Today I’d like to focus on the Cars section of the Art of Animation Resort at Disney World, which opened a few weeks ago. The resort itself opened several weeks before that; the Cars Hotel section is actually Phase II of the development. There’s a Phase 3 and 4 coming, too, in the form of Little Mermaid and Lion King sections (Phase 1 was themed to Finding Nemo).
This hotel takes the place of the proposed second half of the Pop Century Resort (which must now more accurately be thought of as the Pop-Half-Century Resort, since they never did and never will get to the earlier decades).
Unlike the Phase 1 development, which focused on the zero-entry pool (and the extremely cool innovation of underwater music), the Phase 2 development is more about the characters and the props. You can get up close and personal with the Cars characters. They are designed, in fact, for you to pose with them.
On the one hand, this is fantastic. People like to pose with movie characters, as we’ve seen for decades now at Disney parks. And the props being here at a hotel rather than at a park means they will have far smaller lines (if any at all) except for peak moments, such as the morning time when everyone leave their hotel rooms.
On the other hand, though, the seclusion might tempt vacationers to be a bit more loose with the props. They might climb on them, or try to pry pieces off of them. So it’s not a big surprise that shortly after the car props were unveiled, Disney had to add signs nearby saying that climbing was prohibited.Such signs are somewhat common on Disney property, though, so this is not that far out of the ordinary.
The car props are only part of the scenery here. The Imagineers have outdone themselves, revealing a finished project that is immersive in scope, even more than the usual. Granted, it’s still a hotel, but it also really feels like a complete land like you might find inside a theme park. There’s a full and rich sense of storytelling in the place, arising out of multiple factors. The gravel to the side of the sidewalk “road” is two-toned, for instance, with one bed of gravel light colored and another, just outside, darker. There are small billboards along the road reminiscent of Burma Shave ads from the past. But most of all, there are painted facades and props everywhere.
Frankly, it’s everything Disney hotels should have been all along. When you think about it, an infrequent (or first-time) visitor to Disney theme parks is most likely imagining THIS kind of environment when they hear the words “Disney hotel.” It’s a hotel surrounded by Disney characters. And it’s the first hotel to do that. Other Disney hotels until now have opted to provide a themed environment, but themed like something other than a Disney movie: a Polynesian resort, the French Quarter, or giant foozball players and yo-yos (I still don’t get that one, either).
Having actual Disney characters may make it feel less “grown up” and more aimed at kids, but hey, that’s the point. This is a Disney vacation. Those seeking adventure and salty old grown ups are advised to head up the road to Universal, right?
Phase 1 did a decent job of folding in Disney characters, but Phase 2 goes a step further by placing us INSIDE the movie. We aren’t really “inside” Finding Nemo in any meaningful way in Phase 1, but in Phase 2, it feels like we’ve stepped out into Radiator Springs. It’s a huge leap forward for Disney World. In some ways, it’s finally like having a theme park environment come to a hotel, rather than just a “themed” environment, if you follow the distinction.
The little details are fantastic. The gas station is apparently called “Butte Gas” (I’m glad my 9 year old missed this one), and the Fillmore minibus sports lots of stickers, one of which says (and as seen in the movie) “Save 2D animation!”
Disney has classified this as a Value resort. That sounds amazing. All that theme and a Value resort?! Indeed, the rooms are reportedly on par with Value Resort rooms. I haven’t been inside one to verify this.
But scratch just a little bit at this, and the facade falls off. This isn’t a Value resort. The Cars section features family suites, which sleep six people. Each suite rents for $295 in the fall season, using the weekend price. I chose December 14 as my target date when looking that up.
Is that really a value price? The Radisson-Celebration, just around the corner, costs $79 for that same date (Dec. 14). I get it that Art of Animation is a great resort. I get it that a family of five people might prefer a suite instead of using a (free) pullout couch or rollaway bed. But paying 275% more for the privilege?
That’s not the worst part. During the holiday season, the Cars suite rises to $425 per room. This is now really not a “Value” resort. Disney is calling it that out loud so people aren’t upset about the room furnishings, I’m guessing. But the prices are not value prices. Those prices are luxury, premium, deluxe. Anything other than “value.”
Oh, the Radisson-Celebration? Still $79 on December 21. But let’s say you thought the Radisson was dumpy. Some online reviews aren’t very complimentary, after all. So, let’s look for a three (or 3.5) star hotel in the area. The Hilton Lake Buena Vista (near Downtown Disney) is classy, and its rooms will EASILY outgun the Art of Animation suites for comfort and amenities. The price on December 21? $144 per night. You could get two rooms there and still pay less than a night at a Art of Animation-Cars suite.
My advice? Stay off property and save hundreds (and I do mean hundreds) of dollars per day. Funnel that money into nicer meals, more souvenirs, or experiences like parasailing, Cinderella’s Royal Table, or Bibbidi Bobbodi Boutique. And then, yes, drop by Art of Animation to eat in the very nice (and affordably priced) food court. While you’re there, oogle the props and the decorations for, uh, ahem,… for free.
What are your thoughts? Is the detailed theme worth the premium pricing? Share your thoughts below…
Ultimate Orlando
My weekly posts to MiceAge/MiceChat are so focused that there often isn’t time or space to delve into other subjects and the smaller updates that are common every week in Orlando. I’ve set up an alternate blog that I update every day called UltimateOrlando (http://ultimateorlando.blogspot.com/). Drop by for your daily dose of smaller updates and observations from around the parks.
Weekly Walt Disney World
There’s a group of folks who assemble at Walt Disney World every week. They don’t come from any one Internet community (in fact, they come from several), but the main idea is simply to have folks to meet face to face each week. If this sounds interesting to you, join the Weekly WDW Facebook group.
Social Media
Readers are invited to join Kevin on Facebook, where he offers regular “Where in Walt Disney World” photo quizzes. On his public Facebook page, Twitter feed, and Google+ account, he also offers regular smaller updates on the parks. You can also email Kevin at [email protected]
Books by Kevin Yee
Since this is my re-introduction to the MiceChat crowd, I thought I’d link to the books I’ve written about Disney parks, in case any of you are interested.
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Top Tips for Visiting Disneyland Paris
Visiting Disneyland Paris might seem like a daunting task for many Americans, especially if they do not speak French. It’s easier than you think, however, to make your way from the airport to your hotel, and to navigate around the parks. All you need are a few “top tips”! This e-book provides the essentials. Anyone familiar with Disneyland or Walt Disney World won’t need detailed information about rides, but they might want to know which attractions to prioritize or which to skip, and this book provides the answers. It’s intentionally not an exhaustive resource. By design, it narrows down the advice to just the principles, concepts, and wisdom you’ll need to make your own on-the-spot adjustments. By providing only the “top tips,” the book lets you make informed decisions about where to go and when, but also keeps the elements of surprise and discovery intact on your vacation. |
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Walt Disney World Earbook 2011
Re-live the special events, additions, removals, and alterations with this yearbook-style volume designed to show, using hundreds of pictures, how rapidly the portrait of life at Walt Disney World changes. A timeline provides a comprehensive overview, and an index at the back will make finding information even years from now a breeze. |
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Walt Disney World Hidden History
The book pays special attention to the inside jokes and hidden references to Walt Disney World’s past. Think of it as a guided tour through all four parks, pointing out all the artifacts and remnants from former attractions. You’ll be astounded how many references remain!
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Jason’s Disneyland Almanac
With Park hours for 19,484 of the 20,257 days covered here, plus weather for each day, Disneyland attendance from July 17, 1955 through December 31, 1966, openings, closings, debuts, endings, events, and famous visitors, Jason’s Disneyland Almanac provides detail on every day in Disneyland’s history through the end of 2010. For most visitors, this compilation will capture the basics of Disneyland on their first visit: the Park hours and the weather. |
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Christmas in Walt Disney World
Take a photo journey with us that includes extinct guest favorites such as the Country Bear Christmas Special, an overnight visit to the Cinderella Castle Suite from Christmas week 2007, and a look around the Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts as you may see the decorations now. Kevin is the uncredited third author of this book. |
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Walt Disney World Earbook 2010
This book captures all the new attractions in pictures, and offers brief retrospectives for the closures. Many special events are also captured here–all through the eyes of one frequent visitor. A time line of events throughout the year puts the changes into perspective, and an index makes finding info easy. |
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Your Day at the Magic Kingdom
This children’s book, in full color and hardcover, lets readers (or listeners in bed!) decide what ride to go on next, and thus are prompted which page to turn to. It’s an interactive book, creating a customized experience for each young reader. 76 pages. |
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Mouse Trap
Re-live fifteen years as a front-line cast member in Anaheim’s Disneyland, in restaurants and in the Entertainment department, even taking a side trip into a fully empty Disneyland on the middle of the day during the September 11, 2001 events that closed major venues. |
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Tokyo Disney Made Easy
The only guidebook in English for visiting the Tokyo Disney parks. More than just a guide to the attractions and shows, this volume sets out to make the trip effortless and painless for non-speakers of Japanese. Make travel to this country a snap!
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101 Things You Never Knew About Disneyland
The book pays special attention to the inside jokes and hidden references to Disneyland’s past. Think of it as a guided tour through Disneyland, pointing out all the artifacts and remnants from former attractions. You’ll be astounded how many references remain! |
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Magic Quizdom
The only trivia book dedicated just to Disneyland. Even better than the multiple-choice questions are extended paragraph-length answers, so that each answer reads like a miniature exploration of a major element of Disneyland’s past, present, and thematic landscape.
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