{"id":23571,"date":"2012-07-20T16:00:30","date_gmt":"2012-07-20T21:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=23571"},"modified":"2018-03-06T11:27:57","modified_gmt":"2018-03-06T17:27:57","slug":"character-building-disneys-art-of-animation-resort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2012\/07\/character-building-disneys-art-of-animation-resort\/","title":{"rendered":"Character building: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Our biggest Crush: The Nemo character is larger-than-life at the Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Credit: Matt Stroshane.<\/p><\/div>\n

By Jill E. Cooper<\/em><\/p>\n

As vacation time rolls around and people find out I\u2019ll be going away, the question becomes inevitable.\u00a0 \u201cWhy are you going back to Walt Disney World<\/a> again?\u201d\u00a0 It’s obvious: For thousands of us who grew up making our best childhood memories in the land of the mouse, the urge to return tugs on our heart strings. And secondly, Walt Disney World Walt Disney World Resort is always changing. Walt Disney himself insisted that the parks would never be finished; innovation and new attractions were part of his original blueprint. And so it’s a no-brainer that I’d want to check out\u00a0 Disney\u2019s Art of Animation Resort<\/a>, the newest (and one of the most whimsical) of more than two dozen on-property resorts.<\/p>\n

Rather than being dominated by standard rooms that sleep four, Disney\u2019s Art of Animation Resort primarily features family suites. Knowing that families with more than two children and multi-generational travelers need more housing options, Disney designed rooms with two bathrooms, three sleeping areas and a kitchenette.\u00a0 First introduced a few years ago at Disney\u2019s All-Star Music Resort<\/a>, these rooms slept up to six guests and were incredibly popular from the beginning. While Disney\u2019s All Star Music Resort had a relatively small percentage of these rooms, the suites occupy three of the four sections of Disney\u2019s Art of Animation Resort. They offer larger families the privacy and functionality they crave. And the themes, based on some of Disney\u2019s and Disney\u2022Pixar\u2019s most recognizable films (Finding Nemo, Cars<\/em>, and The Lion King<\/em>), is as fresh and fun as the characters.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t help but smile as I toured the property last month.<\/p>\n

However, the innovation at this resort extends beyond the guest quarters. I was blown away by the imaginative dining options available in the Landscape of Flavors food court.\u00a0 Consistent with Disney\u2019s recent initiatives to provide guests with more and healthier dining options, this resort offers an impressive array of culinary choices. \u00a0During my recent visit, the gelato immediately caught my eye. What abeautiful display of tempting flavors: sushi, macaroon cupcakes, fruit and cheese platters, create-your-own yogurt parfaits, tasty salads, tandoori chicken, Mongolian grilled beef or fish and Mickey waffles prepared while you watch.\u00a0 Even the burgers teased the eyes. Pick a roll, pick a meat — beef, chicken, crab cake or vegetarian — and top it with add-ons galore —\u00a0 six varieties of cheese, fried green tomato, celery relish, Cajun remoulade, and popcorn shrimp.<\/p>\n

And finally, Disney\u2019s Art of Animation Resort offers guests a truly unique opportunity to feel as if they are part of a beloved Disney Pixar movie. If you stay in the Finding Nemo<\/em> wing of the resort, the surrounding wildlife is scaled in such a way that you actually feel like you are one of the fish swimming around with Crush or Mr. Ray. If you listen under the water at the Big Blue Pool, you can hear Marlin and Dory speaking with you and other aquatic life. Walking through the Cars<\/em> section of the resort, you can\u2019t help but feel as if you might just get pulled over for speeding near the Cozy Cone Motel.\u00a0 I can just imagine how wild and fun it will be to explore the playground on the savanna between The Lion King<\/em> buildings when that section of the resort starts welcoming guests next month.\u00a0 It’s one more reason to go back and visit the place I consider my second home.<\/p>\n

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