Our Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Review
Planning your next Disney vacation and looking for an Art of Animation Resort Review? Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is considered one of Disney’s Value Resorts. Truthfully, it’s also the priciest of all the resorts in this category. But there are good reasons for this increase in price. It’s not only the newest of the five Value Resorts, but it also boasts the largest pool of any Disney World hotel, the Big Blue Pool. Not only that, but the family suites are unique and well designed allowing bigger families to stay in one room.
Perhaps this is the biggest draw of all. Not many of the resorts offer rooms with two bathrooms and space for a family of six. And now with Disney Skyliner access, this resort has quite a bit to offer when compared to Disney’s other Value Resorts. All that being said, here’s our full Art of Animation Resort review. Is it really worth the bigger price tag?
*This post may contain affiliate links. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Planning a Disney World vacation in 2024? Be sure to check out our guide to all that the Walt Disney World Resort has to offer this year including the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the return of the Disney Dining Plan, and more!
On our most recent trip to Walt Disney World, we were looking for resort accommodations for our family of six. It was my husband and me, our two young daughters, and my parents. We were the ultimate multi-generational bunch traveling to Disney World! After lots of research, we decided to book a Finding Nemo family suite at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. (My parents would stay an additional two days in The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms while we set sail on our Disney Cruise!)
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Review
Location
This resort is located in the Wide World of Sports Resort Area, which isn’t exactly within walking distance of any of the theme parks. While there are definitely resorts that are “closer to the magic,” we never once felt like we were too far away. And now that the Disney Skyliner is open, there is yet another fun way to get to the parks.
**Keep in mind, the Skyliner first takes you to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort where you can connect to a gondola that takes you to Epcot or Hollywood Studios.
Rooms
Standard rooms are available and are themed with The Little Mermaid decor, but this value resort additionally offers a variety of family suites. Themes include The Lion King, Cars, and Finding Nemo.
Keep in mind that the Finding Nemo suites are more expensive due to their prime location. This was actually one of the reasons we chose them for our stay. We didn’t want to add any additional walking to our trip, and these suites are close to both dining and bus transportation to the parks.
Although to be fair, the Lion King suites, as well as the Cars suites, ended up being closer to the action than anticipated. Not only that, but the areas seemed to be a bit quieter than the Finding Nemo area, which for some, could be an added bonus.
Standard rooms offer 2 Double Beds or 1 King Bed and sleep up to 4 adults. Suites offer 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double-Size Table Bed and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa and sleep up to 6 adults. The suites also offer two bathrooms! This was such a huge perk that made getting ready for the parks in the morning quite seamless!
The Queen bed is located in its own separate bedroom with its own private bathroom. The sleeper sofa and table bed are located in the “common” area of the suite along with its own bathroom as well. There is a small kitchenette, and during the day when the beds are stored away, there is a living room area as well as a dining area.
One thing I have to mention is that the table bed wasn’t the most comfortable bed I’ve slept on. Honestly… how comfortable can a “table bed” be? It was also right next to the door making it quite noisy when families would come through the hallway. My kids loved the sofa bed, but I could tell that for an average-sized adult, that bed might not be the most comfortable either. All that being said, these two beds may be better suited for smaller or younger guests.
Dining
Landscape of Flavors (current menu) is a quick-service location that offers food court-style breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks. We ate here a few times, mostly for breakfast before heading into the parks. It offers all the basics, and we were able to save money by sharing meals. This resort is also home to the Drop Off Pool Bar and in-room pizza delivery. Because it’s a Value Resort, there are no table-service dining options. But if you’re looking for a nice dinner out, you can always take the bus to Disney Springs and enjoy one of their many dining options.
Recreation
This resort houses three pools, outdoor movies, fun with the Play Disney Parks App, a jogging trail, a playground, fishing at nearby marinas, and an arcade. During our visit, Orlando was experiencing frigid temperatures. (It was about 30 degrees when we left for the park one morning!)
Needless to say, swimming wasn’t even an option. But we did stay in a building right next to The Big Blue Pool, and I must say that it was very impressive! My kids were definitely wishing it was warmer!
There are two additional pools including the Cars-inspired Cozy Cone Pool and The Little Mermaid-inspired Flippin’ Fins Pool. Being a Value Resort, there aren’t as many recreation options as the Moderate Resorts or Deluxe Resorts. But if you’re one to spend most of your day in the parks, this may not be an issue for you.
Amenities
Standard amenities for Disney’s Value Resorts include in-room celebrations, complimentary WiFi Internet, parking for a fee, online check-in, resort airline check-in, ATM, currency exchange, childcare services, designated smoking areas, laundry and dry cleaning services, mail services, and access to Disney Signature Services.
The family suites also offer a microwave, hairdryer, telephone with voicemail, two bathrooms, an iron and ironing board, a kitchenette, a coffee Maker, and an in-room safe. Standard rooms offer a hairdryer, in-room safe, telephone with voicemail, a mini-refrigerator, and an iron with an ironing board.
Transportation
This resort offers bus service to and from the parks and Disney Springs. Disney’s Skyliner was also recently added as a free transportation option to Hollywood Studios and Epcot (via a transfer at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort). And if you decide to bring your own car or rent a car, overnight self-parking is complimentary.
Overall Art of Animation Review
Is this resort worth the extra price tag? That depends. Do you need space for a larger family? Does your family enjoy brightly colored themes featuring your favorite Disney movies? Are you wanting a resort that offers more recreation or dining options?
The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms start at around $224+ per night. And when the Moderate Resorts begin at $280+ per night and offer quite a bit more in terms of dining and recreation, this is definitely something to think about. It is also worth noting that this resort features family suites. The standard rooms are quite a walk from both dining and transportation.
I highly recommend this resort if you’re traveling specifically with younger children. My daughters loved this resort! There is so much to see and do, and a ton of photo opportunities throughout the resort.
Looking to plan your Walt Disney World vacation? Be sure to visit my step-by-step guide to get started!
