AOA LM room vs Coronado Springs

[tinkersmell]

Hello!

I am looking at booking either a LM room at AOA or a standard room at Coronado Springs for four nights in late June. The rates are very good for each hotel-Coronado Springs is less than $300 more than the LM room.

I am fascinated with AOA, the pool with the music, the LM rooms (we will a mom, dad, and 11 year old girl) but have never stayed at one of the Value resorts.

I know that AOA is new. The biggest difference that I see online is that there's just the food court, no sit down restaurants. And it looks a lot less shaded and landscaped than the mods we have stayed at in the past (POR and CBR) - what else am I missing that should tip me toward Coronado Springs? What would be my biggest "culture shock" going from POR to AOA?

Thanks!

 

[Sue M]

Queen beds vs double beds! I haven't stayed at AoA but have heard the LM section is quite far from the food court and bus stop.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

CSR will also offer a water slide at the pool. No water slide at AOA or any value.

The big differences will be:

• Queen beds vs. doubles
• bigger rooms
• More bus stops (AOA has one, and the LM rooms are the furthest from the bus stop at AOA; at CSR, there's always a nearby bus stop)
• Water slide at a moderate
• Landscaping at a moderate is less dependent on giant cement things
• More food options on-site at CSR

I think perhaps the most important thing to know is that the LM rooms are nowhere close to the bus. They are a hike. There is no "preferred" Little Mermaid category. LM is nowhere near the food court or bus stop.

 

[imthemamahere]

The big differences will be:

• Queen beds vs. doubles
• bigger rooms
• More bus stops (AOA has one, and the LM rooms are the furthest from the bus stop at AOA; at CSR, there's always a nearby bus stop)
• Water slide at a moderate
• Landscaping at a moderate is less dependent on giant cement things
• More food options on-site at CSR

I think perhaps the most important thing to know is that the LM rooms are nowhere close to the bus. They are a hike. There is no "preferred" Little Mermaid category. LM is nowhere near the food court or bus stop.

This pretty much sums it up. (And HA! I actually laughed aloud at the "landscaping...less dependent on giant cement things. Thanks for the chuckle, AuroraBorealis!)

It depends on what you prioritize for your trip. If you don't mind the long walk to the bus stop (or plan to drive), and the room is just a place to crash when you're asleep (and you don't mind the smaller beds), then you can use that $300 for other things - plenty of ways to enjoy spending money at Disney World. If you'll be hanging out - and eating! - at the resort quite a bit, want more space in the room, need the larger beds for comfort, want the upgraded pool experience that comes with the slide... then you'll be happiest at a moderate.

Only you can judge what's most important to you.

 

[Noah S.]

The Art of Animation is one of my favorite resorts on property. The rooms and beds are smaller, but they are themed beautifully. The buses are a little bit far but you walk through the Lion King section which is very distracting and the theming is awesome. I also think the food is amateur of quality over quantity. The AoA food court in outstanding, and I think it is way better than the pepper market. Maya Grill is also not a selling point at CSR. There are much better food options for much cheaper. i enjoyed the pepper market, but found landscape of flavors much more interesting and enjoyable. The theming at AoA also blows away the theming of CSR both in the rooms and around the resort. CSR will provide more amenities, but in my taste AoA is much better themed and a more fun resort.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I've stayed at both and in fact once did a split stay at CSR then AOA LM. CSR was so much better than AOA LM and it was disappointing after the switch. LM rooms were a very far walk from the bus stop and food court. It was hot and we were tired and had the farthest building. The icons at AOA are cute, but we prefer the landscaping and peacefulness of CSR. The CSR pool has a slide but also places to sit in the shade under beautiful palm trees. Also, the covered bus stops at CSR are nice in the summer when the sun is so hot. Room and beds at CSR are larger, although I will say the AOA bathroom is better. To me the food courts were equal. CSR feels more like a resort.

 

[Wood Nymph]

I've only toured both AoA and CSR but never stayed there. We have stayed at POR, though. POR has a lot more vegetation and shade than both CSR and AoA, so be prepared for less shade at either one. But AoA didn't have any natural shade (from trees) at the main pool whereas CSR has a wonderful pool area with lots of seating in the shade. And the pool at CSR would be great for an 11 year old. AoA is undeniably cute, but when it comes to staying somewhere, comfort is important to us.

 

[goofyintoronto]

The fact that CSR has queen beds and LM has doubles, I'd go with CSR. You'll be more comfy. Its less than $300, which isnt bad. Also, CSR grounds is much prettier and you have QS at the pool as well as mug refills. No need to hike to the main building food court!

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

I have stayed at both and liked them both very much. Yes, it is a ten minute walk from LM rooms to the food court and bus stop, but it is a pleasant walk that is beautifully themed. Yes, the beds and room at CSR are a bit nicer, but if you like Disney theming, AofA really is much better. I would definitely think an 11 year old girl would love the theming of AofA. Both have lovely grounds and a beautiful lake. I tend to like the bus service at the values very well because it is only the one bus stop and knowing that once the bus is loaded, the next stop is the park. I find the resorts with multiple bus stops seems endless at times! For this reason, if doing a moderate we prefer POFQ. We tend to eat quickly at Disney, so the food court was fine for us.

If you plan on spending most of your four days at the parks, I might be inclined to save the money and stay at AofA. Just my opinion!

 

[AspenLL]

One of my gf's just stayed in the LM room and complained that it was a far walk. She also mentioned that the room was smaller than they would have liked. Personally, we would pay the $300 to stay at CSR. We loved it when we stayed and the size of the room was great.

 

[MMS1125]

I just stayed in a LM room for our last night after staying @ AKV..stay @ coronado the walk to the LM rooms is LONG, the food court is crowded, double beds..seem tiny lol and the buses were packed. I know the standard rooms @ CSR are far from the lobby too but at least you can hop on a bus there and get there quicker. I've stayed @ CSR as well and it's beautiful and very comfy.

 

[Hughes Ellis]

The size of the room at CSR is big, however, it's a long, long walk from El Centro where the food courts/restaurants, etc. are. It's a long walk from AOA LM rooms too. We walked through that resort when we were there last week and stayed at CSR for about a week in December. Had we not had a car at CSR, we would've been bad off.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

My daughter (9) and I just got back from staying at Pop and we went to check out CSR one afternoon to see if we wanted to stay there for our July trip. We walked around the resort and she took notes.

CSR was the first resort we have visited that she said she really had no interest in staying there. The music did not appeal to her. There were many conventioners walking around with their name tags on which gave it more of a business feel than a resort feel, and one of the beaches was closed for a convention event. The colors and theming are very subtle - not bright and cheerful like the colors she loved at AoA and Pop. We saw a small (maybe three feet long) alligator on the bank of the lake. My daughter's eyes were like saucers. We asked a CM and she said that Disney usually removes them from the lake when they get to be four feet long. That was it for DD. No CSR for her.

I know a lot of people love CSR, but it did not appeal to my daughter. It might depend on whether you are looking for something that will specifically appeal to your daughter, or whether you want something that is more adult friendly.

You might show your daughter pictures of both places and talk about them with her. That might help you make your choice.

 

[constantstar]

We stayed at CSR last trip and it was a beautiful place. But, my kids (2 & 4) didn't think they were in Disney. We were in Casitas 4 so the walk to the buses and lobby weren't bad.