Value - Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Address: 1701 W. Buena Vista Dr.
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Phone: (407) 939-5000
Fax: (407) 939-7333

This whimsical complex will put you right on the field as both spectator and participant. ; With the larger than life icon such as surfing, basketball, baseball, tennis, and football, you will enjoy the adrenaline rush of staying and playing.

Resort Layout:
Disney's All Star Sports Resort was the first value resort built on the WDW property and opened May 1994. ; There are 1,920 rooms spread between 10 buildings. All the buildings feature larger-than-life sports icons.

The All Star Sports Resort is located on Buena Vista Drive west of World Drive. It is adjacent to the All Star Music Resort, and near All Star Movies, Blizzard Beach, Coronado Springs, and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Surfs Up! (Buildings 1 and 6) are directly behind Stadium Hall , the Resort's central area. However, the pool located between the two buildings can create a lot of noise and congestion. For those seeking a more-laid back vacation but still wanting to be near Stadium Hall, Touchdown ! (Buildings 7 and 10) are not much further away, and tend to be quieter.

Themes:
There are 5 themes in the resort, all, not surprisingly, sports-related. Two buildings facing each other are part of each theme.

Touchdown! is football-themed, and features large helmets and footballs.

You'll "love" Center Court, the tennis-themed area, where you will find four-story rackets and jumbo cans of tennis balls.

Homerun Hotel is baseball's home at the Resort. Giant bats, balls, scoreboards and cups of Coca-Cola make you feel like you're behind home plate cheering on your favorite team.

Surfs Up! brings the waves and thrill of the swells to the All Star Sports. Huge surfboards and lifeguard stands recreate the beach.

Finally, the Hoops Hotel rebounds on the Basketball court, and offers big whistles and "mega" megaphones to Resort guests.

Services & Amenities:
 In-Room pizza delivery
 Concierge desk
 Babysitting and child services
 Pak-n-play crib available
 Room and facilities for guest with disabilities
 Laundry facilities and service
 Self Parking

Guest Rooms:
Rooms with two double beds or one king size bed are available. Rooms with a king bed are designed for disabled travelers and do not have a tub, only a wheelchair-accessible shower. Rooms are 260 sq. feet, compared to 314 sq. feet at the Moderate Resorts (Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter, Coronado Springs, and Caribbean Beach.).
The bathroom features a single sink and mirror (compared to double sinks at Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter) in a vanity area separate from the tub and toilet. ; The showers have liquid soap and shampoo dispensers.

Rooms also feature a clock radio, small table with two chairs, a small safe, a TV and a small 6-drawer dresser. Storage space is adequate for 2. ; The bath tub has a retractable cord that makes a handy clothes line. ; Hair dryers may be requested from housekeeping, they are not standard in each room.

Room views either overlook a parking lot, the central courtyard of your building, or landscaped areas between the buildings. All are considered Standard Views. ; If you have a nonsmoking/smoking room preference, be sure to request it when you make your reservation.

Small refrigerators may be rented, based on availability, for $10/per day.

There are two elevators in each building, located next to each other in the center of the building. There is also a staircase next to the elevators, and a room with an ice machine just behind them. There are also outside staircases at each end of the buildings, so if you're far from the elevators, you can use those stairways. ; The outside staircases are themed (Tennis Ball Can, Coke Cup, etc).

Laundry facilities (coin-operated) are located adjacent to each pool . Detergent is also sold in the vending machines.

Same-day laundry valet service is available Monday through Saturday. Check the price list in your room or contact Guest Services for details.

Irons aren't standard in the rooms, but you can call housekeeping &
request an iron & ironing board.

Check-In & Check-Out:
Check-in time is 3 pm. If you arrive prior to check-in and your room is ready, you will be given your key. If not, your luggage will be stored and you can head for the parks, have lunch, or do whatever you'd like. You will also be given a card with a phone number and charging privileges (if you arrange for them) until your room is ready. Call the Front Desk after 3 pm to obtain your room assignment and have the key activated.

Check-out is 11 am. A limited number of late check-outs (normally 1 pm) are available each day. You should request this when you check-in and reconfirm the night before your departure.

A shower/changing area is available at either of the Resort's two pool areas if you'd like to swim or freshen up after check-out and before your departure. ;

Dining:
There is no sit-down restaurant in any of the Disney Value Resorts. The closest full service restaurant is Maya Grill at the nearby Coronado Springs Resort or Boma and Jiko at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Also nearby is the All Star Cafe at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex, and the Downtown Disney restaurants. Of course, you are welcome to visit or dine at any WDW Resort.

The Team Spirits Pool Bar, offering a full selection of drinks, is located adjacent to the Surfboard Bay pool and to the rear of the Food Court. ; There is even a window that opens into the Food Court Area. ; Usually open from around noon well into the evening, the Pool Bar is a delightful place to enjoy your favorite refreshment and watch the activities at the pool.

The End Zone Food Court, usually open from 6 am until Midnight, offers about a half dozen stands serving a variety of food, as well as a small convenience market with milk, juices, fruit, cereal, yogurt, and the like. ; Food stands include Pizza and Pasta, Barbecue, and The Grill. A "Blue Plate" window usually offers some sort of dinner special, often Prime Rib. There's plenty to choose from, and kids' meals (mac and cheese, chicken fingers, etc.) are available for the finicky eaters in your group.

By arriving at the End Zone Food Court before 7 am, you will find it much LESS crowded than later in the morning. ; It's also nice to take your food and beverages outside to one of the tables.

From 5 pm until midnight, you can order pizza, salads, soft drinks, and beer for delivery to your room. Touch the "Pizza Delivery" button on your phone for information or to place an order.

Tip:
The best beverage deal is the refillable mugs, available for approximate $12 at any of the food court vendors and through pizza delivery. ; The mugs are 16-oz, sturdy, dishwashable safe containers with lids. ; Mugs are refillable for the length of your stay at a self-service beverage island in the center of the food court. ;

Beverages include soft drinks, coffee, tea, iced coffee and tea, and hot chocolate (but not milk or fruit juice).

Recreation:
Pools
Two pools, the Surfboard Bay, located directly behind Stadium Hall between the Surfs Up! buildings, and the Grand Slam , with a water-spouting Goofy Statue, is located in front of the Home Run Hotel . Pool hours vary by the season, but they are often open 24 hours, with quiet periods observed from around 10 pm until 8 am. A kiddie pool is located at Surfboard Bay. Showers, lockers and changing rooms are available at both pools. You must bring your room towels, as pool towels are not available. ; If you find you need extra towels in your room, call Housekeeping.

Playground
There are also few small children's play areas scattered around the Resort. ; In between the 2 Touchdown buildings is a large play area with Xs and Os for kids to play on, plus goal posts, and an area for touch football. ; Signs are posted to limit activity in this area from 10am to 10pm.

Arcade
The Game Point Arcade in Stadium Hall offers a good-sized selection of the latest video games and pinball machines. Posted hours are until 2 am.

Shopping
Sport Goofy Gift and Sundries in Stadium Hall is stocked to the rafters with WDW and All Star souvenirs, sports apparel, postcards, snacks and sundries. Postage stamps are available, as are film, milk, and newspapers. The shop's hours vary by the season. At times it is open 24 hours; other times it will open between 6 and 7 am and close around 11:30 pm or midnight. You will want to verify the hours during your visit at check-in.

Other
The giant icons of each building offer great photo opportunities. Mount Mickey , located in more or less the center of the Resort, gives you the chance to have your photo taken with a statue of the "Big Cheese" himself.

You can walk to the adjacent All Star Music Resort to check out the themed buildings there, enjoy a meal at the Intermission Food Court, or shop at Maestro Mickey's. ; ;Coronado Springs Resort is just a short distance away via the jogging path (ask at the front desk for directions or a map), offering even more possibilities for dining and shopping.

If you're in the mood for a Big Mac, a McDonalds, designed with the All Star Resort style in mind, is located about a 5 minute walk from the resort entrance on Buena Vista Drive. There's even a crosswalk.

Transportation:
Bus transportation is available from the side of Stadium Hall to all major WDW theme parks and entertainment areas. The buses run at least every 20 minutes (more often during peak travel times) from 1 hour before theme park opening until 1.5 to 2 hours after theme park closing. Downtown Disney (including the Disney Marketplace, Pleasure Island and Disney's West Side) is served from 8 am until 2 am. The buses drop you a short walk from each park entrance.

There is only one Bus Stop at the All Star Sports Resort. ; Sometimes your bus may also drop off or pickup passengers at All Star Music or Movies.

Most visitors find the bus service adequate for getting to and from the parks and recreation areas. Some find the buses slow, crowded or uncomfortable.

The one major area in which the WDW transportation system is lacking is Resort to Resort transportation. To travel from one Resort to another, you must transfer buses at a transportation hub. During its operating hours, Animal Kingdom makes a great hub for All Star Resort guests due to its proximity to the Resort. After Animal Kingdom closes for the day, you must bus to another theme park or Downtown Disney to transfer to a Resort bus. It is very advisable to allow AT LEAST an hour to make a connection, although it may take less than that.

Think twice before making arrangements to attend an early (before 8:00 or 8:30 am) Character Breakfast at another Resort when relying on WDW transportation. Guests staying at all Resorts are subjected to this time-consuming process, so it's not something unique to the All Star Sports.

One other tip: Always take the bus to the Magic Kingdom , since driving involves parking, waiting for the tram, and transferring to the ferry or the monorail at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC).

Taxi service is available at all Resorts if time is of the essence, and you will find most one-way fares on the WDW property to be around $12. If it's 10 minutes before your breakfast date with Mary Poppins at the Grand Floridian , it would be a few dollars well spent. ; If you plan to do a lot of Resort hopping or dislike waiting for or riding buses, a car may work better for you, but otherwise you will find you will not need one.

By Bus:
Most areas of the Walt Disney World Resort are accessible by bus from other areas within the Resort, including Theme Parks*, Water Parks, the Disney Resorts and the Downtown Disney® area. Buses travel on routes throughout the Resort and do not provide direct service between all destinations.
*Magic Kingdom® Park is not accessible by bus from Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney's Polynesian Resort. These Resorts provide monorail transportation to the park.

By Boat:
The Magic Kingdom® Park is accessible by water launch from Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and Disney's Wilderness Lodge. The Disney ferryboats connect the Magic Kingdom Park to the Transportation and Ticket Center (adjacent to Magic Kingdom parking).

Epcot® and Disney-MGM Studios are accessible by boat from Disney's BoardWalk Inn and Villas Resort, Disney's Yacht Club and Disney's Beach Club Resorts and the Walt Disney World Swan and Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotels.

Downtown Disney® is accessible by ferryboat from Disney's Port Orleans Resort and Disney's Old Key West Resort.

By Monorail:
Disney's monorail runs between the Magic Kingdom Park, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney's Polynesian Resort and the Transportation and Ticket Center (adjacent to the Magic Kingdom parking lot). A connecting monorail takes Guests from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Epcot.

Rates:
Just like the other WDW hotels, there are Value Season, Regular Season, Peak Season and Holiday Season rates. Rates begin at $77 a night. These are regular rate prices and do not include the 7% Florida Sales Tax nor the 13% resort tax for Osceola County. Rates are based on double occupancy. No charge for children under 17 years old when in the same room as the adults. ; For each adult over 2 there is a $10 per night charge per person. Maximum of 4 persons per room.

Standard rooms have a maximum four-person occupancy per room. For each adult over 2 there is a $10 per night charge per person. Maximum of 4 persons per room.

For reservations, call (407) WDISNEY or contact a travel agent.

Extra Information:
A Guest Services Desk is located in Stadium Hall across from the Front Desk. They can help you with planning just about any facet of a WDW vacation. You can also touch the "Disney Information" button on your room phone for park hours and priority seating information.

A SunTrust Bank ATM machine is located in Stadium Hall, and is available 24 hours a day. A small fee ($2 as of October 1998) is added to the transaction amount of guests not using a card issued by SunTrust Bank.

There are no Kids Clubs at the All Star Resorts.

The All Star Sports Main pool received a rehab and cleanup in May 2000.