Hi Patricia,
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! How wonderful that you'll be bringing your mother-in-law to Walt Disney World Resort to celebrate the holidays! My 81-year-old father joined us on a recent Disney trip and he had a great time. He used his scooter (which we brought from home) since he cannot manage walking long distances.
All Walt Disney World resort hotels offer accessible rooms - just be sure to request one at the time of your reservation! As for your transportation options, I'm happy to report that the complimentary Disney transportation system (buses, monorail, ferry and water taxis) are accessible to guests using wheelchairs and electric scooters.
As for your choice of resorts, I would recommend
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter (moderate category) and
Disney's Pop Century Resort (value category). Port Orleans - French Quarter is a charming resort with a decidedly more intimate feel due to its relatively small size. The resort features beautiful architectural details and has a quiet, elegant atmosphere. A bonus amenity with this resort is the direct boat transportation to the Downtown Disney area.
By contrast, Pop Century features whimsical, larger-than-life icons representing the cultural fads from the 1950's on through the 1990's. Your mother-in-law might enjoy staying in the 1950's section where she could relive some fun moments from her younger days! One thing to note is that the room here will be smaller than at a moderate resort.
Wishing you a
magical vacation! Please don't hesitate to write me back if I can help with any other planning questions.
Kimberly