AoA - Anyone else not impressed??

[Nurse_Mommy4]

I agree, no desire to stay there. That doesn't mean it's not a great resort, just not for me. I prefer POR, AKL, POLY type theming, but as pp said to each his own.

 

[Royal Consort]

I am more than not impressed, I think it's tasteless and tacky. Vivid colours are fine if they're matched really well and fit into the structure. This hotel is designed to smack you over the head with primary colours repeatedly whilst, at the same time, reminding you of a jail block.

If this hotel was a kid, it would have just finished two bags of candy, 3 Red Bull cans and is now jumping over the furniture and whacking into walls uncontrollably.

 

[ginnygi]

I cant disagree more. This resort looks so amazing that, even though I planned to stay at a moderate hotel in February, I am seriously considering changing to AoA. I have always stayed at a moderate, and never had any desire or inclination to stay at a value. Not anymore! I want to stay here so badly!

Whats not to love? Have you seen the pictures of the lobby and eating area? Everything looks so sleek and modern. The food court area, not to mention menu, looks way above the standard of the value. The play areas, both wet and dry, look great for the kids. The hotel has so much more to offer than any other "value" hotel at Disney. I like the "animation" theme. It is more kid oriented than the moderate hotels. And thats what Disney is for, right, the kids?

 

[tinkbyday]

I am more than not impressed, I think it's tasteless and tacky. Vivid colours are fine if they're matched really well and fit into the structure. This hotel is designed to smack you over the head with primary colours repeatedly whilst, at the same time, reminding you of a jail block.

If this hotel was a kid, it would have just finished two bags of candy, 3 Red Bull cans and is now jumping over the furniture and whacking into walls uncontrollably.

Couldn't agree more - just not something I find appealing. I respect that we all have different tastes though.

 

[AliceIn]

All the folks who have seen it in person have said that the pictures don't do it justice. Everybody says it's beautiful and a big step up from the other values and also even perhaps from some of the moderates.

I think this thread is a bit uncalled for, though. Why post this when people are clearly so excited about the new resort? If you are not somebody who cares to stay in a value that's fine. Let other people enjoy their excitement. You don't have to share ALL your opinions all the time.

 

[kandb]

I think the landscape is also so bare, so it makes the concrete buildings really stand out. To me, thats the difference between the values and moderates/deluxes. We stayed at POR the last two visits and the landscaping is so inviting and warm, it really makes the resort, whereas AOL is grass and a few trees (PS, I know it's a new resort with new landscaping but still they should of done more on the landscaping). The buildings are ugly also.

 

[reiella]

All the folks who have seen it in person have said that the pictures don't do it justice. Everybody says it's beautiful and a big step up from the other values and also even perhaps from some of the moderates.

I think this thread is a bit uncalled for, though. Why post this when people are clearly so excited about the new resort? If you are not somebody who cares to stay in a value that's fine. Let other people enjoy their excitement. You don't have to share ALL your opinions all the time.

Well, at they didn't chime in on the "We're excited about AoA" thread and derail it .

Some folks have different opinions, judging from the OP, I'd go for them prolly not liking the general approach with Values [which is fine, just a different opinion].

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Perhaps you still have these unflattering images in your head of when AoA was "The Legendary Years"?

http://www.explorethemagic.com/photos/Disney-World/Resorts/Pop-Century/Legendary-Years/100_3609

http://jimhillmedia.com/columnists1/b/jeff_lange/archive/2006/04/13/1813.aspx

So do some of the buildings still have the outdoor entrance like shown here or were all the buildings remolded?

I hope they finish some of the murals on the Cars and Lion King buildings. They are still just outlines and I am not sure if they are going to finish them. I also do not like the check in area. It does look very empty and like something is missing. They need some sort of benches in there or something for people waiting- kind of like Pop. I also don't like the tables in the dining area- they look uncomfortable and no booths like at Pop!

Other than those three things I really really like the resort and can't wait to stay there!

If you're talking about the single-character murals on each building, they're meant to look like sketches. I don't think they're ever going to be colored in.

Nemo building is finished and its sketches remain sketches.

Photos are both from EasyWDW.com.

I have to agree this area of the building look very unfinished.

We stayed at Pop a few years back and I said not again, but I do like the extras over Pop they have added here. The play area, the splash area and the rooms are really stepped up over Pop. I would stay here over Pop or any other value in a second.

 

[DW2010]

I am more than not impressed, I think it's tasteless and tacky. Vivid colours are fine if they're matched really well and fit into the structure. This hotel is designed to smack you over the head with primary colours repeatedly whilst, at the same time, reminding you of a jail block.

If this hotel was a kid, it would have just finished two bags of candy, 3 Red Bull cans and is now jumping over the furniture and whacking into walls uncontrollably.

Maybe so in your opinion, but it's so Disney to be honest. I always find remarks like this to be rather odd as Disney is over the top all on its own. Anyways, your post could be construed as rather tasteless and tacky as you could have just said it's not your style and left it at that .

 

[KELLY]

I think the landscape is also so bare, so it makes the concrete buildings really stand out. To me, thats the difference between the values and moderates/deluxes. We stayed at POR the last two visits and the landscaping is so inviting and warm, it really makes the resort, whereas AOL is grass and a few trees (PS, I know it's a new resort with new landscaping but still they should of done more on the landscaping). The buildings are ugly also.

Not all the lanscaping is even close to done. The day it opened they were still working on the landscaping around the main sign.

 

[jojomoore]

Even though a picture is worth a thousand words, nothing compares to seeing things in person.

I have to admit that most of the time when people describe places to me, i imagine and build them up in my head so much that i am almost always let down when i actually visit the place in person. Things just never have the grandier in person as they do in my head. Except WDW -

Walt Disney and his imagineers far exceed my expectations and imagination. For instance ,its hard to feel the peacefulness the AKL savanahs make you feel in person as compared to looking at a picture and its hard to understand how amazing the beachclub makes you feel by looking at a picture unless you have been there and experienced it. The architectureof the building at AOA doesn't seem to be anything spectacular but if you enjoy CARS, LITTLE MERMAID, NEMO, AND LION KING, then i think WDW did a great job in bringing the movies into life. (the cozy cone cabanas and the car charactors - wow)This will be completely amazing for many children and alot of adults. I am looking forward to seeing the CARS section and NEMO section in person. These are 2 of my favorie disney movies. Oh and sleeping beauty.

And looking forward to the release of BRAVE.

 

[Abharmagic]

ME- I think the Disney Values are ugly- Motel 6 comes to mind, concrete prisons also sums them up nicely IMO. I just don't see the appeal to the Values when you can stay offsite for the same price (or cheaper) and stay in a MUCH nicer place. I just cannot be convinced I would ever want to stay in one.

 

[tina.tina]

If this hotel was a kid, it would have just finished two bags of candy, 3 Red Bull cans and is now jumping over the furniture and whacking into walls uncontrollably.

Sounds like a great vacation!!!! The exciting atmosphere at the Values obviously isn't something everyone appreciates.

ME- I think the Disney Values are ugly- Motel 6 comes to mind, concrete prisons also sums them up nicely IMO. I just don't see the appeal to the Values when you can stay offsite for the same price (or cheaper) and stay in a MUCH nicer place. I just cannot be convinced I would ever want to stay in one.

I'm sure you know onsite v. offsite is an ongoing discussion on the DIS. We loved being in the Disney bubble. The transportation made our vacation much more relaxing than if we'd had to navigate and drive everywhere. We felt very taken care of. Anytime we wanted to go anywhere, a bus was there within a very short time (except once at the GF).

I've never stayed at a Motel 6, but from my experience of actually working inside a prison, these comparisons aren't valid.

 

[LuvLDM]

I don't care for the theming, all of the values appear rather garish to me.

I do think it's nice that AOA can accommodate larger families.

 

[lustergirl]

Sounds like a great vacation!!!! The exciting atmosphere at the Values obviously isn't something everyone appreciates.



I'm sure you know onsite v. offsite is an ongoing discussion on the DIS. We loved being in the Disney bubble. The transportation made our vacation much more relaxing than if we'd had to navigate and drive everywhere. We felt very taken care of. Anytime we wanted to go anywhere, a bus was there within a very short time (except once at the GF).

I've never stayed at a Motel 6, but from my experience of actually working inside a prison, these comparisons aren't valid.

Tina: you are absolutely right. If you notice, it is the people who stay at the higher end resorts at Disney who compare this new resort to prison settings. Well that would go alone with the general consensus that only low life criminals who should be in prison stay at the values rights (being sarcastic though). I like the look of these new resorts. I work in the Criminal Justice System as well. It is true that everyone is entitled to there own opinion but some people's comparison is truly outrageous. They could just say they don't like the look of them and leave it at that.

 

[freckles04]

I think it looks amazing! I'm just bummed that the only regular rooms are LITTLE MERMAID! Where's the love for the BOYS out there?? I'm a single mom to one 8 year old boy, who might rather sleep in the car than a Little Mermaid room! We could never justify booking say, a CARS suite just for the two of us. Oh well... I do enjoy looking at the pictures, and we'll pop over from POP to check things out this August.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

This resort my not be for everyone but I applaud Disney for attempting to make more options for larger parties to stay on site at a lower price than the Deluxe categories. It seems like ASMu was a test run to see how the rooms would fill and this resort opening is the clear answer.

As many threads on these boards show, no matter if it's Pop or the Grand, every resort has issues and no resort will have the from every person. That's part of the Disney Magic. It's an area for all Disney Lovers to come together to Celebrate. Thanks to Disney for giving us options and always trying to improve WDW for everyone.

 

[maxiesmom]

I am more than not impressed, I think it's tasteless and tacky. Vivid colours are fine if they're matched really well and fit into the structure. This hotel is designed to smack you over the head with primary colours repeatedly whilst, at the same time, reminding you of a jail block.

If this hotel was a kid, it would have just finished two bags of candy, 3 Red Bull cans and is now jumping over the furniture and whacking into walls uncontrollably.

I agree with you, and I love staying at the All Star resorts. Those feel fun and festive, AoA just looks like the person who designed it was off of their meds for a while.

 

[pigletto]

I don't particularly care for the values. I don't hate them but they are not my first choice. One thing I really miss with them is trees and shade! I think it makes such a big difference when there is more than basic landscaping.
However, I do really enjoy the giant icons for the kids. I think the Toy Story section at ASmo and all of AoA are really inviting for children. My 8 year old has stayed in several deluxes and 2 of the mods and his eyes just sparkle when he sees the pictures of AoA. He really couldn't care less if we stayed deluxe again at this point. He just loves bright and fun and happy. The values deliver in that regard.
I actually prefer the look of AoA to any of the other values. So I guess I'm not in the disapproval camp.. but I do understand they aren't everyones preference.

 

[3girlsfun]

I think the outside of the resort looks great....fun for the kids. It wouldn't be my choice for a vacation without my children, but, with them, they would really enjoy it.

What I do hate is the interior of the resort....CHEESY!!! I just so don't like it!
I keep trying to make myself like them, because we are a family of 5, but, I just don't like them. I also feel this same way about the All Star resorts. I don't mind the exterior, but, totally dislike the interior. I don't mind the interior at Pop, and I love Pop!