Hi there, Tiffany! Thanks so much for stopping by.
Choosing the right Walt Disney World Resort for your family is a HUGE choice, and I am here to help you make the right decision for you. You can not really go wrong with either resort, but I have some experience at both resorts with my little ones, who are 4 and 1, so almost the same age as yours!
Tiffany, both
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort and
Disney's Art of Animation Resort offer quick access to the fantastic
Disney Skyliner, whisking you away in your own private gondola to EPCOT and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Riding the Skyliner was the only thing that my 4-year-old wanted to do on our most recent trip, so this is often a ride in and of itself for the little ones.
I will tell you that some of my fellow panelists and I would give Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort the edge over its competition at Disney's Art of Animation Resort for one simple reason. When traveling from Disney's Art of Animation Resort to the theme parks, you must switch Skyliner gondolas at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. This could occasionally lead to a small delay in getting to the park while you wait to board. Traveling from Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, you will not have to switch lines at all, saving you a bit of time in the mornings. It is also nice not to have to keep folding and unfolding the stroller if it is too large to fit in the gondola.
Tiffany, when it comes to the theme of the resort, I do believe that Disney's Art of Animation Resort comes out a little ahead, as my little ones love to walk around and see the larger-than-life characters. I also do love that there is only one bus stop at Disney's Art of Animation Resort as opposed to the many bus stops located throughout Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, but since you will be able to take the Disney Skyliner from either resort, you will only need a bus to travel to Magic Kingdom and Disney's Animal Kingdom.
In terms of rooms, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort also gets another point from me. Here you will find two sinks in the bathroom, and about an extra 50 square feet of space. While that doesn't sound like much, it is great to have space to feed the little ones breakfast while we are getting ready in the mornings. We always
mobile order breakfast to bring back to the room, or bring a few easy breakfasts with us.
I will concede that the Little Mermaid rooms at Disney's Art of Animation Resort are absolutely adorable, and come at a bit of a savings compared to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. I know my princess-loving little girl would absolutely be in heaven with one of these rooms.
Lastly, in terms of amenities, there are a few more food options at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, and the pool has a water slide, something that you will not find at Disney's Art of Animation Resort. Both resorts have a playground for your little ones to run around on, something my kids desperately need on arrival day.
I hope that this helped make your decision, Tiffany. For my family, we would choose Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort if it was in our budget for this trip, as I like not having to change Disney Skyliner stations to get to the theme parks before opening!
I just know that you will have a wonderful trip, Tiffany. Please come back here if we can help you figure out where to play or dine during your stay at Walt Disney World Resort!
See you real soon!
Sarah B.