Best Moderate?

[jenfur]

I usually stay at ASMo or Music , but we want to try a Moderate this year . I have no idea which one. We will have two rooms anyway so room capactiy isn't important , neither is room size really because AS have always been big enough. I will be traveling with 3 kids under 9 and my Mom, brother and DH. Theming is really important to me - the more the better. I was thinking about PO, maybe the magnolia side? I just want something with a great theme, that may not be a deluxe , but lets me know I have moved up a little from the AllStars.

 

[sgtpet]

Coronado Springs, hands down is the best.

 

[Buzz2001]

They are all great because you at WDW. You'll get a different answer for each post and this has been an endless debate. It all depends on what your tastes are. They each have there own good and bad points.

But if you like a Mexican/SW American theme, a great pool and an awesome food court...CSR could be the place for you.

Check out my info page below.

Good luck deciding!!

 

[garrett79]

Here's another vote for Coronado Springs. My absolute favorite of the moderates......Great theming, great pool, great food court, great sit down restaurants. In my top three favorite resorts in WDW behind WL and OKW. Good luck, although it isnt likely any will disappoint.

 

[SeaSpray]

I love Caribbean Beach Resort, and I know that kids of all ages love the theming there. It can also be a romantic place, especially at night

Like Buzz said, there is no "best moderate". They offer very similar amenities, so it's basically which theming you like the best. However, All of the rooms at CBR have just completed a major refurbishment and are really nice!

Take a look at my CBR web pages, the links are below, to get a good idea of what that resort is like

 

[Gregg]

be careful about Coronado Springs. We stayed there in 1999/2000 and our room was SO FAR AWAY from the main food area that getting food there or getting refillable mugs was COMPLETELY out of the question.

Decent rooms, nothing spectacular. The main pool was great though. Kids loved that. I wish I could remember which building we were in. I'll try to look it up.

Staying at PO-R next month for the first time.

have fun,
Gregg

 

[yepod]

What Gregg said about CSR I repeat about CBR. We found it can be a LONNNNNG walk to the food court/store.

If walking is not a problem then the theming at CBR is great. Plenty of pools & some small sandy beach areas around the lagoon. The maps on the DIS give you a pretty good idea of the layouts. I have heard the same about CSR.

I have stayed at POR & the pools are great also. They don't have the sandy areas like the other 2 tho, but do have a play area by the main pool.

You're not going to get the bright/huge characters/instruments like at the All Stars, but after visiting one last trip (while staying at the CBR) I would not want to stay there. It looked too barracks like!

 

[eeyore0062]

Well truly this is all a matter of personal preference. In other words, ask 4 different people, get 4 different responses. All of the moderates are nice, and appeal to different tastes. If you want a beachy atmosphere, then the Caribbean may be for you. The rooms here are a bit bigger, and you have a sand beach. The pool is not as "cool", and the food court is not quite as big, but it was just refurbished last year, and looks sparkling new.

If you would like a taste of the old south with "Gone With the Wind" type mansions and bayou plantation houses, then you may like PO-R, formally Dixie Landings. We have found this to be one of the most laid back of all of the moderates. It is large, but we haven't found anything to be really inconvenient. The pool is nice and the atmosphere is has an "old south" charm.

PO-FQ-- Bright colors, mardi gras theming, nice pool with a "cool slide". This is the smallest of the resorts and the most compact. All of the rooms are fairly convenient to the food court, pool and bus stop no matter where your room is. It is probably the easiest moderate to navigate.

CSR--- the most spread out. It is a taste of old Mexico, complete with the ancient ruins and Mayan Temple. The pool is definitely the best of all of the resorts. It is a convention resort, so you may see less kids and more people in suits. The one draw back we have found is that it only has one sink in the room, whereas the other moderates have 2. If you have more than 2 people in your room, this could be a concern.

Personally, we like PO-R the best, but haven't tried CSR or PO-FQ. While we really enjoyed CBR, we were a little far from the food court for it to be convenient, especially to use the refillable mugs.

My advise would be to pick the theming that suits you, and try it. While you are there, visit the others, so you have a good idea for your next trip.

Have a great time

 

[eeyore0062]

Well truly this is all a matter of personal preference. In other words, ask 4 different people, get 4 different responses. All of the moderates are nice, and appeal to different tastes. If you want a beachy atmosphere, then the Caribbean may be for you. The rooms here are a bit bigger, and you have a sand beach. The pool is not as "cool", and the food court is not quite as big, but it was just refurbished last year, and looks sparkling new.

If you would like a taste of the old south with "Gone With the Wind" type mansions and bayou plantation houses, then you may like PO-R, formally Dixie Landings. We have found this to be one of the most laid back of all of the moderates. It is large, but we haven't found anything to be really inconvenient. The pool is nice and the atmosphere is has an "old south" charm.

PO-FQ-- Bright colors, mardi gras theming, nice pool with a "cool slide". This is the smallest of the resorts and the most compact. All of the rooms are fairly convenient to the food court, pool and bus stop no matter where your room is. It is probably the easiest moderate to navigate.

CSR--- the most spread out. It is a taste of old Mexico, complete with the ancient ruins and Mayan Temple. The pool is definitely the best of all of the resorts. It is a convention resort, so you may see less kids and more people in suits. The one draw back we have found is that it only has one sink in the room, whereas the other moderates have 2. If you have more than 2 people in your room, this could be a concern. The food court can be very inconvenient here, as well, in fact, in some cases, more so than the one at CBR. The pool is also not very centrally located.

Personally, we like PO-R the best, but haven't tried CSR or PO-FQ. While we really enjoyed CBR, we were a little far from the food court for it to be convenient, especially to use the refillable mugs.

My advise would be to pick the theming that suits you, and try it. While you are there, visit the others, so you have a good idea for your next trip.

Have a great time

 

[Buzz2001]

Gregg

You could have filled your mugs at Siestas at the pool instead of trekking to the main building

 

[JerseyJanice]

Another remark about Gregg's concern...we were at CSR in 2/99, and they were building a bridge over the part of the lake to make a short-cut from the main area (food court, lobby) to the main pool.

It was not open before we left, but it seemed to me it would help make the rooms in the Cabanas more convenient.

 

[las3888]

Lots of varied responses, which is to be expected!

Here's a vote for PO-R. The reason I like it the best of the moderates is that I do think the theming is the best (just my opinion!). The landscaping is out of this world with lots of beautiful trees. The others seem like strip-malls for some reason. Maybe the trees are not as mature. The rooms in the manor side I think are the nicest. The grounds and look of the resort really rival some of the premium resorts.

Again, just my 2 cents, as everybody has their own!!

 

[Gregg]

The Siestas didn't seem to be open all that much when we were there. We just bought a case of soda off-site. Much cheaper.

Gregg

 

[jwwi]

Just another opinion, I have stayed at every moderate except CSR. PO-R, two visits, once in the AB section, rooms with a very rustic theme, my children were younger so enjoyed the rooms wood beds. The second visit many years later we stayed in the mansion section, I enjoyed the brighter colors, and we were lucky to get a corner room so we had two windows. We were very close to the bus stops both visits, alittle bit of a walk to the main pool, but the quiet pools were very close. Our first trip we walked over to POFQ so the kids could swim in the pool, not sure if they even let you do this anymore, even if both resorts are open.

I stayed at POFQ once with adults only, it happened to be very cold when we were there, so we really were happy that we were so close to the main building. We were there in early December so the decorations were up, I thought they did an excellent job. I am happy that I had the opportunity to stay there at least once, and for anyone who wants to stay at a smaller, more compact moderate I hope they reopen soon.

Lastly I have stayed at CBR twice. I really Love this resort, and am really looking forward to our 4/21-4/25 visit. My husband and I are going without kids for this trip. I chose this location because of the beach theming. After a very mild, but gray winter, I look forward to a sunny FL vacation in the Spring. I feel the colors and layout of the resort are ideal. I have been fortunate to be relatively close to the Main bldg and pool on both visits. But I do travel with a rental car, so if needed we could drive over. I am anxious to see the rooms now that the remodeling is complete. Good luck with your plans, I really don't think that you can go wrong no matter which resort you choose.

 

[Nolcrest]

Another thing to consider - if you will have the 3 kids and 2 adults staying together in one room you can do so at PO-R, in the bayou section. They are the only moderate offering accommodations with 5 to a room. They have a trundle bed making it convenient for those families with 3 children. Our family was very happy with PO-R. It is a charming resort and yes it did feel laid back. They also have a "fishing hole" near the main pool that offers catch and release fishing. I would definately go back to PO-R. That being said we will be trying CBR in July, just because we like to experience the different resorts. I hope I like it as much as PO-R.

 

[Mickey76]

Like a few others have stated, it is a matter of preference. My vote is for the CSR. Piglet203 and I will be staying there in May and we can't wait. As for accomadating 5 to a room, maybe POR is the best choice. However, both Piglet203 and I have a family of 5 people and before we met, we had gone to WDW with our families and stayed in off-site rooms that are smaller than the moderates with little or no trouble. Good luck in making your decision and have a great time!!!

Mickey76