Disney World fans have spent years watching classic resorts slowly evolve, but now one of the company’s most recognizable hotels is preparing for some of its biggest updates yet.
Art of Animation Resort has always stood out for its unapologetically themed feel. From the moment guests arrive, they are surrounded by giant Disney characters, oversized movie props, and colorful sections that feel more like movie sets than hotel grounds. That experience helped make the resort one of the most popular Value hotels at Walt Disney World after opening in 2012.
Now, Disney has officially confirmed that large-scale room refurbishments are coming in 2027. While the themes remain, the original room designs that many guests grew up with are slowly heading toward retirement.
Why Guests Fell in Love With Art of Animation
Art of Animation became popular for a very different reason than many other Disney resorts. Guests did not stay there for luxury or fine dining. They stayed there because the hotel fully embraced Disney storytelling.
The resort features themed areas inspired by Cars (2006), Finding Nemo (2003), The Lion King (1994), and The Little Mermaid (1989). Every section pulls guests directly into the worlds of those films through giant character statues, detailed courtyards, themed pools, and colorful buildings.
The Cars section, especially, became a fan favorite because guests could walk through a recreation of Radiator Springs, complete with neon lighting and familiar landmarks from the movie. Meanwhile, the Little Mermaid rooms became known for their bold underwater style that felt completely different from a standard hotel room.
That immersive atmosphere helped Art of Animation separate itself from nearly every other Value Resort at Disney World.
Disney Confirms Room Refurbishments
Disney has now confirmed that refurbished rooms are officially arriving at Art of Animation in summer 2027.
According to a Disney spokesperson, the project will include both regular guest rooms and the family suites spread throughout the resort. Disney also confirmed that the hotel will remain open during construction.
Instead of shutting the resort down completely, Disney plans to complete the project in phases. That approach mirrors several other recent Disney resort refurbishments that allowed guests to continue staying at the hotels while work took place.
At this point, Disney has not released full concept art or a complete refurbishment timeline. Still, the announcement already signals a major visual refresh for one of Disney World’s most recognizable hotels.
The New Rooms Will Still Feel Familiar
Fans worried that Disney might completely strip away the movie's themes probably do not need to panic.
Disney has already shared that the updated rooms will remain heavily themed to the films they represent. However, the refreshed spaces will not look exactly like the original 2012-era designs.
The biggest glimpse so far comes from the redesigned Little Mermaid rooms.
Disney confirmed that the rooms will still feature seashell-inspired furniture along with strong underwater theming throughout the space. Guests can also expect large Ariel artwork and “Under the Sea” designs across the walls and Murphy bed.
Disney even revealed that bubble-style lamps will appear on the nightstands, helping continue the underwater atmosphere that made the original rooms so memorable.
The company has not fully revealed the refreshed Cars rooms yet, but Disney clearly understands how important immersive theming is to Art of Animation's identity.
Disney Resorts Across Property Are Evolving
Art of Animation is not the only Disney resort seeing major updates right now.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort recently unveiled a redesigned lobby and a new lobby bar. The resort also brought back its tea service while construction continues around parts of the property.
Meanwhile, Disney’s BoardWalk area continues to change. Big River Grille has closed, the Promenade Fine Art Gallery is gone, and Jellyrolls officially shut down. Disney has not revealed replacement plans yet, though more updates appear likely in the future.
The End of an Original Disney Resort Era
For many Disney World fans, Art of Animation represents a very specific moment in Disney resort history.
When the hotel opened in 2012, Disney fully committed to larger-than-life storytelling inside its resort rooms. Instead of subtle nods to the movies, the company built spaces that enveloped guests in Disney and Pixar characters.
That approach helped make Art of Animation memorable for an entire generation of families.
Now, Disney is preparing to modernize those spaces while still preserving the personality that made the resort so popular in the first place. Guests will still recognize Cars and The Little Mermaid inside the refreshed rooms, but the original versions that debuted in 2012 are slowly disappearing.
For longtime Disney fans, that reality feels surprisingly emotional.
