We are admittedly a little late to the Art of Animation rodeo since this website still enjoys peasant status and was not invited to any of the “media” preview events. Granted, the website would have declined any such invitation, but it is always nice to have the ability to turn someone else down. Feels superior. I’m usually a little wary of what comes out of the “media” events because you have to be so far down inside Disney’s back pocket to get invited to Princess Tiana’s Tea Party that they would make you think Innoventions’ Vision House is the next Expedition Everest. Buy Bosch, by the way. Bosch Bosch Bosch. That being said, Art of Animation does live up to the hype. Come September 15th, when Standard Rooms are available for as little as $94/night, I’m not sure why anyone would decide to stay at another Value. We’ll get to the particulars throughout the post and you’re welcome to call me an idiot in the comments section. Not that you needed permission.
The Art of Animation is Disney’s newest “Value” resort, arriving with a price tag of around 350 million dollars. The first wing, themed to Finding Nemo, opened Thursday May 31st. It will be followed by Cars on June 18th, Lion King on August 10th, and finally Little Mermaid on September 15th. In total, the resort will feature 1,120 Family Suites and 864 Standard Rooms.
The goal of the Family Suites is to fill a gap within Disney’s current inventory. Before Art of Animation opened, there were not a lot of economical choices for families of five or six people. Now you could argue that at a minimum of $249/night for the Family Suites (all the way up to $415/night), there still aren’t any economical choices for families of five or six people, but just work with me here. Previously, the only real option was the All-Star Music Family Suites, which can sleep up to six people, so long as someone is willing to sleep on an ottoman and another person is willing to sleep standing up in a closet. I’m sort of kidding, but not really.
Art of Animation Family Suites are 565 square feet, compared to 520 feet over at All-Star Music. However, the All-Star Music suites are merely two Standard rooms refurbished into a suite, whereas the Art of Animation suites were designed specifically to function as suites. You could do a Fort Wilderness Cabin, with prices starting at $285/night (all the way up to $455/night). Another option would be to try and cram five people into a 314 square foot room in the Alligator Bayou section at the Port Orleans Riverside. If you did that with my family, we would be liable to murder each other. On the plus side, it would be easier to fit into a resort room with one (or two) less person to worry about. The only other real option you’re looking at is a one-or-more bedroom Villa at one of the Deluxe resorts. The cheapest one-bedroom Villa at the cheapest Deluxe starts at $435 and runs all the way up to $655/night. You don’t want to know what a two-bedroom would run.
So here we are.
Following in the footsteps of the other Value resorts, the front of the resort is bland. We have some crazy patterns going on, but not much else. We’re certainly not pulling up to Wilderness Lodge via boat or the Grand Floridian via the Resort Monorail.
And some oversized character art.
Looking head-on from the parking lot.
Guests arriving via Disney’s Magical Express.
Will enter through even less impressive sliding doors. Don’t worry though, the drabness only lasts a moment.
Art of Animation currently enjoys dedicated bus service, meaning buses don’t pick-up or drop-off guests at other resorts on the way to the theme parks. This can be a time saver over resorts that tend to share buses. For example, it’s not at all uncommon for the Contemporary to share buses with the Polynesian and Grand Floridian Resort. Should you board the bus at the Contemporary, you’d be looking at an addition 15 minutes of transit time just to pick up guests from the other two resorts. And then if you’re staying at the Grand Floridan, buses may arrive without seats. The same is true at the All Star Resorts, though they may have dedicated bus service during peak hours. There’s no guarantee that dedicated bus service will continue, but with 2,880 rooms over at Pop, it’s hard to imagine a scenario when the two resorts would share.
The resort bus stop is also completely covered with fans overhead, something you’re not going to find at the All-Stars. There’s just one bus stop at the Art of Animation like the other Values. The walk from the furthest building shouldn’t be more than about six minutes. The walk from the furthest Cars building to the main pool was about four minutes and then it’s another couple minutes to the front of the resort. From the Little Mermaid section, you may need to add a minute or two.
At the theme parks, the buses for Art of Animation are next to each other at Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Over at the Studios, Art of Animation is at (lucky) Stop 13 while Pop Century occupies 14.
At Epcot, it’s a bit of a march to the bus stop.
Down here to the Charter Lot, where you can also catch a bus to Hollywood Studios.
The nice thing about the proximity of the stops is that Art of Animation guests can hop on the Pop Century bus instead and walk to Art of Animation (or vice versa). It’s a ten to twelve minute walk from the Pop Century bus stop to the Art of Animation bus stop. I’ll document the walk the next time I’m there. In other words, you may only be seven minutes away from your room at Art of Animation should you board a Pop Century bus.
At Magic Kingdom, Art of Animation sits at Gate 15. You’re close enough that you could switch lines if need arises.
Looking at Art of Animation from Pop Century:
Remember that the theme of the resort is “animation,” which is why we have the drawings on the buildings. Put them together and you have an animated squid thing!
The bridge that connects Pop Century and Art of Animation is open.
Some benches on the Pop Century side. I can just imagine DISers sitting here demanding to see people’s key cards as they try to cross over to Pop from Art of Animation. Then again, why would you? It might make for an interesting scotch drinking location, but as you’ll see shortly, we’re about to have our minds collectively blown.
One reason you might head over from Art of Animation. A better movie.
Back to the Art of Animation. Bigger: https://www.easywdw.com/reports4/aoamap.jpg.
Into the main lobby from the main entrance. We have some sketches to the right featuring characters and scenes from the four films represented at the resort. To the left is check-in/out and the resort concierge.
You’ll notice that the desks are lower to the ground and much smaller than the other resorts. There’s also space in between them to give an even more “open” feeling. They remind me a lot of what some banks seem to be doing with more “intimate and personalized service” with smaller kiosks scattered around the bank instead of the stereotypical long desk with the bulletproof glass separating teller and customer. There’s also room for the cast member to move around to the other side of the desk if necessary. It’s a welcome addition that should put guests at ease from the moment they check in to the resort. Everything about this feels friendlier.
Looking at the check-in area from the side closest to the gift shop and quick service. Note that the drawings over here are colored and more detailed. The animation theme continues as we’ll see more and more detail as we venture further into the resort.
Just to drive home the idea that the resort is next level, we have a digital screen showing theme park hours rather than the prototypical hours written in chalk seen just about everywhere else.
Look up and you’ll see this gorgeous chandelier featuring sketches by Disney artists. One signed by John Lasseter!
The DVC desk in the lobby area. They don’t seem too serious about trying to sell it, unlike at the All-Star Sports where the line, “So, you don’t want to come back here, right?” works wonders.
Next to the DVC Desk is the Business Center for very important businesspersons.
With something like three computers to work at if you have the need. Note the very uncomfortable looking chairs. They don’t want you to linger.
At these prices, you won’t be. The resort does feature “free” Wi-Fi access like all other Disney resorts now. It was decently fast at the time, but that may change when thousands more people descend. I was getting 2mbps download and .5mbps upload. At home, I get closer to 10mbps download and 1.5mbps upload as a comparison. This option is for people that don’t have a cell phone, computer, or similar device that may want to print tickets/boarding passes when Airline Check-in isn’t available.
And a large printer.
To print wirelessly.
Also here is a readerboard listing the statuses of departing flights. I haven’t seen this elsewhere. I’m not sure if it also lists Sanford, Tampa Bay, etc. or not. Assuming you’re traveling to the airport via Disney’s Magical Express, I’m not sure how much help this would be since you’ll be on your way at least three hours before your flight departs. It might be too early to list a delay, but it might be helpful if major delays are expected.
And a line of payphones. Very business-y.
Speaking of airline check-in, here is the desk.
And the rules.
Off the lobby on the way to the pool is the Pixel Play Arcade.
With some interesting, somewhat comfortable seating up front for the adults.
Hope you have luggage space for a bear with a head that will fall off two seconds after you get it home or a guitar that will be annoying for a while and then also break.
The usual selection of games.
With Tron Pinball, but I didn’t see Pirates of the Caribbean!
Shark underwater hockey is a nice touch.
The Ink & Paint Shop is the resort’s main gift shop. It’s lined on both sides with colorful artwork.
Looks like Cars and Little Mermaid.
Lion King and Finding Nemo.
We’ll head into the resort’s gift shop to check out the decor and the resort specific merchandise. If you don’t care, you can head out now! In part two (and maybe three), we’ll take a look at the quick service, the pool complex, walk around outside, and whatever else I’m forgetting:
Art of Animation is the only Value or Moderate resort to have merchandise made specifically for it.
A paintbrush pen if it isn’t obvious.
A $9 little magnet seems more than a little insane.
Samesis with the $9 keychain.
Synergy.
Disney’s “classy” line of bath products.
Paint containers line the walls above the merchandise.
It’s big. This is about 4/5ths of it.
HOW DO I NOT OWN THIS!! And 2K memory! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!
Package Pick-Up.
Part 2 on tap.
You’ve had a manicure.
I love it!!! Thank you sooo much. We are visiting with our 5 year old daughter in November and staying in the little mermaid room. It is dd’s 1st trip to disney and she is super excited!!!
Oh my GOOOOOOOD. I know everyone at the DiS thinks it’s loud and tacky, but I think this resort looks amazeballs. I just told my DH I was using one of my day’s off and heading out to check out AoA next week while he’s at work. I’m now thinking of seeing if I could just book a last minute room and staying overnight. It’s just so enticing! And I want ALL THE MERCHANDISE!
Great update!!
I have seen exhaustive reviews on a few other sites, but this is the first review that makes me think I might want to actually stay here.
We have stayed at POP four times, but have now outgrown the rooms there. With two strapping 6′ 4″ teenaged sons and a hubby who tops out at 6′ 8″, we had decided to move over to Bonnet Creek for our next family vacay. My sister-in-law and I, however, may take a girls only trip, and the Mermaid rooms (with DDP) sound mighty appealing all of a sudden.
Can’t wait to see your pool shots. Especially if you can resist the HD button.
The colors at the front desk are a bit too bright for my poor, old lady eyes. But other than that…it looks like a really cute resort.
Do all of the rooms open into interior hallways or just the family suites?
After spending some time on you site for the last couple weeks, I cannot believe that Disney would not invite you to their press events. I am shocked!
I would even think they should invite you to speak at their annual shareholder meeting.
And maybe at the ribbon cutting at the new Grand Floridian DVC Villa’s.
I mean your distaste for Disney is so deep that it has turned into Love.
You are George Castanza!
Thanks for the looksy Josh! I think the merchandise is tacky and I wouldn’t be caught dead in one of those shirts that would make me look like a AOA cast member….but can’t wait for part 2!
MAN!!! I can’t wait to see the DIS movie reviews of American Psycho showing at POP!! They are gonna love it! Big Huey Lewis fans over there….
Just a wild idea here…..”Exclusively on the Mickey PDA, easyWDW Crowd Calender”. Just sayin……That will get ya in those media frat parties…
Neat update but to me it looks and screams VALUE. Which works out well with what it is! 🙂 I have never stayed at a value and maybe I am getting old but just the visuals are too loud, too bright, too much! If my daughter was younger I could see where there would be cute appeal but oh I still dont’ think I could do it!!!! Looking forward to part 2~!
I love that it just screams Disney! Thanks for the awesome review Josh. I’ve been not so patiently waiting for detailed AoA info and I knew you would be the one to do it. Can’t wait for part 2!!
“Another option would be to try and cream five people into a 314 square foot room…”
Geez I know mostly adults view this site but c’mon. I know you meant “cram” but I couldn’t help but laugh at this one.
Great Review. I’ve read several others, but you keep yours so interesting! I always look forward to them. I think my kids would love this resort, but I don’t know if I could get my youngest son away from the giant pictures of his favorite cars characters.
Also, it’s always funny to me when someone in the comments mentions your nails (either your manicure or blue nail polish) because I never have noticed your fingers in the picture. I guess I’m not observant enough!
Josh I was getting worried about you there. I was about to go into withdrawal because you hadn’t really posted for a few days. Glad to see you’ve really just been busy with Disney stuff. I love visiting your site everyday for my Disney fix. Keep up the good work, I for one appreciate it.
I guess the idea is, keep the rooms small so people want/NEED to get out of them (and go spend $$) LOL.
For me, I’d rather stay in a 900 -1200 sq ft. room for $100 a night. But maybe I’m crazy.
@Grace – How many people are in your family? Where are you staying at that price/size??
We’re just two people so a standard size hotel room is more than adequate for us on a Disney World vacation. Are people really in their rooms that much on a WDW trip? Most of our time is spent in the parks. We just sleep/shower in our room and that’s pretty much it. I like paying $85 a night and being able to stay onsite to use the buses and stuff (we don’t rent a car or anything.) In February, we also had free dining for that price a night. Pretty great, in my opinion.
What is 2k? Is that like 2 mb???
I am wondering what 2K is also. Is that really small or good?
I also want to know Grace where you can get a 900-1200 sq ft room for $100 a night.
And what is with all the DIS bashing?
Cupcake, where does it say AOA is loud and tacky?
Only disparaging remarks I have seen have been here.
That was amazing. I need a cigarette
LOL@ patricia! Looks awesome, I can’t wait to check it out while staying at the less crowded Pop.
2K memory and only $10!! What operating system is it running? On a serious note…thanks for the look into AoA.
Wow, look at the shoulders on that Ariel shirt wearing mannequin!
@Claire and Anon – 2k x 1000 = 2MB. That is a microscopic amount of memory these days, but that might amuse my little monkey girls.
@Anon re: Grace – We’re paying $154 a night (taxes and fees included) for a 1300+ sf (3 bdrm/3 bath) townhouse at Windsor Hills in a couple weeks. We have no big, tall males in our family like JenniferS (my hubby is plenty strapping, but clocks in at 5’8″), but I’m considering the Little Mermaid rooms for a future girls only trip for me and my munchkin girls. Of the four themes, they like Little Mermaid the best anyway.
Yaaaaaay! Thanks for all the details.
Looks like a giant version of the Nickelodeon hotel.
“And then if you’re staying at the Grand Floridan, buses may arrive without seats. ”
No wonder folks staying at the Deluxe resorts hate the Disney buses, I’d be pretty upset to be paying top $$ and have to ride a bus with the seats removed.
The resort itself is kind of cute, but the Nemo family suite is ugly and creepy with the retro look and colors. It looks very cheap and comparable to Motel 6’s decor with a twist of Disney whimsy. I hope the other sections decor is not so creepy. I love retro anything, but those rooms are U.G.L.Y.
Well, Josh sorry you don’t get invited to Disney’s fancy schmanzy grand events and things but I imagine since it’s you they thought everyone would be like, “Hey did you see Josh is here?” and then it would be like if you were Elvis or something and everyone would be awed by your presence, and well that would completely overshadow Disney’s efforts and
well, you can see how that wouldn’t turn out so well for them. Next thing you know and you’re all over the tabloids at the supermarket.
So what is the story with the American Psycho sign? Is that real, Photoshopped, vandalized?
Also, thanks so much for the first two parts on AoA. The detail and “you are there” perspective is the best coverage I’ve seen, and there has been a lot of coverage. Plus the park bus stop numbers pictures for AoA are very useful, thank you.
It’s Photoshopped ^_^
Actually, everything on this website is Photoshopped as I have never actually been to Walt Disney World!!
@JillMarie – there are only two of us, but we travel with another couple usually. We got a 2 BR/2BA at Wyndham Bonnet Creek for $100 (so $50 a couple). Sometimes we stay at Radisson Celebration – I can usually get something for about $80 a night there (incl tax and fees). But it’s a small room, and while I agree we don’t spend much time there, when I’m gone for a week I do like to spread out. The huge gorgeous balconies at WBC for sitting and drinking coffee in the morning (or decaf and dessert at night!), the full kitchen so I can make breakfast and not having the feeling of being “on top of each other” for a whole week is just so much nicer (IMO). I am not knocking anyone for staying on property. But we stayed a POFQ once and I didn’t enjoy that at all. So many things about that property I didn’t enjoy, not just the small room. But you didn’t ask me that. 🙂 We also stayed in a HUGE 3BR/2.5BA townhome at Emerald Island last year – that cost $490 for the whole week (no tax or cleaning fee). We split that with our friends so it was $245 for each couple. That’s $35 a night. That was easily 1200 sq ft. I always priceline a car and get it for about $120 for the week, which we split with the other couple. So an additional $60 to have a car is no big deal and we like the ability to get around fast and easy. 10 minutes to AKL instead of an hour (or however long it takes). We also like going to the grocery store and doing some offsite t-shirt shopping. We find $2 t-shirts in the cheesy souvenir stores on 192. 🙂 It’s just our style, not for everyone, I know.
@Anon – I don’t see any bashing here? Most everyone said AWESOME to all of Josh’s pictures? Even I didn’t “bash” the Dis – just stated that small rooms weren’t appealing to me. Why in the world would I make a trip to WDW every year if I didn’t like it and wanted to just bash it? LOVE WDW! Just not most of their resort properties is all…..
My comments were more rhetorical in nature (not actually looking for an answer) but I have always wondered why Disney doesn’t make bigger rooms. That’s all. I surmised perhaps they didn’t want to make them too big and comfy or people might spend the day in them and not get out and spend money in the parks and shops 😀 Of course that’s just tongue in cheek speculation. Notice I said “LOL” after it.
So no bashing at all on my part. I come to this blog every day to oooh and aaaah and dream about Disney trips past and future. 😀 And Josh always makes me smile!!!!! Thanks Josh!
I’ll have to look into Wyndham Bonnet Creek. I’ve heard it mentioned before but never googled it. I just assumed it was an expensive place. If we ever choose to stay off site, I’ll have to remember that.
When we have kids some day, I’d love to rent a house or something instead. Something with separate bedrooms. And a private pool would be fantastic. That way it could be a full on vacation and not just a “Disney vacation”, if that makes sense.
@Jill Marie
Only the suites have interior hallways and doors, the standard rooms have the exterior railings like Pop Century 🙂
“Actually, everything on this website is Photoshopped as I have never actually been to Walt Disney World!!”
LMAO
@Grace – I looked up that place and the cheapest rooms seems to be around $200 a night. Where can you find the cheap ones you mentioned?
There are lots of places like Vacation Strategy and several others. It’s a timeshare so there are people who “sell” their weeks when they can’t go. Don’t go through the resort itself.
@Jill Marie – I would also recommend WBC.
As much as I love WL my family of 5 doesn’t fit there anymore. I was curious about Art of Animation but just looking at those pictures has me feeling like I’m on sensory overload. We’ll be booking WBC again next year.
Thanks for report – excellent coverage. My view though is that it looks a bit like a children’s hospital
Thank you so much! I want the purple Ariel tshirt, very bad.
I think this just confirmed us staying here in October ^_^
@ pfalcioni “No wonder folks staying at the Deluxe resorts hate the Disney buses, I’d be pretty upset to be paying top $$ and have to ride a bus with the seats removed.”
LMAO!!!
Josh – thanks for the great reviews! My husband and I are excited to stay at AoA to celebrate our 20th anniversary, my 50th B-day and his 60th B-day.
Agreed with a previous poster; I love the fact that it screams “DISNEY!” When we go to WDW, I want all Disney, all the time, so it seems appropriate to me. :o)
I don’t understand how bright colors equate with value and subdued colors with more deluxe accommodations, but then again, my family seems to have a quirky view on life.
Thank you! so much detail and I do appreciate the humor!
Thank you, great update, I think we’re going to try the Nemo suites and take all the grandparents. Can’t wait 🙂
Does anyone know how afar in advnace the family suites usually book up? Thanks,