Summary List Placement
I recently visited Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for the first time in six years.
I drove from northern New Jersey to central Florida for the trip, and arrived at the All-Star Resort after approximately 24 hours.
I drove from New Jersey to Florida to visit Disney World. Here’s what the 24-hour road trip is like.
Disney’s All-Star Music and All-Star Sports sections are closed at the time of writing, so I stayed at the All-Star Movies hotel. My room cost between $150 and $178 per night.
That makes the All-Star Resort, a value hotel, the cheapest on Disney property. It has amenities like free transportation, a food court, and housekeeping, but lacks the spas, restaurants, and luxury theming of Disney World’s moderate and deluxe resorts.
I received texts and an email at 11:30 a.m. letting me know that my room was ready. From there, I parked my car and virtually checked in.
There were limited options available when I planned my trip, so I booked a preferred room instead of a standard one. Mine was located on the first floor of the “Toy Story” section.
I was able to use my MagicBand — a bracelet that you can use as a room key, credit card, and more — to unlock my door.
Inside, I found one bed, a bright bathroom, a long dresser, and a TV. There were also hardwood floors, which I loved (the rooms used to have carpet).
The storage unit under the TV had three large drawers, one cabinet, four USB ports, and four outlets.
Upon opening the cabinet, I found some hotel-room staples: a safe, an extra pillow, and a Bible.
The room also had a small table and two chairs perched against the wall.
That wall actually hid a second bed. It was super easy to pull it down from the wall, and I loved how it helped save space.
Next to each bed was a small table built into the wall. Here, I found even more outlets to charge electronics.
The room didn’t have a kitchen, but there was a tall shelf with a coffee pot, ice bucket, mini-fridge, and a drawer full of coffee and tea.
The bathroom had just as much storage. There was a small closet and ironing board on the left, and multiple shelves surrounding the sink on the right.
The toilet, shower, and towels were in a separate part of the bathroom that could be closed with a sliding door.
I had a couple of issues with the bathroom. There was a slight musty smell near the shower, and its floor-length mirror was hidden so well that I didn’t notice it until the last day of my trip.
Outside, there were Toy Story decorations everywhere. Green Army Men lined the buildings, and one pathway led you through “Andy’s Room.”
Not too far away from my room was a pool inspired by the 1940 film “Fantasia.”
There was also a hockey-themed pool inspired by the ’90s “Mighty Ducks” films across the resort.
The food court was also within walking distance of my room. During my trip, it was always bustling with hungry tourists.
And the same goes for the gift shop. It was filled with Disney clothes, toys, snacks, and more.
That’s not to mention the other sections you can visit, which are inspired by movies like “101 Dalmations,” “The Love Bug,” and more.
In front of the hotel, you can find buses that bring you to a ton of Disney World destinations.
I’ve always enjoyed staying at Disney World’s All-Star Movies Resort, and this trip was no different. It was relatively affordable, clean, and fun, in my experience, and staying there made my Disney trip all the more magical.
Do you have a question about visiting Disney World now? If so, email akrause@insider.com.