Hi Patti,
I'm so glad you stopped by to get some suggestions on where to stay next year. In regards to the Value Resorts at Walt Disney World, I have two favorites.
Art of Animation is the newest resort and, in my opinion, the most immersive in regards to theming. The larger than life animation drawings around the hotel really set the stage for that feeling of being right there among the creation of such classic films as Cars, Little Mermaid, Lion King and Finding Nemo. The Big Blue Pool is the largest pool on property and one of the most innovative. You can actually hear music underwater! How cool is that?! Another great feature of this resort is the availability of family suites that can sleep up to 6 people. This is great for larger families such as mine where we would normally have to either get two rooms or upgrade to a moderate or deluxe where there are more options for families larger than 4 people. In addition to the family suites, this is the first value resort to offer interior hallways. This definitely helps with the exterior noise reduction and if it is raining, you aren't walking in the elements the entire way to your room.
I also love
Pop Century. Again, the theming is fantastic and unique, but if you have younger kids, they may not "get" the pop culture references to the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s! However, taking a photo among the 12 foot "players" on the giant foosball table or next to a oversized tub of Play-Doh is lots of fun. The food court here has a great selection and some really fun "can't find it anywhere else" options like tie-dye cheesecake. There are always super cool activities going on poolside, too.
I hope this helps in the decision making process. Feel free to stop back by and ask more questions as they come up.
~Allison L