All-Star Summit Question

[Cheerfun2]

For those of y'all who have been before...did you use the Disney package or did you stay offsite? Pros and cons of whatever you did would be great! This is our first time, and I am underwhelmed with the package options. TIA!

 

[driverto6]

We have done both. Several things to consider:
1. Is your CP old enough to go to parks with friends? If so then you may not need to buy the park passes and can save a lot of money staying off site.
2. Will you have a car? If not then a package that includes the buses to Wide World of Sports is nice.


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[C*A-Shelby K]

Almost everyone from our gym stayed offsite both years, even when teams got full paids. The full paid rooms were offered to those who needed them but families still had to book rooms for themselves anyway so the kids always just stayed with the families. You can get better deals offsite staying in nicer resorts for what you pay to stay where the package is. Its nice to be there cause normally you can get transportation and stuff from where the package has you stay but its not a bad drive at all if you stay somewhere close. We stayed at Mystic Dunes Resort the last 2 years and we were able to get a 2 bedroom suite split between 2 families for a super good deal and the resort was awesome. Its nice to be far enough away from a lot of the commotion but to also be close enough to get to parks and the competition and practices with ease!

 

[cheermomforever]

We have gone for Worlds...,if u want to go to parks the combo comp pass/hopper is the best!
We have rented houses to stay at as it is usually under $100 for me and my daughter for 3 nights, but then u need a car., but u save on meals...,,,try costco for car rental.

Windsor palms community is about 10 min from Parks. Good luck!

 

[CoachMandiCF]

We require athletes to stay on property through the summit package. We then have a few parent chaperones and the rest of the families stay off site. This allows us to schedule practice times, team bonding, meals and other things with no hassle. Great deal if you're going to the parks.

 

[Cheerfun2]

Thanks so much for all of your replies! Most of the families will be traveling, and this is a junior aged team (mostly 10-13 year olds) so I doubt there will be a lot of families who let their child roam WDW alone at those ages (although my 12 year old would LOVE that, lol!) I personally love the condo idea because I want somewhere to store healthy food/produce for breakfasts and snacks. I don't think the on-site rooms in the package even had fridges. Lots to think about!

 

[CatFan22]

We've been to Summit both years. First year was on an at-large bid and we stayed offsite. We have a very generous business (owned by a team member's family) that sponsored the lodging for the team and rented townhouses for the entire team and their family members. Most people rented cars to get to and from the venue and parks.

Last year, CPs team went on a paid bid and the athletes were required to stay on-site with their team and coaches. There ARE fridges in the rooms at All Star Resort. All the rooms for our team had them last year. Most of the parents booked separate lodging offsite, so most rented cars also. The kids most definitely enjoyed staying on-site all together and the coaches had them all right there together to practice or hop the bus over to watch other teams. The worst part was cleaning up the disaster of a room when it was checkout time. It looked like a hurricane went through there. Am I right, @SheCheers ? :confused:

We've been to Disney for the past 4 years between UCA and Summit. We always book something offsite and rent a car. We have a very generous family member who shares their timeshare points with us and usually books us a condo nearby, so that saves us lots of money on lodging. I do like having the condo with a full kitchen vs. a hotel room. We usually hit a local grocery store and stock up on breakfast and snack items and some lunchy-ish meals. Last year was the first year my husband and I did not buy the hopper passes. Since we had been to the parks every year the previous 3 years, we didn't care if we went that trip. CP had a pass with her registration, so she could've gone with friends if she had wanted to.

I think if we were to attend Summit again this year, it would just be my CP and I (instead of the whole family) and I would look to possibly share a room offsite with another parent.

 

[russscarce]

As a family of 4, we attended Summit last year. It was required by our CP's team to stay onsite (at least her), but as a family, we all were excited about the experience and stayed at the All Star Resort. The cost is more than other hotels, but less than many. The accommodations are OK, but nothing too exciting. Our second daughter now cheers on a level 1 youth team. She would be heartbroken if she couldn't come and be involved in the whole "cheer" experience. This year, all 4 of us will go again and stay at the All Star Resort hotel.

As far as food, it gets expensive eating at the cafeteria every meal. We had a local friend take us to Target or Walmart the first night we were there. Others on our team used an online grocery service that delivers to the hotels. You can also pack a bag full of food and check it when you fly.

My suggestion is to follow suit with the majority of your CP's team. The bonding and memories will last a lifetime. Good Luck!

 

[AScheer]

Thanks so much for all of your replies! Most of the families will be traveling, and this is a junior aged team (mostly 10-13 year olds) so I doubt there will be a lot of families who let their child roam WDW alone at those ages (although my 12 year old would LOVE that, lol!) I personally love the condo idea because I want somewhere to store healthy food/produce for breakfasts and snacks. I don't think the on-site rooms in the package even had fridges. Lots to think about!

There are mini-fridges in the rooms. And there are grocery services that you order online before going and they deliver to your room. Our teams have only ever stayed on site, its just easier and you get the whole competition experience. I have considered staying off site many times, but transportation would be more difficult and I don't know if you would get the same experience.

 

[Mo' Bettah]

We took a taxi to Walmart from Downtown Disney for about $20 and stocked up on booze and snacks!


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[CheerLAW]

We've done UCA and Summit.
We do not do the package that is offered. CP has no desire to stay at the All Star. Others from our gym that have used the package generally feel that the food court is never staffed appropriately and the buses are slow and crowded.
CP and I stay on Disney property so we can access transportation and extra magic hours because that's the best use of our time given practice and performance times. We stay at a moderate so we have a fridge and the food court has a microwave. There's a sit down to eat as well. To get to ESPN we use a cab. We get our park tickets through the Summit package so we get the entrance into ESPN and we get the after party bands from them. We had groceries delivered to our resort for our arrival time (water, snacks, soda, juice...) and it worked out great.
While I understand the whole 'experience' end of staying at the All Star, my CP is an early to bed kid, likes her quiet time, and we need to have our space in the room. The package is a deal if you intend to put four people in that tiny room. We do not share a room and at that point, the price is equal for me to stay at a moderate disney resort.
We got our bid for one of CPs teams yesterday and we will do the same thing this year. This year we may splurge for a deluxe. Even though CP competed and earned the bid with her team this weekend, she will not be able to compete at Summit due to spinal surgery next month but will travel to be with the team.