Welcome to Disney Parks Moms Panel, Bridget!
Your first family trip to Walt Disney World! How exciting!
With your kids' ages at the time of your visit, you are smart to want to stay as close to Magic Kingdom Park as possible.
Try one of the three resorts adjacent to the monorail:
Disney's Contemporary Resort;
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa;
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. We prefer Disney's Contemporary Resort because we can walk from the resort to Magic Kingdom Park without having to wait around for transportation. Ask for a Theme Park View so that if anyone is too tired to stay up for nightly fireworks, those who are awake can view them from your own balcony. (That's our favorite part of the night, actually. Watching
Wishes nighttime spectacular in our pajamas, snacks and beverages in hand, after a long, fun-filled day in MK!)
For dining, try
Chef Mickey's, located at Disney's Contemporary Resort, and
The Crystal Palace, located in Magic Kingdom Park. Both are buffets, so if the little ones are hungry, there will be no wait for food once seated. In addition, each of these are character meals, so you'll be able to meet Mickey and friends as well as Winnie the Pooh and pals while you dine. Characters come to your table for photos and autographs, making each meal even more memorable.
Happy planning!
Andrea H