Art of Animation vs Pop Century: which value skyliner resort is best for UK visitors?
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Pop Century tends to be the more affordable and more convenient option, while Art of Animation offers bigger rooms and more immersive theming perfect for families and Disney animation fans. But in 2026, the big thing to consider is how comfy your room will be. Pop Century has just completed a year’s long soft furnishings refurb, so if you want the new feel this option wins.
Overall comparison of Pop Century and Art of Animation
These two Disney Value Resorts sit opposite each other across Hourglass Lake, share the same Disney Skyliner station, and come with many of the same on-site benefits, but the overall experience at each resort is quite different. For UK visitors deciding between Art of Animation and Pop Century, the decision is not an easy one, and in our experience it often comes down to cost and room size.
Here’s a quick list of key features, compared for at a glance decision making between staying at Disney’s Art of Animation and Disney’s Pop Century resorts:
Feature | Disney's Pop Century Resort | Disney's Art of Animation Resort |
|---|---|---|
Best for | Couples, families of four, and guests looking for better value and newly refurbished rooms | Larger families, groups, and guests who want strong Disney theming |
Skyliner Access | Yes, from resort station | Yes, from resort station |
Room type | Standard and preferred rooms | Little Mermaid rooms and themed family suites |
Room occupancy | Maximum of 4 people per room | Up to 4 people in Little Mermaid Up to 6 people in family suites |
Theming | Fun retro theme inspired by the 1950s to 1990s | Bold Disney theming inspired by Cars, Finding Nemo, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid |
Price | Usually better value | Usually more expensive |
Pools | Good | Better overall, including the Big Blue Pool |
What’s the same in both Pop Century and Art of Animation?
Both of these options are Value resorts and sit on the Skyliner route, but when you stay in either of these hotels the following is the same:
Free on-site parking
Free water park entry on day of arrival for select dates on 2027 holidays
Exactly the same transport options: bus or Skyliner.
Both are best for EPCOT and Hollywood Studios fans because of the Skyliner
Same Disney guest benefits at each hotel
As Disney guest benefits do not change no matter which Value hotel you stay in it’s worth looking at how these perks add Value to your holiday, but it’s not worth considering them when making the decision between Pop Century or Art of Animation. The same can be said about using the Disney Skyliner during your holiday, both hotels have the same access, from the same station, so it’s not a deciding factor when choosing your Resort,
What’s the difference in room options and sizes?
Room size often matters more for families of four in Disney hotels rather than couples as pull down murphy-beds are a common feature and take up more space than you’d think.
Room type | Resort | Sleeps | Size |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard and preferred rooms with and without pool view. | Pop Century | Up to 4 | 260 sq ft (24.2 m2) |
Little Mermaid Standard room | Art of Animation | Up to 4 | 277 sq ft (25.7 m2) |
Family Suite | Art of Animation | Up to 6 | 565 sq ft (52.5m2) |
Pop Century standard and preferred rooms are the same size, while Art of Animation's Little Mermaid standard rooms are slightly larger. The biggest jump in space comes with Art of Animation's Family Suites, which are more than double the size of a standard Pop Century room, and cost quite a bit more.
Pop Century rooms vs Little Mermaid rooms: which is better?
Pop Century rooms have just finished a soft furnishings refurb, which has seen rugs added to the rooms and a more modern feel, while Little Mermaid rooms are heavily themed with Disney IP. The question of which is better comes down to preferences about bed set-up, and theming.
Feature | Disney's Pop Century Resort | Disney's Art of Animation Resort |
|---|---|---|
Bed layout for standard rooms | 2 queens: one fixed and one a pull down OR 1 fixed King (only sleep 2) | 2 queen beds, both fixed OR 1 fixed king (only sleep 2) |
Theming and room feel | Clean, fresh, less themed, lighter | Little Mermaid rooms feel darker Suites and standard rooms are heavily themed which can feel a bit much |
Art of Animation's standard Little Mermaid rooms are slightly larger offering around 17 square feet more space than a standard room at Pop Century. That 17 sq ft is about the size of a UK single bed, so it’s not huge, but can be significant for a family of four.
Pop Century rooms are roughly 260 square feet, so you tend to only notice the size difference when the Murphy bed is pulled down. However, when you’re a family of three or four the reality is that the second Queen bed is down the whole trip. That’s when the small singe bed sized extra space can feel huge. And that small space makes the difference between knocking into each other or the corner of the bed when trying to get out, or not.
At Art of Animation, Little Mermaid rooms have two permanent queen beds. That means you do get slightly more actual walking space overall, but the layout is less flexible because the furniture is always in place.
Art of Animation suites: best for families
If room size is your top priority, Art of Animation's Family Suites are in a different league altogether. These sleep up to six guests and include a separate bedroom, two full bathrooms and a kitchenette, making them a much better fit for larger families. They also open into interior hallways rather than the exterior openings of both standard room options in Pop Century and Art of Animation.
They are heavily themed and begin at a much higher price point, themed around Cars, Finding Nemo and The Lion King. While there is no suite to compare these rooms with at Pop Century, there is a family suite at All Star Music which is comparable to what’s on offer at Art of Animation.
Which resort has the better food court?
It’s a draw when it comes to dining, on Disney theming Art of Animation has the better food court; on variety of Art of Animation is also better, but for a newer less Disney vibe Everything POP wins, and for breakfast I prefer Everything Pop!
Feature | Food Court Name | Theming |
|---|---|---|
Disney's Pop Century Resort | Less Disney, newer, combined with shop area so more open plan, but noisier at times. | |
Disney's Art of Animation Resort | Seating areas inspired by Cars, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and The Little Mermaid |
As both hotels are Value resorts, aside from a pool bar, the only dining option on-site is a quick-service food court area. This means that they both serve the same type of food aside from a couple of signature items unique to each resort. But given how close these hotels are to each other, you could walk over and try the food on offer in the other food court no matter which you choose.
The biggest difference is the theming, and that’s personal choice. Landscape of Flavors is the more Disney themed option, whereas Everything POP! has a newer feel, it’s larger, but has no distinctive Disney vibe. Everything Pop also has Mickey Waffles for breakfast, which you can’t get at Art of Animation’s Landscape of Flavors, there you get character waffles.
Which resort has the better pool?
Art of Animation has the better pools overall, especially for families with younger children. Both resorts have fun, themed pool areas, but Art of Animation stands out across all Value resorts
Pool Features | Disney’s Art Of Animation | Disney’s Pop Century |
|---|---|---|
Number of pools | 3 pools:The Big Blue Pool Cozy Cone Pool Flippin’ Fins Pool | 3 pools: Hippy Dippy Pool Bowling Pool Computer Pool |
Size of main pool | Over 308,527 gallons (over 1,167,901. litres which is about half the size of an Olympic Swimming pool) | Over 235,613 gallons (over 891,892 litres) |
Main pool theming | Finding Nemo | 1960’s flower theme |
The Big Blue Pool at Art of Animation opens in a new tab is the biggest resort pool across the whole of Disney World Resort, so if you like to swim this is the pool you’ll want to take a dip in. It’s Finding Nemo themed, but it is just a pool to swim up and down in. Pop Century's main pool, opens in a new tabthe Hippy Dippy Pool, is colourful and fun, but it is smaller and feels less impressive overall, and again is only a pool to swim in.
Both main pools have a zero-entry side and offer a simple swimming pool experience. If you’re looking for water slides and themed pools that steer away from giant Disney characters you’ll want to pick a moderate resort tier or higher.
Can I use the pool at Art of Animation if I stay at Pop Century?
No, just because the hotels are located next door to each other does not mean that you can use the other resort pools. Guests in Disney Resorts can only use the pool at the resort they stay in; you can’t use other resort pools.
Is Art of Animation worth the extra money over Pop Century?
No, not in my opinion. The price difference between these two Value Skyliner resorts varies throughout the year, but Art of Animation comes out the more expensive option for the same Standard room classification the majority of the time. Here is a price comparison of the cost per night in each resort:
Hotel | Price range per night standard room options |
|---|---|
Disney’s Pop Century | £160 - £297 |
Disney’s Art of Animation | £188 - £321 |
Prices are meant for budgeting guidance only and will vary depending on dates.
The difference in price per night between the two resorts is around £30 a night. £30 extra gives you the size of a single bed more and stronger Disney theming in standard room options, as well as access to the biggest Disney World resort pool. The decision of whether this is worth it for your holiday is your choice.
Pop Century is the better option in my opinion, but the bigger your family the more benefit you will find in Art of Animation’s room options.
Which is closer to the Skyliner and easier to get around?
Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation are a good walk from the resort amenities and the Skyliner, whereas at Pop Century the resort is less spread out and the preferred room option gives the chance for closer Skyliner access.
No resort has its own dedicated station, so how close you are to the Skyliner depends entirely on where your room is located. In practice, though, Pop Century is usually the easier resort for transport and shorter walks.
Is Pop Century near Art of Animation?
Yes, they sit opposite each other across Hourglass Lake, and share the same Disney Skyliner station. While the on-site benefits are similar at these resorts, the experience at the hotels is quiet different.
Pop Century vs Art of Animation: which is best for UK visitors?
UK visitors choosing between Disney’s two Value Skyliner resorts will have a great holiday no matter which one they opt for.
Choose Pop Century for:
the lower price and same guest resort benefits
a smaller resort to navigate around and closer Skyliner access
Recently soft refurbished rooms
You’re a couple
Choose Art of Animation for:
larger room options ideal for families of four or five from the UK
A bigger pool, and better on-site Disney theming
Space is more important
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Is Pop Century or Art of Animation closer to the Skyliner?
Pop Century is closer to the Skyliner, but only because the resort is more compact and offers preferred location rooms which tend to give better access.
Which is more expensive, Pop Century or Art of Animation?
Art of Animation is the more expensive resort with both like for like standard room comparisons, and for the larger family suite option.
Can you walk from Art of Animation to Pop Century?
Yes, there is a bridge which goes over Hourglass Lake that you can walk over connecting the resorts.
Can you take the Skyliner from Art of Animation or Pop Century to Disney Springs?
No, the skyliner route does not connect any hotel with Disney Springs, this includes Pop Century and Art of Animation.
