Disney's Art of Animation Resort vs Walt Disney World Swan
Photo: Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Photo: Walt Disney World Swan
At a Glance
| Art of Animation | Walt Disney World Swan | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Value | Deluxe |
| Area | ESPN Wide World of Sports Resort Area | Epcot Resort Area |
| Transportation | Skyliner, Bus | Walk, Boat, Bus |
| Table-Service Dining | None | 5 restaurants |
| Quick-Service Dining | 2 locations | 3 locations |
| Pool Amenities | Pool | Pool, Water Slide |
| Extended Evening Hours | No | Yes |
| Top Highlight | Disney Skyliner gondola access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios | Same Crescent Lake location and EPCOT walking distance as the Dolphin |
Tier
Art of Animation
ValueWalt Disney World Swan
DeluxeArea
Art of Animation
ESPN Wide World of Sports Resort AreaWalt Disney World Swan
Epcot Resort AreaTransportation
Art of Animation
Skyliner, BusWalt Disney World Swan
Walk, Boat, BusTable-Service Dining
Art of Animation
NoneWalt Disney World Swan
5 restaurantsQuick-Service Dining
Art of Animation
2 locationsWalt Disney World Swan
3 locationsPool Amenities
Art of Animation
PoolWalt Disney World Swan
Pool, Water SlideExtended Evening Hours
Art of Animation
NoWalt Disney World Swan
YesTop Highlight
Art of Animation
Disney Skyliner gondola access to EPCOT and Hollywood StudiosWalt Disney World Swan
Same Crescent Lake location and EPCOT walking distance as the DolphinOverview
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
A value resort themed to Pixar and Disney animation, with family suites, Little Mermaid rooms, and a Skyliner station shared with Pop Century.
Walt Disney World Swan
A Marriott-operated on-property resort between Epcot and Hollywood Studios, with walking and boat access to both parks.
Amenities
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Recreation
- Pool
- interactive water play area
- Playground
- Arcade
- Running Trail (1.3 miles around Hourglass Lake)
Other
- Laundry Facilities
- Business Center
Walt Disney World Swan
Recreation
- Pool
- Water Slide
- Volleyball
- Tennis Courts
- Jogging Trail
- Arcade
- Playground
- Camp Dolphin for children ages 5-12 from 4PM to 11PM with themed activities, video games, arts and crafts
- Swan watercraft rentals on the white sand beach; Boat Rental in Activities
Wellness
- Fitness Center
- Spa
Other
- Child Care
- Boat launch courtyard between Swan and Dolphin for Friendship launches
- Disney Cabanas store at Swan; Resort Essentials boutique at Dolphin
Transportation
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
-
Skyliner
EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios
-
Bus
Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs
Walt Disney World Swan
-
Walk
EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios
-
Boat
EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios
-
Bus
Magic Kingdom Park, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney Springs
Pros
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
- Disney Skyliner gondola access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios
- Family suites sleep up to 6 with two bathrooms and a kitchenette
- Does not share bus service, giving it the best bus reliability of Value Resorts
- Landscape of Flavors food court is best among Value Resorts
- Big Blue Pool is the largest hotel pool at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World Swan
- Same Crescent Lake location and EPCOT walking distance as the Dolphin
- Marriott Bonvoy points eligible for stays and redemptions
- Access to Dolphin's extensive dining and amenities via shared complex
- Swan Reserve and Swan combined offer over 2,000 rooms in the complex
- Competitively priced relative to Disney-owned Deluxe resorts nearby
Cons
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
- Family suite prices are double to triple standard Value Resort rooms
- Little Mermaid standard rooms are very small and far from lobby
- Theming is bold and loud, not appealing to all adults
- No table service restaurant on property
- Long walk to Skyliner station from some room sections
Walt Disney World Swan
- No Disney on-site Early Entry or advance Lightning Lane booking
- Resort fees and parking fees add significantly to the nightly rate
- Shared amenities with Dolphin mean crowded pools during peak times
- Design is less Disney-immersive than Disney-owned resorts
- Limited transportation compared to monorail or Skyliner resorts
On-Site Dining
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Walt Disney World Swan
-
Chill
Table ServiceAmerican
dinner
View menu -
Garden Grove
Table ServiceAmerican
breakfast
View menu -
Il Mulino
Table ServiceItalian
lunch · dinner
View menu -
Il Mulino Lounge
Quick ServiceAmerican
snack
View menu -
Java
Quick ServiceQuick Service - Coffee
snack
View menu -
Kimonos
Table ServiceAsian, Japanese, Sushi
dinner · snack
View menu -
Kimonos Lounge
Quick ServiceAsian, Japanese, Sushi
snack
View menu -
Splash Pool Bar and Grill
Table ServiceAmerican
snack
View menu
Community Discussions
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
- Art of Animation : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Art of Animation Resort: Is it a good resort? r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Art of Animation Resort! : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Booking art of animation : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Is art of animation that bad? : r/WaltDisneyWorld r/WaltDisneyWorld
Walt Disney World Swan
- Anyone stay at the Walt Disney swan hotel? Thoughts or ... r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Some love for the Swan hotel - a great option for a Disney trip r/WaltDisneyWorld
- Walt Disney World Swan hotel review : r/DisneyWorld r/DisneyWorld
Videos
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
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