We just stayed here Dec 14-21. We were preferred pool view and on free dining. We haven't stayed there in many years so were excited to go back. Here is a quick review on the new rooms, etc:
It was myself and my daughter (22) and we have stayed at all levels of WDW resorts over the years.
Check in: Easy and fast. We had done online checkin, but we arrived really early (10am) so I wanted to just see if a room was ready by chance, and it was! We lucked out getting into our room at 10am! They offered me a $50 gift card instead of having housekeeping for the week. We could still get towels, etc... but they wouldn't come in and clean and make beds, etc... I decided to go for the gift card, as we tend to put a do not disturb sign on a lot of times anyway, as the room is fine and really doesn't need anything.
Gift Shop: Was great - had lots of variety and many of the same things we saw in the parks, so when we decided 'darn we should have bought that....', it was easy to find at our own resort.
Food Court: Great - so much variety. We ate here every morning we didn't have a breakfast reservation and also in the evening a few times. We really liked the pizza here too.
Room: Ok I am going to get some hate, but I really don't like the new design. It was a pain to be putting a bed up and down everyday. Yes, I could just leave it down, but I like to sit in the morning, put my makeup on at a table, relax with a coffee or whatever, and like to have a table. We also have a thing we do in the morning, and that is anything we don't want to forget to take into the parks for the day, we put on the table, so the table gets double checked before we leave. We have done that since my daughter was 3 years old. So I found myself having to move the pillows off the pull down bed and over to the main bed, then lifting it up every day, then putting stuff back on it (that should have been able to just stay on it). It wasn't a major deal breaker, but it was a pain. The flooring felt nice and clean, but I did miss carpet under my feet at the end of the day. TV was huge but was on that super super high def that makes everything look 'too real' hahaha. Was odd to watch it like that. We had a great location beside the pool, but hit a week of crappy weather and never even used the pool! It was nice and close to the main hall though.
We felt the room felt small after a couple of days for us. I travel a lot for work and often am in a nice club room at a 4-5* hotel, so when I am in a small room like this, I notice it!
Service: With the exception of one awful woman we encountered at concierge, everyone was fabulous. I felt the cast members were as helpful and cheerful as any other resort in WDW we have stayed at.
We took a walk over to AOA one evening to check it out. Nice place for a walk. Pop seemed pretty sold out and busy when we were there, and with the new gondola's coming I think its going to be a hot ticket to get a room here.
Overall we decided we need a moderate or deluxe from now on - not because we are hotel snobs, but just need that bit of extra room. 2 adult females doing showers, hair, makeup, etc... and not even having a table unless we put a bed away - just would rather spend a bit of extra $$ and upgrade. I think its a great spot to stay, especially if you just want to sleep and shower or are on a budget - nothing wrong with it at all!!!!
In comparison, the week prior, we stayed at Cabana Bay (universal) for 3 nights for what would be an almost identical rate, and the difference was night and day! WOW what a resort - and it was closer to a deluxe at Disney for $149/night! The pools, the lazy river, amazing food court, indoor corridors, big room, huge bathroom, etc...etc...... If WDW had Cabana Bay they would be charging $400++ a night for it. We LOVED it there! We are not big Universal fans (many rides give my daughter motion sickness due to it all being on a screen with motion simulator) and stayed there just for fun before heading out on the Dream for 4 nights. We went to the outlet mall and had a pool day. I wish Cabana Bay was at Disney! Would be a perfect combo for us! hahaha!
