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

[pookie10]

We are leaving in a month!! Just bought plane tickets!!!!!!!!!!!! Mon-Fri Disney Trip!! First trip!! Lion King suite!! SOOOO STOKED.............. Thinking about switching to Nemo, what do you think?? Which is better?

 

[pookie10]

When will we find out our room number? Our trip is exactly a month away, completely paid for.

Also, We just booked our flight. Do we need to call and let Disney know our flight info because we are using Magical express?

 

[dansdad]

When will we find out our room number?

When you arrive.

Also, We just booked our flight. Do we need to call and let Disney know our flight info because we are using Magical express?

Yup.

 

[lovingeire]

A question about getting a FN suite - My kids are really set on FN room, and aren't keen on either Cars or LK. We are going to be there the second week of May, and at the moment the FN rooms are full. If you go to sites like hotels.com and Expedia they have FN rooms, but they aren't offering the 15% discount on them, like they are for the other two themes.
So my question is, what is my best approach at this point? Do I just stalk the Disney site and hope to jump on a cancellation? Would working through a travel agent do me any good? Any other creative solutions?
Thanks in advance for any help.

Whenever the is a special offer Disney has a certain number of room available at those discounted rates so they may have sold out of FN rooms for the spring offer, of that's what you're trying to get. If you're dead set on FN you could book it regardless and keep checking back to see if the discount opened up. A travel agent will normally discount watch for you, but if the discount is sold out for those rooms they may have their hands tied as well. I think it's a matter f which is more important, the discount or the room theme. You can always call back and out in a request to be moved to FN if there's availability, but there are no guarantees on that front.

 

[trtl6941]

A question about getting a FN suite - My kids are really set on FN room, and aren't keen on either Cars or LK. We are going to be there the second week of May, and at the moment the FN rooms are full. If you go to sites like hotels.com and Expedia they have FN rooms, but they aren't offering the 15% discount on them, like they are for the other two themes.
So my question is, what is my best approach at this point? Do I just stalk the Disney site and hope to jump on a cancellation? Would working through a travel agent do me any good? Any other creative solutions?
Thanks in advance for any help.

When I booked with the special offer there were no FN rooms open (my kids really want nemo) so I booked a LK suite and stalked the site until I saw nemo open up! Sure enough, voila! It opened up. You'd risk not getting it though in case it doesn't open up. I took that chance because the savings was worth it!

 

[HoosierHoo]

Thanks for the input. I decided to go ahead and book Cars with the discount now, and I'll just check back and see if FN rooms with the discount open back up. Having read a bit more in the meantime, I think Cars may actually work better for us since the grandparents might appreciate it being a bit more mellow than Nemo.

 

[disneyfans95]

Great info and tracking.

We have a 12 person family reunion going in Nov 2013

 

[Jays2013]

Hi! I've been reading the thread steadily, but as our 60-day mark creeps up, I'm now starting to think about any room requests we might have.

We're staying in a Finding Nemo suite at the end of April. We are a pretty easy-going family and can't think of a single specific request we want to make. All the FN rooms seem to be within a reasonable distance; we're unlikely to be bothered overmuch by pool noise. And all the suites are pretty much the same, yes?

Am I missing something? What room requests would you make for a family like ours staying at FN in AoA? And shall I just tell them, essentially, "We're easy!"

(The most important things with us ... that tall DH has an at-least-queen bed and both boys have their own sleeping space ... are already taken care of by virtue of the suite itself!)

 

[jcarwash]

Hi! I've been reading the thread steadily, but as our 60-day mark creeps up, I'm now starting to think about any room requests we might have.

We're staying in a Finding Nemo suite at the end of April. We are a pretty easy-going family and can't think of a single specific request we want to make. All the FN rooms seem to be within a reasonable distance; we're unlikely to be bothered overmuch by pool noise. And all the suites are pretty much the same, yes?

Am I missing something? What room requests would you make for a family like ours staying at FN in AoA? And shall I just tell them, essentially, "We're easy!"

(The most important things with us ... that tall DH has an at-least-queen bed and both boys have their own sleeping space ... are already taken care of by virtue of the suite itself!)

I don't think you're missing anything. At a resort like AoA where you can reserve a specific theme type, and therefore a specific set of buildings, the scope of what you can or need to request is reduced.

At other resorts, room requests can be more interesting if you want to try and get a room in specific area or building. For comparison at Pop Century, even if you reserve a "preferred" room, you could be assigned to one of three different sections and one of six different buildings. So if you want to try for some control over that, you can spend more time thinking of requests to make...and even then, no guarantee they can be fulfilled.

 

[Southern Bell]

I'm trying to think of something! We are not that difficult either! But if I didn't have a request then No I wouldn't tell them just anything because we are easy! They may put you just any or where! LOL! Does it matter to you what floor level you are on? Last time we were asigned a room on ground floor & I kind of liked that! Last time I went up and down steps all week because it was faster to do so than catch the elevater! Do you want your window to overlook the courtyard(for quite) or pool. When I arrived earlier one yr and before a Saturday they were very happy to exchange my room for one that overlooked the pool instead of a courtyard. My grandson liked coming out and seeing the pool or just looking out of his window when we were in our room. It kept him entertained! LOL! Thats all that I can think of! It sounds like you are in the most perfect area already to be in! Have a great time!

 

[Jays2013]

Thanks! I'll ask DH, maybe he'll care about the floor level. I suppose it would be nice not to have to climb stairs/wait for the elevator with two little boys after a long day at the parks!

I'm guessing he might slightly prefer a room away from the pool, while the boys and I would probably like the pool view. None of us cares that strongly, though. We're just so excited to go!

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

**subscribing** Staying here in April for the first time!

 

[kimber11]

We just got back from the Art of Animation Resort. We were there Sat Jan 26th until Sat Feb 2nd. We absolutely loved it and would go back again in a heart beat. I wish we had of set aside more time just to stay at the resort and enjoy it. We were at a park each day but could have easily been just as entertained staying at the resort all day. The pools are incredible and the decorations are amazing. They also have lots of activities for the kids and also have a movie under the stars playing outside each night at 7pm. We were in the Little Mermaid area for the first half of the trip and then were in the Cars after that. We definitley had a lot more room in the Cars but LM was fine if you are on a budget. It is a bit more of a walk to the main buildling but it's really not that bad, especially if you have a stroller for little ones. The food court was really busy somtimes and not so busy other times, so just hit or miss. We enjoyed the food there though. We would for sure stay here again in a heartbeat. Enjoy you trip everyone!

 

[Loreli]

We are SO excited to be going to WDW in August and staying in a LM room at AoA. I am sure we will end up in the furthest building and my 7 yr old will have a cow with the walk. But more importantly are there really working lights in the headboard and do they light up the room? My kids sleep with more than night lights on. Are there really 'fridges and TVs in every LM room? We are toying with the idea of having snacks shipped to the room.
Thanks!!

 

[tcordero]

Can't wait to stay at this resort! Going at the end of the month

 

[JM1226]

Do they have them? If they do and you requested one...how are they? Will my 3yr old have enough room as she's on the taller side?

 

[TJDisneymama]

I wish we had of set aside more time just to stay at the resort and enjoy it. We were at a park each day but could have easily been just as entertained staying at the resort all day. The pools are incredible and the decorations are amazing. Te!

we will be there for 6 days and I've set aside a lot more "resort time" than usual, just for AoA.

Day 1 - we should be at AoA by 11:00 a.m. and then we have Chef Mickey ressies at 5:00 so we have most of the afternoon to just hang at AoA.

Day 4 - morning EMH at AK, plan to be done with AK by 1:00-2:00 then back to AoA for the afternoon/evening.

Day 6 - morning ADR at Boma, then back to AoA for the morning/early afternoon and head over to MK late afternoon.

 

[Mom2Luci]

We are SO excited to be going to WDW in August and staying in a LM room at AoA. I am sure we will end up in the furthest building and my 7 yr old will have a cow with the walk. But more importantly are there really working lights in the headboard and do they light up the room? My kids sleep with more than night lights on. Are there really 'fridges and TVs in every LM room? We are toying with the idea of having snacks shipped to the room.
Thanks!!

Yes, there are lights in the headboard, and yes they light up the room The fridge is in the cabinet under the TV.

 

[jcarwash]

Do they have them? If they do and you requested one...how are they? Will my 3yr old have enough room as she's on the taller side?

I assume AoA is also using the same style of Graco pack-n-plays used at other resorts. If you're familiar with those, you'll have to decide if your 3 year old will be comfortable it one. I think at age 3 was the last time my child used the crib at Pop. Subsequent visits we started using the regular bed.

 

[JM1226]

Will there be enough room in the FN in the bedroom for a full size crib? I just rented one from ABBF for our trip to Disney.