Just Booked My 2025 Vacation for August! Questions about AoA

Walt Disney World
1

I just booked my 2025 trip to Disney World for 8/20/2025-8/27/2025! Just me and my 15 year old daughter on a Mommy-Daughter Trip.

We love Pop Century and were planning on staying there, however when I went to put in my deposit this morning - the price jumped - and it was actually cheaper to stay at Art of Animation. So I booked the Mermaid Room. Seems odd?

Good news is I was able to apply the room rate discount, which dropped the total price of my package down significantly.

Questions for all you experts:

  1. Any one else going at the end of August 2025? If so, where are you staying?
  2. Anyone know when Mickey’s Halloween Party dates and tickets drop? Wondering if it will still be Tuesdays and Fridays in August again…
  3. Anyone ACTUALLY use the free water park perk for the first day of arrival? We get in at 4 PM, so I highly doubt we’ll have time to use it. I wish they let you use it any day during your stay…
  4. Anyone know if the laundry rooms use credit card machines now? Or is it still quarters? If quarters, anyone know the price per wash/dry?
  5. Any suggestions on grocery delivery services for Art of Animation?
  6. Any suggestions for Art of Animation? Never even stepped foot on this property (although I acknowledge it is next door and walking distance from my go-to Pop).
2 Likes
2

Yes. You can use a credit card. Might even be able to use a magic band but not sure.

Iirc, it was around $5 a load. But the dryer easily dries 2 loads of wash for the time paid. So if you have 2 loads that can be dried together, plan to do that.

They have plenty. We used garden grocer at AoA. Other times I’ve used Amazon since I had no perishables.

We stayed at the Nemo suites. It was loud. The Mermaid rooms are a kin to staying by the computer pool in Pop. The food in the food court was good for QS. In August you may have to contend with the Skyliner being down because of storms. But it shouldn’t be all day unless there’s a system moving in. In that instance you will have to use buses. AoA has better grounds than Pop IMO.

3 Likes
3

@drvillarejos Is it true that AoA doesn’t have buses to Epcot & Hollywood Studios? Seems like they’d need to if the Skyliner is down. Do you also know how guests are notified if the Skyliner goes down (in the app maybe)?

2 Likes
4

Little Mermaid rooms are furthest from the skyliner and main building. Just be ready to walk!
Correct that they don’t run busses unless the skyliner is down to EC/HS. They put out sandwich boards at various places when that happens.
We stayed AoA and enjoyed it but didn’t feel like it was a huge step up from all stars family suite which we liked more than the AoA family suite. No skyliner access but we liked saving that money for other things!

3 Likes
5

They only have buses to Epcot and HS if the Skyliner is down. If it’s running, no buses.

I have heard of push notifications. But I have never gotten one. If it looks like bad weather you can check with guest services.

Agreed. The benefit of AoA is the Skyliner. If a second full bath in the suites is a consideration, maybe this too. But it’s usually much more expensive. I wouldn’t pick it again unless we specifically needed the theming or the price was ridiculously low compared. I have grown to love the Skyliner though.

2 Likes