My husband and I stayed at one of the cheapest hotels in Disney World for $265 a night. It was so good I'll never book anywhere else on the property.
My husband and I stayed at Disney's Art of Animation Resort for $265 a night.
I love the immersive theming, and it's linked to my favorite free Disney transportation.
The value resort is one of the best places for adults to stay on the property.
Couples can easily spend $4,000 (or more) on a weeklong trip to Disney World, but my husband and I have found a few ways to save money.
Even though we don't have kids, we usually stay at Disney's Art of Animation Resort. It's popular with families because of its kid-friendly, Disney-movie theming. But adults shouldn't overlook the budget-friendly hotel.
Here's what our most recent stay was like and why Art of Animation is one of the best places for adults to stay at Disney World.
The rates are budget-friendly (for Disney).
Art of Animation is categorized as a value resort, which means it's one of the most economical options for staying on property at Disney World.
Our standard room only cost $265 a night. But we still got perks like early entry to the parks and free transportation throughout Disney World.
We felt like we were at Disney World from the moment we checked in.
The lobby at Art of Animation is decorated floor-to-ceiling with sketches from some of Disney's most beloved animated movies. Guests can spot characters like Simba, Lightning McQueen, Ursula, and Nemo.
The Disney-animation theme carries over throughout the grounds, with different sections of the resort dedicated to "The Little Mermaid," "The Lion King," "Finding Nemo," and "Cars."
The "Little Mermaid" rooms are colorful and whimsical.
We got a text message with our room number when our standard room in the "Little Mermaid" section of the resort was ready.
The room had two queen-sized beds, a small table with two chairs, and a dresser.
I loved the underwater decor inspired by the animated movie — like headboards shaped like clam shells, a mirror framed by fish, and Flounder and Sebastian wall art. There were even pieces of sheet music for "Under the Sea" laminated onto the table.
I also appreciated the subtler touches, like the blue-green floor that transitioned to a beach-like tile in the bathroom area.
Our room had lots of practical features, too.
The room was cute, but it was also designed for a comfortable stay.
My husband appreciated the curtain across the sink area, which kept the vanity light from disturbing him while I got ready for bed. We also liked the multiple USB charging ports and outlets on the night table and dresser.
Even though rooms at value resorts are on the smaller side, we didn't feel cramped.
There was a closet area with a luggage rack, shelving, and hangers, and we had three large drawers in the dresser to store our clothes. There was even a peg rack shaped like an octopus to hang up our jackets.
The Big Blue Pool isn’t just fun for kids.
Art of Animation's "Finding Nemo"-inspired Big Blue Pool is the largest resort pool at Disney World.
It houses larger-than-life statues of coral reefs and a kid-friendly splash pad. But there's also plenty of space for adults to lounge around with a drink from the Drop Off pool bar.
The bar serves cocktails, boozy slushies, and snacks alongside nonalcoholic smoothies and sodas.
Exploring the resort feels like stepping into a Disney movie.
Each time I left my room, it was like my favorite Disney movies came to life.
There were massive statues of Ariel and Ursula from "The Little Mermaid" right outside my room. In another section, I could check out Pride Rock or get a photo with Timon and Pumba from "The Lion King."
In addition to the Big Blue Pool with Nemo, Crush, and Mr. Ray, the "Finding Nemo" portion of the resort has giant seagulls chanting "Mine!"
The "Cars" area is especially awesome.
The attention to detail in the "Cars" section of the resort is next-level.
Most of Radiator Springs is recreated, including the Cozy Cone Motel, Wheel Well Motel, and Luigi's Casa Della Tires. There are huge statues of all of the characters from the film, and I couldn't miss the opportunity to get photos with my favorites (Fillmore and Doc Hudson).
Even if your room isn't near the "Cars" area, head there after dark to see the Cozy Cone Motel sign in all its neon glory.
Art of Animation is linked to Hollywood Studios and Epcot by the Skyliner gondolas.
Disney buses are fine, but my favorite free transportation option on the property is the Skyliner.
Unlike buses, the gondolas run continuously, so there's never much of a wait — even at the beginning and end of the day, the lines move quickly.
It took us about 10 minutes to get to Hollywood Studios and about 20 minutes to get to Epcot via the Skyliner. If you time your trip right, you can even watch the Epcot fireworks show from the gondolas.
I won’t stay anywhere else at Disney World.
I've stayed at several Disney World resorts and I can confidently say that Art of Animation is the best.
Its budget-friendly rates and immersive theming makea my time at Disney World extra magical.
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