Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Opened in May 2012, Disney’s Art of Animation is a Value resort across Hour Glass Lake from Disney's Pop Century Resort. It was originally designed to be part of Pop Century and represent the years 1900–1949, but recessions and an abundance of hotel capacity prevented Disney from ever completing construction. When the time came for a new Value resort, Disney switched the theme to its animated movies, which still fit in well with the pop-culture motif across the lake.

Like Pop Century, Art of Animation consists of four-story buildings and exterior-facing rooms, a series of themed swimming pools, and a food court. However, most of Animation’s accommodations are suites similar to those at Disney’s All-Star Resorts. All told, there are 864 standard rooms and 1,120 suites. Some of the buildings feature interior hallways to the guest rooms instead of the exterior walkways found at Disney’s other Value resorts. Free public Wi-Fi is available.

Art of Animation’s suites are around 565 square feet, the result of combining two value rooms into one suite. Each suite has a master bedroom, a living room, two full bathrooms, and a kitchenette with mini-fridge, microwave, and coffeemaker. Sleeping accommodations include a queen bed in the bedroom, a sleeper sofa, and a living-room table that converts into a full-size bed. The bedroom and living room have flat-screen TVs.

Slightly larger than rooms at other Value resorts, standard rooms are 277 square feet and include one king or two double beds, a flat-screen TV, a mini-fridge, and a table and chairs.

The resort’s theme incorporates characters from four Disney films: Cars, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid. All but the Mermaid-themed rooms are suites. As at Pop Century, large, colorful icons are placed in the middle of each group of buildings; here, though, they represent the films’ characters rather than pop-culture touchstones. An interesting departure from the other Value resorts is the outside paint schemes: rather than using pastels, Disney has decorated the exteriors with giant murals stretching the length of each structure. The Cars buildings, for example, each display a four-story panoramic vista of the American desert, with the movie’s character icons in the middle, while the Lion King buildings capture a single verdant jungle scene. It’s a great idea.

Three of the four sets of themed buildings have pools; the Lion King complex has a playground instead. Like the other Value resorts, Art of Animation has a central building—here called Animation Hall—for check-in and bus transportation; it also holds the resort’s food court, Landscape of Flavors; a gift shop; and a video-game arcade. Speaking of check-in, the wall behind the front desk is a dazzling rainbow of colors from floor to ceiling. In sharp contrast to the faded paints and photos at, say, the All-Stars, Art of Animation’s backlight displays and wall art are bright and vibrant and should stand up well to Florida’s weather.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Dining

• Landscape of Flavors (Counter Service)
• Pop Art Pizza Delivery (Counter Service)
• The Drop Off Pool Bar (Bar or Lounge)