Disney Vacation Trip Reports, News and Information
All Star Music Resort and Family Suite Review – Walt Disney World
The All Star Music Resort is the second oldest Value Resort at Walt Disney World. Being a Value Resort, the All Star Music Resort caters primarily to families and groups. On a recent trip to Walt Disney World, I had the opportunity to stay in one of the new All Star Music Family Suites. In 2006, Disney decided to try something new at its Value Resorts and connected two standards rooms into one family suite. The results are pretty impressive.
The Family Suites are 520 square feet and are located in one of two building located closest to the pool and main building. As a side note, regular guest rooms in these buildings are labeled as “preferred location” and you do pay more for being in these building. When you enter the suite you enter into the living area. The living area has a small round table, with a circle of Mickeys imprinted around the edge, with two modern looking chairs, a double sleeper sofa, a large overstuffed chair and ottoman (each opening in a single bed/cot), and a large TV armoire with a flat panel 27″ TV and amble shelf and drawer space. Continuing to the back of the room is the standard value resort bathroom with an open closet, single sink with cubbies underneath to hold your toiletries, a blow dryer, and a separate room with a tub/shower and commode. The shower has the new circular rod giving you more space in the shower. The outside of the bathroom door has a full length mirror. There is also a privacy curtain that can be drawn to allow multiple people to get ready at the same time.
Moving onto the rest of the suite, a portion of the wall that would normally have separated the two original rooms has been removed to allow access to the kitchenette area of the suite. The kitchenette has a coffee maker and coffee, a microwave, a mini refrigerator, wet bar sink, plenty of cabinet space, and even paper dishes, bowls and plastic ware. To the left of the kitchenette is the master bedroom which has a queen size bed, two end tables, the suite’s only alarm clock, a sitting chair, TV armoire with a 27″ flat screen TV, and a work desk with high speed internet wired access. The cost for internet service during my stay was $9.95 for a 24 hours period and was billed directly to my room account. The bedroom does have a lockable door. On the other side of the kitchenette is a second bathroom/open closet area exactly like the first but with a safe and an iron and ironing board. The bathroom amenities in both bathrooms included a Mickey facial soap, a Mickey bath soap, and an all in one shampoo and conditioner.
I have to say that I was pretty impressed with the family suite at the All Star Music Resort. My only slightly negative comment would be that some of the furniture is showing some wear and the sofa bed was stained. However, this would not stop me from recommending the Family Suites. Because the suites can sleep six, they are great options for anyone traveling with more than two children. The suites would also be great for any family who would like a little privacy or a separate area for the kids to watch their own TV of for teens who want their own “space”. Having two full baths is also a huge benefit for several people to get ready at the same time.
As with all of the Value Resorts, the resort has its own unique theme in this case music, which is portrayed the most in the outside décor of the guest room buildings. Each building has three floors (each with a slightly different shade of the building color, has two elevators, and three story iconic stairwells that must be seen to be believed. The resort also has two pools, a kiddie pool, a playground, large arcade, gift shop, food court and an outside bar open during certain hours and a separate building housing the guest laundry.
The food court is the resorts only dining option, outside of an in-room pizza delivery service. The food court has three hot meal stations, one bakery/ice cream station, and a “grab and go” section with prepared foods, fruit, beverages, and snacks. On my first day, I sampled the made to order quesadilla which was rather large but a bit on the bland side. The following morning, I tried the cheese omelet which again was a good size and was tasty especially the accompanying breakfast potatoes. I did purchase the resorts refillable mug and found the drink options to be surprisingly divers. From the standard fare to Cherry Coke to a sports drink and hot chocolate.
My check-in experience was perfect and to my surprise, my room was ready when I arrived at noon. It was September after all. I certainly would not expect the same during peak times.
All of the Value Resorts offer luggage assistance which means your luggage will be delivered as part of a group delivery and not necessarily at the same time you check in. Transportation to everywhere in the “World” is via Disney buses and the bus stops are located outside the main building where you check in and where the food court, gift shop and arcade are located. One thing I did notice about the bus stops was there is no covering over where the guests wait for the buses so you are left exposed to whatever the weather happens to be.
Overall, I had a great stay at the All Star Music Resort primarily because of the Family Suite. I have stayed at other Value Resorts, the All Star Movies and Pop Century, and had good stays at both but the suite is what has me sold at this resort. As far as the cost, the Family Suite is roughly the same price as two preferred-location standard guestrooms at the All Star Music Resort. The price of the suite is slightly more than a single room at a moderate hotel but is less than the least expensive of the Deluxe Resort room. So the choice is yours. Would you prefer more room space or more resort amenities for about the same price?
The Family Suites are 520 square feet and are located in one of two building located closest to the pool and main building. As a side note, regular guest rooms in these buildings are labeled as “preferred location” and you do pay more for being in these building. When you enter the suite you enter into the living area. The living area has a small round table, with a circle of Mickeys imprinted around the edge, with two modern looking chairs, a double sleeper sofa, a large overstuffed chair and ottoman (each opening in a single bed/cot), and a large TV armoire with a flat panel 27″ TV and amble shelf and drawer space. Continuing to the back of the room is the standard value resort bathroom with an open closet, single sink with cubbies underneath to hold your toiletries, a blow dryer, and a separate room with a tub/shower and commode. The shower has the new circular rod giving you more space in the shower. The outside of the bathroom door has a full length mirror. There is also a privacy curtain that can be drawn to allow multiple people to get ready at the same time.
Moving onto the rest of the suite, a portion of the wall that would normally have separated the two original rooms has been removed to allow access to the kitchenette area of the suite. The kitchenette has a coffee maker and coffee, a microwave, a mini refrigerator, wet bar sink, plenty of cabinet space, and even paper dishes, bowls and plastic ware. To the left of the kitchenette is the master bedroom which has a queen size bed, two end tables, the suite’s only alarm clock, a sitting chair, TV armoire with a 27″ flat screen TV, and a work desk with high speed internet wired access. The cost for internet service during my stay was $9.95 for a 24 hours period and was billed directly to my room account. The bedroom does have a lockable door. On the other side of the kitchenette is a second bathroom/open closet area exactly like the first but with a safe and an iron and ironing board. The bathroom amenities in both bathrooms included a Mickey facial soap, a Mickey bath soap, and an all in one shampoo and conditioner.
I have to say that I was pretty impressed with the family suite at the All Star Music Resort. My only slightly negative comment would be that some of the furniture is showing some wear and the sofa bed was stained. However, this would not stop me from recommending the Family Suites. Because the suites can sleep six, they are great options for anyone traveling with more than two children. The suites would also be great for any family who would like a little privacy or a separate area for the kids to watch their own TV of for teens who want their own “space”. Having two full baths is also a huge benefit for several people to get ready at the same time.
As with all of the Value Resorts, the resort has its own unique theme in this case music, which is portrayed the most in the outside décor of the guest room buildings. Each building has three floors (each with a slightly different shade of the building color, has two elevators, and three story iconic stairwells that must be seen to be believed. The resort also has two pools, a kiddie pool, a playground, large arcade, gift shop, food court and an outside bar open during certain hours and a separate building housing the guest laundry.
The food court is the resorts only dining option, outside of an in-room pizza delivery service. The food court has three hot meal stations, one bakery/ice cream station, and a “grab and go” section with prepared foods, fruit, beverages, and snacks. On my first day, I sampled the made to order quesadilla which was rather large but a bit on the bland side. The following morning, I tried the cheese omelet which again was a good size and was tasty especially the accompanying breakfast potatoes. I did purchase the resorts refillable mug and found the drink options to be surprisingly divers. From the standard fare to Cherry Coke to a sports drink and hot chocolate.
My check-in experience was perfect and to my surprise, my room was ready when I arrived at noon. It was September after all. I certainly would not expect the same during peak times.
All of the Value Resorts offer luggage assistance which means your luggage will be delivered as part of a group delivery and not necessarily at the same time you check in. Transportation to everywhere in the “World” is via Disney buses and the bus stops are located outside the main building where you check in and where the food court, gift shop and arcade are located. One thing I did notice about the bus stops was there is no covering over where the guests wait for the buses so you are left exposed to whatever the weather happens to be.
Overall, I had a great stay at the All Star Music Resort primarily because of the Family Suite. I have stayed at other Value Resorts, the All Star Movies and Pop Century, and had good stays at both but the suite is what has me sold at this resort. As far as the cost, the Family Suite is roughly the same price as two preferred-location standard guestrooms at the All Star Music Resort. The price of the suite is slightly more than a single room at a moderate hotel but is less than the least expensive of the Deluxe Resort room. So the choice is yours. Would you prefer more room space or more resort amenities for about the same price?
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