Disney's ART OF ANIMATION RESORT Thread

[AliceandAriel]

It's very rare. mostly due to the fact the rooms are usually sold out. Always do check the price against disney's too, as I have found what sounds like a "sale" on those sites will actually be cheaper on Disney. Not always, but many times. sometimes it's the tax that makes the difference.

You are right, it is very rare. But the prices I mentioned were tax included between Travelocity and Disney, so it is possible. You simply need to be lucky and willing to bend travel dates if you want those rooms, and book the minute a promo code comes out that applies to them.

 

[bluezy]

Thanks for this, as I was wondering the same thing. We will have a car. The only early morning thing we have planned is an 8.15am appointment at BBB and I'm panicking about getting to MK for that time! Might just drive to at least feel slighty more in control haha.

Buses start running at 6:30 a.m. so if you decide to take a bus, you should have plenty of time.

 

[jeanylaser]

Art Of Animation is Awesome to stay that's why we take the AOA for September 5-7 2014!

 

[dsnyfan608]

We are planning a trip in October for a girls weekend. My mom is taking her two adult children and her teenage granddaughter. We are thinking of getting a suite but concerned about bedding. One adult for the sleep sofa and one adult for the table bed while the other two take the queen. Are the sleep sofas and table bed comfortable for adults? Or are we better off with two rooms in LM?

 

[kim532]

So excited we just booked a night at the end of our July trip. Staying in Little Mermaid. Sad it is only one night. I know my boys will love it. They love Ariel.

Kim

 

[bluezy]

We are planning a trip in October for a girls weekend. My mom is taking her two adult children and her teenage granddaughter. We are thinking of getting a suite but concerned about bedding. One adult for the sleep sofa and one adult for the table bed while the other two take the queen. Are the sleep sofas and table bed comfortable for adults? Or are we better off with two rooms in LM?

I think the adults will be fine on the sofa bed and table bed. When we were there last June, my 24yo DS slept on the table bed and he said it was very comfortable -- better than the bed in the hotel we stayed at on the drive down. My 15yo DS slept on the sofa bed and also had no complaints (and, trust me, he would have let me know if the bed wasn't comfortable). I tried out each of those beds (didn't sleep on them -- just tried them out for a few minutes) and found them both to be comfortable. I actually found the queen bed to be firmer than I like. I'm a side sleeper and my left hip felt bruised after 2 nights. I ended up folding up a small blanket and laying on it (or towel...can't remember) to add a little padding under my hip. It wasn't an uncomfortable bed....just a little firmer than I like.

 

[Redarrow5150]

Booked this morning for 12/24-12/30 and will be going with our best friends who are joining us two days later. Nothing better than Christmas at WDW!

 

[TandLMommy28]

I have been going completely nuts trying to determine where to stay on this upcoming trip. This is our last chance to stay in any room that is officially for four people because we are now a family of five and the trip after this one will be after the baby is three. So I've made myself a little crazy deciding if we should try someplace new before we settle in to a lifetime of POR Alligator Bayou stays!

But we decided that for this trip, with a pack n play and a big stroller and all the gear that babies require, we would be best off in a suite. And so, we have FINALLY settled on Art of ANimation.

The other deciding factor is that my seven year old boy will probably be at the prime age to really, really enjoy Art of Animation.

So now I have so much to think about and so much to read up on. We are pretty much PO people. In fact, I've almost never stayed anywhere else. So this is a little scary for me, breaking out of my comfort zone!

We are going 9/21 to 9/27. I currently have a PIN code that saves me about $5 so I'm hoping something better comes along!

So... now, the question is which suites? My son loves Cars but I'm not in love with the decor. Nemo seems most convenient to everything--we tend to do a lot of resort time and enjoy all the pool parties, outdoor movies, etc. Thoughts?

 

[TandLMommy28]

Also, I am looking for a more current review of AoA. I found one on Easy WDW from right after it opened that complained about the lack of food choices for stocking the mini-kitchen and a few other things. Wondering if anyone knows of a good current review with updated menus, etc.

 

[cantoine]

Super excited. I am a disney addict, my DH not so much (hehehe). We went to Disney in October to celebrate my DD's 5th birthday. We stayed in POR and had a blast. It was our second trip in 3 years. My husband said no Disney vacation, this year, but as usual I bribed him with a new gun in exchange for a small trip to Disney ....So we are doing a split trip in June. Will be at AOA June 1-4 and then of site at the Sheraton Vistiana Villages doing Sea world and Discovery Cove. A few questions: 1. How is the food court at AOA? 2. We reserved a cars family suite, is there a particular building I should request or are all the buildings pretty close to the buses, main building, and Nemo pool? 3. How are the buses, long waits, overly crowed, or shared with POP? 4. Laundry, 3 adults and 4 kids, we will have plenty of laundry, is there laundry facility in the buildings or are they a hike? 5. How big is the fridge in the room? 6. What is the layout for the bathrooms: tub/shower combo or just a shower?

Thank you so much for all the help. I am super super excited, it is going to be a great surprise for our kids.

 

[Fjobe]

We will be at AoA for our first time in June. We are a family of 5, but DH doesn't come every time, and he is staying home this time. My girls are 5 and 7, so we are going to be in the Mermaid rooms while they are still young enough to really enjoy them! I am excited about staying somewhere different! Like a previous poster, when DH goes we stay at POR. The 2 times he hasn't come, we've stayed at All Star Sports. This will be a nice change.

 

[AliceandAriel]

Arriving in 5 days and trying to kick the ick that got me last-minute! Yikes!

Looks like one of my packages arrived today, too. Sweeet. Now to hope the other two make it in time. Ordered sunscreen ($3.99 on Amazon, done deal!) shampoo, Lysol spray cans, and some super hand sanitizer.

 

[AliceandAriel]

Also, I am looking for a more current review of AoA. I found one on Easy WDW from right after it opened that complained about the lack of food choices for stocking the mini-kitchen and a few other things. Wondering if anyone knows of a good current review with updated menus, etc.

I don't know of any super current reviews, but I will be there in 5 days and plan on finally doing my first TR, if you'd like to read it when I return?

Otherwise, my last known information from there was in October 2013, around Halloween.

 

[TandLMommy28]

I don't know of any super current reviews, but I will be there in 5 days and plan on finally doing my first TR, if you'd like to read it when I return?

Otherwise, my last known information from there was in October 2013, around Halloween.

Yes, I'll be thrilled to see your trip report! Awesome! Have a great trip.

 

[mom2cgj]

Super excited. I am a disney addict, my DH not so much (hehehe). We went to Disney in October to celebrate my DD's 5th birthday. We stayed in POR and had a blast. It was our second trip in 3 years. My husband said no Disney vacation, this year, but as usual I bribed him with a new gun in exchange for a small trip to Disney ....So we are doing a split trip in June. Will be at AOA June 1-4 and then of site at the Sheraton Vistiana Villages doing Sea world and Discovery Cove. A few questions: 1. How is the food court at AOA? 2. We reserved a cars family suite, is there a particular building I should request or are all the buildings pretty close to the buses, main building, and Nemo pool? 3. How are the buses, long waits, overly crowed, or shared with POP? 4. Laundry, 3 adults and 4 kids, we will have plenty of laundry, is there laundry facility in the buildings or are they a hike? 5. How big is the fridge in the room? 6. What is the layout for the bathrooms: tub/shower combo or just a shower?

Thank you so much for all the help. I am super super excited, it is going to be a great surprise for our kids.

I can't answer all of these as we didn't use the laundry, but I can help with some!

1. Awesome! Avoid the prime hours or it might be busy, but we didn't have any problems. I especially loved the create your own pasta!
2. It depends where you are in the building. Building 2 is going to be farthest away. If you get in the end of 3 that is closest to the pool, you won't be that far. Same with 1 closest to Animation Hall.
3. We had great luck with buses - short waits, not crowded. The only exception was leaving MK after Wishes. But they kept bringing bus after bus, so you weren't waiting for one to arrive, just for the people in front of you to load. Buses are not shared with any other resort.
5. Small. We didn't store much in them, but you could probably get a couple of half-gallons of milk and some water.
6. The master has a shower, no tub. The bathroom off the living area is a tub/shower combo.

Hope that helps!

 

[G719]

Super excited. I am a disney addict, my DH not so much (hehehe). We went to Disney in October to celebrate my DD's 5th birthday. We stayed in POR and had a blast. It was our second trip in 3 years. My husband said no Disney vacation, this year, but as usual I bribed him with a new gun in exchange for a small trip to Disney ....So we are doing a split trip in June. Will be at AOA June 1-4 and then of site at the Sheraton Vistiana Villages doing Sea world and Discovery Cove. A few questions: 1. How is the food court at AOA? 2. We reserved a cars family suite, is there a particular building I should request or are all the buildings pretty close to the buses, main building, and Nemo pool? 3. How are the buses, long waits, overly crowed, or shared with POP? 4. Laundry, 3 adults and 4 kids, we will have plenty of laundry, is there laundry facility in the buildings or are they a hike? 5. How big is the fridge in the room? 6. What is the layout for the bathrooms: tub/shower combo or just a shower? Thank you so much for all the help. I am super super excited, it is going to be a great surprise for our kids.

The laundry is at the pool. Pretty sure that each pool has a laundry area.
We put milk, oj, yogurt, lunch meat, water, beer, and leftovers in our fridge. Fridge seems small but we were able to pack a lot in.

 

[Annie78]

If someone is at AoA right now, could you please let us know February's movie schedule? Thanks!

 

[dansdad]

If someone is at AoA right now, could you please let us know February's movie schedule? Thanks!

Sunday - The Little Mermaid
Monday - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Tuesday - Hercules
Wednesday - A Goofy Movie
Thursday - Miracle
Friday - Enchanted
Saturday - Remember The Titans

 

[Pumpkinmuffin]

I called to put in a room request but I'm unsure of what i was given..... Disney's map was down and the cast member wasn't all that helpful. I have a Little Mermaid room booked and I want a ground floor, close to the parking lots. He gave me a '50' building'.... but now looking at the map room in the 5's are in the Nemo section.....??? Can anyone help me without me having to call back LOL!??

 

[jcarwash]

I called to put in a room request but I'm unsure of what i was given..... Disney's map was down and the cast member wasn't all that helpful. I have a Little Mermaid room booked and I want a ground floor, close to the parking lots. He gave me a '50' building'.... but now looking at the map room in the 5's are in the Nemo section.....??? Can anyone help me without me having to call back LOL!??

You may need to call back to see what request -- or if a request -- was added. You won't get a room "given" to you when you add a request -- they will just note what you're asking for. Given your two preferences, I would request building 9. They can add building 9 as a specific request.

Your other option is to use online check-in at 60 days prior to your arrival. You can choose 1 or 2 requests at that time. You should be able to at least choose "ground floor."