Disney World All Star Resorts
Three of the most uniquely themed resorts at Walt Disney World are the Disney World All Star Resorts. Following are some details to help travelers decide which resort suits them best. These are popular among vacationing families, as they are on the lower price end of all resorts at Walt Disney World
All Star Movies
A brightly-colored “movieland” value resort themed to 5 Disney films, featuring giant icons from favorites such as 101 Dalmatians, Toy Story, Fantasia, The Mighty Ducks, and The Love Bug.
62 acres located adjacent to Disney’s All-Star Music and All-Star Sports Resorts
Design Architect: Arquitectonica, Miami, FL
Architect of Record: HKS, Dallas, TX and Tampa, FL
Landscape Architect: Herbert-Halback, Inc., Orlando, FL
Groundbreaking for All-Star complex took place in November, 1992.
Construction began in July, 1997
Opening Date: January 15, 1999
A total of 1,920 guest rooms
The Mighty Ducks – 384 rooms – January 15, 1999
101 Dalmatians – 384 rooms – January 15, 1999
Fantasia – 384 rooms – March 1, 1999
The Love Bug – 384 rooms – March 1, 1999
Toy Story – 384 rooms – April 15, 1999
Theater-inspired dining is offered at the World Premiere food court which hosts the following 5 marquee venues –
RIALTO
ROXY
GRAND
MAJESTIC
LYRIC
Walt Disney Feature Animation and Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI) collaborated on the design and building of the resort’s large icons, ensuring the correct appearance of each character.
Pools: There are two themed pools. Fantasia pool is themed around Fantasia, while the Duck Pond is themed around a “Duck Pond”.
Fanstasia Pool – A Sorcerer Mickey adorns the Fantasia-themed pool and it has 231,610 gallons of water
The Duck Pond has 105,000 gallons of water
Children’s Pool has 1,200 gallons of water
A collection of 3-story buildings with the following themes –
Fantasia: Giant sorcerer’s hats, spell books, and brooms and buckets decorate the “Fantasia” area of the hotel. The sorcerer’s hat is 45 feet high and 44 feet in diameter at the base. The brooms and buckets are 23 feet wide from bucket to bucket. The top of the broom is 36 feet high. The jack-in-the-box is 35 feet tall and Jack himself in 25 feet tall. The ballerina is 35 feet high.
The Love Bug: Herbie, the famous bug will be featured at approximately five times his normal size. Herbie’s tires are 9 feet in diameter and he weighs about 7 tons. The pliers are 35 feet tall. The screwdrivers are 36 feet tall.
The Mighty Ducks: Giant hockey sticks, goalie nets, and duck-shaped hockey masks will adorn another area. The hockey sticks weigh 2000 pounds each and are 43 feet tall. The sticks are made of aluminum and each one was shipped from Rhode Island in two pieces. The hockey goals are 31 feet high. Each mask is constructed of more than 1200 pounds of plaster and 11,000 pounds of shotcrete. There is also a hockey-rink-themed pool
101 Dalmatians: Features canine stars Pongo & Perdita. In addition, if one were to count all the dalmatians on these themed buildings, including all the puppies and the large Pongo and Perdita icons, there would be exactly 101 dalmatians. Pongo and Perdita weigh about 17,000 pounds. Pongo stands at approximately 30 feet tall and Perdita is approximately 25 feet tall. Each one required 15 gallons of paint, not including the ottomans on which they sit. The Pongo icon was shipped from California in four pieces on two wide load trucks. It took workers two days to put it together. Pongo’s ottoman is 10 feet high and 12 feet in diameter. The fire hydrants are 36 feet tall and have a diameter of 18 feet.
Toy Story: Features toy soldiers climbing on the roofs of buildings with the following stars – Buzz Lightyear stands at approximately 47 feet tall. Woody is approximately 30 feet tall from his waist to his hat as he sits on the ground. Woody’s boot is 7 feet tall. The Bucket O’Soldiers stairway icon is approximately 27 feet high and 36 feet in diameter
The colored lamp shades on the walls in the guest rooms are designed to look like a box of popcorn. When the lamp is turned on, the shade turns white and the design on it can no longer be seen. This effect is commonly referred to as an “optical illusion.” Theatrical productions frequently make use of this type of illusion which is generally known as “scrim.” The illusion is achieved when an object with holes is lit up from the back. When the light is turned on, the print on the object is no longer visible. This optical illusion can also be accomplished with loosely woven fabrics.
All-Star Music
A musically themed value resort featuring larger-than-life icons representing jazz, rock, Broadway, calypso, and country music. The design team worked to create a totally integrated musical theme which is reflected in the resort’s landscaping, architecture and interior design.
55 acres located adjacent to Disney’s All-Star Sports and All-Star Movies Resorts
Design Architect: Arquitectonica – Miami, FL
Architect of Record: HKS, Inc. – Dallas, TX and Tampa, FL
Groundbreaking for All-Star complex took place in November, 1992
Opening Date: November 22, 1994
A total of 1,920 guest rooms
Calypso – 384 rooms – November 22, 1994
Jazz – 384 rooms – December 18, 1994
Rock Inn – 384 rooms – January 20, 1995
Country Fair – 384 rooms – February 12, 1995
Broadway – 384 rooms – February 17, 1995
The 550-seat Intermission food court includes wall drawings of great musical performers such as Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.
The Melody Hall commercial center contains the main check-in lobby and guest service facilities. The musical staff notes that appear across the registration desk in the lobby spell out the first line from When You Wish Upon A Star. The large gold star that is located in front of Melody Hall weighs more than 55,000 pounds.
When Mickey Mouse’s image is incorporated into designs as a decorative enhancement, it is called a “Deliberate Mickey” since it is specifically intended to make Mickey Mouse a visual addition to the surrounding artwork or an identifying logo. A “Hidden Mickey” is best defined as an image of Mickey Mouse concealed in the design of a Walt Disney World attraction or resort. At the present time, there are no Hidden Mickey’s at the All-Star Music Resort. There are currently three areas of the All-Star Music Resort – Country Fair (boots); Country Fair (bolo ties); Jazz Inn courtyard (on top of the cymbals) that have “Deliberate Mickey’s”.
Pools: There are two themed pools. Calypso pool is designed in the shape of a guitar, while Piano pool resembles a baby grand piano complete with a full keyboard of 88 keys
Calypso Pool – The silver star located by the pool weighs approximately 33,000 pounds -The water fountain located in the center of the pool consists of three Disney characters: Donald Duck, Panchito, and José (Joe) Carioca from the animated film The Three Caballeros (1945) – and it has 251,418 gallons of water
Piano Pool has 106,036 gallons of water
Children’s Pool has 2,767 gallons of water
A collection of 3-story buildings with the following themes:
Broadway (Show Tunes): Top hats, musical notes, and an oversized “Broadway” show marquee displaying “Beauty and the Beast” are featured in this area. The large top hats are size 125. There is a 1972 Checker Taxi Cab that is often parked on the roadway in front of the Broadway area.
Calypso (Island Music): Giant maracas, banana leaves, and exotic birds, such as Toucans and Macaws perched on railings, can be found at Calypso. The maracas at Calypso can hold up to 150, 000 beads. There are 934 banana leaves on the two buildings that make up Calypso.
Country Fair (Country Music): Bolo ties, harmonicas, and giant boots adorn the Country Fair area. The giant boots appearing in the courtyard area are size 270 There are approximately 132 trucks appearing along the top of the two buildings that make up Country Fair.
Jazz Inn (Jazz Music): A huge swing band, complete with musicians and musical instruments, appears along the top of “Jazz Inn.” There are approximately 68 sunglasses wrapped around the musical saffs at Jazz Inn. There are approximately 470 musicians appearing in the swing band located along the top of Jazz Inn.
Rock Inn (Rock Music): Giant amplifiers, speakers, microphones, and a neon-lit, oversized juke box decorate the rock themed area of the resort. 160 records appear along the balconies at Rock Inn. A 1957 Chevy Bel Air Coupe automobile is often parked in front of Rock Inn.
All Star Sports
A sports themed value resort featuring larger-than-life icons representing surfing, football, basketball, baseball, and tennis. The design team worked to create a totally integrated sports theme which is reflected in the resort’s landscaping, architecture, lighting, and interior design. Neon and fiber optics illuminate the resort’s main icons. Palm trees are arranged to look like a basketball team at tip-off. Interior courtyards resemble a football field or an enormous tennis center court.
90 acres located adjacent to Disney’s All-Star Music and All-Star Movies Resorts
Design Architect: Arquitectonica – Miami, FL
Architect of Record: HKS, Inc. – Dallas, TX and Tampa, FL
Groundbreaking for All-Star complex took place in November, 1992.
Opening Date: April 29, 1994
Rooms: A total of 1,920 guest rooms
Surf’s Up – 384 rooms – April 29, 1994
Hoops Hotel – 384 rooms – May 13, 1994
Touchdown – 384 rooms – June 26, 1994
Home Run Hotel – 384 rooms – July 22, 1994
Center Court – 384 rooms – August 11, 1994
Sports scenes such as surfing and football decorate the walls in the End Zone food court. The 550-seat food court also features giant sports figures sitting atop brightly colored green, blue, and red dining booths.
The individual guest rooms feature sports-themed bedspreads, megaphone light fixtures, and artwork depicting sports scenes.
When Mickey Mouse’s image is incorporated into designs as a decorative enhancement, it is called a “Deliberate Mickey” since it is specifically intended to make Mickey Mouse a visual addition to the surrounding artwork or an identifying logo. (A “Hidden Mickey” is best defined as an image of Mickey Mouse concealed in the design of a Walt Disney World attraction or resort. At the present time, there are no Hidden Mickey’s at the All-Star Sports Resort. All-Star Sports Resort has the following “Deliberate Mickey’s” located on the resort – on trash cans; and at Touchdown! courtyard (planter in the center courtyard).
Pools: There are two themed pools. Surfboard Bay and Grandslam Pool
SurfBoard Bay – The silver star located by SurfBoard Bay is 46 feet tall and weighs more than 33, 000 pounds and it has 242,741 gallons of water
Grandslam Pool – The Grandslam pool is designed in the shape of a baseball infield. A water fountain sporting Goofy on a pitcher’s mound is located in the center of the pool and it has 119,590 gallons of water
Children’s Pool has 2,713 gallons of water
Red, white, and blue star-shaped seating, caged lighting reminiscent of a basketball gymnasium, and miniature red lockers greet guests at Stadium Hall, the resort’s main check-in and guest services area. There are approximately 727 stars on Stadium Hall. The large gold star in front of Stadium Hall is 55 feet tall and weighs more than 55, 000 pounds.
Themed Buildings: A collection of 3-story buildings with the following themes:
Center Court (Tennis): Stairwells in the shape of tennis cans and oversized tennis balls decorating the balconies are featured at Center Court. The tennis ball cans can hold approximately 9,474,609 regulation size tennis balls. There are tennis racquets that are approximately 51 feet tall and the tennis balls that are attached to the balconies are almost 5 feet in diameter.
Home Run Hotel (Baseball): Giant baseball bats, Coca-Cola cups, stadium lights, scoreboards, and an outfield fence can be found at Home Run Hotel. It would take more than 20 million 12-ounce cans of Coca-Cola to fill just one of the giant Coca-Cola cups. In 1992, Guests at the Walt Disney World Resort consumed approximately 1,600,000 gallons of Coca-Cola which would only fill 85% of just one of the giant Coca-Cola cups. A 40-foot tall White Ash tree would be needed to make a baseball bat the size of the ones located at Home Run Hotel.
Hoops Hotel (Basketball): Pennants of favorite college teams, such as the Blue Devils, Tigers, Boilermakers, and the Gators, rim the roof line of the Hoops Hotel. The giant basketballs hanging from the courtyard side of the buildings are approximately 5 feet in diameter and are more than 70 in number. The giant megaphone in 45 feet tall. The two whistles are 60 feet long and 20 feet high. The pea inside the whistle is approximately 9 feet in diameter.
Surfs Up (Surfing): Oversized surfboards and colorful fish complement the deep aqua tones of Surf’s Up. There are approximately 950 Red Snapper and Dolphin fish on the balconies of Surf’s Up. The surfboards stand at approximately 38 feet tall. The two shark fins are 38 feet high and would belong to a 300 foot long Great White Shark.
Touchdown! (Football): Giant footballs and larger-than-life football helmets welcome guests to Touchdown! A football player would have to stand at more than 200 feet tall to be able to wear the giant football helmets.
