Art of Animation: Just visiting allowed?

[twitterpated31]

hi!
I hope this is the right spot to post this.

My family will be staying at a hotel in the Disney Springs area. My kids love Cars and sadly the movie doesn't seem to have a place in the parks (that I've found...total Disney first timers).

I know people talk about seeing the different resorts. How much are you allowed to look around if you aren't staying there? Can we walk around and see all the cars? Is the area by the pool off limits or can we explore there?

Any tips would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

You can definitely go to AoA to look around. And you can walk all around/take pics to your heart's desire. The main pool is fenced in but you will be able to see it walking around the outside of it.

 

[Sparkly]

Definitely recommend a visit to the Cars section, it's amazing, especially at night with the Cozy Cones sign lit up

We stayed there in 2015 in a Cars suite and absolutely loved it.

 

[chalee94]

hi!
I hope this is the right spot to post this.

I know people talk about seeing the different resorts. How much are you allowed to look around if you aren't staying there? Can we walk around and see all the cars? Is the area by the pool off limits or can we explore there?

You cannot use the pool if you're not a guest staying at the resort.

You can definitely visit and eat there - I love the surf and surf burger but there are a lot of options. You can also take pictures of the Cars and Lion King decorations around the grounds. It's a great resort.

 

[twitterpated31]

That's amazing! Thank you!!

We might check out the other areas but the Cars area would be a HUGE hit for my kids.

We have park days after a Disney cruise but a free day before the cruise. I was thinking touring AoA, hitting Disney Springs and then to the Poly for our dinner at 'Ohana. Can't wait!!

 

[twitterpated31]

Mmmmm...looking at the pics, it appears all the cool statues are around the pools.

We aren't interested in going IN the pools, just exploring the area around the pools. Can I get in there?

 

[sbd78]

Not going in the pools definately won't hinder your ability to walk around and enjoy the resort. You will be able to get pics with all the "Cars." Also, Mater and McQueen used to be at Hollywood Studios, not sure if they still are? If you are ever in CA, Disney's California Adventure Park has a Cars Land that looks amazing. I wish they would build something like it at WDW, I also have a Cars fan!

 

[chalee94]

The Cars stuff is not in the gated pool area.

 

[Hopefully]

Mmmmm...looking at the pics, it appears all the cool statues are around the pools.

We aren't interested in going IN the pools, just exploring the area around the pools. Can I get in there?

You can not go in the gated pool area, not just in the pool. But the Cars things are not in the gated area

 

[twitterpated31]

Phew, thanks!

 

[Theme Park Horizons]

No I walked around for like 3 hours exploring it lol

 

[karly05]

The Cars section is awesome and the Cars characters are all accessible to everyone, well outside the pool.

And I'm with @chalee94 - I love the surf n surf burger at the food court.

McQueen & Mater have been gone from DHS for a while. Cruz Ramirez was there when Cars 3 came out this summer, but I don't know if she is still there.

 

[peg2001]

There is also a nice path and bridge over to Pop Century from AoA if you'd like to explore a second resort while there. The food court at Pop is different than AoA so take a look at the menus and see which appeals more to you.

Another reassurance that you will miss very little by not entering the gated pool area. Lots to see around the resort and all the cool theming will be readily available to you for pictures.

 

[mum of two pirates]

The kids can lay on the hood of the cars for pictures and that sort of thing if you want. We took pic w all of the cars, when we went to visit last time. You shouldn't be able to get into the main pool without a resort magic band, but they do have some really cool statues in there your right. We leaned over the fence inside the cozy cone pool and took pictures. The gift shop had some pretty cool stuff for sale and don't miss out seeing all the art sketches inside of the main building they were amazing I have a few pictures of them also. You might like it so much you'll stay there next time.

 

[Sue M]

Lots of statues/characters outside of pool areas. As mentioned visitors can't use another resort pool. We loved walking around and eating lunch at food court. But I didn't like the surf burger, was supposed to be crab cake. When I think of crab cake I think of crispy outside. Mine was soggy.

 

[westie55]

I stayed at AoA last summer and loved it! Such a great photo opp. As others stated, all the Cars statues are outside the pool area. Without entering the pool area, you will still be able to see it very well. As a hotel guest, I could have gone in but I swam in the Big Blue pool or the LM pool, which was closest to our room. I saw everything from outside the fence just fine. I will return to AoA one day for sure.