]

Why don't you compromise and stay at one of the moderates? IMO, POR looks like a great resort and that is where we have chosen to stay next year because we are spending a lot of money on a beach vacation, but still want to stay 2 or 3 nights in Disney.

 

[nklooz]

I love the Deluxe resorts, WL seems awesome to me, in particular.

However, everytime I go to look at prices, I think, gosh, this could be two WD trips vs. 1. So, I stick with moderates or values.

We could afford a deluxe but, for us, it isn't worth the cost. I'd rather stick that money away and have another trip to Disney sooner.

So, IMO, unless money is literally no object, go w/a value or a moderate and spend more money on extras and/or going back sooner.

 

[boomhauer]

However, everytime I go to look at prices, I think, gosh, this could be two WD trips vs. 1. So, I stick with moderates or values.

We could afford a deluxe but, for us, it isn't worth the cost. I'd rather stick that money away and have another trip to Disney sooner.

I used to think exactly this way - Until I stayed at Wilderness Lodge. It added a whole new element to our vacation that we've never experienced - Relaxation.

 

[CleKait]

I used to think exactly this way - Until I stayed at Wilderness Lodge. It added a whole new element to our vacation that we've never experienced - Relaxation.

That's part of my problem I think. Since I've been to the WL I know how breath-taking it is.

 

[Toot Sweet]

I'd stay at WL. Better bus service, and having the ferry boat to ride over to MK is really nice. Not to mention, it's a TREAT to return to WL at the end of a long day in the parks. That resort is beautiful!

 

[DVC Mike]

WL or ASMU --- WL!!!

 

[cmonroe]

I have never stayed in the WL, but I can say that the beds at ASMu are very comfortable. I was nervous as well because we usually stay at the CR.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Hopefully we are going to do both this summer. 6 nights AsMu, 8 nights WL - 4th wedding anniversary trip.

 

[Goofyz3girls]

Why does everyone ask the same thing...You can't compare apples with oranges.Deluxes verses Value you can't compare the two..If its a $$ issue then you know what to pick otherwise a Deluxe (4 of a kind)always beats a Value (1 pair)....End of question.

 

[DisneyWisher]

For $221 a night difference, I'm with mom. I just looked up 1 night and they are quoting $320 a night and thats a woodsview. Too big of a difference for me. Imagine that you could add dining to your trip and still come out ahead. Why not compromise and stay at ASmu but spend a little of what you are saving by doing a tour or HDDR, something special. With the refurb at ASmu its much nicer now. The beds are comfy and the TV is bigger.