Hello, Lora!
You are going to love Disney's Art of Animation Resort! I had the pleasure of walking through the resort two weeks ago and was so impressed by everything about it. From the pool, to the lobby, to the food court offerings, this is one special resort!
For the monorail, you don't need any sort of park pass or Key to the World Card typically, so once you check out, just head over to Magic Kingdom via resort bus. Once there, walk to the monorail entrance, which will be just to the left as you walk from the bus stops toward the park entrance. Depending on the day, you can ride the full resort loop in about 20 minutes (keep in mind that there are occasional complications which may lengthen your trip).
Because you are a resort guest, should you wish to drive to the park, you can simply park at Magic Kingdom or at the Transportation and Ticket center. You'll have all of the benefits of being a resort Guest until midnight on the day of your checkout, so parking will be included for you that day at no additional charge. Just have your Key to the World Card as proof of your resort stay. Check out this
Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about driving and parking for Resort Guests.
Personally, I prefer to let WDW's drivers take the wheel when we're on vacation, simply because you'll be dropped off closer to the park gates than if you drive.
Have fun riding the monorail! If you have a few spare minutes, hop off and check out one or more of the resorts which are on the monorail line. You might just find a list of hotels you'd like to experience on your next trip!
Send more questions as you think of them! We love to help!