Best All Star Resort

[UConnAlum04]

Hi all.

I've been reading all the posts for about a year now and I've finally decided to post one of my own :kiss: . I am planning a trip to the world in March 2007, and I would like to stay on property for the first time :sohappy: . I am on a limited budget, so I am looking for a room that would cost roughly $100 per night. I was just wondering which of the All Star Resorts you think is the best; best rooms, best pool. I will be renting a car so proximity to a bus stop is not an issue, but proximity to a nice pool would be nice . Also any advice on how to save money with a disney dining package and multi day tickets would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

[SamatBCV]

Hi all.

I've been reading all the posts for about a year now and I've finally decided to post one of my own :kiss: . I am planning a trip to the world in March 2007, and I would like to stay on property for the first time :sohappy: . I am on a limited budget, so I am looking for a room that would cost roughly $100 per night. I was just wondering which of the All Star Resorts you think is the best; best rooms, best pool. I will be renting a car so proximity to a bus stop is not an issue, but proximity to a nice pool would be nice . Also any advice on how to save money with a disney dining package and multi day tickets would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for all your help.

I've stayed and AS Music and Movies if I've gotten to Orlando ahead of schedule and needed a place to stay, but I've heard that Pop Century (also the newest value resort) is the best value resort although it's technically not an All Star. I've never stayed at Pop Century, but you may want to check that out.

I have to be honest though and say I'm not a fan of the All Stars (people on this site will hate me for saying that). I've found better deals offsite where you get a bigger room for less money than the All Stars. Sorry, I'm not trying to burst your bubble, just my opinion.

 

[Lanipie]

AllStar movies is awesome. I like it because it is the most Disney themed of all the value resorts. The rooms are not very large but room size doesn't matter one iota to me. all we do in the room is sleep, so as long as there are beds I'm happy! Oh yeah and a bathroom! LOL!

There seem to be a lot of POP fans out there but it is my least favorite of the value resorts. It has almost no Disney theming at all, which is one of the main things i like about staying on property. I mean what the heck does giant Play-Doh, have to do with Disney???

yess it's newer....but the rooms are exactly the same as the AS rooms.

 

[brian9549]

AS Music for me!

My wife and I stayed at AS Music in Nov. 2003. We liked it. We are staying at Pop Century next month and really looking forward to it.

When we stayed at AS Music I took some time to walk around all 3 AS resorts since they are so close together and I have to say that AS Music was the quietest. AS Movies was full of kids and AS Sports was full of teens and cheerleaders. I happened to speak to a CM while I was walking around and she noted that AS Music is usually the quietest of the 3. She noted that families with small kids love AS Movies for the characters and families with teens love AS Sports becuase there are areas to play, she even mentioned how many families will bring footballs and such to play on the big field areas. I did see this happen at 11PM one night.

AS Music was much more subdued and quieter while we were there. Since it was just the two of us that is what we wanted. We are going to try Pop now and see how that goes.

Sure you can find cheaper digs off site but you won't be able to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours. Hope you have a good trip!

Brian:wave:

 

[ilovejr71292]

movies and pop are my favorite and if you KNOW your goin back go ahead and get like a 10 day or even 7 day park hopper its well worth the money so you sabve money on the next trip

 

[J76]

We've stayed at all 3 All Star Resorts. My family liked Movies the best, but my favorite is Music.

 

[mousebymarriage]

We have stayed at all 3 all-star resorts and Movies is by far the best if you have little ones. My son just turned 5 and has been obsessed with Toy Story for a couple of years. We always request the Toy Story buliding(Buzz or Woody) when we stay at Movies(which has been the past 3 times)and he loves it! It is closer to the food court and pool than the "preferred" rooms and your not paying the preferred room price!

 

[ilovejr71292]

ya we have stayed at all the value resorts and i like movies pool and food court the best

 

[coltow]

Seems to me that each has a draw. Movies is great for little ones, Sports is perfect for teens, and Music is good if you want a little quiet time.

The downside is the busses. If you plan on using the busses they are very crowded and 1 bus can (& usually will) service all 3 resorts.

I think that made my stay at Pop all the better. If you are planning on using the busses all the time, look into Pop. If you'll have a car All-Stars are the way to go and pick which theme is best for your family. Just my thoughts.

 

[col]

my fave is all star sports even though its the only all stars ive stayed in. i would take any of the all stars over pop century. i just loved everything about the sports (including the bus stops) from the themeing, food court, rooms -i mean everything!
i was in the football section and loved it outside of my window and door was the touchdown area and of a night i would sit and watch people who didnt know each other play football which was amazing. i went swimming in the baseball pool which was very quiet and relaxing and never crowded. the food court was ace such a huge variety of food to choose from. the room was amazing considering it was my first time in a disney resort and it was like something i never expected there is 2 beds, a table with 2 chairs, bathroom with shower/bath and toilet, sink, safe, closet, AC -which is greta in the hot months and a TV, telephone and nightstand.
as ive said i loved it and i cant wait to go back -might try movies or music next but im not sure.

 

[kennygman]

Hi all.

I've been reading all the posts for about a year now and I've finally decided to post one of my own :kiss: . I am planning a trip to the world in March 2007, and I would like to stay on property for the first time :sohappy: . I am on a limited budget, so I am looking for a room that would cost roughly $100 per night. I was just wondering which of the All Star Resorts you think is the best; best rooms, best pool. I will be renting a car so proximity to a bus stop is not an issue, but proximity to a nice pool would be nice . Also any advice on how to save money with a disney dining package and multi day tickets would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for all your help.

All Star Sports is the best for bus service. When they combine buses they are always first on and first off. Rooms and layouts are the same, just theming is different. I also recommend that you don't stay in the preferred room near the pool, it is VERY loud until late in the night there.

 

[monorailguy01]

Well welcome to the boards :wave:

Since you are on a budget and want to stay at a value it look like, may I say stay at PoP century, Im not to sure if alot of people know this but the TAX % at pop is lower then the all star resorts. Why you ask? im not to sure about that but I know for a fact it's lower. You may want to check out that hotel I think it's way nicer then the all stars and the best part is IT HAS IT'S OWN BUS SYSTEM... and it is a major plus.... Trust me I know..... I have stayed at all star music last year and I thought it was nice just was to crowed I think people like the all stars more then POP Century, so I would check out POP if i was you...

 

[UConnAlum04]

Thank you all for your all of your suggestions. So far it looks like I will be choosing between All Star Music and Pop. I am in my mid 20s and will be traveling with my girlfriend and a couple of other friends; so we'd just like to pick a hotel where we can expect to find more people of our age stayin there rather than kids(movies) and teenagers(sports). I would liek to upgrade to a moderate resort, but I will still be on a budget for around $100 a night:veryconfu . Does anyone know any promotions or of any way to stay at a moderate resort for around that price? I am also considering the disney dining plan; but it seems to only include lunch and dinner, so what do people who use it usually do for breakfast? Once again thanks a lot for all your help, 7 months and counting:sohappy:

 

[Lanipie]

Thank you all for your all of your suggestions. So far it looks like I will be choosing between All Star Music and Pop. I am in my mid 20s and will be traveling with my girlfriend and a couple of other friends; so we'd just like to pick a hotel where we can expect to find more people of our age stayin there rather than kids(movies) and teenagers(sports). I would liek to upgrade to a moderate resort, but I will still be on a budget for around $100 a night:veryconfu . Does anyone know any promotions or of any way to stay at a moderate resort for around that price? I am also considering the disney dining plan; but it seems to only include lunch and dinner, so what do people who use it usually do for breakfast? Once again thanks a lot for all your help, 7 months and counting:sohappy:

The DDP is GREAT! You'll have more food than you know what to do with. LOL!

For breakfast we take a big tray of muffins from Sam's or Costco that way we can eat in the room before we head to the parks and it doesn't cost us much at all. There are food courts at the resorts, but why pay for Disney priced food when you can bring something from home. You really won't need much in the morning if you have the DDP because you will be eating so much the rest of the day. Just make sure that if you use the DDP, that you make all your reservations as early as possible. I believe you can do that starting at 180 before your trip. It may seem weird to choose your table service restaurants so far in advance but it will be a great help.

 

[SamatBCV]

Does anyone know any promotions or of any way to stay at a moderate resort for around that price? I am also considering the disney dining plan; but it seems to only include lunch and dinner, so what do people who use it usually do for breakfast? Once again thanks a lot for all your help, 7 months and counting:sohappy:

Generally there are plenty of promotions... depending on what cards/memberships you have. There are deals for DVC members, annual passholders, and Disney Visa card holders (and AAA members maybe?). The Visa card would be the best choice if you don't already have the others and are on a budget. Since I'm in the DVC, I don't usually stay at other resorts, so I don't know exactly what deals on rooms are available for the Visa card, but you may want to check it out. Also, depending on when you go, they may have reduced rates or lower last minute rates.

As for the DDP. You're right, breakfast is on your own. It really depends on how much your budget is. If money is really tight and you want three meals a day, don't do it. While it does make for cheaper table dining, you still are paying more than if you just had counter service. The same goes if you only want to eat at table service once or twice a trip. If however, you have the money and like table service, it is a great way to go, but read the fine print. There are restrictions at some restaurants on certain menu items and dinner shows and such may use up more than a single table service meal. Also, as Lanipie said, book table service early. Gone are the days you can call up the day of and get reservations at most places.

 

[Cindyrella]

AS Music

We made a last minute trip earlier this year and the only hotel room available was at AS Music. I was prepared to dislike it;however, I was pleasently surprised and would definitely stay there again and/or recommend it to my family and friends.
Have a great time wherever you decide to stay!

 

[UConnAlum04]

Thanks. Does anyone know that if you do go the Dining plan route.........at the listed restaurants can you order anything or are the choices limited to specific items under a certain price level?

 

[hankhill]

best

by definition there is no best All Star.

 

[Lanipie]

Thanks. Does anyone know that if you do go the Dining plan route.........at the listed restaurants can you order anything or are the choices limited to specific items under a certain price level?

As long as it is not specified you can order anything. Any sides you must pay for out of pocket.

Some menus have now started making lobster a "side" but other than that, you can order whatever you want. Just check for specifications on the menus.

 

[eroyee]

:wave: POP CENTURY. its great theming, food court, best busses, not sharing with anyone, neat pools. need I say more? Oh, yeah, the best part. we booked AAA rates for Jan. 2007 for $62 a night. cant beat that!! :sohappy: