CBR or POR?

[PPFDDisneyLover]

I am thinking about making a trip in August and am trying to decide which resort I should choose. I have it narrowed down to the Port Orleans-Riverside and Caribbean Beach Resort. I have never stayed at either one so I am curious to what others think based on their experiences. Thanks!

 

[TabZ]

I've not stayed at CBR but POR is stunning!!! Tr food court is great, the quiet pools are amazing, we spent 2 weeks there in 2011 and didn't want to leave! We are at CSR this year, looking forward to that as well

 

[mickeynut1]

We've never stayed at POR, but we loved CBR. The food court was nice, the pool was great, and the transportation was quick and efficient. With that said, POR looks like a beautiful resort, so I don't think you can go wrong with either one. I would choose the one that the theme/decor appeals to you the most. Good luck.

 

[mgdisney]

I've had the pleasure of staying at both of these resorts and while I equally enjoyed are stay at both resorts, were headed back to POR for are upcoming trip in May!
CBR has a real tropical feel to it, with the bright colours, and beautiful grounds. I do prefer the main pool area at this resort.
POR just has a real charm to it, very inviting, and relaxing! The grounds again here are beautiful, we enjoyed walking around, the food court is good, but it's the boat to DTD that does it for me, it's a nice enjoyable ride and just feels like added bonus to my family.
I'm sure wherever you decide to stay, you won't be disappointed, enjoy your stay!!!

 

[maxiesmom]

Stayed at both, POR wins in a landslide.

Both resorts are large, but POR is easier to get around. Plus POR has 3 fewer bus stops than CBR, and a boat to take you to Downtown Disney. When we stayed at CBR it felt like you spent forever riding the bus around the resort. In fact CBR is so big it is the only moderate that has a bus just to drop people off at stops around the resort. It never goes to the parks, just drives around the resort, dropping guests off at different spots.

The food court at POR is worlds better than the one at CBR too. I had to struggle to find something to eat at CBR, at POR there is so much to choose from. The pick your pasta station is great! And the magic cookie bars are sooo good!

I also think the gift shop at POR is one of the best ones.

Keep in mind too that CBR still has double beds, instead of the queens at all the other moderate resorts. CBR also has not been redone in a while, and the other moderates (including POR) have.

 

[nkereina]

Agree with PPs. POR's recent renovations, boat to DTD, and queen beds tips the scale for me over CBR. I do like the Caribbean theme but the hugeness and layout of CBR is daunting, and they are really in need of refurbishment.

 

[Linda T.]

We have stayed at both resorts. And I know I am in the minority here, but we love CBR. We like CBR's themeing, main pool, food court, gift shop, and the bus service much better than POR's. The one thing we did like about POR was the boat to DTD. Good luck with your decision and have a great vacation.

 

[PPFDDisneyLover]

Thank You everyone. It seems to me that I might be leaning towards POR

 

[kkmauch]

We have stayed at both on multiple trips. For us, CBR wins in a landslide.

POR is beautiful. We prefer the bayou to the mansions but both are wonderful. The food court is adequate, though try to hit breakfast at an off peak time (this goes for all mods). The ride to DTD via the boat is a nice option and the pool is nice. The bus is really the only complaint anyone ever has when we stay.

CBR keeps us coming back and we never hear a single complaint. The theming is simply better than POR, the main feature pool is far better and more entertaining for families with all ages and the quiet pools are slightly larger. We love the lounge in the hammock on the beach and the walk to Old Port Royale is never longer than 10 minutes no matter where you stay. The bus is fast and efficient. We also like the location so close to Epcot that you can see parts of illuminations each night. The food court feels easier to navigate to us and for some reason less crowded though i doubt that it actually is. The rooms are ever so slightly larger though can only accommodate 4 max to the bayou's 5. CBR is getting all new queen beds right now as well.

For us, it feels like vacation at CBR. POR is nice and we would stay there again but would always pick CBR first (and have for our August trip as well)!

 

[kkmauch]

Also, CBR was "redone" quite recently. All the standard rooms are now Nemo themed (not obnoxious) and there are also Pirate rooms. The pool was redone not long ago as well. So yes they have been refurbished and the last thing to do is replace the beds, which is being done.

 

[maxiesmom]

Also, CBR was "redone" quite recently. All the standard rooms are now Nemo themed (not obnoxious) and there are also Pirate rooms. The pool was redone not long ago as well. So yes they have been refurbished and the last thing to do is replace the beds, which is being done.

Recently for CBR was 2009. POR/POFQ were redone within the last year or so. And as of yet, no one has seen queen sized beds at CBR. Only reports that they are hopefully coming.

 

[P00H1010]

We have not stayed at POR but have stayed at CBR 3 times and have never had a bad experience. We love the resort! It is absolutely beautiful...it is a lush tropical get away from the hustle and bustle of the parks.

CBR tends to get bad reviews sometimes based on its size but personally I think people blow it out of proportion. Yes, the resort is the largest on WDW property but it certainly isn't unmanageable.

We have stayed in pirate rooms twice which are the furthest you can be from Old Port Royale (the main area where the food, main pool and shopping are located) and we have stayed once in a standard king room which was closer to Old Port Royale.

The only "advantage" we had by staying closer is we swam in the main pool and the other times we didn't. And that is strictly because of how we vacation. We do not swim during the day, we generally swim after a late night in the parks. When we stayed in the pirate rooms we swam in the pool at our village as we didn't want to walk to the main pool at 2am or so after a long day in the parks. During the day we could of walked over or taken the internal bus system but it isn't running that late at night. When we had the standard room that was closer we swam in both our village pool and the main pool because the walk wasn't as far. Other than where we swam we didn't notice any big differences between where we stayed on property and how it affected our trip.

So bottom line...I have nothing but good things to say about CBR and would highly recommend it .

 

[kkmauch]

Recently for CBR was 2009. POR/POFQ were redone within the last year or so. And as of yet, no one has seen queen sized beds at CBR. Only reports that they are hopefully coming.

I guess I just don't expect Disney to re-do a resort every year or so. 2009 was only 3-4 years ago. Is that already outdated and in need of refurbishing? Highly unlikely. And of course POR/FQ was more recently refurbished, Tiana and her Prince just hit theaters a couple years ago. I get that it is more recent, but certainly not by much. And yes, the queen beds are coming and not currently in place. But the fact that they are planned for within 2013 makes me excited they may be in place by our August vacation.

 

[shopn24seven]

We have stayed at both and LOVED each equally.
POR does have the boat....and is more of an relaxing resort.
CBR, has that BEACH CARIBBEAN flair to it. I love the beach, the hammock and fireworks from Epcot, which can be seen from the beach.

I am sure you will have fun at whichever you choose.

 

[ilovevacation]

We were in your shoes last year. We decided on cbr because of the pool (why i don't know...we don't have kids). After lurking on the boards i felt like a made the wrong decision. It was our first time starting at a mod except for a girls trip i stayed at csr. Per other recommendations i called weekly and no rooms opened at por. I decided to go in with no expectations, we made no specific requests. We loved cbr. We stayed in Jamaica. It was a great bus stop and quick walk to the main pool and food court. The only problem is it is huge...we like to be independent, deal with or own luggage,etc and it is a lung way to drag your suitcase around at midnight. Regardless...we loved our trip, the room was great, the pools were wonderful and great food. Also, very convenient location and the bus rides were a breeze. I would stay again...but we stay some place different every time. We are saving, next trip in two years with my nieces from London. I have my eyes set on an epcot resort hotel.

 

[married2mm]

We've stayed at por and loved it.
Staying at pofq this summer.

What is the foodcourt like at carribean beach,as the choice at por was great.

 

[maxiesmom]

We've stayed at por and loved it.
Staying at pofq this summer.

What is the foodcourt like at carribean beach,as the choice at por was great.

We were at CBR in December, and while I don't think I am that fussy, I had a hard time finding anything I liked at the food court. As did my 20something nephew. At POR they have this pick your own pasta station that is so good! You pick your pasta, and many different things you can add to it--chicken or shrimp, cheese, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, peas, all sorts of good things.

Honestly, the value resorts have the best food courts out there! But the one at POR is pretty darned good too.

 

[Belle83]

I have stayed at both and I think I prefer Caribbean Beach in general.

With Port Orleans, you'll have more recently refurbished rooms and queen-sized beds instead of doubles. You'll also have less internal bus stops, which is really nice compared to CBR.

I think CBR is prettier, though the rooms need to be refurbished and I don't care for the current Nemo decor and green walls. I like the atmosphere at CBR more, and the food court a little bit more. The main theme pool is a little better than the one at POR.

 

[maxiesmom]

And yes, the queen beds are coming and not currently in place. But the fact that they are planned for within 2013 makes me excited they may be in place by our August vacation.

I hope for your sake you are right. According to the people on the CBR resort thread, Disney still has no firm plans in place to add queen sized beds to CBR.

I want to add that I know it may come off that I hated CBR. I didn't! It is a really pretty resort. However, it is my least favorite of all of the moderate resorts. Too big, not a great food court, and the rooms need to be refreshed a bit. If I got a great deal, I would stay there again. But it would have to be a great deal that wasn't offered at the other moderates.

 

[nkereina]

I guess I just don't expect Disney to re-do a resort every year or so. 2009 was only 3-4 years ago. Is that already outdated and in need of refurbishing? Highly unlikely. And of course POR/FQ was more recently refurbished, Tiana and her Prince just hit theaters a couple years ago. I get that it is more recent, but certainly not by much. And yes, the queen beds are coming and not currently in place. But the fact that they are planned for within 2013 makes me excited they may be in place by our August vacation.

Actually, yes. IMO, the rooms are in fairly rough shape considering the other mods have had queen beds for over a year now (longer for CSR), CBR is behind on the times.

3-4 years ago doesn't sound long but in hotel terms, its a long time. The majority of the rooms are being lived in 365 days a year, with new and different amounts of people in them every few days. Many people are harder on rooms than others. I'm not saying the decor needs to be re-done, but good deep cleanings and repairs are needed.