ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Walt Disney World says the first wing of a new resort hotel dedicated to the art of animation will open in May 2012.

Disney's Art of Animation Resort will have about 2,000 rooms, a little more than half of them family sized suites that will sleep as many as six people. It's a significant expansion into "family suites" for Disney, which currently has only about 215 such rooms on its property.

Disney says demand for affordable suites has grown in recent years as more tourists travel with extended family.

The first phase of Art of Animation to open will be a "Finding Nemo"-themed wing of suites in May 2012. The rest of hotel, which will employ about 800, is scheduled to be open by the end of 2012.