Caribbean Beach or All-star Music resort for our 6-yr old DD first's trip?

[mike10]

Which resort would be the best choice for our DD first trip? I say it doesn't really matter since we don't spend much time there.

But theme wise it's Value all the way since Caribbean focuses more on a beach type style.

I guess what I getting at is putting it all together this is what I'm looking:

Theme, quietness at night, crowd level, quickest transportation, and if I'm going to deal with many misbehaving kids.


What would be the better place?

 

[memster]

I would go with Disney's All-Star Movies Resort.

My Grandson loved it at Movies.:animwink:

 

[WVParkfan]

When I stayed at All Star Music last month the resorts rarely shared buses. In my experiences the bus transportation service at the All Stars is the best on property.

Absolutely agree with this. Don't know where the "Pop fans" got the bus-sharing thing, but the bus transportation at the All Stars is fantastic.

We've stayed at all 4 values, along with CBR. Here's my take: I think All Star Music is the best of the values. It has the best pool scene, with fun and games all day long and a move by the pool at night. Music is by-far our favorite value.

If "quiet" is important to you, then don't even consider Pop Century. While the resort was nice, it was definitely the loudest place we've ever stayed. They have the thinnest walls of anywhere I've ever been. We heard every toilet flush from the room above, every conversation from the room beside us, and every noise from the pool outside. We'll never stay at Pop again since ASMusic and ASMovies are so much better.

Ultimately, if you want a very quiet vacation, then CBR may be your best choice... especially in one of the outlying lands. We stayed once at Trinidad South, and even though it was July, we felt like we were the only ones there. Very quiet. Bigger rooms than the values. Better overall.

Good luck with your choice. I think Music is your best bet.

 

[Purple413]

I would go with All Star Music. I've stayed at both resorts, and I loved them both, but for a youngster, I think AS Music is better. They have nightly movies at the pool, the arcade, and just wandering the hotel looking at the different buildings is a lot of fun. CB is awesome because you have the beaches and the water, but depending on where your room is, it could be quite a walk to get to the food court and buses. No matter which you choose, you will have an amazing time! HAVE FUN!

 

[WDW_Emily]

When I stayed at AS Movies in October, we shared a bus going and coming to all the parks. We never lucked up to have one bus go from the resort directly to the parks.

We stayed at all star sports in april 2010 and shared busses to every park except AK

 

[gabroccoli]

We've taken our DD twice and stayed at POR and POFQ. I know no one has said either one of these, but I have to. POFQ is the one I would go with. It's smaller and easy to get around, one bus stop, and it has a cool pool.

 

[NewfieFan]

When I stayed at AS Movies in October, we shared a bus going and coming to all the parks. We never lucked up to have one bus go from the resort directly to the parks


But to answer the OP question, I would vote for POP.....pretty much for the reasons the others suggested POP. I didn't mind the AS resorts, but because of the bus situation, I doubt that I will stay at an AS resort again.

Wow, either I've been extremely lucky or you've been unlucky!

Bus sharing has been so rare on all my trips that it's not even worth mentioning!

I do know that they have dedicated busses for each resort but if one bus is not particularly full it may pop over to the other resort to fill up. Which means you may actually wait less for a bus if one pops over to your resort to pick up some extra bodies! Were you catching the bus at peak hours (early morning and closing)? I've never shared a bus during the busy morning and closing hours!

Don't give up on the AS resorts (unless you're looking for a change)... maybe you just hit them on the wrong week!?! :shrug:

 

[Dwarful]

Bus sharing is not that common at the AS resorts! I don't know where this idea got started... or if it was common when the resorts first opened!?!

I've stayed there 4 times now (at 4 different times of the year, right from value season to peak season) and I can tell you the number of times on one hand that I've shared a bus. And the only time I've shared a bus has been during the middle of the afternoon and/or late at night (well after park closing).

It can happen, esp if you go back during the middle of the day. We just got home on Sunday from an 8 day stay at Yacht Club and we shared buses with Yacht, Beach, Boardwalk, Swan and Dolphin...all five resorts on one bus at AK. At closing it was a nightmare. At MK we shared only w/Beach Club. But still I felt sorry for those at the Beach because they were always picked up second. Every morning it was standing room by the time we got to Beach. We did all the Early Entry days and those two parks always shared. We shared last year when we were at Boardwalk. Right now I think Pop is the only resort that absolutely doesn't share but that may change when the new resort opens up.

 

[MattyFresh]

Wow, either I've been extremely lucky or you've been unlucky!

Bus sharing has been so rare on all my trips that it's not even worth mentioning!

I do know that they have dedicated busses for each resort but if one bus is not particularly full it may pop over to the other resort to fill up. Which means you may actually wait less for a bus if one pops over to your resort to pick up some extra bodies! Were you catching the bus at peak hours (early morning and closing)? I've never shared a bus during the busy morning and closing hours!

Don't give up on the AS resorts (unless you're looking for a change)... maybe you just hit them on the wrong week!?! :shrug:

It could have been because of a slower time of the season, but it happend morning, noon, and at night. We never went anywhere without the bus stopping at all 3 AS resorts to pick up.

 

[eroyee]

I would pick POP for that age. the theming is so great.....

 

[Tomi-Rocket]

Pop!

For a 6 yr. olds first visit I wouldn't choose CBR or ASM, I'd go with the Pop Century! We went for the first time when my younger son was 5 and stayed at the Pop, my kids LOVED it! You can't beat the whimsy there with the giant replicas of yo-yo's, foos ball, big wheel, etc. It's just a fun, fun place to go. Granted it's not luxury but kids don't seem to notice that as much as adults, they love fun stuff and you can't beat the Pop for it's fun-ness!

 

[Disneykidder]

Of the values i'd choose Pop because it has its own bus line, is fun and the theming is great. It was neat and clean, too.

Of the moderates i'd choose Coronado. The food, pool, grounds, rooms and theming are amazing. Caribbean is cool, too but I enjoyed Coronado a little more.

 

[pixiesteno]

Having stayed at both POP and ASMu resort the bus service IMO is better at ASMu and rarely having to share a bus. One thing to think about when traveling with a child is ASMu has Family Suites, which consists of a bedroom with QB, several pull outs in the living area, two bathrooms, and a kitchenette. The kitchenette has a 4 cu ft fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and they keep you supplied in paper plates, cups, bowls and plastiware. This can be really nice when traveling with small children. The suites are all in preferred locations and lots of room.
We have stayed at Pop and ASMu several times and the feel of the main building/dining area of ASMu is much, much more relaxed than Pop. Just my opinion

 

[StingraySam]

If your not one to spend much time at your resort and want to give your daughter a much more character themed experience then I would go with one of the Allstars or Pop Century, also it's my opinion that the Allstars are more character themed than Pop Century. Pop Century however is more centrally located and especially convenient to EPCOT and DHS. As for the Allstar resort bus service comments some others have posted, unless something has changed over the past year or so, during ours stays the buses always stopped at all three resorts and this has always been a deciding factor for me when choosing Pop Century over the Allstar resorts.

 

[corey154]

I'd go with CBR...I personally like the mod's better than the values and it is worth the extra money for my family. Not only is the pool refurbed and really cool at CBR, you also have quiet pools that are not as crowded and they are relaxing, also not as overwhelming as some of the value pools can be.

The bus stops are covered at the mods, you're not standing in full sun or rain. Yes, there are four stops at the CBR, but for me still worth it over the values.

Whatever resort you go for you will be a winner in a 6 year olds eyes...we've stayed at Music and have enjoyed it too, it's just our personal opinion that we like CBR, CSR, and our favorite is Port Orleans French Quarter (but I don't think your 6 year old would be quite as excited)

Let us know what you picked and what you thought when you get back!