My review of Art of Animation Resort is mostly positive, but I think whether it’s worth the price depends heavily on which room you’re booking. I spent five nights here in a Cars family suite, and the extra space, two bathrooms and Disney Skyliner access made the resort work extremely well for our trip. If I were booking a standard Little Mermaid room, though, I would compare the price much more closely with Disney’s other Value Resorts before deciding.
That’s because Art of Animation is officially a Disney Value Resort, but it doesn’t always feel priced like the cheapest tier of Disney World hotels. The family suites, unusually elaborate theming and Skyliner transportation make it different from the All-Stars, but you need to actually use those advantages for the extra cost to make sense.
Why Is Art of Animation So Expensive for a Value Resort?
Art of Animation is still categorized by Disney as a Value Resort. What makes it unusual is that a large part of the resort isn’t made up of ordinary hotel rooms at all.
Cars, Finding Nemo and The Lion King are primarily family-suite sections. Those suites sleep up to six and give you a separate bedroom, living area, kitchenette and two bathrooms. That’s a very different product from a basic Value Resort room.
Then there’s transportation. Art of Animation has its own Disney Skyliner station shared with Pop Century, giving you gondola transportation toward EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Disney officially lists Art of Animation as one of the four resort hotels connected to the Skyliner system. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
You’re also paying for one of Disney’s most elaborate resort environments. There isn’t much subtlety here. Giant characters, oversized props and entire courtyards recreate scenes from Disney and Pixar movies.
That’s why I wouldn’t compare the price strictly by saying, “It’s a Value Resort, so why isn’t it as cheap as an All-Star?” The better question is whether you’re going to use the things that make Art of Animation different.
The Room You Choose Completely Changes the Experience
I think this is the most important thing to understand before booking.
Art of Animation essentially gives you two very different ways to stay here: a standard Little Mermaid room for up to four people or a family suite in Cars, Finding Nemo or The Lion King for up to six.
The Family Suites Are the Reason I’d Return
We stayed in a Cars family suite, and this is where Art of Animation made the most sense to me.
The current suite layout includes one queen bed in the private bedroom, a double-size sleeper sofa and a double-size pull-down bed. There are two bathrooms plus a kitchenette with a microwave and beverage cooler.
The second bathroom was more valuable than I expected. When several people are trying to get ready for an early park morning, having two showers and two separate bathroom spaces removes a lot of friction.
The bedroom door also gives someone an actual private sleeping area instead of putting every bed into one oversized hotel room.
I have a much more detailed look at the Art of Animation family suite floor plan if the room configuration is one of the reasons you’re considering the resort.
The Little Mermaid Rooms Are a Different Value Proposition
The Little Mermaid section contains Art of Animation’s standard rooms. Disney currently offers these with either one king bed or two queen beds, sleeping up to four adults. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
If I only needed a normal room for two to four people, I would compare Art of Animation much more closely with Pop Century and the All-Star Resorts.
The Little Mermaid buildings are also on the far side of the resort from Animation Hall and the main transportation area. I’ve walked through that section after long park days, and the extra distance is noticeable. It’s something I’d factor into the decision if I’m traveling with small kids, older family members or anyone who doesn’t want more walking at the end of the day.
I wouldn’t automatically pay for a family suite just to avoid that walk. But I also wouldn’t book a Little Mermaid room assuming I’m getting the exact same experience as someone staying centrally in Finding Nemo or Cars.
The Skyliner Is What Makes Art of Animation More Useful Than a Typical Value Resort
The theming gets most of the attention in photos, but the Disney Skyliner is the practical feature I care about most.
Art of Animation shares its Skyliner station with Pop Century. From there, you ride to Caribbean Beach and transfer for either EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
I liked being able to use the gondolas for those two parks instead of relying on buses every day. It also made returning to the hotel for a break feel more realistic because transportation didn’t always feel like a major undertaking.
The Skyliner doesn’t serve Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom, so buses are still part of staying here. I wouldn’t book Art of Animation thinking you’ve eliminated bus transportation entirely.
If transportation is a major part of your decision, compare the other Disney World resorts with Skyliner access. I also have an Art of Animation transportation guide for the parks that still require buses.
The Resort Looks Exactly Like You Hope It Will
Art of Animation is one of those Disney hotels where the exterior areas are a major part of the experience rather than landscaping you walk past on the way to your room.
The Cars courtyard was my favorite. The life-size Cars characters, Cozy Cone Motel area and desert-inspired buildings make it feel more like a small themed land than a normal hotel courtyard.
Finding Nemo is even more colorful and sits around the resort’s main pool area.
If you’re bringing kids who know these movies, I think the theming has real value. Exploring the resort becomes something to do instead of simply walking between your room and transportation.
If you’re an adult who prefers understated hotels, though, this probably isn’t the Disney resort I’d choose. Nothing about Art of Animation is trying to be quiet or restrained visually.
The Big Blue Pool Is Genuinely Big, but I Preferred the Smaller Pools
The Big Blue Pool in the Finding Nemo section is still officially the largest hotel pool at Walt Disney World Resort, holding more than 308,000 gallons. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
It’s an impressive centerpiece, particularly for families with younger kids. There’s also the Schoolyard Sprayground and a Nemo-themed dry playground nearby.
Personally, I found myself appreciating the smaller pools more when I actually wanted to relax. Cars has the Cozy Cone Pool, while The Little Mermaid has the Flippin’ Fins Pool.
I wouldn’t choose Art of Animation solely because of the pool, but it’s another amenity that makes the resort feel more substantial than a bare-bones hotel.
Food Is Where It Feels Most Like a Value Resort to Me
Landscape of Flavors is the resort’s main food court, and this was probably the part of my stay I was least excited about.
Disney currently operates it for breakfast, lunch and dinner with cafeteria-style stations serving items such as burgers, pizza, salads, pasta and sandwiches. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
It was convenient, but after a couple of days I wanted to eat somewhere else. That’s where the Skyliner helped again, because EPCOT and the other Skyliner resorts gave us more dining possibilities without requiring a car.
If resort restaurants are one of the biggest parts of your vacation, I would probably put the money toward a different hotel rather than paying a premium for Art of Animation’s theming and suites.
Is Art of Animation a Value Resort or a Moderate Resort?
Art of Animation is officially a Disney Value Resort. It is not a Moderate or Deluxe Resort. Disney currently places it in the Wide World of Sports Resort Area and lists its transportation as motorcoach and Disney Skyliner. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
I understand why the category causes confusion. A six-person family suite can cost considerably more than people expect when they hear “Value Resort,” and the Skyliner gives Art of Animation transportation that several other Value Resorts don’t have.
But I wouldn’t judge whether it’s worth staying here by the category name. I’d compare the actual room you’re booking with what else is available for your dates.
So, Is Art of Animation Worth It?
For me, Art of Animation is worth it when I need the family-suite layout or when EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are major parts of the trip. Those are advantages I can actually use every day.
I would also choose it for a trip with younger kids who would get a lot out of the Cars, Finding Nemo, Lion King and Little Mermaid environments. The theming here isn’t a minor bonus. It’s one of the things you’re paying for.
I would be more hesitant if I only needed a standard room, didn’t care about the theming or planned to spend most of my time at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. In that situation, I’d compare the price with other Disney World Value Resorts before booking.
After five nights, I don’t think Art of Animation is overpriced simply because it’s a Value Resort. I think it becomes expensive when you pay for features your particular trip doesn’t need.
You can check the current room configurations and resort amenities on Disney’s official Art of Animation Resort page.
