Hi Michelle, and welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
Deciding where to stay when you're planning a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort usually comes down to your family's tastes, priorities and budget. My family has stayed at both Disney's Art of Animation Resort and Disney's All-Star Movies Resort, so I'm happy to help.
These two resort hotels actually have some things in common. Both have larger-than-life scenes from some favorite Disney movies. Each has a feature pool that's tons of splish-splashing fun, and both are served by Walt Disney World bus transportation. Bus stops are at the front of both resorts, and I've found the walk from the room to the bus stop to be about the same.
The big difference between these two resort hotels is in the rooms themselves. If you stay in one of the family suites in the Cars, Lion King or Finding Nemo sections of Art of Animation, you'll have a separate bedroom, living and dining area, two bathrooms, and a kitchenette with a sink, microwave and refrigerator. (The Little Mermaid rooms are standard hotel rooms much like those at the All-Star Resorts). The dining area and kitchenette comes in handy for simple meal prep, which could help stretch your budget. We're a small family and don't need too much space, but a second bathroom is always a winner in my book.
Plus, the detailed theming of the Art of Animation suites is incredible. If you have little ones, they'll probably love it!
These are both great resorts, so I'd say if budget is your priority, you'll be perfectly happy at All-Star Movies. If you'd like a little extra space to spread out, Art of Animation is the way to go.
I hope this helps you narrow down your choices, Michelle. Please stop by and see us again if you have any more questions.
Have a magical day!
Kathy K.