E.W.
Get the Passporter Disney World Book, it's a great resource for planning and even has sheets to write all your plans. It also goes into great detail about every resort and pros/cons of each. If you go to Amazaon or the actual passporter website the book is probably much cheaper than going to a local bookstore.
As for hotels...think about your budget and that may narrow your search down a bit. From that search then you can determine which hotel has the amenities you want. I've stayed at the Caribbean Beach Resort but it was so long ago all I remember was that it was a large resort and it sometimes took awhile to get a bus. In November we are staying at Port Orleans Riverside for the first time. We've stayed at the Port Orleans French Quarter and it has a great swimming pool. The Beach Club Villas also have a nice pool and from there you can walk to both Epcot and MGM which is a plus. The other two places we've stayed are the Marriott Vacation Club and the Grovsner in Downtown Disney.
All the hotels at Disney are going to be kid friendly and the majority of them will have a pretty cool swimming area. Another good website to visit is www.allears.net, they have pictures and good reviews of the hotels also. Good luck on your search!