AoA Ariel Rooms...

[MeridAriel]

I was *so* excited to stay in these rooms...until I looked at a resort map & saw how far they are from bus drop off. Obviously, no problem in the morning, but all walks are entirely too long at the end of late EMH nights. I just want to get to my bed.
Has anyone stayed in these rooms? How long is the walk, and are the rooms worth it?

 

[goofyintoronto]

I think I read somewhere that the walk, depending on your pace, the walk can be roughly about 5-7 minutes. its a loooong walk. This is the reason i hesitated to book LM rooms. I stayed in the cars suite last august (got an amazing deal). Overall i love the resort. The theme is spectacular. photo ops everywhere. Loved the food court, it was different. I just think that it would be nice to be a bit closer to the main building.

 

[MeridAriel]

Thank you! Normally, not an incredibly long walk, but that sounds like a hideously long walk after a full day of Disney walking.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Thank you! Normally, not an incredibly long walk, but that sounds like a hideously long walk after a full day of Disney walking.

Thats what i was thinking too. During my stay at AoA I walked towards LM rooms and yes, it is a rather long walk after a long day at the parks. But it all depends on you. If you think you can handle it, then why not try? There are some that dont think its too bad.

 

[rhul]

Personally I find the theming of the LM rooms to be worth the hike. But by my profile pic you can see where my priorities lie. I once stayed at Pop & got a room in the 80's - that hike felt just as long. I kept looking across the lake & thinking "For $20 more per night I could of been over there!"
If you love The Little Mermaid the walk & the no discounts are worth it.

 

[sky13]

Stayed in an AOA Little Mermaid room last year - yes the LM block is definitely the furthest from the bus stop/food court/etc, and it does feel a bit of a trek, but I found it quite manageable.

The resort is really great though, everything is quite new, lots and lots of nice theming everywhere!

We also stayed there during Star Wars Weekend and found that we could see the fireworks at DHS from our room (happened to face in the right direction)! Though not always the best perk since DHS doesn't usually have fireworks...

Would definitely stay there again if the price was right...

 

[goofyintoronto]

Personally I find the theming of the LM rooms to be worth the hike. But by my profile pic you can see where my priorities lie. I once stayed at Pop & got a room in the 80's - that hike felt just as long. I kept looking across the lake & thinking "For $20 more per night I could of been over there!"
If you love The Little Mermaid the walk & the no discounts are worth it.

yes, 80's at pop is far! Thats a good comparison.

 

[bluezy]

Some of the rooms in the 80's and 50's sections at Pop are a longer walk than some of the rooms in the Little Mermaid section at AoA. In fact, some of the Little Mermaid rooms are closer to the bus stops than the farthest Cars Suites. The Disney maps can be deceiving -- if you want to get a better idea of the distance between buildings you can use a mapping site like geodistance.com to map out walking distance.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Some of the rooms in the 80's and 50's sections at Pop are a longer walk than some of the rooms in the Little Mermaid section at AoA. In fact, some of the Little Mermaid rooms are closer to the bus stops than the farthest Cars Suites. The Disney maps can be deceiving -- if you want to get a better idea of the distance between buildings you can use a mapping site like geodistance.com to map out walking distance.

Totally agree with you on that! Thats why I laugh when people recommend 80's.

 

[bluezy]

Totally agree with you on that! Thats why I laugh when people recommend 80's.

I know!! We did have an ok location in the 80's/Bldg 9 one time -- it was a quick walk to the bus stops if we cut through the parking lot, but the far end of Bldg. 7 of that section (by the parking lot) is a HIKE if you're planning on using Disney Transportation and getting refillable mugs. I'd rather be in Bldg. 7 of the LM rooms at AoA.

 

[Elevationist]

I think I read somewhere that it's half a mile from the main building to the LM section. I'm currently booked there for my December trip. However, because of the distance, then once the military rates are loaded in (sometime over the summer), I'm going to attempt to upgrade to a moderate (probably POFQ).

 

[bluezy]

I think I read somewhere that it's half a mile from the main building to the LM section. I'm currently booked there for my December trip. However, because of the distance, then once the military rates are loaded in (sometime over the summer), I'm going to attempt to upgrade to a moderate (probably POFQ).

That's not accurate -- unless you're in the farthest room and walk all along the parking lot; through the entire bus stop area; and enter the building from the front entrance. If you walk from the farthest room and take the direct path straight down the center of the resort -- through the center of the LM and LK sections (with all of that fabulous theming to distract you) and enter the main building from the back door, it's a 1/4 of a mile. I suppose at the end of a long day of touring, it could feel like 1/2 mile.

 

[Cynthiagayle01]

We stayed in the Little Mermaid rooms and it felt like a really long walk for us. I do have knee issues though. If you use the sidewalk close to the parking lots, it did feel a little closer. It was great to go that way instead of having to maneuver through the buildings and people in the morning and evenings. It felt faster.

 

[alyssathegrand]

Walking through the parking lot sidewalks definitely cuts down on transit time, though not significantly. I'd say 5-7 minutes is a good estimate. However it's just such a pretty and nicely themed resort that we didn't mind the walk through - most days!

 

[cjhudson]

I was also coming to suggest cutting across the parking lot. My wife and I stayed in the LM rooms and found if we were in a hurry to get to the bus it was much quicker to cross parking lot...of course I didn't use the sidewalk bc it was winding around the resort so I just made a new line directly through parking to bus stop

 

[wellesleyprincess]

Some of the rooms in the 80's and 50's sections at Pop are a longer walk than some of the rooms in the Little Mermaid section at AoA. In fact, some of the Little Mermaid rooms are closer to the bus stops than the farthest Cars Suites. The Disney maps can be deceiving -- if you want to get a better idea of the distance between buildings you can use a mapping site like geodistance.com to map out walking distance.

In my experience it's more 80's and 90's then 50's, but I would also point out that some of the 60's (and possibly even 70's) rooms at Pop are as close/closer to AoA then the Little Mermaid rooms

 

[bluezy]

In my experience it's more 80's and 90's then 50's, but I would also point out that some of the 60's (and possibly even 70's) rooms at Pop are as close/closer to AoA then the Little Mermaid rooms

If you actually map out the walk (not a direct line but the path you would have to walk), the farthest room in the 50's section and the farthest room in the 80/90's are both 1/4 of a mile from the center of the bus stops at Pop. I think it's just a matter of perception that the 50's section is closer (and in reality, many of the rooms are closer) because if you're coming from the 50's side, you can be in Classic Hall faster, but you still have to walk through the building to get to the center of the bus stops. In my experience, our room in the 50's section felt significantly farther from the bus stops and main building than our room in the 80's. Of course, that might have had to do with the fact that it rained constantly the week we were in the 50's section. Any walk seemed far that week.

And yes, pretty much all of the rooms in the 60's section at Pop are closer to the bus stops at AoA than most of Building 8 of the Little Mermaid section. But if you're in a room in buildings 7 or 9 at the end closest to Lion King, you'll be closer to the bus stops/main building than the rooms at Pop.

 

[Oathkeeper13]

I stayed at the little Mermaid building 8 before and I have to say it was a heck of a walk. I was on the second or third floor at the very edge of the building facing the parking lot so basically the furthest possible walking distance from the busses. At the end of the day the walk back was definitely a challenge, however for me the bigger problem was that I was on the meal plan. To preface this I am a huge fan of the meal plan I get it every time I go. As a diet coke addict I usually get good use of my refillable mug, but the walk to and from the main building was so long I ended up using it maybe once or twice a day.

The theming is great and I have to say AOA is a lot nicer then the All Star resorts. So if you are doing value it's still a good choice. Personally I wouldn't stay there again just because of the walk.

 

[MeridAriel]

Thanks for all the help, everyone!

 

[Scottishbrit]

Its really not that far. I stayed in the Cars area last spring. We walked around the resort and there is side/back ways to get around to the bus area instead of walking all the way around to the front. Know what I mean?