5 Reasons to Consider All-Star Sports for Your Next runDisney Race

Are you trying to decide where to stay on your next runDisney vacation at Disney World? I have five great reasons why your next run-cation stay should be at All-Star Sports.

runDisney

Even if you are an experienced athlete, runDisney is a completely different race experience. Check out some of our other runDisney posts below:

• Five tips for a better race photo
• Things all runners should know
• Five must have carry on items for your runDisney vacation
• Where to run when at Disney World
• Review of the runDisney Merchandise Shop Virtual Queue 
• Five Reasons to Delay or Make a Second Trip to the Expo
• runDisney moves to the Honor System with this change
• Exclusive Interview with a runDisney celebrity
• Ten unique runDisney souvenirs you won’t find at the Expo
• Top 10 Tips for a Magical Dopey Challenge
•  part 1 guide (registration and planning) 
•  part 2 guide (expo and race day)

All Star Sports

All Star Sports is a value resort. It is the most recent refurbishment completed for the All-Star Resorts. Check out the updated rooms HERE.

Disney’s All-Star Resorts are the cheapest rooms you will find on Disney World property. They are home to some really fun theming and larger-than-life icons! Be sure to check out Monica’s post on ranking the All-Star Resort by sections HERE.

This resort offers a fun and great place for you to enjoy your runDisney race-cation. Below I will give you FIVE great reasons why you should stay at All-Star Sports for your next runDisney weekend.

Price

The All-Star resorts are in the value category for booking. Value resorts will be the cheapest rooms on Disney property.

Here you will get all of your basic hotel accommodations, two beds, a bathroom, vanity, TV, and beverage cooler. The rooms are small, but they provide everything you need.

If you are coming for a race weekend, you have already spent plenty on registration and probably plan to spend even more on race merchandise. The prices usually can’t be beat for staying on Disney property.

Vibe

Many athletes stay on property during race weekends. You will find many of those athletes stay at All-Star Sports.

Having other athletes at the same resort wishing each other luck and congratulating each other really pumps everyone up. There is a vibe/feeling that you get when staying here for a race weekend.

Because of the hotels set up, runners also decorate their windows. This is another way runners get hyped up and hype each other up for their races. It’s fun to walk around the resort checking out the different window decorations.

Bus Transportation

Staying on Disney property offers the perk of Disney transportation. At Disney’s All-Star Sports, bus transportation is the only free Disney transportation offered.

At the end of the race, athletes and any spectators with them will take bus transportation back to the resort. At this point, the All-Star resorts are put together at one bus stop. So this bus will stop at all three All-Star resorts on the return back from the race.

Because of the location of Disney’s All-Star Sports, it is the first stop for those returning to the resort. Being the first bus stop gets you to your room, food, or whatever your plans are for the day faster. This is a big reason why I pick this All-Star Resort over the others.

Offerings From Hotel

I love it when the resort has special welcome offerings for runners. It gets runners excited to see things regarding their special race weekend.

One offering at the quick-service restaurant for the Spring Time Surprise Weekend was the Runner’s Pack. This was a breakfast offering that runners could buy a day or two before their race to have something for breakfast the morning of. This pack offered a bagel, banana, peanut butter, breakfast bar, and a small DASANI bottled water.

Even though I do a grocery delivery order, this is a great offering for those traveling solo or those looking for convenience. It is important to note that the quick service and the beverage stations will not be open when you are heading to the race, but the toaster and microwave are still available.

Over the years of participating in runDisney events, I have found more and more resorts participating in activities for runners upon their return to the resort. However, in my personal experience, I have found that that more celebrations take place at All-Star Sports than some of the deluxe resorts.

I also saw at All-Star Sports a good luck offering from Cast Members (I have never received this in the 20+ runDisney events I have completed, so this was pixie dust and should not be expected). Some of these were a sign on the door wishing good luck, while others were a small plastic medal.

My favorite offering was Cast Members who were waiting for us to get off the bus after we completed our race who cheered and congratulated us. There was also a photo frame prop to take pictures with and Cast members were willing to take pics so everyone in the group could get in!

These offerings could be canceled or changed at any time.

Disney Bubble

When it truly comes down to it, there is nothing like staying at a Disney resort (any Disney resort) for a runDisney race weekend. There is something special about meeting other runners to and from the race who are accomplishing amazing goals just like you.

Staying at All-Star Sports gets you in the Disney bubble and part of the magic for a reasonable price. You also get the benefit of onsite perks like early morning entry and the ability to purchase Multi Pass and Single Pass seven days before arrival.

Things to Consider

Because the value resorts are very budget-friendly, oftentimes you will see large groups staying here. These groups include sports teams, schools, and other large travel parties.

Where you are probably looking to head to bed earlier than a normal vacation, you may notice things don’t quiet down as quickly as you would like. Also, the noise does carry through the open spaces, so I felt things could feel louder at this resort.

Pirate tip: prepare for noise by requesting a fan or have other noise-canceling options.

Final Thoughts

When visiting Disney World for a race weekend there are many places you can stay. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of what matters to you for your runDisney race-cation stay.

I find that All-Star Sports has all the things I look for when visiting for a race weekend at an affordable price, and that helps keep all those miles magical!

Have you stayed at All-Star Sports for a runDisney weekend? What is your favorite Disney resort to stay at for a runDisney weekend? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to share this post with your friends.