Hello Alisha!
I'm so excited to hEAR you have already started planning your 2018 Walt Disney World vacation! I have previously stayed at all 3 of the Disney Resort hotels that you are considering and loved each experience. All 3 will offer different experiences due to the unique theming, varying recreational activities and diverse dining options. With that being said, my family's favorite place to stay when visiting the
Walt Disney World Resort is
Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.
With a 5-year-old, you can't beat the location of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and being able to easily travel to Magic Kingdom Park via water launch (water taxi) or monorail. You can also take the monorail to Epcot from this resort. With the other two resort locations, only bus transportation is available to the theme parks. Disney's Polynesian Village Resort features some of the largest Guest rooms on property and offers amazing dining locations. By being on the Resort Monorail loop, you will also have many other dining options to choose from right at your fingertips. My family loves being able to sit on the beach at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and watch the Electrical Water Pageant and Wishes nighttime spectacular.
Although you can't go wrong with Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge or Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, my recommendation for your family is Disney's Polynesian Village Resort based on the spacious Guest rooms, tropical theming, close proximity to Magic Kingdom Park, great dining options and fun recreational activities. I hope this has been helpful in making the best decision for your family.
If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to visit me again. Best wishes for a magical trip, Alisha!
Happy Planning,
Jodie