CB vs CSR compared to POP

[Fabooliss]

We just booked for a week in December during free dining, soooo excited! First Christmas trip and first time in a moderate. Our other trips, we stayed at POP and went in January.

I booked Carribean Beach, but I'm wondering, now I've done some reading, if Coronado Springs might be better? I like theming at both, and either way, we'll be in a preferred room, as that is the only choice. Price is almost the same.

I'd love to hear thoughts on the two resorts, and compared to POP (since that's what we know) on
- buses: How much waiting, and how much sitting on buses to get to the parks (DH gets car sick on buses and DS doesn't wait well. )
- I read that the buses at CSR aren't as busy because it is a convention hotel, is that true in December /during free dining?
-room size, we will likely bring an air mattress for DS as sharing a bed just doesn't work well for my kids. There was just barely enough room for this at POP, is one resort better than the other?

- Also, is one of the resorts more decorated for Christmas than the other?
Thanks!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

CSR has some of the best bussing on property in terms of wait times. All three listed resorts will even out as far as "how much ride time" you look at.

Room sizes at CBR and CSR are similar, although you could potentially ask for a room with a murphy bed at CBR and avoid an air mattress, depending on your children's heights. CSR lacks murphy beds.

 

[Fabooliss]

Thanks!

 

[dansdad]

What you will get at CBR/CSR over Pop:

Bigger rooms
Queen beds
Ceiling fans
Coffee maker in room
Double sinks (at CBR only, CSR has single)
Pool Slides
Hot tubs
Multiple covered bus stops
Table Service restaurant
Lusher grounds
Relaxed laid back atmosphere

As @_auroraborealis_ stated, generally CSR has very good bus service. We have not stayed at CSR but have 9 trips now at CBR and we feel the bus service to be great. Having said that, any WDW resort can have bus issues.

Also as @_auroraborealis_ stated, CBR does have rooms with a Murphy Bed but parties of 5 get priority for them. You can request one though. Also, the rooms at CBR are larger than at CSR, 340 sq. ft vs 314 sq. ft.

The Moderates are pretty much decorated the same for the Holidays.

You really can't go wrong with either one.

 

[Robin1]

Hi, We just stayed at CSR for the first time and it is now my favorite resort. We have mainly stayed at Pop Century but no more after this trip. The grounds are beautiful and made me feel very relaxed. We had a standard room in the Cabanas section and every night had the best view of Hollywood Studios fireworks right out side our door. The buses were great never waited too long either at the resort or in the parks. I cannot wait to stay here again.

 

[isabellea]

Stayed at CSR last summer and at Pop last February. Pop is my least favourite of all the resorts we stayed at. I really don't like the theming, the food court was mediocre imo and I don't like the bus stop where you wait standing. We stayed in the Rancho section close to the Dig pool at CSR and we fell in love with the resort! The only section I wouldn't book is Casitas where you have the preferred rooms. I would book Business Class in the Cabanas instead. The food options are great (Siesta Cantina at the pool was good for breakfast and lunch), Cafe Rix for snacks, food court for CS and we loved the TS restaurant Maya Grill. Having queen beds instead of double beds was also very welcome and we liked having the wood panels instead of the curtain to separate the bathroom area and the beds. Finally, the buses at CSR were the best ones we experiences. Yes there's a total of 4 stops but we never had any issue sitting in the bus and never waited more than 5-10 minutes. We were also waiting sitting on a covered bench instead of standing between chains at Pop.

We are going back to WDW post-cruise next Spring break and my DH who is super frugal said never again at Pop even if cheaper! We will either go back to CSR or try POFQ. DH really wants to go back to CSR while I want to try a new resort (but don't mind at all going back to CSR).