What You Need to Know for a Magical Stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort 2021
With amazing theming and a great price point, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort in 2021 is a great pick for families, but there are a few things you will need to know before you go. I have put together a list of 5 things I think you need to know before you visit Art of Animation in 2021 so that you can make the most of your stay.
1. Pick the Right Room
The resort consists of 10 buildings in 4 different sections and 2 room types.
The first section is themed to The Little Mermaid and consists of 3 buildings . They each contain traditional hotel rooms that sleep 4. This section is also the farthest away from the lobby and bus stop.
The additional sections are themed to The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and Pixar’s Cars. All of the rooms in these sections are family suites which sleep up to 6. The closest of these is the Finding Nemo section, followed by The Lion King, and then Cars. Choosing your location can really set you you for a fun trip, especially if you have a child that is really a fan of one of these films.
These suites are amazing for a family of 5 or 6! You will love the amount of space and the fact that they have 2 bathrooms and an actual seating are for dining. For those of us who are used to finding spots for 3 kids to crowd around a desk or small table for in room breakfast, it is a huge help!
For more hotel room information check out My Top 5 Disney Hotels For Family of 5.
2. Take Advantage of the Photo Ops
One thing unique to this hotel is than ability to take pictures of yourself with larger than life statues and recreations of your favorite films. Make sure to set aside time to explore each section.
You can take photos with Lightening McQueen, Simba, Ariel, and more. I love the particular films they picked so that there is something that each member of the family can get excited to see. The elephant graveyard and Squirt’s reef also double as play areas. They are a great way to let little ones explore.
3. Eat At Landscape of Flavors
I will go ahead and say it- Landscape of Flavors at Art of Animation is hands down my FAVORITE resort quick service restaurant on property. I have visited many resort quick service locations at Disney World, and it is the best option for a quick family lunch or dinner especially if you have a group of varied ages with varying tastes.
What makes it so great is the variety they offer and the large seating area that is missing at many of the pricier Deluxe Resorts. While the menu has changed over the years (RIP Surf & Surf Burger-hope we meet again some day), you can still find interesting options such as Mongolian stir fried chicken bowl, chicken parmesan pasta, or plant based BBQ burgers. You can also appease your picky eaters with the standard mac and cheese, chicken strips, and hamburgers.
It has previously had a reputation for sometimes being crowded and a little hectic due to a multiple station set up. Thanks to mobile ordering, you can now place your entire order at once and collect it and be on your way!
4. Cruise on the Skyliner
Now for the biggest selling point of Art of Animation Resort in 2021. Thanks to Disney’s gondola system introduced in 2019, Art of Animation is now connected to 2 theme parks and 2 other resorts! Make sure to utilize this system when heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Epcot. Also enjoy some down time casually riding to Caribbean Beach Resort or the Riviera Resort. You can stop in for a quick snack, or even a full character meal at Topolino’s.
To my kids the Skyliner is an attraction in itself. They could spend an entire morning just riding along. If you are looking at ways to fill your “off” day, make sure to schedule time to cruise on the Skyliner.
*Pro Tips: If you have a small stroller you do not have to fold it up on the Skyliner. This makes travel with little ones a breeze!
5. Visit Pop Century
Did you know that Art of Animation has a “sister” resort right across the lake? A quick 5 minute walk will get you to Disney’s Pop Century Resort.
Fun things to do at Pop Century include a playground (located in the 70’s Section), dining at their quick service location Everything POP (don’t forget to try the tie dyed cheesecake), and fun photo ops. It is important to note, however, that you cannot use the pools at any other resorts apart from the one you are staying at.
Each section of the resort is themed to a decade from the 1950’s to 1990’s. This means you will not only find characters you love like Lady and the Tramp, but also nostalgic items such as a giant Rubik’s cube and yo-yo.
Extra Bonus Tip: Use Alternate Bus Options
So this is one of my favorite things about resorts that are connected by a waling path to other resorts. You can use other hotel’s busses! For example if you just missed the bus heading back to Art of Animation from the Magic Kingdom but see a Pop Century bus pull up- hop on! You can take it and them make the quick 5 minute walk over to Art of Animation.
If you want to get really creative about it you can even hop on a bus to Caribbean Beach Resort or Riviera Resort and use the Skyliner to travel back. This won’t really save you any time, but is is a great way to get to see other resorts. You can even grab a meal on the way back if you want to mix up your dining options.
Want to Know More About Staying at Art of Animation Resort 2021?
Check out What I Love About Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.
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