Jessica, I get super giddy when I see questions from families going on their first Walt Disney World trips. You all will have such a magical time making long lasting memories. I'm also glad you stopped by the Disney Parks Moms Panel for our planning advice.
Disney's Art of Animation Resort is simply amazing! When it first opened, I was in awe of the attention to details. All of the resorts have unique details, but this resort actually makes you feel as if you are in the movies the different sections represent. While the Little Mermaid rooms are the furthest from the bus transportation, I will say it is really only about a 5-7 minute walk. You could request to be in building 9 of that section, as that is the building closest to the bus transportation. Keep in mind that requests cannot be guaranteed, but it never hurts to at least make the request. My favorite part of the Little Mermaid rooms are the bathrooms. You can take a bath or shower with Ariel's "whozits and whatzits galore"!
In regards to the family suites, they are wonderful and have a lot more space including an extra bathroom and small living area and kitchenette. Since we are a family of five, we definitely need the space it provides. However, I might have considered the extra cost when we were only four just to have a bedroom with a door. As you may know, sometimes the kids go to bed earlier than the adults and my husband and I would have to sit in the dark until they fell asleep. So, avoiding that scenario would have been worth the cost. Just be aware that the other sections may not be as "girly" as the Little Mermaid rooms.
Obviously, a travel budget is a very important thing to follow and pros and cons should be considered very carefully. I hope my suggestions and advice have helped you. Feel free to stop by with more questions as they come up in your continued planning process.
~Allison L