Disney's Art of Animation Resort Info Thread! Mouseketeers welcome!

[sixkristy6]

I think they might regret only committing such a small portion of the resort to regular rooms. Anyone have a feel how the suites are booking?

I was just going to write the same thing. I understand their reasoning for the suites, but it seems like they should have done half suites and half standard rooms. I am glad we booked early enough to get a LM room!

 

[Sunshinepixie27]

I think that the cost for the suites is what Disney needs to adjust. It is cheaper for a family of 5 or 6 to get two regular connecting rooms than a suite. I am not sure that a microwave and coffee maker is worth the added cost.

 

[dsaurus]

We are going to be staying in a Nemo suite. Does anyone know if the wifi access is any good? I've read a lot of threads that say it's pretty hit or miss at other resorts, but I haven't found anyone commenting on it at AOA yet.

 

[bjakmom]

I'll be so excited to hear reviews of the LM rooms. Just booked for a long Memorial Day weekend next year. DGrD(8) is begging to go back for another SWW and to stay in a LM room.
We did a long-weekend/last minute stay at Pop last Feb and she LOVED it. I could not get her out of the pools! Since we are DVC it was my first stay in a value - and for short trips for the two of us - I enjoyed it too - what a great 'value'. She was fascinated to watch AoA being built and has wanted to stay there ever since.

 

[jkbd03]

We are going to be staying in a Nemo suite. Does anyone know if the wifi access is any good? I've read a lot of threads that say it's pretty hit or miss at other resorts, but I haven't found anyone commenting on it at AOA yet.

We were there in June when the Cars Suites opened and I was able to use WiFi with no issues on my iPhone as well as my laptop.

 

[Rea74]

I'm a Disney "newbie" and we booked our first trip (yes, ever!) to Disney and we'll be staying at to AoA LM room in April. We got the package plus dining plan. My question is how do you get the FD? Is that dependent on the season? Is it something you have to call and ask for? Just curious! TIA

 

[tink15823]

I'm a Disney "newbie" and we booked our first trip (yes, ever!) to Disney and we'll be staying at to AoA LM room in April. We got the package plus dining plan. My question is how do you get the FD? Is that dependent on the season? Is it something you have to call and ask for? Just curious! TIA

If it is open to gen public and they have openings you can call and ask them to add it. Did you call to see if they had it when your going? Also ask if you have a pin attached to your name . Good luck

 

[jenseib]

I'm a Disney "newbie" and we booked our first trip (yes, ever!) to Disney and we'll be staying at to AoA LM room in April. We got the package plus dining plan. My question is how do you get the FD? Is that dependent on the season? Is it something you have to call and ask for? Just curious! TIA

There are no discounts released for that time frame yet, but if one does come out, you just call your TA or Disney and see if they can get it applied. Keep in mind, that if you are going close to Easter, most likely there won't be discounts.

 

[rhiansmom]

I Am beyond excited... I had the best Disney Reservation Agent EVER this morning!! She was beyond accommodating and helped me to change my split stay in October into only staying at AoA in a LM room.

You see I had a pin code for free dining... I then booked under regular free dining a split at pop/cbr... then to change later to AoA-LM/CBR then to post here one night about our split and got talked into a full AoA - LM room.

I tried with my pin to get free dining at AoA but there was no room in the inn... bummer but what I was told made sense... do you really want to have to pack up and lug stuff to CBR? no.. so I booked split stay AoA/Pop with the pin with hopes I could switch to AoA... no luck until this AM! She originally couldn't get the Free Dining to attach but she knew exactly what she needed to do and made it work!

 

[PrincessShanShan]

Just got back from five nights at AoA yesterday. It was very UNcrowded. Of course only Nemo and Cars are open right now. The CM checking us in said the suites are not selling like they expected. We were told by her they were operating at about 30-35% occupancy for the sections open, but then we had another CM tell us they were at about 60-65% occupancy, so who knows. They both said LM were the rooms most requested, so it looks like that's where everyone wants to stay. It wasn't crowded at all....anywhere there.....the pool, food court, bus, etc. It was nice!

Although Lion King and Little Mermaid sections were blocked off, we did try to look around the construction area. IMHO, I would not stay at LM without a car. I once stayed in the Country Fair section of ASMusic, and LM appeared to be even farther away than that. Of course we couldn't actually walk to that section, so maybe there is some path somewhere that makes it closer, but from the construction area, it looks like quite a hike! I also didn't realize LM rooms aren't interior rooms like the other (suite) rooms. Maybe that's old news, but I didn't know it.

We were in Nemo and the pool/play area is the most adorable area I've ever seen for kids. I think it's probably most appropriate for kids around eight and under. Just CUTE, CUTE, CUTE! I did like the resort, but it screamed family and kids to me. I would not stay there for an adult only trip; however, I can't say enough how much I liked it for kids.

Oh someone asked about the movies shown there. They are in the pool area and the pool area is fenced in and you have to have your room key to access it, so no pool hopping from other resorts.

 

[mom2rtk]

The CM checking us in said the suites are not selling like they expected.

I've wondered about this from the get-go. I think there was demand for more family suites. But I'm not sure there was THIS much demad. Gonna be interesting to see if that changes over time.

 

[jenlov]

Just got back from five nights at AoA yesterday. It was very UNcrowded. Of course only Nemo and Cars are open right now. The CM checking us in said the suites are not selling like they expected. We were told by her they were operating at about 30-35% occupancy for the sections open, but then we had another CM tell us they were at about 60-65% occupancy, so who knows. They both said LM were the rooms most requested, so it looks like that's where everyone wants to stay. It wasn't crowded at all....anywhere there.....the pool, food court, bus, etc. It was nice!

Although Lion King and Little Mermaid sections were blocked off, we did try to look around the construction area. IMHO, I would not stay at LM without a car. I once stayed in the Country Fair section of ASMusic, and LM appeared to be even farther away than that. Of course we couldn't actually walk to that section, so maybe there is some path somewhere that makes it closer, but from the construction area, it looks like quite a hike! I also didn't realize LM rooms aren't interior rooms like the other (suite) rooms. Maybe that's old news, but I didn't know it.

We were in Nemo and the pool/play area is the most adorable area I've ever seen for kids. I think it's probably most appropriate for kids around eight and under. Just CUTE, CUTE, CUTE! I did like the resort, but it screamed family and kids to me. I would not stay there for an adult only trip; however, I can't say enough how much I liked it for kids.

Oh someone asked about the movies shown there. They are in the pool area and the pool area is fenced in and you have to have your room key to access it, so no pool hopping from other resorts.

Eventually, you'll be able to walk through Lion King to get to LM. Everyone is saying it's the same distance as some of the Pop Century rooms. If you look at a map, they're pretty much the same as Pop as far as layout.

My guess is the suites aren't selling as well b/c of the price. They're quite a bit more expensive than the suites at the other values, and way more expensive than the LM rooms. So, I can see why they're not getting booked as quickly. We're doing 2 LM rooms and still coming out much cheaper than 1 family suite. I think in this economy, cost is really a factor for many people.

 

[jimandami]

I've wondered about this from the get-go. I think there was demand for more family suites. But I'm not sure there was THIS much demad. Gonna be interesting to see if that changes over time.

I think there is great demand, but when you can get 2 standard rooms cheaper than the suite, I think most people will choose that option! I mean, we are booked in a Nemo suite with FD for Sept, and if we changed to one of the All-Stars and used Yes tickets, we would easily save over $1000....that is huge! But, our family is set on the Nemo room so I was outvoted!

 

[mom2rtk]

I think there is great demand, but when you can get 2 standard rooms cheaper than the suite, I think most people will choose that option! I mean, we are booked in a Nemo suite with FD for Sept, and if we changed to one of the All-Stars and used Yes tickets, we would easily save over $1000....that is huge! But, our family is set on the Nemo room so I was outvoted!

Areed. I'm sure there is a price point at which there will be great demand for the suites. I just don't see it happening at the current level. It needs to be roughly equivilant to 2 standard rooms (or 2 preferred level rooms) for the closer buildings.

Our 2 older teen boys don't like Disney so we'll never be there with a large enough party to justify a suite. I'd love to stay in a Cars room! Can you imagine how fast those would book though if they add Carsland to WDW somewhere? How fun would that be?

 

[Highway in the Sky]

I agree. I think Little Mermaid and Lion King should have been "standard" rooms and then Nemo and Cars for suites. Limiting to just LM I think is going to be too restricting for the resort. I guess we will see if LM is always booked, yet the suites are wide open.

However, is there much land left? Could they build another building(s)? Say an Alice themed wing, if they find the standard rooms are in huge demand? I don't think transforming one of the suites buildings to standard rooms would work. Even if they had made a small portion of all buildings have standard rooms, that would have been good to. Time will tell.

 

[bjakmom]

OOooooh!! Maybe if lots of suites are sitting empty they will upgrade some of the LM rooms to suites trying to 'sell' them for future visits. Wishful thinking, but that is what most resorts do with empty rooms - gets more buzz out about the suites. Once we stayed in a 1 BR DVC, we never wanted to go back to staying in a studio. Fingers crossed..

 

[mom2rtk]

I agree. I think Little Mermaid and Lion King should have been "standard" rooms and then Nemo and Cars for suites. Limiting to just LM I think is going to be too restricting for the resort. I guess we will see if LM is always booked, yet the suites are wide open.

However, is there much land left? Could they build another building(s)? Say an Alice themed wing, if they find the standard rooms are in huge demand? I don't think transforming one of the suites buildings to standard rooms would work. Even if they had made a small portion of all buildings have standard rooms, that would have been good to. Time will tell.

I think it would probably be more cost effective to adjust the pricing structure of what they just finished building.

But yes, I said all along I wished they had sprinkled some standard room into those other sections all over the resort. I think they could have even charged a little more. I would have gladly paid a little more to be in a stadard room closer to the bus stops and Animation Hall. But not as much as a suite!

 

[dwheatl]

Here's a sample of activities at the resort.

 

[SRUAlmn]

OOooooh!! Maybe if lots of suites are sitting empty they will upgrade some of the LM rooms to suites trying to 'sell' them for future visits. Wishful thinking, but that is what most resorts do with empty rooms - gets more buzz out about the suites. Once we stayed in a 1 BR DVC, we never wanted to go back to staying in a studio. Fingers crossed..

Ooh! Good thought! I wonder........ We'll be staying in a LM room in November, so we'll see what happens

 

[kbarrett]

We were booked for 2 LM rooms because it was cheaper for our family of 6 but then FD came out and we switched to Lion King Suites... I would've booked a suite right away but it was more $$$ so if they alter their pricing they would surely have a huge demand for their suites! So excited we got what we truly wanted and saved some $