Thoughts on AoA?

[hawaiilife]

Aloha!

I frequent these boards a lot, but don't post much. I posted a few weeks ago about switching from All Stars to AoA, but the third party I booked it through was making is super difficult. Got lots of advice here and you guys were super helpful!

I ended up being able to switch my reservation to a family suite at AoA. After looking at the cost difference, it is quite substantial. We could have two value rooms and still have money leftover, or a room at a moderate with money leftover for the price of a family suite. Just wondering if anyone has experience with these suites and if they are worth the hefty price tag for a value? Would I be better off switching to a moderate or deluxe standard room? I definitely don't want a value standard - I need a coffee maker in my room and a queen bed.

The main reason I switched is for the space and the other two reasons above - but we will be spending lots of time at our resort as well, as our children are 6 and 2 and we always come back to our resort in the afternoon. Is AoA a pretty good resort for kids of that age group? My son loves Lion King so we booked a Lion King suite.

If it makes a difference we always rent a car so location is a non-issue.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Well, in two Value rooms you wouldn't have a queen bed between them. You'd have 4 double beds. So right there, a huge negative to your wish list.

The theming in Family Suites is quite amazing, although I give the nod for "most complete" to the Cars suites.

If it's two adults + two kids, a Moderate room would do you quite well. POFQ is about to open a lovely new splash area, and Caribbean Beach has two waterslides + a pirate ship water play area.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Are there only 4 of you? 2 adults and 2 children? If so, I would definitely switch. My first choice would be a deluxe resort standard room. You may also want to consider a 1-bedroom at a DVC resort if you were looking for a little extra space. We are a family of 3 and we really love the 1-bedrooms for the separate space, the full kitchen and the washer/dryer - and yes a coffee maker!! For bigger savings, yes, I would switch to a moderate. We prefer the Port Orleans resorts.

We stayed in an AoA suite the first year the resort opened and, while they are big, they are incredibly uncomfortable. I didn't sleep the whole time we were there - it was loud and the bedding was the most uncomfortable I have ever encountered anywhere. We now only stay at deluxes or DVC resorts. The proximity to the parks and the upgraded amenities just make it more of a vacation for us.

 

[FantasiaMagic]

I loved staying at AoA. I was in a family suite with 5 of my friends and we thought it was very spacious and comfotable. The theming of the resort is also incredible.
The suites are so great since they have 2 bathrooms, a kitchenette, a queen bed in the master bedroom and 2 other sleeping areas.
I definitely recommend it!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

The rooms are AoA are nice...I like the place and its proximity to POP.

They are - however - perhaps the most overpriced rooms in wdw and that is saying a lot.

Deluxes don't book like they used too...it's possible you can get a cheaper room through a travel agent in a place like the poly that sleeps 5 in 3 beds that is significantly less than the suites which are near always full price. And the locations and amenities are way more enjoyable.

Never pay full price for a Disney room.

 

[Aurora0427]

It depends.... We stayed one night in a Nemo suite before switching to the GF. We liked putting our daughter to bed and having a separate room for us to read and watch tv. The separate sleeping areas plus two bathrooms were great amenities. However, our daughter is a great sleeper and has always slept great in the same room as us, so I don't think I'd give up the deluxe resort to stay at AoA again, unless we needed separate sleeping areas.

The pools at AoA are fantastic for values- the entire resort is pretty great. But if you're spending a lot of time at the resort, I'd try and book a deluxe on a discount.

 

[Yarbogash]

At that age the kids will probably love it. Other posters have made good points but I'd stick with AoA. Those rooms and AoA in general is the most little kid appealing resort at WDW. So unless money is really tight I'd grin and bear it.

And you should be able to get 15 or 20 % off the family suites on a site like Orbitz or Cheaptickets.

 

[mickeygirl78]

I love the theming at AOA but I wouldn't spend the money on a suite there unless the separate rooms is really important to you. We priced it out when we planned a trip with 5 people and it was cheaper to do two value rooms. The suite prices are really high, I would go with a moderate. You get some nice features that AOA doesn't have (slides, TS restaurant, towels at the pool). The kids in my family love CBR, it's their favorite resort. Moderates have queen beds (just don't book a pirate room at CBR - full beds) and they have coffee makers.

 

[howaboutme]

We just went through this same decision making process. I personally believe the suites are extremely overpriced (it is Disney) but the benefits outweigh the concern on costs for us even if it's hard to swallow. We want the completely separate room to separate our kids and us/parents and having the 2 bathrooms is key. We actually compared it to having 2 connecting rooms (apparently you can get confirmed connecting rooms w/ only 2 adults now) at a mod resort than another value resort. 2 rooms at a mod was a bit more expensive but the theming of AoA (Nemo Suite) cannot be beat for the kids. So there's our decision.

 

[AJA]

We just got back from AoA.

If I were you I would totally go with the moderate!

 

[provencio]

LOL.. clear as mud right. I think it's a matter of preference and cost. I personally (after getting advice from everyone here and several review sites.. TA, YELP, Allears..) switched from POP to AOA suite. The two bathrooms was the deal breaker. I have two older teenagers. You will have a great time whatever you stay : )

 

[katt789]

I would say switch to a moderate. The suites just aren't really worth it UNLESS you're going to be buying some groceries, as there's a microwave and little kitchenette in them. All resorts have activities (mainly by the pool) going on for kids during the day. A Value would be better in terms of all the decorations and themeing for the kids, they're brighter, bigger, more kid friendly, but there are downsides. But when it comes down to splurging for that suite or staying at a mod/deluxe, I'd do the nicer resorts.

 

[DSLRuser]

2 rooms at a value would buy you a basic room at a deluxe (light) like animal kingdom lodge or wilderness lodge. That would be my choice.

 

[GillianP1301]

The theming at AoA is amazing. We stayed in one of the Nemo suites and the details were really fantastic both inside the room and on the grounds. For that reason alone, I loved the place. The room itself was spacious and I liked that I could put my son to bed and then have a separate space for myself that wouldn't disturb him. So, if you plan on being awake for a bit after your kids are asleep, the suite is well worth it. If you don't think that would be a benefit to you, then I would consider a lower end deluxe (WL or AKL), the price will be comparable and you will get a more comfortable bed. We stayed at WL and it was a very comfortable room.

 

[summerw]

Definitely having the separate room and bathroom are very nice pluses. I'm a night owl so this was really important to me. Also, being in an interior room in a suite is so quiet. DS (3 at the time) and my mom slept in the main room and DH and I had the bedroom. One morning DS stole my spot when I got up to use the restroom so I slept in the pull down for a few hours of the morning. It was very comfortable, but we were next to the elevator and it was super noisy. There's a huge gap under the door to the hallway. It didn't bother DM who's hard of hearing or DS who sleeps like the dead but I would have been unhappy with the noise all week. Why do people let their kids yell nonstop in the hallways at 7am?

The Nemo room was so crazy cute and fun and DS still talks about the pull down bed. The couch wasn't crazy comfortable but it was nice to have one rather than just a chair. And there was lots of storage space plus you get a microwave if that's helpful to you.

The pool is beautiful and so appealing. However, a few things made it less pleasant: there are no chairs close enough to the zero entry end to watch a little one from a chair. The dripping jellyfish block the view from the sides and the nearest chair behind it wasn't close enough to watch DS from. And since it's zero entry, you can't sit on the side of the pool to dangle your feet and your 2 year old will want to stand at the height comfortable for him, so you're kinda left standing in a foot and half of water and bending over or kinda kneeling. It wasn't awful or anything, but since it was December and the wind was cold (although it was fine if you are submerged), it was just kinda awkward. Also, if it's cold, the dripping jellyfish are pretty much just cold water dripping on you. And they didn't have the little spray pad going in December.

And the dining hall is SUPER noisy. Real silverware plus tile floors at 8am with jet lag were just not my friend. The food was good though and I enjoyed it any time I wasn't eating at a peak hour. We stopped by POP for dinner one night and it was much more spread out and quiet. And I popped in to the PORs one day and I didn't even see anyone (not at a peak hour though).

DS loved AoA so much we're staying in a LM room for 2 nights for our upcoming trip as a compromise because we rented points to stay at the Poly the rest of the trip. I don't think you can go "wrong" whatever you pick but you'll definitely need to figure out what aspect of using the space will be most important to you.

 

[hawaiilife]

Thanks so much everyone! We have taken into consideration all options and decided to stick with the suite at AoA. I think I will be happier than in a moderate or deluxe standard. The additional space is a big deal to me. Thanks again for all your help

 

[KonaKaiTom]

We just got back from a split stay -- the Grand Floridian followed by the AOA --- we loved both parts of our vacation. And I heard several times "wow, AOA really exceeded my expectations, I'm loving the AOA - that was from a 24 year old!"

Tom