Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is a value-tier hotel on Bay Lake in Walt Disney World, built around four courtyards themed to Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid. Family suites opened in stages starting May 31, 2012, with the standard rooms following that September, and the resort now totals 1,984 rooms split between 1,120 family suites and 864 standard rooms.
The draw here is space and theming at value prices: the family suites sleep up to six with a separate bedroom, kitchenette, and two bathrooms, which is rare at this price tier. Add a Disney Skyliner gondola station shared with neighboring Pop Century, and it’s a practical base for families who want big Disney theming without a deluxe-resort bill.
Stats at a Glance
- Resort: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Location: Bay Lake, Walt Disney World, near ESPN Wide World of Sports
- Opened: May 31, 2012 (phased opening through September 2012)
- Rooms: 1,984 total: 864 standard rooms, 1,120 family suites
- Price tier: Value
- Park transport: Disney bus direct to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom; Disney Skyliner gondola (via a transfer at Caribbean Beach) is the routine ride to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, with buses to those two parks provided only when the Skyliner is down
- Perks: Early Theme Park Entry, Disney transportation, Lightning Lane advance purchase window for on-site guests
- Theme: Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid courtyards
Rooms, Theming and Dining
Each of the resort’s four courtyards is built around a different animated film. The Finding Nemo and Lion King sections hold the family suites, with a queen bed in a separate bedroom plus a sleeper sofa and convertible table bed in the living area — enough for six people and more storage and privacy than a typical value-resort room. The Little Mermaid courtyard, decorated with oversized character cutouts, holds standard rooms sized like those at Disney’s other value resorts.
Landscape of Flavors food court is the resort’s main dining option, with several stations covering everything from burgers to pad thai, plus a pool bar and evening pizza delivery. The Big Blue Pool, themed to Finding Nemo, is billed as the largest pool at Walt Disney World, and two smaller themed pools serve the Cars and Little Mermaid courtyards.
Getting to the Parks and Perks
Disney buses run directly from the resort to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. For Epcot and Hollywood Studios, the routine ride is the Disney Skyliner gondola, boarding at the station shared with Pop Century next door and transferring to a second gondola line at Caribbean Beach Resort; Disney only swaps in buses to those two parks when the Skyliner is closed, typically for weather or maintenance.
Staying on Disney property unlocks Early Theme Park Entry (30 minutes before official opening at any park) and the ability to purchase Lightning Lane access further in advance than off-site visitors, both of which apply here just as they do at Disney’s deluxe resorts.
Who Should Stay Here
Families of five or six who don’t want to book two hotel rooms are the clearest fit, since the suites are priced and sized specifically for that group. It also suits Disney-animation fans and anyone comfortable relying on the Skyliner and its Caribbean Beach transfer to reach Epcot and Hollywood Studios — this resort has no direct park entrance, so plan on the gondola or a bus for every visit. Travelers wanting quiet or resort-exclusive dining should look at pricier options instead, since the food court and pools get busy with the resort’s large family-suite crowd.
Explore more: More Where to Stay guides, Epcot guide, Disney’s Hollywood Studios guide, Magic Kingdom guide, Disney’s Animal Kingdom guide.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort FAQs
Does staying at Art of Animation get you early entry to the parks?
Yes. As a Walt Disney World-owned resort, staying here qualifies guests for Early Theme Park Entry, 30 minutes ahead of the general public at any of the four parks, and for the standard on-site Lightning Lane advance-purchase window.
Is Disney’s Art of Animation Resort worth the price for a family of four or fewer?
If you don’t need the suite layout, a standard room in the Little Mermaid section is priced like other Disney value resorts and mainly buys you the Skyliner connection and film theming; smaller parties without a need for suite space may find similar value at Pop Century next door.
How do you get from Art of Animation to Epcot or Hollywood Studios?
Routine transport to those two parks is the Disney Skyliner gondola, which requires a transfer at Caribbean Beach Resort. Direct buses to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom run from the same transportation hub, and Disney only adds bus service to Epcot and Hollywood Studios when the Skyliner is temporarily out of service.
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Photo: zannaland / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.