Hi Lisa! Welcome to planDisney.
My family loved our stay at
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. The Disney theming in the rooms and throughout the grounds is truly wonderful – we loved walking past Nemo’s seagull friends and hearing them shout “Mine!” and the underwater sounds in the Big Blue Pool actually brought tears to my eyes. There’s nothing quite like being immersed in your favorite stories, and I know you’re going to love it too.
The Family Suites at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort do sleep six adults. That number is set for fire code, so if a Cast Member has said your two-year-old must be counted, there’s a good reason. While the Family Suites are fantastic, and the two bathrooms make them a standout choice for larger parties, you might find it just too tight with four adults and three children anyway.
I have two thoughts about possible options for your group. The first, if you wanted to stay at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, is to reserve two Standard Rooms in The Little Mermaid section. You could request connecting rooms, but note that those requests cannot be guaranteed. I also want to note that the standard Guest rooms at this resort have a mini-refrigerator, but not an in-room coffee maker. You also wouldn’t have the microwave, which is a special feature in the family suites. Microwaves and coffee can be found at the Landscape of Flavors food court. My family loved flipping our fins in the Little Mermaid rooms.
The other option, which we’ve done with larger groups, is to look at Deluxe Villa accommodations. My family has enjoyed the
2 Bedroom Villas at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, which accommodate 9 adults. There’s a master bedroom that sleeps two, a second bedroom with two queen beds, plus a sleeper sofa and a sleeper chair. These accommodations include a washer and dryer and a full-sized kitchen, which means you can prepare meals and snacks right in your room. While you’ll see the prices are higher for these types of rooms, they’re great for larger parties, and you can save money on dining by using the kitchen. There are
Deluxe Villas in several of the Disney Resorts Collection hotels, so spend some time exploring the different theming, locations, and amenities of the different resorts if this might be of interest.
I hope this helps as you decide where is the right place to call home during your September visit. You are also welcome to call a Reservations Cast Member at (407) 939-1936 to talk about your different options based on your party size. If you think of any more questions as you count down the days to your visit, please come back and see us. It’s always a pleasure to help a fellow Guest with their Disney dreaming.
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Robyn