Hi Michelle,
Congratulations on your upcoming Walt Disney World vacation! I think you and your kids will love staying at
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside. I've stayed there many times with my own 3 kids we just love the laid-back atmosphere, fantastic pool area on Ol' Man Island and the boat service to the Downtown Disney Area.
If you're staying in a River View room, you'll have a direct view of the Sassagoula River, which runs right through the resort. Those River View rooms are located in the Alligator Bayou section in buildings 14, 27 and 28 and in all of the buildings in the Magnolia Bend section. Having a River View room doesn't guarantee you'll be close to the main buildings, but all the locations are pretty convenient. A look at the resort map will give you a good idea of where those are located.
If proximity to the restaurants, lobby and transportation at the resort is more important to you than the river view, you might consider changing to a Preferred Room. Those rooms are only found in Alligator Bayou in buildings 14, 15, 18 and 27.
The unofficial site www.portorleans.org is worth checking out. It has detailed maps and tons of other great information about Riverside and its sister resort, Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter.
I hope that helps with your room selection, Michelle. Please stop back by the Disney Parks Moms Panel with any other questions you have as you make your vacation plans - we'd love to help!
Have a magical day!
Beth