Gabrielle:
With a family of six myself, I understand your frustration that our families don't always fit into that perfect vacation room with double beds for four...
There are connecting rooms at Pop Century, but as you've discovered, Disney doesn't guarantee them. My family's experience, though, has been that those rooms are allocated based on how far in advance you've made your reservations and availability, so with booking this far out, you're in better standing than some. Just make sure that you put this as the first remark/request when you make your initial reservation. However, my most important tip would be to call the resort at 407-938-4000 about 7 to 10 days before your arrival to make your request known again. Not every guest makes a room request and when the reservations staff begins allocating room assignments, your request will be considered. I have found that Disney tries to accommodate as many requests as possible, but again, they can't guarantee them.
If you are flexible, you might want to consider the Family Suites at
All-Star Music. Granted, the resort is not new like Art of Animation but you'd be guaranteed to be together. Another option would be to look at a
cabin at Fort Wilderness, a totally different experience from a large Disney-themed resort like AOA. With children, we have found the full kitchen, deck and grill give us lots of room, inside and out even in December when the weather can be pleasant. The only downside is that it has one bathroom. (But there are comfort stations in the nearby campsite loops, too.)
Wishing y'all a magical vacation!
Whitney