Best Moderate Resort for my family??

[melissapealo]

We are planning a trip to the World at the end of October. There will be my DS17, DS11, and DS's GF 16 and myself. My sons and me have been to Disney many times but have never stayed onsite.We will be staying 12 days and plan on spending some time exploring the resort. I've been looking at the moderate resorts and can't decide between CBR and CSR. We've eliminated POR and POFQ due to the pools. I like CSR because of the queen beds, but like CBR because they have larger rooms. Also we plan on using Disney transportation and it appears that might be better at CSR. I know there are many opinions on which is better but am really looking for some advice in deciding.

Also looking for a little advice on dining. My DS11 is an extremely picky eater. He doesn't eat nomal kids meals, and doesn't eat meats at all. He will eat pizza but only without cheese on it, as thats something else he doesn't eat. On the positive side he loves fruits and vegetables, but it doesn't appear that we have many choices. We will be on the regular dining plan and plan on doing a few of the buffets so I'm sure we'll find things he'll eat there. My problem is DS17 wants to go to Coral Reef and Le Cellier and I'm wondering if they have options to just get a fruit dish or some type of plain pasta? If they don't will they allow me to bring food in for him? I know I'll have to pay oop for ordering this way and that isn't a problem. I just don't want to make reservations for all of us if there isn't something my DS can eat.

Please help me decide

 

[dalt01]

not understanding your pool comment...........riversides pool is very nice........riverside itself for that matter is argueably the best moderate......it also has the best food court.........i have always felt that it is half a tick above a moderate and half a tick below a deluxe.............do yourself a favor and take another look in that direction.the table service restaurants will bend over backwards to accommodate your DS.

 

[Tinbadge69]

I have looked at a couple of resorts and they tend not to have good comments. There are a lot of complaints about the rooms being moldy or smell bad. We have always stayed at the Value resorts, and was lookingh to spend a little more money. I really dont know if I should though. The thing that got me was that these were recents comments.

 

[dalt01]

I have looked at a couple of resorts and they tend not to have good comments. There are a lot of complaints about the rooms being moldy or smell bad. We have always stayed at the Value resorts, and was lookingh to spend a little more money. I really dont know if I should though. The thing that got me was that these were recents comments.

not sure i know where you are going with this..........but..........one thing i do know is if you get a room that has a legit problem they will move you in a new york minute..........so i would not let that bother me.........also........these things are pretty subjective......what one person complains about may not even be evident to someone else......we had a room once at riverside that smelled of bleach, we were moved within 15 minutes of calling the desk.

 

[melissapealo]

not understanding your pool comment...........riversides pool is very nice........riverside itself for that matter is argueably the best moderate......it also has the best food court.........i have always felt that it is half a tick above a moderate and half a tick below a deluxe.............do yourself a favor and take another look in that direction.the table service restaurants will bend over backwards to accommodate your DS.

Sorry I should have clarified the pool a little better. My DS17 isn't happy about staying on property this trip. In the past we have always rented a condo or house and thats what he wants to do again. I want to have the total Disney experience. So that being said we are doing what we can to choose a resort he will be happy at. We've looked through all the moderates and especially at the pool pictures. He is more interested in the slide than the pool itself. The slides at CSR and CBR appear to be bigger than the one ate POR. If it were just up to me we would be at POR, but the pool just doesn't appeal to the kids as much as the other resorts. As for POFQ the theming just doesn't appeal to us at all so that wasn't even thought of. I'm glad to know that the table service restaurants will accommodate my DS11, that has been a big concern for me with staying on property.
BTW...if I'm wrong about the slide please let me know as POR would certainly be an option for us. I love the pictures of the resort, but it's really hard to find pictures of the slides at the pools.

 

[melissapealo]

I have looked at a couple of resorts and they tend not to have good comments. There are a lot of complaints about the rooms being moldy or smell bad. We have always stayed at the Value resorts, and was lookingh to spend a little more money. I really dont know if I should though. The thing that got me was that these were recents comments.

I've seen some bad comments also, mostly about bus service though. However the good comments certainly outnumber any negative. If your happy at the value resorts, then I'd say save some money and stay with them. The values just aren't for my family. Many love the theming of them, however we don't. If it came down to staying value or getting a condo again, the condo would be our choice.

 

[dalt01]

Sorry I should have clarified the pool a little better. My DS17 isn't happy about staying on property this trip. In the past we have always rented a condo or house and thats what he wants to do again. I want to have the total Disney experience. So that being said we are doing what we can to choose a resort he will be happy at. We've looked through all the moderates and especially at the pool pictures. He is more interested in the slide than the pool itself. The slides at CSR and CBR appear to be bigger than the one ate POR. If it were just up to me we would be at POR, but the pool just doesn't appeal to the kids as much as the other resorts. As for POFQ the theming just doesn't appeal to us at all so that wasn't even thought of. I'm glad to know that the table service restaurants will accommodate my DS11, that has been a big concern for me with staying on property.

if you are basing it on JUST the slide then the Jaguar slide at CS is the one............just be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater...in other words............one 123 foot slide does not a vacation make whatever you choose make it a wonderful time in your life.

 

[DSNY4ever]

We have stayed at CSR and POR and loved both. I think the pools at both were wonderful. I think boys might lean toward the decor of CSR a little more. They would probably like the mexican/southwest feel.

We barely ever eat at our resort because we are always in the parks, and if you son is so picky I am assuming you will be packing food everywhere rather than eating at the food court, but the food court at CSR is pretty good.

And no the sit down restaurants WILL NOT let you bring your own food to eat. Is your son a vegan or just really picky? I am sure they could find something plain to feed him, but you might pay an arm and a leg for it. But I wouldn't want a picky kid to ruin my vacation, so I would eat where I wanted.

 

[Michele]

Have you considered renting DVC points?

 

[dalt01]

And no the sit down restaurants WILL NOT let you bring your own food to eat.

yes, to clarify what i said earlier............bending over backwards meant that they will serve him the best they can..........you bringing in food is not part of that.............HOWEVER..........i would bet the farm that you could do it.......they are very non confrontational and if you explained it i would be shocked if there were any repercussions over him brown bagging it.........and this comes from many, many, many years of observation. disclaimer..........................this is my opinion only, i am not preaching WDW policy or suggesting that anyone do this. i do not want to argue the point. nuf said

 

[melissapealo]

We have stayed at CSR and POR and loved both. I think the pools at both were wonderful. I think boys might lean toward the decor of CSR a little more. They would probably like the mexican/southwest feel.

We barely ever eat at our resort because we are always in the parks, and if you son is so picky I am assuming you will be packing food everywhere rather than eating at the food court, but the food court at CSR is pretty good.

And no the sit down restaurants WILL NOT let you bring your own food to eat. Is your son a vegan or just really picky? I am sure they could find something plain to feed him, but you might pay an arm and a leg for it. But I wouldn't want a picky kid to ruin my vacation, so I would eat where I wanted.[/QUOT

I think CSR is the resort we're leaning towards. The kids seem to like the pics of it. My son is a very picky eater, not really a vegan because of any beliefs but more because of what he doesn't eat. I'm thinking about making reservations for my DS17 and his DGF for the restaurants they would like to try and then somewhere that appeals more to my younger sons taste for the two of us. Also have considered calling the restaurants direct to see what they would have to offer him before I do the adr's. Either way I'm sure they will have fun.

 

[melissapealo]

Have you considered renting DVC points?

I have done a little looking into renting points. It appears that would put me more in the price range of a deluxe resort though. I'd rather keep the resort costs lower and have the extra money for the longer stay and other items at the parks.

 

[disneychic2]

[QUOTE I think CSR is the resort we're leaning towards. The kids seem to like the pics of it. My son is a very picky eater, not really a vegan because of any beliefs but more because of what he doesn't eat. I'm thinking about making reservations for my DS17 and his DGF for the restaurants they would like to try and then somewhere that appeals more to my younger sons taste for the two of us. Also have considered calling the restaurants direct to see what they would have to offer him before I do the adr's. Either way I'm sure they will have fun.[/QUOTE]

I'm glad you said this b/c I was going to say that your DS11's choice to be picky shouldn't interfere with your older son's enjoyment of certain restaurants. I don't think you'll have to go to different places for this since they will work with you to make DS11 happy.

Also, for the slides and pools, have you considered a day or two at the water parks? They are amazing! That way POR would be back in the running. At any rate, have a wonderful time and I know you'll love staying on property!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I'd do CSR.

My teenage son loves that pool. He said the slide is great.
The Pepper Market will make things for you and has lots of different choices. I am not a huge fan of the Pepper Market but they had a really nice fruit selection and looked like they had a nice vegeterian selection.

The queen beds would be nice for you as well.

Le Cellier had a pasta meal that was basically noodles, sauce and meat. I bet they could leave off the sauce and meat for your son easily.

I've never eaten at Coral Reef so I don't know what they have there.

There is a phone number for special needs foods. I bet they can help. I'm not seeing the phone number right off the bat but I'm sure someone will come along who has it. Plus you can check out the menus in advance on the Dis which will really help you.

 

[melissapealo]

I'm glad you said this b/c I was going to say that your DS11's choice to be picky shouldn't interfere with your older son's enjoyment of certain restaurants. I don't think you'll have to go to different places for this since they will work with you to make DS11 happy.

Also, for the slides and pools, have you considered a day or two at the water parks? They are amazing! That way POR would be back in the running. At any rate, have a wonderful time and I know you'll love staying on property![/QUOTE]

We are planning on going to the water parks also. The kids and I have talked about it and ultimately I will let them choose which resort we stay in.

 

[Tinbadge69]

Hey GA, what did you think of CBR? I was looking at this one because of its beauty and pool areas. How was transportation?