Hi, Laurie! It's so nice to "meet" you! As a PR professional, you probably are interested in the details. So, if I miss anything or perhaps I run out of room, please come back and visit again. I'd be happy to fill you in!
Congratulations on your first-ever trip to Walt Disney World (WDW)! The best investment you can make in your vacation is spending a little time getting informed and making plans. Take a few moments and become familiar with
www.disneyworld.com and virtually explore the parks and resorts with your children. (I also have kids the same age!) I highly recommend ordering the FREE planning DVD and the customized maps.
As far as where to stay, it really depends on what is important to you and what your budget expectations are. Our preference is to be close and convenient to our favorite parks. Therefore, we usually stay on the monorail loop (Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian) or at least on the waterway system with the Magic Kingdom (Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness Cabins). If Epcot and Hollywood Studios are where we want to be, then our hands-down favorite is the Yacht & Beach Club.
If we want a budget-friendly option, the Moderate and Value Resorts provide great accommodations at reasonable prices. Usually, the general rule of thumb is the more costly the resort, the more convenient it is and the more amenities it provides (dining, recreation and entertainment options).
There are 4 parks, 2 water parks, Downtown Disney shopping/dining/entertainment district, mini-golf, golf, water recreation and dozens of resort areas to explore in the 40+ square-miles of magical fun. Therefore, I always recommend at least 5 full days to at least see and do
most of WDW. Of course, you'll also want to make some Advanced Dining Reservations to get the most of your experience.
Have a wonderful day and a magical vacation!