For the first page of this review of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, see this.
A PHOTO TOUR OF A STANDARD LITTLE MERMAID ROOM
Standard 4-person Little Mermaid rooms have the same size and a similar layout as those in the other value resorts. It still has full beds, though–with n\most other values having or moving to queen beds.
What’s particularly different is the specific decor, and the deep Disney theming that you won’t find in the other values.
You are “Under the Sea” in this room, a position that the carpet and how it works with curtains and the beds is meant to reinforce.
Closing your eyes and saying “I believe in orange as an undersea color! I do!!” helps a bit in getting this.
The room has two full beds, with Sebastian and Flounder between them. The “pearls” on the headboards are reading lights.
Here”s a closer view of the headboards…
…and of Sebastian and Flounder.
Towards the end of the beds, there’s a painting of Prince Eric.
On the other side of the room, you’ll find a table and chairs with a fun light fixture and mirror above, and a dresser with a TV above and a fridge inside. No coffee maker, though…
The chairs are fun for kids, but cheap looking…
…while the table has these sheets from a musical score embedded.
The dresser has the TV above, drawers on one side, and a mini-fridge on the other.
Here’s the drawers and mini-fridge. Note only three drawers. There’s a shelf above the hanging rack in the bath with more storage, and also room for suitcases used for storage on the floor between the fridge and the bath.
The bath is separated from the main living/sleeping area by a curtain.
There’s also coat hooks in this area. The wall where the coats hooks are is where the door would be in a room outfitted with connecting doors.
Here’s a closer view of the coat hooks.
The bath has a single sink…
…and a large hanging area to its side, with a shelf above it, and an ironing board, iron, and safe.
The toilet and tub are closed off into their own space. The shower curtain presents the first appearance of Ariel in the room.
The tub surround is themed to Ariel’s lair.
THE FAMILY SUITES AT DISNEY’S ART OF ANIMATION RESORT
This review continues here.
MATERIAL IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S ART OF ANIMATION RESORT
- Overview of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- The Little Mermaid Area and Rooms
- Photo Tour of a Little Mermaid Room
- Overview of the Family Suites Areas
- Accommodations in the Family Suites
- Photo Tour of a Finding Nemo Family Suite (plus bed dimensions, storage, etc)
- Photo Tour of a Lion King Family Suite
- Photo Tour of a Cars Family Suite
- Amenities at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- The Pools at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD
- Where to stay–the Basics
- Where first-timers should stay
- Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 150+ stays in them
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We have just crossed the door of our room and I must say that I am speechless! My wife started taking pictures because she kept on saying “unbelievably gorgeous”. The first impression, at 10 pm and exhausted after a long all day long trip, is “this is the best Disney hotel we’ve stayed so far” (and we have been to CB & POP before). Since we have been to Pop Century before, we’re familiar with the building layout and AoA has a very similar one but embellished tenfold. It’s a brand new Pop Century…
Ps: The hotel lobby is breathtaking and the Lion King walkway is A W E S O M E
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YAYYYYYY!
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Dave! You are amazing! Which four character meals are the best for a 4 and 7 year old girls. If we do the Cinderella in the castle…it uses two of our dinners. We have a total of four dinners.. Should we do it or just do others that just take one ticket per dinner? LMK your thoughts. Thank you!
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Hey Yolanda, thanks, and great question!
The answer depends a little on whether these are your only table service meals, or if you are also planning to buy more for cash. If you are spending cash, most of the time the two-credit meals are cheaper in cash than if paid for by credits, so you’d be better off it you spend your credits on single credit meals.
My ranking of character meals is here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/dining-alternatives/character-meals-and-dinner-shows-ranked-in-order/ If you do my top 4, you’ll have three princess meals…whihc may be one too many!
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Hi,
Thanks so much. Your info is stellar. Question: How far away from the Mermaid rooms would parking be???
Much thanks,
Frank
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Hi Frank, and thanks! Parking is right outside the buildings.
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And the other one that is being offered for about the same price is Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort…LMK what you think…which would fit best for my family! Good night.
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Yolanda, AofA Little Mermmiad rooms have much more kid appeal than any of your other options, but are tiny. CB has the most kid appeal of the moderates, with CS next. My moderate rankings are here: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2009/10/28/the-moderate-resorts-at-walt-disney-world/ but there’s pros and cons to each–so read the reviews linked to from there!
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I will add as far as the price for all the resorts I listed above including AoA…the deal is pretty much the same price for 4 nights and 5 days. Having said that which is the one you would stay at once you answer my questions on both Orleans. Big thank you. AoA, Port Orleans French or Riverside, Caribbean Beach Reosrt.
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Dave, you are the best. Thanks again, but I have one more question for you…which resort would you preferred between Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter or the Riverside one? (The Royal room is cute for our girls) but other then the room…and why? I need to book by tomorrow and your info is helping. Thanks! (or would you skip both Orleans and stay at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort)…
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Yolanda, POFQ is much more compact and easy to navigate, but POR has more amenities (table service restaurant, marina, etc.) So while I personally prefer POFQ, I rank POR higher for the typical family.
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What meal time breakfast lunch dinner is best to have With the Characters?
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Also for the character break/lunch/dinner….when would be bet to eat with them if we can get a reservation. Looking at Chef Mickey, Cinderella ant MK, and princess one at Norway. LMK. Thanks!
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Yolanda, either lunch or dinner is best. Breakfast can get in the way of riding rides as soon as the Parr opens, which is the best way to avoid lines.
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Thanks so much for the info Dave! AoA seems great for the kids. Is the bus stop too far from the Ariel room? Also, I know the Polynesian costs more. Do you think I should consider it…or save the money and use it for our spending money while we are there?
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Hi Yolanda, the bus stop is a ten minute walk from the Little Mermaid rooms. I wouldn’t recommend the Poly if I didn’t think it worth it, but the Poly price difference is so high that paying for it is a very personal decision, related to your next best use for the money you save…
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Hi Dave,
I am planning our first family trip to WDW with two daughters (3 and 6 yrs old). Should we stay at AoA or Port Orleans Riverside? (is Ariels’s room to small or should we go else where) We are going in May for 4 nights and 5 day. Should we include the dining plan and the hopper too? There at so many places to stay, but can be very expensive too. Thanks for your help.
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Hi Yolanda, the choice between the two is stark. The little mermaid rooms are tiny, have full beds, but wonderful kid appeal. Your kids will love Riverside, but compared to AofA it is dull. The rooms, there, however, are much nicer–larger, and with queen beds. Riverside is also a good bit more expensive. With kids that age I’d go for Little Mermaid at AofA
Skip the hopper–with kids that age, you should focus on MK, and don’t need to hop away from or to it.
The dining plan used to save a lot of money, but now is close to a wash–for sure see if you can book fun restaurants before signing up for it, as otherwise you’ll be stuck with dull ones, and the best and most fun restaurants book out 6 months ahead! See this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/
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Has anyone stayed in the LIttle Mermaid room and can vouch if there is underbed storage or is it a platform?
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I have, Jenn, and they have no underbed storage–solid sides to the floor.
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Yes they’ve been before. We’ve only stayed at Coronado Springs. (which I wasn’t happy with, but that’s another story…)
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Nicole, Art of Animation is much more garish than CS. But you’ll like the room itself much more…
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Hi Dave! Love your site! (wish I’d seen it before our most recent trip!)
Wondering what you think of AoA for a family with a teen and tween? (son 13 & daughter 10) Too childish? Just right? I’m considering a possible split-stay w/ a deluxe & value for Oct 2013.
Thanks!
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Hi Nicole…that’s a tough call as it’ll vary by kid…Have they been to WDW before?
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@erin
perhaps if you go to Disney’s memorabilia store at Downtown Disney (I can’t recall the name right now, but it’s a huge outlet) you may find them there. It has LOTS of things
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i want one of the curtains in the room the little mermaid or the one with all the singing fish on it for my house. are they for sale? if so where and how much?
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Hi Erin, I don’t know, but did not notice them on sale anywhere–they may be…
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Hi JK! The next part of this review, with best and worst rooms, will come out early next week–and on dining, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-eat/
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Hi, I have booked a full vacation package in AoA with Standard Rooms at the Little Mermaid section. And I did it before reading your outstanding review so I have to congratulate myself on doing it. My little kids (3 and 6) will for sure be absolutely delighted on the theming as you point out. I will be looking forward to reading the rest of the review as I would love to know what specific recommendations you have around the best and worst locations and other tips withing this section. This will be my first family visit to WDW and I am so excited. I would also know if you have any recommendations on how to make the most of the dining plan I added to my reservation. Kind and warm regards. JK
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Hi Dave! It has been almost a month since we arrived at AoA Little Mermaid for our First WDW trip. The rooms and facility were incredible! I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of this Resort (AoA) and this specific area within. I would highly recommend it to smaller families or those looking for connecting rooms for more than 6 (we had 7 in our party). It was a distance from the main building – keeping us from grabbling quick snacks or going to the Big Blue after a long day at the parks. You certainly hated to bring your mugs back to the room after breakfast if you didn’t want to take them to the parks with you! My mom ended up needing a wheelchair (if only we knew ahead of time!) and it was a bit of an issue for her. I found it odd that complementary wheelchairs or golfcart shuttles within the resorts were not available for people needing it. At the parks you can rent wheelchairs and they even have them complementary outside the parks to assist with getting from the gate to the bus or monorail. I realize that WDW is a ‘walking’ vacation and you need to be prepared to do A LOT of walking but the resorts were less accommodating. Please advise people who may need a wheelchair in the parks to consider renting one from an outside source for use both at the parks and at their resort. Or take Dave’s advice and stay at one of the monorail resorts (Polynesian was so nice – we stopped there on our way to DTD from MK) where getting around isn’t quite as much of an issue! We hope to take our second WDW trip and will probably stay at the Cars section of AoA, which would be my #1 choice for a value hands down! And someday maybe we will stay at the Polynesian (maybe tie it in with a Disney cruise!). Dave – you are welcome to edit or shorten this in any way you see fit.
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Joanne, thanks a million for the update and feedback. Your point about wheelchairs is an especially great one!
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Thanks Tom! And I really like it too! I’ve gotten behind on that “next week” post but I will have more soon!
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Dave,
Just taking a look at the pics and the room looks awesome! Yes, I know how value resort rooms are, and the distribution of furniture looks familiar, but it’s so different from other value resorts such as POP.
Eagerly waiting for next February to arrive and enjoy a week there, and more tips to be provided next week! 🙂
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