Worth the Upgrade from ASMusic Standard to ASMovies Preferred?

[Newsies]

Planning a vacation for this September and currently have a standard room booked at All-Star Music. It was the cheapest option, trying to keep costs low this trip, but have since learned that the layout for All-Star Music is maybe not the best layout of the three All-Star resorts and staying in a standard room will be a bit of a walk aways from the lobby, food court, and bus stop. I'm flying and won't have a car with me, so proximity to bus stop is important.

I crunched the numbers and it would be more money but not necessarily unreasonable to upgrade to a preferred room at All-Star Movies. All-Star Movies does not have standard rooms available for my dates but I do like the layout a lot better. I've stayed at All-Star Sports in a preferred room for one night once but don't have a ton of experience otherwise with the All-Stars. Can any All-Star pros weigh in here and let me know whether you think it's worth it to upgrade or save my money with a standard room at Music? Thanks!

 

[Disneylover99]

I’ve stayed at Music twice and I really dislike the layout.
The standard rooms felt so far away from the main building. I prefer to be as close as possible to the main building, so for me, that walk was a chore.

I‘d pick the preferred at Movies or standard at Pop, if that isn’t much more.

 

[seashoreCM]

The furthest standard rooms at 'Sports or 'Movies are not as far from the food court as in the case of 'Music.

 

[Newsies]

I’ve stayed at Music twice and I really dislike the layout.
The standard rooms felt so far away from the main building. I prefer to be as close as possible to the main building, so for me, that walk was a chore.

I‘d pick the preferred at Movies or standard at Pop, if that isn’t much more.

Appreciate this! Pop and AoA are outside of my budget entirely but thinking I will switch to preferred at Movies.

The furthest standard rooms at 'Sports or 'Movies are not as far from the foot court as for 'Music.

This is a really helpful perspective, thanks!

 

[PoohHappens]

I agree with the others, I have stayed at all three and music layout is my least favorite. For some reason, I just feel like movies feels nicer (even though it is essentially the same) and has more of a Disney feel. I am headed with adult children in September and we are staying at Movies. I was unable to get standard for the stay as well, however by messing around with the dates and splitting it into two reservations I was able to find availability. We are booked 6-9 with Disney Visa discount and 9-13 with summer discount both in standard. I only mention this because you said you were trying to keep the cost as low as possible. I had to try the break at several different days until I got it to work. I didn't have to use the two different discounts to find it, but it was cheaper this way.

 

[Newsies]

I agree with the others, I have stayed at all three and music layout is my least favorite. For some reason, I just feel like movies feels nicer (even though it is essentially the same) and has more of a Disney feel. I am headed with adult children in September and we are staying at Movies. I was unable to get standard for the stay as well, however by messing around with the dates and splitting it into two reservations I was able to find availability. We are booked 6-9 with Disney Visa discount and 9-13 with summer discount both in standard. I only mention this because you said you were trying to keep the cost as low as possible. I had to try the break at several different days until I got it to work. I didn't have to use the two different discounts to find it, but it was cheaper this way.

Thanks so much for the insight & suggestions! My dates are shorter, it's a quick Labor Day Weekend getaway, so trying to split the stay during such a short & busy time at the Parks likely wouldn't do much for me. I decided to upgrade to Preferred at ASMovies as it ended up being <$100 to upgrade, so it seemed worth it IMO especially after reading everyone's input and watching a few YouTube videos that tour the grounds. I really appreciate your reply!

 

[pens4821]

We stayed at movies last year standard. Requested by pool during online checkin. We ended up in the ducks section which was honestly a preferred location for music. It was just a quick walk around the road right to the bus stop, or if you want to go to the foot court it’s across the street.

Id suggest saving the money, and booking movies standard. Then request the ducks section (or like we did by pool since by the main pool is preferred). Then you are so close to music it’s amazing.

 

[HopperFan]

Will NEVER stay standard at Music again, and that is if I even go back there.

Been staying Sports of late, booked for there next month. POP is my first choice and where I have stayed dozens of times but now with SkyLiner the price point isn't worth it for me. Upgrading away from Music is worth it to me.

 

[loves to dive]

I stayed in a standard at Music in April, it was the furthest building from the front and yes it was a pretty long walk. The only time I minded it was in the rain when I had some take out food. I had to slip the box under my poncho and try to move from building to building staying under the walkways as best I could. My son and his family stayed in one last year and said never again, baby/stroller it was a a whole thing. They have an upcoming trip for Dec. and were booked in a preferred in Movies but I was able to get them in a preferred in Music with my AP discount for less. Son's SO was o.k. with Music as long as it was in the preferred section and saving money was a plus. Did you check out the preferred in Music as opposed to the preferred in Movies?

 

[Newsies]

Id suggest saving the money, and booking movies standard. Then request the ducks section (or like we did by pool since by the main pool is preferred). Then you are so close to music it’s amazing.

We did something similar to this when we stayed at CBR last year -- we were in the Aruba building closest to Riviera and ended up using Riviera's QSFB and Skyliner port, ended up working out better for us than being closer to the lobby for CBR or CBR skyliner hub! Love this type of out of the box thinking!

POP is my first choice and where I have stayed dozens of times but now with SkyLiner the price point isn't worth it for me.

I'm with you on this -- Would love to go back to POP or try AoA this trip but they're about as expensive as a moderate now since the skyliner opened.

Did you check out the preferred in Music as opposed to the preferred in Movies?

I did and the results may surprise you! I know Movies is generally more expensive than Music or Sports so I priced out a preferred room at Music first. I was surprised to see that the same preferred room and 2-day ticket package I'm booking was $875 at Music and $869 at Sports versus only $859 at Movies! I wasn't married to the idea of staying at Music when I booked this trip so I was happy to take the very rare $10-20 savings at Movies.

I probably could go even cheaper and compromise by getting a standard room at Sports, since the walk to the Sports lobby from those standard buildings isn't as intense, but honestly I'd only be saving about $66 total so I'm feeling good with my decision to go with a preferred room at Movies. I'll definitely be tired from the crowds and heat so anything that can save me a few extra minutes walk between the bus stop/lobby and my room is worth it.

 

[samsteele]

Looks like you got an upgrade for a very good price. But if looking at All Star standard rooms again, take a good look at All Star Sports Building 9 Home Run and Building 2 Hoops. Both buildings a reasonable walk to the bus and food court. I've also stayed AS Music standard room and agree the long narrow resort footprint makes it very inconvenient and difficult for guests placed in the majority of standard rooms. The slightly more 'adult' Music theming isn't worth it when dealing with those logistics.

 

[Newsies]

But if looking at All Star standard rooms again, take a good look at All Star Sports Building 9 Home Run and Building 2 Hoops. Both buildings a reasonable walk to the bus and food court.

So helpful to know, thanks!!!