Hi, Susan!
You must be so excited for your upcoming trip to
Walt Disney World!
I am so glad that you sent your question to us at Disney Parks Moms Panel, too.
Both
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort and
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside are great choices, so you can't go wrong with either. Both feature a fantastic themed pool with waterslide, whirlpool tub, and leisure pools, and dining options for everyone. What may sway you to one versus the other are the specific themed decor, room amenities and availability, proximity to parks, and specific dining or transportation preferences.
For example, if you want to spend a night dining at your resort, check out the menus of options available at each. In addition to Quick-Service locations at both resorts, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort offers the Table-Service
Sebastian's Bistro and Disney's Port Orleans - Riverside features Table-Service at
Boatwright's Dining Hall.
If you have a would-be scalawag in your party, you might like the fun addition of a
Pirate-Themed Room, available at
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. If, however, you'd like to stay in one room, this resort also features a standard room that sleeps five due to a child-sized pull-down bed.
Meanwhile,
Disney's Port Orleans - Riverside offers lovely guest rooms plus optional
Royal Guest Rooms, perfectly fitting for the princes or princesses in your party. This resort also features some rooms with that child-sized pull-down bed, too, should you wish to stay together.
Finally, review your daily itinerary and consider booking the resort that puts you closer to the magic you plan to enjoy most often.
Disney's Port Orleans - Riverside is in the
Disney Springs Resort area, so it offers a lovely water taxi to and from that location. Complimentary bus transportation is available to all parks.
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort is an Epcot Resort Area hotel, and your transportation options include
Disney Skyliner, a super-cool and efficient way to get to and from both
Epcot and
Disney's Hollywood Studios. Complimentary bus transportation is available to all other locations here, too.
You have a tough choice ahead of you, Susan, but the good news is that BOTH resorts are fabulous!
Happy planning! Be sure to send us more questions as you think of them, too. We love to help!
Andrea