In May 2012, the Walt Disney World Resort proudly unveiled the newest addition to their collection of hotels, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. We stayed there shortly after it opened, and felt nothing short of impressed by the fabulous theming and attention to detail abundantly present throughout the property. I am fairly certain the only phrases we repeated for some time after arriving were “WOW!” and “This is so AWESOME!”
The resort is separated into four sections, each of which pays tribute to a timeless Disney animated movie. The four films showcased are The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo and Cars. Each section features larger-than-life characters and fabulous decor to match its corresponding movie.
Fun facts about each featured movie are set up around the perimeter of the resort. Below are a few for The Lion King.
The resort’s main pool area, the Big Blue Pool, is located in the Finding Nemo section of the resort.
Adjacent to the Big Blue Pool is the Schoolyard Sprayground, a splash pad area complete with pop jets on the ground and Nemo’s school friends playfully squirting their visitors.
For young guests who would rather not swim or get wet, Squirt’s Righteous Reef playground is also nearby.
Disney/Pixar’s Cars has been one of our family’s most beloved movies since it debuted in 2006. When the kids were younger, we spent many (many!) hours recreating Radiator Springs on the living room floor with their collection of Cars diecast toy cars. And rocking out to Sheryl Crow’s “Real Gone” from the movie soundtrack was also a regular occurrence. We love all of the movies represented at the Art of Animation, but the Cars section of the resort was easily our favorite!
Guests of the resort can also swim in the Cars section, at the Cozy Cone Motel pool.
Cone-shaped cabanas are available at the Cozy Cone pool on a first-come, first-served basis!
The Cars, Finding Nemo, and The Lion King buildings are comprised of family suites that can accommodate up to 6 people. Each family suite has a bedroom, living room area, two full bathrooms, and a kitchenette. When we travel, we typically stay in a standard room. But for this vacation, we couldn’t resist trying out a Cars suite. We felt so spoiled with all of the extra space!
We could not have asked for a better stay here! It was especially so neat to be immersed in the world of Cars, at a time in our lives when my kids adored that movie more than anything else. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort was a perfect addition to an already amazing destination, and we all agree – we can’t wait to visit again!
Planning Disney vacations isn’t just my job - it’s my passion.
I know how truly special these trips are because I’ve experienced the magic myself. From my first glimpse of Cinderella Castle to the joy of watching my kids meet their favorite characters, these are moments I’ll never forget - and they’re my inspiration for helping other families create their own Disney magic.
The best Disney trips aren’t one-size-fits-all. They’re sprinkled with little details that make them yours. That’s where I come in! With expert guidance (and a touch of pixie dust), I’ll make your planning feel easy, exciting, and full of possibility.
