"Why book? Ideal for families, this resort of brimming with color and characters. Set the scene Art of Animation Resort is popular with families for its over-the-top theme and larger-than-life characters. And that’s not hyperbole—a three-story-tall Ariel is perched outside one building, while Simba, Timon, and Pumba prance across a fallen tree outside another. The lobby highlights the animation process with sketches of various characters layered down the wall across from the check-in desk. We won’t sugarcoat it, “popular with families” means the hotel can get a little chaotic, especially if you’re in the main building around breakfast. But if you’ve got a kid obsessed with Disney characters, this is the place to be. The rooms Subtlety has no place here. Art of Animation Resort is divided into sections by movie, with standard rooms themed to The Little Mermaid and family suites, which sleep six, themed to The Lion King, Cars, and Finding Nemo. With brightly colored furnishings and tile mosaics in the shower (our favorite is the savanna sunrise in the Lion King rooms), Art of Animation is not for those looking to forget where they are. Food and drink The Landscape of Flavors food court serves your standard fare of burgers, pizza and pasta (and Mickey waffles at breakfast, naturally), but you’ll also find homestyle favorites like pot roast, roasted chicken, and shrimp and grits.The neighborhood/area While the resort falls into Disney’s value category, proximity to the Disney Skyliner and easy access to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios bumps it up in the rankings. You can also easily hop over to Disney’s Riviera Resort for dinner and drinks at Topolino’s Terrace with stellar fireworks views or to Disney’s Boardwalk for a whole range of dining and entertainment options. The service You can completely bypass the check-in desk by registering in advance through the My Disney Experience app and using it as your room key. Cast members are stationed at the front desk to answer any questions or help with dining reservations, and can sometimes even sprinkle a little pixie dust on your stay. For families The largest resort pool at Walt Disney World is found right here. The Big Blue Pool was inspired by Finding Nemo and features figures of Nemo and Crush around the pool deck, and giant jellyfish in a playful splashground. We’re also big fans of the Cozy Cone pool in the Cars-themed area of the resort. Where else can you relax in a traffic cone cabana? Anything left to mention? This resort is sprawling. Guests staying in the far-flung Little Mermaid-themed buildings will have a nearly 10-minute walk to the main building, which adds up if you’re back and forth often." - Valerie Marino
