NOTE: If you are not subscribed to our MouseHouseNewsNet YouTube channel, you may not have seen the video highlighting the challenges the MouseHouseNews.net team faced while thoroughly reviewing Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Before you read this article, please watch the video below. This will provide you with a level understanding of factors we experienced while reviewing the resort.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is one of the most visually impressive Value Resorts at Walt Disney World. From the moment you arrive, Disney animation surrounds you. Giant characters, colorful courtyards, and larger-than-life recreations from movies like Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid make this resort feel more like an attraction than a traditional hotel.
There is also an important choice to make when booking your stay.
Art of Animation offers Little Mermaid Standard Rooms along with spacious Family Suites in the Finding Nemo, Cars, and Lion King sections. That room decision can have a major impact on your stay, but the accommodations are only part of what makes this resort worth considering.
Here’s our look at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, including the rooms, dining, shopping, pools, arcade, recreational activities, and transportation.
The Disney Magic Starts Before You Reach Your Room
Disney’s Art of Animation immediately separates itself from many other Disney Resorts Collection Hotels with its theming. The resort is essentially divided into four movie-inspired worlds: The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Lion King. Its courtyards are filled with enormous character statues and colorful environments inspired by each movie.
The scale is part of the fun.
You aren’t simply looking at a small decorative figure beside a walkway. Characters tower over the buildings and create some fantastic photo opportunities throughout the resort. That makes Art of Animation a resort worth exploring even if you’re not spending much time inside your room.
Animation Hall serves as the central hub, with the lobby, dining, shopping, arcade and transportation areas all concentrated near the front of the property.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Map
Animation Hall
When you first arrive at Disney’s Art of Animation, one of the first places you will visit is Animation Hall. It is the main center of activity and houses all of the service areas at the resort. Although online check-in is available at this and all other Disney resorts, there is a significant check-in area. That’s not all that you’ll find in Animation Hall, however.
Luggage Assistance
If you need to store your luggage while waiting for your room to become available, Luggage Assistance is where you’ll go. They can hold your luggage until your room is ready or, on your check-out day, hold your bags until you’re ready to leave the magic. This allows you to enjoy yourself during a time when you don’t have a room available to stow away your luggage.
Be aware that the line for Luggage Assistance can get long at peak times such as on midday Saturday when people are arriving to start their vacations. To avoid this, use the Airport Luggage Transfer Service at Disney. This service takes your checked bags from Orlando International Airport straight to your room at Art of Animation and select other resorts when it’s ready.
You’ll find Luggage Assistance on the side of Animation Hall near Cars building 1.
Ink & Paint Shop
Art of Animation’s merchandise location inside Animation Hall is Ink & Paint Shop. Ink & Paint Shop is where guests can pick up Disney merchandise, souvenirs, snacks, and other essentials without having to leave the resort.
The shop fits the overall animation theme of the resort, making even a quick merchandise stop feel like part of the experience. It’s also convenient if you realize you’ve forgotten something during your vacation or want to pick up a Disney souvenir before heading home.
Landscape of Flavors
When it comes to dining, Art of Animation keeps things relatively simple. The primary restaurant is Landscape of Flavors, located inside Animation Hall.
This quick-service food court serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and features five food stations with a variety of options. Disney currently has choices including burgers, pizza, salads, pasta, sandwiches, desserts, and specialty beverages. For breakfast, they even have Character Waffles… a departure from the usual Mickey Waffles at other Disney Resorts. The setup works particularly well for a resort where guests often want something quick before heading to the parks.
Mobile ordering is also available, which can make grabbing food and snacks more convenient when you’re returning from a long day at the parks.
Landscape of Flavors isn’t a signature dining destination, but that’s not really the point. It provides plenty of variety without requiring you to leave the resort when you simply want to grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Pixel Play Arcade
If you’re looking for something to do indoors, Pixel Play Arcade is also located inside Animation Hall. The arcade features a selection of video games and gives guests another option when they want a break from the parks or the pool.
For Disney Adults, this can actually be a fun way to kill some time before dinner or while waiting for other members of your travel party.
The Guest Rooms
You generally have two options for room types when staying at Disney’s Art of Animation. Outside of the themed area where you prefer your room to be located, your options are either a Standard Room or a Family Suite. All Standard Rooms here are themed to The Little Mermaid. If you choose a Family Suite, you may be located in the Cars area, Finding Nemo area, or Lion King area.
When you choose to be in a Family Suite, you have the ability to select the area where you wish to be located at the time you make your reservation. You can generally save a few bucks per night if you allow Disney to choose the themed area for you based on availability. The Finding Nemo Family Suites are usually the most expensive rooms on property due to their close proximity to Animation Hall and the Disney Skyliner. The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms are the cheapest due to the lack of being a suite and being the farthest away from all of the services (which means you will be walking a lot).
One big thing that makes Art of Animation different is that it is a pet-friendly resort. There is a limit of 2 dogs per room. You already know there are restrictions that apply, so if you plan to bring your pets, be sure to call (407) 939-5277 ahead of booking. Be sure to read the dog policy.
If you watched the video at the top of the page, you already know that the challenge our team had at Art of Animation was with one of the guest rooms. This is why I highly recommend that you watch that video. However, if you prefer to read without seeing the issue we experienced, keep reading!
Little Mermaid Standard Rooms
The Little Mermaid section offers the resort’s Standard Rooms and provides the more affordable option to experience Art of Animation. The rooms carry the colorful underwater theming you’d expect from The Little Mermaid, with Disney touches throughout.
The biggest consideration is space.
Unlike the Family Suites, these are traditional hotel rooms. That makes the Little Mermaid rooms particularly appealing if you’re the type of Disney traveler who spends most of the day in the theme parks and primarily needs the room as a place to sleep, shower, and recharge. It is a typical hotel room with beds, a TV, single-serve coffee machine, single-sink bathroom vanity, and combination bathtub/shower. You can also expect a small beverage cooler, iron with ironing board, and safe.
For Disney Adults, these basics at the lowest price found at Disney’s Art of Animation can make the Little Mermaid rooms an especially interesting option. You get the Disney Resort experience, access to the Disney Skyliner, and all of the resort’s amenities without paying the higher price associated with a Family Suite.
Family Suites
The Family Suites offer a completely different experience. Family Suites can accommodate up to six Disney Adults. In the Finding Nemo Family Suite toured by the MouseHouseNews.net team, there was a separate bedroom with a queen-size bed, a double-size convertible table bed in a common area, and a double-size sleeper sofa in the living room. You basically get everything you get with the Standard Rooms plus the beds mentioned above, two full bathrooms instead of one, two televisions, and a kitchenette with larger beverage cooler. The separate bedroom and attached bathroom alone could be worth the money.
That additional space is the biggest advantage. Instead of everyone sharing one traditional hotel-room layout, guests have separate areas where they can spread out. The two bathrooms can also be a major advantage when multiple people are getting ready at the same time.
If you value space more than getting the lowest possible room rate, the Family Suites make a strong case for the upgrade. I would also point out, however, that the cost for these Family Suites can exceed the cost of some Disney Deluxe resort rooms. However, if you need the space, this is a great option.
Three Themed Pools Give Guests Plenty of Options
One of Art of Animation’s biggest selling points is its pool lineup.
The resort has three themed pools, giving guests plenty of opportunities to cool down without heading to a water park.
The Big Blue Pool
The Big Blue Pool is the centerpiece. Inspired by Finding Nemo, the pool features enormous characters from the movie and is officially recognized as the largest resort pool at Walt Disney World. The surrounding theming makes this much more than a standard hotel swimming pool.
There’s also an interactive water play area.
The Big Blue Pool is also the location for many of the resort’s scheduled activities.
Flippin’ Fins Pool
The Little Mermaid section has its own themed pool. The Flippin’ Fins Pool features an underwater orchestra led by Sebastian, continuing the movie’s theme throughout the pool area.
This pool tends to offer a different atmosphere from the massive Big Blue Pool.
Cozy Cone Pool
The Cars section has the Cozy Cone Pool, inspired by the Cozy Cone Motel from the Pixar film. This pool area continues the Cars theming with cone-shaped cabanas and other touches inspired by the movie.
Having three pools is a nice advantage because guests aren’t limited to one central swimming area.
The Drop Off Pool Bar
If you’re spending the afternoon at the pool, The Drop Off Pool Bar provides another dining option. Located next to The Big Blue Pool, the bar serves beverages along with food and snacks. Current offerings include sandwiches, salads, pizza, hot dogs, chicken strips, pretzels and frozen treats, along with cocktails, beer and non-alcoholic beverages.
That makes it convenient when you don’t want to dry off, change clothes, and walk back to Landscape of Flavors just because you’re hungry. For Disney Adults, the pool bar also provides an opportunity to grab a drink and relax for a little while between park adventures.
There’s More To Do Than Just Swim
One of the things I like about Art of Animation is the number of activities available when you’re not in the theme parks. Disney’s recreation offerings include campfire activities, Movies Under the Stars, a jogging trail, the Pixel Play Arcade, and scheduled resort activities.
The resort’s September 2026 recreation schedule also includes activities such as poolside entertainment, Mickey tie-dye, and campfire activities. That makes it possible to build some downtime into your Disney vacation without simply sitting inside your room watching TV.
Campfire Activities
Like most other Disney Resorts, you can enjoy a nice campfire nightly at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. You can roast free marshmallows or purchase a s’mores kit between The Lion King buildings 6 and 10!
The 1.3-Mile Running Trail
Guests who like to stay active can take advantage of the resort’s 1.3-mile running trail. The trail winds around Hourglass Lake through Art of Animation and Disney’s Pop Century Resort, providing an opportunity to get some exercise without leaving the property.
The size of the resort also means simply walking around the different themed sections can become an activity of its own.
Transportation
Transportation is one of the biggest reasons I would consider Disney’s Art of Animation or neighboring Pop Century Resort. These are the only two Disney Value Resorts with access to the Disney Skyliner!
The Joys Of The Disney Skyliner
The resort has direct access to the Disney Skyliner, which provides transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. For guests who plan to spend a lot of time at those two parks, this can be a huge advantage. There’s something especially convenient about being able to leave EPCOT or Hollywood Studios and hop onto a gondola instead of waiting for a bus.
The Skyliner also connects Art of Animation with other Skyliner resorts such as Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, opening up additional opportunities for resort hopping and dining at places like Sebastian’s Bistro.
There is one important caveat.
The Skyliner can experience delays and temporary stoppages, so there’s a possibility that the Skyliner can have a bad day.
Disney Bus Transportation Covers The Rest
When the Skyliner isn’t an option, Disney provides complimentary bus transportation. The resort’s bus stop is located outside Animation Hall, and buses provide access to destinations throughout Walt Disney World, including the theme parks, Disney Springs, and the water parks.
That combination gives Art of Animation a nice transportation advantage.
You have the Skyliner for EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, while buses cover the destinations that aren’t directly served by the gondolas. Art of Animation guests can conveniently track when the next Disney bus will arrive to take you to your destination.
Which Room Should You Choose?
After looking at everything Art of Animation offers, the room decision comes down to what matters most to you.
Choose the Little Mermaid Standard Room if:
- You want to keep your resort costs lower.
- You don’t need a lot of additional living space.
- You spend most of your time in the parks.
- You like the Little Mermaid theme.
- You want access to the Skyliner without paying for a Family Suite.
Choose a Family Suite if:
- You need more space.
- You want two bathrooms.
- You are traveling with a larger group.
- You want separate living and sleeping areas.
- You plan to spend more time relaxing at the resort.
The Family Suites offer substantially more space, while the Little Mermaid rooms can make more sense for guests who simply don’t need all that extra room.
Booking Art of Animation Resort
Before I get into the last part of this review, I want to acknowledge the amount of time it takes to plan a Disney World vacation. If you have enjoyed our tips and reviews on MouseHouseNews.net and would like to have my help when you are planning your trip, I can help! I am a Travel Advisor with Purely Luxe Vacations and can book your Disney World trip for you. My basic services are no fee to you. If you would like me to apply the latest savings and provide you a quote, just click the button below.
Is Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Worth It?
Art of Animation offers a lot for a Value Resort. You get elaborate Disney and Pixar theming, multiple pools, a full quick-service food court, a pool bar, merchandise shopping, an arcade, organized recreational activities, and access to the Disney Skyliner. The biggest question is whether the resort’s room category fits your vacation style.
The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms provide a more affordable way to experience the resort. The Family Suites offer considerably more space and amenities for guests willing to pay more. Then there is the resort itself.
Art of Animation isn’t simply a place to sleep between park days. The pools, recreation, dining, shopping, and transportation options give guests plenty of reasons to spend some time exploring the resort.
For guests who want their Disney hotel to feel like an extension of the theme parks, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is one of the most immersive Value Resort choices at Walt Disney World. MouseHouseNews.net will bring you more Disney World resort reviews… be sure to check out our current reviews. Also, subscribe to the MouseHouseNewsNet YouTube channel for the sights and sounds from Walt Disney World.
