(A version of this article was published on Pirates & Princesses, along with similar articles on other Disney Resort Pocket Guide pieces.)
Get ready for a larger-than-life trip to one of the most popular resorts in Walt Disney World. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort celebrates almost 100 years of Disney (and Pixar) animation. The resort’s theming is immediately evident before you even step foot in the resort lobby, as animated images and silhouettes adorn the outsides of the resort buildings. Each of the four sections of the resort are uniquely themed to four popular Disney and Pixar films.
The room amenities throughout Art of Animation Resort far exceed what you may expect in one of Disney’s value resorts. Three of the four buildings – themed for The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and Cars – offer family suites, which can sleep up to six adults. These bright and clever suites include two full bathrooms and a separate bedroom – perfect for parents having their own space after the kids crash. A pull-out couch and a “Murphy” bed (which folds out of the wall) round out the sleeping arrangements. The fourth resort building – themed to The Little Mermaid – offers standard rooms which can sleep up to four adults. The planDisney PDF Pocket Guide offers more details on the different room types.
Disney’s complimentary bus service is the primary option for transportation to most other Walt Disney World locations, though the Disney Skyliner offers transportation to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, along with several other resorts.
Being a value resort, Art of Animation does not offer a table service dining option. But Landscape of Flavors is considered one of the most extensive food courts in all of WDW. Adults can enjoy more mature tastes, while picky eater children can munch on cozy basics like pizza and mac and cheese. The traffic flow at Landscape can be a little clumsy on a busy day, so hold onto that tray tightly!
Ink & Paint Shop has all your resort-specific merchandise, as well as some of the basic small groceries you may desire, especially if you are staying in a family suite.
The largest pool of all WDW resorts resides right here at Art of Animation. In the Big Blue Pool, guests can tiptoe into the zero-entry shallow end, or take a cannonball into the deep end. Listen closely while underwater – you may hear clips and songs from Finding Nemo. Next to the Big Blue Pool are the Schoolyard Sprayground splash area and Squirt’s Righteous Reef playground, which offer smaller kids more options for playing outside the water. Quench your thirst at The Drop Off Pool Bar, which offers a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and basic poolside snacks (think chips and ice cream). Two other smaller (and quieter) pools at the resort include the Flippin’ Fins Pool and the Cozy Cone Pool.
Aside from swimming, additional outdoor entertainment is offered nearby to the Big Blue Pool, including ping pong tables, arts and crafts, kids games, Disney song and trivia contests (mainly geared towards kids), and movies under the stars at night.
Art of Animation is located on Hourglass Lake – an aptly-named small sculpted lake resembling an hourglass. Disney’s Pop Century Resort is located on the other side of Hourglass Lake, and there is a paved walking/running trail accessible to both resorts that circles the lake. There are fun signs located along the trail that entertain with trivia bits, character quotes, and movie song lyrics. Guests can also use the path to get to the Disney Skyliner stop, en route to Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort just might be the best “value” for your resort dollar. Between the theming, the convenience, and the energy, this resort lives up to the size of its giant characters!
planDisney Pocket Guides are especially helpful to guests who are considering staying at a resort they’ve never before experienced. The Pocket Guides take the form of 5-14 page PDF slides, which are easily printable and savable to smart devices. They offer efficient snapshots of the resort basics, including:
- Transportation options
- Room sizes
- Food and beverage options and locations
- Pools and recreation activities
- Shopping
- Tips from the planDisney panel
Check out the full list of planDisney Pocket Guide summaries here.
In addition to Disney Parks Blog, planDisney also releases Pocket Guides via their Instagram page. Following their IG feed is a great stay updated on the newest releases.
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