PassPorter.com Feature Article
Original article at: http://www.passporter.com/articles/all-star-music.html

All-Star Music: A Resort Review

by Maureen Austin, PassPorter Guest Contributor
Last modified 12/21/2006

For those looking for the benefits and magic of staying at a Walt Disney World Resort but at an affordable price, All-Star Music may have you singing a tune! Opened after All-Star Sports, this sprawling 1900+ room resort offers an array of amenities and Disney magic to each of it's guests.

Located in the Animal Kingdom Resort area of Walt Disney World property, the resort is themed to bring guests in sync with different genres of music. Each section within the resort has a musical theme, complete with accentuating décor in guest rooms and huge icons near the buildings and in the courtyards. If you are a country music fan, you might find yourself at home in the Country Fair section. Jazz Inn and Rock Inn offer theming specific to these types of sounds and theater buffs might find themselves in heaven in the Broadway Hotel section.

Guest rooms at All-Star Music are classified as either standard or preferred. Standard rooms are located throughout the property, while preferred rooms are located in the Calypso section. While preferred rooms do cost a bit more, for your extra dollars put you into buildings conveniently located near Melody Hall, the central hub of activity for the resort.

Accommodations in standard or preferred rooms include 2 double beds, a small table and chairs, as well as a small dresser. The rooms accommodate 4 people and a child under 2 in a crib. As with all Disney's Value resorts, these are the smallest rooms of any of the Disney resorts at 260 sq. feet.

Summer 2006 brought some exciting changes to All-Star Music. Family Suites that accommodate up to 6 plus one child were added to parts of the Jazz and Calypso sections. The suites are available in both standard and preferred locations. Twice the area of a standard room, these suites feature a queen bed, sofa sleeper and two convertible twin beds along with a kitchenette. One of the biggest advantages is not one but two full bathrooms, a real plus for large families!

While there is no full service restaurant on site at All-Star Music, Intermission Food Court offers several food stations with a variety of offerings for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late evening snacking. In addition, there is a pizza delivery service should you feel like taking a break and eating in your room. You can pick up a refillable mug here for $11.99 and refill it as many times as you wish during your stay.

Recreation offered here includes two pools (Guitar and Piano, shaped like these two instruments for an extra dose of whimsy) as well as a playground, game room and shopping at Maestro Mickey's in Melody Hall. Need help with tickets or dining arrangements? No problem! Visit Melody Hall for guest services and check-in. Also at Melody Hall is the origination point for Walt Disney World transportation from the resort. Bus service departs for all the Disney parks and Downtown Disney. Some bus routes make several stops. If you are wishing to journey to another resort, you'll need to make transfers, which can take up to an hour so do plan accordingly.

Be sure to take advantage of the many photo opportunities that abound at this unique resort! Grab a drink and stroll among the many sections then strike a pose near the giant cowboy boots or jukebox.

The All-Star Resorts are popular with families as well as large groups so some areas, especially ones in which there is more activity, may be noisier than others. Those looking for quieter spots might do well to request rooms in Country Fair. Rooms facing away from pools also provide a little more solace.

2006 rates for All-Star Music begin at $79 and 2007 rates for rooms begin at $82. The Family Suites start at $179 in 2007- all of these rates do not include 13% sales and lodging tax. Always ask your travel agent or Disney Reservations about any possible specials or discounts that might be available to you during your stay such as AAA, CAA, Annual Passholder or Florida Resident.

About the Author: Maureen Austin is co-owner of Ears to You Travel and a proud Florida native. Born in South Florida and having lived all over the state, she enjoys writing about the Sunshine State's many attractions and natural beauty.

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Updated 12/21/2006

Check for a more updated version at http://www.passporter.com/articles/all-star-music.html