Hi Shari,
You are going to love the Art of Animation resort. As I've told other guests to the Moms Panel, Disney has outdone itself on the theming here. You will be able to immerse yourself in the land of the Lion King, Cars, Finding Nemo and the Little Mermaid.
The buildings with the Finding Nemo suites are in the center of the resort, on either side of the Big Blue Pool. The three buildings of Cars suites are to the right as you enter through Animation Hall; the two buildings of Lion King suites are to the left with the three Little Mermaid buildings beyond them.
If you are interested in the Lion King area, you will choose between building 10, where the rooms face the parking lot or the courtyard, and building 6, where the rooms face the courtyard and Hourglass Lake. Both are conveniently located to Animation Hall, home of the Landscape of Flavors food court, the Ink & Paint shop, the Pixel Play arcade, lobby and bus station.
You will find the
map of the Art of Animation resort on the link provided here.
There is no pool in the Lion King area, but the amazing Big Blue Pool is close by. The courtyard is filled with fun sculptures of scenes from the film, and the courtyard is the site of Movies Under the Stars.
I have stayed in the Cars section, in building 2, the farthest of the suites from Animation Hall, and we thought the distance to the buses and food was quite convenient compared to some of the larger resorts. I know that some guests in the Little Mermaid section have felt they were far away from the action, but I don't think you will feel that way in any suite.
I hope that's useful, Shari, and that you make some wonderful memories with your family on your visit. Please let me know if I can do anything else to help. Enjoy!
Wilma