Am I in a rut?

[kaffinito]

Only try someplace different if you really want to. If you're lucky enough to find a resort that feels like "home" at WDW then I'd stick with it.

 

[dansyr2514]

I think you know if you've made the right decision. I originally booked WL for part of our trip but something just didn't feel right so I cancelled and booked CSR. We'll be doing either BCV or AKV for half of our trip. Now that I changed to CSR for the first part I'm really excited. When I had WL booked I just had a nagging feeling that I wasn't doing the right thing. So I say...go with your gut.

 

[CampbellScot]

I was excited when we tried AKL several years ago. We HATED the resort and would not go back......but I am glad we tried it.

This made me laugh! We also tried AKL on our last trip with the kids...I won't say we "hated" it...but we were not happy there and if I had allowed myself, I'd have been mad we hadn't just stayed at our beloved Wilderness Lodge! That is always my worry...that we will try somewhere new with our precious vacation time and we won't like it as much as we like Wilderness Lodge. Or if we do a mod that we won't love it as much as POFQ. I absolutely LOVE that resort.

Which leads me to the question of the OP...you may be in a rut, but if you are happy there, then that's great! I may be a bit biased as I LOATHE change of any kind...that being said, POFQ is not like any other moderate. It's size gives it a unique quality! I visited friends who were at Riverside and I couldn't believe how LONG it took to find their room...and then how LONG it took to get to the bus stop at that resort...and then watch two buses pass by b/c they were full. It seemed an awful lot of time wasted at the resort waiting or walking. But then I think of our vacations as time spent in the parks.

I truly appreciate the compact size and first pick up/drop off of POFQ. I love the theme...I love the boat to DTD.

I always play with the idea of trying new resorts...I'm glad we tried AKL. We are thinking about trying Beach Club this year...but I'm thinking we may end up at Wilderness Lodge anyway.

 

[honeydiane1953]

I always stay at CR tower room. In April my DD and DGD and I will stay at WL. With the room discount I would have been crazy to stay at CR again. I am looking forward to going to WL. Trying something different is risky but hey I hope to go again.

 

[Goldenbear6]

In 93 days we'll be on our way to the world for our annual trip. We're booked at POFQ. I'm about to make our final payment for the trip and have started seconded guessing our hotel stay.

We've stayed at POFQ several times and enjoy it immensely. We like the resort size, rooms and theme. When people ask me my favorite moderate I respond POFQ without hesitation. But now I'm starting to think that maybe the reason I like POFQ is because I've stayed there the most. We stayed at POR before and although it is very nice, I wasn't captivated and in love with it. We've never stayed at CSR onlyl because we live in South Texas and I'm concerned we would end up in an area that looks like home. (I love San Antonio but I go to Disney to escape.) So that leaves us with CBR. I've always hesitated because I grew up in South Florida and the beach doesn't hold the awe and adventure because I live within a couple miles of the ocean for so long.

So, is it me? Is it because I recently turned 40 and I've become a fuddy-duddy that doesn't like change or things new and different? Should I go with what works or throw caution to the wind and hop resorts?

(Disclaimer: I'm limited to the moderate level this year because next year we are doing Poly/Cruise so the compromise is moderate only... otherwise we'd be at AKL.)

Sounds like you answered your own question. The POFQ is the best of the moderates. Why stay anywhere else?

 

[MMrules]

Well I have the opposite of your dilemma. We are from New England so tropical beaches are thrilling to me!!! We have stayed at CBR 4 times and I love it. I love the tropical island feel and looking at sandy beaches (beats looking at snow). I have always wanted to stay at POFQ and almost did last time, but my boys wanted the pirate themed rooms which they absolutely loved .

I think we all go where we are comfortable when we are choosing our hotels. I will say that my husband and I stayed at the Beach Club prior to children (which has a New England feel) and we were very happy with the hotel even though it was similar to home.

Maybe you could look at some resort photos and go with what is calling to your heart. You want to be happy on vacation, but I understand wanting to try something new also. I always look at POFQ and think it is absolutely beautfiul from the photos, but then I pick CBR because I want the palm trees and tropical feel since I don't live in that environment.

If you know that you have Poly next year which has beaches, palm trees, etc. you may like the CBR in that area of themeing (although it doesn't compare with Poly in many ways, out of the moderates it is more island like). I love the CBR and will go back again, but I do want to try POFQ next time we go just to be different. Good luck choosing!

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I think it is nice to stay at the resort you love. You know you and your family will be happy there. My family always stayed at CR standard view and we were very happy there. One time, my sister invited us to stay w/her at CR in a tower MK view room and it was great! We were glad we tried it. Yes the room was the same, but the VIEW was fantastic. She then convinced us to stay at the Swan and we loved being able to walk to/from Epcot & the Studios, and we enjoyed the boardwalk area. So it is nice to try other resorts & see what you think. That being said, we bought DVC at BLT. We know we love the location, walk to/from MK, the monorail, the restaurants. We do hope to try other DVC resorts too. You did mention that next year, you will try Poly., so I think your plan is fine. Have a great vacation!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

OK, I was in the exact same situation last fall. We had stayed at POFQ for several trips in a row and we decided to try CBR.

I found I was more excited than usual about the trip because I was really excited to try something new. We actually loved CBR too. DH and I loved it equally to POFQ and my mom liked POFQ better and my dad liked CBR better so we were split as a group.

Now we are trying POR for the first time in a few weeks and I am really excited about that too.

I say try something new - it's fun to see what else is out there.

 

[aubriee]

We've stayed at POFQ several times and enjoy it immensely. We like the resort size, rooms and theme. When people ask me my favorite moderate I respond POFQ without hesitation. But now I'm starting to think that maybe the reason I like POFQ is because I've stayed there the most. We stayed at POR before and although it is very nice, I wasn't captivated and in love with it. We've never stayed at CSR onlyl because we live in South Texas and I'm concerned we would end up in an area that looks like home. (I love San Antonio but I go to Disney to escape.) So that leaves us with CBR. I've always hesitated because I grew up in South Florida and the beach doesn't hold the awe and adventure because I live within a couple miles of the ocean for so long.

I too live in Texas, but love the Cabana and Casita sections of CSR. Now if I was placed in the Ranchos I would not be happy, but so far with four stays there I have not been. Even though POFQ has always been my favorite resort, I still like to change resorts frequently. I go to WDW 3-5 times a year and have stayed at all level of resorts and enjoyed each one for different reasons. I say switch it up and you might be surprised. I now like CSR as much as I do POFQ. In fact, I like their pool and restaurants more than POFQ and just love their bus service. They have the best bus service of any WDW resort I've ever stayed at. Also CSR was just recently refurbished and now has very comfortable queen size beds. The last time I was there I was thinking that the rooms at both POFQ and PORS could do with a refurb. I love both PO resorts, but the rooms are starting to look a little shabby. Saying all of that, nothing can beat the boats to DTD.

CBR is my least favorite among the moderate resorts. I am staying there in Oct, but just because I haven't stayed there for awhile. Again I like changing resorts for a change of pace.