Disney's All - Star Movies Resort - Lake Buena Vista, FL Review

As frequent guests in Orlando traveling to Disney we had always wanted to stay on Disney property.  This trip we were able to do that and expected great things.  Longer park hours for resort guests, transportation to and from the park.  We had those things, but in our minds, they weren't all that we thought they could be. (The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence syndrome?)

Getting picked up at the airport was wonderful.  We were loaded on the Disney Express, which stopped at all three All Star resorts.  Our luggage was transported from the airport separately and was promised to be in our rooms within three hours.  We know that it wasn't there within that three hours, but hey, it was a bit busy.  It might have been three hours and 15 minutes for all we know, because we went to the park!  It took a while for a bus to arrive to take us to the park, but that was ok with us, we didn't have to drive in traffic or pay for parking. This was a good thing, at first. 

As the week went on and we stayed later at different parks, the wait for the bus was longer because lots of people stay in the resorts.  Although there are dedicated busses for each resort it still took at least 2 or 3 passes of a bus before we could get on.  And the busses were FILLED.  Standing room only.  Now I can stand for a time, but on a moving bus?  My mom and I were swinging from the hand straps!  We are both short and had to hang on where we could...yikes!  We were spinning in circles.  Luckily my husband and my dad were able to hang on to the kids.  And everyone was tired, so people aren't readily giving up seats to those older than they are...one of the sad things about our new generation.  Not to say that it didn't happen, it just didn't happen often.

Extra park hours, known as Magic Hours, were few and far between.  I can understand this, because you can only do so much with your staff, especially in an 'off season'.  The Magic Kingdom was open from midnight to 3 am on our last night...THREE A.M.?!  That didn't work for me.  We did stay late, but the kids were wiped out!  That was the only night that week that they had Extra Magic Hours at Magic Kingdom.  The other parks, Epcot for one, had them in the morning.  I would rather do that.

The pool was huge, and had a cute theme, Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice.  Too cute!  Lots of chaise lounges, great hours too.  I like to swim at night after the park, and the pool is open until midnight (9 am to 10 pm with a lifeguard...another plus!).

The dining options were limited at All Star Movies.  All quick serve.  Though the food was good, you want more of a choice.  As a family we are used to staying in town and being able to travel to a store for supplies...we weren't able to do that this time.  We will do this again, but definitely with more thought put to it...this was our first time and we didn't know what to expect.  Now we do...and we will stay in a resort at least a step up the ladder from All Star.

Finally, the size of the room: There were two double beds, a dresser with a drawer for each of us, a small table and two chairs.  It was fine because you are to be spending your time at the parks, but not what I am used to...a little more room between the furniture would have been nice.  The beds were small, but comfortable (this is the best bed I've slept in on vacation in years).  So if you want a larger more comfortable room...this isn't the place for you.  My parents were in an adjoining room and their's seemed more spacious, but that could have been my imagination.  As for room to store empty suitcases (we usually store them in the car) there is actually room under the beds for that, and we tucked them into corners.  Not too bad a problem.  All in all a nice stay.