Disney's Art of Animation resort is the newest value resort and has plenty of character! Known for its vibrant color scheme, larger-than-life theming, and a variety of family suites, AoA is a great resort option for families. The resort also shares the only floating skyliner hub with pop century resort and is a quick 3 minute ride to the main hub at Caribbean beach resort.
We stayed at Art of Animation resort for the first time in late August 2021. It was a bit of a last minute family trip and our daughters first time at Walt Disney World. Because of this, we wanted a resort that had a uniquely Disney themed experience. We were not disappointed with Art of Animation!
Before even setting foot in the guest room buildings, guests are immediately immersed into the world of Disney and Pixar films. There are four distinct areas that are each themed after a popular Disney movie: Cars, the Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, and the Lion King. The Little Mermaid section is the only area at Art of Animation that offers standard guests rooms for up to four guests per room. Meanwhile, the other three sections offer family suites. The family suites sleep up to six adults in 3 separate sleeping areas equipped with 1 double-size table bed, 1 queen sized bed, and 1 double size sleeper sofa.
One of the main complaints of AoA is that there is a long walk from the main lobby/transportation to the standard Little Mermaid rooms. Although we can definitely understand the complaints, we felt that the immersive theming of the resorts made up for the 10-15 minute walk to Disney transportation. There is so much to see within this resort. We definitely recommend families bring a stroller if they have little ones and are staying in the Little Mermaid standard rooms. At the time of our visit, our daughter had just turned 5 and we were glad we decided to bring the stroller.
We stayed in one of the Little Mermaid rooms on our vacation and our daughter was ecstatic. You are immersed into Ariel’s world from the moment you step inside. From the clamshell headboards, scallop-backed chairs, and mirrors that look like shells, this room truly makes you feel like Ariel is a part of your world. Even the bathroom is themed after Ariel's grotto! Our only true complaint is that the room felt a bit cramped, even though there were only 3 of us.
The resort is definitely geared more towards the larger families staying in the suites, which can sleep up to 6 adults. Each suite comes with 1 queen bed, 1 double-sized table bed, and 1 double-sized sofa sleeper. Families are given two separate bathrooms, a master bedroom, a living area, and a dining area. While at first glance, it may not look like there are enough beds, but the dining table and couch both turn into beds. The suite option definitely gives a family more room to spread out vs having two individual rooms.
When staying in the Lion King suite, everything the light touches is your kingdom! This suite is themed exceptionally well. Even the flooring has a pebble-like texture to it! Our personal favorite is the circle of life sunrise bathroom.
The Cars suites are perfectly cozy and welcoming for any Cars lovers out there. From traffic cone lighting to road map tables, the Cars theming is a fun option for any motor enthusiast out there. This family suite theme is our least favorite of the three, but our daughter is a little bias towards the other two suite themes. This suite would certainly be a huge hit for our nephews.
Last but not least is the Finding Nemo suites! From the coral-inspired furniture to the porthole mirrors, this suite is sure to create a splash.
The Finding Nemo theming and building location make this the best family suite option at AoA. Located in the center of the resort, the Finding Nemo suites are closest to the main lobby and the big blue pool. This can be very convenient in terms of location, but keep in mind that the pool area and lobby both get busy throughout the day. We also noticed during our stay that the pool area does not have much in terms of shade. Be prepared with extra sunblock, hats, and extra drinks on hand.
Art of Animation resort guests are able to enjoy a variety of activities throughout their day, including drawing classes, campfire activities, and movies under the stars. There is even a 1.38 mile jogging trail that surrounds the resort and a small playground for children located in the Finding Nemo courtyard.
We have not personally stayed in the family suites at AoA, but we think its a great option for a family that would otherwise be reserving two standard rooms. The theming of these family suites is very well done and is perfect for the family that wants to get the full Disney experience. The standard Little Mermaid rooms also deliver fun theming, but are also one of the smaller rooms we have stayed in while on property.
Although Art of Animation is considered a value resort, it is the most expensive value resort option and is geared more towards larger families staying in the suites. The little mermaid standard rooms are certainly the most cost-effective option, with room rates starting around $180 a night, but would not be able to accommodate more than four to a room and are the furthest from the main lobby and transportation. Art of Animation is our favorite value resort option for a budget-friendly stay. While we enjoyed our time at Art of Animation, we would choose a moderate or deluxe category resort over it when the budget allows. If space is a concern for your family, the family suites are a budget-friendly option with mesmerizing theming. The main appeal of art of Animation resort is that it affords larger families the ability to book a moderate-level resort at a value-resort budget.
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