Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Review and Guide

One of Disney World’s most popular resorts for families, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is a Must Do for any Disney fan. Featuring Little Mermaid theming in the standard rooms, Lion King Family Suites, a Cars section and one of the largest pools featuring Finding Nemo, there are so many reasons to choose this resort. And if you have small children, they will be in awe with the large Disney statues that cover this resort. Offering fun pools, 4 themed areas, and transportation on the Disney Skyliner there are many reasons to stay here. But, there are also a few reasons why you may want to stay somewhere else! Here’s our complete Resort Guide for the Art of Animation. And our honest review on all the pros and cons to help you make the best Disney hotel choice for your next trip. 

The Disney Art of Animation Resort at Walt Disney World is themed to some of the most popular Disney movies! Here you can find Cars, Lion King, Little Mermaid, and Finding Nemo areas. Offering family suites and standard rooms, Art of Animation is home to the super popular Little Mermaid rooms. And if you’re staying here, you get next door access to Pop Century Resort too. Which means you have additional options for dining, shopping and activities. 

As a Disney Skyliner Resort, when staying here you get easy access to both EPCOT Park and Hollywood Studios offering hassle-free transportation with minimal wait. Of course complimentary Disney bus transportation is available to everywhere else on property.

Plus as a Disney Value Resort the prices here are at the lowest price hotel tier at Walt Disney World. But, before  you get your hopes up, know that this resort is hardly ever included in special deals and discounts. So if you’re looking to stay under the sea in highly coveted Little Mermaid rooms, plan on paying full price. So what is the hype here? And why is it more expensive than other Value Resorts at Walt Disney World? Here’s our full review of Disney Art of Animation Resort. 

Art of Animation Resort Details

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort includes everything you’d expect to find at a Disney Resort. In addition to lodging this resort has free wi-fi, self parking, bust transportation to the parks, gift shops, laundry facilities, and more. Check in time at Disney’s Art of Animation is 3 PM, and check out time is 11 AM. Here are the other details to know before you go. 

• Location: 1850 Animation Way Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830
• Parking: Complimentary Self Parking
• Check in time: 3 PM
• Check out time: 11 AM
• Transportation Options: Disney Skyliner, Disney Bus Service
• Room Options: Standard Rooms, Family Suites
• Cost: Between $200- $900/per night (Depending on your room choice, and the time of year you visit.)

Art of Animation Amenities

Just like all Disney Resorts you can also find a variety of recreation activities, playgrounds, an arcade and movie nights. In addition to those general amenities, you also get all the Disney Resort Perks for staying on property at Disney World. 

• 30 minute Early Theme Park Entry
• Complimentary Disney Transportation to the theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, and more.
• Free Self-Parking at the resort, and parks throughout Walt Disney World.
• 60 Day Advanced Dining Reservation Access
• 7 Day Advance Lighting Lane Multi Pass Reservations

Art of Animation Resort Areas and Grounds

Disney Art of Animation is a large resort! Very large and very spread out. In some ways, this is great. It rarely feels super crowded. But as a result, the Little Mermaid Rooms are pretty far from the food court and main pool. This is because many of the family suite buildings are close to the main building. So, keep this in mind if you don’t want to worry about walking very far at night to get to your room.

All of the areas in Art of Animation are themed beautifully, so you can’t really pick a “wrong” area of the resort. But if the distance from the bus stops, Skyliner, food court, or pool is important to you, then booking rooms in Finding Nemo or Lion Building 10 is your best bet.  This resort is split into 4 areas. The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo and Cars areas all have their own pool. 

• Cars
• Finding Nemo 
• The Lion King 
• The Little Mermaid

The grounds at Disney Art of Animation are so fun to walk through! There are even little fun facts about the movies scattered throughout the resort and we highly recommend taking the time to explore this resort, especially if you’re an animation fan. 

Art of Animation Resort Rooms

At Disney Art of Animation Resort, there are two kinds of rooms available; Disney Art of Animation Resort Little Mermaid Rooms, and Disney Family Suites themed to Cars, Lion King, and Finding Nemo. This resort is sprawling with suites and preferred rooms in the buildings close to the commissary. All beautifully themed. Take a look at the Disney Resort Rooms at Art of Animation. 

Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation

The Disney Art of Animation  Little Mermaid Rooms are the only Standard Rooms available at this resort. So unless you want a suite, your room will be Little Mermaid-themed. Aside from that, in this resort, these are the ONLY rooms that are set up like a motel rather than a hotel. The door leads you directly outside, just like they do at the Value Resorts. This isn’t a huge deal, but it’s worth mentioning since some people aren’t big fans of that setup.

Little Mermaid Standard Rooms have two queen beds and a curtain or sliding door that separates the living space from the vanity. 1 bathroom, a small table and two chairs, and a dresser with tv. This is the same layout you will find at any Disney All-Star Value Resort.

While the decor of Disney Art of Animation Little Mermaid Rooms are adorable, it’s really no different than if you were staying at any of the Disney Value Resorts. It’s a very “Disney” feeling and very fun. This room, however, felt very small.

As such, we usually choose to stay at Pop Century Resort instead, which has most of the same amenities, and is a little larger. In truth, if you’re looking for a slightly more upscale Little Mermaid room at Disney try the New Little Mermaid Rooms at Caribbean Beach Resort. Much larger, they features a 5th sleeper bed, are cheaper than the suites and still nicely decorated. In our opinion, they are more appropriate for families. 

Why are the Little Mermaid Room More Expensive?

Disney prices their resorts not only based on the type of Disney resort but also based on availability. Since the Disney Art of Animation resort fills up pretty quickly, we hardly ever see the Disney Art of Animation Little Mermaid Rooms included in deals or priced cheap. This is mostly due to their availability of family suites, which is what makes up most of the resort. But also because for kids, this is one of the most fun rooms you can stay in. While all of the resorts have little Disney touches here and there, aside from the Royal Rooms at Port Orleans Riverside, these rooms are by far the most themed standard rooms, especially in the Value Category. 

Disney Family Suites at Art of Animation

Family suites are what Disney Art of Animation is known for. Family Suites at Art of Animation sleep 6 and are available in the themes of Lion King, Cars, and Finding Nemo.

Art of Animation Family Suites include a bedroom with one queen sized bed, one double convertible tablebed, one double sleeper sofa, a living room, 2 bathrooms and a kitchenette! 

Many parents with smaller children often prefer to have a bedroom for their little ones that can be separated from the main living space. And these suites offer just that.  The room opens to a dining area and the first bathroom. And there’s a Murphy bed that pulls down from the wall and actually opens up over the dining table. So at night, just move the chairs and pull down the bed. Super easy. 

There’s a main bedroom and a second bathroom is located right off of that, with a door that separates it from the rest of the suite. This room has its own TV, along with plenty of drawers for unpacking your suitcases. The bathroom here has a walk-in shower. And at the time of writing this, both bathrooms were stocked with H2O product built-ins. The living room area is where you’ll find the third bed, which is in the form of a pull-out couch. There is another TV in here. And there are plenty of drawers under the TV, and also a small area to hang clothes. 

The family suites at Disney, however, can be quite expensive; though you can often find them as part of a discount. So always be on the lookout for deals!

Lion King Family Suites

The Lion King Family Suites at Art of Animation come with touches of the savanna. Including animal-themed elements, curtains, and bedding. Everything you would expect to find in an African-themed room meant for kids. 

Cars Family Suites

For the Cars fan, the Cars Family Suites at Art of Animation feature favorite characters of the film, including framed scenes, and traffic cone lamps. By far one of the cutest areas at Art of Animation, the Cars section includes life-sized cars living their best life. Perfect for photos. 

Finding Nemo Suites Art of Animation

The Finding Nemo Suites at Art of Animation are the closest to the Disney Skyliner and they are also the closest to the Main Building. Meaning that getting your meals, and refilling your mug are all the easier. They are also the closest to the bridge leading to Disney’s Pop Century Resort. so if you’re looking for an easy walk to the transportation for EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, these are great suites to choose.

Which Buildings at Disney Art of Animation have Family Suites?

Lion King, Finding Nemo, and Cars buildings all have family suites. The only building that does not have family suites are the Little Mermaids. And just to clarify, the only building that has standard rooms is the Little Mermaid building. 

Which Building at Art of Animation is Closest to the Main Building?

The Finding Nemo Building at Art of Animation is closest to the food court, bus stops, and main pool.

Art of Animation Resort Pools

Home to Disney World’s largest pool, in the Finding Nemo Area, Art of Animation  features the Big Blue Pool complete with Finding Nemo decor. There is also a small splash area for little kids, and a Coral Reef themed playground. You can also find Guest Laundry and the pool bar, The Drop Off up near this main area as well. Other pools at Art of Animation include the Cozy Cone Pool in the Cars area, and the Fins Pool in the Little Mermaid area.

Art of Animation Resort Map and Layout

The layout of this resort is similar to that of other value resorts. The main building is where you will check-in, catch the bus or grab your morning coffee. It’s also the location of the quick service on property called Landscape of Flavors, aka the food court. As you can see from the map, the Little Mermaid area is farthest from the main building, and the Skyliner. 

Art of Animation Resort Recreation

Like other Disney Value Resorts, this one has loads of Disney activities. You can find the recreation schedule on the activity board in the lobby or out near the main pool. The resort offers nightly trivia, paint and sip and paint type classes for an additional fee on select nights, an evening campfire in the Lion King area, and more. We always recommend spending some time at your resort. There are always lots of fun things to do and it’s a great way to take a break from the chaos of the Parks. You’ll also find an arcade in the main building, which is fun for times of heavy rain or just whenever you need to take a break from the heat. 

Movies Under the Stars

If you’re staying at the resort and planning for an early evening at the resort, the Movies Under the Stars at Art of Animation Resort typically starts at 8:00 PM. You can find the pop up movie screen by the Big Blue Pool. This is very fun evening event that allows you to settle into an early evening with a Disney movie. Grab a popcorn and fill your refillable mug, then head out to the pool area for the film. 

Arcade

Each Disney Resort has an arcade. While you may not be thinking that a Disney vacation should include arcade time, it is such fun!!! While arcade times vary across resorts, you can always find the hours posted on the door. Disney Arcade times are typically 10 AM- 10 PM. However, if you’re up for competition, there is an Arcade Tournament daily from 4:00- 5:00 PM. 

Walking Trail

As with most of the resorts at Walt Disney World, there is a New Balance trail for those who want to get a bit of running or extra walking. We particularly loved this one because it runs next to Hourglass Lake, which is just beautiful and relaxing. Especially, if you’re looking to get away from some of the crowds and noise of the resort.

Surrey Bikes

You can also rent bikes at Art of Animation to ride around the resort and POP Century Resort right across the Bay. These are available to guests of both resorts, so take advantage of them if you have a resort day and want the downtime. 

Art of Animation Food Court

With so many amazing foods across Disney property, we usually only use the food court at the resort as a Disney Refillable Mug stop. But, Landscape of Flavors, the resort’s food court, is pretty great.  And somewhat famous for having amazing new cupcakes in their Disney dessert case. So be on the lookout for new Disney Snacks where you can find them! The Landscape of Flavors offers a lot of the standard fare you’ll find at other resort Food Courts and also a few not-so-standard!

Landscape of Flavors

We have been able to get potstickers, veggies, and fried rice, veggie burgers, which is so nice if you’re looking for plant-based dining options. Standard items like cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, and pizza are also available, but we love that they offer more exciting choices as well. And they even have a latte counter now! No, you won’t find hand-crafted lattes here, but they’re technically the same machines that Disney has at its deluxe resorts like Beach Club.  And considering a regular cup of coffee is not much cheaper than a latte here, we were excited to see it! 

Our biggest complaint about the food court here has nothing to do with the food. Frankly, it always seems crowded here! No matter when we went. Luckily, there are several drink stations throughout, so even during busier times, it’s still usually pretty efficient. Check out the Landscape of Flavors Menu. 

The Drop-Off Pool Bar

The Drop Off Pool bar is located near the main building and main pool. And offers alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages along with a few snacks like soft pretzels and sandwiches. It is the only bar at Disney Art of Animation Resort. But you can also buy canned beverages, beers, and wines inside at the food court. 

Art of Animation Transportation

The Disney Art of Animation Resort now shares a Disney Skyliner station with Pop Century. This means you get easy access to the other Disney Skyliner Resorts, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT!  Guests at Art of Animation also get access to the buses. We noticed that the buses seemed to come about every 30-40 minutes, which meant a lot of waiting. 

It’s also important to note that Art of Animation is the Disney Resort farthest from Magic Kingdom. All of the other Parks were about a 10-15 minute ride from the resort whereas Magic Kingdom took closer to 25-30 minutes depending on traffic. We definitely recommend taking an Uber if you need to be at any of the Parks or other Resorts at a specific time.

How Close is Art of Animation to the Disney Parks?

Okay, one of the biggest questions we get about Art of Animation Resort is how close to it is to the parks. Because while the Disney Skyliner can get you easily and quickly to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, families staying here may be spending more time at Magic Kingdom. So, here is all the info on how long it takes to get from Art of Animation to the parks.

• By Disney Skyliner, Art of Animation to EPCOT is about 30 minutes. This is to Epcot’s International Gateway.
• By Skyliner from Art of Animation to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is about 22 minutes.
• Taking a Disney Bus, from Art of Animation to Magic Kingdom Park is about 48 minutes.
• Taking a Disney Bus from Art of Animation to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park  is about 41 minutes.
• By Disney Bus, Art of Animation to Disney Springs is about 40 minutes. 

What Disney Park is closest to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort? 

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is located closest to Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Being on the Skyliner route makes it super easy and quick to get to each of those Parks. Check out all the Disney World Transportation options for more options.

Pros and Cons of the Art of Animation Resort?

Let me start by saying we LOVED the theming here. But there are some Pros and Cons of Art of Animation. If you’re looking for a fun, Disney-themed resort that will nurture your love of Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, Lion King, or Cars, this resort fits the bill perfectly. Especially if you’re an 80’s or 90’s baby. You know these movies well, and it’s so great to see them come to life. This resort is also perfect if you’re traveling with a larger party as almost all of the rooms here are suites. The bright colors and fun designs throughout the entire resort create a very cheerful and fun atmosphere, which we loved. 

Why you may not want to stay here

So what didn’t we love? This resort felt so huge at times due to the way it’s laid out. So HUGE, that sometimes it felt like we might never make it to the main building! We actually really enjoy walking, but if you’re traveling with small children or those who tire out easily, that could create a huge inconvenience. Especially at night after a long day at the Parks.

If this sounds like it’s going to be an issue, we recommend against the Disney Art of Animation Little Mermaid Rooms. Staying in the Finding Nemo buildings will get you close to the main building and make that midnight runs for snacks or drinks a little easier. The evening movie also takes place on the Finding Nemo building lawn with the seagulls on the top. So if you are traveling with little ones, or taking advantage of those late resort events, be sure to request a room in that building. That way if you have to carry the kiddies to bed, you are close by. Some people might also find the decor here a little over the top or tacky. We love it, but it might not be your style! And that’s ok too. 

Art of Animation Cost

The prices at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort range from $200- $900/per night. This is based primarily on when you visit Disney. For this resort especially if you’re hoping to get a cheap room at Art of Animation, you need to be visiting during the cheapest times of year at Disney World. As a Disney Value Plus Resort, this resort is generally cheaper than moderate resorts, but has the highest prices in the Value Resort category. 

On average you can expect to pay between $200- $300 per night for a Standard Room, and between $500- $600 per night for  family suite. 

Although this resort is considered “lower” in the resort chain than a moderate hotel, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s cheaper. In fact, if you’re planning to stay in the Little Mermaid rooms, we would recommend the Disney’s Caribbean Beach’s Little Mermaid 5th Sleeper rooms instead. Mainly because you get a much bigger room, access to the skyliner and Moderate Resort amenities like a restaurant on property, beaches, and more.  

Is Disney Art of Animation worth the extra cost?

We would say that really depends on your family on what they need. If you want the convenience of a suite, want a fully immersive Disney-themed vacation, or want a little less quiet atmosphere than the All-Star resorts can provide, then we vote Yes. However, if you’re on a tight budget and can’t justify the extra cost, we think POP Century Resort is also a great option. With access to the same walking trail, tranquil bay, and a slightly more centralized layout that makes all buildings a little closer to the food court, this may be a better choice. 

Is Art of Animation a Value Resort?

The Disney Art of Animation Resort is a Disney Value Plus Resort. Let us break it down for you. First of all, Disney’s Art of Animation is in fact in its own class. This is mostly due to the fact that almost all of the rooms available at Art of Animation are family suites.  It’s what’s considered a “Value Plus” resort, which is a step up from a Value resort and a step down from a Moderate. 

Is Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Pet Friendly?

Yes! Guests can bring up to two dogs with them for a cost of $50 each per night. So if you want your pup to come along on your Disney trip, this is a great option especially since you can book a family suite and enjoy the extra room. 

Can I watch Disney+ Plus at Art of Animation?

Kind of! Firstly, you can always bring your own device (like an iPad) and use the Disney+ app on there so you can enjoy Disney Plus in your room. But on the TVs at Art of Animation, they also have a taste of Disney Plus as a channel. So you can always see if they’re playing something you may be interested in. 

Disney Art of Animation Resort Review

Art of Animation is definitely a vibe that not everyone will love. But we do! It’s fun, it’s cute, it’s playful. The Skyliner access makes it easy to get to other Skyliner resorts as well as Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Disney has really made this a beautiful space for fans of Disney animation. And even though the rooms may not be the nicest you’ll find, if you get this resort for a great deal, we think it’s well worth it.