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

[2lovebugs]

Thank you for all this information! We will be staying here in Sept. and we can't wait!

 

[Martini Mom]

We have a bounceback offer in our LM room. Free dining 8/18-9/13/03.

We were hoping for Free Dining for our Aug stay, 16-26. If it is offered as part of the Bounce Back does that mean those will be the dates for the general public when/if they get around to releasing a free dining offer for late summer/early fall.
thanks,
Lara

 

[jcarwash]

We were hoping for Free Dining for our Aug stay, 16-26. If it is offered as part of the Bounce Back does that mean those will be the dates for the general public when/if they get around to releasing a free dining offer for late summer/early fall.

No, the dates on the BB offers don't always match exactly to public offers for Aug/Sep.

Some years yes the dates are exactly the same, some years no, the start date and end dates are is off (by days) from what people got as BB offers.

Generally it's a decent bet there will be a public free dining offer starting mid-Aug through all/most of September.

 

[Bondfan531]

Super stoked about our stay in May. Just me and my 12 year old daughter. This is her birthday present, she turns 13 the day after we come home. We booked a LM room and always have stayed at value resorts at WDW and booked standard rooms. The walk has never been more than 5 minutes at the very most and we almost always get put off in the last or next to last building. With all the walking we do at the parks, what's five minutes to/from your room? As far as noisy kids, that's why i pack earplugs!

 

[Bondfan531]

I take that back, we have stayed at Shades of Green for our first ever trip to WDW back in 2004, because my sister was in the military then so we went as one family. But even there, the pool and everywhere around it was so noisy. So, it's not just AOA or other values who have noise issues. If there are kids, there will be noise!

 

[joshswif]

I have a question although I'm sure it's been asked before and I do apologize for that!

I'm looking at getting a family suite in October. It would be for me, hubby, and 2 daughters as well as my mom, brother, and sister. Would they allow everyone to stay in one suite, since there are 7 of us...but my youngest daughter is 2. So I'm not sure if they count her? I could always either let her sleep with me or bring a pack b play? We would either stay in Lion King or Finding Nemo. Thanks for any help!

 

[LikeSeriously]

I have a question although I'm sure it's been asked before and I do apologize for that!

I'm looking at getting a family suite in October. It would be for me, hubby, and 2 daughters as well as my mom, brother, and sister. Would they allow everyone to stay in one suite, since there are 7 of us...but my youngest daughter is 2. So I'm not sure if they count her? I could always either let her sleep with me or bring a pack b play? We would either stay in Lion King or Finding Nemo. Thanks for any help!

In pretty sure I read that children under 3 do not count towards maximum occupancy. They also have portable cribs or pack 'n plays available. Maybe someone else can confirm since I'm not 100% sure.

 

[beth4]

I have a question although I'm sure it's been asked before and I do apologize for that!

I'm looking at getting a family suite in October. It would be for me, hubby, and 2 daughters as well as my mom, brother, and sister. Would they allow everyone to stay in one suite, since there are 7 of us...but my youngest daughter is 2. So I'm not sure if they count her? I could always either let her sleep with me or bring a pack b play? We would either stay in Lion King or Finding Nemo. Thanks for any help!

The 2 yr old does not count towards the guest total so you would be fine. You can request a pack n play too. We are staying with 7 in our suite (baby is 14mo) but I am not getting a pack n play since baby will just sleep with me.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

In pretty sure I read that children under 3 do not count towards maximum occupancy. They also have portable cribs or pack 'n plays available. Maybe someone else can confirm since I'm not 100% sure.

Yes. My daughter is 2.5 and she will sleep in one of the beds and if she wakes up at night, I'll sleep with her. Her sisters will also be in the beds in the living area. We have gotten a Pack and Play in the past (when she was 7 months) but now she's too big for it. And she doesn't sleep in a crib at home, she's in a bed.

Kids under 3 do NOT count towards occupancy.

 

[ctnurse]

We have booked the Cars Suite for our upcoming wedding. We usually stay at BWI, but figured we can use the extra room and DS 9 can have his own space. What building, floor, view should I request? Should I call and add our wedding to the reservation?

 

[jcarwash]

We have booked the Cars Suite for our upcoming wedding. We usually stay at BWI, but figured we can use the extra room and DS 9 can have his own space. What building, floor, view should I request? Should I call and add our wedding to the reservation?

I like the building 1 location for either Pop Century or Art of Animation, so I would request building 1 if I were staying in the Cars section.

I also like a ground floor so I don't need to spend time waiting for elevators, but that's my preference.

Yes, add your wedding celebration to your reservation, as you might get some nice little treats like buttons, a call from Mickey to your room, etc.

 

[jeanylaser]

Does the Art of Animation have elevators?

 

[mum2four]

Does the Art of Animation have elevators?

Yes, there are elevators in each buildling.

 

[bookgirl]

Does the Art of Animation have elevators?

Yep in the middle of each section.

I was right by a stairwell so just hoofed it the 3 flights. Going to the middle then back the same way on the ground to get where I was going was annoying. But I only did it two days. If you are worried about walking I'd request by the elevators. If you can do stairs you can be closer to the main building.

The elevator is close to the pool as well.

 

[2lovebugs]

I wanted to start off by saying..Love all the info on here!! Thank you! I do have a question though. I see on here that it might be possible to check in early or that you can atleast get your tickets for the parks and go to the room later that day. But my question is, will the AOA hold our luggage for us? If so, will they also have a place to put some cold food for us? We have a 3 and 5 year old and they drink a lot of milk and I was think of bringing a gallon with us to keep in the room. Also yogurt, cheese sticks...

Thanks

 

[Marblies]

Yes, AoA has a refrigerated section and a regular luggage storage as well. It can be found just to the right of the ME drop-off. If no one is there, just knock on the the big door behind the counter and they will come out. They will be happy to hold your items for you. They are even happier to receive tips for their service, but of course, it isn't required.

 

[2lovebugs]

Yes, AoA has a refrigerated section and a regular luggage storage as well. It can be found just to the right of the ME drop-off. If no one is there, just knock on the the big door behind the counter and they will come out. They will be happy to hold your items for you. They are even happier to receive tips for their service, but of course, it isn't required.

You are awsome! Thank you so much for your information! I plan on making Mousekeeper tip envelopes so I will make a couple extra ones for other staff too. Thanks again!

 

[Marblies]

You are awsom! Thank you so much for you information! I plan on making Mousekeeped tip envelopes so I will make a couple extra ones for other staff too. Thanks again!

You're Welcome!
There are some CM (cast members) that are not permitted to accept gratuities. Front desk, bus drivers (with exception of ME), and QS dining come to mind. Hope you have a fabulous trip! I have found Disboards to be the most reliable source of trip planning info. If I (or anyone else) post erroneous info, it is soon corrected by another more informed traveler.

 

[joanzie72]

So we are torn between a family suite at AOA or a room at POR. The deciding factor is the beds. So are the beds at AOA comparible to POR? I am not concerned about the doubles. Kids can handle that. I am concerned about me. If this momma don't sleep, I gets a little crabby.

ETA: I am talking firmness/softness.

 

[DisneyBeth94]

It's our first trip to WDW and we'll be there in 15 days! We're spending 7 days at AOA (LM rooms) and 7 days at POP! So excited! Two things are concerning me a little about AOA.
The first is the walk to the LM rooms. I've heard that they can be a good 10-15 minute walk away from the main building which will be exhausting after a long day at the parks. Is the walk as bad as people are making out?
The second is the requests. We've requested a king-bed and a room in building 7 (in that order). I have a feeling that neither of our requests will be granted since the LM rooms are fully booked which is understandable with it being spring break and its the newest resort. I know that these requests aren't always granted but Disney will do their best. Will the chances of my requests being met be reduced significantly with the hotel being full?