CBR or Pop

[cooper_tish]

We have stayed at the CBR many times, just the 2 of us and loved it. Never stayed at the POP, but have stayed at ASM and the Sports with out 2 kiddos (2 & 5) Trying to decide if it is worth the extra money for the moderate resorts versus the Value.
Worried mostly about the transportation and pool differences...opinions appreciated!

 

[720L]

Pop wins hands down on transportation! CBR has a cooler pool (haven't stayed there yet and probably won't because it looks way too big=too many bus stops)--Pop doesn't have a slide--but at your kids ages they probably wouldn't go down it alone anyway.

 

[dancin Disney style]

The resort choice, IMO, depends on whether you are doing a mainly park trip or a resort trip.

If it's mainly a park trip the POP buses will be more user friendly. In particular with young kids.

If you will spend more time at the resort around the pool then CBR will be more fun for everyone.

When we do an R&R trip we always upgrade the resort.

 

[TheDisneyGenie]

Well you will find both good and bad with both. I have stayed at both and at POP the only real main beef I have is with the food court. Think they might have underestimated how big to build it. If you dont get there by 7:30 every morning you might as well forget it till around 10 or so. Busses at POP are pretty good although you might notice you have very long walks out of the parks to your pickup site Only exception is Hollywood where its kind of right in the middle.

CBR is huge..... The one time I stayed there the busses were pretty good. Pickup points are decent after you leave the parks. Food court is okay. About like POP IMHO. The pools......way better than POP. Main pool is awesome and the hottub well.....it's good after a long day in the parks

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We just did CBR. Never been to POP.

We thoroughly enjoyed CBR and will go back again. We stayed in Jamaica 45. 3 minute walk to the pool and a 2 minute walk to the bus stop. Buses came very fast and we never had to stand even though it was a busy time of year.

The pool was fantastic. The food court was good. Shopping area is nice.

I am very glad we stayed at CBR especially after we saw the bus stops to POP at the parks at night. We did go during spring break (not VERY crowded) so there were lots of teenagers at the POP bus stop. Lots of loud cheerleaders. I was just glad I didn't have to be at the same hotel with them too.

 

[CruznLexi]

We have done both. I am POP beliver. We like the resort the rooms are smaller at POP. How much time do you spend in the room? Pool has no waterslide or hot toub. Transportation at POP has only pick up. I think CBR has 6 or 7. You need a car if you stay a CBR unless you have a prefered room. we waited along time for internal shuttle at CBR at least 30 minutes. We gave up and walked. Nice big food court at POP. Can get busy in the am but we have been to disney 10 or more times so we don't get in a hurry. We love the TS at CBR. We eat there a lot. We still prefer the price of POP. We also have bought into DVC and stay at Pop on our heavy point days.
Lexi

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We love CBR and so do our kids! The grounds are beautiful and spacious and relaxing. We have never stayed in a preferred room and never needed a car as we have always been under a 5 minute walk to OPR and a bus stop. The rooms are much larger than a value and we have had excellent bus service! The new main pool is fantastic and the new children's pool is like a mini water park!

 

[mom of princessx2]

We went thru this a couple months ago for our upcoming trip. I was fortunate enough to have 40% pin, so cost wasn't a big factor with only a difference of about $330. I decided to show my almost 5yo DD the resort pictures and when she saw the pictures from Pop she said "Mommy I think I want to live there!" Thats all it took and I booked Pop. I think the atmosphere will be perfectly Disney and my DDs will have a magical time.

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

Although I haven't stayed at Pop as of yet (have stayed at Music and will stay at Pop this September)...CBR wins hands down for me for several reasons.

The 1st being the lay-out of the resort at CBR...I absolutely LOVE IT! After being in the parks all day with crowds of people I like coming back to a resort that is spread out and quiet. It feels like a vacation within a vacation and the themeing, landscaping and atmosphere is wonderful at CBR!

The 2nd being having a fridge in the room and not having to pay extra for it like you do at the Value Resorts.

The 3rd being the rooms at CBR are larger with extra space and privacy for changing and getting ready in the mornings.

The 4th each island at CBR has their own quiet pool as well as the use of the main pool with slides, hot tub and cool spa as well as the fantastic children's pool. The quiet pools are just that...quiet and each time I have ever gone we were the only ones using the pool.

The 5th there is a sit down restaurant as well as a food court. The food court is well layed out with a lot of different choices.

The 6th CBR does not share a bus with any other resort. It's quick, efficient and they have an internal shuttle as well that makes a loop around the whole resort should you not feel like walking. We have always stayed in Aruba and Jamaica and it's only a 5 minute walk to OPR. There are several bus stops...so never a long walk and they don't get over crowded. If you just miss a bus another one will be along shortly.

The 7th CBR has it's own lake with boat and bike rentals.

CBR is a fantastic resort that is well worth the extra cost!

 

[MinnieTink]

We have stayed at both. We were a little nervous about staying at Pop this past November, after a bad Value experience years ago, and being spoiled by a couple of Deluxe visits. I have to say, we LOVED POP and would stay there again. I thought the buses were better at POP. I liked that there was only one bus stop as opposed to the multiple stops at CBR. If a bus got full there was one right behind it, or at most a 2 minute wait for one. So great!

We only used the bowling pin pool one night. It was fine. No slide, but it was November so a little chilly at night for swimming for us.

I think the food courts were not much different at either resort. A few different items but not too much. Both can get crowded at the usual mealtimes.

Our rooms at both resorts were always clean. We did get towel animals at POP which we never had at CBR.

I guess I am going to vote for POP. It is a value that feels like more than a value.

 

[tinawv]

If I have stayed at both, and if I had a choice I would go with CBR. It is a more layed back resort than POP, and you can also see the Epcot fireworks from the beach. We never had problems with the buses either.

 

[ave&audsmom]

The first time we took our kids (at the time, ages 3 & 5), we stayed at Pop & loved it. We went back for a weekend trip with my sis & family & stayed at POR since she has a family of five. My kids kept asking to go back to Pop! Yes, it was more relaxing for me @ POR, but the rooms weren't that much bigger & I didn't think it was worth the added expense. Our dd's loved the Goofy water jets, which has the wonderful foam padding on the ground, so if they fall, it's no big deal. They enjoyed the kiddie pool, which was right next to the Hippity Dippity pool. If you decide on Pop, I would recommend the 70's building lakeside, since it is quiet, plus it's very close to the Goofy jets & kiddie pool.

 

[KSG'sDisneyMem]

I love the POP and have stayed there a few times. I love the variety offered at the food court, it has its own bus transportation, the lake is beautiful to take a stroll along the walkway and you can see EPCOT fireworks from behind the 50's buildings near the lake. We discovered, on our trip in Dec 08, that we could also see Wishes at MK off in the distance. DGD loved the Goofy jets play area and the bowling pin pool. DD and DSIL loved the hippy dippy pool and the pool-side bar located there I am staying at CBR for the first time next month. I am able to try a moderate because of military 40% off code. We are staying in a pirate room as a surprise for DGS 5th b-day. He does not even know he is going to Disney World for his b-day. He will not know until they get off the plane in Orlando and he sees me! Five weeks from today. Can't wait. You will love whatever you choose. If saving money is important, as it is to so many of us these days, then try the POP. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. If you need a more spread out resort and more exciting pools the CBR may be better for you.

 

[CinderBelle]

We have stayed at both POP and CBR and I would definately say we prefer CBR. Both resorts have they're good and bad points but we had an amazing experience at CBR. We stayed in Martinique, so we were close to the main building & food court.

We thought the kids would be sold on the atmosphere at Pop Century but they actually liked CBR better! The pools at CBR are far better too!

We didn't have any issues with the buses at CBR- actually found the wait to go back to the resort longer for Pop. Good luck with your choice & have a great trip!