Disney's ART OF ANIMATION RESORT Information & Questions

[ejgonz2]

Yes, you can buy 1/2 gallons of milk in the "grab and go" area of Landscape of Flavors. I think it was $2.99 when we were there last year.

For those on the DDP can things like milk be purchased with a snack credit? I know this probably isn't the best use of a snack credit, but was just curious.

 

[Chicago Mo]

Is the Pasta bar different from the Pasta bar from Por???

really looking forward to all this DELICIOUS FOOD!

 

[jcarwash]

Hi everyone! I'm staying at AoA for 2 nights next month and I have questions! I apologize if this has been covered but I'm still working my way through this long, informative thread .

1) I booked a Family Suite and it says the theme will be chosen at check-in (I couldn't book a particular theme under AP discount). I'd like a Nemo room best, but this doesn't matter to me as much as proximity to the lobby
and the Big Blue Pool. Should I just request "Close to main building"? Has anyone had luck requesting theme when you book the "mystery" category? . I keep hearing about long, long walks at AoA, but I'm not sure if that only applies to the LM rooms or if ALL the suites are closer.

2). Do the suite buildings have elevators?

3). Does anyone know if the gift shop has recently sold cases of drinking water, and gallons of distilled water?

Thanks for any info!

The commentary about long walks usually involves the LM section, which is situated the furthest away from the main building. Each of the suite sections is adjacent to Animation Hall, with Nemo being the closest.

And yes, each of the buildings has elevators.

I don't know the current offerings for water. I assume they are still selling (expensive) packs of bottled water. I've never run across info about distilled water being available.

 

[michyi]

I've posted this on several boards and just looking for lots of opinions and ideas....
Currently we are booked to stay at Beach Club in early December. This will probably be our last trip to Disney I'm really thinking about switching to AoA Nemo suite. I think the kids would like it a lot better. Everything looks amazing. My only concern is busing. We are also coming during pop warner week, but I don't think they stay at AoA. What are your ideas and opinions. Especially if you've stayed at both. Also, I will save about $700!

 

[Disneylover99]

Is the Pasta bar different from the Pasta bar from Por???

really looking forward to all this DELICIOUS FOOD!

I've eaten the pasta at both resorts and the premise is the same.....choose your pasta, choose your protein and choose your sauce.....I'm not exactly sure if the same choices are available at both resorts, but both resorts serve delicious pasta!

 

[Disneylover99]

I've posted this on several boards and just looking for lots of opinions and ideas....
Currently we are booked to stay at Beach Club in early December. This will probably be our last trip to Disney I'm really thinking about switching to AoA Nemo suite. I think the kids would like it a lot better. Everything looks amazing. My only concern is busing. We are also coming during pop warner week, but I don't think they stay at AoA. What are your ideas and opinions. Especially if you've stayed at both. Also, I will save about $700!

I can only speak for AofA, but bus service at AofA was excellent, plus you have the option of walking to the bus at Pop.

 

[mommymanda]

We are 36 days out from our stay at AOA Cars suite . I switched from The Beach club to the cars in order to get a free dining package. Paid a little more to get the 'free dining', but I've been planning this trip for nearly 6years. Ever since AOA opened my 'dream' was a Cars suite with free dining...I got it We only had to pay roughly $150 above what I was planning for OOP meals, and with that $150 I was able to add two more table service dinners, drinks with our meals as opposed to constant water or the warm stuff we pack, and not listening to my 10year old whine that she does not get dessert each night while her younger brothers do. For our trip it was worth it.

Now I did almost rearrange things again for two connecting rooms at POP to save $400. My darling husband told me to forget it, this was my dream and its already paid for so lets just enjoy it.

With everything done and booked all I can do now is read and read to keep my excitement from overloading. Read I have done, lol the first 30 or so pages and the last 20 or so pages of this thread.

The only questions I've not seen answered to this point are

1) Are the kids allowed to get up close to the character statues? I have two boys who would love to sit on the McQueen or such for pictures (who am I kidding, I scrapbook and will drag my kids to get photos on the cars for the albums lol). I'm not saying climbing gym, but can they get on for a photo op?

2) I have a Garden Grocer and Stroller being delivered to the resort for my stay. What about regular packages mailed? I am from Canada and am a bit of a shopaholic. I'm often stuck with crazy shipping fees and customs charges when I order items to my home. I would love to mail some of the kids back to school stuff to my resort and save all those fees. Anyone know how that works?

 

[peekkaboo]

We are 36 days out from our stay at AOA Cars suite . I switched from The Beach club to the cars in order to get a free dining package. Paid a little more to get the 'free dining', but I've been planning this trip for nearly 6years. Ever since AOA opened my 'dream' was a Cars suite with free dining...I got it We only had to pay roughly $150 above what I was planning for OOP meals, and with that $150 I was able to add two more table service dinners, drinks with our meals as opposed to constant water or the warm stuff we pack, and not listening to my 10year old whine that she does not get dessert each night while her younger brothers do. For our trip it was worth it.

Now I did almost rearrange things again for two connecting rooms at POP to save $400. My darling husband told me to forget it, this was my dream and its already paid for so lets just enjoy it.

With everything done and booked all I can do now is read and read to keep my excitement from overloading. Read I have done, lol the first 30 or so pages and the last 20 or so pages of this thread.

The only questions I've not seen answered to this point are

1) Are the kids allowed to get up close to the character statues? I have two boys who would love to sit on the McQueen or such for pictures (who am I kidding, I scrapbook and will drag my kids to get photos on the cars for the albums lol). I'm not saying climbing gym, but can they get on for a photo op?

2) I have a Garden Grocer and Stroller being delivered to the resort for my stay. What about regular packages mailed? I am from Canada and am a bit of a shopaholic. I'm often stuck with crazy shipping fees and customs charges when I order items to my home. I would love to mail some of the kids back to school stuff to my resort and save all those fees. Anyone know how that works?

We are going on our very first Disney trip (first family vacation actually) in November and staying at AoA in the Cars section. This is a surprise trip for our boys, they are gonna freak out! My oldest (hes 8) have been asking to go to Disney for 2 yrs now. We told him when hes 10 we will go. LOL he is a HUGE cars fan so I too would LOVE to know if we can sit on the cars etc to take photos. I am a photo snapping freak and also a scrapbooker. Lol

 

[peg2001]

For those on the DDP can things like milk be purchased with a snack credit? I know this probably isn't the best use of a snack credit, but was just curious.

Yes, but it would be the individual bottles of milk, not the half-gallon, for a snack credit. One strategy would be to pick up bottles of milk/juice etc. as the drink with your counter service meals at the resort and save them in the fridge in the room for when you want them. . .using your refillable mugs to get a drink for the immediate meal.

 

[peekkaboo]

Love the tandoori chicken with naan bread and the create your own pasta option! Yum!!

Omg they have tandori chicken and naan bread at AoA??? Cant wait!

 

[Disneylover99]

2) I have a Garden Grocer and Stroller being delivered to the resort for my stay. What about regular packages mailed? I am from Canada and am a bit of a shopaholic. I'm often stuck with crazy shipping fees and customs charges when I order items to my home. I would love to mail some of the kids back to school stuff to my resort and save all those fees. Anyone know how that works?

Whenever I check in to a Disney resort I usually have about 12 packages waiting for us to pick up when I check in courtesy of my internet shopaholic husband. He orders everything and anything to be delivered to our hotel (we are also Canadian). I think he just orders items a day or two before we are scheduled to arrive and he gives the resort address.

 

[ejgonz2]

Yes, but it would be the individual bottles of milk, not the half-gallon, for a snack credit. One strategy would be to pick up bottles of milk/juice etc. as the drink with your counter service meals at the resort and save them in the fridge in the room for when you want them. . .using your refillable mugs to get a drink for the immediate meal.

Omg that's brilliant!

 

[cgattis]

We are going on our very first Disney trip (first family vacation actually) in November and staying at AoA in the Cars section. This is a surprise trip for our boys, they are gonna freak out! My oldest (hes 8) have been asking to go to Disney for 2 yrs now. We told him when hes 10 we will go. LOL he is a HUGE cars fan so I too would LOVE to know if we can sit on the cars etc to take photos. I am a photo snapping freak and also a scrapbooker. Lol

I personally would not feel comfortable letting my kids climb up on the cars, nor did I see anyone else doing it. They put so much work into them, I'd hate to damage them . But I definitely made the kids pose with every one of them LOL. Make sure to check them out at night too....they have tail lights. Awesome. And notice Sarge's sign. Trust me when I say if you like pics and scrapping AND Disney, you'll lose your mind at AoA!! Have a great trip!

 

[Jacindyyy]

We are 36 days out from our stay at AOA Cars suite . I switched from The Beach club to the cars in order to get a free dining package. Paid a little more to get the 'free dining', but I've been planning this trip for nearly 6years. Ever since AOA opened my 'dream' was a Cars suite with free dining...I got it We only had to pay roughly $150 above what I was planning for OOP meals, and with that $150 I was able to add two more table service dinners, drinks with our meals as opposed to constant water or the warm stuff we pack, and not listening to my 10year old whine that she does not get dessert each night while her younger brothers do. For our trip it was worth it.

Now I did almost rearrange things again for two connecting rooms at POP to save $400. My darling husband told me to forget it, this was my dream and its already paid for so lets just enjoy it.

With everything done and booked all I can do now is read and read to keep my excitement from overloading. Read I have done, lol the first 30 or so pages and the last 20 or so pages of this thread.

The only questions I've not seen answered to this point are

1) Are the kids allowed to get up close to the character statues? I have two boys who would love to sit on the McQueen or such for pictures (who am I kidding, I scrapbook and will drag my kids to get photos on the cars for the albums lol). I'm not saying climbing gym, but can they get on for a photo op?

2) I have a Garden Grocer and Stroller being delivered to the resort for my stay. What about regular packages mailed? I am from Canada and am a bit of a shopaholic. I'm often stuck with crazy shipping fees and customs charges when I order items to my home. I would love to mail some of the kids back to school stuff to my resort and save all those fees. Anyone know how that works?

You are not allowed on the character statues. You can get right up next to them definitely but cannot get on them.
I saw CMs telling off a family whose kids were trying to climb over McQueen. It poses the risks of damaging the statue meaning in the future they could potentially just rope them off completely to deter people.
How could you explain to kids that McQueen is missing because he needs repairs due to people climbing on him.

 

[mommymanda]

Whenever I check in to a Disney resort I usually have about 12 packages waiting for us to pick up when I check in courtesy of my internet shopaholic husband. He orders everything and anything to be delivered to our hotel (we are also Canadian). I think he just orders items a day or two before we are scheduled to arrive and he gives the resort address.

Any chance you can message me how he does it. Do you just address to the resort with your name as well? Do they charge a fee?

You are not allowed on the character statues. You can get right up next to them definitely but cannot get on them.
I saw CMs telling off a family whose kids were trying to climb over McQueen. It poses the risks of damaging the statue meaning in the future they could potentially just rope them off completely to deter people.
How could you explain to kids that McQueen is missing because he needs repairs due to people climbing on him.

Having not been and knowing Disney is so kid oriented I just wasn't sure. I'm would have figured it out anyway once there. Thanks for answering, I certainly wouldn't have encouraged the kids to wreck anything lol.

 

[Chicago Mo]

This is a surprise trip for our boys, they are gonna freak out! My oldest (hes 8) have been asking to go to Disney for 2 yrs now. We told him when hes 10 we will go.

I'm also planning a surprise trip... Which is a LOT harder then i had originally thought it would be!!!

I've eaten the pasta at both resorts and the premise is the same.....choose your pasta, choose your protein and choose your sauce.....I'm not exactly sure if the same choices are available at both resorts, but both resorts serve delicious pasta!

Thank you TONS! I am a fan of the POR pasta. more choices? Yeah all over this!! there is so much i want to try. i may not eat ever in the parks!

 

[amberama76]

I've been reading reviews of AoA on another site and many of them are complaining about very very bad housekeeping and the food being terrible.

Has anyone here had problems with bad housekeeping?

 

[lampshadehead]

We stayed 6 nights in Lion King. The only thing that comes to mind is how it looked like a kid had tried to draw on all the pictures with something sticky and drippy, possibly a popsicle. Every hanging picture with an animal face in the whole suite had sticky dripping lines starting at its mouth (like they were trying to put lipstick on it.) I told housekeeping by phone the 2nd day, and in person in the hallway. But on check out day, the sticky drips were still on the pictures. This didn't really detract from the stay though. Other than that, I thought they were great. They always left us a ton of extra towels after the first time we requested them. One of the kids made the couch cushions into a makeshift bed on the floor, and housekeeping actually re-made it as a bed and set it up all neat! I thought that was really nice.

 

[bluezy]

I've been reading reviews of AoA on another site and many of them are complaining about very very bad housekeeping and the food being terrible.

Has anyone here had problems with bad housekeeping?

We were in a LK suite last year and had no problems with housekeeping or the food. In fact, we thought housekeeping was great. Our room was always clean and any time we requested extra towels or bedding they were delivered quickly. Granted, I didn't walk around with a magnifying glass looking for dirt and I didn't have any white gloves to look for hidden dust, but the room appeared to be very clean every day.

As for the food, we didn't have any problems there, either. There were a few times that we had to wait in some long lines depending on which station we were ordering from, but I was fine with that since we received fresh, hot food. Some people don't like AoA's food court because they have more "adventurous" food offerings than the other Value resorts. I've seen people give it a bad review because you can't get chicken nuggets there and their kids were devastated about that. There are still the standard pizza and burgers for those who want them. But there are some really unique food court offerings as well. And Pop Century is just over the bridge with their own food court.

I don't know what site you were reading that had so many bad reviews of AoA, but keep a few things in mind when reading those reviews. 1. Travel sites (like Expedia, Priceline, etc.) have bad reviews for *many* hotels -- not just Disney ones. 2. To some people, seeing a crumb on the floor and some dust in a corner constitutes "horrible housekeeping". If they haven't listed details as to why housekeeping was so "horrible" I just take it with a grain of salt. 3. People are more likely to complain if they don't like something than to write a good review if they loved the place. So for every person who complains, there are 100 people (random number there) who loved everything about their stay but never say a word about it. 4. Some people write false/phantom reviews because they had a bad experience and they want to make it look like a lot of people are having that same experience.

Seriously, I've heard way more good reviews of AoA than bad. I'm not saying it's not possible to have a bad housekeeping (or food) experience at AoA, but that can (and does) happen at any one of the Disney resorts, it's not unique to AoA.

 

[spideymike]

We stayed at the Cars Suites last year and it was all fantastic. No complaints about the rooms. The food at the hub was pretty basic, but just fine.