Disney's ART OF ANIMATION RESORT Information & Questions

[CableKC]

If I do Online check-in and arrive around 11am

If you're thinking of staying in a suite, I think it would be a good move. You'd have 2 bathrooms and a lot of open space. And you would have a mini-kitchen with a microwave which comes in handy if you like to eat breakfast in the room or like to be able to heat up leftovers. It's also nice to have the separate bedroom so that if someone is on a different sleeping schedule or just needs more privacy, they can have it.

If you're thinking of getting a Little Mermaid standard room, then I'd suggest staying at Pop Century or ASMovies as those rooms have the fold-up bed where the LM rooms don't. Being able to fold up that bed during the day will provide you with more open space in the room.

I agree here. Having 5 adults in your party, it's good to have some space to move around. A standard room with 2 Adults and 2 teenagers, you can get away with spending time in the room to rest or sleep. But with 5 full grown adults? It's good to have some space so spread out. Although its basically 2 standard rooms, you have enough beds to be more comfortable.

 

[CableKC]

I have a question about Online Check in.

We're arriving sometime around 11am on a Sunday in July. Assuming that I do Online Check-In well before our arrival time; if the room is ready and available at 11am, are we able to go straight to the room and open the door with the Mobile App ( without having the need to check in at the front desk )?

Will the Mobile will inform us if the room is ready or not if we check in Online?

If the room is ready at that time....my hope is that we can drop off the luggage ASAP so that we can take the Skyliner straight to Epcot for my Lunch Reservations at Teppan Edo at 12:45pm.

My plan is to go straight to the room and drop off the luggage and then get onto Skyliner to get to Epcot.

If it's not ready, then I'm thinking of just leaving the luggage at the Bell Hop for storage until we get back later in the evening and then head off to Epcot.

Thoughts?

 

[jcarwash]

I have a question about Online Check in.

We're arriving sometime around 11am on a Sunday in July. Assuming that I do Online Check-In well before our arrival time; if the room is ready and available at 11am, are we able to go straight to the room and open the door with the Mobile App ( without having the need to check in at the front desk )?

Will the Mobile will inform us if the room is ready or not if we check in Online?

In general, yes, when you check in online and your room is ready for you, you'll be notified by text/email/in the MDE app, and then you can go directly to your room and open the door with your mobile app or Magic Bands. In fact, they are encouraging you to use this process.

As for the timing, check in isn't until 3pm, so while it's possible your room would be ready for at 11, in my experience this isn't typical. So your idea to leave your luggage when you arrive is a good one.

 

[CableKC]

In general, yes, when you check in online and your room is ready for you, you'll be notified by text/email/in the MDE app, and then you can go directly to your room and open the door with your mobile app or Magic Bands. In fact, they are encouraging you to use this process.

As for the timing, check in isn't until 3pm, so while it's possible your room would be ready for at 11, in my experience this isn't typical. So your idea to leave your luggage when you arrive is a good one.

Thanks. On a Sunday ( when I think that most families check out to fly home on the weekend ), I'd assume that the likelihood that a room wouldn't be available and already cleaned by 11am in the morning.

I guess it's probably for the better. We'll likely just keep the luggage at the Bell Desk and head to Skyliner to Epcot so that we can walk around a bit earlier before having lunch at Teppan Edo. I don't have to rush then to get to the restaruant.

 

[jenjen212]

Someone told me that they usually wait to do the online check in until the night before. By doing this the cm's have told them that their original reserved room (mermaid) was unavailable from being assigned to the early check-in guests. They ended up being upgraded for free to an available Nemo suite.

I kind of see the logic in this. But, not sure that is always the case. Anyone else have this happen to them?

 

[bluezy]

Thanks. On a Sunday ( when I think that most families check out to fly home on the weekend ), I'd assume that the likelihood that a room wouldn't be available and already cleaned by 11am in the morning.

I guess it's probably for the better. We'll likely just keep the luggage at the Bell Desk and head to Skyliner to Epcot so that we can walk around a bit earlier before having lunch at Teppan Edo. I don't have to rush then to get to the restaruant.

I will preface this by saying we haven't been to DW since the pandemic started, however, we usually arrive around 11:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning (we drive). The last 4 times we've been there we've stayed at AoA and our room was ready about an hour before we arrived 3 out of the 4 times. The 4th time the room we had requested wasn't ready yet at 11:00 but was ready by noon.

 

[Dug720]

Someone told me that they usually wait to do the online check in until the night before. By doing this the cm's have told them that their original reserved room (mermaid) was unavailable from being assigned to the early check-in guests. They ended up being upgraded for free to an available Nemo suite.

I kind of see the logic in this. But, not sure that is always the case. Anyone else have this happen to them?

My guess is the upgrade would have happened anyway (overbooking in the LM rooms or some having to be taken out of service for maintenance reasons) - they do not typically upgrade just because someone arrived early and wanted into a room.

 

[Disneylover99]

Someone told me that they usually wait to do the online check in until the night before. By doing this the cm's have told them that their original reserved room (mermaid) was unavailable from being assigned to the early check-in guests. They ended up being upgraded for free to an available Nemo suite.

I kind of see the logic in this. But, not sure that is always the case. Anyone else have this happen to them?

So much depends on room category availability at any given time which is always changing in a resort that size. So I doubt that’s always the case, but hey! Give it a try. You never know.

 

[Dug720]

So much depends on room category availability at any given time which is always changing in a resort that size. So I doubt that’s always the case, but hey! Give it a try. You never know.

The other thing to keep in mind if you do try it is this: if you actually ask if there is another room type available, do expect to be charged for the upgraded cost. Even if you said "I know someone who this happened to..." While pixie dusting does happen, it's not truly pixie dusting if you ask for it, and the general rule is if you're going to be asking for an upgrade, lead with "How much would it be to upgrade into a different room type?" so in the case of reserving a LM room, not having it available before check-in time, and trying to see if there's a suite you could go into, I'd say something like "Is there a possibility that one of the famiy suites is available for us to go into now? And if so, how much would it be to change to that?" The CM may pixie dust you, but they also may (and likely will) quote you the cost to upgrade.

 

[Disneylover99]

The other thing to keep in mind if you do try it is this: if you actually ask if there is another room type available, do expect to be charged for the upgraded cost. Even if you said "I know someone who this happened to..." While pixie dusting does happen, it's not truly pixie dusting if you ask for it, and the general rule is if you're going to be asking for an upgrade, lead with "How much would it be to upgrade into a different room type?" so in the case of reserving a LM room, not having it available before check-in time, and trying to see if there's a suite you could go into, I'd say something like "Is there a possibility that one of the famiy suites is available for us to go into now? And if so, how much would it be to change to that?" The CM may pixie dust you, but they also may (and likely will) quote you the cost to upgrade.

It sounds like the original poster thinks that it might just be an automatic upgrade (which it might be). It doesn’t sound like they were planning to ask for an upgrade to a suite.

 

[Dug720]

It sounds like the original poster thinks that it might just be an automatic upgrade (which it might be). It doesn’t sound like they were planning to ask for an upgrade to a suite.

Good point. But you never know who might search and read just that post and assume they can just ask and get at no charge.

 

[CableKC]

Since I'm doing the Online check-in with hopes of requesting a room in the LM section facing the Lake, what's the best time to formally request the location?

Should I do it online via Chat or just calling the AoA front desk or whatever by a certain time?

 

[Haley R]

Since I'm doing the Online check-in with hopes of requesting a room in the LM section facing the Lake, what's the best time to formally request the location?

Should I do it online via Chat or just calling the AoA front desk or whatever by a certain time?

You can call anytime after you book your reservation. I usually call as early as possible so it’s done and I don’t have to worry about it anymore. Just call the general resort reservation number. I tried doing chat for our upcoming trip and they said I needed to call for requests

 

[123SA]

1 Does AOA have buses to Epcot and HS? And, if I'm interested in arriving at the parks early for rope drop, do they arrive frequently?

The skyliner does not appeal to me at all. We usually drive to the parks, but current reports seem to indicate that Disney transportation puts you in a better position at rope drop.


2. Is there a microwave in the suites?

 

[dmband]

1 Does AOA have buses to Epcot and HS? And, if I'm interested in arriving at the parks early for rope drop, do they arrive frequently?

The skyliner does not appeal to me at all. We usually drive to the parks, but current reports seem to indicate that Disney transportation puts you in a better position at rope drop.


2. Is there a microwave in the suites?

There is a microwave in the suites
&
bus seems to be best, at least for HS

Other than the one post above, Can anyone else confirm the arcade is back open?

 

[jenjen212]

If there are microwaves in the suites, does anyone know if it is possible to pay to have one placed in a Little Mermaid room? The way that you used to have to pay to rent a refrigerator before they were in every room.

 

[WEDWDW]

If there are microwaves in the suites, does anyone know if it is possible to pay to have one placed in a Little Mermaid room? The way that you used to have to pay to rent a refrigerator before they were in every room.

No,they are not available for a fee,but I did read a report a while back where a LM Guest had asked Housekeeping for a Microwave and were given one.

Since they do have them in the Suites,they would have a certain number in "stock" as replacements if one in service went down,so it certainly couldn't hurt to ask,but it is possible the report I read could certainly be very rare.

 

[WEDWDW]

There is a microwave in the suites
&
bus seems to be best, at least for HS

Other than the one post above, Can anyone else confirm the arcade is back open?

Don't have first-hand knowledge that Pixel Play Arcade has reopened,but Reel Fun Arcade at All-Star Movies and Fast Forward Arcade at Pop Century are definitely open so would be shocked if Pixel Play is also not open.

 

[monica9]

Don't have first-hand knowledge that Pixel Play Arcade has reopened,but Reel Fun Arcade at All-Star Movies and Fast Forward Arcade at Pop Century are definitely open so would be shocked if Pixel Play is also not open.

View attachment 582125

Ugh, if this is opened, why can’t bbb be with shields and everything!

 

[CableKC]

I saw that there were pool renovations at AoA as far back as 4 months ago.

Is there any type of renovations at any of the pools that is still ongoing?

I'm arriving in mid-July while staying at the LM rooms while expecting my kids to do a lot of after dinner swimming.

I'm hoping that the pool renovations will be done by then.