If you are looking to be directly immersed in The Little Mermaid life, then a budget-friendly room at the Art of Animation Resort may be the perfect place for you during your Disney vacation!

The big blue world of Nemo and friends, the Pride Lands of Africa, under the sea in Ariel’s grotto, a super-charged adventure through Radiator Springs — they all come to life for vacationers at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort at Walt Disney World.

Art of Animation Resort

Each of four distinctly designed wings celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters, original sketches and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by classic Disney and Disney•Pixar films. The three-story, value resort opened in May 2012.

Giant sketchbooks filled with favorite characters seem to come to life as they pave the way to each storyline revealed throughout the lobby. Scenic settings and icons—including a brightly-colored coral landscape, a 35-foot-tall model of King Triton, a towering Mufasa and more—immerse guests into the playful world of animation in each respective courtyard. At the “Cars” wing, a freshly paved road leads to the Cozy Cone Motel complete with a Cozy Cone pool and cone-shaped cabanas.

Resort dining options in the main Animation Hall include a poolside snack bar, pizza delivery, and Landscape of Flavors food court. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the food court features items such as fresh smoothies, hand-scooped gelato, and Mongolian barbecue.

Other resort amenities include The Pixel Play Arcade, Drop Off pool bar, and Ink and Paint gift shop, free Disney Animation classes in the lobby area, nightly movies on the lawn, kid’s activities (some at a small cost), and kid’s pool parties.

The Little Mermaid Rooms at the Art of Animation Resort

For the Spring Dapper Day weekend, I stayed in a Little Mermaid Room at the Art of Animation Resort. I was so excited to stay at this resort because the rooms are so adorable!

The Art of Animation resort is a value resort so prices are on the cheaper end of the spectrum. Rooms have outdoor entrances. Rooms are similar in size to a regular off property resort such as the Holiday Inn or Motel 6. So the “quality” of the rooms it is normal. No lush bedding, not a ton of space, or things like spas or fitness centers.

What I Loved about The Little Mermaid Rooms

• The Decor. You are really immersed into the Little Mermaid. The theming is on point! You sleep just like Ariel in a clamshell with a Pearl Light. You shower in her secret cavern of human treasures. The chairs are clamshells, Ariel’s music is on the table, and the bathroom mirror is surrounded by coral. 
• The Swimming Pool. The Flippin’ Fins pool is easy to get to no matter what Little Mermaid building you are in. I stayed in King Triton’s building. This pool is less crowded than the main pool so it is also quieter.
• The Fridge. I bring my own breakfast and some lunch making items to save money and having a fridge available is so valuable. A fridge is available in most Disney resorts. 

What I Disliked about The Little Mermaid Rooms

• Distance to the Buses. If you are dependant upon Disney transportation, then it is a little hike to where the buses load. Thankfully, I only had to make that walk once and then had access to my car. After a long day at the parks, I like being close to my room.
• Having a Connected Room. A lot of Disney’s value resorts have conjoined rooms so that bigger families can save money. Almost every time I have stayed in a value I have been in a conjoined room. This makes your neighbor’s normal room noise clearly heard in your room and vice versa.

Other than those two items, I love this resort and wouldn’t count this resort out of future on-property stays. I LOVE the theming!

Art of Animation Quick Service — Landscape of Flavors Review

Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, Landscape of Flavors features 5 distinctive food counters serving fresh, made-to-order cuisine. From tasty international fare to classic American favorites, there’s something to satisfy everyone at this casual dining venue. Original art backgrounds from featured films decorate the walls in the dining area, adding to the attention to detail and sense of immersion.

I had the “Steak” and Egg Burger and my husband had the Chicken Burger. I really liked the runny yolk on my burger. I have an addiction to burgers that includes a soft-yolked egg. Both burgers were great but we both loved the fresh-made potato chips. Those were so tasty! 

The food court is a 5 minute or less walk from the Little Mermaid rooms. Since there are so many stations to order from, the wait was not too bad for ordering. The drink and condiment station is a nice size so very little waits for refills and things like toasters.

Tips to Save Money on Disney Resorts

• Book Early. Value resorts fill up quickly and the earlier you reserve, the more availability there will be for value resorts.
• Use a Travel Agent. Travel Agents are free to use. Here at Pixie Dust Savings, we love Shannan from Addicted to Mickey Travel. A Disney approved travel agent automatically applies room discounts when they are released to your booking.
• Pay with Discounted Disney Cards. Buy discounted Disney Cards from Sam’s Club, Costco, or Target!
• Think of On-Site Benefits. While staying offsite may sometimes appear to be cheaper, you are missing many perks like free Disney Parks parking, earlier Fastpass selection, and extra magic hours in the parks.

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Have you ever stayed in a Little Mermaid room? Tell me about your experience in the comments below!

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