Staying at AoA - Need advice!

[gemduncan]

We are staying at AoA on Feb 15-17 (we go on Disney Cruise on Feb 17).

When we check-in should I request a particular room location? I have the standard Little Mermaid room.

Where do we go for breakfast?

How early would you recommend we catch the free shuttle from AoA to MK on Thursday, Feb 16? Park opens at 9am. I want to be there for opening ceremony.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There is a limited scope of location you can request for LM. None of them are near transport, for instance. LM are in buildings 7, 8 and 9. You can request floor, near elevator, Lake View, Landscape View. 7 or 9 is least far away from the main hall, which is where you would buy breakfast.

Map of resort here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/art-of-animation-map.gif

To make the welcome show, be at the bus stop by 7AM.

 

[gemduncan]

There is a limited scope of location you can request for LM. None of them are near transport, for instance. LM are in buildings 7, 8 and 9. You can request floor, near elevator, Lake View, Landscape View. 7 or 9 is least far away from the main hall, which is where you would buy breakfast.

Map of resort here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/art-of-animation-map.gif

To make the welcome show, be at the bus stop by 7AM.

Wow! 7am?!! This is to get to a 9am opening?! Omg! How long is the shuttle from AoA to MK??

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Wow! 7am?!! This is to get to a 9am opening?! Omg! How long is the shuttle from AoA to MK??

Your problem isn't the bus ride, although you may be waiting for a bus. Your problem is security and bag check, then the walk to the castle forecourt for the open show.

 

[cassie58]

It will not take two hours to get there - you have to be at the bus stop to wait for bus to come, then ride to MK - probably 10-15 min., then walk up and go through security. Welcome show will start before 9, 8:45-8:50, as official opening is at 9. You will want to be there early to be towards the front to see welcome show, and be ready to head to whatever ride you want to jump on 1st. This is good advice that gives you extra time in case of any delays, and you can grab something to eat and check out Main St. while waiting now that welcome show is inside MK .

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Never underestimate the nuisance that is bag check.

 

[gemduncan]

It will not take two hours to get there - you have to be at the bus stop to wait for bus to come, then ride to MK - probably 10-15 min., then walk up and go through security. Welcome show will start before 9, 8:45-8:50, as official opening is at 9. You will want to be there early to be towards the front to see welcome show, and be ready to head to whatever ride you want to jump on 1st. This is good advice that gives you extra time in case of any delays, and you can grab something to eat and check out Main St. while waiting now that welcome show is inside MK .

Okay, I guess I will put the opening ceremony low on my priorities because I do not want to wait for the bus at 7am. That would mean we would have to eat breakfast at 6am. I'm not doing that to my 7 year old. She has to eat breakfast in the morning due to medication she must take, so we can not just grab breakfast at MK.

 

[gemduncan]

Never underestimate the nuisance that is bag check.

We went to Disneyland in June 2016 on a super busy day. We had no issues getting through security super quick.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

We went to Disneyland in June 2016 on a super busy day. We had no issues getting through security super quick.

Disney World bag check is not noted for its efficiency.

Basically, you have to time things based on a few things:

1. You may not walk to the bus stop to find a bus waiting, and may have to wait. The wait can be 2-20 minutes.
2. You will be queueing for bag check with people getting off the ferry from TTC (the TTC itself is bigger than Disneyland, and it's just parking!), plus everyone coming from other resorts.
3. You now need to walk up Main Street to the castle for the open show.

If making the show is important, I would allow at least 90 minutes before the show to make it to a viewing spot. The official time for the show is 8:50, but if they do what they did with the old open show, that's subject to start 5-10 minutes early if they feel like it, kinda randomly.

 

[Disneylover99]

Okay, I guess I will put the opening ceremony low on my priorities because I do not want to wait for the bus at 7am. That would mean we would have to eat breakfast at 6am. I'm not doing that to my 7 year old. She has to eat breakfast in the morning due to medication she must take, so we can not just grab breakfast at MK.

Can you bring breakfast with you? I would get to the bus stop at 7:30am.

 

[cassie58]

Maybe aim to be at Food Court at 7, and head right to bus stop after about 7:30. You should be able to get there for show, just may be further back. Since it is the President's Day Weekend, it may be more crowded. You will still be able to start the park right at opening which is a great advantage. Don't know what FP you have scheduled, but head to 7DMT, Peter Pan, or any of the Mountains if you don't have them, to ride as much as you can before lines form later.

 

[Marthasor]

I, personally, would get breakfast at Landscape of Flavors at 7 am and get in line for the bus right after (around 7:30 am). As others have mentioned, it's just impossible to know how long you will wait for the bus and, if there is a long line, if you will get on the first one that comes around. Rule of thumb for transportation on WDW property is to allow 90 minutes to get from point to point. As others have mentioned, after getting off the bus, you have to walk to the entrance, go through bag check, possibly be asked to go through additional screening, get through the tapstiles and then all the way down Main St. to get to the opening ceremony or to enter the different lands. DL is a whole other animal. DL is 500 acres, WDW is 43 square miles. It just takes a LOT longer to get around WDW. If you would rather have more control over travel and less travel time, use uber and have them drop you off at GF where you can take the monorail one stop or CR and walk over to MK.

 

[kiapepito]

We went in July 2015 from AOA to MK for 8 am EMH and was looking at my time stamp of pictures. We were at the gates at 7:24 am. I'm pretty sure we caught the bus from AOA at 7 am.

 

[MermaidMommy]

We shoot for being at the bus stop around 7:45 for a 9am opening. Typically, we get there around 8:30.

The welcome show will be at 8:55 in front of the castle.

They've been letting everyone into MK between 7:45-7:50, now that they've changed the opening procedure. In addition to Main Street Bakery (aka Starbucks), Casey's Corner and The Plaza are also offering breakfast. So, you could just go to MK early and eat breakfast there. Then you wouldn't have to stress about getting there in time for rope drop.

 

[maxiesmom]

Can you bring breakfast with you? I would get to the bus stop at 7:30am.

But she couldn't eat on the bus. She could eat before or after, but not while on the bus.

 

[willmccready]

When we check-in should I request a particular room location? I have the standard Little Mermaid room.

I would focus on things like ground floor, by elevator, etc. the buildings are far enough away that you're not going to make a big difference in walk to food or busses. There are some rooms that open on the lake side that are nice. Our room last year was on the first floor by the parking lot and we appreciated the peace and quiet with no foot traffic around.

 

[Disneylover99]

But she couldn't eat on the bus. She could eat before or after, but not while on the bus.

I'm not suggesting she eat on the bus. She could eat at the bus stop while waiting or eat right after they get off the bus if the bus arrives immediately. I was thinking maybe the OP's daughter needed to eat and take her medication within a specific window of time. This might be a good option.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Perhaps some food in the room while you are getting ready, then if you get to the bus stop by 7:30 you should be ok to see the opening show. Enjoy!

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

We have stayed at LM rooms, we were in building 9. The walk is about ten minutes. What you should do is get up and get ready, pack up for the day and go over to the food court for breakfast then catch the shuttle bus. You absolutely don't want to have to walk back and forth from the main hall to your room so go over your packing list before leaving for the day!

We are rope drop people so in the range of 7-7:30 sounds right to us!

 

[SpaceMtnGirl]

We always have breakfast in the room, OP, if that helps you. It certainly helps us make rope drop! You could go a grocery order (from a company like Garden Grocer), or just pick up some things in the food court the night before (single-serving cereal, milk, fruit, pastry, yogurt, etc.) and eat while you are getting ready.

I would try to make the welcome show. It really is worth it to see at least once.