Hello Christy! Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
After a long hiatus from Walt Disney World Resort during my teenage years, my first return to Walt Disney World Resort in the late 1990s was a stay in
Disney's All-Star Movies Resort. I remember staying in a Preferred Room on the ground floor room in the 101 Dalmatians section of the resort.
When discussing the differences of Standard Rooms and Preferred Rooms at Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, the focus is location. A Preferred Room will guarantee a room that is closer to the Cinema Hall Lobby & Food Court, Bus Transportation and the Main Pool, while a Standard Room may not. The Preferred Rooms are in the Fantasia, Toy Story and 101 Dalmatians buildings, while the Standard Rooms are located in The Love Bug and Mighty Ducks buildings.
If you select a Preferred Room due to these benefits, it is just as important to specify proximity to transportation when you
Check-in Online using My Disney Experience up to 60 days in advance as it is to select a Preferred Room. The reason for this is that some Preferred Rooms on the far-side of their respective building are not much closer than the Standard Rooms. If the purpose of selecting Preferred is to cut down on walking, then request a room closer to Cinema Hall.
In the past, I have contacted my Walt Disney World Resort Hotel 5 days before traveling and asked Guest Services to add a note to my Reservation requesting for a room that suits my family's needs. While Cast members cannot guarantee they can meet your request, they will often make every attempt to accommodate your needs and it never hurts to (politely) ask. You may contact Disney's All-Star Movies Resort at (407)939-7000 to make that request.
See You in the Movies!
~Todd