I Love This Disney World Hotel, But You Definitely SHOULDN’T Stay There

There are over two dozen hotels to stay at when you’re choosing to stay on property in Disney World, and that can often make for a pretty hard decision.

We’re here to help you decide which hotel may be the best fit for you on your vacation, because, between the whole team, we’ve stayed at each and every one! Personally, I’ve only stayed at three Disney World hotels in my life (four if you count the one I stayed in as a toddler, but I don’t remember that trip!), and out of those, after chatting with my coworkers, we’ve come to the agreement that, as much as I love this Disney World hotel, it’s definitely not one of the best ones to stay at.

I love Art of Animation more than any other hotel I’ve stayed in so far, and a big part of that is the theming! The nostalgic Pixar theming gets me every time, and being a big film person who’s been involved with the industry for years, I love seeing the different film facts and artwork around the hotel.

Not to mention that you’re so close to the Skyliner, which is a MAJOR help if you find yourself heading to EPCOT and/or Hollywood Studios the most, or if you love to resort hop without having to move a car or take Disney transportation. The Skyliner is my personal favorite mode of transportation, so again, that bumps this hotel pretty high for me too!

However, while the theming of the rooms is great, I’ve stayed in one with my brother before on a trip together and WOW did we feel cramped! Interestingly enough, I’ve also stayed at Pop Century, another value hotel of very similar size, but I didn’t feel the same at all in that room — I felt I had plenty of space. Now, this was really only the case with the Little Mermaid Standard Rooms, the family suites are much more roomy, but I haven’t had an excuse to stay in one of those!

The theming here is also VERY family friendly, which is incredible, BUT it also means the hotel is often a little louder than others. This is especially true around popular areas like the pool, and value resorts are known for having the thinnest hotel walls, so those two paired together? Yeah, not ideal. So if you’re sensitive to noise like I am, or you/your kiddos need to nap during the day, this could cause an issue.

Finally, while the price here is usually pretty good, the All-Star Resorts will almost always have the best value resort pricing, and Pop Century, as it doesn’t have the same theming BUT has almost all other amenities, is often a little bit cheaper as well. That’s why, if I find myself booking a hotel, I almost always go for Pop Century even though I WISH I could go with Art of Animation!

Now, everyone’s top hotel pick is going to be different, because what’s best for your group may not be best for another, which is why if you need help deciding, we recommend booking a travel agent, like our friends at Mouse Fan Travel! They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

Whatever hotel you decide is best for your upcoming vacation, we’re here to help you make sure it’s the best it can be, so stay tuned to AllEars!

Where to Stay: On Disney Property or Off-Site?

What hotel do you always prefer to stay at in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!