The Art of Animation Resort will be built on a 65-acre plot across a lake from Disney’s Pop Century Resort. The location will allow Disney to use a pair of long-neglected, unfinished buildings that Disney originally constructed as a second phase of Pop Century but which it abandoned amid the 2001 recession. Pop Century’s first phase was completed in 2003.

Plans for the new resort show 10 wings of rooms and a separate building housing the check-in lobby and restaurants. The hotel wings will be separated into four distinct groups, each with a theme from a different animated movie: The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Finding Nemo and Cars.

The resort will be priced as a “value” hotel, at the low end of Disney World’s scale, similar to Disney’s Pop Century and All-Star resorts, where standard rates begin at $82 a night. It is the first hotel that Disney has built on the property in seven years.

For additional information, see a more concise write-up at The Orlando Sentinel.

Additionally a new web site has been launched which will featuring concept artwork, construction photos and more information about the resort.

“We want this resort destination to reflect the vibrant culture that surrounds it,” said Joe Rohde, senior vice president, Creative for Walt Disney Imagineering. “The name ‘Aulani’ expresses a connection to tradition and deep story-telling—and its roots are here in this land. We’re so grateful to the local Hawaiians who led us to the discovery of this name, and our goal is to live up to its meaning.”

Once completed, the 21-acre beachfront resort will feature 360 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom-equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas.

“We are looking forward to welcoming guests to Aulani to share the fun, immersive family vacation experiences Disney is known for combined with the beauty and culture of Hawaii,” said Djuan Rivers, vice president, Disney Vacation Club and Resort, Hawaii. “We are turning to the Hawaiian culture for inspiration in everything we are doing at Aulani, and we hope our guests will not only enjoy the Disney experience, but will also embrace the unique culture of Hawaii and its diverse people.”

My wife wants to go to Hawaii this year but I’m working hard to prolong it until this fantastic resort opens. Maybe a Disney resort in Hawaii will finally hook me into buying a vacation ownership package, so long as Aulani is my base.

Located close to the District of Columbia, the National Harbor development is a 300-acre complex, which will eventually contain hotels, residences and a convention center.

Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo and Peterson Companies chairman Milton V. Peterson looking at a model of the National Harbor development. Photo © Disney.

“As we began identifying possible locations to grow our business, the Washington, DC area immediately jumped to the top of our list,” said Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “National Harbor offers an array of entertaining activities for regional visitors, but it is also a family-friendly base camp, from which visitors around the world can explore the stirring sights and inspirational stories of our nation’s capital. We believe National Harbor has the unique opportunity to offer a new level of family-friendly hospitality.”

While there has been no formal announcement, it is believed that this Disney development will be a mixed-use resort, combining standard hotel rooms with Disney Vacation Club accommodations. This would follow the same model set by the resort currently under development at Ko Olina in Oahu, Hawaii. That resort is scheduled to open in October 2011.