Lorin,
I think that the Animal Kingdom Lodge is always a good choice! It is one of my family's favorite Disney resorts, and we love it so much we purchased an ownership in the Disney Vacation Club there!
We had a chance to enjoy Kidani Village, the DVC villas, and it was fantastic. My husband declared that he likes it so much he actually prefers it to Jambo House (the main lodge)! The pool area in Kidani was a huge hit with the kids. It has a large and a small water slide, as well as a very nice sized splash park for kids. I saw several older kids/young teens there, having a blast right alongside the younger children.
The atmosphere of this resort is really hard to top. The architecture of the building itself is breathtaking, and being surrounded by savannahs full of African animals really transports you. I often take my morning coffee out on the balcony and marvel at the giraffes and zebras right outside our room.
And the dining - oh! the dining. Animal Kingdom Lodge has some really fantastic places to eat. The new restaurant Sanaa, in Kidani village, has earned rave reviews from everyone I know. In the main lodge, Boma and Jiko are both spectacular. And the AKL has a really great bakery. We like to pick up a bunch of pastries to keep in the room for breakfast.
I think you will be very happy with your resort selection!