Disney's ART OF ANIMATION RESORT Thread

[pens4821]

Please help....wrestling with decision. My DD21, friend age 22 (first timer to WDW) and us adults 57 & 60. Currently, have room booked at Old Key West, but I'm it seems it will be a regular experience and not a fun time for a 22 year old first timer. Am I not seeing my kids get old and they will see this as childish? Having gone since 1971 (as a child) I have seen Disney progress and am always excited to go to Disney. What do you think, please? Thanks in advance for all honest opinions!

Are you asking if they think AOA will be childish? I wouldn't think so. Maybe someone in their mid/late teens, but by early 20's most "kids" are mature enough to be comfortable with their surroundings and making due even if they don't like it. I'm 30 and just returned from the Nemo section (although we did have my 6 year old nephew) and loved it. My parents and I walked around (just the three of us) taking pictures together throughout the resort.

 

[SPAM]

Please help....wrestling with decision. My DD21, friend age 22 (first timer to WDW) and us adults 57 & 60. Currently, have room booked at Old Key West, but I'm it seems it will be a regular experience and not a fun time for a 22 year old first timer. Am I not seeing my kids get old and they will see this as childish? Having gone since 1971 (as a child) I have seen Disney progress and am always excited to go to Disney. What do you think, please? Thanks in advance for all honest opinions!

I am 26 and my sister and I are children at heart, plus WDW is THE place to be a kid! I love the various theming.

 

[blackmamba10000]

I say go for AoA!! I'm 27 and my husband is 34. We love the immersive theming. We really feel like we are in Disney. I love how AoA is connected to POP Century by bridge too, surrounding a lake. Beautiful!

 

[lauraleeharris]

Can anyone please tell me about AoA buses rides? I am trying to plan how much time I need in the morning for travel so we can get through gates and at the ropes for drop. Any help you can give would be great.+

 

[hsmamainva]

100 days away from our AOA check in!

That is all.

 

[jenseib]

Can anyone please tell me about AoA buses rides? I am trying to plan how much time I need in the morning for travel so we can get through gates and at the ropes for drop. Any help you can give would be great.+

Disney suggests to allow an hour. Of course it depends on what park you are going to and how soon the bus comes. Buses run about 20 minutes apart.

 

[lauraleeharris]

That is what I was thinking. I know they have their own buses but it depends on the order of their bus run. Right?

 

[jenseib]

That is what I was thinking. I know they have their own buses but it depends on the order of their bus run. Right?

Not exactly sure what you mean by order of bus run. they obviously have buses arriving earlier for the parks that have Extra magic hours in the AM. I am not sure the exact time the rest start running. Each bus will go to 1 park, with the exception of AK bus, which also stops at a water park and DTD bus goes to the other water park.

 

[lauraleeharris]

Not exactly sure what you mean by order of bus run. they obviously have buses arriving earlier for the parks that have Extra magic hours in the AM. I am not sure the exact time the rest start running. Each bus will go to 1 park, with the exception of AK bus, which also stops at a water park and DTD bus goes to the other water park.

That helps so much. I thought that they had a bus for each specific park. I thought I remembered reading that somewhere. Thank you so much for clarifying for me.

 

[jenseib]

That helps so much. I thought that they had a bus for each specific park. I thought I remembered reading that somewhere. Thank you so much for clarifying for me.

Yep. each bus will go back and forth from one park. There are stops out front to get in line for the park you want to go to.

 

[lauraleeharris]

Yep. each bus will go back and forth from one park. There are stops out front to get in line for the park you want to go to.

Thank you so much you guys. Being a first timer I have SO many questions and you helped me answer one. You guys rock!

 

[kaitala]

Can anyone please tell me about AoA buses rides? I am trying to plan how much time I need in the morning for travel so we can get through gates and at the ropes for drop. Any help you can give would be great.+

We were there in October. Yes, allow AT LEAST an hour. Loved everything about AoA except the transportation.

Two tricks we learned:

1. POP always had shorter lines leaving the park, at least during our stay. We would hop on one of those buses and just walk across the bridge and save a great deal of time. Also for AM departure, but it seems only slightly less crowded. we learned that after we learned #2

2. One particularly busy morning, we got tired of waiting (must have seen 4 buses get filled and leave) and just took a bus to Animal Kingdom to get out of line and get somewhere else. Then, jumped right in line for a bus to comtemporary, then on the monorail to MK. I don't know if it was any faster, but it surely was less frustrating.


One thing that we found is there were SOOOOOOOOOO many plus sized folk on scooters there. I don't begrudge handicapped people getting on the bus first, but the able bodied who rent scooters is what killed the wait for us. One person with a scooter, and they do NOT have to wait in line, then their ENTIRE ENTOURAGE gets on first with them. We did the math, and average party size was 6.

Then the Able-Bodied Scooter Person then gets up off the scooter and takes up another seat. So ABSP takes up 4 seats, 3 seats with the scooter plus one for them. Plus their average party of 5 other people, that's 9 spots gone, even if the other 5 stand.

That's how we ended up sitting through 4 buses. Not to mention, it doesn't matter how long we were waiting in line, we watched 4 buses leave, but the person on a scooter who just arrived gets on first. FRUSTRATING.

Anyway, check out alternate transportation routes. If it's going anything like what we experienced, it may behoove you to take another route.

 

[myriamb]

Thanks! So... Can we technically have both rooms at the same time? It would be great if I could get the suite key and still have the LM room to make the switch simple. I also was thinking the suite will probably be ready whenever I check in.

We tried this last year and we were given the key card, but they would made us store our luggage until the room was clean.

 

[kalee45]

The busses can be a perk or drawback. This is why we always have a car also. If we have the time to wait, we take the bus. We have already embraced the " take time it takes is the time it takes" philosophy and do not check watches. This is usually the tour style for the pm return after the midday break. If we are stressing over ADRs or making rope drop, we drive; after all parking is free for all resort guests! We also always take the bus if we plan on partaking of adult beverages!

 

[lauraleeharris]

We were there in October. Yes, allow AT LEAST an hour. Loved everything about AoA except the transportation.

Two tricks we learned:

1. POP always had shorter lines leaving the park, at least during our stay. We would hop on one of those buses and just walk across the bridge and save a great deal of time. Also for AM departure, but it seems only slightly less crowded. we learned that after we learned #2

2. One particularly busy morning, we got tired of waiting (must have seen 4 buses get filled and leave) and just took a bus to Animal Kingdom to get out of line and get somewhere else. Then, jumped right in line for a bus to comtemporary, then on the monorail to MK. I don't know if it was any faster, but it surely was less frustrating.


One thing that we found is there were SOOOOOOOOOO many plus sized folk on scooters there. I don't begrudge handicapped people getting on the bus first, but the able bodied who rent scooters is what killed the wait for us. One person with a scooter, and they do NOT have to wait in line, then their ENTIRE ENTOURAGE gets on first with them. We did the math, and average party size was 6.

Then the Able-Bodied Scooter Person then gets up off the scooter and takes up another seat. So ABSP takes up 4 seats, 3 seats with the scooter plus one for them. Plus their average party of 5 other people, that's 9 spots gone, even if the other 5 stand.

That's how we ended up sitting through 4 buses. Not to mention, it doesn't matter how long we were waiting in line, we watched 4 buses leave, but the person on a scooter who just arrived gets on first. FRUSTRATING.

Anyway, check out alternate transportation routes. If it's going anything like what we experienced, it may behoove you to take another route.

I had read that trick about taking pops bus. That might come in handy. Also, the monorail will not be working when we are there so we will either have to wait or find another option. I prefer not to drive if at all possible being our first trip and not knowing the way around.

 

[myriamb]

We arrive tomorrow night!!! I can't wait!! Getting alittle nervous about getting there thou. We are flying out of Philly tomorrow afternoon and we are supposed to get really bad storms! Praying we get out and on time!!!

Can you tell us about your trip. We are travelling around the same dates this year and I would love to hear about the parks and crowds, in particular were the waits and lines crazy?

 

[Frozen2014]

We will be coming to Disney in October and staying at AoA. Since we want to spend one day out of Disney, we will be renting a car. I've heard though that the parking at MK is a pain since after you park, you have to take a shuttle to the park. So for MK, is it better to take the bus or drive from AoA?

 

[RealBlast3]

I have a question about the rooms in the family suite. I'm considering booking a room for me and my dad and his girlfriend as opposed to 2 separate rooms. We're all quite close and while I've asked her if she would rather have a private room for her and my dad, she has said 'no, it's not necessary'.

But still, some privacy for changing and showers I feel is necessary.
However, as we all know most of the rooms at Disney value and moderate resorts have either a bathroom with only a curtain or nothing at all, save Coronado's and I don't want to stay there. And, I'm sorry, but just a curtain or no door isn't enough for me to be comfortable.

So, anyway, rather than spend the money on 2 separate rooms, I thought the family suites might be the answer to my problem. Since I know they have a master bedroom with a private bathroom which will be great for my dad and his girlfriend.

My question is once again about doors though. Does the 2nd bathroom, which would be my bathroom, have a door? I mean, while it's great that they would have their privacy in their master bedroom, that doesn't really help me, if I step out of the shower into a bathroom with no door while my dad's girlfriend happens to be passing by.

I looked at pictures of the room and I couldn't tell and wasn't sure if there was any privacy door for the 2nd bathroom. I'd appreciate any help, guys!

 

[kristinradico]

We plan on arriving and checking in around 10 am. If our room isn't ready yet, would we be able to swim in the pools while waiting???

 

[jenseib]

I have a question about the rooms in the family suite. I'm considering booking a room for me and my dad and his girlfriend as opposed to 2 separate rooms. We're all quite close and while I've asked her if she would rather have a private room for her and my dad, she has said 'no, it's not necessary'.

But still, some privacy for changing and showers I feel is necessary.
However, as we all know most of the rooms at Disney value and moderate resorts have either a bathroom with only a curtain or nothing at all, save Coronado's and I don't want to stay there. And, I'm sorry, but just a curtain or no door isn't enough for me to be comfortable.

So, anyway, rather than spend the money on 2 separate rooms, I thought the family suites might be the answer to my problem. Since I know they have a master bedroom with a private bathroom which will be great for my dad and his girlfriend.

My question is once again about doors though. Does the 2nd bathroom, which would be my bathroom, have a door? I mean, while it's great that they would have their privacy in their master bedroom, that doesn't really help me, if I step out of the shower into a bathroom with no door while my dad's girlfriend happens to be passing by.

I looked at pictures of the room and I couldn't tell and wasn't sure if there was any privacy door for the 2nd bathroom. I'd appreciate any help, guys!

If course the bathroom has a door. All bathrooms have doors. The curtains in the Value room are only for the vanity area. the bathrooms have doors.