Hi Michelle!
There are so many options for rooms and season rates! Even after vacationing at Walt Disney World so many times, sometime I get confused too!
A
Preferred Room basically means a room that is located closer to the main amenities of a resort. Things like the food courts, restaurants, bus stations and/or pools. These rooms are often more centrally located than some of the non-preferred rooms.
Room pricing at Walt Disney World is based on "seasons". Typically, less popular travel times of the year will be in a "value" season, while holidays will often be a peak season. To figure out the best pricing options for your family, I'd recommend visiting the Disney World website page for the resort you are interested in and locate the link to "Room Types & Pricing". For example, here's a link to the Port Orleans French Quarter
Room Types & Pricing page. On this page, you'll be able to use the drop down for rates to find the best time to visit for your family - from both a pricing and scheduling standpoint. Be sure to check out a few resorts, as these seasons can vary slightly among Value, Moderate and Deluxe resorts.
Hope this helps! Let me know if I can help out with any other questions!!