65 responses

  1. Pam
    June 22, 2015

    Sorry…..I should have been more specific….. where to stay……. which breakfast with the characters should we do….
    Thanks so much…….We could afford the one of the deluxe hotels, but didn’t know if the kids would enjoy A of A better

    Reply

    • Dave
      June 24, 2015

      Pam, either start on the home page and work your way through its topics, or read my book.

      Reply

  2. Pam
    June 21, 2015

    Hi..We are planning a family vacation Thanksgiving thru Dec. 1 of this year. It will be my husband and I….Daughter/husband and 2 children 2 and 6 mo. …..daughter/husband 4 kids…7,5,4,and 2…..suggestions?? Thanks so much!

    Reply

    • Dave
      June 22, 2015

      Pam, I’m sorry, but I think I need a more specific question–suggestions re what?

      Reply

  3. Kelly B – Agent with Destinations in Florida
    May 25, 2015

    HI Terry, I’m Kelly, the dedicated Destinations in Florida Travel Agent for Your First Visit. I have to say that Finding Nemo gets my vote. If you have a boy and a girl, I think the Nemo suites are a bit more appealing for both (and this mom likes them better too). They are close to everything. If you’ll email at kellyb@destinationsinflorida.com, I can send you are great video that Disney Parks made about the AoA resort. Sometimes seeing the resort gives you a better feel for it.

    Reply

  4. Terry
    May 24, 2015

    We are going either in late February or early May. 4 adults( 2 of which are grandparents) and 2 children ages 6 & 8. One adult has a disability(mobility) so may need some down time. We were thinking of 2 suites at Art of Animation. Saw your comments re Lion King – if children are set on Nemo or Cars what is the best location. Do you have any other suggestions?

    Reply

    • Dave
      May 26, 2015

      Terry, Nemo is more convenient, but more subject to pool noise. For either, also select “close to transportation” when you do on-line check in as some rooms especially in building 2 of Cars are further away than you want.

      Reply

  5. Sarah
    March 3, 2015

    Hi! We are planning a trip to Disney in April of 2016 and we are early risers. I’d like to take advantage of the morning EMH, and take breaks mid day before returning for fireworks, but our friends just got back and said it took them nearly an hour taking the buses to the parks from AofA! That would give us 4 hours almost every day on the bus. Eek! Can you put my mind at ease? Is it worth the mid day breaks? Thanks!!

    Reply

    • Dave
      March 3, 2015

      Sarah, I’ve stayed at AofA six times. The buses take about 20 minutes, and depart ~ every 20 minutes. So 30-40 minutes is a good planning figure.

      Reply

  6. Kristy
    August 17, 2014

    Hi Dave, I love your website. I’m wondering what types of rooms connect at the AofA. Can you get a family suite that connects to a standard room or is it only suite to suite and standard to standard?

    Reply

    • Dave
      August 18, 2014

      Kristy, the only connects at AofA are between Little Mermaid rooms. Those and suites are in completely different buildings, and suites don’t connect among themselves.

      Reply

  7. ChrisB
    May 5, 2014

    Hi Dave,
    We are planning on booking a Family Suite for last week of Sept and utilizing the Free Dining plan when it comes out this week. Any thoughts on the different sections (Cars, Nemo, Lion King) for convenience, kid appeal, noise, etc.? My wife and I and our 5 yr old daughter will be staying for a week. Much Thanks.

    Reply

    • Dave
      May 6, 2014

      Chris, the Lion King is the quietest area, and a pool view room in building 6 is the best choice!

      Reply

  8. April
    March 15, 2014

    Any dining deals right now that you know of? Was thinking of staying at AofA since Shades is booked up and we haven’t ever stayed at AofA. Praying no bed bugs (saw a report online that I’m not sure if I believe or not). Any tips on AofA dining or things that we must do there? Kids are 13, 10 and 3. Thanks.

    Reply

    • Dave
      March 16, 2014

      April, there’s been no free dining at all so far in 2014. Are you thinking of a family suite at AofA–as they won;t allow you to book 5 in the Little Mermaid rooms…? And don’t worry about bedbugs. Like at every other hotel in the world, they can happen, but Disney is pretty on top of them.

      Reply

  9. Danelle
    July 23, 2013

    Hi Dave,
    We currently have reservation sept 29 -oct 6 at Port Orleans riverside. We tried switching over to the military rate now that they have been released but no availability for the 5 person room which we need. How does A of A compare to the riverside. We have never been to Disney World and are traveling with 3 boys (5,8,10) . We are also holding out for free dining it seems like it might be a better deal Just want your optioning in how the 2 hotels stack up against each other.

    Reply

  10. E.E.R
    April 19, 2013

    Dave
    I’m planning on visiting for 3 days. Have a 7year old,3 year old, two 15 month olds and my husband. We were originally planning on staying at fort wilderness cabins but am now thinking of AOA. We are planning to go to magic kingdom for 1 full day and then take advantage of the time at the resort we will be staying at. We are planning on visiting early June. Which one would you suggest to stay at.? Which one has more activities within for children.? Also which way is the cheapest to book right now? Do you know if being a AAA MEMBER saves more money than another booking? Website? Thanks so much. Hope to hear from you soon.

    Reply

  11. neil & sue
    February 24, 2013

    Hi Dave. what a top website mate. we are planning a 10 day visit in Feb 2014 and were weighing up between a suite at SS or a family suite at AofA. we are now pretty sure that aofa is the way forward as our children will be 7 and 4 and will appreciate the cars decor more than ss and the additional space aofa will give us. the only thing that would change our mind is the bus transportation…please tell us that aofa still doesnt share the buses with any other hotel…..cheers

    Reply

    • Dave
      February 24, 2013

      Thanks Neil and Sue! Buses aren’t shared–so far–at AofA. Even if things change and they are–which I doubt will happen–AofA’ll still be better–with at most two bus stops–than the buses at SS, where there are four stops…

      Reply

  12. Kim
    February 8, 2013

    Hi Dave. I was looking to see which bldg is closer and faces the pool area. It’s our 1st trip & staying @ Art of Anim standard Little Mermaid..we would like a balcony room viewing pool..any room ideas? thank you & really love your website & all the tips 🙂

    Reply

  13. Lauren
    January 29, 2013

    Dave – this is an amazing website … Appreciate all the advice!! Once you get a bus from the AofA, how long does it take to get to the parks?!? Ex: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, etc?! Thanks so much!!!

    Reply

    • Dave
      January 30, 2013

      Hi Lauren and thanks! Rolling time is about 15 minutes to MK, a little less to HS and Epcot, and a little more to AK.

      Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!

      Reply

  14. Fred Wolters
    January 21, 2013

    are there towels at the pools at the Art of Animation?

    Reply

    • Dave
      January 22, 2013

      Hi Fred! In general, expect there to be no towels at the pools at the value resorts like AofA. (Sometimes there are–but don’t expect them to be there.) So you bring your room towels–calling housekeeping if this means you need more.

      Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!

      Reply

  15. Jen Villa
    January 19, 2013

    Dave-
    Impressed by your site and even more impressed by your responses to questions, etc. We are going to WDW April 24 – May 1 and currently have a reservation at AofA. Currently there is 30% off offer at Wilderness Lodge and would put us about the same price as our current reservation or I could bump up to a suite. We have 2 children ages 3 and 6. AofA looks amazing, colorful and I heard the pool is awesome – however I do want to consider convenience in traveling back and forth most afternoons for a rest of dip in the pool. What would you recommend? Thanks for your help!

    Reply

    • Dave
      January 20, 2013

      Hi Jen, and thanks!

      This is a very close call, so don’t pay too much attention to what I say (no one else does!), but here it is:

      If your kids were older, I’d say WL, but at those ages AofA is probably a better choice. The theming at WL is spectacular, but it’s just a little more grown up, so I’d hold it until your youngest is say 5 or so. Transportation is a mixed bag–WL is more convenient to MK, but not more convenient to the other three parks.

      Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook!

      Reply

  16. Aimee
    January 19, 2013

    AWESOME!!! Thx Dave for the timely response. Your answers really helped us narrow down our decisions. We are planning to go w/ AoA, just getting our agent to help w/ the final quotes and details. Thx for the tip about lakeview for Building #6 at AoA. Pros with AoA family suite as you said, major kid appeal and more convenient than Saratoga and OKW. Yes, it will be a tradeoff…the kitchen and washer/dryer would have been pluses. But we imagine we’ll be at the theme park most of the time given it’s our first time, so AoA’s kitchenette will do. Thx for copying and pasting those helpful links above. I read through them. Will message again if I have more Qs (which I’m sure I will!) =)

    Reply

    • Dave
      January 19, 2013

      Glad to help, Aimee!

      Reply

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