I was a loyal Pop Century enthusiast for several years. And rightly so, Pop Century is a fantastic resort. Comparable in price to the All-Star Resorts, but conveniently situated on the Skyliner Route, recently renovated, and cleverly themed – how could you possibly pass it up?
Ariel Themed Room Drew us in!
I’m still a massive fan of Pop Century. However, this year, on a whim, we decided to book a one-night stay at Art of Animation. We booked a Little Mermaid-themed standard room for our Ariel-loving daughter and tried out the resort. Since the resort mainly comprises pricy family suites, we had not stayed there until then.
Disney Magic Upgrade
To our delight, we were upgraded to a Lion King family suite on our arrival, and we were immediately addicted. Something we have learned as a family of four (one in a pack-n-play) who totes around a gigantic double stroller is that standard-size rooms can get a little snug. But for the price, we grin and bear it. However, we certainly weren’t going to pass up the pixie dust of a free upgrade to a suite, which we fell in love with. The suite has one bedroom with a bathroom and a living space with a pull-down table bed, kitchenette, pull-out sofa, and adjoining bathroom.
The space was fantastic. Our oldest daughter got the table bed, and we put our little one’s pack-n-play over by the couch. For the first time in ages, on a Disney trip, my husband and I didn’t have to sit in silence in the hotel room at the kiddos’ bedtime. We could watch TV in bed again! We could shower with all the lights on! We could have a SNACK without little ones begging for a taste. It was awesome.
The suites are spacious and adorably themed. Art of Animation is the most immersive themed resort on the property. Everywhere you turn, whether in your room or just walking around the resort, you’ll see theming.
Thoughts on the Room
On our most recent trip, we booked a Little Mermaid standard room again. There were no magical upgrades this time, but we didn’t expect to win the resort lottery twice in the same year, so we were still delighted. The Little Mermaid Section of the resort is at the back, so it is a bit of a hike to get to your building. We especially felt this at night after we’d been walking all day. Still, this resort isn’t nearly as spread out as someplace like Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs, so it wasn’t that bad of a walk.
The Little Mermaid rooms are adorable and, once again, immaculately themed. Your shower is Ariel’s grotto, the side table chairs are seashells, and even the flooring looks like crystal blue water.
Of course, these rooms are smaller than the suites. There are two queen beds, which showed me that I prefer the one queen bed and table bed situation at Pop Century so you can get the extra space during the day. It was a squeeze getting our pack-n-play and double stroller into the room. Though we could have collapsed the double stroller, I have it packed for the next day every evening, so we just kept it pushed up against the window.
The courtyard of the Little Mermaid Section is equally as impressive. Stories tall statues of Ursula and King Triton face off in the yard, with more life-size art pieces of Prince Eric and Ariel nearby. You’ll definitely feel like you’ve gone under the sea!
I desperately want to try the Cars and Finding Nemo Suites, but they do have a hefty price tag, so those may have to wait for a while. But these two visits had us utterly addicted to the Art of Animation. We don’t swim much on Disney trips, but the Big Blue Pool is incredible! The food court has solid options, the gift shop is loaded with goodies, and, of course, I am obsessed with a Skyliner resort.
Standard rooms at Art of Animation are pricier than places like Pop Century or the All-Star resorts, probably because they are so limited and the theming is so elaborate. Still, they’re well worth the price, in my opinion. Check out Art of Animation on your next trip. Maybe you’ll even get some pixie dust!
Author: Ashley Hunt
Ashley co-founded The Midwest Mouse, a Disney Instagram account and blog she started with her husband, Braden. Ashley lives in Indiana with her husband and their two daughters. They are Walt Disney World annual pass holders and visit Disney parks as often as possible. They look forward to crossing more things off their Disney bucket list while continuing to share their adventures on their Instagram (@the_midwest_mouse) and website.
Whether you’re traveling with young children, teens, or adults, we’ve got you covered. From the whimsical fun of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort to the luxurious elegance of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, we’ve got something for everyone. So, look at our resort reviews and start planning your dream Disney vacation today!
Leave a Reply