Disney’s Art of Animation is the most “Disney” themed resort on property but is it a good choice for your Disney vacation. In this post I will share my Art of Animation review and a look at the Art of Animation family suites.
Art of Animation is a value resort located at Walt Disney World. It is located in the World Wide Sports Area and is part of the value resorts.
From the moment you step inside the lobby of Art of Animation you are surrounded by the creative designs of some of Disney’s best animated movies. Let’s dig into what to expect at Disney’s Art of Animation resort.
Overview of Art of Animation
Art of Animation is themed to four animated Disney classics. They are: The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Cars, and Finding Nemo. There is something to love about each of the areas and you will find something special at each area of the resort.
It is located in the Wide World of Sports area and provides on-site transportation to and from the theme parks for their guests.
Standard Rooms and Family Suites
Art of Animation resort has two types of rooms: Standard Rooms and the Family Suites.
The Standard Rooms are all themed with The Little Mermaid and will fit up to 4 people.
The Family Suites are themed to Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Lion King. These rooms fit up to 6 people. The Finding Nemo rooms typically cost the most because they are close to the lobby and the main pool.
Art of Animation Little Mermaid Rooms (Standard Rooms)
The Little Mermaid Rooms have two double beds or one king bed and can fit up to 4 people. They are located in The Little Mermaid area of the resort.
This area is the farthest from the lobby but there is a parking lot close. Each area has a parking lot so you do not need to carry all your luggage through the entire resort.
The Little Mermaid area also has its own pool. We liked this pool because it was quiet and big enough for the kids to play. The area is also surrounded by Little Mermaid characters and is fun to explore.
Family Suites at Art of Animation
There are three different Art of Animation Family Suites. They are Finding Nemo, The Lion King, and Cars. All of the family suites at the Art of Animation resort can accommodate up to 6 people.
There is a bedroom with a queen bed, two bathrooms, a pull out sofa, and a murphy bed. We stayed in the Finding Nemo area and loved the theme of the room.
The family suites offer the same amenities across the resort but the theme is different depending on which you choose.
Each area also has different pros/cons that I share below. All guests at the resort can visit all the different areas.
Finding Nemo
- Largest Pool
- Playground
- Splash Pad
- Close to Lobby
- Busiest Pool
- Music is Played Under Water at the Pool!
- Rooms are themed to the characters from Finding Nemo.
- Typically cost about $10 a night more than the other suites.
Cars Area
- Short walk to lobby
- Fun Cars photo-ops throughout the area.
- Best themed area of resort.
- Pool has cabanas that are on a first come first serve basis.
- Smallest pool at resort.
The Lion King Area
- Short walk to lobby.
- No pool.
- Fun play areas.
When deciding on Art of Animation accommodations it really comes down to personal preference. You can’t go wrong with any of the rooms. Your kids will love them all!!
If you have a kid who loves The Lion King stay there. Is there a princess in your family? The Little Mermaid room would be a great fit. You can explore any area of the resort and use all the pools and playgrounds so there is no wrong choice!
Transportation
Art of Animation is one of the Skyliner Resorts. These resorts are along the Disney Skyliner, a gondola transportation system, that takes guests to and from Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The Skyliner can be a huge perk to save time when traveling to the theme parks. Guests wanting to visit the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom can use the Disney provided bus transportation.
Amenities
Art of Animation has 3 pools, 2 playgrounds, an arcade, walking track, and a very Disney immersive themed decor. There are daily activities like trivia, art classes, and movie nights.
During check-in you will receive the guide to what is going on daily at the resort. Most days there are fun games at the pool in the afternoon and nightly outdoor movies are shown.
You can also learn how to be an artist with lessons in the lobby or spend time at the arcade. There is a gift shop and quick service food court on site.
Dining
Art of Animation has a main quick service eating area called Landscape of Flavors. It is one of the best quick service restaurants on Disney property and is easy for families that want to grab a quick bite or order a pizza after a long day at the parks. There is not a sit-down restaurant on property.
Things to Know About Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Standard and Family Suites available.
- Most expensive of the value resorts.
- Best Disney themed resort on property.
- You do not need to stay at the resort to visit and are welcome to eat and explore the resort. Only guests staying at the resort can use the pools.
- All guests can use the Disney Bus Transportation to and from the theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs.
- Gondola transportation is available via the Disney Skyliner to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Is Art of Animation Worth the Cost
We really enjoyed our stay at Art of Animation but is it worth the cost? I think it depends on what you are looking for in your Disney resort.
If you are a family of 4 or less I think the cost of the standard rooms is worth it to be at the resort and on the skyliner.
If you are a family of five or more, like we are, it becomes more complicated. The family suites at Art of Animation can be over $400.00 a night and we could stay at a moderate resort that fits our family for less.
It ends up being less of a value resort when you start looking at the family suites. Everyone’s Disney budget is different and you have to weigh the pros and cons of the cost.
Honestly I do not think it is worth the cost for the family suites but my kids are older and we would rather spend our vacation budget on other things. I do not regret splurging on our stay when the kids were small.
Overall our Art of Animation review is that it is a wonderful resort with incredible theme for kids. It is on the higher end of the value price but we enjoyed our stay and would stay again.
Read Next: Disney World On-site Resorts that Fit Families of 5 of More
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Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.
We were there in Dec. of 2018, our 2nd time at AOA, We stayed in the Finding Nemo Family suites. It was close to food, pools and transportation. However all was not Magical this time around, the upholstery on the fold out couch was quite worn and dirty, in our hallway outside suite 4608, there was a huge stain on the carpet, and the carpet in the entire hall was quite dirty. The drain in the kitchenette sink was filled with thick black mold.It seems that AOA Nemo suites might be in need of a remodel.
Even with those minor issues i would go back in a heart beat and recommend it to any family group. We are a group of Gammy, Poppa, Daughter, Son in law and grand daughter. There is nothing like the convince of getting up and planning the day without having to go room to room to do it. Babysitting is much easier as well, gammy poppa and baby go to bed after a long day and mom and day go have fun 🙂
That is a bummer. Those hotels take a beating! Hopefully Nemo is on the list for renovations soon!
We just returned from a trip to Walt Disney World and stayed in a family suite in the Finding Nemo section. It was the perfect space for my husband, my mom, my 2 year old daughter, my 3 month old son and myself. I loved the theming, the splash area and playground for my daughter. This resort also lends itself to a decent walk or run as you can cross the bridge over the lake and go around the entire lake. There was a great variety of options for breakfast and dinner. We were very happy there!
Thanks for reading and sharing! I’m so happy you enjoyed Art of Animation! It is perfect for your age kids too. We love Disney themed stuff so Art of Animation is one of our favorites!
When we went to disney a few years ago it came down to this one and Port Orleans and for some reason we chose port Orleans. this looks like a great option as well.
Port Orleans has been on our list for a while. I think we will end up staying there next time.
This is one I am dying to do still. Even though my kids are teens now they are artists and one is really really good at animation and art. Combine that with Disney and I feel like that’s gold. Gorgeous pictures. I need to see this place up close. The pool looks incredible.
Thank you so much for reading. I think kids of all ages would love this resort. You can always visit it and explore, even if you are not staying. We hope to go back again!!