Disney's Art of Animation Resort hotel

[princessreilly]

I'm checking in at Cars on June 18th. This is the opening day and I'm wondering if they will have a grand opening for it as well or if May 31 was for all of them? Anyone know ?

 

[Kurby]

Just booked 3 nights in January after we come back from our cruise.

Should have slowed down by the time we get there. Totally excited about staying there. We stayed at pop only weeks after it opened and how art. Love being one of the first to see the new rooms

 

[mickeye]

And is anyone staying at AoA during November? I will be staying the 26-28th in the Little Mermaid rooms. I am very excited to stay here and I was just wondering if anyone else will be there at that time.

we are staying in the LM 11/23-12/1, see you there!!

Count us in for November 25-December 1st in Finding Nemo ♥

We'll be in the LM section the week after Thanksgiving! It looks like we'll have a nice 'Dis' group going. Are you guys going to decorate your windows? We've never done that before, but this is our first Christmas trip and I think it would be fun.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Mousesteps has some photos posted of the Little Mermaid section, including the installation of the Ursula and Ariel icons:

http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=831&Itemid=65

 

[marilyn23]

Really curious about the AoA. We have reservations for POFQ(two adjoining rooms) but thinking of changing. Just wondering if the buses are shared with Pop and how anyone staying there now would compare it to POFQ. We've never stayed at value but really like the look of this resort and love that it's brand new.
Thank you

 

[sixkristy6]

Really curious about the AoA. We have reservations for POFQ(two adjoining rooms) but thinking of changing. Just wondering if the buses are shared with Pop and how anyone staying there now would compare it to POFQ. We've never stayed at value but really like the look of this resort and love that it's brand new.
Thank you

I read somewhere (this thread maybe? or easywdw?) that buses are not shared with Pop. There were even photos of the bus stops for AoA at different parks and they were separate from Pop.

 

[tink15823]

I read somewhere (this thread maybe? or easywdw?) that buses are not shared with Pop. There were even photos of the bus stops for AoA at different parks and they were separate from Pop.

You are correct they have their own buses .

 

[arbolita]

Just wondering if the buses are shared with Pop
Thank you

As others have said, the buses are not shared with Pop. HOWEVER, it is worth noting that at 3 of the 4 parks (Animal Kingdom being the exception) the buses for Pop and AoA are night next to each other, giving you the potential option to jump onto the other bus if they have room and you are still waiting for yours. You can then just walk across the bridge to the correct resort.

Just curious as to why they didn't make the suites with exterior entrance but they did with the LM rooms?

Originally, the buildings that are being used for Little Mermaid were going to be a section of Pop Century called the "Legendary Years" (1900s-1940s). After 9/11, due to the huge decrease in tourism, Disney never completed that section and the buildings sat there empty for nearly a decade. Instead of demolishing those buildings when they decided to use the land for Art of Animation, they just decided to convert them to the Little Mermaid wing. That's the reason why the doors open to the outside and why they have standard rooms, like the other value resorts.

The rooms in the Little Mermaid section will also be similar to room prices at the Values, so it makes it a nice option for those who may want to stay at the resort, but not have the money or need for suites.

 

[DsnyMama]

We had originally planned AoA for Feb 2013, but we moved to Nov 12!! Staying in a LM room Nov 26 - Dec 4! I can't wait

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

Never thought we would do a value resort again, but so far I am so impressed with everything I am seeing, my boys had a fit with the video they saw. So we booked two days before our fantasy cruise in december here, we have two days at CR after the cruise but I am starting to wonder if maybe I want to save some money and just book here. I am very excited to see this resort.

 

[WDWKOOK]

Never thought we would do a value resort again, but so far I am so impressed with everything I am seeing, my boys had a fit with the video they saw. So we booked two days before our fantasy cruise in december here, we have two days at CR after the cruise but I am starting to wonder if maybe I want to save some money and just book here. I am very excited to see this resort.

That's too ironic - we have CR booked before our WL/CL stay in August, and I'm seriously considering switching to AoA, too. We've never tried a Value, but we've stayed at the CR many times, so this may be the right time to try it. It's not even about the money for us (with our 30% off military rate it would be about $100 less per night than CR), I just think that AoA has so many features that are very appealing and make it a stand-out resort - of any category. And, it's FRESH, NEW and INNOVATIVE (and two bathrooms sure are better than one). I have to admit though, that I worry about there only being buses, like at AKL, which to me was a big negative when we stayed there. But, I suppose for a shorter stay it's really not a big deal - as long as they don't start to share with POP

BTW, has anyone else noticed on the AoA resort map, that most of the Designated Smoking Areas (6 of them) are along the 1.35 mile jogging path that runs along the lake? I wonder why they thought this was a good place to put smokers?

 

[Tigger's ally]

We had originally planned AoA for Feb 2013, but we moved to Nov 12!! Staying in a LM room Nov 26 - Dec 4! I can't wait

Howdy neighbor, we will be staying in LM Nov 30 and Dec 1 on a weekend getaway from our college age kids!

 

[Tigger's ally]

BTW, has anyone else noticed on the AoA resort map, that most of the Designated Smoking Areas (6 of them) are along the 1.35 mile jogging path that runs along the lake? I wonder why they thought this was a good place to put smokers?

Perhaps they are trying to motivate the smokers to quit

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Perhaps they are trying to motivate the smokers to quit

...or the runners! I didn't notice that, but then again, I only run for donuts

Everything was so well thought out at that resort-- down to each plant and how it can represent the area it is placed in. Looks like they fell short on which area smokers should be placed in!

 

[Sunshinepixie27]

Mousesteps has some photos posted of the Little Mermaid section, including the installation of the Ursula and Ariel icons:

http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=831&Itemid=65

Finally!!!!! These pics are what I have been stalking the web for....Thank you so much for posting this link and keep them coming Disers!!!!

 

[Fluff724]

Mousesteps has some photos posted of the Little Mermaid section, including the installation of the Ursula and Ariel icons:

http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=831&Itemid=65

Great pictures!!! Thanks for posting!

 

[disneydiva16]

These pictures look awesome. I truly cant wait for our trip to stay at this resort. I think I have 108 days until then. LOL

 

[PolynesianPixie]

I haven't done a review yet, but here is a compilation of photos from A of A. I will do Landscape of flavors separately...it deserves a spotlight all it's own!

Art of Animation Slideshow

 

[Sunshinepixie27]

I haven't done a review yet, but here is a compilation of photos from A of A. I will do Landscape of flavors separately...it deserves a spotlight all it's own!

Art of Animation Slideshow

Great slideshow! What program did you use to do it?

 

[kbarrett]

...or the runners! I didn't notice that, but then again, I only run for donuts

Everything was so well thought out at that resort-- down to each plant and how it can represent the area it is placed in. Looks like they fell short on which area smokers should be placed in!

love that!!! Love the new pics posted of LM too WE'll be there Oct 22-29!!!!