About to go moderate - need a pep talk!!

[Tara]

I'm 8 days, 6 hours, and 17 minutes away (in a few seconds, anyway) from leaving on a surprise "mommy & me" trip with my son. Because we're saving our 2011 points and have reservations for the rest of our 2010 points, this had to be a cash trip and my goal was to make it a reasonably cheap one. I thought about trying for a member cash discount in a studio, but even that rate can't compete with an AP discount at a moderate! So I did my research, selected CBR mostly for the pool with big splash area and zero entry and booked a Pirate room there.

We're going to have a great time, I know, and DS is going to be over the moon excited when I tell him. But as I was packing this weekend (yes, I started packing 11 days early - it was either pack or burst from keeping the secret!), I was putting our outfits in 1 small suitcase and I realized...

Oh, we aren't going to have easy access to laundry...
And since it's mid-summer, we usually go to a park in the morning, leave at lunchtime, swim and nap, put on fresh clothes and go out for dinner and evening touring. That means packing more clothes (since I won't be doing laundry, and yes, I know CBR has laundry rooms, but they aren't that convenient).

So now I'm really missing DVC! This will be our first non-villa room at Disney since June 2008. If anyone has any tips for going moderate after living the DVC high life , I'd LOVE to hear them!

At the sound of the tone, the time will be 8 days, 6 hours and 9 minutes.

*DING*

 

[nolanboys]

You'll have a great time. We stayed at POFQ 18 months ago and did. When we came back to the room to swim, I would bring our laundry down and do by the pool - that's where they were located. It worked out quite well - granted not as well as when laundry is in the room. Have a great time!

 

[dianeschlicht]

No real tips. We did a moderate stay for ONE NIGHT back in 2006, and we HATED it! We couldn't get out of there fast enough to check into our OKW villa.

 

[Inkmahm]

We did POFQ for one night before our cruise in April. Before that, I'd only ever stayed in the Deluxe resorts or DVC. POFQ was okay for one night and the price was right (I'd gotten a pin code.) I wouldn't have wanted to stay there much longer than one night though. It just wasnt' DVC.

 

[JBx3]

Not sure how long your trip will be? Can you do a split stay and perhaps do the DVC cash disocunt during the week and peel off a few days from AP discount at CBR? Just a thought.

We stayed at CBR and really enjoy it for the reasons you discussed. Laundry was a short walk and done 1 time during the stay.

However, we really struggled with the room size.

If we are in a point shortage as you are this year, we would probably elect to do a split stay and attempt to have DVC as our second leg of the trip.

 

[starbox]

I really enjoy the moderates to this day. You'll enjoy daily housekeeping and the marketplace-style counter service enough to make up for laundry, although the laundry at CBR was just as convenient as using the free DVC - there's one in each village by the quiet pool.

The rooms are a nice size.

 

[Tara]

I think we need to work on the definition of "pep talk."

Our trip is 5 nights/6 days. A split stay is not a consideration for me because I've done them before and hate them. The only palatable one is 1st night one place then move immediately and settle in for the rest of the trip.

Another reason is I don't like studios that much. I couldn't see spending so much more for a studio for an unplanned trip where part of the goal is to make it "cheap." So it would have to be a 1br to feel worth the move and that just wouldn't be worth the price to me, especially since I'd be hampered by availability and likely pay cash for a resort I wouldn't otherwise pick.

Having said all that, I'm more convinced this will work out just fine! Starbox, thanks for the laundry info, though! (I'm the world's pickiest person about laundry though, but I won't go into the boring details of why the poolside laundry won't work. )

 

[Joy]

Tara - You are going to have a great trip. We stayed there for a few nights last year prior to switching to BLT. The pool is really great. The food court is pretty nice too - better than some of the DVC resorts. There is a nice pool bar if you need a cocktail. We used the buses the whole time and they were fine too.

I wish I had a mommy son trip planned! Pack and extra bag and don't worry about the laundry!

 

[HayGan]

Trust me - I love my villas but you know what I love even more? Being at WDW! Sure a villa has so many ammenities that the regular resorts don't have - that is why we bought them right? But does your room make your vacation? It doesn't make mine. Our resort trips are different from our DVC trips but they are still great trips. On our resort trips we tend to spend more time in the parks or exploring the World rather than enjoying our villa. We have had great trips in every type of room from a std. room at Pop to a Grand Villa at SSR.

But if you can't bear the thought of stuffing yourself into that mod room - I'll be happy to take it off your hands for you

 

[mgroshans]

Enjoy your trip. You will have a great time, remember: you're going to be at the happiest place on earth. Have fun telling your son.

 

[spiceycat]

you realize that the Pirate rooms are the furthest from the food court and main pool.

that say if your son is into Pirates don't think you will mind that much.

liked the food court at CBR and the pools. It has several pools. you will have fun. now it is not a DVC - but it is pretty nice. the size is nice too - unlike the other moderates it is a good size - as big as akl or wl.

the things you will miss - especially since you are used to a 1-bedroom (I do studios) - whirlpool tub, full kitchen, laundry in your room, although the one by pool side is that bad. plus the big one - moderates compared to DVC are crowded - they just are.

now for the great points - you can see Epcot and if you look for it mK fireworks. there are a couple of hammocks with a great view of the fireworks.

it also has a restuarant.

it is surprising close to Epcot - but no walking paths.

 

[Tara]

Tara - You are going to have a great trip. We stayed there for a few nights last year prior to switching to BLT. The pool is really great. The food court is pretty nice too - better than some of the DVC resorts. There is a nice pool bar if you need a cocktail. We used the buses the whole time and they were fine too.

The pool is really why I picked CBR - the Pirate room was secondary. I don't expect to use the food court much at all (we're doing the DxDP with breakfast out each morning and a signature dinner each night) but it will be nice to have that option! And while we might go moderate on occasion, we NEVER go without a rental car, so no worries on transportation.

I wish I had a mommy son trip planned! Pack and extra bag and don't worry about the laundry!

That's what I'm doing. Actually, I'm just packing the big suitcase and a carry-on, and some of the stuff won't come back as it'll live in the new third Owner's Locker.

Now I just have to survive the final week of surprise-keeping agony! Alex is counting down to our late-August trip and he says almost every day, "I wish we were going to Disney sooner!" It is SOOOOOO hard to keep quiet! And worse yet, I had to LIE to him and tell him he has a doctor's appointment on the official last day of school, which he's going to miss. (They already have 3 half days of 7:40-10:20 ...hello, that is NOT a half day!...at the end of the term, then the official last day is only 7:40-8:50. 70 minutes...what kind of craziness is that???) He was complaining bitterly to the babysitter yesterday about his "appointment" and she said it was all she could do to keep a straight face!) The packing is almost done, the plans are made, everythign is paid for (except the rental car, though I'll likely pre-pay it after the Alamo last-minute deals come out). Now I just need to decide once and for all how I'm going to reveal the surprise!

 

[Tara]

you realize that the Pirate rooms are the furthest from the food court and main pool.

that say if your son is into Pirates don't think you will mind that much.

Room location doesn't matter to me that much - the walk to the pool will be fine and we'll likely not use the food court at all, or not often. And we'll have a car so I have no qualms about driving over to the resort center if needed.

the things you will miss - especially since you are used to a 1-bedroom (I do studios) - whirlpool tub, full kitchen, laundry in your room, although the one by pool side is that bad. plus the big one - moderates compared to DVC are crowded - they just are.

Yes, I'll definitely miss the 1br! But I think we'll be having so much fun together that we won't care that much - and by the time we get home, it'll be just 60 days until we're back at WDW in a BCV 1br!

I was just chatting with my husband on the phone and had a moment of "how blessed am I that 'roughing it' is a moderate resort at Disney World???" That kind of puts it all into perspective for me.

now for the great points - you can see Epcot and if you look for it mK fireworks. there are a couple of hammocks with a great view of the fireworks.

Excellent points.

 

[wdrl]

Oh, we aren't going to have easy access to laundry...
I know CBR has laundry rooms, but they aren't that convenient).

We stayed at CBR last summer during a family gathering. You might be pleasantly surprised about the laundry rooms. They are much larger than the laundry rooms we saw at BLT and AKV-Jambo House. Each CBR "island" has a laundry room, and they are located adjacent to the quiet pool. You can do a load of laundry while hanging out at the pool. Last year, our room was very near the Barbados quiet pool and we were probably as close to the laundry room as we were when we stayed at BLT.

Have a great time in "the islands"!!!!!

 

[DizGirl20]

I totally get where you are coming from... but think of it this way: would you rather be at home or at Disney?! I would much rather be looking forward to spending a few nights at CBR than thinking about what I am bringing to the end-of-the-school-year pool party on Friday .

Have fun! BTW, we stayed at Coronado Springs a few years ago and loved it. I would have no problem staying Moderate (as long as I had my OL)!

Enjoy and let us know how your surprise trip works out - sounds like fun

 

[Chuck S]

I even like staying at POP Century, occasionally, but not for an extended vacation. I do agree as far as the laundry, you can't beat a one bedroom for convenience. We just returned from a studio stay and hated trudging to the laundry room, even though they are free.

But given the choice between no trip, or a moderate trip, I'd pick the moderate (or even a value.) You'll have a good time, but you will need to schedule a laundry day. I would hate packing dirty, summer worn, clothes.

 

[FigmentLady]

You'll have a great time. We stayed at POFQ 18 months ago and did. When we came back to the room to swim, I would bring our laundry down and do by the pool - that's where they were located. It worked out quite well - granted not as well as when laundry is in the room. Have a great time!

I couldn't help but notice, I think we'll be at Disney at the same time and I got so excited b/c I only put a ticker for Mickey's Not So Scary not for the Food and Wine! woo hoo!

 

[Tara]

But given the choice between no trip, or a moderate trip, I'd pick the moderate (or even a value.) You'll have a good time, but you will need to schedule a laundry day. I would hate packing dirty, summer worn, clothes.

Oh let me assure you I feel no need to schedule a laundry day. That is soooo not going to happen. Laundry by the pool really only works if there is someone to watch my son - he isn't a strong enough swimmer that I'd leave him on his own, even for a few minutes. Maybe if he wants to swim at the quiet pool it would work, but that's a big maybe! And since this trip is all about him and what he wants to do, I'll likely be bringing laundry back to do at home because something tells me he isn't going to choose laundry room over parks. There's just no substitute for putting a load of clothes in the in-room washer in the morning and putting them in the dryer when we come back for a break.

(Plus we get back to that whole picky-about-laundry thing and I really need the in-room w/d to make it work...and the ability to not have to cart a bunch of wet clothes back to my room to hang them up for drying because I actually put very few things of mine in the dryer. We all have our quirks, and that's mine. Well, one of them. )

 

[DenLo]

Have a great time with your son. I still have warm thoughts about CB from our first stay there in 1989 and our family gathering there last June confirmed that it is a wonderful place for families. I would have loved to had a Pirate Room. We were the Barbados rooms and the walk wasn't too bad to the main pool, maybe 10 minutes. And I believe the Trinidad rooms are about the same distance away, just across the resort.

You'll figure out what to do about the laundry when needed. It's just an option that you could do your son's laundry while at the quiet pool. The reality of it is that you are only one person and you can only handle so many pieces of luggage as well as keep track of your son while moving through the airport(s).

 

[Tara]

Have a great time with your son. I still have warm thoughts about CB from our first stay there in 1989 and our family gathering there last June confirmed that it is a wonderful place for families. I would have loved to had a Pirate Room. We were the Barbados rooms and the walk wasn't too bad to the main pool, maybe 10 minutes. And I believe the Trinidad rooms are about the same distance away, just across the resort.

Thanks. Nothing could be as far as we were a couple of times at BC/YC - we always joked we walked more in those hallways than we did in the parks! Once there was refurbishment going on during our stay and my sister "insisted" that they'd lengthened the hallways while we were out.

You'll figure out what to do about the laundry when needed. It's just an option that you could do your son's laundry while at the quiet pool. The reality of it is that you are only one person and you can only handle so many pieces of luggage as well as keep track of your son while moving through the airport(s).

Since I'm more than 75% packed already, I'm pretty sure the luggage won't be an issue. It'll just be 1 bigger checked bag, 1 carry-on (probably my son's tiny rolling bag that fits under the seat), a booster seat and my purse. Even with a lot of extra clothes, it isn't a lot of luggage; the nice thing about summer is that the clothes are all lightweight and compact - it's not like packing 12 pair of long pants and sweaters to go with them. In fact, last night I was thinking I have too many items packed for myself, but the big suitcase isn't even close to full yet. I just need to add makeup, shoes and a few more changes of clothes for Alex.

I'm planning on checking the bigger bag early before he's even with me at the airport (part of the surprise). He's a very experienced traveler and I'm not worried about keeping track of him in the airport, and when we arrive in Orlando, they luggage carts for baggage anyway. When we arrive at the resort, I'll be able to park reasonably close to the room, and bell services will handle the Lockers. The return will be more of the same...unless CBR starts offering RAC for Southwest, and then it will be even easier!

I'd certainly prefer in-room laundry but in the grand scheme of things, it isn't a big deal. Laundry was just the "issue" that brought me back to "this isn't my normal DVC experience" mindset and got me thinking.

What IS a big deal is that at this time next week, I'll be cleaning up my desk and writing my out-of-office message for my email!