Disney's ART OF ANIMATION RESORT Thread

[BBC]

Here are some more random thoughts and tips on AOA:

The fridge is larger than a typical hotel fridge, but not full size. There's no problem fitting a nice amount of items in it.

Next to the living room tv, under the clothes rack, there's a "trunk" which houses an extra pillow and blanket. Somehow, we totally didn't notice it and called mousekeeping for pillows.

We were told that Alamo rental cars can be arranged for pick up and drop off the car at the hotel. This is something we will definitely be looking into for next year.

The max depth of the big blue pool is just over 4 ft and there are life guards all around. I was REALLY REALLY impressed at how much attention they were paying to their job.

There's snack and soda machines on alternating floors

The day after we got there, they started working on ramone.

Don't forget to bring room towels to the pool, there's none there.

 

[jennilouwho]

We check in on the 12th. The only other place showing one bedroom availability that would be an upgrade is SSR. I am not wiling to stay there, but I am curious how they will have 70 percent of Nemo closed and not have to move people to other resorts..... We went back and forth forever between AOA and AKL. I hope I don't end up regretting my decision.

 

[cakebaker]

We check in on the 12th. The only other place showing one bedroom availability that would be an upgrade is SSR. I am not wiling to stay there, but I am curious how they will have 70 percent of Nemo closed and not have to move people to other resorts..... We went back and forth forever between AOA and AKL. I hope I don't end up regretting my decision.

That's the part I don't understand- that they could close down that many rooms and still have enough room at AOA to move them all to other buildings. As I said, I show no availability anywhere at AOA in that time frame so I guess it's possible that this time of year occupancy was low enough to handle it.

I really wish Disney were more upfront and gave more notice about these things rather than the guests having to dig and hunt for information.

 

[Mama2girlz]

I hope it's all just a bad rumour

 

[Nittanygirl79]

There was a facial soap, a body soap, and an all in one shampoo/conditioner.

Thank you! Good to know what I should pack!

 

[ejgonz2]

Can anyone tell me the brand of the pack n play at AoA? I assume they have more than one but this will help.

 

[jeanylaser]

good question! I don't know!

 

[Loftin716]

So excited! We are planning a repeat June trip for next year and plan to stay In The Nemo section again. We really enjoyed our stay this past June so we decided to stick with what we know this trip! Yay!

 

[nydancemom]

Just returned from a ten day stay, two Nemo suites. WE LOVED it! The resort was beautiful in a totally over the top Disney way. We had five adults in one suite, using an air mattress for one of our adult daughters along with the sofa bed for another, and the table bed for our adult son. He said the table bed was quite comfortable, our D2 was fine on the sofa bed, but D1 preferred the air mattress once D2 left and D1 tried the sofa bed for a night. She thought the sofa bed was too hard. My husband and I had the bedroom. It was great having two bathrooms. It was great having a kitchen area, especially since I do not eat in restaurants, ever, so I even travel with a small freezer which I was able to set up near the kitchen area.

The other suite had two adults and our four grandchildren. They also used an air mattress and took various turns in various beds over the course of the ten days, but all had a good trip.

The pool was great. Big, never too crowded. There were pool towels in the Nemo building (we were in bldg. 4) first floor every day, until they ran out, but you could also bring towels from your room and just ask housekeeping for extras which they provided with no problem. We also asked for extra paper towels, extra paper plates, paper bowls, plastic silverware, extra blankets, etc. Never a problem.

We could see a lot of the Frozen fireworks from HS over the main building when we were in the pool at night.

Everyone enjoyed the food at the Landscape of Flavors during the few meals we actually ate at the resort. We also went across the bridge one night and ate at POP food court which family enjoyed, but preferred AOA.

We were on room only reservations for the first 5 nights, then FD bounce back package for the last five. We were able to pick up our park tickets three days early, right at the resort. Did not even have to go to a guest relations booth to do that, which I was thrilled about! I asked the concierge about it, and they were able to do it We spent our first couple of days at the resort, and downtown Disney, then did Typhoon Lagoon for a day before we began using our park tickets for the rest of the trip. Worked out great

Only problems we had:
1. one night there was a fire alarm at 6:15AM so we had to wait outside for half an hour. Apparently a light bulb blew and set off an alarm. Startling, but whatever.

2. My magic Band did not work to open the room door, ever, without having to go to the front desk EVERY DAY to have it reset. THAT was annoying! I was the lead person, have an AP (no one else in the family does) and yet my Magic Band didn't work! They never did figure out why it had to be reset every day (different colors, different bands, but seriously, they are all active and all supposed to work).

3. The pool area is fenced in and isn't handicapped accessible. Seriously?? That isn't ok, and I am writing to Disney to complain. I use a scooter. You have to use your magic band to access the pool gate, but it just allows the gate to unlock, briefly, it doesn't open the gate, so then you can't actually get into the pool area without getting off the scooter and trying to juggle the gate and driving a scooter you're not riding on! I'm lucky I can walk, and sometimes someone would be around to help, but really when I asked the CMs at the pool and again at the front desk, the answer I got was "I guess you'll just have to wait for someone to help you" Really??? Not acceptable.

Overall, it was a great visit and we loved the resort. We took a walk around the whole resort on the last day. My thoughts: It's really cute. I'd definitely stay there again. I would never stay in the Little Mermaid section, it's a LONG walk to the main building and the main pool.

If anyone has questions, I'll try to answer. Just ask.

 

[cakebaker]

Thanks for the info on your trip! Love hearing first hand reports.

 

[supergoofy]

Just did a 1 night stay at AoA and here is my thoughts on it

Pro

1) Over the top Disney. Every direction you looked it was Disney.

2) Big Blue Pool what an awesome pool and staffed well.

3) Nice to have a gift shop although I could live with out it.

4) Landscape of Flavors. Ate 2 breakfasts and 1 dinner there. I would say you'd be hard pressed to not find something to eat there. Kids loved it.

5) Bus service. Absolutely loved getting on a bus and letting somebody drive. Did it for the week prior and it was nice to sit back and relax and see the World.

Only negative I have is space. We were a party of 6 and it was cramped living. We did Bonnet Creek the week prior and there we had 2 full rooms with 3 "real" beds with a separate living room and "full" kitchen. In the morning when I got up I didn't have a place to go as kids had the couch.


Unfortunately for us while AoA is great it doesn't fit the way we live and yes we shall stay again but like this trip it will only be a day or two.

 

[annyeb]

We are staying at AoA (Cars Suite) in early November. Coincidentally, my teenage son was at the dentist and found out his dental assistant had just stayed at AoA the week prior (so August) so I chatted with her briefly about her stay. All good things, but she said the food court there was terrible? Very unusual options and her kids were unhappy so they would go to POP instead. Anyone else have this experience? I haven't read through the whole thread yet.

 

[annyeb]

Oh and one other thing. I need to request a pack'n'play. Under "add requests" they do not offer that request or anywhere to input it. Is this something I need to call about ahead of time or am I safe to request it at the time of arrival?

 

[mzadell]

All good things, but she said the food court there was terrible? Very unusual options and her kids were unhappy so they would go to POP instead.

That's odd considering the most consistent thing I've seen about AoA is how amazing the food court is! Nothing pleases everybody, I guess.

 

[jcarwash]

Oh and one other thing. I need to request a pack'n'play. Under "add requests" they do not offer that request or anywhere to input it. Is this something I need to call about ahead of time or am I safe to request it at the time of arrival?

You don't need to call about it ahead of time, but you certainly can do so (I would).

That said, it's also just as likely your pack-n-play won't be waiting for you in the room (despite your request), and you'll need to request one when you arrive -- and that's not a problem either.

 

[jcarwash]

All good things, but she said the food court there was terrible? Very unusual options and her kids were unhappy so they would go to POP instead. Anyone else have this experience? I haven't read through the whole thread yet.

I'd suspect the "unusual options" was the part that led to the "terrible" review. AoA intentionally offers more eclectic choices as differentiators, and those wanting more plain/common food court choices may be expecting something else.

 

[bluezy]

We are staying at AoA (Cars Suite) in early November. Coincidentally, my teenage son was at the dentist and found out his dental assistant had just stayed at AoA the week prior (so August) so I chatted with her briefly about her stay. All good things, but she said the food court there was terrible? Very unusual options and her kids were unhappy so they would go to POP instead. Anyone else have this experience? I haven't read through the whole thread yet.

We really liked the food court at AoA when we were there last summer. In fact, we ate there several times because we really enjoyed the "different" things they offered (though there are plenty of standard options as well). Our DD was 8 at the time and she's a picky eater but she found plenty to make her happy there (personal pizza, create your own pasta, hamburger, and mac & cheese to name a few). There are also plenty of things in the "grab and go" coolers that she liked (fruit, veggies & dip, yogurt, sandwiches, etc.). I've seen parents complain that there's no chicken nuggets at AoA and therefore there was "NOTHING" for their kids to eat there. There are plenty of options there. And the kids can get chicken nuggets at pretty much every other quick service location on property -- have them choose something different at AoA.

 

[Triton]

Has the pool at AoA always been fenced in? Are both of them?

 

[mzadell]

Has the pool at AoA always been fenced in? Are both of them?

I don't know about "always," but from what I understand, the Big Blue pool requires MagicBands for entry to prove you're a guest of the resort. Not sure about the other two 'quiet' pools though.

 

[jcarwash]

Has the pool at AoA always been fenced in? Are both of them?

Yes, all three pools at AoA were built and opened with fencing in place.