1. The Theming
One of the things we love most about Disney’s Art of Animation is the fun theming. Everything is bright and colourful and there’s so much to see. The Resort is split into separate areas inspired by Disney classics like The Little Mermaid, Cars, Finding Nemo and The Lion King.
As soon as you walk into the lobby, you’ll notice an entire wall covered in Disney sketches. These begin with initial design concepts for Disney movies and as you walk further you’ll see the designs develop into bold, colourful creations that you’ll instantly recognise. At the end of the lobby there’s a stunning storyboard chandelier with original drawings from The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and Finding Nemo. Look closely and you’ll see that some of these have been signed by the cast and crew that worked on the movies.
The theming runs throughout the entire resort and you’ll find a new surprise around every corner. There’s over 2,500 Disney character figures around the resort and these include Ariel, King Triton, Simba, Rafiki and an enormous figure of Crush the turtle to name just a few. See how many you can find around the resort and bring your camera along, as they make for a great photo opportunity.
2. The Pools
Did you know, Disney’s Art of Animation is home to the largest pool at Walt Disney World? That’s right, ‘The Big Blue Pool’ (inspired by Finding Nemo) is Disney’s biggest pool, holding an incredible 308,527 gallons of water! That’s not the only thing that makes it special though. If you explore under the surface, you’ll be able to hear some of your favourite Disney songs playing through underwater speakers- a first for any Disney Resort Hotel! Pretty impressive, right?
The hotel also has 2 more pools to enjoy. The Flippin’ Fins pool is inspired by The Little Mermaid and features the “Under the Sea Orchestra” conducted by Sebastian. You can also make a splash in the Cozy Cone Pool which is themed on Cars. The pool is surrounded by life-size models of Doc, Sally, Mater, Lightning McQueen and more.
Top tip: There’s a poolside bar called ‘The Drop Off’, so the big kids can enjoy a cocktail or two while the little ones take a dip in the pool.
3. The Family Suites
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is perfect for families, as most of the rooms here are family suites that can sleep up to 6 guests. Suites are either themed on Cars, Finding Nemo or The Lion King, so you can choose your favourite.
Each suite is made up of 1 queen bed, 1 double-sized table bed and 1 double-sized sleeper sofa. There’s 2 bathrooms, which means there’s plenty of space for everyone to get ready. There’s also a kitchenette and a dining area, so you can enjoy dinner together as a family. Did you know, you can even order pizza to your room? This is ideal for when you’re feeling worn out from all that theme park fun. Don’t worry if your group is a bit smaller. You can still enjoy staying in a themed Little Mermaid room which sleeps up to 4.
4. Movies Under the Stars
Watching your favourite Disney movie is a great way to get excited for a day exploring the parks. Movies Under the Stars lets you do just that. Disney’s Art of Animation hosts special outdoor movie screenings most nights of the week. They’re completely free to attend, so we’d recommend finding out which movies are scheduled when you arrive so that you can make the most of this fun service. There’s always a combination of new movies and old classics like Monsters Inc, Aladdin and The Princess and the Frog to name a few. Movies start at 8pm, but it’s a good idea to get there a bit earlier if you want to get the perfect viewing spot.
5. The Arcade
The Pixel Play Arcade is guaranteed to keep the family entertained and is filled with a range of new and classic video games including Guitar Hero, Pac-Man, air hockey, pinball and racing car games to name a few. You’ll need to load some money onto an arcade card to play, and can get started with as little as $1. There’s also a comfy seating area and Wi-Fi for those wanting to relax while the kids enjoy the games.
The Pixel Play Arcade is open 24-hours a day, which means you can fit in a quick gaming session whenever you like!
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