UPDATED June 11, 2026

Celebrate the characters, colors, and creativity of Disney animated films at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort!

NEWS: Check out the new perks for guests at Art of Animation Resort during Cool Kids’ Summer 2026! and Why Fans Are Suddenly Changing Their 2027 Disney World Hotel Plans

Walt Disney World offers three Resort hotel levels: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. Disney’s Art of Animation is a Value Resort.

Four areas are meticulously themed to classic Disney and Pixar animated films. Family suites along with standard rooms, three pools (including the largest one at a Disney Resort!), a huge food court, and access to the Disney Skyliner are just a few of the features that make a stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort a truly memorable experience!

If you’d like to jump to a specific topic, simply click on any of the links below:

• Art of Animation Atmosphere
• Art of Animation Dining and Shopping
• Art of Animation Guest Rooms
• Art of Animation Amenities and Activities
• Disney World Resort Hotel Guest Benefits
• Art of Animation Transportation

Atmosphere

Four distinct areas are themed to beloved Disney and Pixar animated films: Cars, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid. 

The lobby features a large chandelier that is decorated with Disney character sketches.

FUN FACT: When the resort first opened, Pat Carroll, the voice of Ursula, and Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel, from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, signed some artwork that you can see within that chandelier!

Even before setting foot in the guest room buildings, visitors are immediately immersed in the themed courtyard areas. It truly feels as though you are paying a visit to Radiator Springs in the Cars section!

The Finding Nemo section welcomes guests to a “Big Blue World…” 

Hakuna Matata! It means “no worries for the length of your staaaaaaay” (okay, we paraphrased a bit) in The Lion King section!

And The Little Mermaid section is unique not only in its Under the Sea theme.

… it is also the only section to offer Standard guest rooms. (The other three sections all feature Family Suites, which we’ll discuss shortly.)

Dining and Shopping

Connected to the lobby and main check-in area is the Ink & Paint Shop, the Resort’s merchandise location.

You may want to pick up a little something here to remember your Art of Animation Resort stay!

After checking out a few souvenirs, guests can proceed into the Landscape of Flavors food court, which serves Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

The menu offers classic counter service eats such as pizza and pasta, burgers, and more. You might even order up a dish inspired by global flavors like Mongolian Beef. Or you can grab a creative dessert from the bakery case!

Guests can also rest their fins and grab a drink at The Drop Off Pool Bar located by the Big Blue Pool.

P.S. This is a GREAT place to stop and check out what they’re serving up for a featured cocktail.

Find our COMPLETE GUIDE TO EATING at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort HERE.

Guest Rooms

Guests may reserve a Lion King Family Suite, a Cars Family Suite, a Finding Nemo Family Suite, or a Little Mermaid Standard Room for their Art of Animation stay.

We’ll be sharing some pictures below from The Lion King and Finding Nemo sections that feature Family Suites.

Family Suites

Family Suites sleep up to 6 Adults in three separate sleeping areas with 1 Queen Bed, 1 Double-Size Table bed, and 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa.

The bedroom with the Queen bed is a good indicator as to how the interior rooms are as colorful and well-themed as the Resort’s exterior!

A dresser and TV are part of the included features in the bedroom.

This room is where you’ll also have access to the room’s safe and an ironing board, along with a small rod to hang clothes, if you wish.

The bedroom also features a connected bathroom.

A roomy walk-in shower lets you enjoy the sunrise anytime!

The living area presents a Sleeper Sofa and a kitchenette. 

These face the television, along with the dresser and an open wardrobe.

Here is a look at the Sleeper Sofa pulled out for the evenings.

A close-up of the Kitchenette shows the coffeemaker.

But where is the final bed, you may ask? Well, when folded, the unique Table bed offers a table with seats for four!

At the end of a fun day in the parks, you can pull it down to enjoy some no-longer-hidden Disney details (oh, and grab some shut-eye, too)!

A second bathroom echoes the same savanna sunrise theme as the Master bathroom in the Lion King suites.

Activities and Amenities

You will definitely want to spend some time poolside… especially since Art of Animation boasts the largest pool of any Disney Resort hotel: it’s The Big Blue Pool!

Guests also have access to two more pools. The Cars section hosts the Cozy Cone Pool (complete with clever Cone Cabanas), and The Little Mermaid section hosts the Flippin’ Fins Pool.

A Jogging Trail around Hourglass Lake, the Pixel Play Arcade, and the Righteous Reef Playground (in the Nemo section) offer more Resort amenities.

And the Front Desk will provide you with information about current Resort Activities, which may include options like Movies Under the Stars, Pool Parties, and additional activities (with some available for a nominal fee, where designated).  You will also see signs alerting to the day’s and week’s activities around the Resort, so you don’t miss any of the fun!

You may happen upon a chance to do some Sand Art!

And a signature activity unique to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is Drawing Classes, where you can learn to draw a favorite Disney character!

Additional amenities for Resort guests also include complimentary Wi-Fi, currency exchange, self-service laundry rooms, mail services, and online check-in.

5 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort!

Additional Benefits

MORE Theme Park Hours

Guests staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort have access to ADDITIONAL hours in the Disney World theme parks! Early Theme Park Entry allows guests to enter any of the parks 30 minutes early to get a head start on their day.

This benefit is available for ANY theme park every day. Please note that guests need a valid theme park ticket for the park they’re planning to visit in order to gain early access.

Early Access to Disney World Lightning Lanes

Lightning Lane Multi Pass is an optional paid service available through the My Disney Experience app, which allows you to bypass standby lines and enter the Lightning Lane at select attractions in the parks by paying a base price for multiple attractions. When purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can make up to 3 Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections in a park in advance of your visit. 

Additionally, guests may opt to purchase Lightning Lane Single Passes via the My Disney Experience app. Lightning Lane Single Pass is essentially a pay-per-ride service. Guests pay a fee to utilize the Lightning Lane for an individual, in-demand attraction.

An additional Lightning Lane option called Lightning Lane Premier Pass is an inclusive option that grants one-time entry into EVERY Lightning Lane entry in a given park for one price, eliminating the need to monitor Lightning Lane availability and make new Lighting Lane reservations throughout the day, and granting the ability to simply show up at an attraction and enter the Lightning Lane (as opposed to booking a specific time).

DISNEY WORLD RESORT GUEST BENEFIT: Those staying at a Disney World Resort hotel (including Disney’s Art of Animation Resort) can purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass OR select their first 3 Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections and/or Lightning Lane Single Passes up to seven days in advance of their check-in day for their entire stay (up to 14 days), with all other guests being able to purchase and select their Lightning Lane options three days in advance.

Learn everything you need to know about Lightning Lanes in Disney World HERE!

“Hey, Disney!”

“Hey, Disney!” offers “custom voice assistance” to guests staying at Resort hotels in Walt Disney World!

This complimentary service, which works with Alexa on Amazon Echo devices, assists guests with room amenities, guest services, planning, and weather info… AND it brings along LOTS of extra Disney MAGIC to make all of these things a lot more FUN!

Click HERE to learn MUCH more about “Hey, Disney!”

EXCLUSIVE to Disney Value Resorts – Airport Luggage Transfer

Select Disney World Resort guests may be eligible for Airport Luggage Transfer! Guests staying at one of Disney World’s Value Resorts — POP Century, Art of Animation, and Disney’s All-Star Resorts (Movies, Music, and Sports) — who fly to Orlando International Airport (MCO) on eligible arriving and departing domestic flights via Southwest Airlines, American Airlines or United Airlines can have their luggage transferred between the airport and the Disney Resort at which they’re staying.

How does this service work? Before arriving at your hotel, you’ll need to fill out the registration form for the Airport Luggage Transfer service anytime from 30 days to one day (24 hours) prior to your departure flight. If you register more than seven days in advance, you’ll receive luggage tags in the mail. When you arrive in Orlando, you’ll be able to skip baggage claim and go straight to your hotel — you can either call Luggage Assistance from your in-room phone to have the bags delivered or visit Luggage Assistance directly. It can take up to four hours from your flight’s arrival time to have the luggage arrive at your hotel.

When you leave, you’ll need to drop your bags off with Luggage Assistance by the required drop-off time. You’ll need a government-issued ID to drop off your bags. Then, when you arrive at your home airport, you’ll pick up your luggage from baggage claim there!

HANDS DOWN, This Is the BEST Hotel for Disney World First-Timers

Dog-Friendly Resort

And guess what? Fido can enjoy a stay at Art of Animation, too! This hotel is one of Disney World’s Dog-Friendly Resorts (a limit of two dogs per room, restrictions, and fees apply).

Pet owners interested in learning more may call (407) 939 – 7539.

Transportation

And now, as for getting around Walt Disney World… Disney’s newest form of transportation, the Disney Skyliner, hosts a station located between Pop Century and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort!

This is a HUGE perk for Art of Animation guests that makes getting around Disney World a whole lot easier. (And it’s really FUN, to boot!)

From Pop Century and Art of Animation, the Skyliner goes directly to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort with transfers to Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT.

Additionally, guests have access to Disney Bus Transportation to and from all four theme parks and Disney Springs.

Another fun perk: guests can walk to the neighboring Pop Century Resort to check out the atmosphere or perhaps visit the Everything POP food court, as the two Resorts are connected by Hourglass Lake.

During Cool KIDS’ SUMMER—May 26 to September 8, 2026—Guests staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort can enjoy more direct bus transportation to and from Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park. For Typhoon Lagoon, take the bus to the Disney Springs area and then transfer onto the bus for the water park.

ENJOY a truly ANIMATED stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort!

A Disney Cast Member Reveals the Secret Way To Get EXCLUSIVE Treatment at Art of Animation Hotel

Considering a stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort? Get the Magic started and complete a request for a price quote. An agent will review your travel preferences and provide you with a no-obligation quote along with their phone number so you can talk with them.