If you can afford it, we highly recommend staying at a Walt Disney Resort. You get to be fully immersed in the world of Disney and the convenience of staying on site really can’t be beat.
There are a wide range of Disney hotel options in three different levels – value, moderate, and deluxe.
Art of Animation Resort
Art of Animation is one of Disney’s Value resorts. It is the best hotel for families – especially families with young children. There are three main reasons people love to stay at Art of Animation.
First is the accessibility to the Disney Skyliner. The Skyliner gives easy transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Second, Art of Animation offers family suites. Most Value Disney hotels do not offer family suites. And third, the theming at this incredible hotel is over the top!
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort has four themes:
- Little Mermaid
- Cars
- The Lion King
- Finding Nemo
Each section of the resort is themed from the inside rooms to the outside pools. You will be fully immersed in the stories you have come to love!
Art of Animation Rooms
The rooms in Art of Animation are family suites with the exception of the Little Mermaid rooms. The Little Mermaid standard rooms are smaller and a little cheaper than the guest rooms in the other sections.
The Cars family suite is a two bedroom, two bathroom, and are 565 square feet. These suites sleep 6 – two in the master bedroom, two on a Murphy bed, and two on a pull out couch. The Murphy bed is a kitchen table when pulled up.
Most Value hotels at Walt Disney World have rooms that you enter only from the outside. Art of Animation rooms are different. It has 864 standard rooms in motel style buildings with exterior doors and 1,120 family suites in newer buildings with interior hallways.
Cars Hotel Area at Art of Animation Resort
If you are looking to get the full Cars experience at Walt Disney World, the Cars area at Art of Animation is going to be perfect for your family! Do keep in mind, this is different from Cars Land which is located in Disney’s California Adventure. These are two very different areas that many people get confused.
When you exit Animation Hall (the main lobby at this Disney Resort), you will see the Finding Nemo Courtyard and Big Blue Pool directly in front of you. This is the largest pool on Disney property and anyone staying at Art of Animation may use it.
Turn to your right and and follow the path. The Cars part of the Art of Animation hotel is located just to the right of the Finding Nemo section. You will see the path becomes a road….and you enter desert terrain…and soon you are in Radiator Springs. This was one of our favorite areas of Art of Animation.
It is a pretty quick walk from the Finding Nemo section to the Cars section, so don’t worry too much about the distance. When you enter the Cars portion of Art of Animation you can still slightly see the Finding Nemo section. The Nemo building tends to fade into the sky so you don’t notice it too much.
There are three main hotel room sections in the Cars area. Each of the buildings are themed perfectly – both on the inside and the outside! Each building is “T” shaped. The middle of the Cars courtyard has a small pool and the themed buildings surround the pool.
Building one is towards the front of the resort, next door to Animation Hall. Building two is at the very end of the resort. Building 3 is near Hourglass Lake and is across from building three.
As you walk towards the Cars area you will start to see some of your favorite Cars characters and classic Route 66 decor! There are street lights and wires that make you feel as if you are actually in Radiator Springs.
We love how each building is themed to go along with the the first Cars Movie. We also love how the Imagineers have created the buildings to give you the illusion that you are actually in the southwest! The buildings are painted with the top half to blend into the sky and the bottom to have the classic red rocks jutting out.
Luigis Casa Della Tires is the main entrance to Building Three.
Luigi and Guido are there ready to sell you some tires!
The classic Wheel Well Motel is the entrance to Building two This looks exactly like the movie! Imagine greeting Lightning McQueen and Sally each day as you head out for your adventures in the Disney theme parks.
Of course you will see Mater! Tow Mater Towing and Salvage is the entrance to Building One.
In the middle of the three buildings is the Cozy Cone Motel pool. The main pool at Art of Animation is the Big Blue Pool in the Nemo section. The Cozy Cone pool is smaller and is super convenient for those staying in the Cars section.
This pool area is quieter and has fun cabanas that are in the shape of traffic cones. These do fill up fast, so try to get one early in the day if you are planning on a hotel/rest day. When you are in the Cozy Cone pool you are fully immersed in the Cars experience!
We love how you actually feel like you are a part of the Cars movie as you are in the Cars section of this hotel. All the cars are to scale and exactly how you hope they would be!
You will see all the main characters from the original Cars movie. Filmore is there with his organic fuel.
Of course Sarge is there with his Military Surplus store.
There is so much to see and explore in the Cars section of Art of Animation. You will find that the Disney Cast Members often set up yard games such as bag toss (corn hole) and a giant checker board for families to enjoy.
Art of Animation Amenities
There are a number of amenities at Art of Animation that make this a top notch value hotel:
- Landscape of Flavors Food Court – perhaps the best food court of all value resorts
- Easy Skyliner access
- Bus transportation does not share with any other Disney hotel
- Play area and arcade
- Movies under the stars
Art of Animation Resort is the most expensive Value hotel on the Disney property. Because of that, this hotel is often out of price range for many people. We have good news! You don’t have to be a guest at Art of Animation to walk around and enjoy the decor.
POP Century Resort is a Disney hotel right next door to Art of Animation and is a popular choice for people who want to be close to AOA but not stay there. POP is less expensive, has fun theming, and is accessible to the Disney Skyliner. We have stayed at POP and it was really enjoyable! We took advantage of being so close to Art of Animation and spent time enjoying the hotel one afternoon.
Cars Hotel Area FAQ
Art of Animation Resort has a Cars section.
Disney’s Art of Animation has a Cars themed section. You don’t have to get park tickets to stay there!
The Cars suite can sleep up to six people.
Be sure to check out Undercover Tourist for hotel deals, including offers for Art of Animation!
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