POR or CSR?

[cl1067]

With the new discount, we have decided to upgrade from a value to a moderate. Mainly for the extra space, fridge and use of a hottub! We will be traveling with my parents, myself, DH and our three DD's ages 2, 8, and 13 at time of travel.

I'm wondering which resort you guys would recommend? We had thought to stay at CSR, but our travel agent recommended POR for the trundle bend. NOt a huge deal to us because our plan was to have one of the kiddos sleep in with grandma and grandpa.

I'm just not sure we will like the theme of POR and CSR looks beautiful. Just wanting to get some different points of view.

TIA!
Christina

 

[sherreis]

I can only answer for CSR. I have 2 boys - 8 and just turned 13 and we've stayed there twice. We really enjoy it there and they love the pool. Most of the rooms at CSR have queen beds if that makes a difference. The rest of the rooms will have them shortly.

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR!! Great main pool area, awesome transportation, and terrific food options. Check out my CSR website (by clicking on my name above) for pics and info.

CSR now has queen beds in all the rooms and will have club level rooms as of 01/2009!!

 

[sbsteel]

We've stayed at both - our preference is CSR hands down. POR is very nice, it's just not us. CSR was superior in pool areas (main and quiet), food court, gift shop, and overall vacation feel. POR does have the boat to DTD, smaller area, and fun bar area with a piano player, but it totally lacked the 'vacation' feel to us. CSR felt like we were getting away and POR felt like we were visiting family that lived close to the Mississippi River.

Also, I believe all of CSR now has queen beds and is currently undergoing renovations. We've stayed at three of the four moderates and CSR is our favorite.

Enjoy your stay, no matter where you choose!

 

[auntie]

We were at the POR Riverside last week. It was AWFUL. We had requested an Alligator Bayou room. We were given a room in the southern Mansion (exuse me while I gag on that )... They were old and in desperate need of refurbishment. We were there at 9:30 in the morning, and they told us there were no rooms for the entire week in the nicer..and recently refurbished Alligator Bayou section. Only for families of 5. My son asked the clerk.."you mean to tell me that EVERY room in that area is only occupied by families of 5". "yes" she replies. After a long uncomfortable pause..she asks if we'd like to see a manager. Yes we did. The manager knew EXACTLY what we wanted. Says, while a room is not available at that moment..the following morning we would be able to move to Alligator Bayou. Okay..we'll go with that. Now..we have to wait for a room in the Magnolia Bend area..until 5:00 PM. By the time we got into our palace, it had been a long day. The room was FILTHY. I mean dried soda stains running down the walls..the furniture was old and worn looking. Smashed dead bugs on the bathroom celing..moldy..slimy plastic shower heads in the bathtub. Hair on the floor in the bathroom..and toothpaste ground into the tile by the sink. Just when I thought it couldn't get worse. It got worse. Turned down the bed..and on the underside of the comforter. Graffiti. Yep..someone signed their name. "Jeanna was here". Makes ya wonder exactly what else was there. It was impossible to miss. Housekeeping had to see this everytime the bed was made. Removed the bedspread. Holes in the blankets, scratchy sheets. Slept that night with the light on. We checked out the following day and went to the Wilderness Lodge.

So I'm thinkin' if I were you..I'd go ANYWHERE but POR. The staff was rude, and really didn't care. I think they are worn down. They've got to hear the complaining everyday from people who are staying in the government housing area..oops..I mean the Magnolia Bend area. It's a crap shoot as to whether your going to get the Alligator Bayou area..and if you don't need the trundle. (which by the way is a bed on the floor next to the door(yuk)..I'd go anywhere else.
We ate several times at the Caribbean Beach resort..and I'd go there if I were going to a moderate. It was clean and freshly painted and from what I could see the rooms were bright and cheerful. While I've not stayed at Coronado Springs, we did eat at the food court there..and I wasn't crazy about it. Not really a food court. Half wait staff..and half get it yourself..kind of wierd, and I didn't care to have to tip for that kind of service. Maybe it's changed this was a few years ago.

 

[Poohbear123]

I had booked POR but, couldn't pay the deposit in time, so I called back, and they booked CSR for me, I am paying 114.00 a night for WATER VIEW in Feb!!! I haven't stayed there since 1998, hope its a dream like others have said!

 

[thumperjr9]

We were at the POR Riverside last week. It was AWFUL. We had requested an Alligator Bayou room. We were given a room in the southern Mansion (exuse me while I gag on that )... They were old and in desperate need of refurbishment. We were there at 9:30 in the morning, and they told us there were no rooms for the entire week in the nicer..and recently refurbished Alligator Bayou section. Only for families of 5. My son asked the clerk.."you mean to tell me that EVERY room in that area is only occupied by families of 5". "yes" she replies. After a long uncomfortable pause..she asks if we'd like to see a manager. Yes we did. The manager knew EXACTLY what we wanted. Says, while a room is not available at that moment..the following morning we would be able to move to Alligator Bayou. Okay..we'll go with that. Now..we have to wait for a room in the Magnolia Bend area..until 5:00 PM. By the time we got into our palace, it had been a long day. The room was FILTHY. I mean dried soda stains running down the walls..the furniture was old and worn looking. Smashed dead bugs on the bathroom celing..moldy..slimy plastic shower heads in the bathtub. Hair on the floor in the bathroom..and toothpaste ground into the tile by the sink. Just when I thought it couldn't get worse. It got worse. Turned down the bed..and on the underside of the comforter. Graffiti. Yep..someone signed their name. "Jeanna was here". Makes ya wonder exactly what else was there. It was impossible to miss. Housekeeping had to see this everytime the bed was made. Removed the bedspread. Holes in the blankets, scratchy sheets. Slept that night with the light on. We checked out the following day and went to the Wilderness Lodge.

So I'm thinkin' if I were you..I'd go ANYWHERE but POR. The staff was rude, and really didn't care. I think they are worn down. They've got to hear the complaining everyday from people who are staying in the government housing area..oops..I mean the Magnolia Bend area. It's a crap shoot as to whether your going to get the Alligator Bayou area..and if you don't need the trundle. (which by the way is a bed on the floor next to the door(yuk)..I'd go anywhere else.
We ate several times at the Caribbean Beach resort..and I'd go there if I were going to a moderate. It was clean and freshly painted and from what I could see the rooms were bright and cheerful. While I've not stayed at Coronado Springs, we did eat at the food court there..and I wasn't crazy about it. Not really a food court. Half wait staff..and half get it yourself..kind of wierd, and I didn't care to have to tip for that kind of service. Maybe it's changed this was a few years ago.

Wow, which bldg. were you in. Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. We were there a few weeks ago. We were in Oak Manor. I guess we were lucky because our room was fine. It didn't seem worn at all, everything very clean, housekeeping did a great job. The staff was friendly. The grounds were beautiful. We really enjoyed our stay. In fact I tried to book for late April for the buy 4 get 3 free special but nothing available at POR or CSR. Maybe the rooms vary even in the mansion area. I guess the only things I could complain about was the fridge... some of our food froze. The bed linens were not top quality, the bottom sheet kept pulling off, didn't seem big enough for the bed, but they appeared to be clean. The other thing was the "turbo flush toilets" they were loud. But I was prepared for that since I had read about the toilets on these boards and from what I understand they are the same at some of the other resorts. At least we didn't have to worry about clogging them.

 

[auntie]

I have to ask my son the room number. I don't remember it. I don't want ANYONE to experience this. As soon as I can I'm going to post the pictures. Hopefully by tomorrow afternoon. I took photos, as in all the 17 years I've been visiting Disney, I COULD NOT believe this was a Disney room. When we left my son spoke to the weekend manager. Who quite frankly..while he wasn't rude..he was pleasant..but ambivalent . He shook his head as my son told him about he condition of the room. My son told him "hey..do what you want with the information, because we're out of here either way..but you should be aware". The gentlemen...who was pretty young..just agreed with him..and told him that he was a covering manager at the WL and it's a great resort. "you'll have a great time". He didn't even atttempt to explain the situation or try to rectify it. I had the feeling he hears this type of complaint EVERY DAY. There is a reason so many people are requesting the Alligator Bayou area. The Magnolia Bend area is outdated..and in desperate need of refurbishment. They are getting slammed on Trip Advisor. In fact..one person had posted about a dirty room with soda stains. My son swears that we got the same room...that they just haven't bother to clean it.
Also...has anyone noticed the incredibly LOUD generators..or compressors that are running outside of each Magnolia Bend section. When you walk through the Alligator Bayou area..there are NONE of those. I'm not sure what they are or what they run. Only they are LOUD..and don't add very much to the ambiance of the resort.

 

[dizgal19061]

We just left POFQ and are now at CSR. I can honestly say you never know until you get here. Everybody has different tastes. My family and I come to disney quite frequently this was our first time staying at POFQ and CSR. POFQ was very quaint it felt as if we were in a small town, rooms very clean, cast members extremely friendly, boat to dtd was a nice change, the pool was nice, food court was horrible and buses were okay not too much of a wait but usually crowded. We are now at CSR and we are not happy. I realize the rooms are getting ready to be upgraded but the borders are peeling on the walls in our room, the drawers are broken and don't shut on our armoir and night side table. There have been very loud groups of people outside our room both fri and sat night up until 2:45am (we are in casitas 5 2 floor far corner facing the lagoon). Saturday walking with my children from the dig site pool to our room we came across many large empty bottles of alcohol just stuck in bushes and under brush. This was at 12 noon! We do love the pepper market it is the best quick service of all the disney hotels in my opinion. Maya was also good. The buses have been fabulous. But to me the bads this trip definitely outway the goods. Hopefully you will have more considerate guests near you if you choose to stay at CSR but it has definitely soured this place for us for a long while.

 

[KatMark]

We just left POFQ and are now at CSR. I can honestly say you never know until you get here. Everybody has different tastes. My family and I come to disney quite frequently this was our first time staying at POFQ and CSR. POFQ was very quaint it felt as if we were in a small town, rooms very clean, cast members extremely friendly, boat to dtd was a nice change, the pool was nice, food court was horrible and buses were okay not too much of a wait but usually crowded. We are now at CSR and we are not happy. I realize the rooms are getting ready to be upgraded but the borders are peeling on the walls in our room, the drawers are broken and don't shut on our armoir and night side table. There have been very loud groups of people outside our room both fri and sat night up until 2:45am (we are in casitas 5 2 floor far corner facing the lagoon). Saturday walking with my children from the dig site pool to our room we came across many large empty bottles of alcohol just stuck in bushes and under brush. This was at 12 noon! We do love the pepper market it is the best quick service of all the disney hotels in my opinion. Maya was also good. The buses have been fabulous. But to me the bads this trip definitely outway the goods. Hopefully you will have more considerate guests near you if you choose to stay at CSR but it has definitely soured this place for us for a long while.

I hope you have reported the noise outside your room at 2:45. There is no excuse for that and I would certainly have reported it. As for the bottles, I've seen that at other resorts as well--that is just ignorant people.

 

[dizgal19061]

I did report it on Friday nite/sat morning. I've been very lucky i guess because i have never seen multiple economy size glass bottles of alcohol thrown about a disney resort before. I realize it's abig resort and they can't help if others are inconsiderate but i would have expected it to be cleaned up at 12 noon when there is housekeeping out and about in droves yet no one seemed to care it was there. May the pixie dust fairies grant you all wonderful neighbors on all of your future stays!!! lol

 

[Coconuts]

We have stayed at both and loved both resorts. We were in Magnolia Bend at POR and didn't have any problems. The room was clean and the grounds were beautiful; the food court had a lot of selection. CSR had a great pool; we spent every afternoon there. The resort felt much more expansive though and it was a 15-20 minute walk to the pool from our room in the Casitas. I would absolutely stay at either place again.

 

[Lilolvr]

CSR!! I love CSR for the atmosphere, great CM's and the deluxe-lite feel. CSR offers a spa, salon, full menu room service and fitness center not to mention a terrific main pool area and the best transportation that is not shared with any other resort. It's like taking two vacations in one. Queen beds too!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We had a bad stay at CSR and wouldn't recommend it. We haven't stayed at POR yet, but look forward to trying it someday!

Good luck!

 

[KatMark]

We love CSR--it is our favorite resort--we've stayed seven times and number eight will be next September. They have recently added queen beds so more bed room, are upgrading all rooms with new furniture, televisions, etc. They have three quiet pools, a great themed main pool, fitness center/spa, hot tub, lounge for the adults, new take-out food section as well as the food court and sit down restaurant. We've never tried POR--although we have visited and dined there (we didn't care for dinner at the table service, but DH wants to go back and try the sweet potato pancakes at breakfast). POR would be our third choice if we were ever tempted to leave CSR (POFQ would be our second choice and we will never stay at the Caribbean--don't like the themeing and the food court was horrible).

 

[alindsaym]

My vote is for CSR. I haven't been to Riverside in years but we really enjoyed our recent visit to CSR. If you can request building 9a poolside. It is right between the digsite and El centro where the restaurants are. There is a quiet pool there you can use for a quick swim in the morning or night. We were in 8a right by the dig site, I think it is, but I wish we had gone with 9a once we were there. Good luck!