Need help: POP vs Moderate

[mulderxcoltrane]

Ok - here's my situation details - I'd love your advice/feedback:

When: March (spring break time) of 2010
Guests: 7 (all college age; 4 males, 3 females)

Questions: Should we get two rooms at a moderate? or 3 rooms at POP (2M, 2M, 3F)?

If you suggest moderate - which one?

Variables to consider: 1) Room size 2) bus transportation to/from parks during that busy season 3) food court 4) internal bus transportation?

Ok....have at it!

[HopperFan]

Just got back from 10 days at POP (6th trip there) and booked Bounceback to return next year at CSR (moderate).

CSR is my college DS favorite resort. Great food court (one reason I booked for next year, we ate there and the options so much better), queen beds for those sharing a bed, bigger rooms and fridge in room.

Resort has that POP won't, huge hot tub (largest on property), large pool with a slide good for the big kids, beach volleyball, boat/bike rentals if inclined, overall more adult atmosphere. Transportation is good at either resort as they do not share buses. Also at CSR you can walk right across street to Blizzard Beach waterpark which my kids (college age) love.

[cbg1027]

Well, as a fellow college student this one is a no brainer for me.

I'd go with the 3 rooms at Pop because it's slightly cheaper and you will have fewer people per room which means more space and less wait for the bathroom!

When it comes down to it, I think the bus service is hit or miss at any resort, so that doesn't factor in for me.

[mulderxcoltrane]

Originally Posted by cbg1027

Well, as a fellow college student this one is a no brainer for me.

I'd go with the 3 rooms at Pop because it's slightly cheaper and you will have fewer people per room which means more space and less wait for the bathroom!

When it comes down to it, I think the bus service is hit or miss at any resort, so that doesn't factor in for me.

Does it matter that, with Buy 4 Get 3, it only costs $5 per person to stay at a moderate?

Thanks for your reply.

[mickeyluv'r]

Originally Posted by HopperFan

CSR is my college DS favorite resort. Great food court (one reason I booked for next year, we ate there and the options so much better), queen beds for those sharing a bed, bigger rooms and fridge in room.

Resort has that POP won't, huge hot tub (largest on property), large pool with a slide good for the big kids, beach volleyball, boat/bike rentals if inclined, overall more adult atmosphere. Transportation is good at either resort as they do not share buses. Also at CSR you can walk right across street to Blizzard Beach waterpark which my kids (college age) love.

I basically agree with all of this except the transportation part. (and I don't have a college age son. )

I think the food at CSR is better, and is esp a good deal if you are on DDP, though eating at PM isn't quiet as fast as Pop's food court. Still, CSR has a small place that's pure QS if you are in a rush. Pop does have one of he better food courts, and similar food will be preiced slightly lower at Pop. Last year we stayed at Pop but dined one night at CSR as a refresher.
CSR aslo has a REALLY cool bar. WAY better than the poolside bar at Pop. The lighting and decor are amazing! I can't tell you about prices there.

On the flip,when we stayed at Pop, we did see a fair number of teens. Probably many are high school age, but CSR is going to be more adult. Probably more convention folks. Quieter, not that noise was an issue for us at Pop.

Which brings me around to transportation. They are different beasts. The CSR buses loop the resort (4 internal stops!)- and you'll lose more time walking from place to place around the resort - it very broadly laid out witha lake in the middle. At Pop, the lake is off to one side, so getting around is generally much faster. The transportation at Pop is VERY direct, so once you are on a bus - it has some of the best overall transportation of any resort. Buses are mostly continuous during peak times BUT - if you leave a park at a peak time - you'll encounter some long waits. Getting to the parks was not bad, but getting back tot the resort if you say - leave MK just after teh parade ends- you'll hit big crowds. Even still, the wait isn't usually TOO bad - but it sure looks like a long line.

The third point about buses - since CSR has conventions - the buses are almost never FULL. At Pop - the opposite is true - the buses are nearly almost always FULL. As healthy, polite college age kids - you may well feel compelled to give up your bus seat every trip to some poor mother with an infant, small child or elderly person. The buses are alwasy filled to capacity with folks standing.

The pool at CSR is way better. The pool slide is pretty cool. It is nice having an extra bathroom. It will help everyone get up and out quickly - if getting on rides is a priority. (If sleeping in is MORE of a priority, then it matters less.)