Family vacations to Disney World in Florida are fantastic experiences, but many families fear that the perfect Disney trip will be out of reach for their budget. Fortunately, there are ways to visit the happiest place on Earth without breaking the bank.
One of the key ways to save money on a Disney vacation is by choosing an affordable hotel. For some families, this may mean going off the official Disney World property, but Disney does offer budget-friendly accommodations for their guests.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is an affordable, family-oriented hotel that provides plenty of Disney magic.
Read on for a complete guide to staying at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort.
What Is Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort?
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is one of Disney World’s value resorts and a part of the All-Star Resorts collection. Located in the Animal Kingdom area of the Walt Disney World property, the resort provides a financially accessible version of Disney hotel amenities and easy access to theme parks.
All-Star Movies Resort opened in 1999, joining All-Star Music and All-Star Sports as the third and final All-Star hotel. Disney has refurbished the rooms and lobby area in recent years to reflect a more sleek and contemporary style.
As the name suggests, All-Star Movies Resort celebrates classic Disney films. The building exterior has giant sculptural representations of several movies, including One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Herbie, The Love Bug, Fantasia, and Toy Story.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is a popular option for families looking to entertain young kids and get a Disney experience at a lower price point.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Rooms
All-Star Movies Resort is an expansive hotel complex with five sections and 1,920 rooms. The hotel has some king bedrooms, but the majority of the rooms come with a queen bed and a queen-size table bed, otherwise known as a Murphy bed. The king bedrooms are handicap accessible, so guests with access needs receive the first choice of these rooms.
Guests can choose between a standard and preferred room. The best rooms are close to central resort complex areas, such as dining and transportation.
All of the rooms at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort open up to exterior hallways, where you can see the external themed decorations for your section. For instance, the Toy Story area features a 35-foot-tall Buzz Lightyear.
The room interiors have a simple, contemporary style with wall decor that coordinates with the themed sections. As a value resort, All-Star Movies has smaller rooms than some of the other Disney resorts, measuring 260 square feet.
Each room has a full bathroom with a tub and shower. King bedrooms have standing showers to accommodate wheelchair use. The rooms also have ample storage space, including an open closet, bathroom shelves, and nightstands. When you fold the table bed into the wall, it becomes a small table with two chairs.
Other basic amenities included in the rooms at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort are:
- Free Wi-Fi
- Mini-refrigerator
- Coffee maker
- In-room safe
- Hairdryer
- Telephone with voicemail
- Iron and ironing board
Rooms can sleep up to four adults. The resort will also provide a crib for children under three years old upon the guest’s request.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Dining
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort focuses on dining options that are cost-effective and geared toward kids. The resort has two dining areas: a food court and an outdoor poolside bar. Value resorts at Disney World typically do not offer room service options.
World Premiere Food Court
World Premiere Food Court is inside Cinema Hall, the central hub for the All-Star Movies Resort. The food court looks like a classic movie theater lobby and has five food service stations. World Premiere Food Court is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, offering American cuisine and a lower price than most sit-down Disney restaurants.
The breakfast menu has all your American breakfast favorites, such as Mickey-shaped waffles and bagel breakfast sandwiches. The lunch and dinner menus have a mix of cheeseburgers, sandwiches, and plated entrees.
World Premiere Food Court also has a wide range of snack and beverage options if you just want a quick bite before heading to the parks. And don’t forget to save room for dessert—World Premiere Food Court has a decent selection of sugary treats.
While younger guests will appreciate the food court kid’s menu, adults will enjoy the beer, wine, and pre-bottled cocktail options.
Silver Screen Spirits Pool Bar
In addition to the World Premiere Food Court, All-Star Movies Resort also has the Silver Screen Spirits Pool Bar.
Silver Screen Spirits Pool Bar is ideal for unwinding after a long day at the theme parks. Located near the Fantasia Pool, Silver Screen Spirits Pool Bar has beer, wine, and handcrafted cocktails. You can enjoy your drink at the pool or take it with you in a to-go cup.
The pool bar also has a limited food menu with snacks and sandwiches and several non-alcoholic mixed drinks.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Entertainment
Disney loves keeping guests entertained, including families at the value resorts. All-Star Movies Resort features multiple pools and various recreational activities.
Pools
A hotel pool is a great way to relax on vacation while your kids get to play. Luckily, Disney’s All-Star Movies has two pools that will spark your children’s imaginations and give you a luxurious place to lounge in the sun and sip on a cocktail.
Fantasia Pool
Inspired by the Disney film Fantasia, the Fantasia Pool is the center of the All-Star Movies Resort, between Cinema Hall and the Fantasia building. This expansive pool hosts a delightful Sorcerer Mickey fountain. An adjoining kiddie pool allows younger children to join in on the splashing fun.
With its convenient location near the Silver Screen Spirits Pool Bar, the Fantasia Pool is perfect for families who like to have some poolside snacks and refreshments.
For the Walt Disney World Resort 50th Anniversary Celebration, All-Star Movies Resort has daily special events and activities at the Fantasia Pool. Check with the hotel staff to find out more about upcoming pool parties.
Duck Pond Pool
All-Star Movies Resort’s second pool is near the Mighty Ducks buildings. Honoring the Mighty Ducks film franchise, the Duck Pond Pool looks like a hockey court, complete with face-off circles at the bottom of the pool and a poolside goal net. To add a special Disney touch, a hockey player Goofy serves as the goalie.
Aside from the two movie-themed pools, guests at All-Star Movies Resort can also visit any of the pools at the other All-Star Resorts. All have complimentary pool towels on site.
Movies Under the Stars
In keeping with the cinema theme, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort hosts Movies Under the Stars, a nightly outdoor movie showing. Movies Under the Stars takes place at The Reel Spot, a covered outdoor dining area outside of the World Premiere Food Court.
Movie showings start every night at nine pm, making this a great follow-up activity to the campfire. The movie is complimentary for Disney guests, so this is a wonderful event if you are trying to be strategic with your spending.
You can check with the front desk staff at Cinema Hall to find out which movies are showing during your stay at All-Star Movies Resort.
Campfire Activities
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort offers an outdoor family campfire activity every night. The hotel campfire is between the two Fantasia buildings.
Families can stop by between seven and eight pm every weekday to roast marshmallows and participate in other campfire-themed activities.
Playground
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort has a cute playground conveniently close to the other major hotel attractions, situated near the Toy Story and Fantasia areas.
The All-Star Movies Resort playground has several slides, climbing structures, and interactive elements. Since the playground is an easy walk to the food court, families may want to take advantage of the playground to entertain kids before and after mealtimes.
Note that Disney playgrounds are for children ages two to 12 and that children must have adult supervision at all times.
Donald’s Double Feature
Donald’s Double Feature is the gift shop in Cinema Hall. This store has all of the Disney merchandise you may want to bring home as souvenirs. Having a store in your hotel lobby is particularly convenient for Disney vacations, as the theme park stores can get crowded, and shopping at the hotel helps you avoid lugging purchases around through the park.
Reel Fun Arcade
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is also home to the Reel Fun Arcade. Right by the World Premiere Food Court in Cinema Hall, kids love to run over to the Reel Fun Arcade to play some games after dinner.
The Reel Fun Arcade has all of the traditional arcade games, including video games, pinball games, and air hockey. Unfortunately, the arcade games are not complimentary for resort guests.
To play any of the arcade games, you must purchase a Game Card and load it with game points. Each game requires points to play. You can reload the game card with points at arcade kiosks and is usable at arcades throughout the Disney property.
All Disney arcades operate under American Amusement Machine Association standards.
Jogging Trail
The jogging trail at All-Star Movies Resort is excellent for starting your day with some exercise or tiring your kids out before bedtime. This one-mile trail goes through all three of the All-Star Resorts.
You can use this trail for a quick run or relaxing walk while soaking in the whimsical decor of the different themed hotels. Be aware that this is one of only two jogging trails in the Animal Kingdom region of Walt Disney World, so you may have to share the path with other runners.
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Amenities
Like other value resorts at Disney World, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort has most of the standard amenities you would expect from a Disney World hotel. Amenities at All-Star Movies Resort include:
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Parking ($15 a night for overnight self-parking)
- Online Check-In
- 24-Hour ATM located in Cinema Hall
- Currency Exchange at the front desk concierge in Cinema Hall
- Housekeeping
- Laundry Services
- Mail Services
- Merchandise Delivery and Pickup
You should consult with the front desk staff for the most current information on hotel services and amenities.
Transportation
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort has two main transportation services: the Disney Bus and the Minnie Van.
The Disney Bus is free and provides transportation to essentially anywhere you may want to go in Walt Disney World, such as the theme parks and water parks. The bus stop for All-Star Movies Resort is in front of Cinema Hall. Typically, the bus service starts 45 minutes before the parks open and continues up to one hour after the last park closes.
If you need help planning your route, you can ask a cast member or use the My Disney Experience app. Given the location of All-Star Movies Resort, you may have to use a combination of the bus and a monorail or boat to get to your final destination.
The Minnie Van is a special car service operated through Lyft. Guests can call a Minnie Van for transportation within Walt Disney World. In the future, guests may be able to use the Minnie Van service for transportation to and from the airport.
Unlike the Disney Bus, the Minnie Van is not complimentary. If you want to use the Minnie Van during your visit, plan to include the ride service fees into your vacation budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort.
Does Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort have complimentary breakfast?
No, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort does not have a complimentary breakfast option. You and your family can pay to eat breakfast at the World Premiere Food Court. According to the Disney website, the average cost for an adult breakfast entree from the food court should be around $14.99.
Depending on your budget needs and priorities, your family may want to shop at a grocery store near the Walt Disney World property. All hotel rooms at All-Star Movies Resort have mini-refrigerators, shelf space, and a small table with chairs.
Is Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort on the property?
Yes, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is on the official Disney property. The resort is in one of the southernmost areas of Walt Disney World. Nearby attractions include Animal Kingdom, ESPN Wide World of Sports, and Blizzard Beach Water Park.
All Walt Disney World attractions are easily accessible with the free Disney Bus system, which stops regularly in front of the Cinema Hall at All-Star Movies Resorts.
How far is Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort from Magic Kingdom?
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is approximately six miles from Magic Kingdom. You can get to Magic Kingdom from All-Star Movies Resort by taking the Disney Bus and getting off at the Magic Kingdom stop.
When you take the Disney Bus to Magic Kingdom you bypass the Magic Kingdom Transportation and Ticket Center, shortening your travel time and simplifying the entrance process.
Are the pools at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort heated?
Like all of the pools inside Walt Disney World, both of the pools at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort have temperature controls to keep the water just right. Disney keeps all of its pools at 82 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. This allows guests to comfortably enjoy the pools regardless of the climate.
How long is the bus ride from Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort to Animal Kingdom?
The bus ride from Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort to Animal Kingdom typically takes at most 15 to 20 minutes. Depending on the busy park traffic, you could get from the All-Star Movies Resort to Animal Kingdom in as quickly as 10 minutes. This is the shortest travel time to Animal Kingdom for any of the All-Star Resorts.
Can you walk between the All-Star Resorts?
Yes, you can walk between the All-Star Resorts. The All-Star Resorts are all part of the same resort complex and connect through walking paths. Aside from creating a convenient jogging trail, the connected All-Star Resorts allow guests to take advantage of amenities from three different hotels.
As All-Star guests, you and your family will be able to use the pools, dining, and recreation services at All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, and All-Star Sports.
However, while the walkability between the hotels is fantastic, there are no walking options for accessing other Walt Disney World attractions. You will need to travel in a bus or car to get to any of the theme parks, water parks, or other resort areas.
Final Thoughts: Is Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Worth It?
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is an enticing hotel option if you are planning a Disney vacation on a budget. If you want a luxurious, romantic, or mature Disney hotel experience, you will want to look at Disney’s moderate resort options.
Although there are likely cheaper rates at hotels outside of the Disney property, a Disney value resort guarantees Disney-level amenities, service, and safety at a fair price.
The All-Star Movies Resort has fun, Disney-themed decor, kid-friendly affordable food, and lots of outdoor space for playing and exploring. Furthermore, the exterior hallway hotel design and the centrally located bus stop make it easy to get your kids out the door and to the theme parks.
Overall, Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is best for families with young children who don’t have a large hotel budget but can afford a moderate-priced hotel outside of Disney. You can still experience the full magic of the Disney Park experience without overspending.
More about our TFVG Author
A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.
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