Disney World's newest value Resort - Disney's Art of Animation Resort – will offer 1,120 family suites and 864 standard guest rooms and 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 park. 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. Phase One of Disney's Art of Animation Resort will open on May 31, 2012 and, even though the resort is not even open yet, it 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 little 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 late 2012.

Disney's Art of Animation Scheduled Openings:

•  Phase 1 – Finding Nemo section, opening May 31, 2012 section

•  Phase 2 – Cars section – opening on June 18th

•  Phase 3 – The Lion King section – opening on August 10th

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

The Little Mermaid section with standard rooms will have exterior walkways like the All-Star and Pop Century Resorts. This is a photo of one of the not-yet-completed buildings.

The Finding Nemo, The Lion King and the Cars buildings will differ from the other Disney World value resorts in that they will have interior hallways

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 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-sit 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 will feature 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

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 Disney World theme parks, Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach Water Parks, Downtown Disney and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Complimentary transportation to the 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.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort Reservations

Contact us today to stay at this great resort. We'll take the stress out of planning your Walt Disney World Vacation

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.

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Disney's Art of Animation Resort Address & Phone Number

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

Phone: Number has not yet been released

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?"

•  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.