Hi there, and welcome to planDisney! I’m excited to chat about your birthday trip, especially since I also celebrated my last milestone birthday at Disney World. So let’s figure out the best place to stay for your special holiday!
I really love to stay at a
Disney Resort hotel, when possible, because you feel like you’re in the middle of the magic even after you leave the theme parks. And All-Star Movies Resort is such a fun place to stay, with the different sections themed after our favorite animated films. You'll find lots of photo opportunities with the larger-than-life Toy Story, Fantasia, and 101 Dalmatians characters decorating the buildings and pool!
There are also a couple of key differences between
All-Star Movies Resort and off-site hotels, like the
Drury Plaza Hotel, when it comes to
transportation.
The first has to do with the drop-off location for the theme parks. If you’re going to Magic Kingdom,
buses coming from Disney Resort hotels, like All-Star Movies Resort, drop guests off near the park entrance, whereas the buses coming from Drury Plaza Hotel drop off at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). From the TTC, you’ll need to take the
monorail or
ferryboat to the front of
Magic Kingdom. So, it can be a real time-saver to stay at All-Star Movies Resort! The difference is smaller at the other theme parks, where the off-site hotel buses pick up and drop off just a little further from the Disney Resort hotel bus stops.
Another difference is how often buses leave for the theme parks. At Drury Plaza Hotel, there’s a set schedule, which is nice for planning, but currently, there can be more than an hour between buses in the afternoon and evening. At All-Star Movies Resort, buses run continually throughout the day (starting 45 minutes before
Early Theme Park Entry until one hour after park close). I stayed at one of the other All-Star Resorts last month and was impressed by the bus service! Generally, I didn't have to wait more than 20 minutes for the next bus, and it was usually much shorter. Once your check-in date is here, you can view estimated bus arrival times in the
My Disney Experience app. Go to ☰ in the lower right corner, select Hotel Reservations (under My Visit), and press the See Bus Times icon under your room number.
Finally, if you’re planning to spend a lot of time at
Disney Springs, the Drury Plaza Hotel is a convenient option because of its proximity. Currently, the hotel runs a bus to Disney Springs a few times throughout the day, but you can also walk (it’s a little over a half mile from the closest entrance).
I’m wishing you the most magical birthday ever at Disney World next year! And don’t forget to pick up a complimentary birthday button when you get there. You can ask for one at the front desk at Disney Resort hotels or at many gift shop check-out counters.
If you have any other questions before your trip, don’t hesitate to visit us again at planDisney!
JoAnna