AliceIn
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2012
- Messages
- 2,184
We are a family of 5 (me and dh, plus DS 11, DS8, and DD7). We stayed in a Cars Suite from 8/16 through 8/21. I did online check in and requested a lake view on the top floor and we received both requests.
I have to say that the pictures and videos that I've seen posted online don't do this beautiful resort justice. It's even more impressive and wonderful than the pictures show. The lobby is gorgeous, and it was very peaceful and quiet in there most of the time. Check in was a breeze, and there were plenty of CMs available to assist guests with either check in or answer any questions a guest might have.
When we walked out of Animation Hall, we all gasped. The grounds and decorations are breathtaking, and you really do feel like you are walking into a movie. The Big Blue Pool is enormous! I don't think any of the pictures I saw online show just how big this pool is. There are plenty of chairs available for everyone. Even on the hottest and most crowded day, there were many open spaces to sit. I don't know what the situation will be once the Little Mermaid opens, but from what I can see there should still be plenty of chairs. We used the drink station at the pool a lot for our refillable mugs. We went to the Cozy Cone a few times and used the cabanas there. They have windows on three sides, and are vented on top so you get a very nice breeze.
Our suite was wonderful. Again, pictures just don't show you just how spacious these rooms are. My husband and I absolutely loved having a separate bedroom and bathroom for ourselves. It really made a big difference getting ready in the morning. You could have showers going in both rooms and still have great water pressure and plenty of hot water. While two are showering, somebody else can be in each bathroom brushing teeth or fixing their hair.
The beds were very comfy and cozy -- though the sheets are so new that they are still a little stiff. I'm sure once they are washed a few more times they will soften up and be just perfect. We had plenty of blankets and pillows for everyone. The table bed and the fold out couch were awesome. I could have easily slept on any of the beds. The foldout doesn't have that annoying bar to bother your back.
We had water bottles delivered to our room, and the mini-kitchen with the fridge/freezer came in handy. We'd freeze 5 or 6 bottles of water each night and then take those to the parks during the day. We also used the fridge to store our flavored coffee creamer and to keep our desserts cold to eat later in the day. I didn't use the microwave at all, though.
The Landscapes of Flavors food court has delicious food. My husband and I had the Tandoor chicken and loved it. The kids had the build your own pasta and they were very happy with what they had. There are loads of drink stations everywhere, so there were no lines to refill mugs. Each of us was able to find a favorite drink.
I'd been hemming and hawing about what resort to stay at since I booked this trip last December. The suites at AoA are pricey -- much more expensive than the moderate resort option for a family of 5, and not much less than a discounted deluxe room. I could have stayed at the Beach Club in a standard room for about the same price of the AoA for this vacation. I stuck with AoA and I am SO glad that I did. There were a couple of families who had moved from other resorts to AoA (Coronado Springs, Beach Club, POR) and each one of them said that they'd pick AoA hands down next time. For families of 5 or 6 -- this is a fantastic choice!
I have to say that the pictures and videos that I've seen posted online don't do this beautiful resort justice. It's even more impressive and wonderful than the pictures show. The lobby is gorgeous, and it was very peaceful and quiet in there most of the time. Check in was a breeze, and there were plenty of CMs available to assist guests with either check in or answer any questions a guest might have.
When we walked out of Animation Hall, we all gasped. The grounds and decorations are breathtaking, and you really do feel like you are walking into a movie. The Big Blue Pool is enormous! I don't think any of the pictures I saw online show just how big this pool is. There are plenty of chairs available for everyone. Even on the hottest and most crowded day, there were many open spaces to sit. I don't know what the situation will be once the Little Mermaid opens, but from what I can see there should still be plenty of chairs. We used the drink station at the pool a lot for our refillable mugs. We went to the Cozy Cone a few times and used the cabanas there. They have windows on three sides, and are vented on top so you get a very nice breeze.
Our suite was wonderful. Again, pictures just don't show you just how spacious these rooms are. My husband and I absolutely loved having a separate bedroom and bathroom for ourselves. It really made a big difference getting ready in the morning. You could have showers going in both rooms and still have great water pressure and plenty of hot water. While two are showering, somebody else can be in each bathroom brushing teeth or fixing their hair.
The beds were very comfy and cozy -- though the sheets are so new that they are still a little stiff. I'm sure once they are washed a few more times they will soften up and be just perfect. We had plenty of blankets and pillows for everyone. The table bed and the fold out couch were awesome. I could have easily slept on any of the beds. The foldout doesn't have that annoying bar to bother your back.
We had water bottles delivered to our room, and the mini-kitchen with the fridge/freezer came in handy. We'd freeze 5 or 6 bottles of water each night and then take those to the parks during the day. We also used the fridge to store our flavored coffee creamer and to keep our desserts cold to eat later in the day. I didn't use the microwave at all, though.
The Landscapes of Flavors food court has delicious food. My husband and I had the Tandoor chicken and loved it. The kids had the build your own pasta and they were very happy with what they had. There are loads of drink stations everywhere, so there were no lines to refill mugs. Each of us was able to find a favorite drink.
I'd been hemming and hawing about what resort to stay at since I booked this trip last December. The suites at AoA are pricey -- much more expensive than the moderate resort option for a family of 5, and not much less than a discounted deluxe room. I could have stayed at the Beach Club in a standard room for about the same price of the AoA for this vacation. I stuck with AoA and I am SO glad that I did. There were a couple of families who had moved from other resorts to AoA (Coronado Springs, Beach Club, POR) and each one of them said that they'd pick AoA hands down next time. For families of 5 or 6 -- this is a fantastic choice!
we will be there Friday
so excited
) My plan would be to get 2 rooms at POP but it makes me nervous not having connecting rooms guaranteed. This way though everyone would have their own bed. The boys could sleep in one room (keep the stinky boys on their own 
) and the girls would have the other room. I never considered the All Star suites because the pullouts didn't seem like it would be that great for tall teenage boys.
