For the first page of this review of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, see this.
ACCOMMODATIONS AT THE FAMILY SUITES AT DISNEY’S ART OF ANIMATION RESORT
The family suites are innovative and spacious, sleeping six on three beds. Photo tours of each themed suite are later in this review.
The dining area–the first space you enter when you come in from the hall–is the most innovative.
In a meeting of Murphy beds and Rube Goldberg, the dining table converts into a bed…making it a Murphy Goldberg bed…it’s easy to set up and re-convert to a table, and fun to play with.
For the price (they are not cheap) I can’t think of a better value for space on property.
- There are even some deluxes that I’d skip to stay in instead in one of these family suites. You lose the fine dining, more sophisticated décor, balconies, and cooler pools of the deluxes, but for that you get a larger, better equipped, and more livable space…plus two baths.
- In some circumstances I’d even pick the Family Suites at Art of Animation over some of the smaller and more awkward Disney Vacation Club one bedroom villas, like those at Saratoga Springs.
However, the most direct comparison for the Art of Animation Family Suites is the Family Suites at All-Star Music.
The All-Star Music family suites were built by combining two existing rooms, and adding a door between them and a wall to create privacy for the master bedroom and space for the mini-kitchen.
See the floor plan.
There’s only a couple of broadly-applicable reasons to prefer All-Star Music to Art of Animation.
- One is price. Art of Animation family suites are ~$70-100 per night more expensive than those at All-Star Music.
- Another is the number of individual sleeping spaces. Art of Animation has three, each sleeping two, while Music has four, two sleeping one each and two beds sleeping two. This creates more flexibility for some family structures–e.g. families with 3 boys and one girl, or a family of five plus Aunt Ida.
Some other minor points that may sway some families to Music are the easy access to both baths from all beds–in Art of Animation the second bath is in the master bedroom, not so open to the living space–and the fact every bed in Music has a TV view, while in Art of Animation the “Murphy Goldberg” bed has no TV view-able from it.
One could also like the living room, mini-kitchen, and master bedroom more at Music. (For a space by space comparison, see this.)
Otherwise Art of Animation rules All-Star Music.
The family suites at Art of Animation were also designed within constraints–the footprints of the buildings had been established years ago, when the area it now occupies was meant to be the second phase of Pop Century.
Working within this constraint, Disney’s designers did a remarkable job.
The first key decision was to have one interior corridor rather than two exterior ones. This created an extra 5 feet or so of space available to lengthen the rooms, enabling adding a couple of feet to the window to entry door dimension.
This extra length–combined with the decision to move the closets–enabled Disney to rotate the baths and thus free up a ton of space in the center of the entry area.
The second key decision was to discover and decide to use in this space the “Murphy Goldberg” bed (this is my name for it, there’s a real brand name–Inova Table Bed).
This dining table that converts into a bed that converts into a table adds greatly to the livability of the room, and also simplifies what the living room area needs to deliver in terms of beds.
It’s also fun to play with.
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PHOTO TOUR OF A FINDING NEMO FAMILY 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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Sorry, honestly last question for today!! I have done so much web searching about Disney and have multiple pages of notes, my head is spinning. I’m so glad I found your website!!
(5) We usually stay at hotels such as the Westin. Would you say the cleanliness at AoA compares to a Westin/Hilton? My only hesitation with AoA right now is that it’s called a “value” resort. We don’t need any gym/spa/fitness room amenities. Just wanted a clean/new resort to stay in. And the decor is a big bonus as my older child will LOVE it. Wanted to get a sense of the difference between “deluxe” vs “value”. If it’s just less amenities and farther away from Magic Kingdom, then I’m ok with that. If there’s a cleanliness difference, we may opt to spend more for Deluxe.
THANKS!!
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Aimee, keep the questions coming! Not only am a glad to help you, but thousands of people actually read these questions and answers and some have the same questions themselves!
For a partial comparison of the resort offerings, see this: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2012/03/01/what-you-get-at-disney-world-resort-hotels-by-price/ But the difference is not cleanliness. It’s room size, bed size, staffing levels in the guest-service functions, linen and fabrics and pillows, landscaping and decorations….the Family Suites at AofA beat non-villa deluxes on rooms size of course…distance from the Magic Kingdom is not a universal positive for the deluxes–only for the monorail deluxes and Wilderness Lodge…
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Sorry, one last question (for now) =)
(4) We are also considering Saratoga given it’s a Deluxe resort, and we can get a 1-bedroom villa with a full kitchen for $462/night all in cost. AoA Family suite would be $351/night all in cost. What are your thoughts of Saratoga vs. AoA. Trying to get a sense whether we are willing to pay the premium. The full kitchen vs. kitchenette is one bonus. Is Saratoga a closer ride to Magic Kingdom than AoA? Does Saratoga have “shared” buses. I read on your site that AoA has its own buses which is a plus. Thanks again!!
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Hi again Aimee! Saratoga Springs sprawls and as a result has 4 bus stops. I rate it almost last for convenience–see https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/where-to-stay/next-best-resort-choices/picking-your-resort-based-on-convenience/resorts-ranked-by-convenience/walt-disney-world-resorts-ranked-by-convenience-continued/ If you are considering a villa, OKW is a better choice than SS. While it is also distant and sprawling and with many bus stops, its rooms are much better than SS, and are usually at the same price. See https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/01/17/review-disneys-old-key-west-resort/
The tradeoff of either with AofA is tough because of the much higher kid appeal, and slightly higher convenience, of AofA, vs much better rooms, a kitchen, and a washer and dryer at OKW.
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BTW I forgot to mention, it’s our first time going to Disney World!! =) My hubby and I have gone to Disneyland before.
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Hi Dave, Thanks for all the useful info!! We are a family with 2 adults, 1 child (5) and a baby. We are considering staying at the AoA given our children both still nap and we wanted a suite on the Disney properties.
Questions:
(1) We looked into renting a house/condo and the prices are way cheaper, but I have been told that it’s quite a trek to get to the parking lot (is that true)?
(2) For AoA, we will likely not be using the pool. We have read that the Nemo family suites are the loudest, so avoid those if we want a quiet stay. We will likely go with a Cars family suite or Lion King family suite. The most important thing to us is proximity to the bus stops. Would you say Building #1 (Cars) or Building #10 (Lion King) is closer to the bus stops? From looking at their map online, it appears that Building #10 is closer, but it’s hard to tell e.g not sure if there are diff walkways etc.
(3) Do you know of any guests experience at AoA facing bed bugs or roaches??? I have been scouring the Trip Advisor “terrible/poor” reviews to see if anyone mentioned anything about creepy crawlies. So far, I didn’t come across any. But wanted to ask you given your experience. I always ask this question, even for high end resorts we stay at.
Thanks so much!!
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Hiya Aimee! On your questions:
1) Depends on location. Some are near-ish, some more distant. You’ll certainly need a car, which you don’t if you stay on site.
2) Ten on average is closer, but there’s part of ten (facing inside, nearer Nemo) that can be quite loud. I’d ask for an upper floor lake view in building 6…you may be a minute further from the bus stop, but it will be quieter and lovelier.
3) Disney has 30,000 hotel rooms, so just on the odds there’s gotta be bugs here and there now and then. That said, I have no credible reports of any problems at AofA…
Hope this helps!
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Thanks, Dave!
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🙂
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@Troy: considering that AoA is right next door to POP, my best guess is that from there till MK you’ll be in 20 minutes, just as Dave mentions. It usually took 25 minutes from Pop to MK, and AoA is a bit nearear. All other parks should be in less than that time, considering that MK is the farthest. Cheers
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So what’s the approximate time to get from A of A to each of the parks? (just to get a roundabout idea of how long to allow or expect)
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Troy, once you are on the bus, figure twenty minutes or less. You can wait up to 20 minutes for the bus, if you just missed one…
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Dave–
Re-reading your review, you mentioned that at the time you visited back in June, A of A had buses to itself. Any idea if that’s still the case? (fingers crossed)
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Hi Troy, it was as of my visit in late Sept!
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Your site is awesome, thank you! I’ve spent about 15 hours on it the last 4 nights. Based one your week recommendations we’re planing to come with our 5 and 7 year old girls Dec. 8-18 2012. I’m trying to decide where to stay because all the hotels are on sale. Art of A Suite $2683, Animal Kingdom $2497, Polynesian $3571 and Wilderness Lodge $3395 (all deluxe are standard rooms) I don’t care about fine dining or room service, more so about convenience. Is it really worth the extra $1500 for the Polynesian and if not should I go Art of Animation or Animal Kingdom because they’re about the same price? Also the character meals seem to be mostly all booked because I’m doing this fairly last minute. If you phone Disney Dining is there any chance they hold a certain number of tables in reserve or anything?
Thanks again,
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Hi Jesse and thanks! In your spot, just for value I’d pick WL. AofA and AKL are much less convenient than it to MK, which is where you’d be focused with kids that age. The Poly is more convenient still, but maybe not $1500 worth. And no, they don’t hold any tables in reserve…if they stay booked, all you can hope for is to walk up and take advantage of last minute cancellations. Do, however, check 24 hours before–because some charge a no show fee if a reservation isn’t cancelled by 24 hours before, there can be cancellations and openings in the system the day before…
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Hi Dave, The deluxe resorts are within our price range but for me it is more about the “Disney experience”…..I want it to be amazing for my kids and as long as the accommodation is comfortable for 5 and the service is top notch then that’s what I will go for.
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Mamsa, then for the full Disney experience you want the Polynesian, or a Deluxe Room at Wilderness Lodge…see https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/05/19/review-disneys-polynesian-resort/ and https://yourfirstvisit.net/2011/03/29/review-deluxe-rooms-at-disneys-wilderness-lodge/
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You sound like the expert on Disney accommodation! So my question for you as an Aussie who has never been to the USA let alone Disney World, what would you recommend for a family of 5 first timers (2 adults and girls aged 9, 11, 13) for a 7 day stay in late January 2013. My head is hurting form all the information I am sifting through online and I still feel like I am no closer to a decision. Any advice you can offer would be wonderful…..
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Hi Mamsa, your budget will have an effect on this, so give me a hint on that.
Because you are 5, no value room will fit except the two family suites, and of the moderates really only Fort Wilderness Cabins, unless your 9yo is short and light for her age, in which case the Alligator Bayou section of Port Orleans Riverside will work. Most of the deluxes–not Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom Lodge–will fit 5.
See this for some floor plans of larger spaces: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/12/22/bed-types-and-sleeping-space-layouts-at-walt-disney-world-resort-hotels/ and this for my rankings in order: https://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/04/26/walt-disney-world-resort-hotel-reviews/
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Thanks. I have 4 kids I doubt the pool can beat them out on the decibels 🙂 Will risk a nemo suite as that’s the only comprise suite for all my kids (and me – I don’t think I could handle the Mermaid room and the Lion King seems dull compared to Cars and Nemo)
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Are the “noisy” rooms quieter during the winter months? Will be there in early December but I am not sure how much use the pools get in wintery months in Florida. I guess a lot less then summer.
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Not really, as little kids make their parents go to the pools in all weather except when it’s below 50! December weather is quite variable and can be lovely or cold–see this https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/when-to-go/next-best-dates/weather-and-when-to-go/pool-days-november-through-february/ and this https://yourfirstvisit.net/planning-your-first-family-trip/when-to-go/next-best-dates/weather-and-when-to-go/high-temperatures-year-round/
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Hey Gary–none of the value or moderate resorts, including Pop and AofA, has balconies…
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Are there balconys at a&a like pop century Thanks
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Hello Dave,
Joanne again…our trip(s) to Little Mermaid are coming up fast! I am anxiously awaiting your review and to find out if there are coffee makers in the regular rooms. 4 caffeine addicted adults + 2 kids and poor no-coffee husband would not fare well without them. I know that it won’t be until later next week but hopefully before I head down on the 22nd. Looking forward to some ‘finished’ photos too – all AoA news has dried up lately. I make my room request call on Wednesday to ask for connecting rooms and hoprfully to get building 7. It never hurts to ask and maybe for a First Visit I will be granted some extra pixie dust!
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Hey Joanne! None of the other standard value rooms have coffee makers, so I would bet that these don’t either…I hope to post the review while I’m there!
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Hi Dave
Going to Disney world for 8 nights in may 2013, still hesitating to book, as I don’t won’t to be dissapointed. We have two children 7 and 10 and this will be a once in a lifetime trip. We are looking at AOA as it looks like it’s got great kids appeal. Do you think, if we book a Finding nemo family suite that there would be some quiter room in that section, I know Lion king looks like it would be quiter but I like the look of the nemo rooms. Also we are going through a travel agent, does travel agents usually get cheaper prices, it is just that the prices for them are not in yet for May 2013, but I worry we will miss out on a family suite. lOVE YOUR SITE
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Stacey…there’s no missing prices for May 2013, so you need a new travel agent–look for a Disney Authorized Vacation Planner (there’s a form on the right side of this site for the travels agents I partner with.)
Travel agents in general can’t get you a better deal than you could get yourself–they just save you the time it would take for you to find one and set it all up yourself…
There are quieter rooms in Nemo, but no guarantee you’ll be in one of them
Hope this helps and thanks for the kind words about the site!
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I’m thinking of planning a trip that would be for my immediate family of 4 and for 1 set of grandparents. The 4 of us want to stay in a family suite, but the grandparents only need a Little Mermaid standard room. And no, we do not want to share a family suite with the grandparents.
I’m just worried about the proximity of the 2 buildings, if we stay in a suite, and the grandparents are in a separate building. How easy is it to get between the buildings in the resort? Are they a long walk? Do they have golf carts you can drive around? Buses? Thanks!
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Hi Laura, first the buildings just aren’t all that far apart–maybe ten minutes walking from the furthest to the furthest. If you request your suite in the Lion King area–which I recommend anyway as it’s the quietest–you’ll be as close as you can be. The buildings aren’t far enough apart for bus or golf cart service.
Second…just a thought…if you are worried about mobility, there’s a hundred more times walking in the parks themselves…you may want to check into renting scooters?
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Dave, great stuff. Cindy above alluded to a question I was hoping to get more claity on…..
We went toWDW in march 2012 and stayed at Caribbean Beach in the pirate rooms In Trinidad South. The location of our rooms made it all but impossible to take full advantage of the food court areas and whatnot. Just toooooo far away. I went with 4 kids under 3.
We are going back in January 2013, and we are going to stay at AofA. We are looking at the Cars suites. In your opinion, staying in the Cars suite, is the food court area fairly close in proximity and usable? The map show that Finding Nemo would be best for this, but Cars is what the boys would love hahha.
Thanks Dave!!!!!
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Brett–see the image (click it to enlarge it). CB is just north of A of A, so the relative sizes are easy to compare.
See the red Xs at the lower left–they indicate the center of the cars area and the main building at A of A.
The two Xs above in CB do the same for the Pirates rooms vs the main CB area.
…So you will be fine!
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Thank you again for all of your help! You have a great website!
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