I had the opportunity to take a hardhat tour of the Art of Animation Resort today. I will say that I was pleasantly surprised.
I'll offer some highlights from the tour, which was conducted by Dierdra, a member of WDI's construction department.
Starting at the main building, guests will see the similarities to Pop, but will also notice the major differences. Not only is it amazingly colorful (with giant murals which start as BW sketches and advance to color cels as you move across the lobby, which has floors covered in a mosaic of tile), but they've built in a very large "Kids Room" (so they can watch movies and unwind while mom or dad checks in), and a new "pod" style check-in desk. Instead of one long, impersonal counter, they have islands with 2 stations each. That way the cast members can come around and interact with guests if necessary.
There will be a giant arcade, as well as the usual amenities like public restrooms, pay phones, and the Ink & Paint Gift Shop.
The food court (Landscape of Flavors) is quite expansive, and very open. They're going to offer new an innovative food stations with several made-to-order meals, including salads. There are LCD menu boards hanging all around, and there's plenty of room to eat.
Heading out the back doors, you encounter the feature pool - themed to Nemo - which is the largest non-water park pool on property, in surface area. It has the only zero-entry of any value resort, and offers many other premium features. They're deciding what sort of validation system they'll need to use to prevent pool hopping to this pool (the first value that will have this problem).
As you look around, all you see are gigantic colorful buildings with sketches and painted animation artwork, rockwork in the Lion King area, a huge Crush outside the Nemo building, and many other larger than life decorations. Very similar to the All Stars and Pop, only higher quality.
Now, to the rooms. We visited a nearly complete room in the Nemo building, which will be the first to open. All that's left is to hang a few televisions (which were sitting in boxes) and touch up some paint. The rooms are more impressive in person than in the renderings we've seen.
The master bedroom has its own dresser and TV. It also has a master bathroom with a tiled shower with glass doors. The living room has another built-in dresser and another TV. The kitchenette is in there, as well as a large sleeper sofa and two ottomans. The most amazing feature is the Kitchen Table Murphy Bed. With one finger, she pulled on the wall and out folded a bed, while simultaneously (safely) collapsing the kitchen table. The bed revealed Nemo, painted on the wall, with a couple LED reading lights.
The master bedroom has a queen, while the sofa and murphy are doubles.
Among features that are NOT typical of value resorts are central air (a thermostat on the wall and no clunky unit under the window), interior corridors (in the 3 suite areas...the Mermaid buildings will have the usual exterior walkways), and large windows that look out onto the pool (or other views).
Some points of interest:
* There is a subtle hint to the coming of NextGen in the door locks. They use RFID proximity sensors, so you don't actually put your KttW card in the door, you just wave it near the door. Obviously, this is their first opportunity to build the new technology into a resort from scratch. I'm sure we'll start seeing them replacing door handles all over property.
* When asked what will become of the "Generation Gap" bridge, she said, "The official response from WDI right now is simply 'we don't know'." She went on to explain that the plan is to re-open it, but they have no idea what to call it yet. The current name obviously has to go. They're also wondering if opening it really is a good idea, since it will only promote Pop guests to meander toward the AoA amenities.
* While the target completion date for the entire project is "end of year", she said - off the record - that they're a bit ahead of schedule, and that Mermaid (the last phase to open), might open earlier than expected.
The price to stay here is obviously higher than anything else in this category, but after having seen the resort in person, the higher rates are justified. The place has features from Moderate and Deluxe Resorts - and can't even be compared to the rest of the Values (except for Mermaid, but even then, those guests will have access to the rest of the resort's amenities).
Also, let me emphasize that this is not second hand information, nor did it come from a bus driver. I toured the resort in person, and our guide was a WDI rep who is directly overseeing the project. There were other WDW personnel involved as well - all at higher pay grades than "just a CM".
I can now pass judgement on the resort, and I give it two thumbs up.
No, I do not have any photos because, as expected, that was forbidden.
I'll offer some highlights from the tour, which was conducted by Dierdra, a member of WDI's construction department.
Starting at the main building, guests will see the similarities to Pop, but will also notice the major differences. Not only is it amazingly colorful (with giant murals which start as BW sketches and advance to color cels as you move across the lobby, which has floors covered in a mosaic of tile), but they've built in a very large "Kids Room" (so they can watch movies and unwind while mom or dad checks in), and a new "pod" style check-in desk. Instead of one long, impersonal counter, they have islands with 2 stations each. That way the cast members can come around and interact with guests if necessary.
There will be a giant arcade, as well as the usual amenities like public restrooms, pay phones, and the Ink & Paint Gift Shop.
The food court (Landscape of Flavors) is quite expansive, and very open. They're going to offer new an innovative food stations with several made-to-order meals, including salads. There are LCD menu boards hanging all around, and there's plenty of room to eat.
Heading out the back doors, you encounter the feature pool - themed to Nemo - which is the largest non-water park pool on property, in surface area. It has the only zero-entry of any value resort, and offers many other premium features. They're deciding what sort of validation system they'll need to use to prevent pool hopping to this pool (the first value that will have this problem).
As you look around, all you see are gigantic colorful buildings with sketches and painted animation artwork, rockwork in the Lion King area, a huge Crush outside the Nemo building, and many other larger than life decorations. Very similar to the All Stars and Pop, only higher quality.
Now, to the rooms. We visited a nearly complete room in the Nemo building, which will be the first to open. All that's left is to hang a few televisions (which were sitting in boxes) and touch up some paint. The rooms are more impressive in person than in the renderings we've seen.
The master bedroom has its own dresser and TV. It also has a master bathroom with a tiled shower with glass doors. The living room has another built-in dresser and another TV. The kitchenette is in there, as well as a large sleeper sofa and two ottomans. The most amazing feature is the Kitchen Table Murphy Bed. With one finger, she pulled on the wall and out folded a bed, while simultaneously (safely) collapsing the kitchen table. The bed revealed Nemo, painted on the wall, with a couple LED reading lights.
The master bedroom has a queen, while the sofa and murphy are doubles.
Among features that are NOT typical of value resorts are central air (a thermostat on the wall and no clunky unit under the window), interior corridors (in the 3 suite areas...the Mermaid buildings will have the usual exterior walkways), and large windows that look out onto the pool (or other views).
Some points of interest:
* There is a subtle hint to the coming of NextGen in the door locks. They use RFID proximity sensors, so you don't actually put your KttW card in the door, you just wave it near the door. Obviously, this is their first opportunity to build the new technology into a resort from scratch. I'm sure we'll start seeing them replacing door handles all over property.
* When asked what will become of the "Generation Gap" bridge, she said, "The official response from WDI right now is simply 'we don't know'." She went on to explain that the plan is to re-open it, but they have no idea what to call it yet. The current name obviously has to go. They're also wondering if opening it really is a good idea, since it will only promote Pop guests to meander toward the AoA amenities.
* While the target completion date for the entire project is "end of year", she said - off the record - that they're a bit ahead of schedule, and that Mermaid (the last phase to open), might open earlier than expected.
The price to stay here is obviously higher than anything else in this category, but after having seen the resort in person, the higher rates are justified. The place has features from Moderate and Deluxe Resorts - and can't even be compared to the rest of the Values (except for Mermaid, but even then, those guests will have access to the rest of the resort's amenities).
Also, let me emphasize that this is not second hand information, nor did it come from a bus driver. I toured the resort in person, and our guide was a WDI rep who is directly overseeing the project. There were other WDW personnel involved as well - all at higher pay grades than "just a CM".
I can now pass judgement on the resort, and I give it two thumbs up.
No, I do not have any photos because, as expected, that was forbidden.
