Hi Missy,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, and thank you for your question. Walt Disney World is the place where my family loves to come together and enjoy family time with long-distance grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who we don’t see as often as we wish, so I absolutely relate to your question!
The Cast Members at your resort hotel are focused on making sure Guests staying at the resort have a magical time and enjoy every minute of their stay. If you let your front desk Cast Members know you’re expecting visitors, they will be happy to provide information about visitor parking and which amenities that visitors are permitted to use. One amenity visitors are not permitted to use is the pool areas. If I were you, I would double-check this policy with Cast Members at the resort when you arrive, but I would go in with the expectation that they will say the pool is for those staying at the resort only. This is for the comfort of all the Guests at the resort (nobody likes an overcrowded pool) and also for safety reasons.
Your family members will be welcome to hang out in the room with you and enjoy a meal at the awesome
Landscape of Flavors food court. You will also be welcome to take a walk around the phenomenally-themed grounds, and I highly recommend that you do, as there is so much to see. Walking around
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort feels like you’ve stepped right into your favorite Disney movies – pictures don’t do it justice.
Missy, enjoy your special visit with your family. Make sure you take some fun pictures together on those beautiful grounds, and here’s to all the magical memories you’ll make!
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Robyn