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

[kandlsutton5]

Originally Posted by ADisneyQueen

I think I'm going to request lakeview, building 7. Are people getting requests met at AOA?

Went last month and requested Mater (building 1), upper floor, facing the pool. Got Luigi (building 3), ground floor, facing building 4. Didn't get nothing!

However, ground floor was great because we didn't have to wait for elevator or carry laundry very far. We were at the end closest to the nemo pool and food court, which we also liked. Didn't get pool view, but our room was quiet.

Everyone has their preferences, but I don't think one room is that much better than the others.

[mom2rtk]

Originally Posted by dawnhaze

This is the big puzzler for me too. I can't imagine why anyone thought it was a good idea to not have walkways through the landscaping by the buildings. It wouldn't make it look bad, and it would help keep people from trampling the plants.

As far as requests, my only one was ground floor, which I got.

I cursed those gorgeous plantings every time I had to wAnd alk past them on my way down to Ursula so I could walk all the way back to the end of that building.

And I cursed whoever designed it that way.

[NE Goofy]

Does anybody know how early Lanscape of Flavors opens for breakfast? Thanks

[KMcCP]

Originally Posted by NE Goofy

Does anybody know how early Lanscape of Flavors opens for breakfast? Thanks

I think 6am.

[llyons]

Are there any king size beds in the Little Mermaid rooms or the two double beds in all rooms? Thank you.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by tarzansmom

Heck no. I love little mermaid. My son has seen all the princess movies because I watch them. Any idea how much of a walk they are to busses, food court, etc? My husband says they look quite far and that is his other objection. He wants to stay at pop again. People help me change his mind.

We were in the equivalent of bldg 3 at Pop when we stayed at AoA, LM section. It was the Ursula blding. I have stayed at Pop about 5 times now, and once in bldg 2, at the very end of the bldg, on the third floor...did have a nice view of Epcot though if we turned left out our door!!! But, I digress. The walk from the LM section is about 7 mins...could be longer depending on pace. It's really no different than staying in the 50's section of Pop.

Originally Posted by ADisneyQueen

I was just reading some reviews of AOA on the allears site and there sure were a lot of people complaining about the walk from LM rooms to the main building. It makes me nervous to stay there in Aug. I know some people said it was 8-10 min. but we're going in Aug. so I hope it wouldn't be too hot for a long walk after being in the parks.

I really want lakeview and I absolutely hate parking lot views. I will cry if they say it's all they have left and I'll be asking for a room change the next day. I think I'm going to request lakeview, building 7. Are people getting requests met at AOA?

I was in the Ursula bldg back in Dec. The walk really wasn't all that awful. And we had a miserable view room...on the back of the bldg, ground floor, looking out onto the area all the housekeeping carts congregated off and on. If it had been for more than a night, I wouldn't have been happy.

Originally Posted by llyons

Are there any king size beds in the Little Mermaid rooms or the two double beds in all rooms? Thank you.

Yes, there most certainly are!!! When my friend and I went to our assigned room, back in Dec, imagine our surprise when we opened the door and saw a king sized bed!!! Ah no. We're good friends but not good enough to share a bed!!!! I sleep with either my dh or my dd....and that's it. We were able to get a regular, 2 bed room.

[luvmyguyz]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

We were in the equivalent of bldg 3 at Pop when we stayed at AoA, LM section. It was the Ursula blding. I have stayed at Pop about 5 times now, and once in bldg 2, at the very end of the bldg, on the third floor...did have a nice view of Epcot though if we turned left out our door!!! But, I digress. The walk from the LM section is about 7 mins...could be longer depending on pace. It's really no different than staying in the 50's section of Pop.


I was in the Ursula bldg back in Dec. The walk really wasn't all that awful. And we had a miserable view room...on the back of the bldg, ground floor, looking out onto the area all the housekeeping carts congregated off and on. If it had been for more than a night, I wouldn't have been happy.

We stayed at AOA for 9 nights in November (Jersey week), and our room was in the backside of the Ariel building - basically, one of the furthest rooms away from the main building. LOL The first few days the walk didn't seem that bad - we were excited by everything there was to see walking through LM and Lion King. However, by like the 4th day, we were pretty much done with that walk. Like, fed up. Annoyed. PO'ed. WONDERING WHO IN THE HECK THOUGHT A CRAZY LONG WALK TO YOUR ROOM AFTER A LONG DAY AT A THEME PARK WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA!!!!! You get the idea.

So, if you are planning to stay for 3 nights or less, I say go ahead and book a LM room. They really are absolutely adorable. The theming is just fantastic - especially the shower. Too cool for words. But after 4 days of traversing the parks only to come back on a way too crowded bus and then have to walk what seriously feels like a mile (I know it isn't, but it FEELS that way), well, this can really put a bit of a damper on your vacation. And running from the bus stop to your room and back because you forgot something only to find out that for whatever reason your room key no longer works??? NOT FUN. (But that is an entirely different story, one that I will eventually share when I get started on my trip report!! Let me just say that the staff we encountered at AoA was not exactly the most "magical".)

So, here's my advice. If you are planning to stay longer than 4/5 days and you're NOT ridiculously physically fit, a preferred room at POP is probably the better bet. It's pretty much the same price as a LM room, and we LOVED our stay at POP in 2011. Funny thing is, it was actually a shorter walk to the food court at Pop Century from our LM room than it was to Landscape of Flavors!! (That's a nice walk at night, too, around that little lake - very pretty.)

After spending 10 days there, I can say that I genuinely loved the theming of the resort. And if we had splurged and gotten a suite (preferably a Nemo suite), I think we would have enjoyed our time there so much more. Maybe even if we had one of the LM rooms in the Triton building closest to the bus stops - maybe even then it would have been ok. But 10 days in pretty much the furthest room away from EVERYTHING with 2 strollers and a wheelchair, well, LM rooms were not the right choice for that situation. Plus, and it may have just been a fluke, but the buses for AoA were VERY slow and infrequent compared to POP - there were several times when we hopped on a POP bus because after 30 minutes there were still no buses to AoA.

Despite our less-than-thrilling stay at AoA, we still had a fantastic time, and of course are already planning our 2013 trip. But I can honestly say we will never, ever stay at AoA again. I may, however, stop by for a Surf and Surf, though. YUMMMMM.

[Nana2Callie]

Originally Posted by ekidwell0001

We are in our LM room right now! (Building 8) which is furthest from Animation Hall anywho, does anyone have any questions i can answer??? ive so much appreciated everyone on here and im trying to return the favor! Also one great thing somehow i missed, they now offer FREE Internet!! woohoo!

So really how far is the walk with small kids? We usually go down for breakfast and then back to our room to dress for parks and then to bus stop. Thanks,

[Newbie123]

Originally Posted by Nana2Callie

So really how far is the walk with small kids? We usually go down for breakfast and then back to our room to dress for parks and then to bus stop. Thanks,

I'm really wondering the same thing, it seems like every person has a different opinion!

We will have 2 small kids (5 and 2), and 2 sets of grandparents. We don't plan on going to the food court for breakfast every day, but we won't have a car, so we'll need to walk to the bus stops at least once/day (if not more, depending on if we come back midday for a break). Planning on bringing a stroller for the 2 year old (which is another thing I've read mixed reviews about...will my 5 year old need a stroller for the parks?? He never uses one now, but I know it's a lot of walking.....)

[mom2rtk]

Originally Posted by luvmyguyz

However, by like the 4th day, we were pretty much done with that walk. Like, fed up. Annoyed. PO'ed. WONDERING WHO IN THE HECK THOUGHT A CRAZY LONG WALK TO YOUR ROOM AFTER A LONG DAY AT A THEME PARK WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA!!!!! You get the idea.

So, if you are planning to stay for 3 nights or less, I say go ahead and book a LM room. They really are absolutely adorable. The theming is just fantastic - especially the shower. Too cool for words. But after 4 days of traversing the parks only to come back on a way too crowded bus and then have to walk what seriously feels like a mile (I know it isn't, but it FEELS that way), well, this can really put a bit of a damper on your vacation. And running from the bus stop to your room and back because you forgot something only to find out that for whatever reason your room key no longer works??? NOT FUN. (But that is an entirely different story, one that I will eventually share when I get started on my trip report!! Let me just say that the staff we encountered at AoA was not exactly the most "magical".)

So, here's my advice. If you are planning to stay longer than 4/5 days and you're NOT ridiculously physically fit, a preferred room at POP is probably the better bet. It's pretty much the same price as a LM room, and we LOVED our stay at POP in 2011. Funny thing is, it was actually a shorter walk to the food court at Pop Century from our LM room than it was to Landscape of Flavors!! (That's a nice walk at night, too, around that little lake - very pretty.)

After spending 10 days there, I can say that I genuinely loved the theming of the resort. And if we had splurged and gotten a suite (preferably a Nemo suite), I think we would have enjoyed our time there so much more. Maybe even if we had one of the LM rooms in the Triton building closest to the bus stops - maybe even then it would have been ok. But 10 days in pretty much the furthest room away from EVERYTHING with 2 strollers and a wheelchair, well, LM rooms were not the right choice for that situation. Plus, and it may have just been a fluke, but the buses for AoA were VERY slow and infrequent compared to POP - there were several times when we hopped on a POP bus because after 30 minutes there were still no buses to AoA.

Despite our less-than-thrilling stay at AoA, we still had a fantastic time, and of course are already planning our 2013 trip. But I can honestly say we will never, ever stay at AoA again. I may, however, stop by for a Surf and Surf, though. YUMMMMM.

This sums up my feelings on it perfectly. For a few nights? Great. 9 nights? Never again. When we first got there and saw people walking through the landscaping I thought "that's odd, why would anyone do that". By day 4 or 5.....I understood.

We'll be back in a preferred room at Pop next time.

But I'm glad we tried it.

[Salrx95]

Originally Posted by Newbie123

I'm really wondering the same thing, it seems like every person has a different opinion!

We will have 2 small kids (5 and 2), and 2 sets of grandparents. We don't plan on going to the food court for breakfast every day, but we won't have a car, so we'll need to walk to the bus stops at least once/day (if not more, depending on if we come back midday for a break). Planning on bringing a stroller for the 2 year old (which is another thing I've read mixed reviews about...will my 5 year old need a stroller for the parks?? He never uses one now, but I know it's a lot of walking.....)

I'd recommend the 2 strollers. Our first disney trip was 2 years ago and we brought a small umbrella stroller and the regular stroller. The regular stroller was vital not just for the kids but for diaper bag, snacks, wipes, suntan lotion, souvenirs, etc. Our kids were 2.5 and 5.5. We needed them both, especially when leaving at night after fireworks, fighting crowds. The 5.5 year old was wiped and made better time, movement, having him in the big stroller with the 2.5 year old in the umbrella. The 5.5 walked most of the day so we only needed the umbrella ocassionally but it was vital. Otherwise, I'd have been carrying the 2.5 year old a lot. And he was dead weight.

[tehvalerie]

Originally Posted by llyons

Are there any king size beds in the Little Mermaid rooms or the two double beds in all rooms? Thank you.

Yes, they have king beds. We requested one for our stay beginning this Saturday!

[TJDisneymama]

did somebody say Surf and Surf? why have I never heard of this? I love all things seafood.....

[luvmyguyz]

Originally Posted by TJDisneymama

did somebody say Surf and Surf? why have I never heard of this? I love all things seafood.....

It's a crab cake with fried shrimp on top. Very messy, but sooooo yummy. I had it twice when we stayed there in November.

[4 YOUNG kids]

Would it be convenient at all for my sister to be in LM and me in Lion King? Like building 9 and 10?? We are traveling together but my family is 6 people while hers is only 4. She is on a really TIGHT budget! Our other option is POR with REQUESTED connecting rooms but I don't want to be in a double bed (hard enough to concede with a queen for me and DH). Thanks for any insight!