For the first page of this review of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, see this.
A PHOTO TOUR OF THE FINDING NEMO FAMILY SUITES AT DISNEY’S ART OF ANIMATION RESORT
This is the basic floor plan of all of the Art of Animation Family Suites. The entrance is from an enclosed hallway, and while the windows are large, there’s no balcony.
A refurb currently in process is shifting the floors to wood laminate, and the queen bed in the separate bedroom to a platform bed–which adds storage underneath. I’ll have updated images later in 2020.
(Images on this page are from Finding Nemo; for a Lion King photo tour, see this, and for the Cars Suites, see this.)
You enter directly in to the dining area, with the master bedroom area on one side and the mini-kitchen/living room on the other.
The dining table is large. It comes with four chairs, but despite the fact that this is a six-person room, that’s all that comfortably fits. There’s a couple of round tables in the living room that double as stools (except in Cars rooms)–a very clever idea. You can pull them up to the end of the table, but there’s no room for knees. And knees often are important…
The dining table is replaced by a bed that folds down from the wall. Note the darling image at the head of the bed of Nemo sleeping with his dad. A larger version is at the top of the page.
I measured this bed as 54 by 74 inches, but for some it will sleep a little shorter than that. The head of the bed is within the framing that supports it when it’s up, and this may feel a little claustrophobic to some, causing them to skooch towards the foot.
The single cushion is 8 inches deep, and I found it easy to sleep on though a little short.
It includes overhead reading lights on a dimmer switch, and two end tables. There’s a bit of storage in the end tables
The bed is easy to set up–clear the dining table, take away the chairs (which don’t stack–kind of an odd choice), and pull it down. The bed is already made, so all you need to do is add the pillows (stored in drawers in the living room) and you are set!
The kids’ bath opens off the dining room. It has two doors that divide it into two spaces–a pocket door to the sink area, and a hinged door to the tub/toilet area–making it quite flexible.
There’s a couple of ways in which finishes and furnishings at Art of Animation are a major upgrade over not just other value resorts, but even moderate resorts. Most notable of these is the bath–see the sink furniture in the above photo, and note the tiling in the tub surround, which looks even better in real life than in my photo.
Your kids likely will be more impressed by the shower curtain than the tiling…
The dining area also opens to the living room.
On one side you’ll find the mini-kitchen (further below) and large, comfy sofa, at the end a cute easy chair, and in the middle the two tables/stools I mentioned above. Using the stools, the room easily seats 6.
The other side has a flat-screen TV, good-sized dresser, and a clothes area with a shelf at the top, closet rod and hangers, another shelf, and a big drawer below.
There’s a little less storage here than meets the eye, as two of the largest drawers are stuffed with pillows and blankets for the sofa bed. You can get storage space back by creating a tippy stack of pillows on the shelf above the closet rod when the bed is not made.
A closer view of the dresser storage…
…and the storage drawer at the bottom of the closet thingy.
The living room sofa opens up into a bed. Unlike the dining table, it has sheets but not a blanket when you open it (grab the blanket from the storage area on the TV side).
I measured it at 54″ by 78″–4″ longer than the dining table bed. Although the mattress is only 4 inches thick, I had no trouble sleeping on it. But then I’m not picky…
The other item in this space is the mini-kitchen.
There’s a sink, mini-fridge, microwave, and a coffee maker.
There’s also some supplies–not just cups and coffee, but also paper plates and bowls, plastic utensils, a can opener and a corkscrew/bottle opener. This is a very nice touch.
For an image of the inside of the fridge, see this (and thanks, Hayden, for sending it to me!).
The master bedroom opens from the dining room.
One side has a flat screen and a dresser–the same size as the equivalents in the living room–and a closet space with safe, iron and ironing board, suitcase rack (which you will probably fold up so that you can stack a bunch of roller bags here) and hanging rack with a shelf above.
Master bedroom dresser storage. There’s plenty of drawers in these suites.
The other side has a colorful queen bed and a couple of bed tables.
The master bath opens from the master bedroom. It’s not divided, which creates space that enables a longer sink counter than in the kids’ bath. The shower has a glass door, and the same lovely tiling as the kids’ bath.
Like the kids’ bath, the furniture and finishing in this bath are at a much higher level than at the other values.
PHOTO TOUR OF A LION KING SUITE AT DISNEY’S ART OF ANIMATION RESORT
This review continues here.
MATERIAL IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S ART OF ANIMATION RESORT
- Overview of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- The Little Mermaid Area and Rooms
- Photo Tour of a Little Mermaid Room
- Overview of the Family Suites Areas
- Accommodations in the Family Suites
- Photo Tour of a Finding Nemo Family Suite (plus bed dimensions, storage, etc)
- Photo Tour of a Lion King Family Suite
- Photo Tour of a Cars Family Suite
- Amenities at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- The Pools at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD
- Where to stay–the Basics
- Where first-timers should stay
- Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 150+ stays in them
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We will be staying in the Nemo family suites. My husband and I have slept in a double bed before with no trouble, but we are both heavy. We will be sleeping on one of the fold outs. (Couch or table) I am concerned if they can hold 500lbs total, or if I should bring an inflatable single bed. Any thoughts on the durability? We are okay with our feet hanging off the bed, so if the beds are short we are okay with that. Our son and wife need the queen bed, and the grand daughter is 6 and can sleep anywhere.
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Kathy, the beds are pretty strong, though the couch might be the better choice. Can’t hurt to bring an air mattress, though…
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Dave
Is the space under the queen bed in AoA Nemo Family suite open? Could an empty rolling duffle go under there?
Thanks in advance!
Sincerely
Kelly G
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Kelly, nope.
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Hello, have just found your site and it’s amazing – even though we’ve been before we found so much information here. We have a package holiday booked from the UK for 23 August-2 Sept, 2 rooms for 4 people at the All Star Movies. 1 room for me and my husband (we’re very old 70+!!!), the other for our daughter and granddaughter. Would we be better off staying in a family suite at the Art of Animation? Or any other suggestions? Many thanks.
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Hi Sylvia, and thanks!!
The trade off is first between privacy vs. togetherness, and second the more stuff (dining table, living room, microwave) in the Family Suites vs their higher price. Both are related to how you will live and use and sleep in the spaces. DO the two groups have very different sleep patterns? Then get separate rooms. Will you be in the parks all the time and not even using the living room? Then get the rooms…
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Hi Dave! Like the others already stated, your website is FABULOUS! Thanks for all the tips for us newbies! We are planning our first Disney trip for the end of April 2015 and definitely want to stay in A of A. One thing I have heard from friends is that there is a Publix nearby that will deliver groceries for a reasonable delivery charge. Can you confirm that? Thanks in advance!
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Hiya Emily and thanks!! I can’t confirm that, but you can get deliveries from Garden Grocer and others.
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Hi Dave, we are planning a trip during Thanksgiving week. My husband is possibly going to have to have both knees replaced after the trip. We have grandsons with us. Want to stay in the Art of Animation, Cars or Lion King. Can you advise which rooms maybe would be closest to the entrance and buses so he won’t have to do much walking and be on the ground floor?
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Faye, Lion King building 10 is by far the best choice under your circumstances. But the parks have a ton of walking as well…have you thought about renting a scooter?
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I just wanted to Thank You for such a great comprehensive review of the finding nemo suites. We are scheduled to visit from the UK for Christmas and New Year and I’ve found the official resort site lacking in information. Your review and photographs and answers to others questionsbhas answered everything I wanted to know about both the AOA resort and the finding nemo suites so Thank You x
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Hi Helene, and I’m so glad the review was helpful!
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I forgot to mention that we will have our own cars, do you recommend using those to travel to and from the parks instead of the buses?
Thanks!
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Jamie, cars are faster and more convenient for all the parks except Magic Kingdom.
At MK, the buses drop you right off at the park (as they do at the other three) but parking at MK is distant and requires another transportation act–monorail or ferry–and so is much more time-consuming.
So drive everywhere but MK.
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Hi Dave,
We have quite a large group going to WDW in Sept. This will be a first trip for all of us and we will be staying in 2 of the cars family suites. My elderly parents will be with us and I was wondering where would you recommend staying to that would be most convenient on them as far as walking etc.. What are the chances of us getting rooms close together and do they have pack and plays that we could use for the smaller kids? How soon can I request all of these things and do I need to keep following up with them as the time gets closer? Sorry for all the questions there will be 13 of us and the planning has all been left up to me so I’m a little stressed and just want to make sure everyone has a wonderful time!
Thank you so much for all your reviews and advice! PRICELESS for us newbies
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Hi Jamie, and thanks for the kind words!
–Yes, you can request Pack and plays! You can do this at on-line check in or when you arrive (see below)
–You want to request a second floor or higher rooms “near transportation” in the Finding Nemo section. You can request this now by calling, and also at 60 days out via on-line check in.
–Disney will try to put your rooms close, but there are no guarantees.
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I’m going to book a Cars suite for 2 adults 1 5 yr old. I saw that you put up some recommendations on what buildings to request in the Little Mermaid rooms. But what about the Cars suites – which room numbers are most conveniet and quiet.
Next question we are traveling 12/6/2013 for 1 week – we have a travel agent booking all of our extras (meals/character, etc.) Most meals I have requested to book early to get into some parks early – will this be worth the sleep/stress to get us there early to beat the crowds – this is a very low crowd level and I don’t want to waste sleep getting up at 6:00 for a brkfst buffet at 8:00 when the parks may not be crowded at all….thanks for your help…
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Hi Rhonda, I’d ask for an upper-floor, lake-view, near-transportation room in Building 3.
On morning dining…yes the parks will be quite crowded, just much less so than other times of the year. So the first 90 minute sin the park after opening is still a critical time.
I’d take a different approach, and schedule breakfast as late as its available–e.g. 10.30a or later, and have some donuts milk juice an dfruit in the room to snack on before you head over to the parks. This limits how early you need to get up while ensuring you both see the parks at the best time and can have some fun breakfasts.
Hope this helps…
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Thank you so much Dave! Your site made my trip a 100x less stressful and more organized than before. I will certainly recommend this site to all of my family and friends! Thank you once again!
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Thanks Jolanta! I’m so glad the site helped you…that’s why I write it!
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Thank you Dave!
So $4,ooo isn’t enough, hmm would then the Little Mermaid Room suffice or is there another hotel besides Pop Century and AofA?What would you think would be a more suitable budget besides the ones you’ve stated on the link you gave me? This is the 1st site I went to recommended to me by a friend and it has worked extremely well. Thank you again!
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Hi Jolanta, on what to budget see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/what-to-budget/ and the links there.
There are three hotels a little less expensive than Pop and AofA–All-Star Music, Movies, and Sports. See the links here https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/08/04/the-value-resorts-at-walt-disney-world/
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Oh and pardon me, I didn’t mention that both of my girls still adore Disney and while both want to see it; my oldest one especially wants to because she’s heading to college in less than 2 years and still hasn’t been to Disney. Hopefully this will turn out as a wonderful trip. Thank you again for your time.
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Hello Dave!
Where to start well, this is the first time my family will be going to Disney, and were planning on going late April 2014 to early May 2014; hope that’s a good date. I have 2 adults and my children are 2 girls 16 & 13. I’m wondering if the Nemo or Lion King Family Suite will be suitable for them for a 1st time visit. We’re staying 9 days & 8 nights with the park hopper and water park option, but without the Dining Plan and I’m hoping a budget of $4,000 will suffice if not can you please give me a more reasonable one? And when I buy the tickets should I buy 4 adult ones or would giving them 2 child ones entitle them to adult courses?? Thank you for your time.
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Hi Jolanta! First, the girls will have to buy adult tickets–the kid tickets are only for <10 year olds. And the family suites are expensive--so I don't see you being able to do all that for $4000. I suspect you are a grand low...
To how to figure out your budget, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/what-to-budget/estimating-budgets/
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I was wondering about the size of the refrigerator in the Little Mermaid room. I saw the early post about the Family suites, just wondering if the refrigerators are the same size . Thank you.
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Hi Tiffany, see the Little Mermaid review that begins here—there’s a couple of shots of the refrigerators on the second page https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/09/23/review-standard-little-mermaid-rooms-disneys-art-animation-resort/
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We are looking to book a suite at AOA in Dec 2014. I heard the big blue pool is huge but only 4 ft deep. Is there nowhere at the resort with a deeper pool? I have a 12&8 yr old that love to swim.
Ty
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Hi Janet, over the years Disney as it has opened hotels has made pools shallower and shallower to discourage diving. I always see hundreds of kids swimming and in the pools playing anyway so they should be fine!
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Hi!!
I am so into this site. We are planning to stay in a Family Suite when we travel in October 2013. What rooms shouls we try to get. I still torn between the NEMO and CARS rooms …. decisions decisions
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Hi KJ and thanks!! I recommend the Lion King lake-facing rooms! Quieter, better view, but still close to the main services and bus stops. I’d put Cars next, then Nemo…
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This site was so helpful. We are booked for June. I am wondering if I could call and ask for specific room. We are staying with 4 kids in a Nemo Family Suite. So what rooms should I ask for?
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Hi Kristy, you want an upper-floor room with a view of hourglass lake. This will limit the pool and corridor noise–plus give you a nice view!
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