Disney's Art of Animation Resort hotel

[Sleepless Knight]

I've decided to stay at AoA for the Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon even though it's not a host resort. I'm just more excited about staying here than another go round at All Star Sports or Pop.

 

[mickeye]

We are thinking about staying at the Little Mermaid next year. I've only stayed at Moderate resorts so I'm used to having more than one bus stop and not a long way to walk. Does anyone know about how long the walk is from Little Mermaid to the bus stop? Its not bad walking to the bus stop but coming back from an all day park is pretty tiring

For all of you still wondering about the distance to the LM rooms. They have all figured via the Google earth maps that it is 1/4 mile. To make it into more of an easy 'everyday life' figure, a 1/4 mile is about the same as walking two city blocks. So when you think about it, two blocks isn't vary far at all. Even small kids can go 2 blocks and even people with a lot of disabilities (like Me) can handle two blocks. I think putting the figure of 2 blocks into people's heads may be a little easier to picture than to say 1/4 mile.

We did that 3 weeks ago, it was really nice, that's why we're staying there in August.

Thank you to your dear Husband for his service to our country, and to you and your family, too. I hope everyone now realizes that we should support and honor our troops; my poor older brother was in the end of Vietnam. I still get mad when I think of the 'so called welcome home' those poor guys got, and a lot of them were just kids. God Bless America and our Troops.

 

[java]

We're a family of six with three large teenage boys and one teenage daughter-would love to stay here-but not sure if three beds will work for our group-do the fold out beds really sleep two adults?

I'll let you know. We get there on Sunday I'll have 2 teens with me.

 

[DavidHobart]

Thanks David! What an excellent, detailed review.

Do you happen to have any idea about how long it takes to get from AoA to different locations? For example, we have an 8:30am ADR at Kona. Any idea when we would need to leave and how we would need to get there? I believe buses don't go from resort to resort but don't know what the best option would be. TTC? DTD? One of the parks? Thanks!

Jenjie--thanks!

Re your question, assuming you are taking WDW transportation your only options are WDW buses to the parks/DTD/water parks.

I timed the trip time from A of A to MK at 18 minutes on the bus. You then need to build in time for the possibility that you just missed the bus (20 mins is a conservative number) and getting from the bus stop to the final destination.

For Kona, you can ask the bus driver to drop you off at Poly--which is not likely, but possible--take the resort monorail (if running--for the earliest reservations on 9a MK openings, it may not be running yet) from MK to the Poly, or take the express monorail from MK to TTC and walk from there to the Poly. Build in another 30 mins for the monorail options.

For early breakfasts in the resort hotels I tend to take a cab--it costs an extra ten to fiftenn bucks or so, but it simplifies timing and process, and lets us sleep in later...A of A has a cab stand in the check-in parking area...

Hope this helps and thanks again!

Dave

 

[disneynutsss]

We're a family of six with three large teenage boys and one teenage daughter-would love to stay here-but not sure if three beds will work for our group-do the fold out beds really sleep two adults?

as per this the table fold down bed measures 54" by 74" and the fold out couch is 54″ by 78″

 

[The Wise One]

I wish the 2013 rates would come up all ready! We (well... I, hubby doesn't care!) really want to book a LM room for our January/February trip and I want my Florida resident rates!

 

[Kurby]

you can book for 2013 already if you call. i called 2 weeks ago and got booked in for the 10th of jan.

just can't book it online yet

 

[jenseib]

you can book for 2013 already if you call. i called 2 weeks ago and got booked in for the 10th of jan.

just can't book it online yet

You can only book room only I believe though.

 

[Kurby]

You can only book room only I believe though.

oh that i don't know - we already have an AP and aren't doing the DDP so we only needed a room. but can't you book the room now to make sure you have it and then add the DDP or tickets after?

 

[dansdad]

can't you book the room now to make sure you have it and then add the DDP or tickets after?

Technically, no. You would need to cancel your room only and then book a package. Room only and packages are coded differently.

 

[SgtsWifeandmommyof4]

You can still make ADRs even without having a resort booking. You won't have the resort guest advantage of booking ADRs for up to 10 days of your planned trip, but you can still do it.

My opinion is using Disney transportation with a toddler is just fine. Advice would be to have a compact folding stroller like a Chicco C6 rather than a bigger full-size stroller.

Can you elaborate on the ADR's? Please forgive me, this is all new to me. The only trip to Disney Ive ever been on, I had zero help in planning. I was basically told to get my spending money, bags together, and meet at the car to go.

We have a room only reservation right now bc we are a large group with 4 kiddos and well, to be quite honest, sitting on this money is killing me! lol Im so overly ready to get the planning and paying done. I tried to ask a CM about the +10 but I couldnt really understand what she was saying. Even after asking twice. Does this mean that I will need to call daily?

 

[Mariep26]

Can you elaborate on the ADR's? Please forgive me, this is all new to me. The only trip to Disney Ive ever been on, I had zero help in planning. I was basically told to get my spending money, bags together, and meet at the car to go.

We have a room only reservation right now bc we are a large group with 4 kiddos and well, to be quite honest, sitting on this money is killing me! lol Im so overly ready to get the planning and paying done. I tried to ask a CM about the +10 but I couldnt really understand what she was saying. Even after asking twice. Does this mean that I will need to call daily?

The +10 simply means that if you had a booking you would get in at the 180 days mark of the beginning of your trip to make reservations. If you were staying 10 days that would be 190 days from the last day of your trip. This means that you would get in ahead of others because you are allowed to book your dining reservations for the duration of your visit (up to 10 days) at the 180 day mark. I am not sure about what you would need to call daily about?

 

[mickeye]

MEMOM: I wanted to thank you in my last post for your wonderful photos and I totally forgot. I'm so sorry because I got so much enjoyment from them! They really took me thru the new resort and it was fun!!! I loved the Gift Shop pics. You even got to show us some trading pins, the candy selections and the pressed pennies (my one friend and I collect the pins and our other friend does the pennies!). Thanks again; they were just great.

 

[SgtsWifeandmommyof4]

The +10 simply means that if you had a booking you would get in at the 180 days mark of the beginning of your trip to make reservations. If you were staying 10 days that would be 190 days from the last day of your trip. This means that you would get in ahead of others because you are allowed to book your dining reservations for the duration of your visit (up to 10 days) at the 180 day mark. I am not sure about what you would need to call daily about?

Ok, I think I understand. So bc Ive already made the room reservation I can book all of our ADR's for our 6 night stay at the 180 day mark?

I was thinking that I would need to call daily for 6 days to book each ADR individually.

 

[Lillian Gracey]

Ok, I think I understand. So bc Ive already made the room reservation I can book all of our ADR's for our 6 night stay at the 180 day mark?

I was thinking that I would need to call daily for 6 days to book each ADR individually.

Correct. You don't even have to call. You can book them online.

 

[jenjie]

Jenjie--thanks!

Re your question, assuming you are taking WDW transportation your only options are WDW buses to the parks/DTD/water parks.

I timed the trip time from A of A to MK at 18 minutes on the bus. You then need to build in time for the possibility that you just missed the bus (20 mins is a conservative number) and getting from the bus stop to the final destination.

For Kona, you can ask the bus driver to drop you off at Poly--which is not likely, but possible--take the resort monorail (if running--for the earliest reservations on 9a MK openings, it may not be running yet) from MK to the Poly, or take the express monorail from MK to TTC and walk from there to the Poly. Build in another 30 mins for the monorail options.

For early breakfasts in the resort hotels I tend to take a cab--it costs an extra ten to fiftenn bucks or so, but it simplifies timing and process, and lets us sleep in later...A of A has a cab stand in the check-in parking area...

Hope this helps and thanks again!

Dave

Thank you so much! I'm going to save this info.

 

[MeMom]

Thanks for the thanks, everyone!

I am still at Pop, so if you have particular picture requests for me to get at AoA, I will certainly do my best. I try to check in on the DIS either in the morning or at afternoon break time, just depending on what all is going on. Keep in mind, I am not staying at AoA - not until October, and then in Little Mermaid, not in a suite - so I can't get interior room pictures. Anything around the grounds and in Animation Hall, or any questions you want answered straight from a cast member, I will be glad to try.

 

[IslandAdventure4]

Video of the Nemo pool with underwater sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffbAEtgjNxI&feature=em-uploademail

Ha.... How cool is that

 

[Mariep26]

Ok, I think I understand. So bc Ive already made the room reservation I can book all of our ADR's for our 6 night stay at the 180 day mark?

I was thinking that I would need to call daily for 6 days to book each ADR individually.

You got it and like another poster pointed out you can book online. Hope I was helpful.. I say it and it makes sense but sometimes I am not sure if it makes as much sense when I write it down

 

[LifeIsDis]

Video of the Nemo pool with underwater sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffbAEtgjNxI&feature=em-uploademail

That's so cool!