Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort in Orlando, Florida [In-depth Review]

Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort is part of the “Value Resort” category at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, which offers guests the perks of staying onsite without the hefty price tag.

If you have taken a family vacation to Disney lately, you know that it can be quite expensive. So a budget-friendly hotel that still includes a lot of the Disney perks (and some Disney magic) is a great option for families who want to save a few bucks.

These Value Resorts have been known to get some extreme opinions. Some think they are fun and offer a good value while others think they are a bit tacky and too similar to a cheap motel. I think Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort falls somewhere in the middle.

Normally, during family trips to Orlando, I tend to stay offsite as I can often get good value using hotel points as opposed to paying cash to be closer to the parks. However, on a recent solo trip, I decided to do some research for a future family vacation and checked out this recently renovated property.

Let’s take a look at my stay and what you can expect during yours.

Hotel Location

The 1,920-room All-Star Movie Resort is located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Resort Area at Walt Disney World, adjacent to Disney’s All-Star Music Resort and Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort.

If you’ve visited Walt Disney World before, you have likely driven right past the entrance to the resort area, as it’s just minutes from the park gates.

The resort is located about 22 miles from Orlando International Airport (MCO), which takes about 25 minutes without traffic.

For guests who are not renting a car at the airport, the Magical Express bus is no longer a free perk of Disney hotels. It has been replaced with the Mears Connect airport shuttle with service starting at $16 per adult and $13.50 per child ages 3 to 9 (one-way), and The Sunshine Flyer airport shuttle with service starting at $17 per adult and $12.50 per child ages 3 to 9 (one-way)

Hot Tip: Don’t miss our guide on how to visit Walt Disney World for cheap using points and miles! 

Booking

My trip to Orlando was last-minute, right around spring break, so I was expecting prices to be quite high at Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the “Value Resort” tag was still relevant when I went to book at DisneyWorld.com.

Rates normally start at $120 plus tax per night. For my 1-night, last-minute stay, rates started at $148 plus tax — which I thought was quite reasonable.

There are only 2 room types, and both were available during my stay:

• Standard Room — $148 plus tax
• Preferred Room — $181 plus tax (what I booked)

Despite very little information on the Disney website, I decided to book the Preferred Room as it appeared to have a better location and the price difference wasn’t crazy.

One thing to note is there is no resort fee — yay!

To pay for this stay, I used my Citi Prestige^® Card which earns 3x Citi ThankYou Points on hotels. Since I hadn’t used my annual $250 travel credit yet, the entire charge was reimbursed to my account, plus I earned the points.

Hot Tip: The Citi Prestige card isn’t available for new applications, but here’s our detailed guide to the best credit cards for Disney and Universal vacations.

Checking In

Unless you are arriving by the Mears Connect bus, you’ll likely arrive by car or taxi.

Since I rented a car at the airport, I drove myself and followed the signs toward Disney and eventually towards Disney’s All-Star Resorts.

Before entering the resort area, I stopped at a booth where a security guard confirmed my reservation. When returning later in the day, I simply showed my room key.

After passing through the security booth, I followed the shady, winding road past Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort and Disney’s All-Star Music Resort and finally arrived at the star of the show — Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort.

Signage was clear, and I made my way to the check-in parking lot where I left my car while I went inside to see if my room was ready.

Walking towards the hotel, it was clear this hotel is geared toward fun.

A giant star and a red carpet walkway welcomed guests into a bright lobby area.

I arrived around 11 a.m. and the lobby was not too busy. I would assume at this time of day, most guests are either at the parks or by the pool.

I was quickly attended to and the agent efficiently went over all of the property amenities and perks for my stay — even though I wouldn’t be visiting any parks.

Despite my room not being available for early check-in, the front desk agent gave me a room key and said I would receive a text message with my room number when the room was ready. He also told me that I could use the Disney World app as a virtual key if I preferred.

So, I left my bags with the bellman and went to explore this fun not-so-little property.

Hot Tip: If you have a Disney trip coming up, be sure to download the Disney World app, as that is where you will also find the Disney Genie (new FastPass) service. 

Amenities

Technically, at least judging by the official name, Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort is a resort. However, if you have ever been to a resort (especially a resort such as the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress), you may find the amenities here lacking.

When people compare this property to a motel, it is not for lack of design or cleanliness, it is due to the limited services and general layout. Having room service or even pool service are amenities you might expect at a resort — but don’t expect those here.

That being said, going in with the right expectations can certainly improve your experience. I’m sure that if it were renamed “All-Star Movie Motel,” people would be impressed at what a nice motel it is! However, I don’t think Disney would like that rebrand…

Moving on!

Pools

Technically there are 3 pools on the property, however, for most guests, there is only 1 worth visiting.

Fantasia Pool

The Fantasia Pool is the main and most popular pool at Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort.

Located in the center of the resort is a large pool with a Sorcerer Mickey water fountain as the centerpiece. It’s just out the back doors of Cinema Hall (where the lobby, food court, and arcade are) and next to the Fantasia buildings.

This pool had a very simple (think public pool or summer camp) but fun and family-friendly vibe to it.

There were plenty of uncomfortable lounge chairs to choose from.

Complimentary life jackets were available for the little ones.

Towels were easily accessible.

With a maximum depth of 5 feet (1.5 meters) that was much shallower around the edges, this was a great spot for families to hang out and relax during an off day or break from the parks.

Unfortunately, there was no food and beverage service by the pool. So if you want to feed some hungry kids, you will need to bring your own food or head over to the food court.

Duck Pond Pool

The Duck Pond Pool is located in the Mighty Ducks section of the hotel.

The pool sits in between the themed buildings and the locker rooms (bathrooms).

During my brief stay, the Duck Pond Pool was always less crowded than the Fantasia Pool. After overhearing multiple kids providing “feedback” to their parents, it was clear that the Duck Pond Pool was not as fun of an option.

The pool itself was smaller and did not have any water feature, so I could see how kids would find this spot boring in comparison to the larger and busier Fantasia Pool.

That being said, it was in a quieter area of the resort, so that may be a plus for some families, especially those with very small children.

Kiddie Pool

Finally, a family-friendly Disney resort would not be complete without a proper Kiddie Pool.

Located right next to Fantasia Pool was a cute splash pad with a wading pool for smaller guests.

With a snow/ice theme and a soft area to jump around, this was a nice spot for little ones to catch a break from the Florida heat without venturing into the big pools.

The pools were open from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Playground

As a parent, one of the most underrated amenities at a hotel can often be a playground.

A good playground can be a savior when the kids need to burn some energy and jumping into the pool isn’t an option.

The playground at Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort wasn’t huge, but it had enough to keep multiple families busy at once.

Located in a nice shaded area between the Fantasia and Toy Story areas, the playground had multiple slides, climbing structures, and hideouts for kids ages 5 to 12.

With a mix of sand and rubber flooring, kids could run around without fear of skinned knees.

Reel Fun Arcade

Another underrated hotel amenity, at least according to my kids, is the video game arcade — and the Reel Fun Arcade at Disney’s All-Star Resort is a good one.

Located inside Cinema Hall, right across from the food court, the arcade had an impressive number of games for all ages.

From Disney-branded options like Star Wars and Marvel to classics like air hockey and Pac-Man, kids could easily forget they are just steps from Walt Disney World.

As a parent who has weathered some Florida storms with kids in tow, having an indoor option like this is always welcome.

Movies Under the Stars

Located right outside of the World Premiere Food Court is The Reel Spot, a screening room where guests can watch Disney films each evening.

Despite being covered, this is where Movies Under the Stars happens each evening.

To have an idea of what is shown, here are the movies that were offered the week of my stay:

If I was in town on Saturday night, you would have found me at The Reel Spot.

Early Theme Park Entry

One of the biggest perks of staying at an official Disney hotel is Early Theme Park Entry.

Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels (and select partner hotels) can get access to the theme parks 30 minutes before regular admission.

That may not seem like a big deal to some, but if you have seen the lines at popular rides lately, you know that getting a head start on thousands of other visitors can be a huge win.

Those extra 30 minutes could score you 1 or 2 hard-to-get rides before the gates open, leaving you with more flexibility throughout the day.

Of course, to enter the parks early, you will need a valid theme park admission, park reservation, and proof of reservation (room key or app).

Disney Bus Transportation

Another big perk is the complimentary bus service between the hotel and Disney Theme parks, as well as Disney Springs.

Located just outside the main entrance of the hotel was a bus stop where guests could catch a ride every 20 minutes or so.

Bus service starts 45 minutes before park opening and ends 1 hour after closing. For guests visiting Disney Springs, the service starts at the same time as operating hours and ends 1 hour after closing.

The Disney Bus service can get mixed reviews. While some love the simplicity, others prefer to either drive or call an Uber to avoid waiting or to ensure they are not late for rope drop.

Donald’s Double Feature

A Disney hotel wouldn’t be complete without somewhere to buy Disney merch, right?

Fear not, Donald’s Double Feature is the resort’s in-house Disney store, located just off the main lobby in Cinema Hall.

This store is a bit of a hybrid, with plenty of Disney swag, but also snacks and drinks (including alcoholic beverages) to enjoy at the resort.

Wireless Internet

The internet was fast and easy to connect to during my stay.

Jogging Trail

Again, another glaring item missing from the “resort” was a fitness center. There was no gym or workout facility at Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort.

Instead, there was a complimentary 1-mile-long jogging trail around the property.

As much as I love a good outdoor run in the Florida heat, having a proper fitness center is a bare minimum even at a budget hotel, let alone a Disney resort.

Pet Friendly

Unless you are traveling with a service animal, pets are not welcome at Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort.

Laundry

Parents will be happy to know that laundry is available at Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort.

In fact, the laundry facility was actually quite impressive…for a motel! Kidding!

Located right next to the Fantasia Pool and Kiddie Pool is an iceberg-shaped laundry room.

There were about 6 washers and 12 dryers available.

A detergent vending machine was also available.

Washes were $3 and could be paid for using a credit card (or tap to pay), and you could scan a QR code to set alerts when the load was done — nice touch!

Parking

Parking at Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort was $15 per night. The parking lots were spread out near each building. If you know where you are staying, you can park closer to your room.

Self-parking was the only option. No valet, but bellmen were available to help with bags.

Hot Tip: If you pay for parking at a Disney hotel, you will also receive complimentary standard parking at any of the Disney theme parks. Since standard parking normally costs $25, this is a great deal if you want to drive instead of taking the bus to the parks. 

The Room

As you have likely noticed from the photos, Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort is themed around… Disney movies!

The rooms are broken up into 5 movie-themed sections, each with 2 buildings of rooms, named:

• Mighty Ducks
• 101 Dalmations
• Love Bug
• Fantasia
• Toy Story

The naming and numbering were admittedly confusing to me at first, but after I got my bearings, finding my room was simple enough.

Around 2 p.m. I received an email and a text message notifying me that my room was ready and I could go straight to my room and use my key or app to open the door.

After a bit of wandering, I found my Preferred Room in the Fantasia building and used the app to easily unlock my door — gotta love it when technology works properly!

I was assigned room 5754, which was on the ground floor and centrally located within the resort.

Since it appears that all rooms are 260 square feet (24 square meters), location seems to be the only real benefit of booking a Preferred Room.

Before I got to my room, the luggage and even a package that I had sent to the hotel were in the room waiting for me. Disney efficiency at its finest. Package handling (regardless of delivery or pickup) is $6. 

Bedroom

Upon walking into the room, there was a minifridge (not a minibar), a coffee maker, and a large window immediately to the right.

Since this room was on the ground floor and guests were constantly walking by, the window shades had to be closed for privacy.

The coffee maker was easy to use and the Joffrey’s Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Blend Dark Roast was quite good!

There was decaf coffee and tea available as well.

The room itself is not large, but it was clean and bright, and the space was well organized.

Unless you request an ADA/handicapped accessible room, beds will be queen-sized. ADA rooms are equipped with a king-sized bed and a roll-in shower.

Across from the bed was a large TV, some storage, and an impressive amount of flat space for a small room.

USB outlets were plentiful.

Murphy Bed

At first glance, you might wonder how a family of 4 could sleep in this room (which is what is advertised). Enter a kid favorite — the Murphy bed!

When folded into the wall, a good-sized table and 2 chairs take up the space where the bed will eventually rest.

When pulled down (do so dramatically for extra points with your kids), a queen-sized bed magically appears with a cute Disney design above the headboard.

This essentially turns the room into 1 giant bed, plus your luggage, so you may want to keep the bed up when not in use.

Bathroom

The bathroom was quite small, but well-lit and with 2 doors for extra privacy.

In the bathroom was an open closet with an ironing board hanging on the backside of it.

The single sink had a bar of Disney sea salt facial soap.

Behind a sliding door was a toilet and shower/bathtub combination. I appreciate the glass door, as I am not a fan of shower curtains in hotels!

However, one thing that I wasn’t a fan of was the shared body wash, shampoo, and conditioner dispensers.

Overall, the room was comfortable and well-designed. However, the walls were very thin. At 7 a.m. I heard every family nearby waking up (likely trying to secure a Genie+ reservation) and getting ready for the parks. I can’t remember a hotel where I could so clearly hear so many neighbors.

Food and Beverage

Disney describes the food at this resort as a “wide-ranging selection of delicious dining offerings.” While there was certainly a decent selection of cafeteria-style food, “wide-ranging” is a stretch, as you would probably find yourself repeating meals after the second day.

That said, overall, food was relatively affordable and certainly aimed at keeping kids and picky eaters happy.

World Premiere Food Court

Located in Cinema Hall, the World Premiere Food Court offers quick-service, all-American fare, which pretty much means burgers, fries, pizza, and ice cream.

With 5 different stands, there was a tiny bit of variety, but this menu was designed to keep costs down and kids happy. To get an idea of the options, you can take a look at the online menu.

Breakfast was pretty standard across the stands that were open. Mickey waffles and bacon were a popular choice at tables across the food court. I opted for a bacon egg and cheese bagel — it was good.

Here is a quick sample of what to expect at the 5 dining options in the World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort:

Majestic

In the mornings, Majestic was open for breakfast. This is where I got my sandwich.

For lunch and dinner, pizza and pasta were the main dishes.

A large cheese pizza cost $17.99.

Lyric

Lyric had the biggest line for breakfast, as that was where you could get the famous Mickey-shaped waffles, even plant-based Mickey waffles!

Breakfast platters with eggs and bacon were also available.

For lunch and dinner, there were heartier meals including chili in a bread bowl, a roasted salmon dinner, and an herb-roasted turkey dinner.

The turkey dinner cost $14.49.

Roxy

Roxy was open for breakfast but did not appear to be that popular in the morning; it specialized mostly in omelets.

In the afternoon and evening, it turned into a popular burger joint with fries and chicken fingers — a favorite amongst smaller guests.

A bacon cheddar burger cost $12.49. 

Rialto

Rialto was a dessert stand that was closed in the mornings.

In the afternoon and evening, this was the place to grab an ice cream sundae or ice cream cookie sandwich.

A single-scoop waffle cone cost $4.99.

Grand

Grand was a grab-and-go section with snacks, sandwiches, and baked goods.

There was also a beverage section with bottled water, juice, soda, beer, and wine.

For tap water, you could refill bottles at the soda fountains in the center of the food court seating area.

Hot Tip: To save time in the morning, or while relaxing by the pool, use the Disney World app to place a mobile order so your food is waiting for you. 

Silver Screen Spirits Pool Bar

If you enjoy a nice adult beverage by the pool, you will be happy to know that Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort had a decent bar.

Located just out the back of the food court, steps away from Fantasia Pool, Silver Screen Spirits Pool Bar had a nice lineup of poolside frozen drinks (both alcoholic and non), beer, wine, and sangria.

Personally, I was very happy to see Dole Whip on the menu. I had Malibu Coconut rum added to mine.

One negative experience I had was with the payment for food and drinks. Billing to the room was not as simple as just stating my room number and signing.

I could either pay via the Disney World app (which didn’t work for me) or tap my room key. When I tapped my room key, it asked for a PIN that I had apparently set up. None of the PINs I tried worked, so I ended up just tapping my card to pay. Not a big deal, but I like to keep all of my dining expenses on my room to earn extra points, obviously!

Service

Overall, the service was friendly and efficient — as expected from a Disney property.

That being said, it was nothing special.

I understand this is not a luxury or immersive Disney hotel, but if it weren’t for the giant character statues, this could easily be confused with any basic hotel… or dare I say motel!

There was just a bit of magic missing, in my opinion.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I enjoyed my stay at Disney’s All-Star Movie Resort.

I thought the theme was fun, the rooms were comfortable, and the price was fair — especially for being onsite just minutes from Walt Disney World.

However, this “resort” is not without its drawbacks. Motel vibes, no fitness center, very limited service, and a fun but simple pool could convince people to spend a little more to stay elsewhere.

Plus, the thin walls will certainly be a negative for anyone not heading out early to the parks.

I would certainly visit again with my family under the right circumstances, and I think the theme park parking deal is an underrated perk. But just based on the hotel itself (not including the Disney perks), I would probably spend my money elsewhere.

And if you are like me and have some points to burn, Orlando has plenty of excellent options.