Will I Regret Switching from POP Preferred to Little Mermaid AOA?

[BeautyBeastAndNemo]

I will be traveling with a 1 year old for a girl's trip. I had the POP preferred booked, but I switched to AOA Little Mermaid (because hello...cute...!). I just saw the AOA map, and the rooms look soooo far. I plan on driving to the parks most days and/or using the Skyliner (I am not a bus fan).

Will I regret switching? Is the AOA LM walk bad?

 

[loves to dive]

It all depends on your ability to walk and what your definition of bad is. Personally, I don't think the walks at any of the resorts are bad but I tend to walk from Dolphin to HS and HS to Epcot so I'm not sure I count. As far as switching, it would depend on cost. I think AoA is way over priced. You get the same room at Pop for less. It's just a quick walk over the bridge from Pop to AoA so you can take her over there to let her see the things, they are all outside any way. At one, I'm not sure she will even be aware enough for it to matter any way. I'm assuming since you are interested in the sky liner you are getting preferred because it's closer. I don't know if 70s is preferred but if it's not, it's not a long walk to either the sky liner or the Classic Hall.

 

[Disneylover99]

Personally, I absolutely hate the walk from the LM rooms. Once and done for me.

I typically travel in the summer months, so that summer heat really influences my feelings as well. A winter trip wouldn’t be nearly as bad. But I’d still definitely choose Pop. Even most of the furthest out standard rooms at Pop are going to be closer to the main building/transportation, then the closest LM rooms.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I might switch back to POP but personally those room decor at AoA are too much color and strange design for me.
Will you be returning back to room late at night ? Or what if it rains ?
Once I arrived late by myself and did not get a good location and then leaving really early at departure…was constantly getting kinda lost .Some pathways are kinda dark and some along parking lots which really makes me nervous. I always try to book POP preferred poolside now !
Long walk … If you just made change today maybe they can retrieve your rate or availability .

 

[reddog21]

From the pool to the lobby it's about a 1/4 walk and to the skyliner it's probably about a 1/2 mile walk depending out which pathway you take. If you get one of the furthest buildings it will be longer. Were not fans of Disney bus transportation so we drive everywhere and having a car does help. We would drive to the lobby, have breakfast then drive to the parks. This was previous to the skyliner which is a game changer so for us it was a one and done.

 

[DL1WDW2]

Yeah SkyLiner is kinda big game changer .
How long ago was this visit ?
One and Done Does that mean never going back to AoA / yes or No to POP
or done with Disney done ?
Haha just kidding .

Hope the OP makes the best decision and reports back to give us updated advice. Love a trip report too! (Except posting pics online of children makes me nervous) …

 

[reddog21]

Yeah SkyLiner is kinda big game changer .
How long ago was this visit ?
One and Done Does that mean never going back to AoA / yes or No to POP
or done with Disney done ?
Haha just kidding .

Hope the OP makes the best decision and reports back to give us updated advice. Love a trip report too! (Except posting pics online of children makes me nervous) …

It was probably around around 2015-2016ish.
We love AOA we just got back from a trip where we stayed at the finding nemo rooms. We have also stayed in the cars rooms. Given the choice we would probably pick the Finding Nemo rooms. The proximity to the skyliner and lobby is great. They are overpriced for what you get but what is Disney isn't.
When we went my mother-in-law stayed at the pop(preferred room), her room room was nice and it was close to both the lobby and skyliner(prob a 2 mintute walk either way). Her only complaint was the were playing the music pretty load during the day near the pool. This is also coming from a 70+ year old so I take it with a grain of salt.

 

[HopperFan]

I will be traveling with a 1 year old for a girl's trip. I had the POP preferred booked, but I switched to AOA Little Mermaid (because hello...cute...!). I just saw the AOA map, and the rooms look soooo far. I plan on driving to the parks most days and/or using the Skyliner (I am not a bus fan).

Will I regret switching? Is the AOA LM walk bad?

POP Preferred is completely unnecessary .... but reality is the AoA LM rooms are a longer jaunt TO MAIN HUB (but not a deal breaker for me).

If you are doing it because your child will love the LM room, and LM pool is AWESOME then I'd do it. If driving you will have your car fairly close to your room (POP, odds are you have a longer walk to your car) and the walk to Skyliner is very pleasant along the lake.

In your situation I would have no regrets.

 

[mom2rtk]

If you have a car and can park closer to your room, you should be fine at AoA. Just know that the walk to the Skyliner will be very long. Also, if you need to visit the gift shop or food court, know that the walk is indeed very long.

We stayed for a week shortly after it opened. The rooms are pretty, the theming is top notch. But I said I wouldn't do it again because of the walk. But we tend to go go go during the day and are very tired when we get back to the resort at night.