AoA Pool...can we visit?

[TheyCallMeStacey]

My son is banana's for Nemo and Cars and we saw a video on YouTube that toured the AoA pools. I've since seen that there are rules about pool-hopping and that AoA may have a gate??

What's the story here? Can we tour? Is it all blocked off? We'd like to go swimming there, but would really just like the opportunity to visit up close.

Can anyone tell me what we can expect?

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

Sure, you can 'visit' the pool....from outside the fence! But, you aren't allowed to enter and swim. Pools are only for those staying at the resort.

 

[TheyCallMeStacey]

ok, so here's a stupid follow up question...are the character sculptures and such inside the fence?

 

[goofy4tink]

There are sculptures both inside the pool fences and outside.

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

I think it's worth a visit.

While you cannot use the pool amenities there is still so much for you to see. We always stay at Pop and on our last visit we took my niece and nephew over to AOA and we spent a lot of time taking photos with the larger than life "characters" we could access as non-resort guests. There are many not under lock and key.

We had a great time.

 

[FantasiaMagic]

I stayed at AoA a few months ago. We had a wonderful time. there is a gate around the Big Blue Pool that you can only access through with your AoA resort MB. You can by all means visit the resort, which I definitely recommend you do, but the pools are only there for the guests staying there.

 

[electrocutie]

Cars is mostly outside a gate and so much fun to walk around in! I'm not a huge fan of the Cars movie, but that section of AOA is my favorite! It definitely transports you to a little bit of the movie world!

 

[ariane37]

I agree you should definitely visit if your son is a big Cars/Nemo fan. The Cars section is incredible and you can take pictures with many of the statues. You can also get close to many of the LM statues & LK stateus, and I believe some of the bigger Nemo ones. We stayed there for 3 nights last year and the theming is just amazing to see whether you're a guest or a visitor

 

[HopperFan]

NO swimming.

Absolutely worth going to visit and walk all around. Some of the best imagineering at a resort - property wide. Even the landscape was chosen to work with the theme, like around Nemo the landscaping could be underwater plants. Plenty of chances to take great photos with him.

Cars area you can walk the roads, get close up pictures with all the cars ...... Lion King has boneyard play area ........... Little Mermaid massive icons and smaller ones all great for photographs, and Nemo has lots of icons to walk up to and coral playground he can play on. Also the food court is good with food on real plates and silverware, we always stop in to eat.

ALL of these photos are outside the pool gated areas.

 

[TheyCallMeStacey]

Thanks so much for your photos!! I'm totally fine not swimming, but it just looked so cool, and he got so excited naming all the cars characters!

 

[aj23]

@HopperFan thank you for all the pictures. I'm going to POP in 20 days and last time I resort hopped AoA wasn't open yet so I'm really excited to take some time and go check out all the statues. Especially the little mermaid ones

 

[HopperFan]

@HopperFan thank you for all the pictures. I'm going to POP in 20 days and last time I resort hopped AoA wasn't open yet so I'm really excited to take some time and go check out all the statues. Especially the little mermaid ones

I have stayed at POP ... LOTS .... as you can see. We always walk over and enjoy the sights and have a meal or two. And if on DDP, much better use of some snack credits there. ENJOY!

 

[Haygar2]

I have stayed at POP ...

Since you have stayed at Pop can you answer a question for me please? How firm are the mattresses? I want to stay at Pop, but I have heard that the mattresses are fairly hard.
We were at the Cabins last year and it was all I could do to NOT try and change resorts. Neither my husband or I do well on really hard mattresses. Thank you.

 

[HopperFan]

Since you have stayed at Pop can you answer a question for me please? How firm are the mattresses? I want to stay at Pop, but I have heard that the mattresses are fairly hard.
We were at the Cabins last year and it was all I could do to NOT try and change resorts. Neither my husband or I do well on really hard mattresses. Thank you.

I would say they are somewhere in the middle. They are much more firm than the moderates but not so hard that I could not sleep. In everyday life I am not a good sleeper and prefer soft mattresses - but I am able to sleep there. Maybe it's because I am so tired at the end of the day. I would rather be at a moderate just for the beds but to go as often as I do, I keep the budget tight many trips.

 

[Haygar2]

I would say they are somewhere in the middle. They are much more firm than the moderates but not so hard that I could not sleep. In everyday life I am not a good sleeper and prefer soft mattresses - but I am able to sleep there. Maybe it's because I am so tired at the end of the day. I would rather be at a moderate just for the beds but to go as often as I do, I keep the budget tight many trips.

Thank you so much. You have made my decision so much easier. I was on the fence before. We only go every 2 years so I think I am going to bite the bullet and pay the difference. It's not that much all things considered.