An on-site stay at the Walt Disney World Resort has always been desirable, but this option only became widely affordable in 1994, when the All-Star Sports Resort opened its doors to budget-conscious guests seeking the full Disney experience. “Sports” was the first of three All-Star hotels that eventually united to form a mega-complex offering more reasonably priced accommodations for Walt Disney World guests looking to stay a little closer to the heart of the magic.
Walt Disney World Resort hotels are generally categorized into three tiers: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. The addition of the Art of Animation in 2012 introduced a fourth category – Value Plus. The Value level consists of the All-Star Sports, Movies, and Music, as well as Pop Century (added in 2003). As the classification implies, the most obvious distinguishing factor in the resort levels is the price. While this is often a deciding factor for many guests, there are other notable differences between the Value level and the Moderates and Deluxes. Depending on your goals and expectations for your Walt Disney World stay, you may find that the splurge on a higher-end resort is well worth it.
All Disney resort hotels offer certain perks such as: Extra Magic Hours access, Disney’s Magical Express airport transport, unlimited free use of the on-site Disney transportation system, and package delivery – but not all Disney resorts are created equal. How do the All-Star resorts measure up?
1. General resort appearance
When it comes to comparing the resorts by outward appearance, it really is an “apples to oranges” scenario. There is no denying that all Disney resorts are brilliantly themed and over-the-top, but preferences in this area are personal, and based on your own taste. Some guests find the All-Stars to be a bit overwhelming. A 35 foot tall Buzz Lightyear may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but imagine this in the eyes of the younger guests!
Each All-Star resort consists of ten buildings, representing five themes. The rectangular block buildings are motel-style, with open, exterior hallways. Vibrantly colored overlays line the buildings, displaying the theme of each, with larger-than-life icons marking the centers and ends. Pathways, light fixtures, and ambient tunes transform with each theme evolution, demonstrating the attention to detail that Disney guests have become accustomed to. The All-Stars are every bit as appealing as any Disney resort when it comes to general outward appearance. In this category, it really is a matter of opinion and individual taste. If you are a beach-loving couple with no kids, Polynesian Village, Beach Club, or Coronado Springs may be to your liking, but a family with young children would probably enjoy the All-Stars just as much, if not more.
2. Guest rooms
Combined, the All-Star resort trio boasts more than 5,000 guest rooms. The standard room sleeps four. It is 260 sq ft, containing two double beds or one king. All-Star Music is the only one of the three that offers the Family Suite, nearly doubled in size from the standard, for up to six guests, with two buildings dedicated to these larger accommodations. The Moderate-level resorts are larger than the All-Star standard by about 65 sq ft, on average. For a better idea of how this difference actually looks, see this brilliant visual from Touring Plans.
Walls between All-Star rooms are notoriously thin. Beds, linens, and electronics are a step down in quality as well. Overall, the standard All-Star room is comparable to that of any nationwide budget chain. General upkeep is not as rigid as the Moderate and Deluxe level resorts. While many Disney touches are present (including “hidden Mickeys”), the decor doesn’t go that extra mile. Considering the extensive exterior detailing, the interiors are quite an unexpected disappointment. Whenever possible, the upgrade to the family suite is well worth it, with a separate bedroom and kitchenette. This will go a long way toward making an All-Star stay more comfortable and practical.
3. Dining options
Some of the best dining options at Walt Disney World are located in the hotels, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find appealing meals at the All-Star resorts. There are no table service or in-room dining options at the All-Stars – unless you consider pizza delivery.
Each All-Star resort has a walk-up food court in the main lobby building. The food courts have grown to offer a much better selection than they used to, but it is still a limited selection. Seating areas are open, but often a bit chaotic.
There are also no indoor lounges or bars at the All-Stars. Each has only a poolside bar with limited snack options.
4. Recreation
There is a glaring difference in the recreational opportunities offered by the All-Stars when compared to the Moderates and Deluxes. To some, this may not be a priority consideration, but if you would like the option to partake in amusements beyond the theme parks, it’s a factor worth contemplating.
The Moderate and Deluxe level resorts offer unique on-site recreation. Though the fun varies by resort, recreation options may include water sports, boating, archery, health clubs, bicycle/ surrey rentals, carriage rides, live musical performances, and more. Moderate and Deluxe level resorts host a wide variety of activities from arts and crafts projects, face painting, cultural and culinary experiences, and family-inclusive games. The All-Star arcades and playgrounds are evenly matched to their pricier counterparts, but activities and recreation are limited to poolside games which are typically on par with elementary-level classroom boredom busters. The nightly “movie under the stars” does extend to the All-Stars, and this event is also held poolside.
In other words, the All-Star pools are the central hub of activity and amenities at the resorts. Each resort has two pools, usually located in courtyards encircled by buildings, with one off the main lobby at each site. Unlike the Moderate and Deluxe resorts, the All-Stars have no hot tubs or pool slides. There’s a thoughtful decorative piece at each pool, but nothing that truly serves as an enhancement feature. My son is a self-proclaimed Disney pool aficionado, and by the standards of a true water baby, if pool time is a priority, this discrepancy alone is worth the price jump to at least the Moderate Resort level (where the pools are impressive enough to challenge some water parks).
5. Logistics
Disney transportation is the preferred method for ushering guests around the various parks and resorts on property. This massive system consists of multiple monorails, boats, and buses, but the only option available at the All-Stars is the bus.
The All-Stars are about as far from everything else as you can get while still being technically on Disney property. Even using your own vehicle, it feels like a bit of a trek to get anywhere from these resorts. The bus rides are even longer. Lines to board the bus are often long, and the All-Star threesome tends to share one route more often than not. This makes for crowded buses and lengthy trips due to added stops. If you want the option to return to your room after a day at the Magic Kingdom to freshen up before a dinner reservation at Boardwalk, you may want to expect this to be a two-hour excursion. On the other hand, the All-Stars share their isolated location with the nearby Animal Kingdom Lodge, which offers some of the most worthwhile entertainment and dining options on property. Ultimately, the added convenience of a more centrally located resort with increased transportation diversity can be a tremendous benefit to those planning a hop-heavy visit.
6. Fellow guests
This is the snafu that amplifies many of the All-Star shortcomings – your fellow resort guests. Due to the affordability and ample space of the All-Star trio, they’re an ideal choice for visiting youth groups. It is not at all unusual to find multiple large groups staying at the All-Stars simultaneously; in fact, it’s the norm. This often leads to unsupervised throngs of screaming teens chanting in courtyards and corridors at all hours, which can be disruptive to light sleepers.
Large packs of guests on a singular path can delay bus transportation further, and create longer lines at the food court. Occasionally, rude behaviors can be demonstrated by children who have separated from their chaperones for a moment of anarchistic Disney revelry.
7. Pricing
When it all comes down to a matter of financial limitations, most arguments become completely irrelevant. However, if your budget allows for any elasticity at all, take a moment to figure out the actual price difference between the Values, Moderates, and Deluxes. Though rates vary wildly from week to week, the price comparisons may surprise you.
As of 2015, the lowest offered rate for any Walt Disney World Resort hotel (excluding Fort Wilderness campsites) is $96 for a standard All-Stars room. The highest offered rate for that same room is $199 during the December holidays; slightly more for a “preferred” room location. The Family Suites range from $240 to $445 depending on date of stay. The newest Value Resort, Pop Century ranges from $107 to $236; while the Value Plus level Art of Animation is priced at $123 – $514 (higher prices reflect Family Suites).
The Moderate Resorts are priced as low as $182 for standard rooms during non-peak dates. Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, and the Port Orleans duo can reach prices of nearly $400 during peak-periods, or if upgrades such as themed rooms and water views are requested.
When considering the big picture, the cost difference between the All-Stars and the Deluxe resorts can be a huge jump, with Deluxe rates at their lowest varying from around $350 to thousands at their highest, with all the bells and whistles, Deluxe options are not usually an easy reach for a family visiting for any length of time, especially if airfare is added to the equation. However, the price jump from Values to Moderates is much less extreme, and much more realistic to consider. It truly is a situation where you get what you pay for.
All Disney resort hotels hold a promise of fun, whimsy, exceptional quality, and impeccable service, but some do take the pixie dust a step or two further. It is worth mentioning that a few of these points and drawbacks may be a non-issue for some guests. For those who plan to spend every waking moment at the parks, only wishing to crawl back, exhausted, to your room for a quick shower and power nap before doing it all again – the All-Stars may just be a wise and adequate option to meet your needs. On the flip side, if you’re more interested in soaking up Disney from every angle, at a leisurely pace, with ease and diversity of options, the All-Stars will only serve to be a disappointing choice.
