Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is one of the splashiest value resorts at Walt Disney World, and that is the whole point. Giant Disney and Pixar character theming is everywhere, so for a lot of families this does not feel like a plain hotel stop between park days. It feels like the vacation keeps going when you get back to the resort.

The biggest decision here is room type. Standard Little Mermaid rooms and family suites create two pretty different stays. If you are traveling with a larger group, want extra room to spread out, or know your family handles long Orlando days better with more breathing room, the suites can make the trip noticeably easier. If you are a smaller party mostly trying to keep the nightly cost down, it is worth comparing carefully, because the extra space and theming may matter less if you plan to be out from morning to night.

Transportation is one of the strongest reasons to stay here. The Disney Skyliner gives you especially easy access to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which can be a real relief on trips with naps, pool breaks, or a reset in the room before heading back out. Families with younger kids, early risers who fade by afternoon, or anyone who does better with a slower pace often feel that convenience right away.

That advantage is not the same for every park day. EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are the easiest match, while Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom rely on buses. That does not make Art of Animation a bad choice for those parks, but it does mean the location feels more valuable on some itineraries than others. If your trip leans heavily toward the Skyliner parks, the resort’s setup makes more sense.

The atmosphere is bright, playful, and very kid-centered. Many younger kids are thrilled by the oversized characters and bold resort sections, and families who want that full-on Disney energy usually know quickly whether this is their kind of place. If your crew tends to want a quieter, more low-key hotel at the end of a busy day, this one can feel a little loud visually and overall.

Downtime here can be better than some travelers expect from a value resort. It works well for a pool afternoon, a slower morning, or a break between park sessions. Dining is more about easy resort convenience than a destination meal, which is often exactly what tired families want after a long day.

If you are weighing whether the extra cost is worth it: Art of Animation is easiest to justify when your family will really use the suite space, loves big Disney and Pixar theming, or plans to rely on the Skyliner for EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you mainly need an affordable place to sleep and expect to stay on the go all day, compare the price carefully before paying more for features you may not use much.