Best moderate

[Teacherali1]

What is the best moderate resort option for transportation to the parks? We will have a 9 year old and a 20 month old when we go next year. Thank you for any help!

 

[Olaf63]

All are fine. It comes down to theme preference. My family loves CSR because of the few extra perks/amenities.

 

[Teacherali1]

What are the extra perks that you like?

 

[Brenda Kim]

I have stayed at all three and CBR was right next to Epcot and HS, PO was close to Epcot and closest to Magic Kingdom. Coronado is right down the road from AK and close to HS and Epcot, and a little closer to MK then CBR. The issue with Coronado is that it has a convention center and that can make the buses crowded and food court, if a convention is going on at the time of your visit.

Each of them have the multiple bus stops around the resorts as they are very spread out. So if you get to your closest bus stop the bus may have to make up to 4 more stops to just leave the resort area to get to the park. Having stayed at each I would say POFQ is the fastest, only because with the MK route it only stops there and doesn't not have to run around POR portion of the resort, although for the rest of the parks POR/Fq seemed to take the longest of the moderates.

I would say it depends upon which park you plan to spend the most time at as to which would have the shortest bus ride. If you plan to spend most of your time at MK, then POFq would get you there and back the quickest.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

POR. Large main pool. Many quiet pools. Yeehaa Bob. Great QS. Pizza delivered. Well landscaped. Bus arrival monitor at the stop.

 

[Kae]

We found CSR had great transportation

 

[DisBuckMan]

CSR has the best bus service of the moderates.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

CSR is generally thought to have the best bus service...but anyone can have a good or bad bus experience at any of the resorts.

 

[Brenda Kim]

Besides transportation consider this when choosing: CBR is the only one to have a splash area which is great for the kiddos who don't want to get in the pool and possibly great for your 20 month old. CBR and PO have delivery pizza service, CSR has a limited menu room service. CBR recently renovated their rooms and they are wonderful, each come with a small pull down bed. CSR is the furthest away from the airport, but only by a mile or so. Each have similar type food courts and a table service restaurant, however the table service restaurant Boatwrights in POR does not get good rating from guests. PO has boat service to DTD, which is nice and relaxing. PO also has horse drawn carriage rides and cane pole fishing available. A pp mentioned Yehaa Bob at POR and he is AMAZING, however with a 20 month old, I highly doubt your whole party would partake in the show. His shows are Wednesday -Saturday 8:30-11:45 PM, in the lounge area.

Each have a playground and hammocks for relaxing, a lovely lake to walk around, nature and running trails.

Because CSR has a convention center, it has more dining choices then the other two.

Truthfully, you can't go wrong with any of them. They are all wonderful. I enjoyed staying at all three.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

We've done por and csr the last 3 trips. Bus service, csr without a doubt. The ambience goes to por but this is a personal thing. Hs, bb, and Epcot are super close to csr. Mk is farthest and it takes about 10-15 depending on traffic and what time you get to mk.

 

[HopperFan]

Stayed at them all.

CSR has some of the best transportation on property. It is centrally located and no park is far. Animal Kingdom, Epcot and DHS all in spitting distance and it's right at exit ramp to main road into MK. We've never waited long and never had any issues with getting a seat unless we leave the park at closing but that issue is the same for all hotels. Because it is a convention resort many guests are working and at the front of the hotel. They are not at the pool and not using the buses. To us it's a real perk to be at a convention hotel for those reasons.

POR/POFQ have the plus of the boat to DTD if you are planning to spend time there. The buses are okay, but we make sure if at POR to get on the bus at the South Depot or we are likely to be standing.

CBR has lots of stops and when we stay there we drive everywhere.

 

[Alexsandra]

POFQ all the way. I went with my then 18 month old and a 4 year old and have been every year after that. I tried all the moderates and POFQ is the best when traveling with a baby or toddler. It is the smallest resort on WDW. The furthest room is no more than 5 min. walk to the main building. It only has one bus stop so you are not waiting an extra 15-20 min. in the bus for it to circle the whole complex. This is especially helpful when you are coming back at night with a stroller, standing and holding a sleeping child. It has a boat to DTD and you get to use all the facilities of POR. IT is a beautiful and quiet resort and never has too many people at the pool because of its small size. Your ( year old will love the dragon pool and movie night in the park. You can easily walk over to POR for fishing or campfires at night too. I really recommend taking the boat to DTD. It is a super fun ride for the kids and give you an opportunity to try all kinds of great restaurants in that area. My son love T-REX which has moving dinosaurs and a meteorite shower spectacle going on every 20 min. I recommend booking a garden room and asking for building 5 which is the closest to the main building, pool, and bus stop. You can read my review on POFQ my blog: http://disneyplaning101.blogspot.ca/2011/11/disneys-new-orleans-french-quarter.html

 

[nilla]

If we're just going by location, CBR. If we're looking at other factors, you can't go wrong with CBR or CSR.

 

[**Red**]

Stayed at this Resort 4 out of the 6 trips to WDW and it is by far my favorite. The Caribbean Beach Resort restaurant Shutters is fantastic, the Resort is really beautiful and a lot of fun, and the pool and slide is awesome.

 

[elizabethswan]

we have stayed at csr and pofq and enjoyed both. one nice thing about pofq for little ones is that it is small and easier to get to the buses. a drawback however is lack of dining options unless you go to por. not sure if this helps.

 

[Kevin355]

I have always had a great time at CBR, but that is just my opinion. I have heard good things about POFQ and was thinking about staying there this upcoming trip. Two things played in our decision to go back to CBR...Free Dining and the fact that my wife really was torn about not staying at CBR. I have never had an issue with transportation. We took our sons back when they were smaller...4 and 6. Not your kids ages, but still young. I do not think that you can go wrong and it is about your preferences.

Good Luck and enjoy your vacation.

 

[DiscoMickeyMouse]

POR, followed by POFQ. They are both so relaxing and like being in another world. POR gets the slight nudge since its larger and the food court, gift shop' and main pool are better.

 

[JennyDrake]

Bus service at WDW can be ANYTHING at ANY TIME for ANY resort. There is no such thing as a resort with "good" or "bad" bus service; the only caveat I would add its it seems that bus service to DTD is notoriously hit or miss at any resort....

IMHO pros and cons of each moderate:

POR- beautiful resort, decent TS, piano player, plenty of quiet pools that have deep ends, boat ride to DTD, food court w/ many varied GOOD options: can be a hike to the main building and several bus stops within the resort. (Personal note: as I am from the South, I am not wowed by the theming.)

POFQ - lovely views, small so nothing is a hike, tasty food at food court, very friendly staff, boat ride to DTD: food court has very limited seating - you may find yourself without a seat during only moderately busy times; as it is both small and very popular rooms are not always available; does not always have AP or other discounts

CBR - great theming, large rooms, QUIET inside the rooms, good centralized location, plenty of quiet pools that have deep ends: large and very spread out-can be a hike to food court; check in, etc. in different building than food court; food court is average, sit down is terrible. (Note: if you plan to use the food court and refillable mugs I would definitely pay for a preferred room.)

CSR- beautiful lake, fresher food court food, surprisingly good TS, gym facilities: big and spread out, some sections are close to half mile from main building, (Note: if you plan to use the food court and refillable mugs I would definitely pay for a preferred room.)