All-Star Movies Resort
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Reviewer's Name:
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Tara Whittle |
Reviewer's Email Address:
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tarawhittle@aol.com |
Rate / Night (for your stay):
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$66.60 plus tax |
Date(s) of Stay:
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October 9 - October 17, 1999 |
Accommodation Used:
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Standard Room / Studio |
Accommodations Review:
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On to the room itself...our room had two double beds, each covered
in a multi-colored spread featuring icons of all the All-Star resorts.
I presume this is so they can use any bedspread at any of the three
resorts. There was a small table between the beds with a telephone
and one drawer. Inside the drawer is a resort postcard - many people
never look in the drawer and don't realize that they provide these
postcards for free. They make nice souvenirs or scrapbook material!
Across from the beds is a small table with two chairs. On the wall
above that is a light fixture that looks like a box of movie popcorn.
On the wall beside the beds is a movie poster from Toy Story. The
entire room had a wallpaper border of Toy Story characters. (In the
other sections, these details would reflect the appropriate movies.)
Moving right along that wall opposite the beds...next to the table
was a teal and black chest of drawers, on top of which a color TV
sat. (At the moderate and deluxe resorts, the TV is housed inside
an armoire with a little more storage space.) The vanity was teal
and black as well and features one sink and the usual set up of
ice bucket and glasses. To one side was a nook with a clothes bar,
an overhead rack and a small safe. To the other side was the enclosed
bathroom. The bathroom is done in black and white tile with a filmstrip
border in the tile on the walls and a black shower curtain with
white stars. This was the cutest part of the room, in my opinion.
On the shower wall was a dispenser for liquid soap and shampoo/conditioner.
Definitely bring your own if you are picky...theirs always leaves
my hair feeling dry.
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Why Did you Select This Resort for your Stay?
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Price, Since we were traveling with extended family and needed two
rooms. |
Room # and Location Description:
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9844 - Toy Story section, building 9, second floor |
Room Location Pros & Cons:
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We thought this location was very convenient, all things considered.
There is a security guard posted at almost all hours to keep people
from climbing all over the giant figure of Woody. There is a small
courtyard with a giant "door" entrance - it's all set up
to look like Andy's room from the movie, complete with blocks, Bo
Peep and other items. This area is pretty cute...good for photos! |
Check-In / Check-Out Comments:
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An anecdote from Tara's trip report:
We caught a bus back to the hotel and went to Guest Services to
find out our room number. The CM looked it up and told us it was
9844 - Toy Story section, building 9, second floor. We'd requested
connecting rooms, but didn't get them. Oh well, no tragedy there.
Then I realized that our luggage had been stored under Liz's name,
so I asked if there was a possibility we could have it delivered
to our room. (My fear was they wouldn't release any luggage to us
since it was in her name.) She said that wouldn't be a problem and
called Bell Services to find it had already been delivered to their
room (9845). Then she looked at her screen and said, "Oh, when
the Randbys arrive they'll have to have new keys cut because your
room numbers changed so you could be closer together." I worried
that this would be a hassle for them (Note for those planning a
trip for a large group: as the trip planner, I felt a huge amount
of responsibility for everyone enjoying every moment of the trip
with as little aggravation as possible). So I asked, "When
they call to find out their room number, will they be told to come
to the desk first and pick up new keys or will they get to the room
and find their keys don't work and not know why?" The CM said,
"Whoever they talk to will tell them their keys have to be
reissued...if they are smart enough to look at the computer screen!"
We walked up to our room, inserted my key in the door and ...wait
a minute, red light, locked door. So we tried again. And again.
Then we tried Joe's card. Still no luck. I went to the phone near
the elevator and called the Front Desk to report that my room key
didn't work. The CM said, "That's because your room number
was changed and you'll have to have new keys cut at the Front Desk."
What? Why didn't the first CM we talked to tell us this? After all
that talk about the other keys having to be changed and her crack
about "if they are smart enough to look at the screen"???
Oh well. We walked to the front desk and had this little detail
taken care of. In the meantime, the Randbys returned from Blizzard
Beach and I stopped Liz and had her get the room keys exchanged.
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WDW Transportation Comments:
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Having a car was a big help. Being a bit spoiled by deluxe resort
transportation (from previous trips), it was a great convenience to
have a car at ASMo. I love Disney transportation, but with the crowds
at ASMo, the last thing I wanted was yet another long, crowded bus
ride.
Just outside from the lobby is the bus stop. Here is where the
buses load and unload passengers for all WDW destinations. There
are a few wire benches here (not very comfy). Also, the overhang
is "supported" by giant letters that spell out "All-Star
Movies". The "Ls" make for nice benches, too. Part
of the stop area is covered, but two of the stops are beyond the
overhand, out in the open.
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Restaurant / Lounge Review:
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Just past the shop is Intermission Hall, the hotel food court. The
different food counters are made to resemble old-fashioned movie theaters
with names like "Rialto" and "Bijoux." Each has
a different type of food service - hot sandwiches and burgers, pizza,
entrees, baked goods, etc. There is a large bank of coolers with milk,
juices, pudding, Jello, fruit, salads, etc. Small boxes of cereal,
trail mix, etc. are also available. Beyond the registers is a counter
with microwaves and toasters for preparing bagels, muffins, etc. In
the center of the dining area is a round drink service area. They
serve Coca-Cola products, Hi-C fruit drinks and Minute Maid lemonade.
Hot water is available, as are tea bags, half and half, lemon wedges,
sugar, and hot chocolate mix. There are also dispensers for condiments
like ketchup and mustard. Large cart-like things store napkins and
wrapped plastic utensils, along with paper plates and bowls. |
Pool Description / Comments:
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Some comments about locations are given below. Also, here's
an anecdote from Tara's trip report:
Jillian, Liz and I soaked our feet in the pool while the boys swam
and Joe and Scott had a beer at the pool bar. I was surprised at
how busy the pool was, even later at night.
Soaking our feet wasn't quite as soothing as we'd hoped. The pool
was so chlorinated that it was actually making my skin sting! So,
Liz stretched out on a lounge chair to watch the boys while Jillian
and I went to the room for our mugs.
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What Suggestions Would you Give Anyone that is Considering This
Resort?
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Lots of information below! |
Other Comments:
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As you might know, All-Star Movies (ASMo) is the newest of Disney's
value resorts. These resorts are aimed at families and those wanting
to experience the magic of staying on-site at a more affordable price.
Each features larger-than-life icons of its theme: Sports features
giant footballs and basketballs; Music features giant instruments.
The resort is at the end of Buena Vista Drive, just past its Sports
and Music "sisters." A brushed metal sign marks the entrance
that features that staple of Disney resorts - a security guard and
gate. This is one thing I like about WDW hotels - I always feel
safe. The entrance to the lobby is marked by a giant (30-40 foot
tall?) gold star of the same brushed metal as the entrance sign.
To the left of the glass entrance doors is a Bell Services desk
where you can leave your luggage for storage or delivery. Through
the glass doors of the entryway is Cinema Hall - the resort center.
To the right of the large, open space is the front desk...complete
with a roped-off queue area to control check-in lines. Along the
back wall of the counter is a mural of "Hollywood", including
a painting of whatever building it is at Disney in CA that has the
dwarves holding up the roof instead of columns. Part of the front
desk is reserved for Guest Services. This is where you can make
priority seatings and handle other arrangements of this sort.
Across from the front desk is a little theater with a big screen
TV and a few rows of movie theater-style seats. Disney animated
features are show here for little ones to watch while parents are
busy checking in. Small activity packs are also available at the
desk to keep kids occupied. (I noticed that very few parents supervised
their children in this area when we were checking in.) There are
also rows of benches along this side of the lobby that are perfect
for sitting and waiting for others to handle check in, etc.
Just past these benches is an alcove with restrooms and a bank
of telephones. There are both pay phones and house phones for calls
within WDW and local calls.
Back inside, just inside bus stop doors you'll find Donald's Double
Feature - the resort gift shop. They sell a large selection of resort-themed
merchandise, millennium-themed merchandise and some general WDW
stuff (saying "Walt Disney World" instead of any specific
park). They also sell some character themed stuff, toys and a variety
of other stuff. There is a cooler with milk, juice, some other staple
items and beer and wine. Small snack items are also available. Though
they aren't displayed, stamps are sold here, too.
Along the wall outside the gift shop and food court is a photo
display of stars past and present. It's pretty interesting to look
at - one of the nicest details at the resort, in my opinion.
Just around the corner from the front desk side of the lobby is
a set of doors that lead to the rest of the resort. Directly in
front of these is the Fantasia pool. It features a Sorcerer Mickey
fountain (that almost never worked during our stay). To the immediate
left is the pool bar and a screened-in outdoor dining area.
Just to the left of the pool is a small play area for children
with a squirting whale. This is right in front of the laundry facility.
My mother, who did laundry during her stay, reports that the facility
was very clean and she had no problems using it.
Further left past the pool is the Toy Story section.
Just behind the pool is the Fantasia 2000 section...this location
is also pretty convenient to the pool and resort center. My parents'
room was in this building, but they were towards the back end of
one building, so they didn't notice much noise. They had a king
room (smoking) and I thought this detail was odd - the bathroom
had a hand-held shower head. I thought these were only available
in disabled-access rooms with roll-in showers, but they had a tub.
Behind the Fantasia section is the Love Bug area...it must be much
more quiet back here, but seems a little bit of a hike to the resort
center.
I didn't explore much beyond this, but the 101 Dalmations area
is just to the right of the Fantasia pool and the Mighty Ducks area
is beyond that.
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Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide
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