Diamonds Are A Pool-Goer's Best Friend

Good Morning! Do you have a child who's a sports fanatic in your family? Are you looking for an affordable way to vacation at the Walt Disney World Resort? If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, then the All-Star Sports Resort is the way to go for you! How's that for a sales pitch?? :) Really though, how cool would it be to be able to take you sports-crazed kid to the swimming pool at your resort that's shaped like a baseball diamond?! And that has huge icons in the courtyard of surfing, baseball, basketball, tennis, and football?! Imagine the photo opportunities!

The All-Star Sports Resort is the final out of the three "All-Stars" and also located in the Animal Kingdom Resort area. They all actually share the same entrance. You speak to guard at the front and tell him you're checking in, show him your room key, or swipe it at the mechanical arm, and then drive to the resort that you're staying at, they're all in a row. Music, Movies, Sports. Of course if you're taking Disney transportation while on property, then you would just take the appropriately designated bus.

There are two pools at this resort as well, quick service dining location, merchandise location, and the rooms have two double beds, vanity area, and bathrooms. There is one other thing that I'm going to mention here that pretty much is valid for all the value resorts: If you want to be in a building that is closer to the main building where you check in and where the bus transportation is located, there is a fee added to your room reservation rate. Its not much, but rooms in these building are considered "Preferred Rooms", whereas the others are called "standard rooms." The fee isn't something huge, like I said, it depends on the time of year that you're vacationing, etc., but usually works out to be about $15 per night.

Now, why would you want a preferred room? Well, look at your travel party. Is there anyone in it who has trouble getting around? Someone who is going to need a wheelchair or ECV (electronic conveyance vehicle- or scooter) while you're at the parks because they can't walk that much? Or are you thinking about after a long day walking around the parks with young children and strollers. Kids who would want to be carried? Let me tell you, the last thing you would want to do at nine or ten o'clock at night after walking all day, and then riding the bus back is carrying a sleeping kid and bags, etc. to a sometimes 5-10 minute walk to your room. These are the situations where that extra $15 per night would be $money$ well spent. If this is no big deal with you, go for the standard room.

I've stayed in both in all these types of situations, and at this point in my life, I go with the preferred every time. Ten years ago, standard. Now I'm all about convenience. :)