CBR or POR with 5 and 2 yr old

[Marsheliz]

I previously had a CBR trip booked but wasn't all excited like normal.... Just looks sooo big. I cancelled that trip.

Was thinking of booking POP but I am just scared I will not like it, as the reviews are so mixed...

POR just looks so beautiful, almost like a Deluxe. If we went with POR, what to request? I don't care for the décor in the Alligator Bayou in the pictures.

 

[dansdad]

Having stayed at POR and CBR, CBR is our favorite hands down. We prefer CBR's food court, TS restaurant and pool. With the ages of your kids, the Pirate Themed splash area would be great. We also like the fact that it is such a nice change of pace from the craziness of the parks, so laid back and relaxing. Even when it is at capacity, it never feels like it. We always feel like we're the only ones staying in our building. As far as being spread out, yes it is. However, unless you are in the Pirate Themed rooms in Trinidad South the walk to OPR and the main pool are not bad, even with little ones. There are over 850 non-preferred rooms within 5 minutes of OPR and the Main Pool.

Don't get me wrong, we liked POR too. We just happen to prefer CBR for the above reasons.

 

[DJFan88]

They're not that big as some make it seem. both are completely manageable if you have no heath issues, in fact, the walk around is what I find enjoyable about the mod's. the scenery is excellent. However, with the littler kids, I see where you may want it less sprawling. So..... just book the preferred rooms. Both places have them and you'll be near all the good stuff. Personally I like POR better but the kids liked CBR when they were younger, although POR is their favorite. CBR has the littler kids splash section at the main pool, though. POR seem shadier and more pleasant to me, with an awesome food court with really good counter service options, and you can walk to POFQ (not that bad, esp. if you had a stroller for your kids). The alligator bayou are the preferred rooms, and really, they are nice!!!! Also,if you request mansions they are close too.
If you want POR and really don't want alligator, for the closest room, you could book a riverview (added cost), or even just a reg. room, and request a lower floor at a mansion like Magnolia or Acadia.

 

[Marsheliz]

Thanks guys. I just don't know what to do. POR just looks so tranquil and beautiful.. CBR looks like paradise but I have just seen more negative reviews for this one.

 

[dansdad]

Thanks guys. I just don't know what to do. POR just looks so tranquil and beautiful.. CBR looks like paradise but I have just seen more negative reviews for this one.

I know how you feel. Before we stayed at CBR we had wanted to and were dissuaded to try it for 2 trips by negative reviews. After getting a Free Dining PIN and only Fort Wilderness and CBR being available we decided to give it a try. We fell in love and have not been able to pull ourselves away and stay somewhere else our last 4 trips.

The way I look at it is you can find plenty of negative reviews for every WDW resort. But this is Disney and even if you have an issue, they are great for taking care of it.

 

[maplevale]

We stayed at POR last winter with our 9 month old and DD4. DD4 had no issues walking around the resort and absolutely LOVED the pool, slide and palyground! We did request a mansion room - they were good sized rooms (for a basic hotel, we had a pack and play and a double stroller).

 

[ateam79828592]

We have stayed at CSR (1 yr old & 4 yr old), then CBR (4 mos, 2 yr, 5 yr) and POFQ (1, 3, 6 and then again with 2, 4, 7). We ended liking POFQ the best for our family because of
1) compact size
2) boat to DTD
3) smaller slide (even 2 yr old loved it)
4) able to walk to POR to use larger pool / larger food court, if desired.
5) 1 bus stop (although it does sometimes share with POR which has 4).

we liked the zero-entry pool at CBR, altho the kids loved the pirate splash area...the parents didn't so much as it was HOT sitting on side watching kids. We did not like how spread out the walk was. it would have been fine without kids. but with kids it was a hassle for one parent to "run" to the food court / gift shop for anything. CBR also has the most bus stops of any of the mods, so it seemed like we rode around the resort itself for awhile every time we rode the buses.

We have found for our family the number of bus stops and the compactness of the resorts is most important in deciding among the mod choices. Each family is different though. Read through every one's pros/cons for your choices and see which you think will match most closely to your family's style.

 

[Marsheliz]

I know how you feel. Before we stayed at CBR we had wanted to and were dissuaded to try it for 2 trips by negative reviews. After getting a Free Dining PIN and only Fort Wilderness and CBR being available we decided to give it a try. We fell in love and have not been able to pull ourselves away and stay somewhere else our last 4 trips.

The way I look at it is you can find plenty of negative reviews for every WDW resort. But this is Disney and even if you have an issue, they are great for taking care of it.

Yeah, you are right.. even if we found a reason to not like it, I am sure they would take care of us.. It's just hard because there are so many beautiful resorts to pick from.

 

[Marsheliz]

We stayed at POR last winter with our 9 month old and DD4. DD4 had no issues walking around the resort and absolutely LOVED the pool, slide and palyground! We did request a mansion room - they were good sized rooms (for a basic hotel, we had a pack and play and a double stroller).

Thank you! I just cant get over how beautiful the grounds are.

 

[Marsheliz]

We have stayed at CSR (1 yr old & 4 yr old), then CBR (4 mos, 2 yr, 5 yr) and POFQ (1, 3, 6 and then again with 2, 4, 7). We ended liking POFQ the best for our family because of
1) compact size
2) boat to DTD
3) smaller slide (even 2 yr old loved it)
4) able to walk to POR to use larger pool / larger food court, if desired.
5) 1 bus stop (although it does sometimes share with POR which has 4).

we liked the zero-entry pool at CBR, altho the kids loved the pirate splash area...the parents didn't so much as it was HOT sitting on side watching kids. We did not like how spread out the walk was. it would have been fine without kids. but with kids it was a hassle for one parent to "run" to the food court / gift shop for anything. CBR also has the most bus stops of any of the mods, so it seemed like we rode around the resort itself for awhile every time we rode the buses.

We have found for our family the number of bus stops and the compactness of the resorts is most important in deciding among the mod choices. Each family is different though. Read through every one's pros/cons for your choices and see which you think will match most closely to your family's style.

Thank you.. That is the only reason I am still wanting to try CBR- is the pirate themed splash area.... I don't like how spread out it seems though.

 

[Sparkly]

I don't think CBR is as spread out as you think- I've heard reports of walks from the furthest out rooms being under 8-9 minutes generally.

Also the whole resort looks very kid friendly, there's a lovely looking pool, lots of beaches, playgrounds and the landscaping looks very lush and beautiful. I'm looking forward to our stay!

POR is also a beautiful resort too.

 

[SheenaXena21]

I've stayed at both.

I liked POR better, even though we had a terrible housekeeper (dirty room). We went to CBR when they were refurbishing the bridge, and now that I look back, should have been a deal breaker. But the resort was great. I didn't like that you had to be driven in a van to your room.

But I really liked the overall feel of POR. And someone correct me if I'm wrong, but they haven't upgraded the beds at CBR to queen size yet.

I, too, got the FD pin and got POR, but had to switch dates, and all that was left was CSR and CBR. I have no desire to stay at CSR, so CBR it was. But I still call every week for cancellations at POR. There was one yesterday, but it was for a royal themed room with a river view, which is the most expensive, so I said no thanks.

But either one you choose will be great. To me, it was way more walking at CBR.

 

[Disneymommyof4]

CBR is my favorite resort. It is so beautiful and my kids absolutely loved it !! The pool is awesome and you feel like your in the tropics

 

[Disneymommyof4]

Having stayed at POR and CBR, CBR is our favorite hands down. We prefer CBR's food court, TS restaurant and pool. With the ages of your kids, the Pirate Themed splash area would be great. We also like the fact that it is such a nice change of pace from the craziness of the parks, so laid back and relaxing. Even when it is at capacity, it never feels like it. We always feel like we're the only ones staying in our building. As far as being spread out, yes it is. However, unless you are in the Pirate Themed rooms in Trinidad South the walk to OPR and the main pool are not bad, even with little ones. There are over 850 non-preferred rooms within 5 minutes of OPR and the Main Pool.

Don't get me wrong, we liked POR too. We just happen to prefer CBR for the above reasons.

I agree, CBR is my favorite too

 

[maxiesmom]

I've stayed at all the moderates, and CBR was my least favorite. It is very big, and has 7 bus stops. In comparison POR has 4. So you are spending that much more time riding the bus around the resort before leaving for the parks in the morning. And before getting back to your room at night.

I also found the food court to be underwhelming. I didn't find there was much to choose from, and ended up eating chicken nuggets multiple times.

Going by your kids ages, I'm going to suggest you check out POFQ. It is the smallest moderate by far. No matter where you room is you are only a short walk away from the food court and the 1 bus stop. I think your kids would really like the dragon themed pool area too.

 

[DJFan88]

Honestly, I've stayed at CBR twice, so I liked it enough to do that. But now that I've found POR, I don't think I could stay at CBR again,does that make sense? It really does seem a lot hotter, since less shade as one of the other posters said, however, that is the themeing right? I like someone is suggesting POFQ for a lot of great reasons, and that's a great idea. ESp. since the walking to POR is so easy and you can use their food court. It really is a nice stroll. I would caution you however, to look up some photos online of the food court area as my kids when younger didn't like it in there because of the big masks. I've never really heard of anyone else having this problem, though, so I think it's just them!!
I know you don't think you like Alligator Bayou, but I thought of another plus for the preferred and Alligator rooms and that is the order of the busses. The stop for Magnolia is later and I think you would want the most available seating with an earlier bus stop.

 

[Marsheliz]

Thank you guys! Yes- the bus stops at CBR scares me alot. Lol!!! I'm thinking we would enjoy the boat to DTD as well.... I also think the pull down bed at POR would be neat!

We stayed at Pofq last time and really liked it. We were just wanting to try somewhere different this time.

 

[HopperFan]

Another vote for POR! It's a beautiful and relaxing resort.

An added plus it is a sister resort with POFQ so you can take the kids over to enjoy the serpent pool as well as the Old Man Island pool!