Hi Amy,
Welcome to the Moms Panel! You are right, there are a LOT of options when trying to choose a Walt Disney World Resort. Many people opt to view the resort as just a place to sleep, but like you, I see the resort as a major part of our vacation destination.
Here are a few of my picks for resorts with the best pool areas for kids:
Saratoga Springs Resort - We absolutely love the Grandstand Pool section of this resort. It has a fantastic splash area/squirt area. They also have a waterslide at their feature pool. This is a fantastic resort for taking walks, as it has beautifully maintained walkways throughout the resort. You can rent surrey bikes or regular bikes at this resort.
Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Villas - This is my new "favorite" resort as far as water areas are concerned. The kids splash area kept my children entertained for HOURS, and the resort itself is new and wonderful! It's a short walk over to the Jambo house which has a playground and lots of viewing areas to enjoy the animals from.
Coronado Springs Resort - This is my favorite Moderate Resort. The dig site boasts a fantastic swimming pool and waterslide as well as a great playground.
Yacht and Beach Club Resorts - This is has one of the most popular swimming pools on Disney Property. Unfortunately my only visit here was during February and it really was too cold for swimming (but it didn't stop the kids). What I didn't like about this pool area was that it is comprised of various coves and areas to the pool, and I found it hard to keep an eye on everyone.
To help you make your decision I suggest that you visit
www.allearsnet.com and look under accommodations for a complete listing of every resort with fantastic, detailed pictures of each one.
Hope this helps!