Art of Animation in 2027: Book It Only With a Backup

Published June 28, 2026 · Updated September 9, 2026

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is usually a very easy family recommendation. In 2027, it gets more complicated.

Disney has confirmed a widespread closure at Art of Animation Resort for 2027, which means you should not treat it as your automatic Value Resort pick if you’re planning a Walt Disney World trip that year. The smart move is simple: price it, watch availability, but build a backup resort plan before you fall in love with the Cars, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, or Little Mermaid theming.

Art of Animation is popular for a reason. It has oversized character areas, family suites that can work well for larger groups, and direct Disney Skyliner access. But that same popularity is exactly why a major 2027 disruption matters. When inventory tightens at a resort families already chase, the best rooms and dates can disappear faster, and the remaining options may not be the value play you expected.

The Real Planning Problem Isn’t Just the Closure

The issue is not only that part of Art of Animation is affected in 2027. The bigger issue is what that does to your choices.

Art of Animation sits in a very specific sweet spot: family-friendly theming, suite layouts, Value Resort pricing structure, and Skyliner transportation. There are not many perfect substitutes for that exact mix. If fewer rooms are available, families who would normally book Art of Animation may spill into nearby alternatives, especially Pop Century and Caribbean Beach.

That means you should compare resorts earlier than usual. Do not wait until dining reservations open 60 days out and then start thinking about where you’re staying. By then, you may still find rooms, but you may have fewer layouts, less convenient locations, or higher total trip costs than expected.

The move: if Art of Animation is your first choice for 2027, choose a second and third choice now. Treat the resort as a maybe, not the foundation of the whole trip.

If You Need the Skyliner, Look at These Resorts First

If the Skyliner is the real reason you wanted Art of Animation, your backup list should start with Pop Century, Caribbean Beach, and Riviera Resort.

Pop Century is the most obvious practical swap. It shares Skyliner access from the same general resort area, and it often makes sense for families who do not need a suite. The trade-off is space. Standard Value rooms are not the same thing as an Art of Animation family suite, so this works best for smaller groups or families willing to book multiple rooms.

Caribbean Beach is the stronger transportation play if EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are big priorities. It is a Moderate Resort, so the pricing and footprint are different, but its Skyliner position can be excellent for park days built around Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Riviera Resort is the splurge backup. It is not a Value Resort replacement, but if your trip depends on Skyliner convenience and more polished dining access, it belongs in the comparison. Just be honest about the cost. A nicer resort is only “worth it” if it changes your trip in a way your family will actually use.

Families Should Decide What They’re Really Buying

Art of Animation can feel like the perfect family resort because the theming does a lot of emotional work. Kids recognize the characters. The resort feels playful. The suites solve real sleeping-arrangement problems.

But for 2027, you need to separate the reasons you want it:

If you want character theming, Art of Animation is hard to beat.
If you want space, compare family suites against two rooms elsewhere.
If you want Skyliner access, Pop Century or Caribbean Beach may cover the most important part.
If you want the lowest possible resort cost, do not assume Art of Animation will be the winner once availability tightens.

That last point matters. Disney World planning gets expensive fast when you let one “must-have” drive every other decision. If Art of Animation availability gets awkward for your dates, do the math before chasing it. Sometimes the smarter family move is a less exciting resort that gives you more budget for Lightning Lane Multi Pass, better meals, or an extra rest day.

Don’t Let the Resort Choice Wreck Your Park Strategy

A hotel disruption should not become a park-day disruption.

If you lose Art of Animation and switch to a non-Skyliner resort, adjust your park plan. EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are the parks where Skyliner access can feel most valuable, especially for midday breaks. Without it, you may want fewer back-and-forth plans and more complete park blocks.

For Magic Kingdom, resort transportation strategy changes anyway because most guests are not walking straight to the front gate unless they are staying on the monorail loop or nearby. For Animal Kingdom, Skyliner access does not help you directly, so Art of Animation’s transportation edge is less important there.

Here’s the veteran move: match your resort backup to your highest-friction park. If Hollywood Studios is your priority, transportation and Lightning Lane planning matter more. That park can stack pressure quickly because headliners like Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance pull crowds hard. If Magic Kingdom is the centerpiece, you may care more about room setup, nap logistics, and getting out early before the heat catches up with everyone.

Watch Closures, Not Just Prices

The annoying part of Disney planning is that the cheapest-looking choice is not always the best value. A room that saves money but adds transportation headaches, awkward sleeping arrangements, or lost rest time can cost you in the parks.

That is where real-time planning matters. For a 2027 trip, use SupaPark to keep tabs on the pieces that actually affect your day: live waits, ride status, best-time-to-ride forecasts, Lightning Lane availability, dining drops, and crowd patterns. SupaPark will not book anything for you, but it can catch the moments you would otherwise miss, like a hard-to-get dining reservation opening or a Lightning Lane becoming bookable again, then you grab it in My Disney Experience.

That matters even more if your resort plan changes. A less convenient hotel can still support a great trip if your park moves are sharp. A perfect hotel cannot save a day where you zig when the crowds zag.

The Smart 2027 Art of Animation Plan

If you are planning Walt Disney World for 2027, here’s the call: Art of Animation can still be worth considering, but it should not be your only plan.

Price it early. Compare Pop Century if you want Value pricing and Skyliner access. Compare Caribbean Beach if transportation to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios is a major priority. Consider whether two rooms elsewhere beat one family suite, especially for older kids or groups that care more about beds and bathrooms than theming.

Most importantly, do not build your whole trip around one resort being available in the exact way you want. Art of Animation is beloved because it solves real family problems. A widespread 2027 closure means you need to solve those problems with a wider playbook.

The takeaway: book Art of Animation only if it still fits your dates, budget, and room needs after the 2027 closure impact is clear. Otherwise, pivot early and use your planning energy where it pays off more: smarter park days, better Lightning Lane timing, and fewer wasted hours in line.

Go deeper — the full guides: Will Your Kid Hate Soarin’? How to Decide (And Where to Sit) · Why DINOSAUR Is Disney’s Most Intense Ride for Kids (And How to Know if They’re Ready) · Animal Kingdom Deep Dive: Conquering Pandora, Flight of Passage, Kilimanjaro Safaris & Smart Touring

SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.

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