Value Resort Questions

[DisneyBound]

We just recently returned from WDW and stayed at POR-alligator bayou. It was a nice resort and also our first time staying on site. We spent very little time at the hotel, mostly sleeping but did take one night out to swim. It was not crowded, we never waited for a bus and had 15-30 minute waits at park closing for busses (because of the long line) Everyone has said that once you stay at deluxe, going moderator or value stinks. Is it the same from moderate to value too? My other questions are...

With the value resorts, are they crowded and unbearable? The old standard tells me less money, less disney magic but more people. Is this true? The kids are interested in staying at All Star Movies but I dont want to stay somewhere that I feel like a bunch of cattle being hurded in and out of busses and pools. Any input would be greatly appreciated. We would be staying In late September again, I cant do peak season :animwink:

 

[Coree]

We've stayed at both All-Star Music and All-Star Sports and just recently stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge. When staying at the All-Star resorts I never felt like cattle. There were a lot more kids running around that you had to contend with and the food court was a little noisy, but the theming is really great. They are really fun resorts to stay in. Even after this past trip staying in a deluxe resort, we will still stay in the value resorts sometimes. If the majority of your time is spent in the parks (not at the hotel) that it's often just not worth it to stay in a deluxe resort. You can still find Disney magic in the value resorts.

 

[wannabeBelle]

hey there!! I Am glad to hear you liked P.O.Riverside. That is actually one of my favorite Moderates. As far as the Value level. They are really pretty neat resorts. I have stayed at AS Music and Movies. The food courts are louder than you see in the Moderates and the pools are more crowded in general because there are less of them (2 per resort) as opposed to the Moderates. I judge where i want to stay by what the game plan is for the trip and the time of year I Am going. When I go in October I Am definitely staying at a Moderate. it is still swimming weather!! in December, I opted for a Value as I Am not so sure if I will be using the amenities. However we are going to rent a car to go to various restaurants for breakfast. I love Boatwright's in the Riverside!! Belle

 

[cymbaldiva]

The only value resort I've stayed at is ASMusic...I didn't have the best experience, so I'm not a fan.

I am personally a HUGE fan of Dixie Landings and Port Orleans (yeah, I'm old school! )

I guess what you're asking about is true...the 1st place I stayed on property was DL - alligator bayou. DH & I really loved it - I don't think that we were just spoiled by the moderates though...the room at ASMusic was in pretty bad shape

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

We've only stayed at POFQ, so not able to comment on the other resorts.
However, I would suggest that if you intend spending most of your time in the parks it doesn't really matter where you lay your head - one room is as good as any other when your asleep !
If you want to spend a lot of time at the hotel and pool then go for the best you can afford - peoples budgets differ which is why WDW have 3 classes of hotels.

 

[Erika]

The first couple of times I stayed on property, I did Dixie Landings. From there I went to All Star Sports- and I was not at all disappointed. For one thing, I had extra spending money and for another, the resorts are just so different from each other that I didn't find time to compare.

Of course I could sleep in a Disney dumpster and just be so grateful to be down there at all but that is just me!

 

[pooh&eyore]

I have stayed all over and deluxe, moderate and value. The atmosphere at the deluxe and moderate is different, but no matter where you stay it is the disney service that you get. I have never had any problems with buses or service at the All-Star. Like you said you use the room to sleep in and maybe take a swim in the pool. just my opinion.

 

[David]

we ahve just returned from WDW where for the third time we stayed at an All Stars Resort. The first two times we were at Sports, then went to Movies this time. We have not been disappointedat all with the service, and we are like you in that we use the room to shower, change and sleep. When the parks are open, we are there.
The rooms are smaller to be sure, but in our room was myself, my wife and our 9 year old. We talked that next trip, we may stay at the Grand Floridian or the Contemporary, just for a change, not because of any disappointemt with the All Stars Resort.

 

[Jodigrl328]

I have stayed at all categories with the exception of home away from home.

I have enjoyed all hotels I've stayed at. I started with a deluxe and was not at all dissapointed with All Star Movies and enjoyed Port Orleans immensly after that.

Like Erika said a disney dumpster would be sufficient accomadations. I just love it anywhere!!!

 

[TIGGER-FAN]

My wife and I have stayed at the AS Music on our past two trips. Other than a little noise around the pool areas, it was a nice stay. Staying at the value resort gives you more $$$ to spend in the parks. All we do at the room is sleep and shower anyway, so why pay $200.00 to $300.00 for a fancier room we would not be spending any time in. Good value and plenty of Disney magic.

 

[Dwarful]

Well, we have officially stayed at all 3 all stars now. I think our kids favorite is by far the Movies. We can't wait to go back. I have talked about staying other places but that would sacrifice the length of our stay. We never waited more than 10-15 mins for busses often less. I would highly recommend staying in Dalmation Bldg. #1. You dont pay extra for that area like Fantasia, and its close to both pools, laundry, busses, food court. etc! The rooms are smaller..but we managed and this last trip we had 8 in our groop..2 rooms, five kids, one in a "packnplay" and we all had a great time! By the way our trip was over memorial day into June and we paid $55 a night per room using a code off of mousesavers...so you can get some great rates if you keep checking!

 

[SamatBCV]

Well, I'm the odd one here, cause I don't like the value resorts (well Music anyway, since that's the only one I've stayed in). For me it just felt like a motel. Just my 2 cents.

 

[cymbaldiva]

Originally posted by CAPTAIN HOOK

However, I would suggest that if you intend spending most of your time in the parks it doesn't really matter where you lay your head - one room is as good as any other when your asleep !

That's what I used to think too - that and "It's Disney, how bad could it be?"

And then I stayed at ASMusic...

I'm with SamatBCV on this one - for me the "Magic" just wasn't there.

 

[wdwfan65]

long live Dixie!!!!!!!!!! Landings that is, anyway movies is the better of the three values better food court and pools,but you will wish you where at dixie.Ever think about renting a car?I have a national emerald club card I got free for asking and its cheap to rent in orlando anyway,beats the busses,I got a fullsize car next week for$195.00:sohappy:

 

[wannabeBelle]

I humbly beg to differ regarding the rental car vs. the busses. The last time I went to Disney was the first time that I have ever rented a car. while it certainly made getting from resort to resort and other places off of Disney property easier, I felt that it increased our walk from the parking lots within Disney. I certainly felt it most at the MK. There you have to walk from your car to the aisle take the tram to the ferry or monorail, get on line for that and then walk from there. As I said I felt that with a car I walked more than if I had just taken the Disney busses. My friend Rich and I both agreed we wouldnt bother to rent a car again unless we were using it for something besides the theme parks. Not worth the additional money. Just my humble opinion though! Belle

 

[EthylCooper]

I think it all boils down to one question: How much of a kid are you? If you're all adult-y and prefer to spend some time in the parks and come back and rest and lounge and indulge big-people pleasures like fine dining, spa treatments, etc, then you'll really love deluxe and won't be happy with values at all. For those of us who are just overgrown kids--who spend every moment in the park we can from open to close--value resorts are as good or better. (No money wasted on creature comforts we'll never use....it's better spent on toys!) I usually make my trips with my parents. My mother is the adult type...sometimes we have trouble getting her to a park at all. She's not fond of the values. My dad falls somewhere in the middle, and prefers better hotels, but likes the values well enough. (He just hates the long walk between the quieter buildings and the food court.) I'm still a kid (in my own mind) and I love all 7 resorts I've stayed at, but felt kind of guilty not spending more time inside the Contemporary (our only deluxe so far) when we were there. It's still my favorite resort, though....if only for the elevators and air-conditioned monorail pick-up. =) But I didn't feel cheated of magic at the Values...quite the contrary! All the giant theming is just amazing. I spent my first night at AS-Sports just wandering around all 3 All-Stars & looking at it all. You can't walk through Andy's Room in ASM and not feel the magic, even if you are the adult type.

October 2002 (10 more days!)
All-Star Sports

December 2002
Contemporary

Yay!

*Ethyl*

 

[gjpjtj]

Originally posted by wannabeBelle
I humbly beg to differ regarding the rental car vs. the busses. The last time I went to Disney was the first time that I have ever rented a car. while it certainly made getting from resort to resort and other places off of Disney property easier, I felt that it increased our walk from the parking lots within Disney. I certainly felt it most at the MK. There you have to walk from your car to the aisle take the tram to the ferry or monorail, get on line for that and then walk from there. As I said I felt that with a car I walked more than if I had just taken the Disney busses. My friend Rich and I both agreed we wouldnt bother to rent a car again unless we were using it for something besides the theme parks. Not worth the additional money. Just my humble opinion though! Belle

Have to agree with you Belle. Disney Transportation is way better than driving. Other than the occasional crowded bus, you save so much time. And it is convenient too!

 

[rosie.ca]

I stayed at all star music ...i LOVED it .
I have had a brief stay a polynesian and i liked this as much but in different ways ... wherever you stay and whatever you do the amount that you enjoy it will depend on your attitude,expectations and the emotional baggage you bring.
this was my first trip as a grown up.

my first trip where i was in charge and not with my family (save my little brother) i spent my own money doing my own thing .
I loved the little rooms as the beds were super comfy!!! a little high off the ground but lol it was funny

The room i had was in the jazz section and it was nice and quiet but not too far from BOTH pools and i never minded the walk to the food court (although it was diffictult with all the luggage)
There was more than enough space to store clothes the bathrooms were only a little smaller than at home ,the maids were super nice and decorated our windows with our souveniers ( we had a hawaiian theme going ) the pools were lovely and warm and not really that crowded esp if you were simming durring the day or later at night but there are a few times in the day that is gets pretty full but not any worse that the town pool back home.

the busses were only ever crowded at park opening and park closing so head out a little early or later and its fine.

the service was great the food was pretty darn good ,the people friendly i never felt crowded and i loved watching the bunnies outside hop between the bushes


the only thing i didn't like was that freaky picture hanging in my room -my brother covered it with a towel... the maids even left it that way it was funny.

for the entire trip we refered the the room as "home" so i really loved it
p.s. there was just something magical about walking out from the checkin/foodcourt building and out onto the pool are on the way to the room it always made me smile

 

[Fido]

You wrote:
>>the only thing i didn't like was that freaky picture hanging in my room -my brother covered it with a towel... the maids even left it that way it was funny.<<

What was the picture of?

 

[raven]

This past September I stayed at the All Star Music resort. I was put in the way back portion of the Rock-n-Roll building (partialy I thinkl because I am a CM) so I hads to walk about 10 minutes to get to the food court and buses. The resort was very good. A little noisy in the food court and around the main pool but all in all was a good stay.

Previous years I stayed at the Grosvenor resort in the Downtown Disney area. I think I liked it just a tad bit better because I could walk to the shopping area. The rooms were big and they came standard with a fridge, coffee pot, and VCR. I was able to get a AAA discount that really made a difference. They also have their own bus transportation. You may have to wait a little longer but the buses are never crowded and they are very comfortable.