Ultimate Guide to: Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Overview:
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is a vibrant, family-oriented Value Resort option which offers themed standard rooms as well as family suites. Its featured themed sections are based on four beloved Disney and Pixar animated films: Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. This resort aims to provide a fun, immersive environment especially for families with children, while keeping rates below the Deluxe Resort tier pricing.

Located along the Disney Skyliner, this resort provides easy access to Disney’s Epcot and Hollywood Studios parks. Bus services are available to Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom parks, as well as Disney
Springs.

---

Resort Map & sections:
From the moment you arrive, this resort immerses you fully into larger-than-life fun with giant character
sculptures, colorful façades, and distinctly themed sections. These sections are inspired by the following Disney and Pixar movies; The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Cars and The Little Mermaid.

---

Animation Hall – Animation Hall is the main building at the Art of Animation Resort. It serves as the resort lobby and includes the front desk, Landscape of Flavors food court, Ink and Paint Shop merchandise store, and the Pixel Play Arcade. The overall theming highlights the animation process, showcasing the evolution from sketches to finished artwork, with a large chandelier made of hand-drawn sketches serving as a central focal point. It is the main hub for resort guests to access various amenities and services.

Pools & Recreation

---

Righteous Reef Playground

​The Big Blue Pool – This pool serves as the main pool for the resort and is Finding Nemo themed. It is the largest non-water park pool at Disney World, holding over 308,000 gallons of water. Offering a zero-depth entry, it includes underwater music and large character statues. The pool area also provides guests with towels, life jackets, and a shower area. Nearby, guests can grab a specialty cocktail or light refreshments from The Drop Off pool bar. This is also the area where poolside games and crafty activities are offered. Upon arriving at the resort be sure to check the activities listings for days and times for activities as they are subject to change. Resort activities often include, nighttime outdoor movies, free campfire with marshmallow
roasting, poolside trivia, bingo, and crafts. Additionally, there are activities offered for small fee such as Mickey tie dye t- shirts and pillow cases.

Righteous Reef Playground – Located behind The Big Blue Pool, this playground is Finding Nemo themed and offers little guests a play area that includes small slides.

Schoolyard Sprayground – Designed for younger guests, this splash pad area provides an interactive space with gushing water, pop-up water jets that spray from the ground, and flowing water streams. The
Sprayground is located within the area of The Big Blue Pool.

Flippin Fins Pool – This smaller pool is located in the Little Mermaid section. It is considered to be a quieter location compared to the resort main pool, The Big Blue Pool. Its theming offers an Under the Sea Orchestra conducted by Sebastian.

---

The Big Blue Pool

Cozy Cone Pool – Another smaller and quieter pool location, this kid-friendly pool is located in the Cars section of the resort. Its theming is based on the Disney Pixar Cars movies, with large-scale models of characters like Doc, Sally, and Mater surrounding the area. It also offers orange-cone-shaped cabanas for shade. 

Elephant Graveyard – Located within the Lion King section of the resort, the Elephant Graveyard is a small playground area designed to resemble scenes from the Lion King movie. While it does not offer slides or swings, it does provide large elephant bones, dark rocks, and sculpted hyenas, as well as cave-like structures to explore.

Running Trail – This running trail area that circles the lake offers guests a trail with views of the Skyliner and connects to the neighboring Resort - Pop Century.

---

Cozy Cone Pool

Elephant Graveyard

Living room in the family suite

Room types:
Art of Animation offers two room categories: Standard Room and Family Suites.

Standard Rooms – The Little Mermaid section - These rooms are traditional hotel rooms, approximately 260 sq ft, sleeping up to 4 guests and offering 2 queen-sized beds with theming from Disney’s Little Mermaid. Amenities offered include a beverage cooler, safe, hair dryer, coffee maker, iron/ironing board, and free WiFi service. It is important to note that these rooms are at the back section of the resort property and a farther walk from Animation Hall, the Big Blue Pool and Skyliner areas.

Family Suites - Cars / Finding Nemo / The Lion King sections – Family Suites at Art of Animation are approximately 565 sq ft and sleep up to 6 guests. These suites offer a separate bedroom with 1 Queen
Bed, a living/dining area with a Murphy-style convertible Double-Size table‐bed, 1 Double-Size Sleeper Sofa and 2 bathrooms. Amenities offered include a beverage cooler, safe, hair dryer, coffee maker, kitchenette area, microwave, iron/ironing board, and free WiFi service. The Finding Nemo section is the closest to the Skyliner, buses, Main Pool area and Animation Hall.

---

Dining Options:
There is one main quick service dining option located in Animation Hall. Landscape of Flavors offers guests a variety of choices for meals in a cafeteria-style fashion. There are multiple stations, each offering a different selection of food options. There is something for even the pickiest of eaters here! I personally enjoyed the large selection of options when dining here, especially the scrumptious desserts!

Location and Transportation:
Disney’s Art of Animation is situated in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Resort Area. I personally enjoy this resort because of the Disney Skyliner. This is my favorite mode of transportation to the parks, as it is easy, relaxing, and even when the line looks long, moves very quickly and smoothly. Guests can access Epcot and Hollywood Studios parks via the Skyliner. The Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom parks, along with Disney Springs are all accessible by bus. The bus stop is located at Animation Hall.

Check out this full tour of a Finding Nemo suite.