Art of Animation at Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando Florida

The lobby is filled with cool sketches and concept art showing how Disney characters evolved over time. It's a neat behind-the-scenes look at the magic we all grew up with.

The themed suites based on "Finding Nemo," "Cars," "The Lion King," and "The Little Mermaid" are a hit with kids and adults alike. We stayed in the Little Mermaid rooms, and every detail was considered, down to the floor being made to look like water. The kids loved it, and honestly, so did we.

On “Disney Rest Days” - the hotel can keep you entertained with interactive stuff everywhere. In "Animation Hall" you can try your hand at drawing characters. Take some photos with the giant character statues all around the resort. The main pool, inspired by "Finding Nemo," is massive and a great way to cool off. The surroundings are nice too, with gardens and pathways to explore – which keeps the noise down as well if you are trying to grab a mid-day nap.

If you want to eat at the Resort - Landscape of Flavors, the resort's main food court, serves a selection of fresh and flavorful dishes, including made-to-order sandwiches, international cuisine, and desserts.

The resort offers complimentary bus services that connect guests to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Additionally, you can access the skyliner from near the resort as well – which provides speedy service to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. The bus system and skyliner ensure a hassle-free journey, allowing families to maximize their time in the parks without worrying about transportation. Bus stops are strategically located near the resort's main areas, simplifying the boarding process for families. If you are traveling with a stroller to the parks, keep in mind that they will need to be folded up prior to getting on the bus or tram systems.

Guests are encouraged to complete the online check-in process through the Disney website before arriving on property. Here you can provide details such as arrival time and room preferences. Guests who use the Online Check-In service, can bypass the front desk and go directly to their rooms when they are ready. However, for those who prefer the traditional approach, the front desk is always available for personalized assistance.

Do you want to stay at Disney Property but looking to be budget-friendly? I would highly recommend a family stay at Disney’s Art of Animation resort. It’s a fantastic blend of access to Disney while remaining value-conscious to your wallet. By staying on Disney's property – you get access to the following benefits that others don’t.

• Early Entry and access to the parks. Get entrance up to 30 minutes before those staying outside the resorts.

• Full functionality of the Disney MagicBands. When staying at a property resort, you can use your MagicBand to charge items to a master account, as your room key, as your parking pass, as entrance into the parks, as your Lightning Lane identifier, as your photopass marker and much more. Talk about time savings!

• Staying on Disney Property allows you to book individual lightning lane purchases at 7am (as opposed to at the park's opening time) to ensure you can get on rides like Tron, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Guardians of the Galaxy.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Florida. In need of further inspiration? Check out Arin Segall’s trip report, Romantic Getaways in Florida.