Pop Century vs. Art of Animation- Which Skyliner Resort Should You Pick?

Walt Disney World has an overwhelming number of resorts to pick from but there are two amongst the value resorts that can be hardest to decide between.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort are two that are often stacked up against each other when guests are picking their best option. This article will help you decide which is the best choice and what the key differences are.

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Both Resorts Offer Skyliner Transportation

In terms of transportation options, these two resorts share the same Disney Skyliner station which then takes you to Hollywood Studios or EPCOT. Aside from the use of the Disney Skyliner, both resorts use bus transportation to get to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.

There is really no true comparison when it comes to transportation which is why I think these resorts are both stacked against each other so often. They are the only two value resorts that offer the use of the Disney Skyliner.

Art of Animation Has Family Suites at a Higher Price

The first thing to decide is if you are interested in family suites which would easily make Art of Animation your correct choice. Pop Century Resort only offers standard-sized rooms which can accommodate up to four guests.

If you are looking to fit more than four guests into one room then your choice should be Art of Animation. The family suites at Art of Animation can fit six guests. The rooms are all themed and you can pick which theme you like such as Lion King, Cars, or Finding Nemo.

Little Mermaid Standard Rooms at Art of Animation

But family suites aren’t the only option at Art of Animation, they also offer Little Mermaid standard rooms. So this is the one comparison that makes sense.

Should you pick a Little Mermaid standard room at Art of Animation or a room at Pop Century Resort?

Little Mermaid Rooms Are Pricier and Harder to Get

The Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation are harder to come by than a regular room at Pop Century Resort. Even when writing this article and researching price comparisons, I had to change dates more than once to find available nights for the standard Little Mermaid rooms.

So this is one big drawback for Art of Animation, the Little Mermaid rooms are hard to find and might limit your success at picking your ideal dates.

In terms of price, the standard Little Mermaid rooms are on average about $50 more costly per night than a regular standard room at Pop Century. Standard pricing starts at $250 for Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation and $200 for a standard room at Pop Century.

Pop Century Rooms Offer Same Quality for Less

Pop Century’s standard-sized rooms offer similar quality for less price and less hassle. I would actually argue that the quality of the Pop Century’s rooms exceeds those of The Little Mermaid rooms since they have recently been refurbished.

In terms of themes, The Little Mermaid rooms offer more detailed theming than the Pop Century Resort rooms. But I think the theming at Pop Century Resort is a bit more modernized which many guests find preferable. So it really comes down to what your preference is!

Far Less Walking at Pop Century

Pop Century Resort is known for its smaller size in comparison to the other Walt Disney World resorts which is a huge perk in itself. A smaller resort means less walking which is always a good thing after a long day of walking at the theme parks.

This is also the biggest drawback of The Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation as they are the furthest away from the main amenities. The building for The Little Mermaid rooms is at the far back of the resort and it’s a common complaint of many guests at how far that walk is. There is also no option to select a preferred room for Art of Animation since all the resorts are divided by theme.

But at Pop Century, guests can opt for a preferred room and end up with a room that is literally steps away from the main feature pool. In this category, Pop Century wins hands down.

Art of Animation Has the Biggest Pool

Art of Animation’s biggest pool is a huge zero-entry pool that contains over 308,527 gallons and is considered one of the biggest pools at Walt Disney World. The Big Blue Pool is inspired by Finding Nemo.

For comparison, Pop Century’s pool is about 100,000 gallons smaller and is inspired by the 1960s. Both resorts offer two smaller-sized pools spaced out around the resort as well.

Art of Animation Offers Heavy Disney Themes

The theme of Art of Animation is focused on Disney animation with a main focus on Finding Nemo, Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Cars. So if a heavy Disney theme is important to you then you should consider Art of Animation.

Pop Century Has Retro Theming

While there are plenty of Disney touches around Pop Century, the majority of the theming is focused on iconic moments from the 1950s through the 1990s. This resort is known for its bright, colorful themes. If you enjoy this bright-colored, retro vibe then Pop Century is a great pick.

Similar Food But One Resort Has An Edge

While both value resorts offer similar dining with large food court-style dining spaces, Art of Animation is known for having a few more items and selections. It’s actually a common tip shared with those staying at Pop Century to take the time to talk over to Art of Animation to enjoy their food court instead.

So based on that, in this category Art of Animation is the winner.

Pop Century Resort is Always a Winner

While Art of Animation has an edge over Pop Century in a few categories, especially when it comes to recreation and dining, Pop Century is always the clear winner in my book.

The long walk to The Little Mermaid rooms combined with their more expensive price and harder-to-secure reservation status, the hassle is just not worth it to me. Especially not when I can get a preferred room at Pop Century far easier and at a lower cost than Art of Animation.

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