Staying at Disney's Art of Animation Resort is about as close as you can get to walking inside a Pixar film. The hotel is built around four animated worlds — Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid — and it's home to the largest pool at Walt Disney World, the Big Blue Pool, themed on Finding Nemo.
The rooms are the big draw. The writer of the original piece stayed in a Cars Family Suite in the middle of a life-size Radiator Springs, greeted by statues of Doc Hudson and Mater on the way in. Inside, the details go all in: a car-shaped sofa, traffic-cone lampshades and a car wash-themed bathroom. The suites sleep up to six people — a queen bed, a double pull-down bed and a double sleeper sofa — and come with two bathrooms, which is a genuine bonus for families. The resort's four sections also include Lion King and Little Mermaid areas, so you can pick your film.
Food is handled at Landscape of Flavours, a food-court style dining spot in the main building with five shops serving made-to-order meals all day, plus an Ink & Paint shop for merch. Location-wise, Art of Animation is one of the resorts on the Disney Skyliner gondola line, giving you a scenic ride straight to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios via Caribbean Beach and the Riviera. Note: the Skyliner closes for refurbishment January 24–30, 2027, with buses running instead.
Animation fans should also add the new Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios to the itinerary. Opened September 14, 2026 and inspired by the original Walt Disney Animation Studios building in California, it packs in a character art gallery (keep an eye out for Winnie the Pooh's hunny pot and Hercules' medallion) and a drawing session called Olaf Draws!, where Disney artists help you sketch — the writer attempted Stitch and Mickey with mixed results.
If you want a different flavour of Disney hotel, the writer also points to the Victorian-style Grand Floridian, where the 1900 Park Fare character breakfast brings out Cinderella, Aladdin, Mirabel and Princess Tiana, and the laid-back Port Orleans French Quarter, with horse-drawn carriage rides, a water taxi and proper New Orleans beignets.
The money bit: Canadian residents can save up to 25% on select four-night, four-day (or longer) room-and-ticket packages from Walt Disney Travel Company. Eligible stays cover most Sunday–Thursday nights from January 3 to February 25, 2027, and most nights from February 28 to October 2, 2027. The deal also throws in a free Memory Maker photo package. Check Disney World's official site for the fine print on participating resorts.
Worth it? For families and Pixar fans, yes — the theming goes well beyond a few posters, the Skyliner access is genuinely convenient, and the suite setup suits groups of up to six. Just go in knowing Orlando heat (even in September) is relentless, and count on that air conditioning. The writer was hosted by The Walt Disney Company (Canada) Parks & Resorts.
