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[All Ears]

I have never stayed at any of the All Stars. Next month, we are booked for one nite there -- prior to our cruise. We will not be checking in until around 8PM or so -- and then plan to head to DTD for some shopping.
What can you tell me about All Stars Music... particularly bus service to DTD, check-in service, and the food court (will likely eat breakfast there the next morning).
Thanks sooo much for your help!
Michelle [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[joyjoy]

Hi!
We've stayed at the ASMu twice and never had a problem. It seems like busses to DTD come more often in the evening, I guess they know where everyone is going. You share the busses with the other All Star Resorts, so they'll stop at Sports first and then Movies after you. Don't wait so late that you have to catch the last bus back, it gets crowded. The food court is good - more choices than most food courts. If you aren't a big eater order a child's plate. Well. That may not be following the rules, but I have done it. [img]graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] Check in was a breeze - we arrived Saturday afternoon which is pretty busy and were in our room within 20 minutes. Have fun! [img]graemlins/wavin.gif[/img]

[Wendyismyname]

We stayed at the All Star Music last year. Check in was a breeze, we arrived on a sunday afternoon, and the food court was yum! their omelets are really really good at breakfast. Everything that I had there was good really. The buses do share with the other AS, but it shouldn't be too much of a problem. They seem to run frequently there too. The rooms are smaller than any other on property, but I think they are the same size as most hotel rooms (non disney).

Enjoy!!

Wendy

[Joy J]

We stayed at the All Star Music resort last February and enjoyed it very much, although I must admit that now that I have stayed at one of Disney's deluxe resorts, it would be very hard for me to return to a value one.

The room is plenty big enough for two people but I wouldn't want to cram any more than that in there. However, since in your case it's only for one night, that shouldn't be too big a deal.

We found the bus service to be excellent. We never waited too long for a bus. The longest wait was 10 minutes but usually it was much shorter. And we always got a seat. Sometimes it was a shared bus with the other two all stars and sometimes not.

Check-in was quick and efficient.

I'm afraid I didn't like the food court much. My daughter and I only tried it once, on the day of our arrival for our lunch. I got the chicken parmesan and Kendra got the burger and fries. We both thought our food was awful - dried out and not very hot and pretty much tasteless. We never tried it again after that.

Joy

[redsback]

We stayed there in March during Spring Break week. It was crowded, but still nice. The pools were great! This was the first time I had stayed at a Disney resort, so I don't have anything to compare the bus service to. I thought it was pretty good, though. We went to the Beach Club for lunch one day & had to wait longer there for a bus than we had to at ASMu.
We just ate at the food court one time, but it seemed nice. The food we had was really good. [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] I would definitely stay there again.
[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[All Ears]

Thanks for the great responses!
[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Michelle

[WillCAD]

I've stayed at ASMu 3 or 4 times. It's my favorite of the All-Stars, because it's the quietest.

I always have a rental car at WDW, so I haven't used the ASMu busses in years.

Checking in at ASMu is pretty painless. The lobby has check-in, check-out, and Guest Services desks all in the same area. There is also a small seating area with a TV playing Disney movies to keep the kids happy if there's a long line.

I love the All-Star food courts, especially breakfast. Certainly, they can't compare with a $50 breakfast at one of the 5-star restaurants, but the food is good, hot, fresh, and the portions are generous, and the prices are very reasonable by Disney standards. There is also an area with cold milk, boxed cereals, and fresh fruit between the counters.

The All-Star gift shops are not terribly huge; they can't compare to the Emporium or Mouse Gear, but they have a fair selection of Disney clothing, towels, and some other souveniers, and a bunch of All-Star themed stuff. The gift shops also have coolers with milk, soft drinks, and some light alchoholic stuff like wine coolers. There are also some shelves full of dry foods like cookies and candy, and sundries like sunblock, lip balm, toothpaste, etc.

Sure the All-Star rooms are small, and the grounds are not as exciting as AKL or Poly, but the 3 All-Star resorts are still great places to stay at the cheapest rate available for a Disney resort.

Enjoy!

[All Ears]

Colo & Will,
Thanks for the additional responses. It sounds like I have made a great choice. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]
Will,
Do you think I should take the rental car over to DTD in lieu of using the buses? Since it will be a Sat. nite, my guess is that DTD will be pretty hoppin'. What do you think? Thanks!
Michelle [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Colo Dizfanatic]

I would say ditto to all of the responses you received already!!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] I would also add that I thought that this was a very clean and well kept resort as well as the CM's were great!! Wonderful and friendly. Request a room in either Calypso (preferred, so it is extra $$$ for the night) or the Jazz buildings. These are close enough to the front of the resort, but still far enough away that I thought it was very quiet!!

Also, if you have or can make the time, take a bit to stroll around the resort, to include Sports and Movies. The themeing is great!! Good picture ops!! Also, the landscaping and topiary is wonderful!! You will love ASMu!! [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img]

[WillCAD]

I've only been to PI at night once, and it was hoppin'.

I'd say that if you are planning on going to PI that night, and drinking at all, then take the bus. It may take you longer to get there and back, but you'll be confident knowing that you already have a designated driver and you can drink if you want without fear (except of hangover).

If you're just going to shop the DD shops, it might be easier to take the car, but I've found that Downtown Disney is one of the hardest places on Disney property to find a parking spot. I usually bite the bullet and take a bus to get there, unless I'm planning on doing some major shopping and need my rental car to lug it all back to my hotel. Usually, the emptiest place on the parking lot is at the far end of the West Side, past the La Nouba theater. That makes for a long walk to get to PI and the Marketplace, though.

You'll probably be tired from travelling, so I think the car is probably your best bet, simply because when you're ready to leave, you leave. You don't have to stand around waiting for a bus at a crowded stop, then share a crowded bus with other tired, sweaty, sometimes grumpy people.

Whether you bus or drive, enjoy DD.

[Yoopermom156]

We stayed there at Easter and we loved it. The pools were awesome. I was extremely awed, lol, by the themeing. See my trip report Spontaneous Combustion Tour if you would like to see pics of the inside of the rooms, buildings etcc.. You will enjoy it!!

Dawn

[ilovedonald]

We are going in a week. Is it worth it to drive our car from the resort to the parks or take the bus? I know sometimes the bus gets you closer to the park but is it worth it?
Thanks. [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img]

[bobwerner]

The buses are much easier than parking IMHO. I've only stayed at the AS Sports resort, but I'm told there's really not that much difference. My experience in the food court has been great. If your arriving after 8, I'd call ahead and check the court's schedule. Sometimes they close at 9 or 10. You can always get room service Pizza. I have always had great times at the Sports resort and I'm sure you'll enjoy Music.
Have a great time.

[WillCAD]

I have to disagree with Bob.

Taking a bus from the All-Star resorts to a park is easy. But getting onto a bus from a a park back to the All-Stars is not so easy. The 3 All-Star resorts are still sharing busses, despite the fact that they have a combined total of almost 6,000 rooms (3 times larger than any other single resort).

I've been caught at MK after park closing and it took almost an hour and a half (that's 90 minutes), just to get ON the bus, and when I did get on, it was standing room only.

I'll never depend on the busses at the All-Stars again. I will certainly use the Disney busses to get around during the day, but I wouldn't use the busses to get into or out of the resorts.

[All Ears]

Will,
Thanks for the response re: buses & DTD at nite. We would only be heading there to shop -- not for the nite spots. But I was worried that we would not find a parking spot on a Saturday nite at that time.
Michelle