Hello, Cathy,
Planning a first trip to WDW is such a great experience, but certainly a big one!
Resort choices can be overwhelming, but I think it is really important (if not a necessity) to make sure to plan around your children's nap schedules. When our children were younger, afternoon breaks were always part of our days. Trust me, nothing can disrupt a vacation more quickly than sleepy, grumpy children.
We never felt it was difficult to leave a park to return to the resort for a break. Knowing we would take breaks, we often purchased the Park Hopper option on our tickets, which allowed us to visit different parks throughout the day. We may begin our day at the Magic Kingdom, take a break, then visit Disney's Hollywood Studios.
If a
deluxe resort is within your budget, they are the ones located closest to the parks:
Magic Kingdom: Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Wilderness Lodge (this one is not on the monorail, but just a boat ride away).
Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios: Beach Club, Yacht Club, and Boardwalk Inn
Disney's Animal Kingdom: Animal Kingdom Lodge
If you have anymore questions with your planning, please let us know. We are happy to help.
And please know there are plenty of other resort options in other budget ranges.