My Family’s New Favorite Disney Value Resort

My kids and I have been soaking up the sunshine with several quick Disney Resort weekends – character surprises, free onsite transportation, early theme park entry, recreational activities for the whole family … what’s not to love? 

We just had the BEST time ringing in a fourth birthday celebration for my car-obsessed kiddo at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, one of our value accommodations, and I have to tell you all about it.

My little family of three is easily comfortable in any resort room, but we brought the whole (pit) crew with us this time and needed a bit more space to spread out … Especially with a mix of little kids, a teen and grandparents! 

Enter, the Cars Family Suite at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Inspired by the Disney•Pixar mega-hit, Cars, this themed suite sleeps six and is a great value for families, with TWO full bathrooms, a kitchenette, three beds and tons of storage … and the dressers are even designed to look like tool cabinets right out of a mechanic shop!

We loved having dedicated spaces like a separate dining area and living room, where the grandparents and my teenage stepson could relax while my littlest had an uninterrupted nap in the bedroom. 

We kept our Cars-weekend theme going with technology in the room, too, when we found a Cars bedtime story on the TV and a couple favorite characters greeted us on the “Hey Disney!” voice assistant. 

I seriously can’t say enough about the theming at this resort. The bathrooms are even designed to look like a car wash (‘cause, you know, washing?) – how cute is that? And just outside your door, you can pull right up next to life-size models of your favorite Cars characters for photos. 

TIP: The Cozy Cone Pool has orange-cone ‘cabanas’ available for free on a first-come, first-served basis, giving you an extra fun spot to lounge in the shade.

This resort was a perfect place for the kids to spend quality time with their grandparents, playing a quick round of cornhole, catching a movie under the stars and swimming in one of the resort’s three themed pools (including the largest hotel pool at Disney World). 

Even a little afternoon rain didn’t stop the fun, with a tie-dye Mickey shirt craft, an arcade and lots of art supplies and books to read as a family inside Animation Hall. I was a happy mom, seeing my parents, littles and teenager enjoying their time together with so much to do around every corner.

TIP: Chat with cast members! They know a ton about the resort’s many illustrations and can even point out some celebrity signatures on the artwork around Animation Hall.

Is it just me, or are kids ALWAYS hungry? This was never a problem at the resort, especially with so many fresh options at the Landscape of Flavors food court. I highly suggest the tasty and toasty meatball sub, and the Lightning McQueen and Little Mermaid waffles were a big hit for my kiddos – a twist on the classic Mickey waffle, with the same great taste!

I love that they have separate counters to quickly order your food, but if you find yourself with a range of palates, use the My Disney Experience app to Mobile Order and save some time waiting at multiple counters. You can even do this before leaving your room – just choose your pick-up time and then sit back and relax until it’s ready.

We also made the most of our budget by taking advantage of the room’s kitchenette with snacks on the go. The small fridge and microwave were a total game changer for late-night cravings, post-nap snacks and poolside juice boxes.

TIP: Buy the Resort-Refillable Drink Mugs on day 1 to make the most of your money and keep you caffeinated and hydrated with free refills on beverages throughout your stay!

We traded in Cars for aerial gondolas to wrap up our visit and spent a breezy trip gliding over Hourglass Lake aboard Disney Skyliner, pointing out all the Disney characters who adorn the resort buildings you could see from above.

Disney Skyliner is celebrating its 5^th anniversary this month and is our favorite way to reach EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s just part of the Disney Transportation system of buses, monorails and watercraft that provide complimentary theme park transportation when you stay at a Disney Resort hotel.

TIP: Take Disney Skyliner to another nearby resort for a change of scenery – this mom loved a quick trip to the Joffrey’s Kiosk at the Trinidad Station for a seasonal latte!

I know our trip was (purposefully) Cars-centric, but if you love Disney, this resort has a little something for everyone … Especially if you are a 90s animation fan like me! Other sections of the resort are themed to classics such as Finding Nemo, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid. It was extra fun having my parents there with us, since they were the ones who took me to see these Disney films as a kid – and now we got to enjoy them together with MY kids in tow.

If you’re ready to make your own memories, visit DisneyWorld.com/specialoffers for ways to book and save on your stay, including special savings of up to 30% this holiday season. And one more TIP for you – if you visit in 2025, Disney Resort hotel guests can enjoy free water park admission on check-in day!