AoA Visit - Just returned last night

[*Fantasia*]

The Lion King area is very beautiful and lush. The elephant bone yard area is very cool, and there were a lot of children playing over there. It seemed to be nice, quiet, and serene. I loved the characters over there, especially Simba as an adult. Totally cool!

Is there anything for the kids to play on besides a short tunnel? I know they can't jump on the bones, they have the signs. But is there anything the kids can do there for fun at the bone yard? Thank you.

 

[AliceIn]

Is there anything for the kids to play on besides a short tunnel? I know they can't jump on the bones, they have the signs. But is there anything the kids can do there for fun at the bone yard? Thank you.

I didn't see anything specifically to play on in that section. There were several children playing around and under the bones and in and out of the little tunnel. They all seemed to be having a great time, though a few of the kids ignored the "no climbing" signs.

 

[safetymom]

http://www.disunplugged.com/2012/08/23/lion-king-suites-open-at-disneys-art-of-animation-resort/
Photos of the Lion King area

We didn't see anything for the kids to play on.

 

[MEM]

I was there for two nights, August 18 and 19th. I agree with everything the OP said except for the Food Court. They need to work out the kinks in their service so that they can be more efficient. The head chef was micromanaging his staff such that it took them forever just to prepare one burger. The first meal we had there was lunch - two surf and surf burgers and two cheeseburgers and the food was ice-cold by the time they finished preparing it. Did we want to wait another 20 minutes to see if they could get it right? No, too hungry at that point. For dinner we walked across the bridge to Pop Century to eat and the food was served fresh and hot.

We are DVC members but paid OOP for AoA - $211 AP rate for a suite in the Finding Nemo Building #5 - excellent location. We would have loved to stay there an entire week. It was me, DH, DS17 and DD16. DD slept in the murphy bed and it was very comfortable. DS took the sleep sofa - not as comfy as the murphy bed. It was great having the two bathrooms with 2 teenagers.

We toured the resort on our own and I kept exclaiming "this is fantastic! this is wonderful! this is fabulous! look at this! look at that!" Disney's famous attention to detail really shows with this resort.

 

[MEM]

Is there anything for the kids to play on besides a short tunnel? I know they can't jump on the bones, they have the signs. But is there anything the kids can do there for fun at the bone yard? Thank you.

Not really. It seems more of a photo op than anything. The play area is well-padded just in case kids climb where they shouldn't.

 

[kasedroz]

Thanks for the review! We are staying there Dec 17th-Dec22nd,in the LM room. It'll be m, DH, DD7 and DD3, I've been debating on getting a suite but DH doesn't like the LK room and us girls love LM. But. Guess we will probably stay where we are this trip and maybe next time one try the suites. Go any unique pictures of the resort, that maybe we haven't seen yet?

 

[Zim]

Thanks for the review - we've stayed at AKL and WL previously. The last time we stayed at CBR which we didn't care for at all. So it was a bit tough to talk everyone into a value resort. Your review reassures me I did the right thing! THANKS! Can't wait.... 4 weeks from TODAY!

 

[RyMacJ]

Thank you for the great review! We are staying in Nemo in May. It will be myself, my DH, DD4 (she will be 5 by then), DD3, my mother and my MIL. I'm glad the murphy bed and sofa bed are comfortable, as the grandmothers will each be sharing one of those with one of the children. We asked if they wanted to get two LM rooms with us and the kids in one and them in the other, but they insisted that we all be together.

I was worried about their comfort, so it was so nice to hear that those beds are great.

 

[tinktinktink]

Thanks for the review! It's great to hear that it is more beautiful in person! With 28 days to go I keep looking at pics online. Sometimes I think I'm ruining the element of surprise! Lol did you get a peek of the LM section? I'm so curious!

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

You mentioned you did the online check in. I was wondering if you happened to arrive before 3pm, and if so was your room ready? I know we will be arriving early on LM opening day and are hoping our room will be ready. I know that there is no guarantee it will be, but I am hoping since we are driving 14 hours.

DS loves Simba and DD loves LM and have know idea we are leaving a day early and staying at AOA.

 

[maxiesmom]

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.

Any input would be appreciated.

How tall are your boys? I'm 5'8, and I shared the couch pull out at ASMu with my niece, and I fit just fine. My nephew, who was already taller than me at the time, slept on the chair pull out, and said it was comfortable.

 

[skriegerjr]

I sent an e-mail for the room request, and then did online check in. I got the requests. You can see the fireworks from the Big Blue Pool. My kids and I watched them while swimming. I'm not sure what room you'd request -- but if you were standing at the pool facing Animation Hall, the fireworks would appear to your right.

I've never heard of emailing room requests before...whom did you email, or does this resort have a dedicated room request email? EDIT: Sorry, I hadn't read all the way thru the thread when I posted the above. I see that you answered the question! THANKS!

Awesome review, looking forward to trying AoA in 2013

 

[AliceIn]

You mentioned you did the online check in. I was wondering if you happened to arrive before 3pm, and if so was your room ready? I know we will be arriving early on LM opening day and are hoping our room will be ready. I know that there is no guarantee it will be, but I am hoping since we are driving 14 hours.

DS loves Simba and DD loves LM and have know idea we are leaving a day early and staying at AOA.

We arrived at 4, so our room was ready. We were delayed getting in due to plane issues, but I know that I got a text that my groceries were in my fridge before we landed at 2:15 pm so the room was ready before 3.

 

[goldnvalli]

We arrived at 4, so our room was ready. We were delayed getting in due to plane issues, but I know that I got a text that my groceries were in my fridge before we landed at 2:15 pm so the room was ready before 3.

What groceries? I didn't know they delivered groceries?? Please explain

 

[heidijanesmith]

What groceries? I didn't know they delivered groceries?? Please explain

Not sure who PP used, but we have used gardengrocer.com x2 and they were awesome!! If you don't see something you want on their website, just put in comment section and they will call you about it.

This saved us a ton of money on water, gatorade, snacks, beer, breakfast items, pop and lunches.

 

[AliceIn]

What groceries? I didn't know they delivered groceries?? Please explain

I used Garden Grocer to deliver some items. Disney delivered the items to my room and put the perishables in the refrigerator for me. It was all there when I arrived. We headed out for dinner at O'Hana, and when we returned, all of our luggage was in the room, too. Service was really terrific at the resort.

 

[sharadoc]

OP or anyone else who has stayed in the AoA suites, how does it work for the pull down bed? To me, it seems like a bit of a planning failure. Am I correct in that if someone is sleeping in it then your table is out of commission?

I have wondered whether these rooms would work for us. There is my partner and I, my two boys (13 and 16 when I hope to take them next year) and my dd who will be 10. The boys would prefer not to sleep together. (ok, they hate sharing a bed and one would most likely rather sleep in the floor than share ) 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.

Any input would be appreciated.

I think All Star Music would work fine for you if all 3 kids can sleep in the same room. The ottoman bed is a little small but your 10 yo DD would fit. The chair bed is the size of a twin and the sofabed is the size of a double bed, it's not smaller than a normal double bed. I sleep on the sofabed when we stay there and have no problem as a full size adult.

I have heard that people have pulled the ottoman into the bedroom but you'd have to move the chair out for it to fit. It could work if you wanted your DD to sleep in the room with you.

 

[Bottzz]

Hello! I loved reading your review. We will be going 10/29-11/3. We are staying in a Cars Suite.

I was wondering how the coffee was? I love my coffee in the morning

 

[Flametamr]

May I ask what the cars suite ran per night ? I am considering leaving the camper home and stay in the cars suite. Thanks

 

[Mousemommy1]

Thanks for your wonderful review!!! AoA looks like a fabulous resort! We hope to stay there at some point!