Are the Little Mermaid Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Really That Far Away?

We get it. You’ve walked what feels like 50,000 steps in the theme parks all day. The crowds were overwhelming, and you’ll probably never adjust to the Florida heat. How do people live here? After waiting in a long line to ride a packed bus back to the resort, you still have to walk to the room. At this point, you feel like you’ll never make it!

Unfortunately, the Little Mermaid rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation tend to get a bad rap because of their location. So, on our last stay, I decided to track the distances from the Little Mermaid section to Animation Hall, the resort’s lobby, and the Skyliner. The good news? The distances were not that bad, except for one consideration. We’ll get to that.

Little Mermaid Rooms Walking Distance to Animation Hall

If you’re staying at Disney’s Art of Animation, you’ll want to know that most of the resort’s amenities are at Animation Hall, the resort’s lobby. This is where you’ll find Landscape of Flavors (the food court), the gift shop, guest services, the resort’s only bus stop, and the Big Blue Pool (feature pool). So you’ll likely spend a decent amount of time in this area, which also means you’ll have to walk back and forth from it.

During our last stay, I tracked the walk from the lobby to the room after a late night at Magic Kingdom. I wanted to see how long it was and how it felt after a long day in the parks. Surprisingly, it was only 0.28 miles, which took approximately seven minutes at an average pace. The walk was quiet, allowing for a nice transition from the busyness of the park and the crowded bus.

Another perk was seeing the Little Mermaid section in a peaceful state at night. While the Little Mermaid rooms are not my favorite, I love this area and enjoy exploring the grounds. It’s the perfect setting for fans of The Little Mermaid.

For reference, my room was near the parking lot at the back of building 8, AKA Ariel’s building. So, this would be the furthest room location from the lobby. Your walk could be a little shorter if you were toward the front of the section. While I was tired from the day’s events, I didn’t feel the room’s location greatly impacted my exhaustion. That said, the walk would have been miserable if it had been raining.

Distance from Little Mermaid Rooms (Building 8) to Animation Hall (Lobby): 0.28 miles

Unfortunately, when it’s raining, you won’t find any covered walkway until you reach the first Little Mermaid building. Then, you can walk under the overhang of each building as you maneuver the way back to your room. Please remember this tip if you’re staying at a value resort. I often see people walking straight through the middle of sections in the rain. I don’t think they realize you can go a pretty far distance by taking the covered walkways in front of the rooms. It also helps with shade when it’s hot. Here is an example.

The only difference at Art of Animation is that the other resort sections comprise family suites and are interior units. So, those buildings do not offer a covered outdoor walkway. Here is an example of a building in The Lion King section. You have to walk through this section to reach The Little Mermaid area.

Little Mermaid Walking Distance to the Skyliner

Since Art of Animation is a Skyliner Resort, the Skyliner is your only complimentary option for traveling to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Bus service is only provided to these locations when the Skyliner is down or during inclement weather.

I also tracked the distance between the Little Mermaid section and the Skyliner during our stay. It was a tad bit further than the distance to the lobby, coming in at 0.33 miles. The walk took approximately eight minutes at an average pace. This walk is even more pleasant because it follows the path around Hourglass Lake.

Distance from Little Mermaid Rooms (Building 8) to the Skyliner: 0.33 miles

The Bottom Line

Are the Little Mermaid room distances really that far, or is the distance often exaggerated? I can’t speak for everyone, but I felt the distances were reasonable. However, if you get caught in a downpour, the experience will be anything but pleasant. So always have an umbrella, ponchos, or some sort of rain gear. They sell reusable ponchos in the gift shops, but they get expensive quickly if you have to buy several.

For more information, you might enjoy the Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Art of Animation or one of the following:

• Preview the Cars Hotel Area at Art of Animation (Photos)
• Disney’s Art of Animation vs. Pop Century (How to Decide)
• Everything Refillable Mugs at Disney’s Art of Animation
• Disney’s Art of Animation Transportation Map with Destinations

In the Comments

What do you think? Have you ever stayed in this area of the resort before? Do the distances seem longer in person than they do on paper? Leave us a comment below with your experience, thoughts, or questions. We find your feedback invaluable, and your perspective might also help other readers.