Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Disney's Art of Animation address:
1850 Animation Way
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Phone: (407) 938-7000
Maximum per room: 6 (Family Suites) / 4 (Standard Rooms)
Number of Rooms: 1120 Family suites and 864 standard guest rooms
Room size: 565 sq. ft (Family Suites) / 277 sq. ft (Standard Rooms)
Art of Animation Resort Overview
Disney's Art of Animation resort opened in May of 2012. The resort features 1,120 family suites themed around such Disney animated classics as Finding Nemo, Cars, and The Lion King. The Little Mermaid building houses an additional 864 standard guest rooms. The Little Mermaid section was originally planned as an extension to Disney's Pop Century resort (which sits adjacent to Art of Animation), but those plans were abandoned in early 2002. As part of those plans, a bridge was built spanning Hour Glass Lake connecting the two resorts.
The Art of Animation Resort brings guests into the world of the animation process, from the first pencil sketches all the way to the films' close-ups. As you walk through the resort, make sure to look all around, including up, and discover the magic of animation. Beginning at check-in, pencil drawings set the stage as the process begins. As you move through Animation Hall, the sketches become more detailed as the animators figure out more of who their characters will be. A chandelier hanging from the ceiling is filled with storyboards.
Next, you see the colorscript wall, right next to the Ink and Paint Shop. To discover the films' backgrounds, we head into the Landscape of Flavors food court. This quick-service restaurant is divided into four separate seating areas, one for each movie represented in the resort. As you step outside, you can see everything working together to create the perfect medium shot. The last part of the process is stepping into the rooms - the closeup.
Though Disney’s Art of Animation is labeled a ‘value’ resort, it really stands in a league of its own. Most of the resort is made up of spacious Family Suites that sleep up to six people, with only one section offering standard rooms, so prices tend to run higher than nearby options like Pop Century. But beyond the cost, just about everything at Art of Animation feels like a step up, from the theming to the amenities, setting it apart from other value resorts at Walt Disney World.
Art of Animation Resort Rooms
Each set of buildings focuses on a different Disney film and the details start before you even enter the rooms. The outside of each building is covered in characters and icons from the films.
PHOTO GALLERY: Cars Family Suites
As you walk up to the Cars wing, you walk down a freshly blacktopped road (can you picture Lightning McQueen paving the road, just like in the movie?) right up to the Cozy Cone Motel, complete with a Cozy Cone pool and cone-shaped cabanas!
To enter the different buildings, you actually step into the different shops around Radiator Springs!
PHOTO GALLERY: Finding Nemo Family Suites
The Finding Nemo theme is set off by the "Big Blue" pool, complete with Mr. Ray soaring above it all. This is the section where the main pool for the resort is located, and at nearly 12,000 square feet, it is the largest pool on Walt Disney World property.
The detail doesn't stop outside. Every fixture in the rooms fits the theme. The Finding Nemo rooms have coral-shaped chairs and ceiling lights that look like bubbles. The bathroom is designed like the submarine scene in the movie, right down to the porthole that serves as a mirror.
Lion King fans will love Zazu performing on the headboards and Pumbaa and Timon decorating the shower curtain. Cars suites are located inside the "Cozy Cone Motel" and the theme in the room definately evokes the 'motel' feel. Tool chests serve as drawers and storage spaces, while a map of Radiator Springs adorns the top of the coffee table.
REVIEW: Disney's Art of Animation Resort’s Accessible Lion King Suite
PHOTO GALLERY: The Lion King Family Suites
The Lion King buildings are set in an African landscape, with an elephant graveyard play area. A giant-sized Mufasa overlooks the scene.
The Little Mermaid courtyard is filled with the treasures, like dinglehoppers, that Ariel has rescued from the human world, just as she did in the movie.
These buildings house 864 rooms and are similar to the rooms at the existing value rooms.
REVIEW: Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney's Art of Animation Resort
PHOTO GALLERY: Little Mermaid Standard Rooms
1,120 family suites are divided between The Lion King, Cars, and Finding Nemo buildings. These suites each sleep six guests and have a kitchenette, 2 bathrooms, a master bedroom, and 3 separate sleeping areas. One interesting feature of these rooms is the "Inovabed" - a table that converts to a bed in seconds.
Price: Rooms span a wide variety of pricing since both standard rooms and family suites are available. Booking a room only reservation at this resort requires a one night deposit at the time of booking. If you need to cancel your reservation, you can do so up to 5 days prior to your arrival to avoid losing your deposit. Reservations within 5 days of arrival forfeit the deposit amount. To get a quote for a specific date or vacation package, please visit us at Dreams Unlimited Travel. Our agents specialize in booking Disney vacations and can make recommendations to fit your specific needs.
Select rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort are dog-friendly. There is an additional per-night cost to use this service. Dogs must be leashed in all public areas, vaccinated, and well behaved. For more information on this service click HERE.
Art of Animation Resort Dining
Landscape of Flavors food court
The 606-seat food court is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Choose from separate food stations featuring a selection of entrees, pizza, pasta, burgers, chicken, salads, sandwiches, and plant-based cuisine. A "Grab 'n Go" market is also available. Some popular offerings at this food court are the Sketchbook Cake, butter chicken, and Mongolian beef.
If you are looking for fresh food that is not chicken strips, burgers, or pizza, head to the Entrées section in the food court where you'll find dishes such as salmon, chicken, and meatloaf. You'll also have a choice of two sides and while the options can change, you'll often see steamed rice, mashed potatoes, green beans, and broccoli. You won't find these dishes listed in the app to Mobile Order.
Something that sets Landscape of Flavors apart from other food courts on property is its attention to beverages. Guests can get made-to-order fruit smoothies, lemonade and pomegranate limeade. Regular coffee is available, as well as French vanilla or iced mochas. Food can be paired with a half bottle of wine if desired. Organic teas, beer (even gluten-free!), and juices are also served.
The restaurant is divided into four themed seating areas, each one designed like the backgrounds in the four films represented at the resort. The art on the walls are landscape paintings from the films.
Drop Off Pool Bar
Poolside snack bar features quick foods and pizza delivery.
Located near the food court is the Pixel Play Arcade and the Ink and Paint Gift Shop.
Activities for Kids
While activities around the resort will vary by season, there is never a shortage of things to do for the kids. Poolside activities happen throughout the day and range from games like "Name that Tune" and "Disney Trivia" to "Nemo Bingo" and "Fish Toss." Activities typically start in the afternoon and run into early evening. There are also pool parties and dance parties that happen sporadically throughout day. Each night in the Lion King courtyard, a different Disney film is shown (times vary based on the season, be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for times and details).
The Pixel Play arcade is located right off the main lobby and is one of the larger arcades on property. The arcade offers a wide variety of games for all age groups (including some 'old school' video games for the parents). Some games award 'points' that can be redeemed for prizes. All the games work off the 'arcade card' system. You can obtain an arcade card in the arcade and purchase points to charge it up. The more points you purchase the better the deal. 50 points is $1, and 2000 points is $25 (you can also buy points for $5, $10 and $20). Cards can be recharged as needed and work in all arcades at Walt Disney World.
Babysitting Services - Babysitting is available through Kids Nite Out, Inc. - which is not owned or operated by Disney. Caregivers provide in-room services which include playing games, reading, and generally entertaining your kids. Services are also available through Kids Nite Out to plan parties and special events. Advanced reservations are required and services are available 24 hours per day. There is a 4 hour minimum for children 6 months to 12 years old. Cancellations must be made 24-hours in advance to avoid the 4 hour minimum cancellation fee. Reservations can be made by calling (407) 828-0920.
Resort Pools/Recreation
The main pool at the resort is in the Finding Nemo courtyard - the "Big Blue" pool, themed around the film. At 11,859 square feet, this is the largest resort pool at Walt Disney World. A giant Mr. Ray, whose wingspan is 27 feet, looks over the area, which includes a colorful reef and the East Australian Current. Get your picture taken with Crush or one of the other 2,500 figures decorating the resort. A children's splash area, the Righteous Reef, is the perfect place for your kids to cool off with Squirt.
In addition to the themed buildings, there are 4 courtyards at the resort - each one inspired by the four films represented here. Each courtyard features icons and sculptures for kids to play with and around.
For more poolside recreation, guests can head to the Pixel Play Arcade or the Drop Off pool bar.
"Quiet pools" are located in the Cars (Cozy Cone Pool) and The Little Mermaid (Flippin' Fins Pool) wings.
Transportation
Disney buses run to each of the theme parks plus Disney Springs approximately every 20 minutes. The bus marquees will indicate the buses' main destinations.
The Disney Skyliner gives Resort guests another means of transportation. Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort share a Disney Skyliner station that feels whimsical and contextual with both resorts. Upon departing the gondola station, Skyliner passengers will ascend over Hourglass Lake and enjoy a panoramic view of these two colorful resorts. More info on Disney Skyliner...
Art of Animation Fun Facts
- Total property size: 87 acres
- Family Suites size: 565 square feet
- The Nemo pool has 310,000 gallons and is the largest pool on Disney property, not counting water parks.
- If you combined all the swimming pools, you could park 125 cars inside the pools.
- Its 27 acres of landscaping and irrigation is the equivalent of twenty football fields.
- The resort has 227,000 lineal feet of carpet, which if laid out, could stretch from downtown Orlando to Kennedy Space Center.
- There are over 529,000 square feet of ceramic tiles on the project, enough to cover a standard two-lane road four miles long.
- If you stacked up all the doors at the resort, they would be as tall as the Empire State Building.
- There's enough metal railing to wrap around the new Amway Center eight times.
- The project used 23,000 gallons of paint, which is enough to fill a typical backyard swimming pool.
- There are over 2,300 parking spaces within the project, which is approximately the number of players in the NFL.
- More than 800 construction jobs were created to build this resort, and at full operation, it created 750 resort hotel jobs.
