Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort: The Complete 2022 Guide

All Star Movies Resort Reopening


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When you’re looking to stay at Disney World on a budget, the All-Star suite of resorts is an excellent choice. Broken down into three resort complexes – Sports, Music, and Movies, the All-Star resorts have fun theming and a unique atmosphere perfect for families.

Their location is also ideal for those looking to head to the Animal Kingdom or Blizzard Beach, as well as other local Orlando attractions.

As the name suggests, the sections of Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort each have a different sports theme – tennis, basketball, football, baseball, and surfing.

From the classical Disney figures on the lawns to the larger-than-life sports equipment, your little athletes will love the atmosphere!

All-Star Sports is also perfect for school trips and sports competitions, as the block layout of the resort lends itself to keeping track of your whole party.


Table of Contents


Resort Snapshot: Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

When you arrive at Disney’s All-Star Sports, the bright, bold lettering already gets you excited for what the rest of the resort holds.

The main building, Stadium Hall, has the look of an indoor track arena in the main lobby area. As you move through Stadium Hall, you’ll find Sport Goofy Gifts and Sundries as well as End Zone Food Court. Pick up a gelato from the food court before exploring the merchandise.

Right out the back of Stadium Hall is the Surf’s Up Pool, the main theme pool for the resort. This block of rooms is also the Surf’s Up section, and is closest to the majority of the amenities. All of the themed sections have two T-shaped buildings, facing each other with a courtyard section in the middle. These courtyards have the same sports theme as the space, giving you and your family a chance to jump right into playing your favorite sport.


History of Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

Built in 1994, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort was the first value resort on Disney World property. This was part of a move in the 1990s to provide budget options with that Disney-level of quality, particularly for young families. Hugely successful, especially with the construction of Disney’s Animal Kingdom right down the road, All-Star Sports started a completely new category of resort – Value Resorts.

By the end of 1999, the All-Star resort complex was complete, paving the way for Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation. While many people seem to pass over All-Star Sports, its significance remains in starting the value resort model.


Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort Amenities

As a value resort, Disney’s All-Star Sports doesn’t have the same level of amenities as the deluxe, or even moderate level, resort have to offer. However, All-Star Sports has plenty to keep your family comfortable and having fun. The Disney quality remains at this resort, as do the benefits of staying on property. It’s the best way to get the wallet-friendly hotel and the Disney-level experience all in one vacation.

Rooms at All-Star Sports

There’s only one type of room at Disney’s All-Star Sports – the standard hotel-style room. These rooms have two double beds and a split bathroom, with the sink outside the bathroom and the toilet and shower-tub in the bathroom. The TV sits inside armoire, which also has drawers for storage. In addition to the drawers, a mini-fridge is in the bottom of the armoire if you have any cold items you would like to store. A small, two-person table completes the room, although there are a few places to hang items throughout the space.

Even though there’s only one room layout, there are two categories of rooms – standard and preferred. As we’ve seen before, the preferred rooms aren’t any different in terms of size or layout. What makes a room preferred is the location within the resort. Preferred rooms are typically in the Surf’s Up! section of All-Star Sports, which is the closest to Stadium Hall. Paying a little bit extra to get a preferred room puts you closer to the food and Disney bus transportation, as well as the main pool.

The décor shows classic Disney characters in their sporty best, covering all the different sports played in the resort. Again, you get what you pay for in this instance. The rooms are simple, but still comfortable, and ideal for small families looking to spend a lot of time out of the room.

Pools

There are two pools at Disney’s All-Star Resort – Surfboard Bay Pool and Grand Slam Pool

The Surfboard Bay Pool is the main themed pool of the resort, located in the Surf’s Up! section of the resort. The two buildings of the Surf’s Up! section face in towards the pool, giving guests on those sides of the buildings a great view of the pool area. Those guests also have immediate access to the pool, perfect if you have little swimmers in your group.

Surfboard Bay is an expansive pool space, with fun wave themes and plenty of shaded seating. For those that have littles, a baby pool is right near the main pool, perfect for wading and splashing. You can also find lounge chairs near the baby pool if you want to make that your “home base.” There are some tables spread throughout the pool also, but there are definitely more lounge chairs than tables. If you want a table, I suggest going down to the pool early or trying to hit it later in the afternoon around 3:00 or 4:00, when people are starting to leave.

Grand Slam Pool, as the name suggests, is in the baseball-themed Homerun Hotel section of All-Star Sports. A quieter pool, this is an ideal alternative if you have littles that aren’t quite ready to play in the pool with the big kids. The pool is the in-field of the baseball diamond, while the pool deck serves as the outfield. Pitcher Goofy stands on the pitcher’s mound with his pitcher’s cannon (yes, cannon), spraying those that swim by the mound.

Parking

For those planning to have their own vehicle, there’s plenty of parking at All-Star Sports. Each building has access to close parking, with the exception of buildings three and six, which are internal to the resort. If you’re looking for a building with parking on all sides, make a request for building eight in the Homerun Hotel section.

As a value resort, the overnight parking fee is $15 per night. All-Star Sports does not have a valet parking option. As always, you can come visit the resort for fun, provided the resort doesn’t have an event that would make it overly busy.


Sports and Recreation at Disney’s All-Star Sports

As a value resort, All-Star Sports doesn’t necessarily have all the same sports options as some of the higher tier stays. However, there is still plenty to do!

Jogging Trails

Those who love a good walk or run will enjoy this jogging trail through the entire All-Star resort areas. The trail is approximately one and a half miles long, going from the end of All-Star Sports all the way to the end of All-Star Movies. While the trail isn’t a circuit, you have the benefit of being at the beginning end of the trail. This makes your total run or walk about three miles. This is also a great activity in the evening, taking you around the entirety of the resort while giving you the chance to take some great pictures along the way.

Playground

Over in the Touchdown! section, a playground complex is the perfect way for your younger kiddos to get out some energy. Especially if you’re taking a break from the parks, you don’t want to just sit in your room during the vacation. Let your little ones swing, slide, run around, and just be kids! They will also love the larger-than-life aspects of the football field, letting them pretend to make plays and be the MVP of their own game.

Game Point Arcade

While some of the deluxe resorts are getting rid of their arcades, this feature fits right in at All-Star Sports! Next to the food court in Stadium Hall is Game Point Arcade, with all of your typical arcade entertainment. This is a great stop on a rainy day, as you can have fun playing the games together without being stuck in your room.

Movie under the Stars

Like many of the Disney resorts, All-Star Sports offers an outdoor movie night on select evenings. This is a great way to wrap up your day, especially if you’re not in a park or don’t have to get up early the next morning. Bring your own snacks, a blanket or chairs, and of course your whole family! The movies are always Disney favorites and kid-friendly, so you don’t need to worry about the content. One of the benefits of the family atmosphere!

Movies at All-Star Sports are also on the football field in the Touchdown! section, providing plenty of space for all who want to come and watch. This set of buildings is near the front of the resort, right next to the Surf’s Up! section.  


Disney’s All-Star Sports Transportation Options

As far as transportation goes, the options at All-Star Sports are limited. However, that’s what makes All-Star Sports a great place for drivers, as you have plenty of parking and quick access to the rest of Walt Disney World.

If you’re looking to take Disney transportation, you’re going to be using the Disney bus system. The bus stop is right out front of Stadium Hall, and that’s the only place to catch a bus. If you’re on the other side of the resort, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to walk over to Stadium Hall to get your bus. Once you’re on a Disney bus, you can get over to another resort or park to use another type of Disney transportation.


Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort Location

Image: Disney Maps

Disney’s All-Star resorts, including All-Star Sports, are right off Osceola Parkway at the lower end of the resort. While you can see the resorts from 192, you can’t actually get to the resorts from that road. In addition, All-Star Sports is not part of the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex – don’t get confused.

To get onto Osceola Parkway, get off Florida 400 (I-4) at the W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway (530) Disney World exit, and then turn right onto World Drive. At the next light, you’ll turn left onto Osceola Parkway, and almost immediately left again into the All-Star resort complex. All three All-Star resorts have the same main road connecting them, with their own small entrances for each individual resort.

Disney’s All-Star Resort Address

1701 West Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-8401


Contact Information

If you need to contact the resort directly, call (407) 939-5000. However, if you have any questions about bookings, tickets, or packages, you should call (407) 939-5277 to speak with a Disney World representative. All dining reservations go through Disney’s online booking service.

Get ready to have a ball with your stay at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort!


Grace Hoyos, Staff Writer

Grace is a life-long lover of all things Disney, particularly the parks at Walt Disney World. She is also an avid Disney Cruise Line enthusiast who regularly dreams of the white sands of Castaway Cay. Grace loves the fact that her Disney trips give her time to spend with her family, enjoy incredible food, and try new experiences.



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