Hakuna Matata, David! How fun that soon you will be staying in a Lion King Family Suite at
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort! Those rooms are in such a great location, you are close to the Big Blue Pool AND the
Skyliner!
The family suites are equipped with a small refrigerator and microwave, so it is a “kitchenette”. This makes it perfect for families who want to have snacks and some small meals in their room. On one of my last visits, I had groceries delivered, and used the microwave in our room to make breakfast sandwiches before we left each morning.
The freezer in the small refrigerator will keep things cold, but I do not feel that your blue ice blocks will freeze properly in order for you to use them in a cooler. If you are simply carrying drinks in the portable cooler, then I would try putting some of the water bottles into the freezer section of your refrigerator overnight to get as cold as possible.
There are plenty of ice machines available throughout the resort as well. I travel with a stainless steel wide-mouth water bottle and fill it with ice each morning at my resort, and then refill it with cups of water in the parks.
Have a wonderful trip to the Walt Disney World Resort! Please come back to planDisney with other questions you might have as you continue your planning.
Happy Traveling,
Tracy