Good morning and Happy Sunday! Welcome back to the eighteenth week of Sunday Showcase. Each week, we take a look at one of Walt Disney World’s resorts. This week we will be taking a look at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, which is the first Value Resort. If you haven’t checked out last’s week’s article, you can do so here.
Sunday Showcase: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
“Be surrounded in the artistry, enchantment and magic of Walt Disney and Disney and Pixar movies. Stay at a Disney Resort hotel that invites you to explore the storybook landscapes seen in such classics as Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. From delightfully themed family suites to wondrously detailed courtyards, Disney’s Art of Animation “draws” you and your family in to become a part of some of your animated favorites.”
Brief History
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is the newest of the Value Resorts. It opened with their Family Suites to guest on May 31, 2012 and later on September 12, 2012 the Standard Guests rooms opened thereafter. Originally this resort was supposed to be Phase 2 of Disney’s Pop Century resort, featuring the Legendary Years, 1900s-1940s. There is a great video detailing the Legendary Years project by Bright Sun Films.
Construction of the Legendary years was unfortunately haulted after the attacks on September 11, 2001, due to the decline in tourism. The buildings were left abandoned until 2010, when they began construction on what we now know as Disney’s Art of Animation. Although now completely different themes between the two resorts, they are still connected by the “Generation Gap” bridge. This bridge is now also one of the main hubs for the Disney Skyliner.
Rooms and Facilities
Disney’s Art of Animation features two distinct room types. Standard Guest Rooms and Family Suites. First, the Standard guest rooms will sleep 4 guest plus 1 child under the age of 3 in a crib. Rooms are configured with 2 double beds or 1 king bed. These rooms are the furthest from the main building where shopping, dining and bus transportation is located.
Family suites will sleep up to 6 guests plus 1 child under the age of 3 in a crib. These rooms are configured with a queen bed, in a separate room, 1 double sleeper sofa and 1 double Murphy table. These rooms also feature two full bathrooms, which is a huge selling point. In addition, there is also a kitchenette as well. The Family Suites are located in 3 separately themed “lands”. Take a look at rooms tours of each of the 4 rooms types: Little Mermaid, Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo.
Dining at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
Quick-Service Dining
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Landscape of Flavors – Survey your eating options on the near horizon with 4 Disney- themed dining areas and 5 quick- service counters.
Other Dining Options
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The Drop Off Pool Bar – Enjoy a refreshing cool beverage or dive into the deep end with a frozen cocktail, ice-cold draft or bottled beer.
Transportation
- Bus Service to Walt Disney World® Resort Theme Parks, Water Parks and Disney Springs®
- Disney Skyliner service to Epcot®, Disney’s Hollywood Studios® and select Disney Resort hotels
Recreation
- The Big Blue Pool – Just keep swimming in the largest hotel pool in all of Walt Disney World Resort.
- Cozy Cone Pool – Check in and chill in cone-shaped cabanas around the Cozy Cone Motel swimming Pool!
- Flippin’ Fins Pool – Make a splash in the Flippin’ Fins Pool – or let your cares drift away as you lounge poolside
- Movie Under the Stars
- Jogging Trail
- Righteous Reef Playground
- Pixel Play Arcade
Parking
Standard overnight self-parking is available to registered Guests for a fee that will be applied to their hotel folio upon check-out. All parking fees include applicable tax.
- Parking for Disney Value Resorts is $15 per night.
Complimentary standard self-parking is available while you enjoy select dining, shopping, entertainment and recreation experiences at this Resort.
Disney’s Art of Animation Wrap-Up
In Conclusion, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, is by far my family’s favorite Value Resort. This was the first Disney Resort we stayed at when my oldest was 15 Months. We stayed in the Little Mermaid room and she absolutely adored it. Fast forward a few years, we stayed in the Cars Suite when my middle child was 7 months.
Wow! This was a great room, and we had a great view of the Cozy Cone Pool. Not only does our nostalgia for the resort make this our favorite, we love the Landscape of Flavors dining option. Landscape of Flavors is arguably the best quick service dining option in any of The Walt Disney Resort hotels. Its also a great stop to grab breakfast before heading to the parks and a nice respite when we return. If you have not stayed at this resort, and you have a larger travel party, this is a great option.
Thank you for checking out this week’s iteration of Sunday Showcase. Have you stayed at this resort? What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
Finally, if you are looking at traveling to Walt Disney World, contact Far Beyond Infinity Travel. They will help you navigate the inns and outs of Walt Disney World. While their services are always free and they will help as much or as little as you’d like. Contact them today at info@farbeyondinfinitytravel.com or visit them online.
[Source and Images: Walt Disney World]
Pirates & Princesses (PNP) is an independent, opinionated fan-powered news blog that covers Disney and Universal Theme Parks, Themed Entertainment and related Pop Culture from a consumer's point of view. Opinions expressed by our contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of PNP, its editors, affiliates, sponsors or advertisers. PNP is an unofficial news source and has no connection to The Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal or any other company that we may cover.