I bear in mind the primary time I heard a scary story about Walt Disney World. I used to be a child, possibly round 10 years outdated, and my mother and father have been speaking with a household staying on the new on-site funds motels. That they had a laundry listing of complaints, however the one has caught with me for years since: the bathroom exploded.
Silly because it sounds, I imagined one thing just like the Hollywood Tower Resort, however with exploding bathrooms. Every thing I envisioned was nearly definitely unfaithful, however I used to be a child with a vivid creativeness. What’s significantly aggravating (a minimum of for me) is that I nonetheless bear in mind this foolish dialog, however but I’ve zero recollections of Horizons. Recollections may be merciless.
This isn’t the one horror story about Walt Disney World’s funds motels I’ve heard through the years. When Sarah and I began returning as adults, there have been loads extra tales we have been informed concerning the overcrowded, soiled, poorly-maintained, low-quality motels. We even had our personal disagreeable experiences throughout Pop Warner and one other youth sporting occasion. It’s not simply us. I’ve learn studies and seen questions on social media and on-line boards that primarily ask: are Disney’s All Star Resorts “adequate” for a household on a good funds touring to Walt Disney World?
Sure. That’s the reply to the titular query. Disney’s All Star Resorts are completely ample, at naked minimal. I’m not going to bury the lede, make insinuations, or lead you to query whether or not the All Stars are enough, protected, scary, subpar, and so forth. The purpose of this submit really isn’t to solid doubt concerning the All Stars, however reasonably, debunk a few of these ‘horror’ tales, and recast Walt Disney World’s “funds motels” in a unique gentle. In different phrases, we’ll clarify why the All Stars aren’t simply “adequate,” however reasonably, are really good.
As background, we’ve stayed at each single one of many All Stars (Motion pictures, Sports activities, and Music) a number of occasions in each the outdated and new rooms at every of the resorts. This consists of three stays within the final yr (household suite as soon as; commonplace rooms twice), with another reservation on the books going ahead and possibly one other this yr after that. Bluntly, I’d not preserve reserving a specific resort if it recurrently (and even often) had exploding bathroom incidents.
February 13, 2025 Replace: The flexibility–or lack thereof–of center class households having the ability to do Walt Disney World on a funds has develop into a scorching subject due to an exposé within the Wall Road Journal. (See Walt Disney World is Fearful About Its Excessive Costs and Disney Responds to Rising Prices Criticism.)
Within the latter of these two posts, we extolled the virtues of the All Stars, briefly explaining how they provide unparalleled worth for cash. We beforehand made the case for them a pair years in the past on this submit, which I felt was price revisiting with a couple of new updates since issues have modified since then. And in reality, the worth proposition for the All Star Resorts (and staying on-site, typically) has improved since then.
With that in thoughts, let’s take this level by level and talk about the potential drawback factors that Disney’s All Star Resorts don’t even have, together with the strengths they do possess…
Upkeep & Maintenance
There was a time from the aughts proper up till the room overhaul started that the All Stars have been in tough form. Pale decor throughout, woefully outdated posters, and particulars that had not aged properly and have been in want of outright alternative.
As somebody who has really stayed in shady motels round Orlando and Anaheim, I’d cease properly in need of calling the All Stars that, even at their lowest level. Really sketchy motels have an unsafe and unsettling high quality to them; the All Stars by no means had that. They only have been less than Disney’s requirements.
That has modified within the final 5 or so years. Together with the room overhaul, widespread areas have been refreshed, outsized icons have been totally cleaned and given a contemporary coat of paint, and all the pieces appears to be like crisper and nicer because of this. There are nonetheless components of the motels which might be dated, however they’re little issues–small cues that the motels have been inbuilt a unique period, and never main parts of the properties.
In brief, upkeep and maintenance are actually each bit nearly as good on the All Star Resorts as different motels at Walt Disney World. There aren’t any noteworthy cleanliness challenge, and to the extent that something is dated, the identical kind of factor exists just about each at Walt Disney World. One individual’s dated element is one other’s nostalgia.
The outsized icons, exterior hallways, and normal thematic type of the All Stars are definitely not for everybody, however “to not my tastes” is definitely not the identical as “poorly maintained.” In my opinion, the maintenance is not any higher or worse on the All Stars on common than different motels at Walt Disney World.
High quality
Monorail loop and Crescent Lake space resorts are greater high quality than the Worth Resorts. No matter thematic tastes, it’s honest to say these are a rung or two above the Worth Resorts. These being extra luxurious or having a higher sense of immersion isn’t actually in query. Additionally they have a greater set of facilities, indoor hallways, desk service eating places, and goal options which might be absent from the All Stars.
One other widespread previous criticism concerning the All Star Resorts that you could possibly file beneath “high quality” is crowds. It was once the case that packed swimming pools, overstuffed meals courts throughout peak hours, tons of individuals loitering across the widespread areas, chaotic lobbies, and big strains for the buses have been issues. We’ve skilled all of this stuff ourselves, so I do know they really occurred and weren’t exaggerated.
We’ve encountered this drawback much less and fewer on the All Stars lately. It nonetheless possible is an issue at occasions throughout peak and summer season seasons, or when the ESPN Extensive World of Sports activities is internet hosting a serious cheer or dance occasion. (Seek the advice of the ESPN WWoS calendar earlier than reserving if this can be a concern.) However I stayed lately throughout a kind of occasions and was pleasantly stunned–crowds weren’t unhealthy, and the children (and their mother and father) have been higher behaved than I anticipated.
Reimagined Rooms
We’ve now stayed within the reimagined rooms many occasions (they’re just about the identical in any respect three All Stars), and have zero hesitations to return. (See our Pictures & Video: Newly Reimagined Rooms on the All Star Resorts.)
All of those new rooms on the All Stars are an enormous improve from the earlier design, which was extra minor leagues than all-star caliber. The practical enhancements are great, with a wide range of space-saving upgrades that make the rooms really feel bigger. Additionally they look brilliant and ethereal, which is a pointy distinction to the outdated type.
We’ve discovered some diehard followers who’ve complained concerning the new rooms, and others who name them sterile and hospital-like. Respectfully, we expect that’s principally the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia. To that time, I chatted with a supervisor at All Star Sports activities concerning the resort refurbishment throughout a current keep. She informed me that with just one (1) exception, the suggestions from precise friends on the brand new rooms at All Star Sports activities has been universally constructive. Throughout the board on the All Stars, visitor satisfaction is up and Solid Members choose the brand new rooms, too.
Meals High quality
The meals courts on the All Stars are nothing particular. Suggesting in any other case would pressure credulity and solid my credibility into doubt. With that stated, they’ve all been refreshed within the final 5 years or so, and usually are extra nice than they as soon as have been.
I can not communicate to breakfast, because it’s been years since I’ve wasted my cash on powdered eggs and rubber bacon at a Walt Disney World meals court docket. (Other than ‘particular’ breakfasts, we do grocery supply and concentrate on fruits, greens, and different wholesome meals for our morning meal.)
Nonetheless, I do assume dinner has improved. Along with the stereotypical fare, these meals courts additionally serve up seared salmon, braised beef, pork loin, stir fry, and fried rooster. That’s higher than I bear in mind the choices being a decade in the past, however nonetheless hardly the top of WDW’s eating scene. Failing all of that, there’s the reworked McDonald’s inside strolling distance of the All Star Resorts for those who want a late evening Filet-o-Fish repair.
Transportation
There was a time after we inbuilt the price of two to a few taxi journeys with every keep on the All Stars, as bus strains over a sure size meant the waits can be unbearably lengthy. That was a couple of decade in the past–earlier than Uber and Lyft got here onto the scene. This was additionally at a time when shared transportation amongst all three All Stars was widespread, even throughout busier occasions.
We now have not had this challenge of late with bus transportation wherever at Walt Disney World. Throughout our most up-to-date stays on the All Stars, buses have been frequent and environment friendly, and the one cause pickup occasions have been ever inaccurate was when third-party Academy buses have been dispatched (these aren’t linked to the wait occasions system), which was extra like a “bonus bus” versus an precise challenge.
We’ve had zero issues making Early Entry or ready in lengthy strains when leaving the parks. Likewise, noon waits have been bearable, with no prolonged gaps or inconsistencies. The one caveat I’d provide right here is that we’ve by no means left through the morning rope drop rush–our journeys are at all times to reach for Early Entry or later within the morning. Likewise, we by no means go away through the post-fireworks mass exodus. I’d think about buses are nonetheless packed throughout these peak occasions, identical to at all times.
One other caveat is that body of reference issues. I’m evaluating transportation on the All Stars at the moment to the way it was up to now. Buses are extra environment friendly in 2025 than they have been in 2015. Should you’re new to Walt Disney World and commute on daily basis through the rope drop and park closing rushes, you could be shocked at simply how busy buses are. Likewise, for those who’re evaluating the All Stars of at the moment to Pop Century of at the moment, your notion shall be completely different.
Visitor “High quality”
Few issues drive me crazier than friends passing judgment or casting aspersions on their fellow friends at Walt Disney World. There’s a perception amongst sure those that they’re “too good” for a Worth Resort or wish to keep at a costlier resort not for any substantive causes, however in order that they aren’t round “decrease class” friends. This kind of sentiment or the concept that Walt Disney World needs to be much more costly to cost out “undesirable” friends (these are all air quotes, by the best way) is absolute nonsense at finest, and downright offensive at worst.
Cash doesn’t purchase class. The alternative can be true: an absence of cash doesn’t imply an absence of sophistication. Unhealthy conduct transcends revenue ranges, and if something, there’s a straight line between greater costs and extra entitled friends. Past that, whose place is it to cross judgment on the working class household that skimped and saved to afford a ceremony of passage journey for his or her children to Walt Disney World, however may solely afford the All Stars? Are they any roughly ‘worthy’ than the center class mother and father who maxed out their bank cards to remain on the Grand Floridian?
This complete dialog makes me uncomfortable, however it’s however price addressing as a result of I’ve heard loads of derogatory phrases to explain the All Stars and their supposed clientele. It’s all BS. There is no such thing as a materials distinction within the nature of friends at any of the resorts. I’ve witnessed obnoxious and drunken conduct out of enterprise folks on the Yacht Membership and Gran Destino Tower, and have loved completely peaceable stays on the All Stars. To make certain, the decibel stage is greater when these motels are internet hosting youth occasions, however it’s potential to get fortunate or unfortunate with friends behaving badly at any of the resorts. Individuals are alike throughout.
On-Website Perks
There are a variety of on-site perks for friends staying in Walt Disney World resort motels. Every thing from the Disney Eating Plan to on-site reserving home windows for Advance Eating Reservations to free parking and extra. We’re not going to run by way of all of that, as that is already lengthy and we’ve got a separate information to Staying Off-site vs. On-site at Walt Disney World.
Suffice to say, the advantages that we view as most beneficial, particularly from a cost-conscious perspective, are people who prevent time ready in line. There’s Early Entry, which is the 30 minute head-start earlier than off-site friends can rope drop every of the parks. That is no invaluable in all 4 parks due to TRON Lightcycle Run switching to standby. As we’ve stated earlier than, we expect many followers actually underestimate the worth of Early Entry. I adore it, and often choose Early Entry plus savvy standby technique and staying late to paid FastPass.
The apparent drawback with staying off-site is that you just can not do Early Entry. Your finest case situation is arriving for rope drop, which nearly forces your hand to purchase Lightning Lane Multi-Move (LLMP) in order for you a extremely productive day. The issue there, although, is that off-site friends are additionally at an obstacle with LLMP because of the on-site reserving window!
As mentioned in Prime 10 Suggestions & Tips for Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World in 2025, lots of the hottest Lightning Lanes are completely gone by the point off-site friends can guide them. The underside line is that largest perk of staying on-site, together with on the All Stars, is saving time ready in line…and generally.
Worth for Cash
A situation we’ve now skilled a number of occasions, which is definitely what prompted this complete submit, is discovering that comparable off-site motels can not compete with the All Stars on all-in price. In pricing out resort choices, we’ve discovered the least-expensive motels within the Flamingo Crossings or Disney Springs areas are $115/evening, with the suites we like all costing over $150/evening. First rate off-site lodging are a minimum of $100/evening. To make certain, there are cheaper choices, however nowhere we wish to keep.
In contrast, All Star Motion pictures has a median fee of $121/evening with an Annual Passholder low cost. The common vacationer will not be an Annual Passholder, however even normal public room-only reductions solely improve the associated fee to $128/evening. That’s nonetheless solely a $13/evening surcharge over the choices at Flamingo Crossings or Disney Springs, however price is not the identical as worth for cash.
While you keep off-site, you’re paying for most likely transportation to and from the parks. Which means renting a automobile and paying for parking (doubtlessly at each your third-party resort and the parks) or utilizing rideshare. The latter is often the cheaper choice, and we’d be utilizing Uber or Lyft twice per day at a median price of a minimum of $15 per journey. That additionally means no noon naps!
That alone makes the All Stars extra cheap, and it’s earlier than even accounting for Early Entry or different perks. I’d additionally add the whimsical resort grounds and enjoyable swimming pools as strengths of the All Stars. Much more subjective and maybe controversial, however I additionally choose the brand new commonplace rooms on the All Stars to most of these at Disney Springs or Flamingo Crossings, and I’d additionally reasonably use the Disney buses reasonably than Uber or Lyft (particularly from Flamingo Crossings, the place pickup occasions are sometimes prolonged).
To be honest, this glosses over loads provided by third celebration motels. This consists of all the pieces from desk service eating choices to resort loyalty rewards to free breakfasts and possibly way more. Nonetheless, if the price of an ordinary room at a 3rd celebration resort is $30 or much less per evening than the most affordable Worth Resort, I’m reserving one of many All Stars each single time. The price of transportation makes them equal, and all else thought of, I’ll take the All Stars on steadiness. That’s simply me, although.
All Stars vs. Pop Century
The comparability the place issues get trickier for me is the All Stars vs. Pop Century. The value hole between these can differ, however I’ve often discovered it to be about $30 to $50 per evening after reductions. For a similar dates because the above comparability, it’s a $40/evening distinction.
For us, the important thing distinction between the All Stars and Pop Century is the Skyliner. The gondolas are a game-changer for us, and we’ve beforehand gone so far as to say that we choose the Skyliner to the monorails (exterior of storm season). Worth is within the eye of the beholder, however having Skyliner entry to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is completely price $40/evening to us.
The Skyliner makes Early Entry simpler and extra predictable (on the two parks the place I believe it’s most beneficial), facilitates noon breaks (from the one park the place they’re most beneficial), and makes it easy to do a pleasant breakfast or dinner at a number of completely different resorts.
Actually, I believe Walt Disney World followers take as a right simply how spectacular and unprecedented it’s for Worth Resorts to have entry to such a streamlined transportation choice. Gondolas are nonetheless a rarity in the US, and even the place they’re extra widespread, they’re expensive to make use of. Are there another budget-friendly motels that provide novel transportation?
In the end, the reply to the titular query is an emphatic sure…as established by the fourth paragraph of the submit and strengthened with the concrete and tangible examples of how the All Star Resorts have improved. Bus transportation, rooms, upkeep, and extra have all improved by leaps and bounds within the final a number of years on the All Stars.
That units the stage for what’s nearly a completely separate query, which is whether or not the All Star Resorts are aggressive by way of bang for buck. Regardless of their costs having gone up significantly from the halcyon days through the Nice Recession when rooms have been often beneath $80/evening (I swear they have been $49 at one level), so too have just about all motels round Central Florida.
Provided that and the improved high quality of the rooms, transportation, on-site visitor perks, and total expertise on the All Stars, I believe a compelling case may be made for a lot of events to decide on the All Stars over off-site lodging. That’s with out even addressing the emotional and subjective facet of issues–that emotional pull to be contained in the Disney Bubble.
Lastly, there’s the comparability to Pop Century, that different (common) Worth Resort at Walt Disney World. That is the purpose at which the comparability turns much less favorable, and the place I believe Pop Century’s premium pricing is justified. After all, cheap minds might differ on the worth added by the Skyliner (or any of the assorted variables mentioned–and even ignored–right here).
With all of that stated, we come full circle to the query of the title. Should you’re a frugal traveler desirous to get the “full” Walt Disney World expertise however unable to splurge or spend further on Pop Century or one other higher-tier resort, the most affordable motels on-site are literally good. They’re not my first and even fifteenth selection amongst on-site lodging I’d select at Walt Disney World if cash have been no challenge, however I don’t discover myself recurrently successful the lottery, so worth does matter to me. I additionally don’t really feel like I’m compromising on the standard of my total expertise when staying on the All Stars. If I did, I wouldn’t preserve reserving them!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Inns Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a novel have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the pieces you must know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever stayed at any of the All Star Resorts in the previous few years? What did you consider the standard? What concerning the resort(s) as a complete? How do you assume these choices examine to 3rd celebration or off-site lodging? What about relative to Pop Century or higher-tier motels at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation that the All Stars are literally good resort choices for these desirous to be within the Disney bubble? Listening to your suggestions about your experiences is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas or questions under within the feedback!
