Hi Sarah,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel and thank you for asking us a question. If you’re feeling overwhelmed when planning your upcoming vacation to Walt Disney World Resort, then you’ve come to the right place.
I often tell my friends and family to see planning their vacation as putting together a layer cake: you start with the base, and then work your way up the layers until you start putting the icing on top. From my perspective, the “base layer” should absolutely be where you plan to stay, so the good news is that you’re doing things in the right order!
If this is your first visit to Walt Disney World Resort, then I strongly recommend that you stay “on property” in a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. The great news is that a Family Suite at
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort sounds like the perfect choice for you and your family! I’ve stayed in both the Cars and the Finding Nemo Family Suites several times, and all of our stays were wonderful. You’ll not only get a kitchenette and a separate sleeping area for your little ones, you’ll also have two bathrooms, some wonderfully magical Disney theming AND access to the coolest pool on property, the Big Blue Pool. I can’t think of a better place for you and your family to stay for your First Visit to Walt Disney World Resort.
Once you’ve narrowed down your choice of accommodations, please don’t hesitate to come back and see us if you have any other questions. My suggestion for your next item to prepare in your vacation "layer cake" would be dining reservations, and whether the Disney Dining Plan is right for your family. If you have any questions about that, we’ll be more than happy to help!
Have a Magical Day,
Lynne