I like that Steve made a point of reminding everyone that some folks have to save for a very long time just to go to Disney, and so the All Stars are really magical for them. When you have such easy access to Disney World it's easy to get jaded and lose perspective on just how expensive it is for the average family. I'm a DVC member and it's still a struggle sometimes to pay for everything else that is involved with a trip to Disney.
Jeffrey Root I've been staying my way around the world and so far Riverside is my fave... I haven't stayed at Wilderness, Animal Kingdom or any of the monorail loop resorts but they're coming up. I can't decide which one should be the grand finale. I was always aiming for Grand Floridian but I'm leaning toward Polynesian now. Pop is my favorite budget on property.
Jeffrey Root Especially during the Holidays! It's a tradition for my family to spend five days in the cabins at Fort Wilderness and we rent a golf cart and drive around every night. The people we see are some of the nicest people on property
There's something about the tackiness of the All Stars that make a Disney vacation feel very unique. It reminds me quite a bit of the World of Disney store, where you're completely bombarded with classic characters and there's always something to look at.
I always stay at all stars, im a AP from Maryland and it allows me to go on trips 3-5x a year. It just feels like home to me! Im single so i work super hard to save for my trips and always get deals between $80-100 a night!! Its so perfect for me and my needs. No complaints at all about the resort, pools or food court. I only eat breakfast or grab a snack from food court since i am always in the parks. Ill be at music next week actually!
For me it is the difference in the number of nights. I can stay more nights at the value resorts then I can at the luxury resorts. I tell my kids all the time, which would you rather do, 4 nights at Poly or 8 nights at Pop? They always say 8 nights at Pop.
As for the busses, here's my experience. We stayed at a moderate for the first time in August. I don't recall which one, the experience wss so meh. We were told bus waits were 15-20 minutes, cool. We had reservations at a character dining experience - went to the bus an hour and a half early. We waited... and waited. The time kept changing. At 30 minutes I called transportation. At 45 I called the front desk. At an hour I wss trying to hold back tears so as not to stress my kids out. It came at an hour and 5 minutes. We had to RUN across animal Kingdom. We were late. We had to wait a half hour for them to work us in. I complained at the hotel and they NOW said that giving 1 to 2 hours for bus time was standard. They gave us nothing. I vowed to never stay at a moderate again. At the All Stars the LONGEST wait I've ever had was 20 minutes. I'll take that any day.
I’ve stayed at Caribbean Beach a couple times and you wait forever for buses there. And last time I actually did the Pop Century for the first time and the buses were a lot better and we got put in one of their refurbished rooms which was an added plus. So I would recommend that if your looking for something cheap.
I have repeatedly had the exact same experience with bus service at Moderate vs. Value resorts. Busses are frequent & wait times no more than 20mins l@ Music, Sports, and Pop Century although the first two resorts run on a loop & travel time is longer. The bus wait times @ Caribbean & Port Orleans Riverside are atrocious& are regularly at least 45 mins apart- and over an hour before park opening.
We stopped using our DVC points because we prefer to stay at All Stars and Pop. We love the gaudy theming, especially for picture-taking. Also, we have never had long waits for buses. The worst waits we had were when we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge. The two times we needed a bus fast, the All Stars gave us a free taxi voucher to use instead. We have had nothing but great luck!
The first time I went to Disney, I stayed at All-Star movies and was fine, I recently went last August and stayed at All-Star Music and loved it! I'm a music person and loved the small details around the resort. It's extremely affordable and a great place to stay if you aren't staying for just the resort. I will say that I noticed that the rooms were slightly dated but other than that, I had a pleasant stay and my little sister simply loved it! She was in a place that she could only dream of going and only cared that a character called her to wake her up each morning. While I do enjoy a "fancy" stay every now and again, when I'm thinking Disney, that's all the fancy I need.
My wife and I stood at the All-Star Music resort in July of last year! (Our 1 year Wedding anniversary trip) It was pretty awesome! Great price! Kind of took the edge off of the park prices! We did 4 nights, 3 days. Almost a year later and We're both still having WDW withdraws! lol!
I wish I would've saw the post on sending in why we love the All Star Resorts!! I've stayed at the all star resorts since I started going to disney, I stayed at the Caribbean beach (which we all know is awful) once and since, i've always stayed at the all starts. I'm at a place now where I could stay at a nicer resort, but i still choose the allstars/animation because, it gives more of the disney feel to me. not because of nostalgia or anything, just because, i LOVE the themeing, i LOVE the loudness and all the kids running around. Thats what a disney vacation is to me. staying at a fancy resort where you feel the need to be fancy and quiet in the lobby, and not having heavy themeing, doesnt seem like a disney vacation to me. I'm so glad you guys did this video because it always made me sad seeing that the allstar resorts always got last place. I will say, the allstar music, seems to have the most busses, and the allstar movies, seems to have the least busses. But i love those resorts and you cant beat the prices!
Trip planning is so important. The all stars can play a key role in allowing other possible upgrades. Staying at the Value resorts and using the savings to extend the stay or to eat at nicer restaurants is something to consider. Also, weighing how much time will be spent at the resort vs. time in the parks must be considered, and the types of amenities you expect at the resort. With the proper planning you will be able to decide which resort is right for you.
"Because I'm broke af, my dudes." But seriously; my family just wanted to save some cash. We weren't poor, but we weren't rich. We just wanted a decent room with a bed to sleep in after a long day at the parks. I understand and totally appreciate the idea of theming and aesthetic but sometimes, it's just easier and more affordable to choose All Stats/value resorts. My family has then moved onto Pop Century as our regular spot, but we treated ourselves last time and stayed at Port Orleans and loved it, as a family from New Orleans.
C Babs. Thing is, you can rent DVC villas for cheaper than Pop/Art of Animation. Let's assume you want 2 queen beds, which would limit your stay to Old Key West. Assuming 8 nights in September, it comes out cheaper than Pop or Art, and about the same as 2 of the 3 all stars. Even then, it is less than 15% more than the cheapest All star. I think there are ways to save money without compromising comfort of quality
Here's my take on Disney vacations: The point has been made numerous times that not everyone can afford to stay at a Moderate or Deluxe resort, especially with rates and ticket prices continuing to increase year to year, but whether you're staying at the Grand Floridian or Pop Century, you should be like Cory and just be happy to be there.
Pop Century is Disney themed, with Lady and the Tramp, Baloo and Mowgli, Mickey with the phone, Goofy with the surfboard, and Roger Rabbit. I love all the values, for all the reasons everyone else does! Great segment, thanks!
Thanks for this!! For me and my family that will be going Easter weekend this year the difference or rather the benefit in staying at the value resort is being able to afford a dining plan and with that being able to do character dining and saving myself and my husband and especially my three children, the frustration of waiting for those characters outside in the heat of the day! Can’t wait for our trip. Love your videos!
I am an out of state passholder. Staying at all stars allows us to make use of our passes several times a year for instead of only being able to come once a year. Also the passholder discounts on rooms makes them usually cheaper than anything offsite.
But can't you get the amenities from the moderates and deluxe even when at the values? You can still go to the restaurants and the shops and take part in the activities of all the resorts. Even without staying there. I don't know if you can reserve a spa day at the spa resorts, though I assume so. The only thing I would assume you couldn't go to would be the pool.
I seriously think this is about two things, and basically neither of them have to do with price per se (although of course that's a factor--no doubt) This is about (a) age of guest and (b) experience of guest with travel in general and Disney in particular. My wife and I are in our early 60's. We've been around. Once upon a time we stayed at All-Star and had a perfectly fine time, saved money (we were at WDW for only 3 days between other travel appointments) and found the service adequate and good for the money (though frankly, a nice motel chain--we love Hampton Inns--is much more room and service for the money for a $120-140/night room) AND we had the "Its a bed---we don't spend time at the hotel when we're in the parks which is why we're there" point of view to be sure. We did find the bus waits long enough to use our rental car instead in most cases. That was then. BUT....our most recent WDW trip (and we've stayed at the Grand Floridian, Contemporary, (both of those both "regular" and "Concierge" rooms) the Poly, the Wilderness Lodge, The Swan, the Dolphin, the Wyndham, the Hilton, the Hyatt Regency and other hotels in the area on- and off-property) we were at the Boardwalk, and y'know what? Maybe we're old farts, but we LOVE the creature comforts of nicer linens, nicer on-site food, and that "we are there for the parks" factor? Guess what--on our first night when we PLANNED to go into EPCOT to watch the fireworks? We found that we were (a) tired from travel/jet-lag, but mostly (b) LOVED that we could just sit in bed and watch them from afar because our room faced that way. And frankly, the enjoyment of just going downstairs and INTO Flying Fish (our favorite restaurant on property) vs. driving or bussing and the whole "start for dinner 2 hours before you're dining" thing of leaving a park for another to dine somewhere, etc. etc. etc..... we're just at the "Been-there/Done-that and no thanks anymore" stage of life. SO....I think it is, again, about what you've done before--if this is a first trip, the All-Stars are "part of the magic" indeed---and if this is a trip with kids there are obvious advantages. But if you've traveled and found that you just plain LIKE the nicer places and would rather, for example, save up a few months or even a year longer to go "first class" vs. just going to go, well, we're in the "save and make it what you like" stage of things. Your mileage may vary, but that's our view.
Loved this episode! We can afford moderates, but staying at POP reminds me of countless vacations when my daughter was tiny, spelling out P-O-P as we approached the hotel. Vacations when my parents were younger and able to get around better. Nostalgia is KEY in getting guests to return time snd again. POP will always be our vacation "home" for sure.
We've stayed at all levels of Disney resorts. When we had young children, we loved staying at the All-Star Resorts primarily because we didn't have much money and the kids loved the theming (as did my wife and I)! I appreciate you showing these resorts in a favorable light.
Coming from outside the US it makes sense to me to stay at a value resort. That way we can compensate and stay longer at Disney and also drive to Miami for a couple days. I've stayed at Pop Century and LOVE it. I'm going back in February and I'm thinking about staying at All Star Movies
We just got back from WDW a 7 night stay! We stayed at the All stars Music Suites. We have three kids, 14. 12 and 9! We love the fact kids had their own bed, no sharing! 2 bathrooms. The kids loved the food court and the pools. We went back every afternoon to swim! We were in calypso building, and was close to food court and pool! It was so quite at night! The food court was busy, but they were efficient! I stayed at the All stars back in 1997 and had the same smell, it just brings back good memories. We are going back to WDW in 2019 and my kids only want to stay at the All stars!
My 1st stay at WDW was at an all star resort, I have since done another property but the the thing to keep in mind is even if the all stars are the worst they are still head and shoulders above your average place to take a vacation. ie Disney's worst is better than a lot of places best
about 11:00-I would actually contradict that and say that theming-wise the only resorts that wouldn’t make sense outside of Disney and based on reading about them could feel like true Disney resorts just due to the colors and theming are: The All Stars, Pop Century, Art of Animation, Carribean Beach, Yacht and Beach Club, and the Contemporary.
For some people (not all) it's whatever stage of life you're at. When we went to Disney with 5 kids the value resorts we're great, no complaints. Now that it's just 2 of us I enjoy staying at one of the upper end resorts, that's how it worked out for us.
We stay at All Star resorts because it’s just a place to sleep and shower. It’s the most affordable on property and I’m not picky about all of that as I’m not in the room much.
Pete did say in a previous vlog that he doesn't do value resorts. I believe a statement like that can be viewed as a snobbery remark by the viewers and can be taken the wrong way. That just Pete's personality. He is known for his banter and quick wit comments. I wouldn't take his views so personal.
All star movies is really not bad. Like most, we stayed at the parks for most of the day, but decent room for the price, food wasn't horrible, but it's decent.
I'm a former travel agent so I have stayed at all 3 types of resorts. But when I am footing the bill..i pick the All Stars everytime. We are honeymooning there in October. My husband and I do well so people have asked us why we are staying at the cheapest hotel. For one thing we do well, but were not Bill Gates so we still have a honeymoon budget. Were getting married in Hilton Head Island and staying at the Disney resort there..which isn't cheap. And were spending 2 days in a really nice hotel on I Drive. So we have 3 days of extra nice. But when it comes to Disney..its a place to change our clothes and rest our head. I'm not going to Disney to stay in a room. We are foodies and we like to eat. So we opted for the deluxe dining plan. We want to take time out of our day, relax, enjoy a nice meal, and talk. We have 3 signature restaurants and several character meals. That is more important to us. And I wanted the memory makers package. And we have tickets to MNSSHP on Halloween night..which wasn't cheap. We also wanted plenty of shopping dollars. I get the same perks as everyone else. Plus we get what we want out of our vacation. The other resorts are know for their beauty. But I can go visit them, take pictures, and admire their beauty as a guest.
I’m so glad this video was made! I’m staying very soon at an all star resort & was starting to regret my decision to stay after hearing some of the negative reviews. I’m so relieved and can’t wait for my vacation!! Love you all - thanks for the great content, and honest opinions!
We have stayed at All Star Movies twice, had a great time both trips. We have stayed at all levels of resorts at WDW and would stay at All Stars again and again.
I had a split stay, my two nights were separate reservations, but were supposed to be linked. I did not stay in my room at ASMusic the first night. My family was still here, I stayed in our Saratoga room. I reserved ASMusic for a RunDisney event. It was an evening event and I didn't know if I needed a room earlier to get changed, etc. The night that I didn't stay, I dropped off all of my race items: my bib, my bag, etc. I did not want to forget to pack it. Since the two nights were not linked, mousekeeping tossed my bib, etc. I found this out at 3 PM, 3 hours before I had to be on the bus to get to the starting line. I called the front desk and they could not do more to solve this problem. They called everyone that they could and made sure that I was able to participate. I'm surprised the manager understood what I was saying because I was crying & choking. I paid extra to change my plane ticket, add two nights and participate in the race. The next morning, there was no hot water. Apparently the boiler went in 2-3 buildings. The same manager, Chris, that helped from the night before, found a room with hot water in a completely other building (they offered, I did not ask). I was able to shower and go back to my room. He made me leave my luggage and had bell services take it and store it. He provided taxi vouchers for the parks that day and a voucher back to the airport since he felt I had so much time wasted. I asked for none of this, as a veteran traveler to WDW. It is the best customer service I have ever experienced. I actually had another short stay here a few months later, Chris was in the lobby when I go off the Magical Express and greeted me warmly and by name. Honestly, I did not ask or expect all the extra kind things he did. I own at several DVC resorts, but in a pinch I choose ASMusic, Movies or Pop. I do like the music at the pools and the quiet pools are pretty quiet. The rooms are clean and cast members are friendly. I will say this. I had 2 stays at Boardwalk. They have serious plumbing issues-the plumber confirmed this. My second stay had the nastiest cast members I have ever experienced between WDW & DL. That includes the Hotel Manager. The one with the french title that I cannot spell, much less pronounce. But the head guy that was running BW, BC & YC in 2013. I will NEVER stay there again.
When you have to save for years just to go, and all Star is all you can afford, it’s just magical. We honeymooned at the ASMusic, so for us, it was just a room after doing the parks all day. I do prefer the perks of the deluxe resorts, but if it was the difference between Disney or not, I would do all stars I an instant.
We stayed at All Star Sports last week - we didn’t originally choose that resort, but they offered free dining so we switched. It was awesome- I have 2 girls 6 and 9 - it was their first trip to Disney- they absolutely loved it. We loved how it was so so geared toward children. I stayed at ASM while on a band trip in high school and it was fun too. Overall it was a wonderful experience and we are going to book another trip soon!
We have small kids. Small kids who are easily bored at a lot of the moderate and deluxe resorts when my husband and I attempt to enjoy resort amenities, the only except being Ft. Wilderness for some reason. We very much dislike using the buses and drive to each park and pay for preferred parking so that eliminates using the overcrowded All-Star bus. We use the extra cash we save by staying at the All-Stars for other experiences in the park. We are considering a stay at the Animal Kingdon Lodge next trip to see if there's enough excitement to hold their attention there.
Staying at all stars movies in June 2018. And I like how he mentioned how a family saves up cause that's my family. We have been saving for three years since my daughter's make a wish trip. And we can't wait to stay at all stars.
I absolutely love to stay at All Star Music. My mom fell and hurt her knee just before our trip in May 2015. She didn't tell me until we arrived at the hotel. The room that we were supposed to have was all the way in the back of the resort. They called and were able to move us into one of the suites on the ground floor and super close to the main building. I have stayed at more expensive hotels and never have had the excellent service that I have received at Music.
I love the values depending on what I’m doing. Sometimes I go to a deluxe resort and don’t even go to parks, but when I’m spending time in parks I love the All Stars! My upcoming trip is only $840 pp. Thats for 5 nights, 4 hoppers, and QS plan. I also like the QS because I don’t have to run around for reservations. So it all depends what I’m doing in a particular trip. And I prefer Sports because I like the pool with a boardwalk and I stay in the back where it’s quiet.
What I never understood about the high end resorts: if you're at Disney World, why would you NOT spend every possible moment at the parks? And if all you're doing is theme parking and sleeping, why would you shell out the big bucks for what is essentially a bed and bathroom? Then again, I also never understood why anyone would take a kid to Disney that isn't old enough to remember the experience. Also worth noting, I stayed off-property in Kissimmee (about a 10 minute drive away) last time I went, and I landed a NICE 3 bedroom condo for seven nights for only $250. (That's total. Not per night.) You can Uber in for less than the price of parking.
Because it is Walt Disney World is NOT just parks. We love the parks but we also love swimming at the resort and checking out all the resorts etc. We've stayed longer and slowed down and we enjoy our vacations much more than parks every single day all day.. sun up to sun down. We come and go for 9 or 10 days. We joined DVC just for that reason. I am also one of those parents that took they kids young.. multiple times. They may not remember those experiences completely, but I do and those are my favorite Disney memories.
I have spent the money at the beach club just for the pool with my nice and nephew they loved it playing in the sand and swimming the enjoyment they got out of it was well worth the money .
I’m tired of everyone knocking the all star resorts. There’s nothing wrong with them. They are there for people to be able to enjoy WDW even on a budget. We are DVC members now but we stayed at all stars for years and have still gone back because we miss it. I love them. The only value resort we’ve been disappointed with (twice) is pop century. BUT it’s been a couple years and now they are refurbishing the rooms so we will try again.
My family and I are going to stay at the All-Star Music in May-June 2018. My family chose this hotel due to the cost of hotel. As a Public School Teacher, our budget is limited and stretched. It helps us to be able to stay at these hotels. We looked at the Port Orleans hotel previous, but decided we could use the difference in price as money in the park. Thanks guys for everything you post and produce in helping us plan our trip.
My family and I recently stayed at the All Stars Music for 2 days and it was fine. The one night we went for dinner there though it was insane (luckily I wanted grilled salmon and my mother wanted grilled chicken so the line was short, but my father wanted a burger the lines were insane for that and pizza), but honestly we liked it. We were super nervous because of all the negative stuff we've heard about it but the service, the rooms (least were we stayed), food (least what I had) were all great.
To defend our friends at Dis Unplugged, they never gloss over the facts. They tell it like it is, and there are reasons some resorts are "Value" and others are "Deluxe." They aren't going to give you a false impression of what you are going to see when you get there. While I may disagree with their preferences on some things, as we all have our own preferences, they are the absolute best at painting a picture of what Disney truly is. Use this info. as part of your research for your visit. You won't find any better.
Before we were Fl residents, we never stayed at Value resorts. I admit I used to be a resort "snob" with moderate being my usual but Wilderness Lodge being my preferred hotel for our visits about every 18 months. Now that we are Fl residents and it is only a two hour drive, if we stay, we usually stay at ASSp. We can get great rates - usually under 100 per night - and we can visit several times a year. Our stay in late Jan was 76 per night vs 180 at a moderate. We haven't had any complaints. The buses have not been bad although the bus stops tend to be the farthest away when leaving a park. The rooms are clean and we haven't had any complaints although we spend very little time in room, basically to sleep only. On the rare occasion we eat at the food court, we have had no complaints. It really isn't as bad as people make you think it will be!
My family are DVC members and going to Disney so often means I’ve stayed at almost every hotel. (Grand Floridian, French Quarter, and Fort Wilderness [If you can call that a hotel] are the only hotels I haven’t visited) But All Stars and Pop Century have this weird thing that almost makes it feel like a non-Disney hotel but it is. I love that feel. I’m just so used to a bigger room I don’t think I could ever go back.
When we were living in the UK we used All Stars as it allowed us to stay on WDW property and loved it. It was very expensive to go, but worth it. Until it came to our honeymoon in 2004! That particular holiday we were treated like crap. I was in tears because I was looking so forward to it. I had just finished uni, about to start life as an elementary teacher, and the honeymoon took place a year and half after the wedding. This was exciting getting to go back. But I have never met cast members like this. There was literally no customer service at all from any cast member, it was an effort for any of them to even look at us when 'helping' check-in, serve food, answer questions. It was just terrible. I had never experienced that before at All Stars. So that was the last we stayed there. Our very last holiday in 2006 ever, we moved up to C. Beach and that was outstanding. I'm glad other people are having a wonderful time at All Stars. It's wonderful to hear.
I stayed in the all star music resort in the rock and roll building In April 2016 for a Rhode Island city music trip. And it was great I have no complaints on when I was there. The cast members in the gift shop were super nice the cooks were nice, the front by desk people were nice. They loved interacting with us. The only issue was the buses but it was only on the way back from Hollywood studios. What happened was we waited for a bus to come back to pick us up. Half the group was on the first bus. We waited about 45-55 min for them to came back. But we got back around 1045 and they let us get food at the cafeteria and it was still hot. We had down time between parks and the whole group had no issues. I guess we were just lucky.
Hey guys, My name is Deanna and I have stayed at all 3 all-star resorts. Maybe it's because I've never stayed at a Deluxe Resort, but I love the all star resorts. In August, my fiance and I stayed at the All-Star Sports for a week. One thing I love about the resorts is the concierge and dining staff. My fiance and I showed up at the resort at 8 am, so we were super early and tired from driving 10 hours. The staff were very understanding and helpful with getting us our room early, so we could relax. The pools have improved very well. We stayed by the baseball pool and I love the fact that now there are 2 lifeguards for that one pool. The pool was very clean and the water felt amazing to relax in. Every day that we came back to the resort to take a nap in the middle of a park day, our room was already clean. I love the staff, the price, and we have never had a problem with children at the resort.
Crazy timing! We're leaving tomorrow morning for Disney and before our week at Saratoga Springs we will be staying at an all star for the first time (Movies) during our first night. Glad to hear all the positives beforehand as I was low key nervous about it, lol
We have stayed at All Star Movies twice and really enjoyed it. No complaints at all. We have also stayed at moderate, deluxe, and DVC resorts at WDW. Never had a bad trip.
I just had a west of the Rockies Disneyland trip last week. I stayed at the Park Vue Inn for $150 a night. The rooms were clean and the amenities worked, it was fine. There was a 24 hour Denny's and IHOP on either side of it. The Harbor Blvd crosswalk to Disney property was right in front of the hotel and was only a five minute walk to the Harbor side security checkpoint. This sounds like a better experience than what most people describe for All Stars in WDW. The only downside is the Harbor sidewalk is on Anaheim property so there are panhandlers there sometimes. But the police is also there so they aren't aggressive. Still they are something you won't see on a Disney property hotel.
We went to Disneyland for the first time in October, staying in the Disneyland Hotel ($$$$$) We have been to Walt Disney World dozens of times and stayed in All Star Movies twice, as well as most of the other resorts at every level. We had great experiences at All Star Movies. It's adorable. Our room was clean and the food court was fine. Of course you can't walk right into the parks at WDW so you can't compare that to Disneyland. There are pros and cons to both properties but we had no complaints at All Stars and LOVE staying in a Disney resort.
All Star is great good pricing foods ok location and you can use any of the pools tru out the 3 locations. Plus you can visit any of the disney hotels with no problems and eat there if u like
I wish the all stars resorts had queen size beds. That is what keeps us from staying there. One of us would have to share a bed with the kiddo instead of her having her own bed.
The problem is that they are just unfairly compared to more premium resorts on Disney property. For double the price, my room BETTER be nicer. I don't think the moderates offer that value though, and nor do the deluxe resorts. Especially when I'm on Disney property I may only be spending my sleep hours in the room.
You can’t toss a football or kick a soccer ball at the Grand Floridian. At All Star Sports you can run, play and throw footballs, soccer balls an baseballs.
Pete does the All Stars, I can't wait!! We used to stay at moderate the last few times we stayed a value resort to save money. Pete is right in the matter, we stayed at All-star Sports so we could stay 10 days instead of 5-6 at moderate or deluxe.
thanks for this vlog Pete. I have been trying for years to find the right time to do the 'big' trip at a more expensive hotel and after facing daily life getting in the way so often, I was finally ready to embrace the value resorts. My biggest concern was that it's so big of a place that I wouldn't easily get around. The trade off is that I will get to shop more freely and stay longer (thereby getting a more leasurely pace). When you go the the allstar resort, can you please focus on what difficulties an older person might have getting around a large resort?
Every time I've gone to Disney I have either stayed at a Value or a Moderate. While I wish I could stay at a Moderate or even a Deluxe every time I visit the parks, it's just not possible financially. I find the All-Stars, in particular Music, are great financially, solid food court/pools, and the bus wait times are fairly reasonable. Also, if I decide to stay at an All-Star I usually free up some expenses which afford me the chance to spend an extra day at the parks, or book an additional dinner. Just booked Paradiso 37 and am excited to experience that. Interesting video, and I just found your channel, fantastic content!
The ALL STARS are at the bottom of every POLL because you technically ARE comparing them to the other Disney resorts, and they have the smallest rooms, least amenities, and are furthest from most of the parks. (Animal Kingdom being the exception). Of course they are going to be at the bottom of these polls. How about a POll asking which resort gives you the best Value for your dollar.... I would put All Star Music at the top of that list and it is one of my favorite resorts!
I've always stayed at the all Star resorts with my family. We love them. We don't spend much time at the resort, so they're perfect for what we need it for
We love the All Stars! We are DVC owners and love our trip on our points. After our points are used up we stay at All Stars or POP so we can come more than once or twice a year. We also stay the night before our DVC trip to save points. I cant wait to see the video of Pete staying at AllStar. (this isn't a negative comment) I just want to hear his review of a vacation experience at All Star.
Our first trip to Disney, when our daughter was 3, we stayed at All Star Movies. We had no experience with Disney and on the suggestion of our travel agent, we decided to save the extra money and stay at the more "kid-themed" resort. I'm not going to lie, our experience was great! No complaints whatsoever. Because our experience was so great, we decided to stay at the same resort on our next trip two years later - BIG MISTAKE. We were overrun with a cheerleader competition and the resort was bursting at the seams with screaming, running, cheering girls who were very unsupervised. We couldn't sleep at night from the constant running up and down the balconies, as well as, the constant CHEERING in the courtyards at all hours of the night. Seriously, cheering and stunting (practicing) at all hours in the courtyards. And don't even think about accessing any food from the food court-you couldn't even get inside it was always so packed. It was by far our worst experience at Disney. As the All Star Resorts are the standard booking resort by Disney for these such events, we vowed NEVER again to stay at an All Stars for this reason alone. 4 trips later, we have moved on up to the Polynesian and never looked back. No regrets. Best money spent.
I agree with the people who said it's just a place to stay. In previous trips, I'm up early, back to the hotel late, usually never even coming back for a 'mid-day break'. So it truly is just a place to sleep.
Worst stay in a hotel in my 46 years was at the All Star Movies. It was horrible. We almost bailed and went off property due to the buses and food court alone. I do however appreciate those who enjoyed their experience and am very glad Disney has this as an option for those with a tighter budget.
I like using the All Stars or Pop as a throwaway room just so we can take advantage of the 60 day Fast Pass+ window. I stay offsite in a 2 bedroom condo and this allows us to not have to pay for parking for a few days as well as get the 60 day fast pass window which allows us to get the harder to get fast passes (Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Flight of Passage)
If you book your room for the first day you want to go to the parks you can book your fast passes 60 days in advance. For instance I booked 1 night this past May and went to the park for 3 days. I was able to book my fast passes for all 3 days even though I only stayed there 1 night. As for parking on my final day I did have to pay the $20 but for the first two days we parked at the resort and used their bus transportation system.
I actually found the value resorts to be kind of expensive. I'm going end of February/early March. The All-Star Music (which I love), was around 145 a night. I ended up booking off-site.
Yes...stay at the All Stars and do a review! We have only stayed at Deluxe, but I'm very interested in hearing more reviews about the value and moderate resorts.
I love the ASMovie, the gigantic Mickey hats, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, are soo awesome, and it is so true you aren't there for the hotel, it is just a bed
My husband and I have now been to Disney together 3 times, going on 4th time in two weeks!! (YAY) We have stayed at Riverside 1 time (for our honeymoon) and the rest of the trips at different All Star resorts. Personally, we would rather be able to go to Disney 2x+ a year and stay at a less expensive hotel, then only make it 1x (maybe) a year and stay at a more expensive hotel. The trip, to us, is about the parks and the experiences outside of the hotel. They hotels are just an added bonus for us! We LOVE the All Star resorts, and the flexibilty it gives us. They hold a special place in our family's heart :)
I've been lucky enough to stay in resorts from each category and have my favorites in each, and my overall favorite. For the value resort I like Pop over All Stars mostly because I think Pop gets fewer of the school groups, and I find the resort to be brighter. Of the All Stars I like movies and music the best because those are the themes that interest me the most, I find music to be quieter than movies and I like Broadway section. I have never had a bad stay at any of the value resorts.
I am poor and I wanted to have as full an experience at WDW for my daughter. So Pop Century was the BEST of the Values at the time. It allowed us to have a full 10+ days without having to rush everyday. Also it allowed me to afford the dining plan. So we could do Hoop-Dee-Doo and other signature/table 2 credit dining and other special items and then shopping. She LOVED POP and wants to stay there if we ever go back, NOT the higher hotels. She also loved the Mickey waffles there. She has had others but does not like them as much.
My last trip in September 2017 was at all star sports. Yes, it's tacky, geared toward kids and families, and the bus back from mk at night is horrible but the over experience was not bad! They have good food options, and the rooms are nice for the price. Just think,you could be staying off property for a bit less but with none of the benefits, like free transport,extra hours at theparks, and dining plans.
My first time going in Sept. Family of 5. Myself and husband and three little ones. I am so afraid to stay at a Value Resort in Florida because I have read reviews of people complaining about bugs amd roaches. And such that Disney is not to quick to accommodate because its the value booking. Dont know if its true. But now scared to gamble that experience. Although I could used the money it would save me.
Ohhh I am upset I missed this poll. When my boys were young, financially we could only visit Disney if we stayed at the All Stars. Just imagine how magical the HUGE sports items are in children's eyes! I let the boys run around and be loud children at the hotel, then when we are in the park I expected them to be much more controlled... this is a great video so far, 12 minutes in!!!
When we stayed at the all Star sports in 2015... They picked up the all star sports first so it wasn't as long of a wait and usually enough guest get off the bus to get a seat. I went last December and now each hotel had their own bus service unless its super late. We stayed at the movies and it was always packed on the bus. Oddly enough the music resort was never crowded and we hopped on that bus. We planned to walk but when we got to music the now full bus now only had 2 people get off so the bus driver took us to movies. Happened a couple of times. My 3,000 vacation would cost 10,0000 at the contemporary. No joke. I stayed in the deluxe of the vacation clubs. It was not worth 7000 more.
We have stayed at all three All Stars and at Pop Century. The one downside of All Star Sports is if you stay near the football field. People play football all night long in the warmer months, and scream and shout to each other throughout the night. If you're noise sensitive, ask to be away from that area and/or bring earplugs.
I have only stayed at All Star Movies. I love the themes there the giant Toy Story, Dalmatians, Fantasia Mickey. My son was in aw walking through the grounds. They have an amazing cupcake place, breakfast is good and movie theater in the lobby for kids to sit while you check in or wait for busses. The down sides are the kids pool is by the laundry room and the if it's been raining it smells like dirty shoes.
I think what has some people conflicted is by saying the value resorts are the worst at Disney World doesn't mean they are horrible resorts. I have stayed at All Star Sports and Music, Pop and Contemporary. I have had good and bad in all. By the way, I too can't wait to see Pete's review of All Star (please let it be sports).
I usually stay at either the Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge or Beach Club, but I understand not everybody can. Some people save for years just to stay at the budget resorts. Yes, they can stand to be updated but overall if people like them that is fine. A good idea would be to close the Sports and overhaul and expand Music and Movies, including new pools etc and sections for non school groups etc
I only stay at the All Stars because its the only ''semi affordable'' WDW hotel. Even they are extremely expensive! I have no other option than off property hotels or Cabana Bay
I want to add for me it’s the Quality any amenities in the room that makes a difference such as the beds and towels. Their is a huge difference form sleeping on a Deluxe verses value . I’m not knocking it but I personally prefer a the beds at the deluxe resort vs the value . Plus I would add to each his own. At the beginning or end of your stay all that matters is that you had a magical experience and that is all that matters guys
My girlfriend and I are staying for the first time at an All Star. Disney is getting so expensive right now and the only way we can afford to go is stay at an All Star. We have been under the impression that it’s a rowdy and meh hotel. I’m so glad that I watched this video. Definitely changed my mind! I am excited to go and stay!
Growing up I never stayed in "nice" hotels. We were lucky if we got to stay in a motel, most of the time we were at camp-sites, and I'm not talking an RV here, a real tent campsite. Now that I'm an adult and in control of my own financial situation I have had the opportunity to stay at nice hotels and resorts. Even so I still would choose a value resort most of the time because it lets me afford a longer Disney vacation, or eating at better restaurants etc. Next week we're staying at Art of Animation and that's a "splurge" for us normally I would stay at Pop. But for a vacation where I'm wanting to bring my siblings along we will be looking at the All Stars.
My wife and I LOVE staying at Pop Century. In the video you guys mention that Pop Century doesn't really use the Disney intellectual properties, did you all forget about the giant Lady, Tramp, Mowgli, Baloo, Roger Rabbit, Mickey Phone, among other things around the resort.
I like that Steve made a point of reminding everyone that some folks have to save for a very long time just to go to Disney, and so the All Stars are really magical for them. When you have such easy access to Disney World it's easy to get jaded and lose perspective on just how expensive it is for the average family. I'm a DVC member and it's still a struggle sometimes to pay for everything else that is involved with a trip to Disney.
I agree, maintanance and dues can really hit you, especially if you're still paying a mortgage.
The All Star guests are the most happy to be there guests that Disney has.
No kidding.
Exactly!
Have you tried Fort Wilderness? Different and has a very nice happy community vibe.
Jeffrey Root I've been staying my way around the world and so far Riverside is my fave... I haven't stayed at Wilderness, Animal Kingdom or any of the monorail loop resorts but they're coming up. I can't decide which one should be the grand finale. I was always aiming for Grand Floridian but I'm leaning toward Polynesian now. Pop is my favorite budget on property.
Jeffrey Root Especially during the Holidays! It's a tradition for my family to spend five days in the cabins at Fort Wilderness and we rent a golf cart and drive around every night. The people we see are some of the nicest people on property
There's something about the tackiness of the All Stars that make a Disney vacation feel very unique. It reminds me quite a bit of the World of Disney store, where you're completely bombarded with classic characters and there's always something to look at.
I always stay at all stars, im a AP from Maryland and it allows me to go on trips 3-5x a year. It just feels like home to me! Im single so i work super hard to save for my trips and always get deals between $80-100 a night!! Its so perfect for me and my needs. No complaints at all about the resort, pools or food court. I only eat breakfast or grab a snack from food court since i am always in the parks. Ill be at music next week actually!
For me it is the difference in the number of nights. I can stay more nights at the value resorts then I can at the luxury resorts. I tell my kids all the time, which would you rather do, 4 nights at Poly or 8 nights at Pop? They always say 8 nights at Pop.
As for the busses, here's my experience. We stayed at a moderate for the first time in August. I don't recall which one, the experience wss so meh. We were told bus waits were 15-20 minutes, cool. We had reservations at a character dining experience - went to the bus an hour and a half early. We waited... and waited. The time kept changing. At 30 minutes I called transportation. At 45 I called the front desk. At an hour I wss trying to hold back tears so as not to stress my kids out. It came at an hour and 5 minutes. We had to RUN across animal Kingdom. We were late. We had to wait a half hour for them to work us in. I complained at the hotel and they NOW said that giving 1 to 2 hours for bus time was standard. They gave us nothing. I vowed to never stay at a moderate again.
At the All Stars the LONGEST wait I've ever had was 20 minutes. I'll take that any day.
Alex Andrews damn. Which moderate was that? That is very troubling but luckily you were able to get in!
I’ve stayed at Caribbean Beach a couple times and you wait forever for buses there. And last time I actually did the Pop Century for the first time and the buses were a lot better and we got put in one of their refurbished rooms which was an added plus. So I would recommend that if your looking for something cheap.
I have repeatedly had the exact same experience with bus service at Moderate vs. Value resorts. Busses are frequent & wait times no more than 20mins l@ Music, Sports, and Pop Century although the first two resorts run on a loop & travel time is longer. The bus wait times @ Caribbean & Port Orleans Riverside are atrocious& are regularly at least 45 mins apart- and over an hour before park opening.
I'm so pumped waiting for the Pete vlog at All Stars lol
StripofPaper He should order pizza to his room, too. I remember on a past show they talked about how awful the pizza delivery was/is.
In the 7 in 7 they just did, he actually loved all-star movies and said he would stay there
I personally would rather go more often and stay at a value/All star resort than go less and stay moderate.
Steve must be the biggest sweetheart. In all the video's he gets families, kids tantrum, saving for vacation ECT.
Agreed!
Because you go to Disney for the parks magic and family enjoyment, not for a slightly better view from a temporary dwelling
We stopped using our DVC points because we prefer to stay at All Stars and Pop. We love the gaudy theming, especially for picture-taking. Also, we have never had long waits for buses. The worst waits we had were when we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge. The two times we needed a bus fast, the All Stars gave us a free taxi voucher to use instead. We have had nothing but great luck!
The first time I went to Disney, I stayed at All-Star movies and was fine, I recently went last August and stayed at All-Star Music and loved it! I'm a music person and loved the small details around the resort. It's extremely affordable and a great place to stay if you aren't staying for just the resort. I will say that I noticed that the rooms were slightly dated but other than that, I had a pleasant stay and my little sister simply loved it! She was in a place that she could only dream of going and only cared that a character called her to wake her up each morning. While I do enjoy a "fancy" stay every now and again, when I'm thinking Disney, that's all the fancy I need.
My wife and I stood at the All-Star Music resort in July of last year! (Our 1 year Wedding anniversary trip) It was pretty awesome! Great price! Kind of took the edge off of the park prices! We did 4 nights, 3 days. Almost a year later and We're both still having WDW withdraws! lol!
I wish I would've saw the post on sending in why we love the All Star Resorts!! I've stayed at the all star resorts since I started going to disney, I stayed at the Caribbean beach (which we all know is awful) once and since, i've always stayed at the all starts. I'm at a place now where I could stay at a nicer resort, but i still choose the allstars/animation because, it gives more of the disney feel to me. not because of nostalgia or anything, just because, i LOVE the themeing, i LOVE the loudness and all the kids running around. Thats what a disney vacation is to me. staying at a fancy resort where you feel the need to be fancy and quiet in the lobby, and not having heavy themeing, doesnt seem like a disney vacation to me. I'm so glad you guys did this video because it always made me sad seeing that the allstar resorts always got last place. I will say, the allstar music, seems to have the most busses, and the allstar movies, seems to have the least busses. But i love those resorts and you cant beat the prices!
Trip planning is so important. The all stars can play a key role in allowing other possible upgrades. Staying at the Value resorts and using the savings to extend the stay or to eat at nicer restaurants is something to consider. Also, weighing how much time will be spent at the resort vs. time in the parks must be considered, and the types of amenities you expect at the resort. With the proper planning you will be able to decide which resort is right for you.
"Because I'm broke af, my dudes."
But seriously; my family just wanted to save some cash. We weren't poor, but we weren't rich. We just wanted a decent room with a bed to sleep in after a long day at the parks. I understand and totally appreciate the idea of theming and aesthetic but sometimes, it's just easier and more affordable to choose All Stats/value resorts. My family has then moved onto Pop Century as our regular spot, but we treated ourselves last time and stayed at Port Orleans and loved it, as a family from New Orleans.
C Babs. Thing is, you can rent DVC villas for cheaper than Pop/Art of Animation. Let's assume you want 2 queen beds, which would limit your stay to Old Key West. Assuming 8 nights in September, it comes out cheaper than Pop or Art, and about the same as 2 of the 3 all stars. Even then, it is less than 15% more than the cheapest All star. I think there are ways to save money without compromising comfort of quality
At deluxe resorts, mind you.
Finally!!! Thanks for showing the All Stars some love...
Fantastic. I love that this episode was sparked from a previous episode....
Here's my take on Disney vacations: The point has been made numerous times that not everyone can afford to stay at a Moderate or Deluxe resort, especially with rates and ticket prices continuing to increase year to year, but whether you're staying at the Grand Floridian or Pop Century, you should be like Cory and just be happy to be there.
Pop Century is Disney themed, with Lady and the Tramp, Baloo and Mowgli, Mickey with the phone, Goofy with the surfboard, and Roger Rabbit. I love all the values, for all the reasons everyone else does! Great segment, thanks!
Thanks for this!! For me and my family that will be going Easter weekend this year the difference or rather the benefit in staying at the value resort is being able to afford a dining plan and with that being able to do character dining and saving myself and my husband and especially my three children,
the frustration of waiting for those characters outside in the heat of the day! Can’t wait for our trip. Love your videos!
This was a fun episode! I can't wait to get back to an All Star.
I am an out of state passholder. Staying at all stars allows us to make use of our passes several times a year for instead of only being able to come once a year. Also the passholder discounts on rooms makes them usually cheaper than anything offsite.
But can't you get the amenities from the moderates and deluxe even when at the values? You can still go to the restaurants and the shops and take part in the activities of all the resorts. Even without staying there. I don't know if you can reserve a spa day at the spa resorts, though I assume so. The only thing I would assume you couldn't go to would be the pool.
I seriously think this is about two things, and basically neither of them have to do with price per se (although of course that's a factor--no doubt) This is about (a) age of guest and (b) experience of guest with travel in general and Disney in particular. My wife and I are in our early 60's. We've been around. Once upon a time we stayed at All-Star and had a perfectly fine time, saved money (we were at WDW for only 3 days between other travel appointments) and found the service adequate and good for the money (though frankly, a nice motel chain--we love Hampton Inns--is much more room and service for the money for a $120-140/night room) AND we had the "Its a bed---we don't spend time at the hotel when we're in the parks which is why we're there" point of view to be sure. We did find the bus waits long enough to use our rental car instead in most cases. That was then.
BUT....our most recent WDW trip (and we've stayed at the Grand Floridian, Contemporary, (both of those both "regular" and "Concierge" rooms) the Poly, the Wilderness Lodge, The Swan, the Dolphin, the Wyndham, the Hilton, the Hyatt Regency and other hotels in the area on- and off-property) we were at the Boardwalk, and y'know what? Maybe we're old farts, but we LOVE the creature comforts of nicer linens, nicer on-site food, and that "we are there for the parks" factor? Guess what--on our first night when we PLANNED to go into EPCOT to watch the fireworks? We found that we were (a) tired from travel/jet-lag, but mostly (b) LOVED that we could just sit in bed and watch them from afar because our room faced that way. And frankly, the enjoyment of just going downstairs and INTO Flying Fish (our favorite restaurant on property) vs. driving or bussing and the whole "start for dinner 2 hours before you're dining" thing of leaving a park for another to dine somewhere, etc. etc. etc..... we're just at the "Been-there/Done-that and no thanks anymore" stage of life.
SO....I think it is, again, about what you've done before--if this is a first trip, the All-Stars are "part of the magic" indeed---and if this is a trip with kids there are obvious advantages. But if you've traveled and found that you just plain LIKE the nicer places and would rather, for example, save up a few months or even a year longer to go "first class" vs. just going to go, well, we're in the "save and make it what you like" stage of things. Your mileage may vary, but that's our view.
Loved this episode! We can afford moderates, but staying at POP reminds me of countless vacations when my daughter was tiny, spelling out P-O-P as we approached the hotel. Vacations when my parents were younger and able to get around better. Nostalgia is KEY in getting guests to return time snd again. POP will always be our vacation "home" for sure.
We've stayed at all levels of Disney resorts. When we had young children, we loved staying at the All-Star Resorts primarily because we didn't have much money and the kids loved the theming (as did my wife and I)! I appreciate you showing these resorts in a favorable light.
Coming from outside the US it makes sense to me to stay at a value resort. That way we can compensate and stay longer at Disney and also drive to Miami for a couple days. I've stayed at Pop Century and LOVE it. I'm going back in February and I'm thinking about staying at All Star Movies
We just got back from WDW a 7 night stay! We stayed at the All stars Music Suites. We have three kids, 14. 12 and 9! We love the fact kids had their own bed, no sharing! 2 bathrooms. The kids loved the food court and the pools. We went back every afternoon to swim! We were in calypso building, and was close to food court and pool! It was so quite at night! The food court was busy, but they were efficient! I stayed at the All stars back in 1997 and had the same smell, it just brings back good memories. We are going back to WDW in 2019 and my kids only want to stay at the All stars!
My 1st stay at WDW was at an all star resort, I have since done another property but the the thing to keep in mind is even if the all stars are the worst they are still head and shoulders above your average place to take a vacation. ie Disney's worst is better than a lot of places best
about 11:00-I would actually contradict that and say that theming-wise the only resorts that wouldn’t make sense outside of Disney and based on reading about them could feel like true Disney resorts just due to the colors and theming are: The All Stars, Pop Century, Art of Animation, Carribean Beach, Yacht and Beach Club, and the Contemporary.
For some people (not all) it's whatever stage of life you're at. When we went to Disney with 5 kids the value resorts we're great, no complaints. Now that it's just 2 of us I enjoy staying at one of the upper end resorts, that's how it worked out for us.
We stay at All Star resorts because it’s just a place to sleep and shower. It’s the most affordable on property and I’m not picky about all of that as I’m not in the room much.
Pete did say in a previous vlog that he doesn't do value resorts. I believe a statement like that can be viewed as a snobbery remark by the viewers and can be taken the wrong way. That just Pete's personality. He is known for his banter and quick wit comments. I wouldn't take his views so personal.
All star movies is really not bad. Like most, we stayed at the parks for most of the day, but decent room for the price, food wasn't horrible, but it's decent.
I'm a former travel agent so I have stayed at all 3 types of resorts. But when I am footing the bill..i pick the All Stars everytime.
We are honeymooning there in October. My husband and I do well so people have asked us why we are staying at the cheapest hotel. For one thing we do well, but were not Bill Gates so we still have a honeymoon budget.
Were getting married in Hilton Head Island and staying at the Disney resort there..which isn't cheap. And were spending 2 days in a really nice hotel on I Drive. So we have 3 days of extra nice.
But when it comes to Disney..its a place to change our clothes and rest our head. I'm not going to Disney to stay in a room. We are foodies and we like to eat. So we opted for the deluxe dining plan. We want to take time out of our day, relax, enjoy a nice meal, and talk. We have 3 signature restaurants and several character meals. That is more important to us. And I wanted the memory makers package. And we have tickets to MNSSHP on Halloween night..which wasn't cheap. We also wanted plenty of shopping dollars.
I get the same perks as everyone else. Plus we get what we want out of our vacation. The other resorts are know for their beauty. But I can go visit them, take pictures, and admire their beauty as a guest.
I’m so glad this video was made! I’m staying very soon at an all star resort & was starting to regret my decision to stay after hearing some of the negative reviews. I’m so relieved and can’t wait for my vacation!! Love you all - thanks for the great content, and honest opinions!
We have stayed at All Star Movies twice, had a great time both trips. We have stayed at all levels of resorts at WDW and would stay at All Stars again and again.
Would you ever consider giving a behind the scenes tour of your studio and house?
Hey now your an All Star get your game on go Play hey now your a rockstar get the show on get paid and all that glitters is gold
Mariann YT SOOMEBAADY ONCE TOLD ME...
Only shooting stars break the mold!
I had a split stay, my two nights were separate reservations, but were supposed to be linked. I did not stay in my room at ASMusic the first night. My family was still here, I stayed in our Saratoga room. I reserved ASMusic for a RunDisney event. It was an evening event and I didn't know if I needed a room earlier to get changed, etc. The night that I didn't stay, I dropped off all of my race items: my bib, my bag, etc. I did not want to forget to pack it. Since the two nights were not linked, mousekeeping tossed my bib, etc. I found this out at 3 PM, 3 hours before I had to be on the bus to get to the starting line. I called the front desk and they could not do more to solve this problem. They called everyone that they could and made sure that I was able to participate. I'm surprised the manager understood what I was saying because I was crying & choking. I paid extra to change my plane ticket, add two nights and participate in the race.
The next morning, there was no hot water. Apparently the boiler went in 2-3 buildings. The same manager, Chris, that helped from the night before, found a room with hot water in a completely other building (they offered, I did not ask). I was able to shower and go back to my room. He made me leave my luggage and had bell services take it and store it. He provided taxi vouchers for the parks that day and a voucher back to the airport since he felt I had so much time wasted. I asked for none of this, as a veteran traveler to WDW. It is the best customer service I have ever experienced. I actually had another short stay here a few months later, Chris was in the lobby when I go off the Magical Express and greeted me warmly and by name. Honestly, I did not ask or expect all the extra kind things he did.
I own at several DVC resorts, but in a pinch I choose ASMusic, Movies or Pop. I do like the music at the pools and the quiet pools are pretty quiet. The rooms are clean and cast members are friendly.
I will say this. I had 2 stays at Boardwalk. They have serious plumbing issues-the plumber confirmed this. My second stay had the nastiest cast members I have ever experienced between WDW & DL. That includes the Hotel Manager. The one with the french title that I cannot spell, much less pronounce. But the head guy that was running BW, BC & YC in 2013. I will NEVER stay there again.
The value of the All Stars are much better with the recent renovations.
When you have to save for years just to go, and all Star is all you can afford, it’s just magical. We honeymooned at the ASMusic, so for us, it was just a room after doing the parks all day. I do prefer the perks of the deluxe resorts, but if it was the difference between Disney or not, I would do all stars I an instant.
We stayed at All Star Sports last week - we didn’t originally choose that resort, but they offered free dining so we switched. It was awesome- I have 2 girls 6 and 9 - it was their first trip to Disney- they absolutely loved it. We loved how it was so so geared toward children. I stayed at ASM while on a band trip in high school and it was fun too. Overall it was a wonderful experience and we are going to book another trip soon!
We have small kids. Small kids who are easily bored at a lot of the moderate and deluxe resorts when my husband and I attempt to enjoy resort amenities, the only except being Ft. Wilderness for some reason. We very much dislike using the buses and drive to each park and pay for preferred parking so that eliminates using the overcrowded All-Star bus. We use the extra cash we save by staying at the All-Stars for other experiences in the park. We are considering a stay at the Animal Kingdon Lodge next trip to see if there's enough excitement to hold their attention there.
Staying at all stars movies in June 2018. And I like how he mentioned how a family saves up cause that's my family. We have been saving for three years since my daughter's make a wish trip. And we can't wait to stay at all stars.
Great video! Keep up the good work guys.
I absolutely love to stay at All Star Music. My mom fell and hurt her knee just before our trip in May 2015. She didn't tell me until we arrived at the hotel. The room that we were supposed to have was all the way in the back of the resort. They called and were able to move us into one of the suites on the ground floor and super close to the main building. I have stayed at more expensive hotels and never have had the excellent service that I have received at Music.
Glad I got notifications turned on! :D
I love the values depending on what I’m doing. Sometimes I go to a deluxe resort and don’t even go to parks, but when I’m spending time in parks I love the All Stars! My upcoming trip is only $840 pp. Thats for 5 nights, 4 hoppers, and QS plan. I also like the QS because I don’t have to run around for reservations. So it all depends what I’m doing in a particular trip. And I prefer Sports because I like the pool with a boardwalk and I stay in the back where it’s quiet.
What I never understood about the high end resorts: if you're at Disney World, why would you NOT spend every possible moment at the parks? And if all you're doing is theme parking and sleeping, why would you shell out the big bucks for what is essentially a bed and bathroom?
Then again, I also never understood why anyone would take a kid to Disney that isn't old enough to remember the experience.
Also worth noting, I stayed off-property in Kissimmee (about a 10 minute drive away) last time I went, and I landed a NICE 3 bedroom condo for seven nights for only $250. (That's total. Not per night.) You can Uber in for less than the price of parking.
Because it is Walt Disney World is NOT just parks. We love the parks but we also love swimming at the resort and checking out all the resorts etc. We've stayed longer and slowed down and we enjoy our vacations much more than parks every single day all day.. sun up to sun down. We come and go for 9 or 10 days. We joined DVC just for that reason.
I am also one of those parents that took they kids young.. multiple times. They may not remember those experiences completely, but I do and those are my favorite Disney memories.
I have spent the money at the beach club just for the pool with my nice and nephew they loved it playing in the sand and swimming the enjoyment they got out of it was well worth the money .
I’m tired of everyone knocking the all star resorts. There’s nothing wrong with them. They are there for people to be able to enjoy WDW even on a budget. We are DVC members now but we stayed at all stars for years and have still gone back because we miss it. I love them. The only value resort we’ve been disappointed with (twice) is pop century. BUT it’s been a couple years and now they are refurbishing the rooms so we will try again.
Disney Diva I don’t like Pop Century either. I prefer Movies. But just stayed at Art of Animation for the first time and it was #anamazingexperience
My family and I are going to stay at the All-Star Music in May-June 2018. My family chose this hotel due to the cost of hotel. As a Public School Teacher, our budget is limited and stretched. It helps us to be able to stay at these hotels. We looked at the Port Orleans hotel previous, but decided we could use the difference in price as money in the park. Thanks guys for everything you post and produce in helping us plan our trip.
My family and I recently stayed at the All Stars Music for 2 days and it was fine. The one night we went for dinner there though it was insane (luckily I wanted grilled salmon and my mother wanted grilled chicken so the line was short, but my father wanted a burger the lines were insane for that and pizza), but honestly we liked it. We were super nervous because of all the negative stuff we've heard about it but the service, the rooms (least were we stayed), food (least what I had) were all great.
To defend our friends at Dis Unplugged, they never gloss over the facts. They tell it like it is, and there are reasons some resorts are "Value" and others are "Deluxe." They aren't going to give you a false impression of what you are going to see when you get there. While I may disagree with their preferences on some things, as we all have our own preferences, they are the absolute best at painting a picture of what Disney truly is. Use this info. as part of your research for your visit. You won't find any better.
Before we were Fl residents, we never stayed at Value resorts. I admit I used to be a resort "snob" with moderate being my usual but Wilderness Lodge being my preferred hotel for our visits about every 18 months. Now that we are Fl residents and it is only a two hour drive, if we stay, we usually stay at ASSp. We can get great rates - usually under 100 per night - and we can visit several times a year. Our stay in late Jan was 76 per night vs 180 at a moderate. We haven't had any complaints. The buses have not been bad although the bus stops tend to be the farthest away when leaving a park. The rooms are clean and we haven't had any complaints although we spend very little time in room, basically to sleep only. On the rare occasion we eat at the food court, we have had no complaints. It really isn't as bad as people make you think it will be!
My family are DVC members and going to Disney so often means I’ve stayed at almost every hotel. (Grand Floridian, French Quarter, and Fort Wilderness [If you can call that a hotel] are the only hotels I haven’t visited) But All Stars and Pop Century have this weird thing that almost makes it feel like a non-Disney hotel but it is. I love that feel. I’m just so used to a bigger room I don’t think I could ever go back.
When we were living in the UK we used All Stars as it allowed us to stay on WDW property and loved it. It was very expensive to go, but worth it. Until it came to our honeymoon in 2004! That particular holiday we were treated like crap. I was in tears because I was looking so forward to it. I had just finished uni, about to start life as an elementary teacher, and the honeymoon took place a year and half after the wedding. This was exciting getting to go back. But I have never met cast members like this. There was literally no customer service at all from any cast member, it was an effort for any of them to even look at us when 'helping' check-in, serve food, answer questions. It was just terrible. I had never experienced that before at All Stars. So that was the last we stayed there. Our very last holiday in 2006 ever, we moved up to C. Beach and that was outstanding. I'm glad other people are having a wonderful time at All Stars. It's wonderful to hear.
I stayed in the all star music resort in the rock and roll building In April 2016 for a Rhode Island city music trip. And it was great I have no complaints on when I was there. The cast members in the gift shop were super nice the cooks were nice, the front by desk people were nice. They loved interacting with us. The only issue was the buses but it was only on the way back from Hollywood studios. What happened was we waited for a bus to come back to pick us up. Half the group was on the first bus. We waited about 45-55 min for them to came back. But we got back around 1045 and they let us get food at the cafeteria and it was still hot. We had down time between parks and the whole group had no issues. I guess we were just lucky.
If I seem to recall, Boardwalk's pool didnt get alot of love and it is a deluxe resort and it was just a little higher than the All Stars
Hey guys, My name is Deanna and I have stayed at all 3 all-star resorts. Maybe it's because I've never stayed at a Deluxe Resort, but I love the all star resorts. In August, my fiance and I stayed at the All-Star Sports for a week. One thing I love about the resorts is the concierge and dining staff. My fiance and I showed up at the resort at 8 am, so we were super early and tired from driving 10 hours. The staff were very understanding and helpful with getting us our room early, so we could relax. The pools have improved very well. We stayed by the baseball pool and I love the fact that now there are 2 lifeguards for that one pool. The pool was very clean and the water felt amazing to relax in. Every day that we came back to the resort to take a nap in the middle of a park day, our room was already clean. I love the staff, the price, and we have never had a problem with children at the resort.
Crazy timing! We're leaving tomorrow morning for Disney and before our week at Saratoga Springs we will be staying at an all star for the first time (Movies) during our first night. Glad to hear all the positives beforehand as I was low key nervous about it, lol
We have stayed at All Star Movies twice and really enjoyed it. No complaints at all. We have also stayed at moderate, deluxe, and DVC resorts at WDW. Never had a bad trip.
I just had a west of the Rockies Disneyland trip last week. I stayed at the Park Vue Inn for $150 a night. The rooms were clean and the amenities worked, it was fine. There was a 24 hour Denny's and IHOP on either side of it. The Harbor Blvd crosswalk to Disney property was right in front of the hotel and was only a five minute walk to the Harbor side security checkpoint. This sounds like a better experience than what most people describe for All Stars in WDW.
The only downside is the Harbor sidewalk is on Anaheim property so there are panhandlers there sometimes. But the police is also there so they aren't aggressive. Still they are something you won't see on a Disney property hotel.
We went to Disneyland for the first time in October, staying in the Disneyland Hotel ($$$$$) We have been to Walt Disney World dozens of times and stayed in All Star Movies twice, as well as most of the other resorts at every level. We had great experiences at All Star Movies. It's adorable. Our room was clean and the food court was fine. Of course you can't walk right into the parks at WDW so you can't compare that to Disneyland. There are pros and cons to both properties but we had no complaints at All Stars and LOVE staying in a Disney resort.
All Star is great good pricing foods ok location and you can use any of the pools tru out the 3 locations. Plus you can visit any of the disney hotels with no problems and eat there if u like
I wish the all stars resorts had queen size beds. That is what keeps us from staying there. One of us would have to share a bed with the kiddo instead of her having her own bed.
The problem is that they are just unfairly compared to more premium resorts on Disney property. For double the price, my room BETTER be nicer. I don't think the moderates offer that value though, and nor do the deluxe resorts. Especially when I'm on Disney property I may only be spending my sleep hours in the room.
You can’t toss a football or kick a soccer ball at the Grand Floridian. At All Star Sports you can run, play and throw footballs, soccer balls an baseballs.
Pete does the All Stars, I can't wait!! We used to stay at moderate the last few times we stayed a value resort to save money. Pete is right in the matter, we stayed at All-star Sports so we could stay 10 days instead of 5-6 at moderate or deluxe.
thanks for this vlog Pete. I have been trying for years to find the right time to do the 'big' trip at a more expensive hotel and after facing daily life getting in the way so often, I was finally ready to embrace the value resorts. My biggest concern was that it's so big of a place that I wouldn't easily get around. The trade off is that I will get to shop more freely and stay longer (thereby getting a more leasurely pace). When you go the the allstar resort, can you please focus on what difficulties an older person might have getting around a large resort?
Every time I've gone to Disney I have either stayed at a Value or a Moderate. While I wish I could stay at a Moderate or even a Deluxe every time I visit the parks, it's just not possible financially. I find the All-Stars, in particular Music, are great financially, solid food court/pools, and the bus wait times are fairly reasonable. Also, if I decide to stay at an All-Star I usually free up some expenses which afford me the chance to spend an extra day at the parks, or book an additional dinner. Just booked Paradiso 37 and am excited to experience that. Interesting video, and I just found your channel, fantastic content!
The ALL STARS are at the bottom of every POLL because you technically ARE comparing them to the other Disney resorts, and they have the smallest rooms, least amenities, and are furthest from most of the parks. (Animal Kingdom being the exception). Of course they are going to be at the bottom of these polls. How about a POll asking which resort gives you the best Value for your dollar.... I would put All Star Music at the top of that list and it is one of my favorite resorts!
I've always stayed at the all Star resorts with my family. We love them. We don't spend much time at the resort, so they're perfect for what we need it for
Definitely never had to wait more than half an hour for a bus at the all stars either.
We love the All Stars! We are DVC owners and love our trip on our points. After our points are used up we stay at All Stars or POP so we can come more than once or twice a year. We also stay the night before our DVC trip to save points. I cant wait to see the video of Pete staying at AllStar. (this isn't a negative comment) I just want to hear his review of a vacation experience at All Star.
We do the same.
Our first trip to Disney, when our daughter was 3, we stayed at All Star Movies. We had no experience with Disney and on the suggestion of our travel agent, we decided to save the extra money and stay at the more "kid-themed" resort. I'm not going to lie, our experience was great! No complaints whatsoever. Because our experience was so great, we decided to stay at the same resort on our next trip two years later - BIG MISTAKE. We were overrun with a cheerleader competition and the resort was bursting at the seams with screaming, running, cheering girls who were very unsupervised. We couldn't sleep at night from the constant running up and down the balconies, as well as, the constant CHEERING in the courtyards at all hours of the night. Seriously, cheering and stunting (practicing) at all hours in the courtyards. And don't even think about accessing any food from the food court-you couldn't even get inside it was always so packed. It was by far our worst experience at Disney. As the All Star Resorts are the standard booking resort by Disney for these such events, we vowed NEVER again to stay at an All Stars for this reason alone. 4 trips later, we have moved on up to the Polynesian and never looked back. No regrets. Best money spent.
I agree with the people who said it's just a place to stay. In previous trips, I'm up early, back to the hotel late, usually never even coming back for a 'mid-day break'. So it truly is just a place to sleep.
Worst stay in a hotel in my 46 years was at the All Star Movies. It was horrible. We almost bailed and went off property due to the buses and food court alone. I do however appreciate those who enjoyed their experience and am very glad Disney has this as an option for those with a tighter budget.
I like using the All Stars or Pop as a throwaway room just so we can take advantage of the 60 day Fast Pass+ window. I stay offsite in a 2 bedroom condo and this allows us to not have to pay for parking for a few days as well as get the 60 day fast pass window which allows us to get the harder to get fast passes (Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Flight of Passage)
Michael J how do I get away without paying for parking for a few days and fast passes for the other days that you aren’t staying at an all star ??
If you book your room for the first day you want to go to the parks you can book your fast passes 60 days in advance. For instance I booked 1 night this past May and went to the park for 3 days. I was able to book my fast passes for all 3 days even though I only stayed there 1 night. As for parking on my final day I did have to pay the $20 but for the first two days we parked at the resort and used their bus transportation system.
Michael J 👍🏼
14:30 Except in the last video you compared the pools.. sooooooo....
I actually found the value resorts to be kind of expensive. I'm going end of February/early March. The All-Star Music (which I love), was around 145 a night. I ended up booking off-site.
17:19 - 'that's what he said'
Yes...stay at the All Stars and do a review! We have only stayed at Deluxe, but I'm very interested in hearing more reviews about the value and moderate resorts.
I love the ASMovie, the gigantic Mickey hats, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, are soo awesome, and it is so true you aren't there for the hotel, it is just a bed
My husband and I have now been to Disney together 3 times, going on 4th time in two weeks!! (YAY) We have stayed at Riverside 1 time (for our honeymoon) and the rest of the trips at different All Star resorts. Personally, we would rather be able to go to Disney 2x+ a year and stay at a less expensive hotel, then only make it 1x (maybe) a year and stay at a more expensive hotel. The trip, to us, is about the parks and the experiences outside of the hotel. They hotels are just an added bonus for us! We LOVE the All Star resorts, and the flexibilty it gives us. They hold a special place in our family's heart :)
I've been lucky enough to stay in resorts from each category and have my favorites in each, and my overall favorite. For the value resort I like Pop over All Stars mostly because I think Pop gets fewer of the school groups, and I find the resort to be brighter. Of the All Stars I like movies and music the best because those are the themes that interest me the most, I find music to be quieter than movies and I like Broadway section. I have never had a bad stay at any of the value resorts.
I am poor and I wanted to have as full an experience at WDW for my daughter. So Pop Century was the BEST of the Values at the time. It allowed us to have a full 10+ days without having to rush everyday. Also it allowed me to afford the dining plan. So we could do Hoop-Dee-Doo and other signature/table 2 credit dining and other special items and then shopping. She LOVED POP and wants to stay there if we ever go back, NOT the higher hotels. She also loved the Mickey waffles there. She has had others but does not like them as much.
My last trip in September 2017 was at all star sports. Yes, it's tacky, geared toward kids and families, and the bus back from mk at night is horrible but the over experience was not bad! They have good food options, and the rooms are nice for the price. Just think,you could be staying off property for a bit less but with none of the benefits, like free transport,extra hours at theparks, and dining plans.
My first time going in Sept. Family of 5. Myself and husband and three little ones. I am so afraid to stay at a Value Resort in Florida because I have read reviews of people complaining about bugs amd roaches. And such that Disney is not to quick to accommodate because its the value booking. Dont know if its true. But now scared to gamble that experience. Although I could used the money it would save me.
Ohhh I am upset I missed this poll. When my boys were young, financially we could only visit Disney if we stayed at the All Stars. Just imagine how magical the HUGE sports items are in children's eyes! I let the boys run around and be loud children at the hotel, then when we are in the park I expected them to be much more controlled... this is a great video so far, 12 minutes in!!!
When we stayed at the all Star sports in 2015... They picked up the all star sports first so it wasn't as long of a wait and usually enough guest get off the bus to get a seat. I went last December and now each hotel had their own bus service unless its super late. We stayed at the movies and it was always packed on the bus. Oddly enough the music resort was never crowded and we hopped on that bus. We planned to walk but when we got to music the now full bus now only had 2 people get off so the bus driver took us to movies. Happened a couple of times.
My 3,000 vacation would cost 10,0000 at the contemporary. No joke. I stayed in the deluxe of the vacation clubs. It was not worth 7000 more.
We have stayed at all three All Stars and at Pop Century. The one downside of All Star Sports is if you stay near the football field. People play football all night long in the warmer months, and scream and shout to each other throughout the night. If you're noise sensitive, ask to be away from that area and/or bring earplugs.
I have only stayed at All Star Movies. I love the themes there the giant Toy Story, Dalmatians, Fantasia Mickey. My son was in aw walking through the grounds. They have an amazing cupcake place, breakfast is good and movie theater in the lobby for kids to sit while you check in or wait for busses. The down sides are the kids pool is by the laundry room and the if it's been raining it smells like dirty shoes.
I think what has some people conflicted is by saying the value resorts are the worst at Disney World doesn't mean they are horrible resorts. I have stayed at All Star Sports and Music, Pop and Contemporary. I have had good and bad in all. By the way, I too can't wait to see Pete's review of All Star (please let it be sports).
I usually stay at either the Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge or Beach Club, but I understand not everybody can. Some people save for years just to stay at the budget resorts. Yes, they can stand to be updated but overall if people like them that is fine. A good idea would be to close the Sports and overhaul and expand Music and Movies, including new pools etc and sections for non school groups etc
I only stay at the All Stars because its the only ''semi affordable'' WDW hotel. Even they are extremely expensive! I have no other option than off property hotels or Cabana Bay
The All Star Sports will always hold a place for me, it was the hotel I stayed in for my first trip when I was 6 years old
Pop Century has giant statues of Lady and the Tramp, and Baloo. So they work as Disney too
Three Caballeros are in the All Star Music pool and there are Newsies and other Disney broadway posters in the broadway section.
I want to add for me it’s the Quality any amenities in the room that makes a difference such as the beds and towels. Their is a huge difference form sleeping on a Deluxe verses value . I’m not knocking it but I personally prefer a the beds at the deluxe resort vs the value . Plus I would add to each his own. At the beginning or end of your stay all that matters is that you had a magical experience and that is all that matters guys
My girlfriend and I are staying for the first time at an All Star. Disney is getting so expensive right now and the only way we can afford to go is stay at an All Star. We have been under the impression that it’s a rowdy and meh hotel. I’m so glad that I watched this video. Definitely changed my mind! I am excited to go and stay!
Growing up I never stayed in "nice" hotels. We were lucky if we got to stay in a motel, most of the time we were at camp-sites, and I'm not talking an RV here, a real tent campsite. Now that I'm an adult and in control of my own financial situation I have had the opportunity to stay at nice hotels and resorts. Even so I still would choose a value resort most of the time because it lets me afford a longer Disney vacation, or eating at better restaurants etc. Next week we're staying at Art of Animation and that's a "splurge" for us normally I would stay at Pop. But for a vacation where I'm wanting to bring my siblings along we will be looking at the All Stars.
My wife and I LOVE staying at Pop Century.
In the video you guys mention that Pop Century doesn't really use the Disney intellectual properties, did you all forget about the giant Lady, Tramp, Mowgli, Baloo, Roger Rabbit, Mickey Phone, among other things around the resort.