Disney's ART OF ANIMATION RESORT Thread

[Disneylover99]

So do Magicbands open the gates around the pool now?

 

[yellowfish78]

So do Magicbands open the gates around the pool now?

Yes.

 

[yolie912]

Real plates and bowls in the food court but paper in the rooms (at least that's how it was when we were there in June)

Thank you!!!

 

[jcarwash]

We're staying at Little Mermaid. Just wanted to know if the main building has a microwave to heat up milk for kids?
Thanks

Yes -- photo below from an easywdw report.

 

[KanataDad]

Thanks so much car wash.
The link had lots if interesting info.

 

[bterrier518]

my family has our first trip planned for Dec 5th thru 11th. Nemo suite at AoA. We have not yet heard if we will be part of the testing for magic bands. Will we be given them at check in since the resort is live or would we still need an invitation? TIA.

 

[sandydk]

We've got a Lion King suite booked (my favorite movie), but now I'm second guessing myself and wondering if I should have gotten a Cars suite. Thoughts on the theming of LK?

 

[Disneylover99]

my family has our first trip planned for Dec 5th thru 11th. Nemo suite at AoA. We have not yet heard if we will be part of the testing for magic bands. Will we be given them at check in since the resort is live or would we still need an invitation? TIA.

You don't need an invitation. Just keep checking MDE to see if you have the ability to customize bands and make FP selections.

 

[Disneylover99]

We've got a Lion King suite booked (my favorite movie), but now I'm second guessing myself and wondering if I should have gotten a Cars suite. Thoughts on the theming of LK?

I like the theming of both. I would keep the Lion King suite though because it's a bit closer to the food court area, and if it's your favourite movie, I'm sure you will love it. Enjoy!

 

[Qmom]

We've got a Lion King suite booked (my favorite movie), but now I'm second guessing myself and wondering if I should have gotten a Cars suite. Thoughts on the theming of LK?

Cars and lion king are same distance from animation hall, but cars is closer to two pools and laundry. I had LK booked first (same reason) but was glad to change to Cars for theming, decor and location.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I just posted a new thread asking about the crowds/popularity of AOA. Would be interested in some feedback. Thanks

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I just posted a new thread asking about the crowds/popularity of AOA. Would be interested in some feedback. Thanks

Ok, for some reason my thread didn't post But my question basically was that since AOA has been excluded from the recent free dining promo and the current play, stay, and dine promo does that mean this resort is really, really popular and therefore really crowded? I've read some reviews stating that since the buildings with the family suites have interior corridors that the resort is on the noisy side (kids running up and down the halls, doors slamming, etc.) and also that the Nemo pool gets rather congested.

 

[Disneylover99]

and also that the Nemo pool gets rather congested.

I can only comment on this line.

We spent 13 days at Pop in August, but we often ate at AofA. We walked by the Nemo pool numerous times at different times of the day, usually late morning, mid-late afternoon and early evening. The pool was always packed compared to the Hippy Dippy pool at Pop.

 

[jpessa]

Ok, for some reason my thread didn't post But my question basically was that since AOA has been excluded from the recent free dining promo and the current play, stay, and dine promo does that mean this resort is really, really popular and therefore really crowded? I've read some reviews stating that since the buildings with the family suites have interior corridors that the resort is on the noisy side (kids running up and down the halls, doors slamming, etc.) and also that the Nemo pool gets rather congested.

The LM section is often sold out, which is why they exclude it from promos. The suites, however, don't tend to sell out as much.

I got back last week from a 10 day stay split between POP and AoA. Yes the Nemo pool is more crowded than the Hippy Dippy. But I never thought it was too crowded or unpleasant. The other two pools at AoA are quiet. I think POP was more crowded in general though. There are just way more rooms there (no suites = smaller rooms = more rooms) so usually way more guests.

I was in a LK suite and did not find it noisy at all. Children running and screaming outside your door will be loud whether it's an inside or outside corridor.

Having been to both AoA is very much my favorite (regardless of the rooms, which I can't compare) but not at the expense of savings. So next year I booked for POP.

 

[jenseib]

my family has our first trip planned for Dec 5th thru 11th. Nemo suite at AoA. We have not yet heard if we will be part of the testing for magic bands. Will we be given them at check in since the resort is live or would we still need an invitation? TIA.

I have been told all resorts will be testing by the end of this month. Keep checking your MDE. Only recently have Nov. guests been able to find the spot to order the bands. It's kind of random now and seems to pop up about 20-45 day prior

 

[bluezy]

We've got a Lion King suite booked (my favorite movie), but now I'm second guessing myself and wondering if I should have gotten a Cars suite. Thoughts on the theming of LK?

I would keep the LK suite. We were in a LK suite in June and loved it. The area is a little more quiet than the other areas because it doesn't have a pool but it's a quick walk to either the Nemo pool or the Little Mermaid pool (which had a total of 15 people in it one afternoon when the Nemo pool was packed). When I looked at the pictures, I thought the interior decor of the LK suites would be too "loud" for my taste but it really wasn't....especially once we were settled in and had "stuff" all over the room.

While LK & Cars appear (on maps) to be the same distance from the main building, you need to keep in mind that Building #2 in Cars is definitely further from the main building than either one of the LK buildings. Also, the food court and bus stops are both closer to the LK area than the Cars buildings as they are at that end of the building. Bell services and the check-in area is at the end of Animation Hall closest to Cars. We were in Bldg. 10 in the Lion King area, at the end of the building closest to Animation Hall. It was less than 100 yards from our room door to the door of Landscape of Flavors and not much further to the bus stops (yes, I measured it).

We were originally booked in a Nemo suite but switched to Cars when discounts came out and there were none available for Nemo. When the kids found out I picked Cars over Lion King, they weren't happy so when we checked in, I asked if there was anything available in LK that was close to the main building. The CM checked with the room assigner he smiled and said, "I have the best location for you....you're going to love this." And he was right. It was a fabulous location -- close to everything and our floor (4th) was very quiet -- we only saw one other family on our wing the entire week. I think the room next to us was being used by resort CMs for something -- we did see a few of them coming and going from there a few times during the week. We will most likely request this same location (Bldg 10, close to Animation Hall) the next time we stay there. I will say to make sure to take a walk over to the Cars area one night because it's gorgeous when it's all lit up, but I wouldn't change your Lion King location.

 

[mom2cgj]

We've got a Lion King suite booked (my favorite movie), but now I'm second guessing myself and wondering if I should have gotten a Cars suite. Thoughts on the theming of LK?

If LK is your favorite movie, I would keep it! We stayed in LK in January, and loved it. My kids loved sleeping with Simba, the theming in the rooms was great, and it was very quiet. The walk to the pool (we only used the Big Blue) was very short, and walking to AH and the buses was short as well. My kids want to try staying in all three areas, so we are heading to Cars next time, but we really enjoyed the LK section!

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I can only comment on this line.

We spent 13 days at Pop in August, but we often ate at AofA. We walked by the Nemo pool numerous times at different times of the day, usually late morning, mid-late afternoon and early evening. The pool was always packed compared to the Hippy Dippy pool at Pop.

The LM section is often sold out, which is why they exclude it from promos. The suites, however, don't tend to sell out as much.

I got back last week from a 10 day stay split between POP and AoA. Yes the Nemo pool is more crowded than the Hippy Dippy. But I never thought it was too crowded or unpleasant. The other two pools at AoA are quiet. I think POP was more crowded in general though. There are just way more rooms there (no suites = smaller rooms = more rooms) so usually way more guests.

I was in a LK suite and did not find it noisy at all. Children running and screaming outside your door will be loud whether it's an inside or outside corridor.

Having been to both AoA is very much my favorite (regardless of the rooms, which I can't compare) but not at the expense of savings. So next year I booked for POP.

Thank you for the replies. If we do stay here, it would probably only be a two night stay at the end of our trip just so we can experience the resort while we still have the opportunity as we will soon be a family of seven and once our baby is 3 we will exceed the occupancy limit for the suites. I am leaning towards a Lion King suite (which is what we were going to choose when we were considering staying here this past May) because from what I have read the Lion King area seems like a quiet but central location within the resort and it is also a movie both my boys and girls love.

 

[sandydk]

Thanks for the opinions -- we're going to keep our Lion King suite. We'll just go visit the Cars section and enjoy the theming from the outside!

 

[Disneylover99]

We are on the ME right now on our way to AofA. Hoping for a ground floor LM room.