Hi Deborah,
Welcome to planDisney!
Planning a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort for a six-year old and an eight-year old is so exciting! I remember when my girls were those ages and they loved helping me plan. Let's think about this - first things first, when you say that you are coming down shortly, my planning urgency meter goes off! If you are less than two months away, I highly recommend that you book a vacation package as soon as possible. So, let's talk about resort hotel possibilities.
Having stayed at both Disney's Art of Animation and Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, I can say that both are great resort hotels. Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort does feel more relaxing to me. But, quite honestly, once I've gotten in the rooms at Disney's Art of Animation, I have been fine. I will also say every decision has multiple considerations. My family prioritizes having several transportation options at our resort hotel. Since both of these resorts have access to the
Disney Skyliner, that makes them both great options. Disney's Art of Animation Resort has theming that might appeal to your little ones more. Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is a little more spread out but it also has a table-service restaurant,
Sebastian's Bistro, that might be a lovely place to have dinner a few nights. The theming here is also unique and I absolutely adore it.
The good news is that your little ones are young and, I believe, would love either option. So I suggest you consider what might also be best for your vacation dreams. If you choose Disney's Caribbean Beach, I recommend booking a preferred room so that you are close to the main dining areas. Doing so will potentially save you some steps during the trip, especially if you add a
Disney Dining Plan and get the resort refillable mugs.
No matter where you choose, I always suggest that you do online check-in, put in room preferences, and, when you receive the message with your room information (i.e. building and room number), check a resort map to see where the room is located. If it looks to be too far away from the main building, contact the resort and see if they can find a closer room for you. There may not be any additional options, but you can always ask. With little ones, it helped us tremendously to be as close to the main building as possible.
Deborah, be sure to check the
Special Offers to see if there are any available for the dates of your visit! And then book that vacation package. Also consider adding a
Disney Dining Plan. My family prefers the
Disney Dining Plan because we like to enjoy a few table-service meals, especially character dining experiences, during our visits.
Happy Planning!
Magic and memories,
Donyell