Hello Kathryn, and welcome to planDisney!
Wow! It looks like you have a big
Walt Disney World Resort vacation on the horizon! Talk about excitement!
Disney's Art of Animation Resort is a great choice, and you and your family will not be disappointed in your stay.
Dining is the one thing I had always planned for, especially when my babies were younger. In my opinion, it is always a good idea to include a character meal, be it breakfast at
Topolino's Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera at Disney's Riviera Resort or lunch with the Disney Characters from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at
Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White at Disney's Wilderness Lodge or maybe dinner with Donald Duck at
Tusker House Restaurant at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Definitely, make your advanced dining reservations at the 60-day mark (if possible) and if what you desire is not available, just keep checking, and availability will usually appear at some point.
For other dining options, where we dined depended on the day. Some days, enjoying a delicious meal for lunch within the theme parks made sense. Other days, we planned dinner closer to the resort in the evenings. Planning the meals in the evening was convenient, especially when we had a late dinner and our kids needed to be in bed at a particular time. Of course, it is vacation, and not every day required getting them ready for bed at a specific time.
I also think it may be helpful to plan your theme park days first and then add your dining options where they fit.
Have the most magical vacation!
Raquel