Art of Animation regular rooms open yet?

[fdecker]

I'm trying to get the consensus. I saw pricing for the regular rooms, but people only talking about suites? For a booking in mid october, will the standard rooms be available? If so, when can I book them?

 

[Poppergirl]

I believe the Little Mermaid standard rooms open in September. We booked 2 nights in December before we check into WL Excited to stay at AOA for a couple of days!

 

[Allieran3]

the LM rooms open September 15th! I would book now cause rooms are filling up quick

 

[fdecker]

I think part of the confusion is that not every travel agent seems to have access to booking these rooms. I usually like to book through AAA for the discount unless Disney is running a special and there are none for October yet.

Also, do you know if they have their own bus like Pop does or are there multiple stops?

 

[jojomoore]

I think part of the confusion is that not every travel agent seems to have access to booking these rooms. I usually like to book through AAA for the discount unless Disney is running a special and there are none for October yet.

Also, do you know if they have their own bus like Pop does or are there multiple stops?

AOA does have its own dedicated bus route. Little Mermaid Standard Rooms are due to Open on September 15. Rooms have been available for booking for quite some time now and many dates are showing no availability in November and December. I have not looked at October dates however. The word is that free dining is not going to be offered at AOA- Little Mermaid Standard Rooms when general public discounts are released and usually discounts for value resort rooms if offered are only 10 to 15 %.

 

[fdecker]

The word is that free dining is not going to be offered at AOA- Little Mermaid Standard Rooms when general public discounts are released and usually discounts for value resort rooms if offered are only 10 to 15 %.

Booking separately usually works best for us. The food plan has onerous rules, is often not a good value and takes too much time at sit down venues. If the room would be the same price with or without food, I'll take the food though.

Right now I can book with my AAA discount and get a decent rate at any of the value resorts for october, but the deal running through september is better. All Star Sports is at 25% off, with Pop garnering only a 5% discount for room only. I don't want to wait and find AoA is full, but I don't want to book now and find a 20% discount in 2 weeks. I guess I could re-book at the lower rate? Basically, if there is $30 or more difference between other resorts and AoA, I don't feel it is worth it. Suggestions?

 

[Brave]

Booking separately usually works best for us. The food plan has onerous rules, is often not a good value and takes too much time at sit down venues. If the room would be the same price with or without food, I'll take the food though.

Right now I can book with my AAA discount and get a decent rate at any of the value resorts for october, but the deal running through september is better. All Star Sports is at 25% off, with Pop garnering only a 5% discount for room only. I don't want to wait and find AoA is full, but I don't want to book now and find a 20% discount in 2 weeks. I guess I could re-book at the lower rate? Basically, if there is $30 or more difference between other resorts and AoA, I don't feel it is worth it. Suggestions?

A 25% off room discount at All-Star Sports will save you roughly $22.00 per night, a free dining discount for a family of 4 staying at All-Star Sports would save you roughly $94.00 per night. Even if it's just you and your spouse, a free dining code at All-Star Sports would save you $$70.00 per night. A room discount can't even come close to the savings of a free dining discount when you are staying at a value resort.

 

[fdecker]

Good point. I was comparing the plan you pay for. The only trouble now is that there are no discounts for October yet I wonder if Diney will announce anything before August.

 

[Brave]

Good point. I was comparing the plan you pay for. The only trouble now is that there are no discounts for October yet I wonder if Diney will announce anything before August.

WDW Fall/Winter 2012 Free Dining Dates are supposed to be released July 12 for the general public and July 9 for Disney Visa Holders. The only room category that will be excluded are the Little Mermaid rooms at the Art of Animation Resort - all other resorts will be included. Remember, as long as your CHECK-IN dates falls within these dates you can apply the free dining discount to your entire stay:

9/30 - 10/4
10/19 - 11/1
11/9 - 11/15
11/23 - 11/29
12/10 - 12/13

 

[rigs32]

Remember that free dining at value resorts is for the QS plan - no TS meals

 

[fdecker]

Well if those are the dates, then I am going one of the few weeks there is no special. I just made the flight reservations 2 days ago Is there no hope for any discount or help for someone going Oct 12 - Oct 17? Though we will have a split stay, 5 days Disney, 3 Universal then 1 day back at Disney. Will we at least find a room only discount or something. I wonder why that week is excluded? What's so special about Oct 5 - Oct 18?

 

[fdecker]

The non-suites rooms at the new AoA are all called "Little Mermaid" rooms and as best I can tell, they are sold out into the forseeable future (at least through January), so I'm giving up on that and going to stay elsewhere and then look for an "upgrade" or a cancellation.

I am also going to wait and see what comes out in July for discount deals and decide if I should change my air reservations to go during a week that has meals.

Is there a noticable difference in food lines when the free meals deal is in effect?

 

[Brave]

Well if those are the dates, then I am going one of the few weeks there is no special. I just made the flight reservations 2 days ago Is there no hope for any discount or help for someone going Oct 12 - Oct 17? Though we will have a split stay, 5 days Disney, 3 Universal then 1 day back at Disney. Will we at least find a room only discount or something. I wonder why that week is excluded? What's so special about Oct 5 - Oct 18?

Mid October is always blacked out for discounts, it's Columbus Day/week and many schools in the Southeast have their Fall Breaks during that time frame and Disney hosts a number of conventions and a golf tournament during that time frame also.

 

[fdecker]

Disney must know something I don't know. Columbus day is a Monday, the 8th of October. I also can't find any schools in NC, Fl, or GA with fall break the 12-18th. There are some year round schools where a track falls within those dates. I can't seem to find a major convention listed or golf. 2 different boards rate that week as a good pick for lowest crowd levels in the late fall. Oh well. Maybe it doesn't matter anyway as the AAA 10% discount is better than a Pop 5% discount. Unless I stay at the all star resorts or a moderate resort with a 25 or 30% discount, all of the specials are pretty useless to me anyway. If anyone can find a reason why the week of the 18th would be better, let me know.

 

[emmebear]

i've been trying to book the LM room for october 25-october 28. the rooms have been booked and i was really sad as my daughter really loves the little mermaid. they had saturday (27) night available during my time frame & that was it.

but i guess being persistent paid off as someone must've cancelled their rooms and i was able to book the LM room...finally! i called every day for 2 weeks straight.

i am a florida annual passholder and booked the room + dining plan (1 qs, 1 ts, 1 snack) for myself as my daughter is 2. total price was: $543.90.

we will be attending MNSSHP on the 26th & i am super excited as my daughter and i have so much to celebrate!

 

[CanadianPaco]

Sept 15! We're only a few weeks too soon! Next trip!