Staying at AoA

[Tnjw2008]

Hi all - I'm new here. I have a question.. my husband and four kids will be staying at AoA in August. I just want to ask.. is it worth the money? We did get the free dining deal. But after calculating... I could save $800 not staying on the property, even with dining. Money isn't really an issue and $800 is worth seeing my kids have the times of their lives. I would just like to confirm that they will and that it is worth the extra money. My husband, myself and my oldest went when he was a baby but didn't stay on property so I have no idea what it is like.

We have a couple people who say they want to come along but can't afford to stay at a resort and want us to cancel our reservations to rent a house off property so that is weighing in here also. Can anyone recommend very cheap hotels? Thanks!

 

[michyi]

I love the convenience of staying on property. I also like the whole atmosphere. Personally, I'd keep my reservation at AoA.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I would keep my reservation. Honestly, I don't like traveling with other people, and this way, even if they travel at the same time, you can have your own space. If you decide to stay offsite, make sure you have a car.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

One thing to keep in mind is that staying on property, it is far easier to take a midday pool break at your resort (August = crazy hot), and you also get FP+ at 60 days, rather than 30, which can help you maximize morning/evening touring with midday pool.

 

[mattoxtr]

When you stay on property, there are perks for it like extra hours in the parks. We love the extra perks.

 

[Kevin355]

Staying at AoA in August as well...one of the suites. 8/17-8/22. Got a better deal with Military Discount that with free dining.

 

[westie55]

I've stayed off site and on site and I don't think I'll ever stay off site again. I love being immersed in Disney magic my entire vacation, and that includes the hotel! Disney hotels are really expensive compared to others, but for me it's worth it.

 

[HopperFan]

Hi all - I'm new here. I have a question.. my husband and four kids will be staying at AoA in August. I just want to ask.. is it worth the money? We did get the free dining deal. But after calculating... I could save $800 not staying on the property, even with dining. Money isn't really an issue and $800 is worth seeing my kids have the times of their lives. I would just like to confirm that they will and that it is worth the extra money. My husband, myself and my oldest went when he was a baby but didn't stay on property so I have no idea what it is like.

We have a couple people who say they want to come along but can't afford to stay at a resort and want us to cancel our reservations to rent a house off property so that is weighing in here also. Can anyone recommend very cheap hotels? Thanks!

Thoughts:

- Saving $800 "with dining" - just wondering if you have calculated out full price for your meals with 6 of you to make sure you are indeed saving that much. You can't get the DDP if you stay offsite so you will be paying full price for food. Since you have the children are you looking at character meals and such that tend to be very expensive?

- If the money is not an issue then it would not be worth it to me. Staying on property keeps you in the bubble, makes breaks in days and travel to MK so much easier. AoA is Disney theme at it's best, I think the imagineering they did there is off the charts. Even the landscape matches the themes, like Nemo the plants look like underwater plants. Cars section - you feel like you are IN THE MOVIE and the Lion King and Little Mermaid icons and decor, awesome. Minus the pool slide and hot tub I think the pools are as nice or nicer than moderates. Playground, very cool. And a great food court where they serve your food on real plates with real silverware - you won't get that at deluxe food courts.

- Have traveled MANY times with extended family and friends in lots of combinations of lodging. Best way to have a great trip is stay in different places. Meet at parks at a set time usually late morning so no one is under pressure to arrive or wait. Book some meals together. Have your hotel time just for your family to enjoy each other. We have been onsite in different hotels, and trips where some is on and some is off. Everyone will end up having their own tolerances for time in parks, when to eat, when to break .... works well to have scheduled together and apart time.

- If you move off property, $20 a car to park each day and I firmly believe you should each travel in your own cars to avoid conflict of desires later in day. (been there done that). Add that cost. You lose out on 60 day FP+ and with all the upcoming new stuff that is going to be CRITICAL!! The $800 you save will be a loss in my book.

 

[Duckiedee]

I think you need to be honest with yourself. Was this a trip you planned for YOUR family (you mentioned you wanted them to have the time of THEIR lives) and now other people are encroaching?

Don't do something you don't want to do because they are pressuring you. YOU booked first - they can make their own plans or bend to yours with some compromise from you. If they can't afford it if you don't share space - then maybe then can't afford it. Then maybe they won't be able to dine with you - and now you can only do counter service.... and maybe you won't want to.... etc. etc.

You've got a smoking deal (with SIX PEOPLE) here and the DDP. You've mentioned money is not the issue - which means you are willing to spend more to get the experience you want.

Don't dumb down what is in your head to make it possible for other people to tag along. Unless that is #1 on your list and you just won't have fun without them.

There is no reason you cannot meet at the park and this way you won't get sick of each other or be competing for space in a shared house. Less frustration and better memories!

You can always plan your next Dis vacay from the start to be with them off-property.

My two cents.

 

[Love2Cruz]

Yes, it's a very nice resort. I stayed there last summer in the Lion King suites building. Clean, quick walk to the pool. GREAT food court, great arcade, shopping...easy to catch the buses to the parks and disney springs. My family had a blast, would definitely stay there again...I want to try the Little Mermaid rooms some time.

 

[mkla2015]

Stay on property- it's more magical when you stay inside the Disney bubble. Your kids will love AOA- the pool is really nice, the food court is good, and the theming is just awesome.

 

[Hopefully]

Only you can judge what your money is worth to you.
But as the PP have all said, they would stay at AoA if given the choice.
I too, would stay on property with my core family only. I would not let others pressure me into renting an offsite house to help them out.
In order for your kids to "have the time of their lives" you need to make a decision soon and start the research and planning stage. You can no longer just show up at WDW and expect to have a great time.
Read here, on easywdw.com for crowd calendar recommendations, on allears.net for dining menus and ask away.
Good Luck

 

[SillySallySews]

We've stayed at AoA (and other resorts on site) and we've also stayed off site at my parent's house and at a rental house. We prefer staying at Disney resorts. We like parking our car and not having to drive anywhere, EMH, not having to cook or clean up (OK, I probably like this one more than anyone else in my family), and just being "in the Disney bubble" for our trip. AoA is very nice, especially the family suites! Everyone values things differently, but to me it is absolutely worth it to stay on site even if it's more expensive. It's very easy to just meet up in the parks with other friends and family if they prefer to stay somewhere else.

 

[Aurora0427]

Hi all - I'm new here. I have a question.. my husband and four kids will be staying at AoA in August. I just want to ask.. is it worth the money? We did get the free dining deal. But after calculating... I could save $800 not staying on the property, even with dining. Money isn't really an issue and $800 is worth seeing my kids have the times of their lives. I would just like to confirm that they will and that it is worth the extra money. My husband, myself and my oldest went when he was a baby but didn't stay on property so I have no idea what it is like.

We have a couple people who say they want to come along but can't afford to stay at a resort and want us to cancel our reservations to rent a house off property so that is weighing in here also. Can anyone recommend very cheap hotels? Thanks!

Stay at AoA. Don't cheapen your vacation because others can't afford to stay the way you are staying. Your kids will love it- we usually stay deluxe but stayed two nights at AoA last fall- we really enjoyed the resort, and they have an excellent food court.

Meet up with other friends and family at the parks. This is your vacation.

 

[momtotaryn]

We've only been to WDW once, back in 2011. We stayed at POR, and I must say, even though I've never stayed off site, I don't think I ever will, if we are in Florida mainly for WDW! It was such a magical experience, from the beginning to the end! We took advantage of almost every perk we had available to us, plus we had free dining on top of it!

Our upcoming trip will be in early June. Unfortunately, we won't have free dining this time around, but we decided to purchase the regular DDP. We will stay at AoA, LK suites. It's a little pricey, staying in the suites, even though it is a value resort (although I was lucky to get a RD after I booked), but I feel like it will be worth it! The resort seems like an attraction in itself, and the food court looks great! It will be nice to enjoy the perks of staying on site too. I would suggest keeping your AoA reservations! You got free dining too, so that's awesome!