Hi Ashley,
Welcome back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
Disney's Art of Animation Resort is one of my favorite resorts - the rooms, the Big Blue Pool, and the resort decor all just make me happy!
The Little Mermaid rooms are super cute and since this resort is undergoing refurbishment, some of the rooms already have a fresh new, swimmingly adorable look. We have stayed at other resorts undergoing refurbishment and were lucky enough to have our requests for one of the refurbished rooms granted, so I suggest that you make a note of this request with your resort hotel reservation and/or when completing
online check-in. Just remember that while Cast Members make every effort, requests are not guaranteed.
Although I cannot confirm when all of the refurbishments will be complete, I do believe that given how far out your trip is, all of the rooms may be updated by then. Check out this
great answer from my fellow panelist Samantha for additional information on how to contact the Help Center if you need assistance with making that request on your reservation. In the meantime, YouTube is where I go to see videos of room updates - I checked for you and found a video of a newly redone Little Mermaid room, so just use the search feature in YouTube to locate it. I searched for Little Mermaid room remodel!
The Big Blue Pool at this resort is one of the most delightful pools - note that it will be closed for refurbishment beginning in the fall of 2020. Although I do love this resort, you could also consider
Disney's Pop Century Resort. It also has access to the
Disney Skyliner so that you would have quick access to other resort hotels and to EPCOT along the Disney Skyliner route. You could hop on the Skyliner to go have breakfast at
Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera. Our girls ADORED Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck on our last visit there.
Ashley, what I love about Ariel is that she dreamed big. Everything about Disney's Art of Animation Resort reminds me that we need to keep that larger than life hope!
Magic and memories,
Donyell