Should I switch from Aoa?

[Jess_Loves_Disney]

Thinking of switching our reservation from Aoa to Por-riverside preferred room. As much as I wanted to stay at Aoa I've read that the walk from LM rooms to the busses is pretty long. After walking around the park all day the last thing I want to do is have a long walk to our room. Any opinions?

 

[BigAlsGal]

I would. I love PoR! And yes I've heard the walk from little mermaid is dreadfully long.

 

[Jess_Loves_Disney]

Thanks! I think I will switch

 

[BigAlsGal]

Thanks! I think I will switch

You won't be sorry. It's beautiful there. Add in little things like coffee in the rooms, slides in the main pool, a sit down restaurant, covered bus stops, boat to Disney springs, queen beds, and just better built rooms and it's well worth the switch.

 

[scanmom]

My son and I stayed in a LM room last year, and it was a LONG walk. I'm glad we went, because we enjoyed the resort, but if I were to go again, it would be in a Nemo suite. We didn't use our refillable mugs as much as usual, it wasn't worth the walk!

 

[Jess_Loves_Disney]

My son and I stayed in a LM room last year, and it was a LONG walk. I'm glad we went, because we enjoyed the resort, but if I were to go again, it would be in a Nemo suite. We didn't use our refillable mugs as much as usual, it wasn't worth the walk!

Thanks! I did end up switching to POR

 

[KnittingMom]

POR is beautifully landscaped, and that alone is worth the price increase -- my objection to the values is that they lack greenery -- they are colorful, but not with trees and flowers and shrubs. My favorite part of POR is the Alligator Bayou in a room near the satellite pool -- perhaps building 18 or nearby. You are close to everything.

 

[wdw4rfam]

POR IS GREAT, especially preferred, which is the only way we stay there. It's so much quieter than the values, and peaceful. I've never stayed at AOA but we took a drive there this past November and walked around. Cute, but no way would I pay deluxe price for a value suite, and I can't do double beds anymore to stay in LM. I'm 5'11, when I was in my twenties it was fine scrunching in there, but not anymore. YOU WILL LOVE POR.

 

[marielynn724]

As much as I wanted to stay at Aoa I've read that the walk from LM rooms to the busses is pretty long. Any opinions?

UGH it is. When I stayed there 2 years ago in the LM section it was SO PAINFUL and I hated myself. It's got to be close to a mile from the bus drop off to the LM area.

 

[roxiepenguin]

DH mapped the walk from LM bldg 8 to main building; it's roughly half a mile. So, not a huge amount but yes, it can feel like it's much longer at the end of the day.

I didn't mind the walk (we were there for 9 days in April) and the LM area was actually pretty quiet and not overly hectic as many describe the value resorts.

Also, in regard to landscaping, I found it to be one of my favorite details about AoA, particularly the walk to/from LM. There were 3 distinct areas while walking from the main bldg to LM; ocean for Nemo, savanna for LK (complete with piped-in 'bug' sounds!) and then great "underwater" landscaping for LM. (My only note for improvement: Better lighting along the walkways or at least signs for folks to watch out for lizards and, especially at night, the little frogs!)

We actually enjoyed the resort so much in April that we're headed back in December for 13 days. We're having to do a split stay between POR and AoA because AoA didn't have availability for the whole trip.

(Side note: We're two adults, no kids, and request a king bed LM room)