Disney's All Star Sports Resort at Walt Disney World is a favorite for families and sports fans. One of Disney's Value Resorts, this hotel is among the lowest priced accommodations at Walt Disney World. Check out my review of Disney's All Star Sports, and see how it stacks up against other hotels both inside and outside Disney World.
Theme and Style: Sports fans feel right at home at All Star Sports. Giant tennis ball rackets, hockey sticks, baseball bats and surfboard decorate the guest room buildings. Yes, that's right. The giant decor is overwhelming to some guests. But sports fans and children love it!
Room Rates: Standard rooms range from $82 per night during the Value Season to $129 per night during the Holiday Season. Preferred rooms, which are closer to the main building, are about $12 per night more expensive. Due to the size of the resort, the additional fee for the Preferred Room is worth it.
Guest Rooms: All guest rooms are the smallest at Disney World, about 260 square feet. They open to exterior hallways or balconies, which is typical for all Value and Moderate Resorts. (Only Deluxe Resorts have interior hallways.)
Each room is equipped with:
Two double beds that sleep four. (Note that these are double beds, not queens. Some king rooms are available, but they are very limited and most are designed for guests with physical disabilities.)
One vanity sink, with a separate bathroom that houses the toilet and bathtub with shower.
One six-drawer bureau, small table with two side chairs.
Telephone with data port.
High-speed Internet connection. ($10/day fee)
The furniture is art deco style with colorful accents. The bedding is covered with colorful sports images. Light fixtures are shaped like megaphones and stars. Imagine the themed bedding and decoration kits available for teens' bedrooms, and you've got the general idea. Not high fashion, but appropriate.
Food and Dining: The End Zone Food Count offers breakfast, lunch and dinner service at four counter-service stations. Most meals are typical fast food, such as hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza, but one station serves home-style meals, such as fried chicken or roast turkey, for dinner. The Deli Market sells prepackaged sandwiches, salads, fruit, desserts and snacks. The healthiest options are the salads and sandwiches. But who really cares during vacation?
Pizza delivery service is available in the evening. It's perfect when your family doesn't want to go out for dinner, and the pizza is actually quite good. Team Spirits serves specialty drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic), beer and snacks. Since the service is at a counter outdoors (only a small counter indoors), I prefer to purchase adult beverages at the resort shop and take it to our room.
Of course, if you want more dining options, you can travel to another resort or the theme parks. Deluxe Resorts have more fine dining choices and character meals.
Shopping: Sport Goofy Gifts and Sundries is a large gift shop with a wide selection of T-shirts, toys and other souvenirs. There's also an excellent selection of packaged bakery goods, snacks and beverages. It is quite possible to get enough supplies for inexpensive breakfasts and lunches if your family is on a budget.
Recreation and Entertainment: Our favorite recreation at All Star Sports are the two large themed pools. The "Surf's Up" pool is more shaded and next to the main building with the food court, so we stop there more often. The other pool is shaped like a baseball diamond - not as exciting, but frequently less crowded. But this resort is probably best known for the football field playground. Just for the record, there's also a small arcade. Kids and teen boys are probably the ones that will enjoy it most.
Transportation: Buses transport guests from All Star Spots to the theme parks and Downtown Disney. All three of the All Star Resorts share the bus service, so the rides can be long. All Star Sports is the first stop, which helps at the end of a long day. If you're headed to another resort, you'll need to take the bus to a theme park or Downtown Disney then take whatever transportation is best to that resort. (Yes, it can be complicated, but it's the same for any of the Value or Moderate Resorts.)
Overall Review and Recommendations: Even though All Star Sports is in the "lowest class" hotel at Disney World, it's still a Disney property. I've consistently found the service, cleanliness and attention to detail as good here as at many four- and five-star hotels. Families with young children, sports fans and anyone with a good sense of humor - or a sense of adventure - or on a budget will appreciate its special features.
