Disney World’s Value Resorts are not only the least expensive Disney accommodation but also offer vibrant and fun theming that really makes you feel like you’ve entered an animated world.

The All-Star Resorts are part of the Value Resort family with each having its own unique theme: Music, Movies, and Sports. These resorts have plenty in common but by no means are they identical!

Disney vacations are NOT cheap, and the last thing you want is to have regrets when spending your hard-earned money. Accommodation is usually the most expensive part of your Disney trip. If you’re trying to choose between All-Star Movies and All-Star Sports, we’ve done the research for you!

The best way to tackle such a massive decision like this is with as much logic as possible, so we broke down this comparison into five categories: Common Ground, Theme/Rooms, Pools, Food, and Transportation. Let’s see how these two resorts match up!

Common Ground

Both of these spots are All-Star Resorts which fall under the category of Value Resorts at Disney World. That means they will both be at a comparable price point, with similar room sizes and amenities. Disney’s All-Star Resorts have strong theming that carries throughout the entire campus; this includes the huge statues you’ll see at each All-Star Resort as well as the theming for their rooms, pools, shops, and eateries.

Each resort is divided into different areas with the names matching their themes. This can help guests navigate when wandering around these often large resorts! Because of their kid-friendly decorations and amenities, you are more likely to see families with children at these resorts, as well as traveling groups like school bands and sports teams. With so many young people around it can get hectic, so don’t be surprised if it’s a little noisier here than at other resorts!

At All-Star Movies, room rates start at $132 per night excluding tax for their Standard Rooms at the cheapest times of year when the parks are least busy. The most expensive room rates here will run you about $280 per night — that’s for a Preferred Room around Christmas, one of the more popular times of year. Both of these room types can sleep up to 4 adults.

All-Star Sports has similar rates. Standard Rooms also start at $132 per night, and a Preferred Room for the same dates in December 2023 was just under $280 per night. Sometimes Disney offers special deals on hotels, usually during the off-season. This can bring the nightly rate down.

Theme/Rooms

While the main concept of the All-Star Resorts is similar, the rooms at these resorts have their own unique touches. The All-Star Resorts are going through a period of refurbishment and while All-Star Movies has had its rooms updated, refurbishments at All-Star Sports are ongoing.

All-Star Sports

The rooms at All-Star Sports are actually pretty, well, roomy! You won’t feel cramped, and there are plenty of places to arrange your belongings both in the main sleeping area as well as in the bathroom.

The one thing about most of the All-Star Sports rooms is … they’re pretty dated. From the carpet to the ceiling the colors are a little dingy, and the furniture isn’t quite old enough to look retro but certainly isn’t modern. You’ll still see familiar Disney characters throughout the decor!

We aren’t sure if it’s the choice of wall color or the lights, but these rooms do feel kind of dark, even with the lights on.

Click HERE for a Photo Tour of an All-Star Sports Room

Outside is much more lively! The coolest thing about All-Star Sports is that not only is each area themed after a different sport, they also include fields and massive statues to go with the area’s theme! The five themes you’ll find here are football, tennis, baseball, basketball and surfing. You can head over to this giant football field, or check out the enormous tennis court. There are also plenty of other activities to take part in, from jogging trails to campfire nights! 

All-Star Movies

The rooms at All-Star Movies were recently updated, and you can tell when compared with the rooms at All-Star Sports. They have a modern design with pops of Disney art — when you pull down this Murphy Bed it reveals a mural of Huey, Dewey, and Louie! 

These rooms, while smaller than those at Moderate or Deluxe Resorts, still have plenty of space for your belongings. They are functional and include large TV’s, multiple storage options, and generously sized showers. 

Take a Photo Tour to see even MORE details of an All-Star Movies Standard Room here!

Outside of your room, you can explore the resort to discover larger-than-life versions of characters from classic Disney films like 101 Dalmations, Toy Story, Fantasia, and many more. The buildings in each area are also decorated to fit the theme of the movie!

Results

For now, All-Star Movies is the clear winner in this category. While All-Star Sports does have some cool exterior designs and plenty of activities, the rooms at All-Star Movies are much more welcoming thanks to their recent update. However, All-Star Sports might pull into the lead once the all of the rooms there have been refurbished! Currently, the rooms in the football section have been completely updated, so they’re on their way. Stay tuned to our site for more updates on the All-Star Resort construction projects.

The PROS And CONS Of Staying At Disney World’s Value Resorts

Pools

If you thought the giant statues were the full extent of these resorts’ strong theming, just wait until you see their pools! All-Star Resorts each have a leisure pool and a signature pool to pick from, so let’s take a look at these.

All-Star Sports

Goofy makes an appearance at the Grand Slam Pool! Don’t you love those how-to animated films featuring Goofy trying out different sports? At the Grand Slam Pool he’s taking the pitcher’s mound except this time he has a cannon full of water and it’s aimed right at the swimmers! One of the unique aspects of this pool is the sundeck, which is designed to look like an outfield. There are even giant baseball bats lining the pool area!

The signature pool at All-Star Sports is Surfboard Bay, a 242,471-gallon swimmer’s paradise that was designed to make you feel as though you’re spending a day on the beach. The surrounding buildings are topped with waves with giant surfboards along the balcony. The pool has a more organic shape to mimic the seaside, and there are plenty of chairs for catching a few rays while you relax!

All-Star Movies

Anyone heard of a little movie called The Mighty Ducks? The Duck Pond Pool was inspired by this film and includes a giant replica of a hockey mask that is a great photo opportunity! The pool itself is designed to mimic a hockey rink, complete with massive hockey sticks and a goal. This pool almost looks like it belongs at All-Star Sports!

Fantasia is another classic Disney film that deserves an entire pool themed after it. Sorcerer Mickey and his enchanted brooms have settled at All-Star Movies at the Fantasia Pool! Just as it was in the movie, Mickey’s enchantment also got out of hand at the resort and created a pool for guests to enjoy (but we’re grateful for the oasis!).

The giant broomsticks carrying buckets of water can be spotted next to the pool which has a massive curtain framing the Sorcerer Mickey fountain. At the Fantasia Pool area you’ll also find a small kiddie pool and play area for the little ones to splash around in.

Results

This is a tough one  — both resorts have such unique and fun pool areas! This time, we’re giving it to All-Star Sports. The baseball field pool area is a great spot for kids, especially with the Goofy water cannon in the middle! Plus, for those who long for the beachside pools at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resorts, Surfboard Bay is a good substitution.

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Food

Again, both of these resorts have similar dining options! With one food court option and a pool bar each, let’s take a look and see if we can spot any differences between them.

All-Star Sports

All-Star Sports is where you’ll find End Zone Food Court. Each counter is themed to a different sport, just like the rest of the resort! There is plenty of indoor seating here, perfect for hot days when you need to cool off. Plus, you’ll want to sit inside to check out the many screens showing popular Disney cartoons and sporting events!

The food here is typically $15 and under. You can stop here for breakfast before your park day, or grab lunch or dinner with your family. The options are pretty standard and usually you can find something for everyone! The signature burger here is called the Bases Loaded Burger and comes with bacon, cheddar, lettuce, and tomato. We’ve even seen grab and go options in the past!

If you’re lounging poolside and need a drink or snack, you can stop by Grandstand Spirits near the Surfboard Bay pool. They have specialty cocktails, wine, and even frosé! When you’re feeling peckish you can order a Mickey Pretzel or even a salad or sandwich.

Find our COMPLETE GUIDE TO EATING at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort HERE

All-Star Movies

All-Star Movies has a food court that’s appropriately named World Premiere! The dining space is decorated with movie posters that are worth a visit themselves. Cuisine here is all-American for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and prices are similar to the other All-Star Resorts.

The food options here are nearly identical apart from one item: the signature burger at All-Star Movies is the Showstopper Burger which comes topped with bacon-onion jam, cheddar, provolone, jalapeño, and crispy onions. We will say that the last time we visited this food court we noticed it was a little lacking in the seating department. While our visit was quiet, we can see this spot filling up quickly during a busy time like around breakfast.

Saunter on over to the Fantasia Pool to find the Silver Screen Spirits pool bar!

This bar has a similar menu to the other All-Star pool bars, with snacks, sandwiches, salads, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage options. You can pull up a chair and have a seat at the bar or take your purchases with you back to your lounge chair or table for a more relaxing vibe.

 Find our COMPLETE GUIDE TO EATING at All-Star Movies Resort HERE

Results

Each resort has almost identical dining options apart from the theming, so it’s tough to decide which one is the winner here. After careful consideration, we’re going to give it to All-Star Sports again! We do love the movie posters at World Premiere, but the addition of Disney cartoons and sporting events at End Zone is just too fun to pass up. Also, End Zone appears to have more seating options than World Premiere, which is a bonus.

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Transportation

Disney World has several transportation options, but not every type stops at every resort. It might be no surprise to learn that each All-Star Resort has identical Disney World transportation.

Both All-Star Sports and All-Star Movies connect to the rest of the Walt Disney World Resort through Disney’s bus transportation. This is the only free Disney transportation that stops at these resorts, including All-Star Music. All three All-Stars are right next to each other, so there isn’t a massive difference even if you were trying to use a rideshare to get to or from the parks! This time, we’re just gonna have to call it a tie.

Your Guide to Walt Disney World Resort Transportation

The Winner

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for! The winner of this showdown between All-Star Sports and All-Star Movies is … a tie! It truly comes down to what you are looking for out of your Disney resort experience. Both resorts are extremely similar, so ultimately the choice really comes down to theming. Do you prefer celebrating Hollywood and all of the fun of Disney animation? Or maybe you can’t wait to try out the massive fields at All-Star Sports? The good news is, if you can’t find availability at one resort for your chosen dates (or can’t bear to pick between the two) you know you’ll be getting a similar experience.

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The PROS And CONS Of Staying At Disney World’s Value Resorts

Do you have a favorite between these two resorts, or is there another one that stands out more? Comment your thoughts below!

The post All-Star Movies vs All-Star Sports Disney World Resort Guide 2023 first appeared on the disney food blog.