Art of Animation is a Walt Disney World Value Resort. The hotel offers a mix of standard hotel rooms and family suites with a theme that is full of odes to a few of Disney’s great animated films. This post will take a detailed look at Art of Animation’s family suites, including photos and our thoughts on the value.

We’ve reviewed Art of Animation previously and my thoughts on the resort haven’t changed much since then. I certainly prefer the transporting themes that the moderates or deluxe resorts offer instead of the oversized statues based off of Disney intellectual property. That said, I think most kids would disagree with that idea and some adults would do the same.

The inclusion of the Disney Skyliner at the resort has made a stay here all the more inviting, as that is the best way to get around WDW. My beef with Art of Animation is the same as it’s always been – that you could stay a short walk away from the resort at Pop Century, have nearly the same experience and at a fraction of the cost. In fact, if you aren’t looking for a larger family suite room then that is absolutely what we recommend. The smaller rooms at Pop Century are nicer and there isn’t a big enough difference in amenities (there’s hardly any difference) to make the extra cost worth it.

Once you start looking at the family suites is where things get interesting at Art of Animation. Disney World hotels are largely void of 1-bedroom suites in the value and moderate categories. The All-Star resorts offer some but they are few and far between. While there are a few other options out there, which I’ll discuss at the end of the post, Art of Animation offers a fun and themed larger room.

Before looking at the actual room, some quick information on the hotel. Art of Animation offers three types of family suite rooms each themed to a different classic Disney film – Cars, Finding Nemo and the Lion King. While the room layout is the same, the décor is different. Finding Nemo themed rooms are closest to the lobby and Skyliner while the others are a little quieter. We were lucky enough to have a pretty good location and ended up in a Finding Nemo themed family suite. Let’s take a look!

Inside the door is a murphy bed that doubles as a table, if you’re looking for a place to have a meal. The bed is full-sized and clearly has some colorful art to it! I’m a fan of the murphy beds that have been added to the rooms over the years as they offer some space if needed.

The living room area featured a pull-out couch, a little kitchenette and a TV. I’ve slept on much worse mattresses than this although it wasn’t extremely comfortable or anything. Kids won’t think twice about sleeping on it though. The fish and lamp are nice touches to the room.

Here’s a look at the other side of the room which features a dresser, a few hangers and an uncomfortable chair. As you can see, the room is quite busy and certainly has an over-the-top style. I didn’t think the décor was quite as hectic in person, for what it’s worth. And I never thought the room looked bad by any means. These rooms will just be more to some people’s tastes than others.

There’s a bathroom in between the murphy bed and living room. The shower was pretty nice and the sinks were on the outside of the room which is always my preference when it comes to hotels.

This is the bedroom in the suite and it can be closed off from the rest of the room with a door. This room was a little more understated, with a queen bed and simpler walls. Again, the lamps offer some fun details and the color scheme adds a little more purple in here.

The master bathroom is actually one of my favorite that I’ve seen in a Walt Disney World hotel room. The lighting and mirror continue the nautical theme in a tasteful way and the rest of the bathroom is simply nice. I always prefer the walk-in shower as opposed to the shower/bath combo. Both the master bedroom and bathroom are definitely geared more towards adults relative to the rest of the family suite which was a smart move.

Overall, I came away impressed by the room. While it’s clearly busy and geared more towards kids, the room was a nice size and knew when to dial it back a little bit. I probably wouldn’t recommend staying here for a group of adults but this room is nearly perfect for a family of four or five with small children.

As for the value, there aren’t a lot of comparisons to draw from. Family suites at Art of Animation are quite a bit more expensive than the All-Star family suites but they are also much nicer. Otherwise the choice comes down to Art of Animation or a 1-bedroom suite at a Deluxe DVC Resort, if you want to stay on-site. Every once in a while Old Key West and Saratoga Springs have comparable prices to Art of Animation and, if that’s the case, then you’re probably better off staying there since the rooms are furnished nicely and have a lot more space. The one caveat is if you have kids who would love the theme of these rooms.

Art of Animation Family Suites range anywhere from $330-$550 per night, depending on the time of year. They aren’t cheap and the upper half of that range is simply not worth it. There are plenty of off-site options that offer larger rooms at at least half the cost. That said, some people really like to stay on-site and I definitely get that. The lower end of the price range might be fair and I think finding the room for under $400 would make me consider it. Otherwise, I’m just not sure it’s worth it and you may be able to score a better deal by renting DVC points or getting creative with your hotel searches.

Value aside, the family suites at Art of Animation can be a little over-the-top in their decorations but otherwise offer a nice room for a family to stay in. There’s adequate space and the in room amenities are up to par. It’s simply the price that hurts Art of Animation.

Overall Rating – 8/10

Have you stayed in the Art of Animation family suites? Let us know your thoughts or questions below in the comments! Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Check out our planning guide for help! If you enjoy what you’re reading here on Wandering in Disney, please subscribe to the blog and like our social media pages. You can do both of those things on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!