Fifteen treatment rooms offer pampering services such as water therapy, sugar exfoliation body treatment, warm stone massage, rejuvenating citrus facial, couples’ massage and more. The new menu of services also includes a signature 80-minute Grand Floridian treatment featuring a special aromatherapy massage.

Lounges, whirlpools and treatment rooms all provide rejuvenation through the healing nature of Florida citrus and botanicals. Hand crafted glass mosaic tiles in the Jacuzzi rooms further enhance the elegance and sophistication of the spa. Heated lounge chairs there invite spa goers to the ultimate in relaxation in between treatments.

There’s a separate room for spa manicures and pedicures with offerings like a restorative hand and foot ritual with Chinese Jasmine oils or a Just for Feet Massage.  Even young spa-goers can get the VIP treatment as their toes soak in a playful Mad Hatter themed green pedi chair, just their size. Princess Pedicures or Magical Manicures are for youngsters ages 4-12. *Special touch — Guests receive a mini bottle of vegan nail polish – in their color choice — following the service.

Themed to one of the most celebrated animated films of all time “The Little Mermaid” features 864 standard hotel rooms that sleep up to four guests. With a sea-inspired color palette and an aquatic motif, guests become part of her world as they plunge “under the sea” into Ariel’s secret grotto.  Playful film-inspired décor and characters from the undersea kingdom including Ursula, King Triton and Sebastian come to life both inside guestrooms and in the courtyard.

Guests can lounge poolside at the Flippin’ Fins pool, one of three pools at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

The Little Mermaid opening completes the build-out of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort that includes, “Finding Nemo,” “Cars” and “The Lion King” family suites themed to beloved Disney Pixar animated features.

Rates start at $94 for “The Little Mermaid” rooms. For bookings, visit disneyworld.com.

The storytelling comes to life inside the 320 family suites. Zazu takes center stage on the headboards while Pumbaa and Timon decorate the shower curtain. Youngsters can rest on a leaf-shaped chair or sleep alongside Simba who slumbers at the head of one of the beds.

The Lion King wing marks the third in the four-phase opening of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Earlier this summer, 320 “Finding Nemo” family suites and 480 “Cars” family suites opened. Each of four distinctly designed wings of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters, original sketches and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by classic Disney and Disney•Pixar films.

Gary Hoffman – Senior Project Manager, Walt Disney Imagineering

Rick Allen – General Manager, Disney’s Pop Century & Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Meg Crofton – President, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Operations, U.S. & France

Guests can play it safe with a create-your-own burger or try something unusual, such as tandoori shrimp with naan bread, or a Mongolian grilled fish with basmati rice.

“When we thought about our talented animators, and the theme behind the resort, we wanted to let the guests know that our chefs are very creative, too,” says Michelle Clegg, food & beverage operations manager for Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.  ”And our guests also are creative, so we’ve given them options to create their own salads, pastas, even yogurt parfaits.”

The restaurant’s décor is inspired by Disney’s animated films, with four seating areas themed to “The Lion King,” “Cars,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Finding Nemo.” Art on the walls is landscape paintings, many from the backgrounds of the blockbuster movies.

“Better-for-you” options at five mini shops serving breakfast, lunch and dinner is the overarching theme in the 606-seat food court just off the lobby.  And special attention is paid to healthful options, from buckwheat pasta to vegetarian offerings such as tandoor-roasted acorn squash.

“The idea is that you customize your choice,” says Chef Ed Wronski, director, food & beverage concept development, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.  “From burgers to pasta, salads, ethnic flavors, omelets, even parfaits and gelatos, everything is made fresh as you order.”

There’s a big focus on beverages, too.  Fresh fruit smoothies are made to order, also lemonade and pomegranate limeade.  The restaurant stocks organic teas, beer (including gluten free), wine, coffee and juices. Guests can get a plain cup of coffee or a French vanilla or mocha iced.  And half bottles of wine are paired with cuisine from the food shops.

Menu highlights:

• The Soup-Salad-Sandwich Shop lets you create your own salad (with chicken or shrimp), and offers a caprese sandwich with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes on focaccia, or a Buffalo-style turkey sandwich with arugula and a blue cheese-Buffalo sauce-mayo spread.  Both served with house-made potato chips.
• The World Flavors Shop adds international flair to breakfast, too, with challah French toast or a  veggie flatbread sandwich on naan with cauliflower, spinach and paneer. Lunch and dinner is a choice of tandoori chicken, shrimp, or sausage; and  Mongolian beef or fish with basmati or multigrain rice.

The Pizza Shop features make-your-own pasta, cheese and pepperoni pizzas, and meatballs on ciabatta bread.  Pizza  delivery is an option, too.

• The Burger Shop lets guests customize beef, vegetarian, seafood or chicken burgers, and also offers the signature “pastrami cheeseburger.”
• The Market sweet offerings include smoothies such as wild berry, mango and strawberry-banana; coffees including iced mocha, cappuccino, espresso and iced French vanilla; dessert bites; and authentic gelato.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort features 1,120 highly themed family suites with a spotlight on the stories and playful characters from favorite Disney*Pixar films.  The Finding Nemo wing opened May 31, Cars opened June 18 and Lion King followed on August 10. The Little Mermaid buildings feature 864 standard guestrooms in the “value” room category opened September 15.

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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Value, fun and convenience are all rolled up into one at Disney’s All-Star Resorts, where guests can lodge in three distinct resorts themed to music, movies or sports.

Each of the three All-Star resorts feature whimsical theming and modest rates ranging from $85-$192 per night depending on the season.  Most rooms sleep a family of four.  In addition to these colorful, fun-filled lodging options, guests can enjoy free bus transportation throughout Walt Disney World property.

And when it comes to dining, each All-Star resort has a food court that offers a variety of delicious dining options throughout the day at value prices.

Disney’s All-Star Resorts are the perfect choice for budget-conscious vacationers.  The line-up:

Disney’s All-Star Music Resort – The 246-acre Disney’s All-Star Music Resort doesn’t “miss a beat” with giant banjos, guitars, trombones, conga drums and maracas boldly greeting guests.  A collection of three-story buildings — which feature themes like Broadway, Calypso, Jazz, Country and Rock ‘n’ Roll — make up the 1,704 room hotel.  The music theme continues into the two pools, one in the shape of a guitar and the other a grand piano. Family suites that sleep up to six can be found in the Calypso and Jazz wings. These accommodations include three separate sleeping areas, two bathrooms, and a kitchenette with rates ranging from $202-$392, depending on the season.

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort – Big stars like a 35-foot-tall Buzz Lightyear from the movie “Toy Story” and a 21-foot-tall Herbie the famous bug welcome guests to Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort.  Guests will be delighted by colossal images from “101 Dalmatians,” “Fantasia” and “The Mighty Ducks.”  Guests looking for a cinematic swim can “skate” into the hockey rink-themed pool in the Mighty Ducks or join Sorcerer Mickey as he directs a liquid symphony at Fantasia Pool.

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort – Gigantic football helmets, megaphones, surfboards and basketballs team up with value prices to score a winning Walt Disney World vacation at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort.  Guests will cheer the main icons of the resort that sits on a
246-acre site just east of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  More than 900 colorful fish appear to be swimming along a “wavy” balcony at Surf’s Up; pennants of favorite college teams rim the Hoops Hotel roof line; and stadium lights, scoreboards and an outfield fence recall a day at the ballpark at Home Run Hotel.  And don’t forget the pool in the shape of a baseball infield.

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At Walt Disney World Resort there’s no shortage of waterful fun for the entire family. An array of festive splash areas at each resort, featuring themed pools, waterslides, whirlpools and kiddie pools invite guests to blissfully drench and refresh themselves.

In the same way that Disney’s theme parks offer an escape to a timeless land of enchantment, pools at Deluxe, Deluxe Villa, Moderate, and Value resorts transport guests to faraway and distinct paradises. Guests can cool off in a New England yacht club, amidst a Mayan city, at a lush oasis in the Polynesian tropics or other faraway destinations, all in the heart of Florida.

What are you waiting for? C’mon in, the water’s fine.