Hi Renee,
Animal Kingdom Lodge and Polynesian Village Resort are both wonderful, family-friendly lodgings for your Walt Disney World vacation. It's a huge treat to wake up at Animal Kingdom Lodge and see giraffes, zebras and other animals outside your window from a savanna-view room.
The restaurants at Animal Kingdom Lodge are among my family's favorites. We love the quick service options at
The Mara, the buffet at
Boma, the casual atmosphere overlooking the savanna at
Sanaa (and the bread service!), and the signature elegance of
Jiko. You will find "kid-friendly" options at all the restaurants, including burgers, chicken nuggets, pizza and more.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is a bit more secluded than some resorts because it is surrounded by savanna. It will take you 15 to 20 minutes on a Disney bus to get to Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios or Epcot. Animal Kingdom is just about 10 minutes away.
The Polynesian is on the monorail that leads to Magic Kingdom. It also is near the monorail to Epcot. To reach the other parks, you will take a bus, and the ride will be similar to that from Animal Kingdom Lodge. The restaurants at the Polynesian are also terrific, and the kids menus there are similar to those at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Both resorts have great pools and amenities. The decision for me would be whether your children are more interested in activities that relate to the African animals or in proximity to Magic Kingdom.
I hope that helps. Please let us know if you have more questions.
Wilma