Disney's ART OF ANIMATION RESORT Thread

[Disneymadhouse]

Salt pools aren't "saltwater," like the ocean. It will feel and smell like tap water. You'll love it at AoA

That's good enough for me! Thanks!


Claire

 

[siskaren]

1. Is the other part of your party utilizing Disney Transporation from the airport? If so they will need tickets, or MagicBands from what I understand.

2. Another thing my mother suggested doing is have them head straight to the parks and get a locker, tell them the combination to the lock and put the bands in their to pick up when they get there.

1. Magic Bands can be used to get on DME but aren't necessary. If they were, then guests from outside the US wouldn't be able to use DME since the bands aren't shipped outside the US.

2. Lockers at the parks have keys, not combinations.

 

[cajunfan]

Is the other part of your party utilizing Disney Transporation from the airport? If so they will need tickets, or MagicBands from what I understand. Can you mail their bands? If they are not I don't see why keeping them at the hotel desk wouldn't work. They can show the reservation number, tell them their names, and give the room number you are in and it shouldn't be a problem, I would think. But to be sure I would call.

Another thing my mother suggested doing is have them head straight to the parks and get a locker, tell them the combination to the lock and put the bands in their to pick up when they get there. This would be easiest if there was not a lot of luggage, but it would be an option.

They will not be using airport transportation. Their tickets will be linked to their magic bands already, so they would have to have those to get into a park, plus they will have driven for 10 hours with a 4 year old, so they will not want to go to a park that evening/night. I am thinking they will be exploring the resort and swimming. I was really wondering if anyone had any experience with leaving something for a guest at the front desk. I am actually thinking about putting a gift basket together for them, and putting the bands in there. I will also call AofA to be sure.

Thanks!

 

[Mommyof2Boos]

1. Magic Bands can be used to get on DME but aren't necessary. If they were, then guests from outside the US wouldn't be able to use DME since the bands aren't shipped outside the US.

2. Lockers at the parks have keys, not combinations.

I understand that, but some sort of ticket and luggage tags are needed I thought. It doesn't look like the OP needs to worry about that though

I couldn't remember if the lockers were a bring your own lock type or not. The smaller theme parks around where my mother is from are like that, so getting a combo lock and telling the family the combination would work at those parks. Apparently not at Disney.

OP I think your idea for a gift basket is wonderful!

 

[cgattis]

THIS was quite the lesson in Salt! And i am a Cliff Clavin fan, and had to read your explanation in his voice... Thanks again. People with home pools are tuning into "salt" is this the same?

Yep, same thing. My cousin has one, and your skin doesn't feel all tight and dry when you get out; it's nice.

 

[Chicago Mo]

Yep, same thing. My cousin has one, and your skin doesn't feel all tight and dry when you get out; it's nice.

Thanks again! Probably going to change my home pool now... Not a fan of the tight dry skin.. excellent!

 

[cgattis]

Thanks again! Probably going to change my home pool now... Not a fan of the tight dry skin.. excellent!

They tell me it's cheaper too, so more money for Disney vacations!

 

[CJK]

Could anyone share a copy of the activities guide for January? My usual source is still showing the December activities guide. I know the movies start at 7pm, but just wondered about some of the other scheduling (i.e. drawing class and tours). Thanks!

 

[coastermom]

Ok we are a family of 5 .. stayed AKL , BC/YC and Contemporary as well as the DisneyLand Hotel the last few trips .. I have become a Deluxe snob as many say but here is my thing .. Since we just stayed at the Contemporary I was thinking maybe AOA for our next trip but AOA is $166 more then Boardwalk and Caribbean Beach is $461 cheaper then AOA .. I get that the AOA has a private bedroom , our kids are older 23 , 20 and 13 time of travel and we just did 5 in a room at Contemporary with no issues is the extra money worth it ?

 

[rcklein5269]

Ok we are a family of 5 .. stayed AKL , BC/YC and Contemporary as well as the DisneyLand Hotel the last few trips .. I have become a Deluxe snob as many say but here is my thing .. Since we just stayed at the Contemporary I was thinking maybe AOA for our next trip but AOA is $166 more then Boardwalk and Caribbean Beach is $461 cheaper then AOA .. I get that the AOA has a private bedroom , our kids are older 23 , 20 and 13 time of travel and we just did 5 in a room at Contemporary with no issues is the extra money worth it ?

Just did AOA for the first time in August and LOVED IT!! Booked the bounceback right away. Don't forget about 2 bathrooms too!! I
Can't wait to go back. FYI I have a 15 year old and a two year old so the privacy of the extra room was awesome. Also the food options were great... Some interesting options like pulled pork on a cornbread waffle loved it to the made to order pasta that we had like four times!!! So good!! Enjoy

 

[LegalEze]

Just did AOA for the first time in August and LOVED IT!! Booked the bounceback right away. Don't forget about 2 bathrooms too!! I
Can't wait to go back. FYI I have a 15 year old and a two year old so the privacy of the extra room was awesome. Also the food options were great... Some interesting options like pulled pork on a cornbread waffle loved it to the made to order pasta that we had like four times!!! So good!! Enjoy

We've done plenty of deluxes, including club level .. and really, I don't think you can beat the suites at AoA. 2 bathrooms seals the deal for me!

 

[mmounsey]

We really liked AOA too...during our trip the weekends were really high and since we trying to keep it reasonable, we did our weekends offsite and stayed at AOA M-F (or something like that).

The Naan bread is excellent...even our boys still crave it. And two bathrooms is major plus in this family!

 

[bluezy]

Ok we are a family of 5 .. stayed AKL , BC/YC and Contemporary as well as the DisneyLand Hotel the last few trips .. I have become a Deluxe snob as many say but here is my thing .. Since we just stayed at the Contemporary I was thinking maybe AOA for our next trip but AOA is $166 more then Boardwalk and Caribbean Beach is $461 cheaper then AOA .. I get that the AOA has a private bedroom , our kids are older 23 , 20 and 13 time of travel and we just did 5 in a room at Contemporary with no issues is the extra money worth it ?

We're traveling as a party of 5 in June (we have 5 kids but only 3 will be traveling with us on this trip) and we still chose a suite at AoA instead of a room at a deluxe (the kids going with us on this trip will be ages 10, 15, & 16 at the time). The benefits for us: 2 TV's; separate bedroom for us (the kids can stay up late without disturbing us); more space; the microwave and fridge (we usually eat breakfast in the room -- these things increase our options. Also nice for leftovers.); and most of all, TWO bathrooms. We're used to having 4 bathrooms at home, so to go down to 1 bathroom when we're all trying to get out the door at the same time is a nightmare for us. During our last stay at AoA (as a party of 6), there were still times when both bathrooms were being used and someone was impatiently waiting to get in one.

During short non-Disney vacations as well as on our drive down to Disney and back home, we stay in standard "suite" hotel rooms and while it works for us for those quick trips, we know we need the extra space and bathroom that the suite at AoA provides.

 

[jensenmom]

Can anyone tell me if the LM rooms have a connecting door between them? We have 6 kids so we had to break it into 2 rooms and it would be nice to be able to go between inside. Also what is a quiet pool? Just the 1st in a bunch of questions lol we are going 1st week in july and soo excited

 

[Cassarye]

My kids and I will be going to WDW and staying in a LK suite April 13-23!!!! It's the kids first trip!!!

So excited!!!

 

[Chicago Mo]

Can anyone tell me if the LM rooms have a connecting door between them? We have 6 kids so we had to break it into 2 rooms and it would be nice to be able to go between inside. Also what is a quiet pool? Just the 1st in a bunch of questions lol we are going 1st week in july and soo excited

The suites sleep up to 6 comfortably, wouldn't you be a bit more comfortable?

Quiet pool is a relaxing pool.

 

[jcarwash]

Also what is a quiet pool? Just the 1st in a bunch of questions lol we are going 1st week in july and soo excited

A quiet pool is a term used to describe the "secondary" pools at the resorts.

Typically each Disney resort has a main or signature themed pool area, which would be the largest pool with the most theming and/or activities. At Art of Animation, that's the Big Blue Pool.

The secondary or "quiet" pools are the Cozy Cone (Cars) and the Flippin' Fins Pool (Little Mermaid). Doesn't mean the swimmers will be quiet for sure, just that the pools are smaller and less elaborate.

At a deluxe resort, for example, Yacht Club/Beach Club, the main pool (Stormalong Bay) is hugely elaborate and expansive, with the "quiet" pools being very plain and simple -- they don't even get names.

 

[johnrd]

We are going to AoA the 3rd week in April with two children ages 6 and 4. We expect to take afternoon breaks so the 4yr old can nap. How much time should be allot for travel to the different parks?

 

[jensenmom]

We have 8 people total so we wouldn't fit in a suite

 

[kastoney]

We are going to AoA the 3rd week in April with two children ages 6 and 4. We expect to take afternoon breaks so the 4yr old can nap. How much time should be allot for travel to the different parks?

With the wait for busses, 30-45 minutes is about the norm. Epcot and MGM are only about a ten minute drive, so if a bus comes quickly it's much faster. MK is a solid 20 minute drive and AK 15 mins