Art of Animation Review

For our most recent trip, we were thrilled to secure a reservation in the Ariel section of the Art of Animation Resort on the very day that it opened to the public. Aside from cookies and lemonade in the registration area, there wasn't much hoopla to celebrate. However, the idea of staying in a room that no one else had stayed in was very appealing to me. In fact, my typically germaphobe tendencies took a vacation too, as I allowed my children to even sit on top of the bedspreads and touch the remote control and telephone. (Yes, I am the crazy person who packs Lysol and sprays down everything before I let anyone touch anything! Bedspreads are immediately removed, and the beds turned down to expose only the laundered sheets.) Perhaps coincidentally--or perhaps NOT--no one in our party got sick this trip!

Here are a few pics of the exterior sculptures in the Ariel section:







And here are some interior shots of our room:

















First, the positive: Our girls LOVED the theming of this room. In Art of Animation, more than any of the other Value Resorts, I feel like Disney has really taken theming to the next level. With even the bathroom tile themed as Ariel's underwater hideaway, the attention to detail here is amazing. And, as a musician, I was particularly drawn in by the sheet music for "Under the Sea" that is featured on the table top. These are the little bonuses that we're accustomed to in the Parks but that sometimes get skipped over in the Resorts. Kudos to Disney for not skimping on the details. That said, there is an element of "cheapness" to all the decor. While it all looks shiny and new today, I have serious concerns about how it will endure over the next 5 to 10 years.

As far as the functionality of the room, it's pretty comparable to any of the other Value Resorts. I'm thrilled that Disney has decided to make refrigerators the standard in all rooms now (once a $10 fee in Value Resorts), but I wish they would provide small friges that can retain a safe/low temperature. (Heaven forbid you should put more than 2 cans of soda in them--you will feel the temp go down. In other words, don't plan on storing a gallon of milk in there unless you want yogurt by the end of the week.)

I would say that the amenities of this Resort in general are a slight step above the other Values too. The food court is a bit more sophisticated, with unique menu items and stations. Additionally, there's no denying that the Big Blue Pool with the splash-n-play area far exceeds the feature pools at other Value Resorts. And the play areas at AoA are cleverly disguised as art--no boring jungle gyms here!











As far as which section of the Resort to stay in, I have my favorites...but it really depends on what matters to you. The Nemo section is obviously closest to the main building (including food court and gift shop), the bus stop, and the Big Blue Pool. The Cars section is by far the most elaborately themes (little boy heaven!). The Lion King section was, in my opinion, the least desirable, as it did not have its own pool and it did host the evening movies (unwanted noise perhaps if you're trying to get little ones in bed). But if you don't need a suite to accomodate your family, I highly recommend the Ariel section, which is the only section of standard rooms. For just a few dollars more per night than the other Value Resorts, these rooms afford superior theming and that "new room" smell that I particularly appreciate.