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

[polyfor4]

Does anyone know if it is possible to have connecting suites? We stayed in Cars in September and didn't see where a connecting door would be possible but we have linked our reservations with friends that will be with us!

 

[dansdad]

Does anyone know if it is possible to have connecting suites? We stayed in Cars in September and didn't see where a connecting door would be possible but we have linked our reservations with friends that will be with us!

There are no connecting suites.

 

[cflmom]

Does anyone know if it is possible to have connecting suites? We stayed in Cars in September and didn't see where a connecting door would be possible but we have linked our reservations with friends that will be with us!

ROFL!! Linking reservations means nothing! We've been linked to our friends for the last four trips and have never even been put in the same building! Once we were at opposite ends of the resort! When we check in, we ask them to move us and if we're lucky, we get the same building then! Each time we both ask for connecting rooms but each time, we are told that they couldn't find the other party! The last time, I even booked and paid for their room, but we were still in different buildings!

I hope you have better luck then us!

 

[goofy4tink]

I really wish they had interspersed some standard rooms in the Cars, Nemo and AK sections for those with boys not interested in the suites. And likewise, I'm sure some folks are probably wishing they could get a LM suite.

Sure would make sense. I don't understand why they couldn't take one building in the LM section and make that suites, and take one floor of the other sections and turn those suites into regular single rooms. A suite is just too big and too expensive for two of us, but it would be fun to stay in either Nemo or Lion King areas. Oh well.

 

[Blessedwithboys]

I really wish they had interspersed some standard rooms in the Cars, Nemo and AK sections for those with boys not interested in the suites. And likewise, I'm sure some folks are probably wishing they could get a LM suite.

Amen to that ! I think it would have been better for Disney to do the standards gender neutral either Lion King or Nemo and make the suites LM, cars and the other gender neutral so there would have truly been something for everyone. Maybe Disney should hire us
That being said I am hoping to snag FD at the LM rooms for my family and I have two boys. Right now at 5 &2 I sold them to my 5 year old as Under the Sea rooms and he cared way more about the Nemo pool and spray pad and the cozy cone pool than he did the theme or our actual room. We really wanted a Nemo Suite but it just is not affordable for a family of 4.

 

[jenseib]

Sure would make sense. I don't understand why they couldn't take one building in the LM section and make that suites, and take one floor of the other sections and turn those suites into regular single rooms. A suite is just too big and too expensive for two of us, but it would be fun to stay in either Nemo or Lion King areas. Oh well.

Thats because they took the existing buildings and made them into LM. They weren't built as suites ...though we all know if they really wanted to, they could work some Disney magic and do so. I think they regret not adding standard rooms now through out the resort though. I have heard several CM's say that if they had more standard rooms the place would sell out more. The suites are not that popular....they are too high in price in my opinion.

 

[jpessa]

Thats because they took the existing buildings and made them into LM. They weren't built as suites ...though we all know if they really wanted to, they could work some Disney magic and do so. I think they regret not adding standard rooms now through out the resort though. I have heard several CM's say that if they had more standard rooms the place would sell out more. The suites are not that popular....they are too high in price in my opinion.

Maybe they will eventually reduce the price of the suites (hey! One can dream, no?) since they have trouble filling some sections. I agree they should have gender neutral standard rooms, but right now they are having NO trouble filling the LM section! Curious to see what time will tell.

 

[MamaJessie]

Amen to that ! I think it would have been better for Disney to do the standards gender neutral either Lion King or Nemo and make the suites LM, cars and the other gender neutral so there would have truly been something for everyone. Maybe Disney should hire us

I think they were trying to make the suites enough of a draw to deter the connecting rooms for larger families so they made those themes exclusive to the suites. I like how you sold it to the boys as an Under the Sea theme

The suites are not that popular....they are too high in price in my opinion.

They Nemo suites at least must be somewhat popular, I went to price something out for early Dec the other day and the Nemo suites were all booked . I totally agree that the price is a bit of a jump though. I wish they were considered a mod suite, or there own category so I could get better deals/discounts on them. The way they are now they can be more expensive than a cabin with certain discounts :\

 

[snugbud]

There are no connecting suites.

That figures! One more thing our Cracker Jack AAA agent got wrong. She assured us that they had rooms with connecting doors. I just hope we can get in the same building since our group of 11 is hoping to be close in the cars suits. The reservations are "connected" in the system according to AAA. Does that mean anything? I don't think we will attempt online check in. Thanks to dis and my awesome giant disney book I seem to be on top of most of the rest of the details.

 

[jdcthree]

That figures! One more thing our Cracker Jack AAA agent got wrong. She assured us that they had rooms with connecting doors. I just hope we can get in the same building since our group of 11 is hoping to be close in the cars suits. The reservations are "connected" in the system according to AAA. Does that mean anything? I don't think we will attempt online check in. Thanks to dis and my awesome giant disney book I seem to be on top of most of the rest of the details.

Reservations being connected in the system means that they will try to put all of your rooms together. We recently had 3 rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge and 2 of our rooms were directly next to each other, and the third was separated by just one other room. You should have no problem getting in the same building, and it's highly likely that your rooms will be close to each other.

 

[jmorrisey1204]

Hello all! Leaving in 10 days! I'm sorry if this has been asked and answered but I haven't been ale to find it in threads. I'm hoping to get to RD for each park. My DH is not an early riser at all and believes vacation is for sleeping late. I have few questions....1 when there are EMH should I still get to the park half hour before they start?
Realistically how long will it take to get to each park? If they open at 8 for EMH what time should we be on the bus by for each park. As a family of six I'm worried we are going to have to be up at 5:30am lol. My DH will pack up and go home by day 2. TIA for any advice. First time here for kids and DH (4 kids 13 11 9 7)

 

[Blessedwithboys]

Hello all! Leaving in 10 days! I'm sorry if this has been asked and answered but I haven't been ale to find it in threads. I'm hoping to get to RD for each park. My DH is not an early riser at all and believes vacation is for sleeping late. I have few questions....1 when there are EMH should I still get to the park half hour before they start?
Realistically how long will it take to get to each park? If they open at 8 for EMH what time should we be on the bus by for each park. As a family of six I'm worried we are going to have to be up at 5:30am lol. My DH will pack up and go home by day 2. TIA for any advice. First time here for kids and DH (4 kids 13 11 9 7)

Our experience with AOA buses were that they come very often! Never a very long wait in between buses. I think leaving an hour before the park opens is a pretty safe bet. Though during peek times I would say an hour and 20 mins or so. The ride to MK takes about 25 mins, HS like 8-10, I think Epcot was like 10-12 and Animal kingdom maybe 15!? They were all under 30 mins at our longest ride. So if you were trying to get to a park for 8:00 am EMH I would try to get to the bus stop at 6:45ish!

 

[snugbud]

Reservations being connected in the system means that they will try to put all of your rooms together. We recently had 3 rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge and 2 of our rooms were directly next to each other, and the third was separated by just one other room. You should have no problem getting in the same building, and it's highly likely that your rooms will be close to each other.

Thanks. That makes me feel some better. When we first started this trip planning we were all disney novices and relied on the info from AAA. The lady told us just about everything wrong. We have learned to expect weekly phone calls with them "clearing up" info we received. I may give them a call this time! I appreciate your answer.

 

[goofy4tink]

Thats because they took the existing buildings and made them into LM. They weren't built as suites ...though we all know if they really wanted to, they could work some Disney magic and do so. I think they regret not adding standard rooms now through out the resort though. I have heard several CM's say that if they had more standard rooms the place would sell out more. The suites are not that popular....they are too high in price in my opinion.

All those buildings started the same..they were all originally built the same as Pop...standard rooms. So, they could very easily have made one LM building into suites, and then one building, or even just one floor, in the other sections and made them standard rooms as well. There are plenty of families with just two kids, that don't want a suite but would love a more 'boy' themed resort room. I just can't understand why Disney did it this way. Over at All Star Music, they took one of the Jazz bldgs and made it into a suites bldg. So, they should be able to make standard rooms out of the suites with little trouble. They are only two standard rooms put together and reconfigured.

 

[Chavaleh]

We have 8:30 reservations at both Ohana and 1900 Park Fare for our upcoming trip. What's the best way to get my family of 5 over there in time? Bus to Epcot then resort monorail to the Poly or GF?

Two weeks and we'll be at AoA!

 

[mom2rtk]

We have 8:30 reservations at both Ohana and 1900 Park Fare for our upcoming trip. What's the best way to get my family of 5 over there in time? Bus to Epcot then resort monorail to the Poly or GF?

Two weeks and we'll be at AoA!

Probably bus to MK, then monorail to Poly or GF. If you want to make your lives MUCH easier, it's about $20 with tip to just take a cab.

 

[Chavaleh]

Probably bus to MK, then monorail to Poly or GF. If you want to make your lives MUCH easier, it's about $20 with tip to just take a cab.

Can the cab fit all 5 of us (including a 5 year old who is usually in a carseat)? How much time should I allow if we use a cab?

 

[TJDisneymama]

Our experience with AOA buses were that they come very often! Never a very long wait in between buses. I think leaving an hour before the park opens is a pretty safe bet. Though during peek times I would say an hour and 20 mins or so. The ride to MK takes about 25 mins, HS like 8-10, I think Epcot was like 10-12 and Animal kingdom maybe 15!? They were all under 30 mins at our longest ride. So if you were trying to get to a park for 8:00 am EMH I would try to get to the bus stop at 6:45ish!

I think over an hour before is too much. I'm one who HAS to be at a park before it opens and for this trip we were at the bus stop exactly 1 hour before opening (so either 7 or 8 a.m), and every single time we ended up at the park with plenty of time to spare - like 30 minutes, with the exception of MK since its furthest away. We had to wait about 15-20 on that day. I think in the future i will go with 45 minutes prior to opening

 

[mom2rtk]

Can the cab fit all 5 of us (including a 5 year old who is usually in a carseat)? How much time should I allow if we use a cab?

About half the time we take a cab it turns out to be a van, even if it's just 2 of us. I would imagine if you ask ahead of time, they can make sure one of those picks you up. The price was always the same for the van. Just leave a little extra time if you need a specific sort of cab, maybe ask the night before.

 

[Chavaleh]

About half the time we take a cab it turns out to be a van, even if it's just 2 of us. I would imagine if you ask ahead of time, they can make sure one of those picks you up. The price was always the same for the van. Just leave a little extra time if you need a specific sort of cab, maybe ask the night before.

Great, thanks!