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

[sixkristy6]

it ALWAYS shows rain during the Hurricane season -- but if you time it right, you will never see it - (the showers come and go in the afternoon in the period of about 20 minutes)

That makes sense! Thanks! I was going to look hour by hour once it gets much much closer.

 

[rentayenta]

I forgot all about it but when I logged on to Disney's site today it told me I can check in!! So I am about to do the online check in

I checked in today too!

 

[rentayenta]

I just looked at the weather for the week for 10/14 and it's all rain!! I hope it changes since we have 10 days until we go.

Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

Don't worry- its been saying that for weeks. We went a few Septembers ago and we had quick showers a few days but they passed quickly. We'll arrive 10/13 and it shows sun, partly cloudy.

 

[sixkristy6]

Don't worry- its been saying that for weeks. We went a few Septembers ago and we had quick showers a few days but they passed quickly. We'll arrive 10/13 and it shows sun, partly cloudy.

It totally depends on where you look since whatever is on my phone shows rain all week. I will look online wen it gets closer. I don't rely on weather reports until a few days before anyway. I am just getting excited!!

 

[sixkristy6]

I checked in today too!

I never did it, I'll do it tomorrow. I also need to buy MNSSHP tix.

 

[TammiDZ]

I'm sooooo thrilled to back on the boards! I booked our next trip to Disney! March cannot come soon enough. This will be my first time not at Pop, but I'm excited to go to the other side of Hourglass Lake/Generation Gap bridge. I've been watching the construction for so long, I'm excited to see the finished product!

ADR's done!!!!!! So excited!!!!!!

 

[princessap]

I am looking forward to booking a FInding nemo suite...any good room request suggestions??

 

[bek]

Do Senseo pods fit the Cuisinart coffee makers in the family suites? I'm not finding much when I google Cuisinart coffee pods. Or is there something else I should be googling to find some coffee to bring with me?

 

[stindall]

Okay I have to rearrange my trip next year a bit and I'm thinking of getting a little mermaid room. My current ressie is for POR but my husband doesn't want to go anymore and no one else wants to go or can afford it so I'm solo! The only reason I was going for POR was for my husband who didn't really want mega themeing! My other choices are Pop (which I've stayed at twice) and ASMo which I've stayed at a few times but not for a long while. I'm leaning towards AoA even though it's a little more expensive. Should I go ahead and change me ressies to AoA mermaid?!

*UPDATE!* Went ahead and changed to Little Mermaid!

 

[stindall]

I just looked at the weather for the week for 10/14 and it's all rain!! I hope it changes since we have 10 days until we go.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

I'd keep an optimistic view! Weather can change a lot in 10 days and often does. Plus the weather man isn't always right! You'll have fun either way!

 

[sixkristy6]

I'd keep an optimistic view! Weather can change a lot in 10 days and often does. Plus the weather man isn't always right! You'll have fun either way!

If it's rainy it means a smaller crowd at the parks so I will take whatever they give me!

We're at 9 days now and I am waiting for my Disney rewards to come from my Visa ($246!!). They gave me a $200 credit for signing up.

I feel like I have not planned enough (I still need to make my touring plans, not sure what I am waiting for!). I still need to buy MNSSHP tickets and do online check in. I actually had a question and I remember I was going to post it on the boards and not this thread but I cannot remember what I wanted to ask!!

 

[stindall]

We stayed here during our first visit to wdw from September 22-29. We were beyond impressed with everything. It was our first so I don't really have nother Disney resort to compare it to. I have Sprint and a 4s and had great service while at our hotel but not in the parks?

We have already decided we will do everything in our power to return to wdw for fall break in 2013 and are trying to decided if we should stay here again since we were so impressed or give another value resort a shot?

We stayed in the Little Mermaid section and I was extra happy since that is my favorite Disney movie!

If you stayed in LM then try Pop Century. It's right across the bridge and set up in the same way as the LM section. It's fun and cute and you'll really enjoy it if you enjoyed AoA little mermaid!

 

[stindall]

Yes it did! The worst for me last week, though, was during the ToT 10-miler and on the last mile through DHS, I ran by some people smoking....I mean really?

honestly I'm still surprised ANY theme park still allows smoking, let alone one of the most popular in the world!

Wow, we have Sprint, EVO 4G and EVO shift and had no problems whatsoever. Now, my MIL has Verizon and some kind of Samsung phone and she did nothing but complain about it having issues while we were at WDW.

We have Virgin Mobile which uses Sprint towers and get pretty dismal service just about everywhere. You'll find people complain about service and praise service for every carrier. It's different for everyone so take any complaints or praising with a grain of salt. Personally I don't feel WiFi is necessary 99% of the time.

 

[stindall]

If it's rainy it means a smaller crowd at the parks so I will take whatever they give me!

We're at 9 days now and I am waiting for my Disney rewards to come from my Visa ($246!!). They gave me a $200 credit for signing up.

I feel like I have not planned enough (I still need to make my touring plans, not sure what I am waiting for!). I still need to buy MNSSHP tickets and do online check in. I actually had a question and I remember I was going to post it on the boards and not this thread but I cannot remember what I wanted to ask!!

very true, a lot of people book it to the exit when it rains which is so silly! Enjoy it!

 

[Jacindyyy]

Just added a night onto my stay in January! Staying four nights in the Little Mermaid room and now one night in a Lion King suite as no Little Mermaid rooms were left at this stage. No complaints here though. They are my two favourite Disney movies!

 

[dschneider]

Do Senseo pods fit the Cuisinart coffee makers in the family suites? I'm not finding much when I google Cuisinart coffee pods. Or is there something else I should be googling to find some coffee to bring with me?

I bought Melitta coffee pods. It says they fit all pod coffee makers. I don't think Senseo ones do.

 

[yellowfish78]

Do Senseo pods fit the Cuisinart coffee makers in the family suites? I'm not finding much when I google Cuisinart coffee pods. Or is there something else I should be googling to find some coffee to bring with me?

I bought Melitta coffee pods. It says they fit all pod coffee makers. I don't think Senseo ones do.

It's not a pod coffee machine - they use flat individual coffee filters like what is in the picture below.

(Disclaimer: not actual coffee pot from AoA - just using it to show the filters. )

 

[dschneider]

It's not a pod coffee machine - they use flat individual coffee filters like what is in the picture below.

(Disclaimer: not actual coffee pot from AoA - just using it to show the filters. )

Those flat things are pods. It doesn't use K-cups. I'm assuming that's what you mean.

 

[tinkerhon]

I just got back from AoA with my wife and 4 year old daughter. We stayed in the Little Mermaid area (room 8662) from 9/22-30. Here's my take on the pluses and minuses:

Pluses

1. The exterior design/artwork was fantastic. I thought Cars was the best area of the bunch, but really they're all great.

2. In my mind, this is the best Disney hotel for little kids. Obviously they all have their pluses and things that little kids will love, but AoA blows the rest of them out of the water with its theme and design. Your kids will love everything about this place.

3. It's been repeated over and over, but the food court here is better than the other values. The Surf and Surf burger was the best thing we had. The pasta bar was not worth the wait, though.

4. By and large, the bus service was really good. The only time we waited for any significant period of time was after the Not So Scary Halloween party on 9/25.

5. The pools were great. The pool in the Little Mermaid area was big enough on its own to spend an afternoon in with my 4 year old.

6. This place is much closer to the action than the All Stars. You'll save at least a few minutes going to MK, HS, and Epcot.

Minuses

1. The Little Mermaid area is a looong way from the main building. However, to be fair, it's no different than at any other value, and it's better than most of the moderates.

2. They should put in drink refill stations at the outer pools.

3. As mentioned by others, the satellite TV service was spotty. At times the picture would get pixelated. I don't know if there were atmospheric issues last week that caused it or what, but it was definitely noticeable.

4. The wifi was terrible. I feel bad complaining about it, since it's free, but my opinion is that if you offer a service (even if it's free), it needs to work. If it's not going to work, don't offer it. It wasn't an issue of signal strength in my particular room. I called the help line and they said they needed to release additional space on their modems for me, which helped for a bit, but then it largely went back to working sporadically. You'd have connectivity for a while, then none, then connectivity, then none. It was frustrating, but in the end I didn't worry about it too much because we generally are hardly at the hotel since we're iron manning the parks.

5. The beds are doubles, not queens. If you need more space to sleep, that could be a deal killer.

In the end the pluses far outweigh the minuses. If you're going to stay at a value, you really need to go here. That said, our next trip will almost certainly be a moderate, just so we can have a little more space and have queen beds.

Could not agee with this post more !!! Basically, our sentiments exactly ! We are currently here (LM, Sect 8).. Our 2nd day---- We stay at CBR every other visit, but when our DD saw the Lil mermaid rooms on-line, she went nuts !! Now, even she misses CBR !!! (shes 6) -

Dont get me wrong--- the theming/artwork are amazing, but overall, just not our cup of tea--- Like the food court, but agree with others---- the service is extemely slow, especially, when you are ready to pay- Not too crazy about the setup either--- reminds me of Sunshine Food Court at EPCOT-

The noise didnt get to us too much--- we ate there twice so far, and both times, we were able to find a section thats pretty quiet--- The gift shop is OK, but could not believe that we couldnt find some "groceries" to take back to take back to the room (we had to go back to the food court to buy them)

(Normally, at CBR, we will buy a box of donuts and some bread and peanut butter for the kids, in case they want a snack)-- didnt see these items at the gift shop. The bus service has been ok at far as the time waiting, but both yesterday and today, packed both leaving the hotel, and going back-

The worst part for us was the walk to the bus stop this morning--- you are basically zig-zagging thru a ton of people-- (most leaving/entering the food court) - Its seemed to take forever to get to the bus-

The rooms are OK, but the beds are pretty small, and not much drawer space-

Overall, a nice hotel, and as always, having a great time (btw, LOVE the arcade), but glad we are booked at CBR in November !!

 

[sixkristy6]

I keep reading how the food court is so crowded and while I'm not sure how many nights we'll be there for dinner anyway, it makes me hesitant to eat there.

I think we'll be doing some resort hopping for dinner anyway a couple of times. I'm not sure which ones I want to go to just yet (these would be for CS meals).

My DH has decided to become a vegetarian (about a week ago). I'm hoping there are a lot of options for him in different places. I am sure there are!