"This is NOT the once in a lifetime trip I was hoping for!" - (Baby Simba - 12/18)

[Fantasyland Mom]

LOVE it!

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...
(I totally would just keep swimming in that area!)

 

[ronnmel]

LOVE it!

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...
(I totally would just keep swimming in that area!)

And what you will love even more is that when the CM gives you directions to your room (or any other directions I presume), they tell you "Swim to the left towards the Lion King section, etc." So cute!

 

[PhoenixStrength]

The Finding Nemo section looks fantastic! That's one of my favorite movies anyway, and the pool looks great. I did see some of that section while on the bridge briefly.

 

[ronnmel]

The Finding Nemo section looks fantastic! That's one of my favorite movies anyway, and the pool looks great. I did see some of that section while on the bridge briefly.

I forgot to mention, and did not experience it myself, but in the Nemo pool if you go underwater you can hear music or FISH TALKING!!! How totally awesome is that, dude?!!!

 

[KatMark]

I forgot to mention, and did not experience it myself, but in the Nemo pool if you go underwater you can hear music or FISH TALKING!!! How totally awesome is that, dude?!!!

Dude....that is way cool.

 

[Marsheliz]

Crowd levels were both awesome and awful, depending on the day. What dates exactly are you thinking of going?




Thanks. I think it's interesting to see photos at night. Disney does night time lighting so well! Yes, there is a (small) playground in the Nemo section, which I will post next.




Just say you will go with or without them. They ought to feel guilty letting you go alone and will join you, right? Try to go over for lunch, they have one of the best food court of all Disney resorts. That should work to convince them, men and their stomach!

Exactly, just one tiny tiny slide would have made all the difference.




How lucky of you to have gotten a suite without having to pay the difference! What section were you in? Even if you can't afford a suite next time, the LM rooms are amazing anyway.

We were in the Cars section.. Lightening McQueen suite that my four year old found amazing!!

 

[auroralark]

Thanks! It was my great-grandma's name. I fell in love with the name when I was about 12 and my grandma would tell me stories about her mom. I knew right there and then that my first daughter would have that name. That's so cool that our daughters are only about 2 weeks apart (I think, based on your signature)!

That is such a sweet story! And yes, my daughter was born on July 4th, so about 2 weeks! She was supposed to be a June baby, but she decided to wait for the fireworks.

 

[ronnmel]

I'll come back later to do the rest of the replies as I'm about to go to bed, but I wanted to write this one before I forget since it's something I already forgot once.

One little tip with the hot water, run the coffee maker without coffee and you'll have just hot water, it works in a pinch

Thanks. I knew about that tip, but at AoA they don't have coffee makers in the standard rooms (I think they have one in the suites). Then at Beach Club they had this little new generation coffee maker that only makes one cup at a time. We tried it once, but it took so long, we decided we preferred to walk to the food court.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Your photos of the AoA are really great... I think that if I stayed there I'd have to stay in the Little Mermaid Section... I love that huge statue of Ursula... she looks extra creepy at night...

The whole place is really awesome... I love how they've incorporated the newest design in the food court and the lobby... cool design and just so very Disney...

 

[ronnmel]

Dude....that is way cool.

I have a friend who visited AoA with her friends and they lied down next to the pool and put their ear in the water to listen. I totally should have done that!

We were in the Cars section.. Lightening McQueen suite that my four year old found amazing!!

I bet he did! I can't imagine any little boy that would not like those suites.

That is such a sweet story! And yes, my daughter was born on July 4th, so about 2 weeks! She was supposed to be a June baby, but she decided to wait for the fireworks.

Thanks.
She must have thought "I'm a special girl, I should arrive on a special day!" or "Oh, look! They have fireworks just for ME! How nice!"

Your photos of the AoA are really great... I think that if I stayed there I'd have to stay in the Little Mermaid Section... I love that huge statue of Ursula... she looks extra creepy at night...

The whole place is really awesome... I love how they've incorporated the newest design in the food court and the lobby... cool design and just so very Disney...

It's so hard to choose just one section to stay in at AoA. I might have to go back several times so I can try them all. Yes, Ursula looks creepy, just the way it should be.

There really is no better word to describe AoA. It's DISNEY!

 

[ronnmel]

I'm just about to post the last Art of Animation update. I have one regular update from Day 1 that I can post after that, then I need to wait until I receive the photopass CD to continue. I received an email saying it was shipped on January 31st, so hopefully it won't be too long. I've been pretty good at typing my updates ahead of time this trip, so I should be able to maintain this pace for a little while. I got pretty bad at writing in my trip journal after a few days though, and I'm going back to work in less than 3 weeks ( ) so we'll see how it goes.

 

[ronnmel]

Art of Animation Review part 5 – Cars Area

Both Cars Land in California and the Cars section of Art of Animation opened on the same date. I’m not a fan of the movie Cars at all, but this area is just as spectacular as the other ones. I’m pretty sure staying here would a dream come true for any little boy out there.

You can come up to basically any car to take your picture with. It’s like the McQueen & Mater meet & greet at DHS, except with way more cars and without a line.

Speaking of Mater & McQueen, they are there too.

Luigi’s Tires

The pool is themed on the Cozy Cone Motel.

You can even rest in the shade in your own private cone!

I love that! Plus, it’s free!!!

Well, that concludes my walking tour of Art of Animation. I hope you enjoyed it! We’ll return to our regular trip updates next.



​

 

[cheekypoppins]

I definitely want to take full advantage of all the cool "statues" to take pics with when I'm there

 

[PhoenixStrength]

That section looks great! I really like that they have all of the cars where you can take pictures of them! And the cones for shade around the pool are fantastic!

 

[katt789]

I was really impressed with all the choices of food and stuff in Landscape of Flavours! It was all a little bit different than other value food courts, and was all delicious! I liked it a lot! There's a high chance we'll be walking over from Pop to eat there this trip! Hhaha

 

[AvasMommy526]

I'll come back later to do the rest of the replies as I'm about to go to bed, but I wanted to write this one before I forget since it's something I already forgot once.



Thanks. I knew about that tip, but at AoA they don't have coffee makers in the standard rooms (I think they have one in the suites). Then at Beach Club they had this little new generation coffee maker that only makes one cup at a time. We tried it once, but it took so long, we decided we preferred to walk to the food court.

Aww man, I didn't know they didn't have coffee makers?! All rooms should have coffee!! I NEED coffee in the morning, just one cup but I have to have it while I get ready
My Kuerig runs hot water only too, mines pretty quick, that stinks BCs took so long I need to find out whic coffee makers BLT studios have! Thanks for the reminder lol!!

And I totally want to hang out in a cozy cone!

 

[shan23877]

Loving the resort pics Mel.
I think that even bigger boys would enjoy the Cars section. My DH thinks it looks "awesome".

 

[ronnmel]

Aww man, I didn't know they didn't have coffee makers?! All rooms should have coffee!! I NEED coffee in the morning, just one cup but I have to have it while I get ready
My Kuerig runs hot water only too, mines pretty quick, that stinks BCs took so long I need to find out whic coffee makers BLT studios have! Thanks for the reminder lol!!

And I totally want to hang out in a cozy cone!

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't remember seeing a coffee maker at AoA. Getting the hot water through the coffee maker at BC wasn't *that* long, but Ron didn't like doing it that way and I didn't care enough to argue.

I want to hang out in a cozy cone as well! I'm sure you have to get there early though to get one.

Loving the resort pics Mel.
I think that even bigger boys would enjoy the Cars section. My DH thinks it looks "awesome".

Heck, I'm not a Cars fan at all and even I think it looks great! I do love FN and LK even more though.

I was really impressed with all the choices of food and stuff in Landscape of Flavours! It was all a little bit different than other value food courts, and was all delicious! I liked it a lot! There's a high chance we'll be walking over from Pop to eat there this trip! Hhaha

I didn't get to try much at the food court since I was sick, but Ron LOVED the Tandoori Chicken. He's mentioned it several times since we came back. Pop has some great choices too though.

That section looks great! I really like that they have all of the cars where you can take pictures of them! And the cones for shade around the pool are fantastic!

They really should have some sort of cabana/cone/whatever to provide shade at every pool.

I definitely want to take full advantage of all the cool "statues" to take pics with when I'm there

AoA is full of photo ops. You'll have lots of fun with it!

 

[Queila]

Hey Mel!

I have a late start today at work so I ran here so I don't fall too behind. Made it to page 6.

What a bummer you guys were feeling sick right from the start. That sucks.

I am sure shoveling that pile of snow did not help. I am so glad we decided to pay for snow removal this year. Got to stay inside that day and wait for the truck and do the dirty job. Lazy bums.

Flying with a little one is always an adventure but at least she fell asleep right away. Weren't there any available seats so you could have put her down? In my experience, sometimes the flight attendants can be quiet accommodating that way.

Too funny she chose the best moment to have her number two. Haha. Typical. The life of a parent. Never a dull moment.

When Beatriz was 18 months old I took her to Brazil by myself and she threw up all over me in the plane and we still had 10 hours to go. To say I wanted to cry is an understatement.

Oh my those AoA pictures look great. The lobby and the food court look like they are a lot of fun and I keep reading about the delicious food. I am trying to convince Joey to go to Disney for the Expedition Everest Challenge in May and I would not mind staying there. Beatriz would have a heart attack in that Little Mermaid room. Just too cute.

I have to run now but will try to get back tomorrow.

See you!

 

[FancyNancy]

I always love your walking tours! This one was spectacular! AOA looks really nice.