Help trying to pick a hotel!! Currently looking at AoA but are there other options?

[uandmfan]

Hi

We are planning a trip next jan/feb and I have started trying to see where to stay. We need the 60 day FP window, so I think we should stay onsite. At this point the off-site hotels with that perk only have it through the end of 2020 or I'd consider that.

First, we usually stay in timeshares with the kids (2 of them) so we aren't used to sharing one room. I'd give it a try but my husband isn't so sure. Other than the Art of Animation, are there options onsite that would cost less than renting a 2 bedroom DVC? (Between 5k and 6k for 8 days). My sister is coming so we are looking at the family suites plus a hotel room for her. I'd go with adjoining rooms in another hotel but know they aren't guaranteed and we would need one set of adjoining rooms.

For A of A - do they have their own bus? Has the transportation to the parks generally been ok from there?

We've stayed off-site and at the BLT and at PO when we were kids so I don't know much about the other hotels.

If I understand correctly, I could book a room now over the phone. Is this correct?

Thanks!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

AOA has its own bus and the skyliner. You cannot get a suite and a little mermaid room next to each other, as they are in separate buildings.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

The only problem with a family suite At AofA plus another room for sister is that the family suites are all in their own buildings and the regular hotel rooms (Little Mermaid) are all in several buildings at the far end of the resort. So no chance for connecting or even being in the same building.

All star music has family suites that are in the same buildings as regular rooms, but you would have to book hers as a preferred room put in the request for close to each other and then hope for the best. Perhaps someone else could help but I don’t think the family suites at ASMU have another room connecting to the two room suite

 

[uandmfan]

Thanks! I didn't know all stars music also had family suites. Do they have a dedicated bus as well?

It's ok if the rooms aren't together as we can always walk her back at the end of the night. Being at the same resort is more important.

We would take 2 regular connecting rooms, one for us and one for the kids, but I know we can't guarantee that so I'm looking for other options.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

All of the value resorts have dedicated buses, single bus stop. If you want Skyliner you could book two rooms at Pop.

 

[Lynne M]

I'll just throw in my usual spiel about connecting vs. adjoining rooms - the terms aren't interchangable.

If you request a connecting room, the room assigner interprets that as two rooms next door to one another with an interior door that connects the two rooms. In other words, you don't need to go out into the hall/corridor to go from one room to another.

If you request an adjoining room, the room assigner sees that as "as close as possible." The other room might be next door if you're lucky, or it might be across the hall, down the hall, or at least in the same building. Even if it's next door, there probably wouldn't be a connecting door, as they prioritize those for guests who request connecting rooms.

 

[uandmfan]

Gotcha. thanks. I mean 2 connecting rooms so we could go back and forth. One for us and one for the kids. But, they aren't guaranteed are they?

 

[KayaWildfire]

Gotcha. thanks. I mean 2 connecting rooms so we could go back and forth. One for us and one for the kids. But, they aren't guaranteed are they?

Connecting rooms aren't guaranteed, you're correct. We did a split stay at AoA and Music this last December, not in family suites, so my comment is more about the resorts.
Music is great and is going to be your cheaper option. They are in the middle of refurbishing the resort and should be done by your trip(hopefully). The 3 all star resorts are all right in a row and easily walkable so you get the choice of 6 pools(yes you can pool hop between the three) and 3 food courts. The buses are dedicated most of the time, but occasionally share at low crowd times(we shared going to typhoon lagoon for example), but it doesn't take long to go from one to the other(it's similar to a resort with multiple bus stops). The family suites are preferred so book your sister a preferred room so you can be as close as you can.
AoA was also great. We loved the Skyliner and enjoyed it so much more than the buses. We honestly didn't have as good of luck with the bus service at AoA as we did at Music, but stuff happens so I wouldn't write the whole resort off. AoA is a prettier looking resort we thought than Music and has a better food court. The pool is also zero entry if that is important. If you do go with a family suite here, the Lion King ones are the closest to the little mermaid standard rooms.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Perhaps someone else could help but I don’t think the family suites at ASMU have another room connecting to the two room suite

Correct. The ASMusic Family Suies were all created out of the pairs of connecting rooms in builfings 1, 2, 9, and 10.

 

[ucf_knight]

Hi

We are planning a trip next jan/feb and I have started trying to see where to stay. We need the 60 day FP window, so I think we should stay onsite. At this point the off-site hotels with that perk only have it through the end of 2020 or I'd consider that.

First, we usually stay in timeshares with the kids (2 of them) so we aren't used to sharing one room. I'd give it a try but my husband isn't so sure. Other than the Art of Animation, are there options onsite that would cost less than renting a 2 bedroom DVC? (Between 5k and 6k for 8 days). My sister is coming so we are looking at the family suites plus a hotel room for her. I'd go with adjoining rooms in another hotel but know they aren't guaranteed and we would need one set of adjoining rooms.

For A of A - do they have their own bus? Has the transportation to the parks generally been ok from there?

We've stayed off-site and at the BLT and at PO when we were kids so I don't know much about the other hotels.

If I understand correctly, I could book a room now over the phone. Is this correct?

Thanks!

Have you considered looking at the cabins at fort wilderness? They sleep six, have a full kitchen, very kid friendly and a boat ride away from the magic kingdom. You would want to consider renting a golf cart but even with that extra expense it should fit your budget I would think. Our family loves staying there.

 

[Ross Kratter]

All of the value resorts have dedicated buses, single bus stop. If you want Skyliner you could book two rooms at Pop.

Except that the All Stars sometimes share buses.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I, personally, would book the AoA suite plus standard room at AoA over doing a family suite plus standard room at ASMu. AoA has the Skyliner and they just renovated the standard rooms there. The resort also has a dedicated bus service.

 

[saraheliz]

I'd do a standard room at AoA plus a family suite in the Lion King section (closest to the LM rooms). We stayed there in spring of 2018 and loved it! The pools were great, the food court was good and we always found a seat (plus it didn't have that huge bright cafeteria feeling), and everything should have been given a refresh by the time you get there! Buses overall were great and I actually love that the value resorts have actual lines for the buses. No mad rush to get to the door once the bus arrives!

 

[daisy2013]

Another option- but pricier- are the treehouse villas. Two queen bedrooms, one bunk bed room and two bathrooms. You may be able to rent points and book it for less than booking direct with Disney but you don’t get any of the special offers (“free” dining etc.)