How to Stretch Disney Dollars at the Art of Animation

The Art of Animation, the newest value resort, located across the Hourglass Lake from Pop Century Resort, wowed my kids. It offers lots of value for families and several pools with punches of color along with my kids’ favorite characters. When your family is all about the park time, this resort might be the right choice for you.

What I loved about the Art of Animation:

• The theming of the Art of Animation is super cute with giant statues and playgrounds.
• The pools are kid magnets.
• The Art of Animation’s size is manageable to walk while pulling luggage.

What I wanted at the Art of Animation:

• A coffee maker, none of the value resorts have them in standard rooms.
• More pillows, I found two per bed.
• More transportation options to the parks, this resort uses buses only.

Staying at the Art of Animation Resort

Built in 2012, the Art of Animation offers the nicest property of the value resorts ($-$$). It features 10 four-story buildings with three resort-style pools and a playground.

The Art of Animation Resort features more family suites than regular rooms with 1,120 suites. Each suite offers 565 square feet with amenities like a master bedroom, two full bathrooms and a kitchenette with a coffee maker, a microwave and a mini-refrigerator.

The Art of Animation features 864 standard rooms, all decorated with The Little Mermaid theming. Each room offers 277 square feet, a little bigger than the Pop Century. Outfitted with a king or a pair of queen beds, the Art of Animation standard rooms met my expectations for value rooms.

With complimentary Wi-Fi, staying connected comes easy. The Art of Animation also features an ATM, resort airline check-in, a guest laundry, Disney merchandise delivery and childcare services.

The self-parking is complimentary. I used the Walt Disney World bus transportation and the Magical Express (complimentary Orlando airport transportation). Both are efficient though we waited at peak times.

I visited the Art of Animation Resort in April.

My Standard Room at the Art of Animation

I reserved a standard room with two doubles beds on the third floor of Building 7. I entered my room from an outside corridor and used the elevator to reach the third floor.

The buildings are well-maintained and vibrate with color. The rooms overlook the courtyard and don’t feature private balconies or patios.

I reserved The Little Mermaid themed room and my boys grunted at the theming. The downside to the standard room option is The Little Mermaid is the only theme.Cars themed standard rooms aren’t available which annoys most boys. Though I loved it, it’s super cute.

Our room featured 277 square feet, a bit bigger than the Pop Century Resort. Though still a little tight for a pack-n-play. This room provides sleeping for four with just two pillows per bed. I needed a pillow fairy to visit me and grant me another set of pillows.

Our room featured a small table with two chairs, a small refrigerator, a flat-screen television, a phone and an in-room safe. I didn’t find a coffee maker, a charging station, real glassware, a ceiling fan or separate closet. I missed some of those items, especially the coffee maker.

My Bathroom Art of Animation

The bathroom area was small though it provided a curtain in the vanity area so I could dress while my boys, 9 and 12, slept in. I found the tub and toilet separated by a door. The tub area features treasures under the sea tiles and the Ariel shower curtain is super cute.

The vanity area at the Art of Animation features a swirly blue countertop with one sink. The mirror above the sink continues The Little Mermaid theming, complete with a shell light fixture.

On the countertop, I found a plastic ice bucket and disposable cups. Basic toiletries included: bath soap, facial bar, shampoo and conditioner. I didn’t find lotion.

I found an iron and ironing board, hair dryer and luggage rack. Though I don’t like that the closet rod is next to the vanity. I prefer a real closet with a door. The room gets messy with the kids when I can’t hide the clutter behind a door.

I found four towels with a couple of hand towels. The linens seemed of nicer quality than our room at the Pop Century Resort.

Activities at The Art of Animation

The Art of Animation Resort boasts the largest resort pool at Walt Disney World, The Finding Nemo themed pool. Sporting underwater speakers and a splashing area, this pool is the center of kid fun.

The Cozy Cone Pool and the Flippin’ Fins pool are also kid magnets. The Schoolyard Spray ground and the Squirts Righteous Reef attract the littles from across the resort.

I found a playground in the Lion King area. A 1.38-mile jogging trail runs by the lake. I found bike rentals and surrey bike rentals along the jogging trail too.

Like most Walt Disney World Resorts, watch movies under the stars between The Loin King building and Finding Nemo building.

Inside the Art of Animation Hall, I found the Pixel Play Arcade.

Dining at the Art of Animation

The Art of Animation Resort features the Landscape of Flavors, quick-service food court with American and international favorites. Open from 6 a.m. to midnight, it serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Outside at the Finding Nemo pool, I found tables that you could enjoy a snack or cocktail from the nearby Drop Off Pool Bar.

In-room pizza delivery is available at the Art of Animation Resort.

Where’s the Art of Animation?

The Art of Animation Resort is located at 1850 Animation Way. The Art of Animation provides the complimentary Magical Express to and from the Orlando International Airport (MCO).

Walt Disney World is 21 miles from the Orlando airport. During my stay, I stayed at several area resorts and rented a car from the airport and returned it to the drop off in Disney Springs. An option if you are spending a day exploring the area before your park days.

Note about transferring resorts during your stay:

I changed resorts three times during my five-day/four-night stay at Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World will transfer your bags free of cost. I packed up our bags and rolled them down to luggage services that transferred them in the afternoon, usually between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

If I wanted a bell hop to grab my bags from my room I would have to stay with my bags until the bell hop arrived. I found this inconvenient and brought them to luggage services myself, located next to the main entrance.

Looking for more reviews and information?

I’ve stayed at the Pop Century Resort, the Caribbean Beach Resort, the Coronado Springs Resort, the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Grand Floridan Resort and Spa.

Looking for off-property resorts, I’ve stayed at the Wyndham’s Lake Buena Vista, the Best Western Lake Buena Vista and the Mystic Dunes Resort and Golf Club.

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