Hi Stephanie,
It is so great to hear that you have begun the early stages of planning your Walt Disney World vacation. Planning ahead is always a great idea so that your trip can be less stressful and packed full of fun and memorable moments.
I must recommend my all-time favorite Walt Disney World resort hotel,
Disney's Wilderness Lodge. I love the convenience of being a quick boat ride away from Magic Kingdom, while also saving a few extra dollars since it often tends to be a little less expensive than the other Magic Kingdom resorts that are on the monorail line. The majestic lobby is a breathtaking entrance to your stay and the rooms are spacious. This resort also happens to be one of the few where you can book a room with bunk beds for the kids. Being the mom of boys and a girl, sharing a bed with their siblings is not something they want to do and this offers a great way to avoid that battle. The pool is lots of fun with a water slide and geyser. In addition they offer
Movies Under the Stars, surrey bike rentals, and campfire sing-a-longs.
Personally, we don't usually do the dining plan. My kids are lighter eaters and we don't feel that we would get our moneys worth out of it. However, the Disney Dining Plans do offer convenience and could be very budget friendly depending on your family's eating habits.
Have fun planning and feel free to stop by with more questions. I'd love to help if I can.
~Allison L