We just came back to our room at the Pop, from a short walk through the AoA.
Although CMs at the Pop had still told me that the Generation Gap Bridge would remain closed until the total completion of the resort in September, the bridge was open and we could cross it and visit the AoA just like dozens of other Pop resort guests.
Only the central area with the Finding Nemo theming is already open to the public, but we could get a good impression of the Cars area, the Lion King area was too dark and the TLM area is located behind Lion King and you only could see it from very far away.
Several differences make clear that the AoA ia a kind of Premium Value.
There is resort specific merchandise available, T-shirts, polos, basecaps, mugs, ballpens, etc.
The Nemo "Big Blue Pool" area (with a zero level entry area) is completely gated and only open to resort guests, who have to use their room key card to get in.
The theming of the areas is superior to any other value resort, with much more details, landscaping etc. than Pop and Allstars.
The foodcourt is a real beauty, with one seating area for each movie and features also microwaves.
The foodcourt and the gift shop are again in seperated rooms (in opposite to the Pops "Everything Pop") but adjacent.
The AoA definitely doesn't share buses with the Pop or any other resort but has it's own bus stops at every park, mostly directly in front of the Pops stop (e.g. at DHS, Epcot and MK)
To make it brief: If the TLM guest rooms would be already completed and open, we would try by any chance to book them for next week after we return from the Yacht Club (we "go deluxe" tomorrow and stay at the Yacht club for the next days, we always share between value and deluxe)
It's a truly impressive resort and a great addition to the WDW-resort roster, I can't wait to see it completed, especially the Cars area.
