Staying at the Disney Art of Animation Resort is a polarizing experience for Disney regulars. Seriously. Some families won’t stay anywhere else, while others think the price tag for a "Value" resort is a total scam. It’s the newest of the value-tier hotels at Walt Disney World—though "new" is a relative term since it opened back in 2012—and it sits right on the Skyliner route. That Gondola access is a game-changer.
You’ve probably seen the photos of the giant Simba or the life-sized Cars characters. It’s flashy. It’s loud. It is, quite literally, like walking into a DVD menu from 2005. But beneath the 35-foot tall Ursulas and the colorful facades, there’s a lot of nuance to whether this hotel actually makes sense for your specific trip. Honestly, it’s often more expensive than some "Moderate" resorts like Coronado Springs, which feels weird. We need to talk about why that is.
The Suite Situation: Why Art of Animation Isn't a Standard Hotel
Most people don’t realize that the Disney Art of Animation Resort is actually two different hotel styles smashed into one property. You have the standard Little Mermaid rooms, which are your basic, run-of-the-mill hotel rooms with two queen beds and an exterior entry. Then, you have the Family Suites. These make up the bulk of the resort.
These suites are themed after The Lion King, Cars, and Finding Nemo. They sleep six. You get a master bedroom, a living area with a pull-out sofa, and a "Inovabed" that converts from a dining table into a bed. It sounds cramped, but having two full bathrooms is the real MVP here. If you’ve ever tried to get six people ready for a 7:00 AM rope drop at Magic Kingdom with only one shower, you know the struggle. It’s a nightmare. The second bathroom justifies the price for a lot of large families.
The Cars wing is arguably the best-designed area on the entire property. The Imagineers nailed the "Radiator Springs" vibe. They used actual "asphalt" textured walkways and put orange cones everywhere. It’s immersive in a way that the Little Mermaid section just isn't. The Mermaid rooms are located at the furthest point from the lobby and the transportation. It’s a long walk. Like, a "my feet are already dying and I haven't even reached the park" kind of walk.
The Skyliner Factor and the "Value" Label
Let’s get real about the price. Disney calls this a Value resort. But if you're paying $500 a night for a Nemo Suite during peak season, "value" feels like a punch in the gut. The reason for the premium? The Disney Skyliner.
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Art of Animation shares a Skyliner station with Disney’s Pop Century Resort, located right on Generation Gap Bridge. This takes you to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. It’s fast. It’s breezy. It beats the heck out of the old bus system. However, when the lightning starts—which happens every afternoon in Florida—the Skyliner shuts down. Suddenly, you’re stuck in a massive line for a "limited" bus service along with 2,000 other frustrated parents. It's a gamble.
If you are staying in the Little Mermaid section, you are paying a premium for the Skyliner but you're also walking 10-15 minutes just to get to the station. At that point, you might as well stay at Pop Century for a lower price and get the same transportation perk. Pop Century rooms were also recently renovated with queen beds, whereas the Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation still feel a bit dated with their double-bed configurations in some older layouts, though most have been updated to queens now.
Dining and the Big Blue Pool
The Big Blue Pool is the largest hotel pool in all of Walt Disney World. It’s massive. It used to have underwater speakers that played Disney music, though the reliability of those speakers is hit or miss these days. It’s a "zero-entry" pool, which is great for toddlers who just want to splash in two inches of water.
Landscape of Flavors is the food court here. It’s better than your average burger-and-fries joint. They have real plates—or at least they did before the world went to compostable disposables—and the menu is surprisingly varied. You can get tandoori chicken or Mongolian beef alongside the standard chicken tenders. It’s loud, though. Imagine 500 kids screaming while you're trying to drink your morning Joffrey’s coffee. It’s an experience.
One thing people get wrong: they think they can walk over to Pop Century to eat if they don't like the food here. You totally can. It’s a five-minute walk across the bridge. Pop Century has different tie-dye cheesecake and different vibes. It’s one of the few places in Disney where "resort hopping" for dinner is actually easy and doesn't require a Minnie Van or a complex bus transfer.
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Is it too "Kiddie" for Adults?
I’ll be honest. If you don't have kids and you aren't a die-hard Pixar fan, you might hate it here. The Disney Art of Animation Resort is designed for sensory overload. The colors are bright. The statues are huge. The lobby smells like a mix of sunscreen and sugar.
For an adults-only trip, the lack of a sit-down restaurant or a quiet lounge is a drawback. You’re better off at a Moderate resort like Port Orleans French Quarter if you want peace. But, if you’re a "Disney Adult" who wants to feel like you’re living inside a movie, the Cars wing is genuinely cool. The attention to detail in the Cozy Cone area is top-tier.
What about the noise?
Walls are thin. It’s a Value resort, which means it’s built with concrete blocks and exterior corridors (except for the suites, which have interior hallways). If you have a room near the pool, you will hear the "Pool Party" music until 9:00 or 10:00 PM. If you’re a light sleeper, request a room facing the lake. It’s much quieter and you might even see some of the higher fireworks from EPCOT in the distance, though it’s not a "view" by any official standard.
Hidden Details and "Easter Eggs"
The lobby is called "Animation Hall." Check out the chandelier. It’s made of storyboards from the films represented at the resort. Some of them are signed by the actual animators. It’s one of the few places where the "Art" in the resort's name feels sophisticated rather than just "big plastic statues."
There’s also a drawing class usually held in the lobby. It’s free. Or, well, "included" in your very expensive room rate. An animator walks you through how to draw a character. It’s a great way to kill an hour on a rest day without spending more money at the parks.
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The Logistics of the Family Suite
The "Inovabed" is the secret weapon of the suites. When it’s a table, it’s a solid spot for a quick breakfast. When it flips down, the mattress is actually surprisingly comfortable. It’s way better than a standard sofa bed where you can feel the metal bar digging into your spine all night.
The master bedroom has its own bathroom and a real door. This is huge. Parents can stay up, watch TV, or have a drink while the kids sleep in the other room. In a standard room at a place like All-Star Movies, once the kids are out, the parents are sitting in the dark, whispering in bed at 8:30 PM. The suite changes the entire dynamic of the vacation.
Making the Final Call
Don't book the Little Mermaid rooms unless you absolutely have to stay at this specific resort for the theme. They are overpriced for what they are. Stay at Pop Century instead.
Book the Family Suites if:
- You have 5-6 people.
- You want two bathrooms.
- You plan on using the Skyliner every single day.
- Your kids are obsessed with Lightning McQueen or Simba.
If you're a family of four, you might find more "luxury" for the same price at a Moderate resort, but you’ll lose that extra bathroom. It’s a trade-off. Disney knows exactly how to price these things to make you second-guess your budget.
Actionable Insights for Your Stay:
- Request the Right Building: In the Cars section, buildings 1 and 3 are closest to the lobby. In Lion King, building 6 is the sweet spot.
- Mobile Order Early: Landscape of Flavors gets packed. Order your breakfast on the My Disney Experience app while you're still getting dressed.
- Check the Skyliner Schedule: It often opens 30-60 minutes before park opening. Being at the front of that line means you beat the bus crowds to Hollywood Studios.
- Refillable Mugs: If you’re in a suite, you’re closer to the soda fountains. If you’re in a Mermaid room, the mug might not be worth the 20-minute round-trip walk for a Coke.
- Walk the Lake: The path around Hourglass Lake is about 1.3 miles. It’s a great morning run spot and has fun signs with trivia about the years represented at Pop Century across the water.
The Disney Art of Animation Resort isn't trying to be elegant. It's trying to be a cartoon. If you lean into that—the noise, the colors, the giant plastic crabs—it’s one of the most "magical" stays on property. Just don't expect a quiet spa retreat. You’re in the middle of a theme park, even when you’re in your pajamas.