Hi Kristen,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel, and thank you for your question. I’m so excited for you – your girls are a fantastic age for a first visit!
I have some great news for you: you’re looking at some great options. My children are close in age to your daughters, and we loved both Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. We loved the Landscape of Flavors food court at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, as well as the super fun theming and great pools. The family suites will make it possible for your girls to each have their own bed, and will give you two bathrooms as well as a small living area to hang out in. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside’s Royal Rooms are breathtaking. My kids actually screamed when we walked into the room, and they loved searching for all the incredible hidden details in the room. My son laid in bed every night saying goodnight to all the Princes and Princesses on the walls, and drifting off below the fireworks headboards was magical. At Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts, you can use both Riverside’s and French Quarter’s pools, and the pools feature waterslides and hot tubs.
Kristen, the monorail resorts provide wonderful convenience and deluxe amenities if they work with your budget. The convenience of getting to the theme parks on the monorail or using boat transportation, the larger rooms and beds, and the expanded dining options make them awesome choices. You really can’t go wrong with the options you’re looking at, so I recommend taking a look at
pictures of the rooms and pools, as well as looking at transportation from each resort to the theme parks, and going from there. Please come back and visit us if you have more questions as you plan your first visit!
Wishing you a magical vacation,
Robyn