We went on a trip to Walt Disney World earlier this year with our three kids (ages 8, 5, and 2). We stayed on Disney property at the Art of Animation Resort, and I wanted to write about our visit! This is 100% not sponsored or affiliated, I’m just sharing our honest – and largely positive- review in case it is helpful to other families.
We stayed there at the end of January (2024) for just under a week. We had a really fun time on this vacation, and this resort played a huge part in making it a successful trip!
The Art of Animation Resort at Walt Disney World caters to families through and through. Whoever designed this hotel completely understood their target audience, and thought about every single detail to maximize the family experience.
Let me get more specific– here are 5 Reasons the Art of Animation Resort is an excellent choice for families!
1. The Pools (Yes, there are multiple!)
Everyone knows that kids only care about ONE thing when you go on a vacation. I don’t care if you are at Disney World or Nebraska — kids still just want to swim in a pool. Any pool.
Luckily, the Art of Animation has 3 different pools, and each has a unique theme:
- The Cozy Cone Pool (Cars area)
- The Flippin’ Fins Pool (Little Mermaid area)
- The Big Blue Pool (the Finding Nemo area- this is the largest one with the best theming)
They are spread out throughout the resort so that no one has to walk too far to get to one. You can also choose if you would prefer a smaller, quieter pool experience at the Cars area or Little Mermaid pools (easier to keep track of little kids!) or one that is more exciting (maybe better for older kids!).
We mixed it up depending on the day and what my boys were in the mood for.
I think the theming at the Big Blue (Nemo) Pool is some of the very best at any Disney hotel— as far as kids are concerned. There’s even a small fountain/splash area there, too. When we were there swimming, a young worker was leading an activity for some of the kids that wanted to join– kids were narrowing down to find the favorite Disney parks snack using a bracket. Very fun!
2. The Price (Excellent Value!!)
I love that Walt Disney World has a billion (well, more than 25) different on-property hotel options for you to choose from. You can truly find a Disney hotel to fit a wide variety of budgets and are comparably priced to other hotels in the area.
While Art of Animation isn’t the very cheapest hotel on property, it’s still in the “Value” category. (If you are looking for an even-cheaper-but-still-well-themed hotel I’d recommend the All-Star Movies Resort).
The actual price point at Art of Animation varies a decent amount depending on if you are there during off-season ($200/night after taxes for the standard rooms) or a busy peak travel time (up to $399/night for a standard room during the holidays in December).
It’s important to note that the Little Mermaid rooms offer the only standard rooms at this hotel. The Lion King, Nemo, and Cars areas are all Family Suites that are LOVELY and spacious and… much more expensive (those range from $500-$900 per night).
Pro-tip: Although families of 5 do need to buy either two rooms or a larger family suite… children under the age of 3 do NOT count towards this number! AKA Our Family of 5 (2 parents + 8 yr old + 5 yr old + 2 11/12 year old) could stay at a standard room!
3. The “Landscape of Flavors” Food Court
This is a value resort, so there are no on-site sit-down restaurants. For my young family that is absolutely not a problem, especially given how many options for sit-down restaurants the parks provide if you are seeking that experience out. However, they DO have the “Landscape of Flavors” food court that we really enjoyed!
I mean, the meals at the food court certainly don’t rival these amazing quick service meals & snacks in the parks… but they were pretty good! In particular we loved the pepperoni pizza (if you get a whole pizza it’s a pretty good value, at least as Disney goes!), and the salads were decent too.
There are several different food stations so you’re guaranteed to find something for everyone in the family. Then there’s TONS of air-conditioned seating and the whole area is (of course) themed so well. What’s not to love?
They have a wide variety of intricate Disney-themed desserts & cupcakes! Our favorite was the Nemo blue dome cheesecake!
You can mobile-order there now, too. Details found on their website HERE!
4. Sky Liner + Bus Transportation Options
One of the well-known benefits of staying on Disney property is the free transportation from your hotel to the parks. This is true here at the Art of Animation, and there are actually 2 modes of transportation to choose from, depending where you are headed:
- the Sky Liner – which can take you to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios
- the Buses – which can take you to all 4 of the Theme Parks
Obviously the Sky Liner is a newer and more exciting mode of transportation than the buses….BUT beware that the line in the morning is LONG! You queue up with the Pop Century resort guests and… it can take a little while. It is really fun, though, to soar above the sky.
Stroller Pro-tip : Sky Liner doors are NOT wide enough for most double side-by-side strollers (you’ll have to fold it up), but our City select double (front to back) worked great as it was!
5. Kid-Friendly Theming + Atmosphere!
My very favorite part of this resort is just how kid-friendly everything is. So many hotels we go to I feel like I need to shush my children and keep them on their very best behavior. But we could all really relax here because it was DESIGNED with kids in mind. There are corn hole games set out on the lawns, a playground near the Nemo pool, and don’t get me started on the theming…
The theming is SO FUN. Larger than life characters at every turn (maybe perhaps even too large- my kids weren’t loving the 4-story-high Ursula statue we came upon our first night we arrived, ha ha). The Cars section feels like you are strolling through Radiator Springs! The Lion King section has themed music playing as you walk through… it’s just a blast.
Basically, the Art of Animation Resort is the ALDI of the Walt Disney World hotels. It’s kid heaven and everything you need with young kids — without paying for a single thing you don’t. This is under the assumption that you aren’t wanting a hotel with an on-site spa, sit-down restaurants, hot tubs, or peace and quiet… If so, then this is not the place for you.
But if you want to get immersed in Disney character theming, not break the bank, and enjoy soaring in the Sky Liner?? This may just be your place!
That’s it on our Art of Animation 2024 Review!
I’m happy to answer any other questions in the comments section!
Have you been to the Art of Animation Resort before? Would you like to go?
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