MeMom, a great update. I love those rooms...so very cute. Mark and I are hoping to get over to the Arts of Animation resort and walk around next month on our "off" day.
I think you will enjoy seeing this nicely done resort.
If you are there at an off time and the food court is not crowded, you might want to eat there. They have some unique and good food. If it is crowded, though, the good food can be cold before you get to your table.
Wow - AofA is so fun and bright! Cool room! But I agree, I think they need a sliding door to the outside!
Someone saw the pictures of the buildings from outside before they were painted and said it reminded them of a prison!
Even small balconies would have been nice, but I guess with no balconies, that takes away the worries of little ones being out on them unattended.
Loving the trip so far. We always stop at the Welcome Center on I-75 when it's open too. Your pictures bring back so many memories of when my girls were little and we stopped there. In fact, I have pictures with my girls just in the last year or so behind those same boards.
We got to take a walk around the outside of the Art of Animation and loved it. We shopped in the shop and also ate at the Food Court. I believe I prefer Pop for the shopping and food court. Maybe because I'm just more familiar with it.
I loved seeing your pictures of the suite. Looks so really cool. Maybe some day, if we have grandkids, we'll do one of those. Now with just DH and me, a simple POP room will be all we need.
Looking forward to more of your report.
Pop will probably always be 'home' to us. The rooms at AoA are very nice, though, in that they are extremely fresh and clean.
I like the fact that AoA has resort merchandise. I wish they would bring back some Pop t-shirts.
Wow the decorations of your suite were really spectacular! I may have to rethink the always a mod or deluxe room.
I remember our trips with the kids when we left at that early hour. It was nice because the kids were sleeping most of the way. Loved the Welcome center, but on our last couple of drives to Florida we were never there when they were over.
If you are going to try a value resort, this is this one to try. It is clean and colorful and still has a new feeling to it, in my opinion.
As much as I enjoy the arrival at the Florida Welcome Center, I will trade that for a short flight any day.
I do think it is good that the girls get to experience road trips occasionally, though. Every kid needs to have road trips to talk about when they grow up.
Love the Florida Welcome Center pics!
I miss getting that taste of orange juice goodness!
I agree with
Valoof...the juice is good but not worth my 24hr drive to get it.
I'll stick with my less than 3 hour flight instead where I can be on WDW property in no time!
Thanks for the Welcome Center pics...they make me smile as I reminisce about the fond memories I have of our family road trips every year to Florida.
I can remember some trips where my parents drove straight through from Ottawa to Orlando...I don't know how they did it.
(yes I do come to think of it...my Dad was a cop so he was used to staying up all night on 12 hr shifts)
You are so lucky to have stayed at the AoA resort! It looks awesome!
Lexi loved seeing your room pics. She dreams of staying in the Lion King room.
I wish I could justify the price on this trip but I'm trying to cut a few corners to make up for having to buy new flights.
One day we will stay in each of the suites...maybe next spring...looking at booking a May trip.
Got the go ahead from my boss today.
It's pretty much decided that we are now going to Disney from August 22- Sept 1 and staying at POP.
We are going to try preferred pool view this time.
What can I say, it's our favorite resort and I know you would agree with me.
Question: Do you think it is possible to enjoy a 7:35 am breakfast at Chef Mickey's and then make it back to POP for 9:15 am ME pick up?
Not sure if I should attempt it...thoughts?
We had preferred pool view at Pop in March. Kay got lost at Pop before, so I figured for the only two nights we were there, I would fork out the extra money. I knew if she could see a pool or hear pool activity, she could find the room. As it worked out, we could have thrown a tennis ball at the big POP sign from our room. There is no way she could have gotten lost!
And the night time pool noise was not a problem. I left the door open to listen to the splashing, and when we closed it, we could not hear anything enough to be disturbing as we went to sleep. It was a great location.
No way would I plan a 7 anything breakfast on an UnME morning. That is just my opinion. It would be way too stressful. We like to be back at Pop (or wherever) having some down time, last minute run through the gift shop, wind down with some ice cream, etc. before that bad bus pulls up.
I know you weren't asking me, but even if we had a car, we wouldn't attempt that....
Nor would I. Maybe Lana lives the fast and furious life, though.
Okay, I'm confused.
Your suite looks really nice but you have said more than once that you had a problem with the lack of doors.
I noticed a view from a window.
Is that how you had to get in and out? Crawl through the window?
They don't have any doors?
Now that's just nuts!
I love the picture of the girls checking out the Murphy bed!
Windows that do not open and one door that goes to an interior hall. Not good for this claustrophobic.
You may have noticed in these past few trips how I like open doors and open spaces.
I talked myself through one night at AoA, and I made sure I was extremely tired, as well, so that I would not be able to think about it. I really hate it, because the suites would be good for us.
The girls thought that bed was cool, and that is where they slept.
Joining in on your trip report. I am fairly new to DIS but I have gone back and read your older trip reports and watching the girls grow up through them was fun. Can't wait to read more.
We are glad to have you along!
You must have done a ton of reading, or hopefully you just skimmed through some of the bazillion pictures. The girls have been raised in a Disney way, for sure!
We're heading to WDW!!
But there is a pretty big payoff at the end of your trip.
Just kidding... take your time.
So where is the Dwarf House? I haven't seen that before. 
Well, somebody had to be on the other side of that camera.......... 
