I love the movies. I’m fascinated by the magic of cinema, the wondrous worlds created for the silver screen. There’s very little that compares to sitting down in a darkened theater with a bucket of popcorn and a cold soda, and getting transported into a story. It’s one of the reasons that I love the Disney All-Star Movies Resort so much.
The All-Star Resorts (Movies, Music, and Sports) are three of Disney’s “Value Resorts” (the others beings Art of Animation and Pop Century). They’re the most affordable on property hotels, and each one is absolutely chock full of whimsical Disney theming.
At All-Star Movies, the theme is Disney films. There are five unique areas: 101 Dalmatians, The Mighty Ducks, Fantasia, Toy Story, and the Love Bug. One of our favorite family activities after arriving at the resort is to wander the grounds and look at the theming on each building.
At the Toy Story buildings, you can walk around Andy’s Room. Buzz Lightyear towers over the area at 47 feet tall, and there’s a 30 foot tall Sheriff Woody seated nearby. Near the Toy Story area, you can also find a large “RC” the remote control car from the Toy Story films. It’s just big enough for the youngsters to sit in and is a perfect photo op. Make sure to take a look at the names of the books in Andy’s room. Several are named after early Pixar short films! There’s also a small playground located near the Toy Story area where little ones can burn off their excess energy.
At the 101 Dalmatians buildings, there is a 30-foot-tall Pongo and Purdy. Smaller versions of the dalmatian pups line the walkways in front of rooms. There’s a large TV set in the courtyard area with a small dalmatian sitting in front of it. The television screen area is open and is another great family photo opportunity.
The Fantasia 2000 building lets you step into the story of the Steadfast Tin Soldier. The courtyard area has an enormous jack-in-the-box and ballerina. Giant tin soldiers stand nearby. You can also find smaller statues of Donald Duck and Daisy (from the Pomp and Circumstance number). Across the pool is the Fantasia building, themed after The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. It is home to statues of giant brooms toting buckets of water and an enormous version of Mickey’s sorcerer hat.
One of the hotel’s two pools is located near the Fantasia building, and it also embraces the Sorcerer’s Apprentice theme. A statue of Sorcerer Mickey stands above the pool with arms outstretched, commanding the two streams of water that shoot out into the pool below. There is a splash area and a kiddie pool nearby.
Though it’s not quite as well known these days as the other films represented, I have to admit a soft spot for the Love Bug area at All-Star Movies. The front and back halves of Herbie jut from the two buildings. The courtyard area has a ring of whitewall tires and in the center there’s an amazing photo-op at the “Winner’s Circle” with a life sized version of Herbie himself.
The Mighty Ducks are the final movie theme represented at the hotel. A 31 foot tall goalie mask is the real eye catcher, but there’s also a statue of Goofy as a hockey goalie at the nearby pool, which just happens to be shaped like a hockey rink.
Next week we’ll take a look at the amenities, rooms and other features of the All-Star Movies Resort, but for now it’s enough to simply bask in the glory of Disney movie magic.
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