Hi there Joshua, welcome to planDisney!
In the words of Ariel, "flipping your fins you don't get too far"; but in this case you needn't worry too much about the distance between the buildings you'll be staying in during your upcoming
Disney Resort Hotel stay! Between each of the differently themed sections at
Disney's Art of Animation Resort, you'll be happy to hear that The Lion King buildings (currently numbered 6 and 10) are next to The Little Mermaid buildings (currently numbered 7, 8 and 9) and I've personally made my way from the Elephant Graveyard to the
Flippin' Fins pool in a matter of a minute or two while admiring some of the larger-than-life theming along the way. As you check in, it may be a good idea to request to have the closest possible rooms to reduce the distance between you and the other family but truly the difference wouldn't make that much of a difference in the end in my opinion!
It's important to note that when you stay in The Little Mermaid section you'll be among the farthest rooms from Animation Hall, as well as the
complimentary Resort Transportation like the Resort buses or the
Disney Skyliner so be sure to factor in just an extra bit of travel time at the beginning and end of your day while keeping in mind that the trek over is mostly uncovered in the event of any inclement weather on the horizon! Personally, I recommend the Cozy Cone Pool for the chance to snag your own private poolside cabana which is currently at no additional charge - though you just might prefer to stick with the swimming pool closest to where your room is located.
Be sure to check out the
planDisney Pocket Guide to Disney's Art of Animation Resort ahead of your stay, and
come back to planDisney again for any other tips or tricks for both of your families to take advantage of this year!
Here's hoping you'll be able to easily Go the Distance from the Pride Lands to the world Under the Sea!
Prince