Disney's Art of Animation Resort Info and Pictures

Disney World's newest value Resort - Disney's Art of Animation Resort – with 1,120 family suites and 864 standard guest rooms - draws its inspiration from four classic Disney and Pixar Animated films: Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid. Disney has seen the need for rooms that can accommodate larger families and multi-generational families and the family suites will do just that – they can accommodate up to six people; or even seven guests, if one of those guests is a child in a crib. The kitchenettes in these suites can help families keep their dining expenses down. The 11,859 square foot feature pool, located in the Finding Nemo wing, is the largest swimming pool at the Walt Disney World Resort, outside of the water parks. One of the really neat things about the "Big Blue" pool is that you can hear Finding Nemo characters and music under the water. In addition to the feature pool, there will be two smaller pools (in the Cars & The Little Mermaid courtyards) and a children's water play area at the resort. Disney's Art of Animation Resort, is generating a lot of excitement and is sure to be a popular choice with guests of all ages.

Art of Animation Resort Overview Flier

Art of Animation Resort Map

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Pro & Con

Advantages - Clean, comfortable setting with a huge pool and incredible, colorful Disney/Pixar themed courtyards. The Family Suites can accomodate larger families and multi-generational groups at a price point that is much lower than the Delxue resort villas. If you're looking for an immersive Disney/Pixar experience, this resort will provide it.

Disadvantages - This resort is a more expensive than the other value resorts. Because it is opening by section, availability will be limited and there will be the sights and sounds of construction until work on the resort is complete in Fall 2012.

Disney's Art of Animation Scheduled Openings:

• Phase 1 – Finding Nemo section - Now Open!

• Phase 2 – Cars section – Now Open!

• Phase 3 – The Lion King section – Now Open!

• Phase 4 – The Little Mermaid section – opens September 15th

The Little Mermaid section has standard rooms with exterior walkways like the All-Star and Pop Century Resorts. The standard rooms will have two double beds and are 277 square feet.

The Finding Nemo, The Lion King and the Cars buildings feature family suites that have a bedroom with a queen-sized bed. The living room area has a kitchenette, table that converts to an Innova-bed, and a sleeper sofa. The family suites are 565 square feet.

The Finding Nemo, The Lion King and the Cars buildings differ from the other Disney World value resorts in that they have interior hallways, as you can see from this construction photo:

We'd like to point out that it isn't just beloved Pixar/Disney movies that are celebrated at this resort, it is called "The Art of Animation" for a reason and you'll see that reflected in the buildings. Note the giant sketch pad motif in the photo below and the simple line drawings of Nemo on the white sheets of "paper" on the buildings. You'll also see the animation process honored in the names of the resort services: Animation Hall, Ink and Paint Shop (gift shop), and Landscapes Cafe. Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) Animation is the inspiration for the name of the Pixel Play Arcade.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Amenities

The Big Blue - 11,859 square foot feature pool
2 Smaller Pools
The Schoolyard Sprayground wet play Area in the Finding Nemo courtyard
The Boneyard playground in the Lion King courtyard
Squirt's Righteous Reef Playground in the Finding Nemo Courtyard.
Pixel Play Arcade
On-site foodcourt
On-Site shopping
1.38-mile Jogging Trail
Daily Maid Service
High Speed Internet Access (extra fee)
Concierge desk services
Luggage Service (runs on an hourly drop-off system)
Valet Service Dry Cleaning & Laundry Service
Coin Laundry available
ATM machine
Express Check-Out
Free transportation to the Disney Parks
Free Parking for registered resort guests.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Dining

Landscape of Flavor Food Court - a cafeteria style, quick service restaurant. This food court features 5 mini-shops: the Soup-Salad-Sandwich Shop / The World Flavors Shop / Pizza Shop / Burger Shop / "Grab'n Go Market Shop"
Pizza Delivery - 4PM to Midnight
Pool Bar - Specialty drinks, beer, sodas, etc.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Shopping

Ink and Paint Shop in the Animation Hall Building for sundries and souvenirs.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Room Options

Little Mermaid Standard Room – Sleeps up to 4 (or 5 with a crib). 2 double beds or 1 king bed.
The Lion King Family Suites – sleeps up to 6 (or 7 with a crib). Queen-size bed in the bedroom, Double-size Inova Table Bed, Double-size sleeper sofa. These suites also offer 2 bathrooms, a mini-kitchen, reading chair and table and chairs.
Cars Family Suites – sleeps up to 6 (or 7 with a crib). Queen-size bed in the bedroom, Double-size Inova Table Bed, Double-size sleeper sofa. These suites also offer 2 bathrooms, a mini-kitchen, reading chair and table and chairs.
Finding Nemo Family Suites – sleeps up to 6 (or 7 with a crib). Queen-size bed in the bedroom, Double-size Inova Table Bed, Double-size sleeper sofa. These suites also offer 2 bathrooms, a mini-kitchen, reading chair and table and chairs.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Room Amenities

Flat Screen Cable TV with Disney Programming
Alarm Clock
Telephone
In-Room Wall Safe
Pack 'n Play Playard Available
Rooms and Facilities for Guests with Disabilities
Self-parking
Internet Access (for an additional fee)
Hairdryer
Iron and Iron Board
Pack ‘n Play Crib
Refrigerator costs extra for standard rooms

For Guest with Disabilities

Disney's Art of Animation Resort includes rooms available to Guests with disabilities, including wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and rooms designed for the hearing impaired.
Complimentary wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved in advance. Guests who require wheelchairs are encouraged to bring their own equipment or make arrangements with an Orlando-area vendor prior to arrival at Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Transportation

Guests may use Disney's Magical Express - a shuttle bus service included in your reservation - between the Orlando International Airport and Disney's Art of Animation Resort.

Disney buses are available to take resort guests to the Walt Disney World theme parks, Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach Water Parks, Downtown Disney and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Complimentary transportation to the Walt Disney World golf courses is arranged through the resort concierge desk. Guests must have a tee time reservation with confirmation number and transportation should be arranged the day prior to your tee time.

Our Opinion of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

We wish this resort was open when we were raising our four kids - we always had to rent two connecting rooms. The theming of this resort is just fantastic and we think this will quickly become one of the most popular hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort. This hotel is probably the most "Disney" of any of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Reservations

Build A Better Mouse Trip always books directly with Walt Disney World and you will never pay any more than if you booked yourself. Our clients are very important to us and we offer some special services designed to make your trip the best that it can be:

We help you with a "Best Days" itinerary designed to put you in the least crowded park and/or in the park with the best entertainment each day of your trip.
We make dining reservations on your behalf - subject to availability.
We provide Disney Theme Park touring plans that are designed to let you do all the things you want to do in a way that keeps you ahead of the crowds and out of the long lines.
We're available to answer your questions about Disney resorts, restaurants, rides, shows, and attractions.

These services are our thank you to you when you book your Walt Disney World vacation through Build A Better Mouse Trip - you don't pay any extra for all this extra planning help.

No obligation - Contact us today:

Toll Free Phone: 877-815-6515

Or use our Online Form

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Address & Phone Number

Disney's Art of Animation Resort
1850 Century Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Phone: 407-938-7000

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Trivia

• Disney's Art of Animation resort is Disney World's 26th Resort. The resort plan was officially announced on May 12, 2010 with construction beginning in summer 2010.

• Disney's Art of Animation resort is near Disney's Pop Century Resort . Originally, Pop Century was going to be built in two sections with the first section called “The Classic Years” (the current Pop Century Resort). The second section was to be called “The Legendary Years” and would be built on the spot now occupied by Disney's Art of Animation Resort . Construction had started on “The Legendary Years” but stopped when tourism dropped following the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York.

• Back in 1985 – 1992, Epcot had two afternoon shows – Skylaidescope (1985 – 1987) and Surprise in the Skies (1991 – 1992) that featured ultra-lights that took off and landed in the area that is now Disney's Art of Animation Resort.

• The Topping Ceremony for the Art of Animation Resort took place on July 21, 2011 on The Lion King wing, when the construction and engineering crews placed the highest piece of steel on a building's frame. The tradition dates back to the Vikings, who would place an evergreen tree on the top of a building to celebrate and wish for good luck.

• This resort celebrates two Pixar Films – 3 Cars buildings and 2 Finding Nemo buildings. The only other Disney World hotel featuring a Pixar movie is Disney's All-Star Movies which has two Toy Story buildings.

• The Art of Animation was also the name of an exhibit at Disneyland from May 28, 1960 to September 5, 1966. This exhibit presented artwork that had been part of a traveling display that promoted the release of Disney's animated feature film Sleeping Beauty.

• Hong Kong Disneyland has an Art of Animation exhibit on its Main Street, U.S.A. It features conceptual artwork from the 1920's to present, maquesttes, storyboards and background paintings of Disney characters.

• The Art of Animation is also the name of a book by Bob Thomas that was released by Disney in the 1950's. That book influenced John Lasseter - Pixar's chief creative officer and the director of Toy Story, A Bug's Life, and Cars; he said, "When I was in high school I read this book called, The Art of Animation, by Bob Thomas, it's all about the Walt Disney studio and the making of Sleeping Beauty. I read this and it dawned on me - wait a minute, people do animation for a living?"

1958 Art of Animation Book COver

• Disney's Art of Animation Resort is adjacent to Disney's Pop Century Resort, Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park and the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Logo

To enlarge, just click on the picture

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Sign	Disney's Art of Animation Resort Entrance
Disney's Art of Animation Resort	Animation Hall
Check-in Desks at the Art of Animation Resort	Art of Animation Resort lobby
Incredible Disney / Pixar Animation Mural in the lobby	It begins with simple black-and-white sketches near the entrance
Then there are some sketches with a little color	The sketches become more complete.
Until you end up with full color.	Here's it is from the other direction.
The benches in the lobby have this Hidden Mickey in the design.	Kids' Cartoon area in the lobby of the Art of Animation Hotel
Business Center and ATM	Animation Chandelier in the lobby
Full Color Animation Cells in the lobby	Ink & Paint Gift Shop at Disney Art of Animation Resort
Inside the Gift Shop	Ink and Paint Gift Shop
Art of Animation Resort Giftshop	Cute Paint Jar Decorations
Landscape of Flavors food court
Landscape of Flavors at Art of Animation	The Food Court Hours
Disney Animation Resort Restaurant	Refillable Resort Mugs
Landscape of Flavors Cafeteria	Breakfast Cereal Bar
Another Food Station	Multiple Stations provide good variety
Quick-Service Restaurant at Disneys Art of Animation Resort	Open for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and snacks.
Grab-&-Go items available too	You can pay or use a Dining Plan
Landscape of Flavors Cash Register	Utensil Cart in the Food Court
Beverage Station At the Art of Animation Resort Food Court	Disneys Art of Animation Resort soda machines
Resort Mug Washing Area	Landscape of Flavors Drink Station
Microwave ovens in the Food Court	Lion King Section Beverages & Condiments
Deposit dishes & garbage here.	Lion King Light fixture at Landscape-of Flavors
Door to the lobby & gift shop.	Lion King themed dining area
More tables in the Lion King area	Cars Light fixture in the Food Court
Cars themed area of the dining room.	More tables in the Cars section.
Finding Nemo Light fixture	The other side of the Finding Nemo light fixture
Finding Nemo area of the dining room at Art of Animation.	Finding Nemo area of the Food Court
Divider between the Finding Nemo and Little Mermaid sections.	Little Mermaid Light fixture at Landscape of Flavors
Little Mermaid themed area of the Art of Animation Foodcourt	Another view of the Little Mermaid Area of the Food Court
Art of Animation Pressed Penny Machine	Pixel Play Arcade Sign
Pixel Play Arcade Entrance	Inside the Pixel Play Arcade.
Finding Nemo Feature Pool area, Sprayground splash zone, and Squirt's Righteous Reef dry playground.
Resort side door to Animation Hall
Disney's Art of Animation Directory	Disney Art of Animation Resort Map
Big Blue Pool at Disney Art of Animation Resort	Big Blue Pool Rules Sign
Feature Pool at Art of Animation	The main pool at Art of Animation
Art of Animation Swimming Pool	Zero-Depth Entry Swimming Pool
Shallow end of the swimming pool	Cute jelly fish statues at the pool
Shower by Big Blue swimming pool	Life jackets available by swimming-pool at Art of Animation
Finding Nemo touches to the pool	Kiddie pool / splash zone at Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Schoolyard Spray Ground	Pearl, the little pink Octopus
Nemo's friend Tad	Art-of-Animation kids' wet play area
Sheldon, the Seahorse.	Schoolyard Sprayground Rules
Even the fence is fun	Squirt's Righteous Reef Playground
Finding Nemo soft-sculpture playground	Dry play area for kids.
Another view of the playground	Stairs to the playground slide
The slide & a small tunnel	Restrooms, laundry, & Pool-bar
The Drop Off Pool Bar	Swimming pool restrooms
Soda Machine by the pool at Art of Animation	Ping-Pong Table by Swimming Pool
Art of Animation Pool Restrooms	Lockers in the poolside dressing room.
Shower by the Art of Animation pool	Handicap shower stall near the pool
Art of Animation Coin Laundry
Transportation
Disneys Art of Animation bus stops	Catch a Bus to the theme parks.
Disney theme park transportation	Epcot Bus Stop
The Finding Nemo area, Buildings 4 & 5
Marlin, Nemo, & Crush Statues	Finding Nemo Family Suite
Finding Nemo Family Suite - Table / Innova Bed	Finding Nemo Family Suite - Table converts to an Innova Bed
Finding Nemo Family Suite - Seating Area with sleeper sofa	Finding - Nemo Family Suite - Bedroom with Queen Bed
Interior Hallways in the Family Suite Buildings at Art of Animation	Pay Phones in the Buildings
Elevators at the Art of Animation Resort	Hallway to the rooms in the Finding Nemo Buildings
Exterior Stairwell Entrance to the Finding Nemo Buildings	Vending Machines and Ice Machines in each building
Hall Light & Room Number	Crush & Dory in the Finding Nemo Courtyard (Building 5)
Mr. Ray in the Finding Nemo Courtyard (Building 4)	Exterior Wall - Finding Nemo Area
Finding Nemo Courtyard Buildings are beautifully decorated.	More Finding Nemo Decor
Turtles and Fish
More Fun Fish	Mr. Ray Building
Nemo Buildings - Coral motif	Finding Nemo - Seagull Stairs
Close-up of the Seagulls	Dory & Squirt Tablet Stairs
Nemo & Pearl Tablet Stairs	Back of the Finding Nemo Buildings
Starfish on Seagull Stairs	Fun fish hiding in the landscaping
Colorful fish in a colorful courtyard
The Cars area, Buildings 1, 2 & 3
Entrance to Cars Area of resort
Pixar Cars Courtyard	Cars Family Suite
Cars Suite Table that converts to a Queen-size Innova Bed	Cars Family Suite Kitchenette & Seating area / Sleeper Sofa
Cars Suite Bedroom with Queen Bed	Cars Family Suite - Bathroom
Cars Family Suite - Vanity Area	Mater Building in Cars Courtyard - Building 1
Building 2 Sign at Art of Animation	Lightning McQueen & Sally and Wheel Well Motel Motif - Building 2
Building 3 Sign at Art of Animation	Luigi & Guido - Building 3 entrance
Walkway at the Cars Courtyard	Sarge's Equipment Hut Sign
Cars Courtyard - Sarge	Fillmore in the Cars Courtyard
Route 66 signs	Pixar Cars themed area at Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Luigi's Tires Building	(Buzz) Lightyear Tires
Flo & the Leaning Tower of Tires	Great route 66 desert look
Cozy Cone Motel sign	Cars Courtyard pool area
Cozy Cone Rules of the Pool	Cars Pool at Art of Animation
Another view of the pool	Cars Pool at AoA
Cute Traffic Cone Cabana	Restrooms by the Cars Pool
Lockers in the dressing room	Cars Pool Showers
Cars pool dressing rooms	Ornament Valley billboard
Radiator Springs billboard	Luigi's Billboard
Back of the Cars buildings	View of the Cars area by the lake
Sheriff is ready to catch speeders	Doc Hudson Statue
Flo statue	Ramone statue - front
Ramone "Low Rider" statue - back	Mater Statue
Lightning McQueen statue	Sally Carrera statue
Fillmore statue	Save 2D Animation Bumper Sticker
Guido,the little forklift, statue	Luigi statue
Sarge
The Lion King area, Buildings 6 & 10
Concept Are for the Lion King Courtyard at Art of Animation
Rafiki Welcomes You to the Lion King area of Art of Animation	Timon, Pumba, and Simba cross a log in the Lion King courtyard.
Mufasa on Pride Rock	Lion King Building Entrance
Art inside the Lion King Buildings	Lion King Hall Art
Lion King Building Elevator	Jungle Decor inside the elevator.
Lion cub, Meerkat, and Warthog tracks on the carpet in the halls.	Interior Halls lead to the family suites.
Door to one of the family suites.	Queen bed in the Lion King bedroom
Table & chairs convert to a bed	Lion King Suite - Innova Table-Bed.
Art of Animation - Lion King Area Living Room with sleeper sofa	Vending Machines and Ice Machines in the Lion King buildings at AoA.
Pay phones available in Disney's Art of Animation Resort Buildings.	Art of Animation - Lion King Building Exterior Door
View of the Lion King Courtyard at Disney's Art of Animation Resort	Lush Savannah themed landscaping
Lion King murals on the buildings.	Walkway to the Lion King buildings.
Jungle imprints in the concrete.	Art of Animation- Lion King Bldg. 6
Lion King Area Signs	Art of Animation garbage cans
Another view of the Lion King Area	Even the buildings tops are cute.
Rafiki Statue at Art of Animation	Art of Animation - Mufasa statue
Close up of Timon, Pumba & Simba	Guests can walk under the log.
ZaZu on a rock at Art of Animation	Close up of Zazu.
Art of Animation - Scar statue	Elephant Graveyard Sculpture
Lion King hyena sculpture	Elephant Graveyard sculpture
Lion King - Elephant Graveyard	Lion King sketches on the buildings.
Lion King building exteriors	Lion King Buildings - Rock Stairs
Side view of the Lion King stairs	Lion King Sketch Pad stairs
Mufasa & Simba sketch
The Little Mermaid area, Buildings 7, 8 & 9
Art-of-Animation-700-Little-Mermaid-Area.JPG	Art-of-Animation-701-Little-Mermaid.jpg
Art-of-Animation-702-Little-Mermaid-Standard-Room.jpg	Art-of-Animation-703-Little-Mermaid-Bathroom.jpg
Art-of-Animation-726-Little-Mermaid-Courtyard-2.JPG	Art-of-Animation-727-Little-Mermaid-Courtyard-Dinglehopper.JPG
Art-of-Animation-728-Little-Mermaid-Courtyard-Banded-Bulbous-Snarfblat.JPG	Art-of-Animation-729-Little-Mermaid-Courtyard-Treasure-Chest.JPG
Art-of-Animation-730-Little-Mermaid-Courtyard-Conga-Line-Fish-2.JPG	Art-of-Animation-731-Little-Mermaid-Courtyard-Prince-Eric.JPG
Art-of-Animation-732-Little-Mermaid-Courtyard-Sebastian.JPG	Art-of-Animation-733-Little-Mermaid-Courtyard-conga-line-fish.JPG
Art-of-Animation-734-Little-Mermaid-Courtyard-3.JPG	Art-of-Animation-736-Little-Mermaid-Flippin-Fins-Pool.JPG
Art-of-Animation-737-Little-Mermaid-Flippin-Fins-Pool.JPG	Art-of-Animation-738-Little-Mermaid-Flippin-Fins-Pool-4.JPG
Art-of-Animation-739-Little-Mermaid-Flippin-Fins-Pool-6.JPG	Art-of-Animation-741-Little-Mermaid-Flippin-Fins-Pool-7.JPG
Art-of-Animation-742-Little-Mermaid-Flippin-Fins-Pool-Life-Jackets.JPG	Art-of-Animation-743-Little-Mermaid-Flippin-Fins-Pool-Towel-Return.JPG
Art-of-Animation-750-Little-Mermaid-Ursula-Building.JPG	Art-of-Animation-751-Little-Mermaid-Ursula-Building.JPG
Art-of-Animation-760-Little-Mermaid-Ariel-Building-2.JPG	Art-of-Animation-761-Little-Mermaid-Ariel-Building-3.JPG
Art-of-Animation-762-Little-Mermaid-Ariel-Building-5.JPG	Art-of-Animation-763-Little-Mermaid-Ariel-Building-6.JPG
Art-of-Animation-770-Little-Mermaid-King-Triton-Building (2).JPG	Art-of-Animation-771-Little-Mermaid-King-Triton-Building.JPG
Art-of-Animation-780-Little-Mermaid-Buildings-at-Disneys-Art-of-Animation-Resort.JPG	Art-of-Animation-791-Little-Mermaid-Sketchpad-Staircase.JPG
Signs around the Art of Animation Resort and Bridge to Pop Century
Art of Animation Building Sign
Art of Animation Building Sign	Finding Nemo Trivia sign
Trivia sign along walkway	Finding Nemo / Monster's Inc. Trivia
More "Finding Nemo" trivia	Finding Nemo / Toy Story Trivia
Pixar Cars Trivia	Pixar Trivia sign at Art of Animation
No Swimming in the Lake	View of Disney's Art of Animation from the bridge to Pop Century
Bridge between Disney's Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts	Another view of the bridge between Art of Animation & Pop Century