Welcome to the next stop on Magical Blogorail Green. Today we are discussing the best resorts for families travelling with 5 or more.
Walt Disney World is, of course, a fantastic place to bring your family. In recent years, Disney has added not just new rides, but new hotels as well, including Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is the perfect option for big families, families who like a bit of space, or even folks who’d like an affordable option to enjoy a nicely sized suite. This huge, colorful resort features elaborately themed buildings and rooms to several beloved Disney classics.
Stay with Nemo in the “Finding Nemo” suites, sleep with Simba in “The Lion King” suites, or delight the car-lover with a stay at Radiator Springs in the “Cars” suites. Even families looking for a standard sized room can enjoy a space of their own in the “The Little Mermaid” section of the resort.
There’s a lot to recommend Disney’s Art of Animation Resort to any guest, but to our family of five, this resort is our dream come true. Why? Well…
1. It’s affordable. Art of Animation is a value category resort. That means you can enjoy the perks of staying on Disney property (free transportation to and from the airport, Extra Magic Hours, early booking for FastPass+ rides, and more) while still making the most out of your money.
What’s really nice is that you save money, but Disney doesn’t scrimp on the experience. You can still expect to be surrounded by all sorts of Disney magic, a lot of it unique to that hotel. More on that in a minute though.
2. Location, Location, Location. Built in a quiet section in the middle of Walt Disney World Resort, Art of Animation is very conveniently located to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
While neither are close enough to walk to, they are only a 10-15 minute bus ride away. Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom aren’t too far away either, both being less than 20ish minutes from the resort.
Even some Deluxe resorts can’t boast that! And Disney’s Pop Century Resort, another value resort, is just on the other side of Hourglass Lake that is connected by a gorgeous bridge. That means another gift shop, bus stop, and food court is conveniently available on days you really want to spread out.
3. Landscape of Flavors. Everybody travels with a picky eater. It’s a fact of life. And everybody travels with that person who wants to be a little more adventurous with their food. Thankfully, Landscape of Flavors, Art of Animation’s food court, answers both of these demands perfectly.
From plain ol’ pizza to pulled pork on cornbread waffles topped with cheese, to some really elaborate drinks and smoothies, to a build-your-own-pasta bar where you can get exactly what you want, almost every impulse and craving can be satisfied here. Art of Animation’s Landscape of Flavors is arguably one of the best counter service dining options at any of the resorts, hands down.
Curious about some of the food found around the property? Check out our recipes from Art of Animation and it’s neighbor, Pop Century!
Spaghetti Carbonara – Landscape of Flavors (Art of Animation) – Bacon and pasta? Yum!
Cotton Candy Lemonade – Everything Pop! (Pop Century) – A fun take on lemonade
Tye-Dye Cheesecake – Everything Pop! (Pop Century) – Red velvet meets colorful cheesecake
Minnie’s Bakeshop Cookies – Raspberry and White Chocolate (Art of Animation)
4. All Disney, All The Time. Some Disney resorts are more subtle in their Disney decor. A small hidden Mickey here, a small Mickey statue there… Art of Animation is not that resort. It is elaborately and obviously thoroughly themed to the magic of Disney animation.
From the gorgeous, signed cell animation chandelier in the lobby to the 100 foot tall Ariel outside of the “The Little Mermaid” building, everywhere you look you see Disney. Even The Big Blue, the hotel’s feature pool surrounds you in Disney… Literally! Dive underwater and listen to Dory, Nemo, and friends talk, sing, and swim.
The rooms are equally as detailed, with fantastic touches and tributes to the host movie of the suite. If the “The Little Mermaid” rooms had been around when I was a kid, I would have thought I’d gone to heaven. For people who want an in-the-movies experience, Disney’s Art of Animation delivers like no other hotel on property.
5. The Luxury of Space. Disney’s Art of Animation has the gift of space, both in the rooms and on the property itself. Before Art of Animation, the only real option for large families like ours was either an expensive deluxe or deluxe suite or two separate rooms.
With two adults and three kids under the age of 8, how does two rooms even work? Kids all in one room and adults in the other? I shudder at the thought… I know our youngest would pick up the phone, push the pizza-shaped button and order 20 pizzas using our dining credits.
Art of Animation not only allows us to stay in one room together, but we have at our disposal three sleeping areas, a small kitchenette, even two bathrooms. Did I mention we have three kids under eight, two of which are five and under? That second bathroom is worth its weight in gold.
Art of Animation is a resort that’s worth checking out, for sure!
Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Disney Mamas and a fantastic preview of one of the most iconic Walt Disney Resorts on property!
1st Stop – Disney with Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers – Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
2nd Stop – For the Love of Disney – The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
3rd Stop – Saving Up for Disney – Disneyland Resort
4th Stop – The Disney Chef – Make a Splash at Art of Animation (hey, you’re here now!)
Final Stop – Disney Mamas – Disney’s Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower
