Decisions! CSR vs CBR

[welshraz]

Hi,

I am after some advice please. Looking at booking with FD from December 12th to 20th after a week off site (I-Drive probably). Price would be $2154 for POP or $2726/$2771 for CBR/CSR respectivley with 9 day tickets and FD.

We are going to upgrade to regular dining if we stay at a value, which should cost approx $304 for two adults, so the price difference would actually be $2458 vs. $2726. This equates to (roughly) a £158 difference in "real" money lol.

My question is: is it worth the move to a moderate?? The money isn't the issue, it's more what I get for that money. When we went to Orlando last year (1st time) we stayed off site and spent very little time in our room. 12+ hour days at the park plus travel time meant the room was just for eating, sleeping and other body bits! We also spent a lot of money on table service at Disney ($100+ a night) at BOG, Sci-fi, Rainforest Cafe and the Coral Reef restaurant.

I guess my second question should be: if we do move to a moderate, what would you recommend? CBR or CSR and for what reasons?

Thanks.

 

[Elise79]

I would pick CSR - it is a lot more upscale than the values and even other mods.

We just love it

 

[married2mm]

I have no issues with values.

If you are literally using your room to sleep-it does the same job as any other resort;
bed/bathroom..

If you want more facilities at the resort-then I agree csr is a moderate worth paying extra for.

If you want to save pennies-but have an onsite stay- I would simply choose the cheapest option.

 

[pickers1982]

I preferred cbr

 

[~Piglet~]

I guess my second question should be: if we do move to a moderate, what would you recommend? CBR or CSR and for what reasons?

WE have stayed at CSR before and loved it, so we are sticking with what we like and hopefully going again next year. Loved the Spanish / Mexican theming and the scenery. I haven't been to CBR, my sister goes this year but unfortunately doesn't return until after free dining ends, it would have been interesting to see what she thought, either CBR or CSR!

I've also stayed at Pop, the theming is great for kids but if I were planning to upgrade the DP I think I would go for a moderate

 

[queendisney]

I preferred cbr

Yep me too. Much prefer the theming and the laid back feel to this resort, love the hammocks and the sand corners. CSR leaves me cold and is my least fav mod resort and not keen on the corporate side of it. There have been conventions on every time we have visited it.

 

[scoobydooby]

Never slept in a room at either but from what I've seen I prefer CB. CS also leaves me cold and personally I don't want to risk seeing anything work related on holiday (even someone else's work lol)!

I couldn't stay in a value personally but if you only want a bed and a bath then it could be just fine. I am a hotel snob I'm afraid. If I had to stay in a value I would choose POP.

 

[~Piglet~]

love the hammocks and the sand corners

Playing devils advocate ....CSR has hammocks and sand too

As Queendisney and Scoobydooby mention, CSR hosts conventions, this might be off-putting for some (I suppose it may depend on what type of convention too). For us it wasn't an issue, guests who are in the convention centre all day = half empty buses most of the time and the same around the pool - the resort never felt crowded when we stayed there

 

[bee86]

I really guess it comes down to who you are travelling with.
I have stayed at both resorts, CBR in 2008 and CSR last year.
I personally much preferred CSR. The rooms are relatively newly renovated and have a lovely modern feel about them. The entire resort has a very relaxed feel to it and the theming is subtle. It has a Spanish/Mexican feel to it. The pool area is themed like a inca/aztec/Mayan? pyramid and it seemed to have lots of activities going on daily. The quiet pools are large and well quiet lol, very relaxing. they even had towels available poolside which was a nice extra.
The only down side is the pepper market. Which is the quick service location in CSR. It's just meh. In my honest opinion a waste of a counter service credit. It's not sure what it is, as although it's counter service it try's to be a bit of a table service, getting confused somewhere in the middle! someone serves you your drinks, but you go to the stations to order yourself, bring back your own food and have to pay the person who brought you your drinks a tip at the end..... I wasn't impressed.
I can understand this type of set up at buffet breakfasts but pepper market is not a buffet where your server has loads of plates to remove or anything like that, they literally just get you your drink.
Having said that, the maya grill( I think that's the name) is the TS restaurant and it was always busy in the evenings serving Mexican food, we didn't visit it as I'm not huge on that particular type of food but the reviews seem positive overall.
Anyway, moving on and little rant over lol
If you are travelling with children, CBR might be a better option for theming and over all feel of a resort. The rooms are decorated brightly and the main building has a really colourful dining area. When I was there in 2008 the main pool was being refurbished so I cannot comment on that however there are quite a few quiet pools which were nice.
Both resorts are quite large, so just be aware of that and maybe place a room request before you go to try to ensure your not too far from either main building.
The food court in CBR wins out hands down over CSR. It's large and spacious with a few different places to order from and serving a great variety for breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, the TS called shutters restaurant in CBR is almost always empty. I can't understand why as it's a lovely location and the reviews online seem to be good. But just to note for yourself.

So really I think if your like colourful theming with a very "Disney" feel I would go for CBR.
Personally I would go for CSR for the relaxed vibe. The theming of the resort is fabulous but is not quite as "in your face " as some other resorts, it has a much more modern feel probably due to it being a convention resort. I would stay in CSR again in a heartbeat but would opt to try somewhere else if I was faced with CBR.
( keep in mind, I traveled last year and in 2008 as a group of two adults and will this year be 4 adults so we look at the resorts differently than someone with children)

Hope this is of some help

 

[Elise79]

The other I should add is there is no way DH & I could share a double bed comforably - that in its self would make the extra spent on moving to CSR worth it (I believe CBR still has doubles at the moment but I assume it will get queens during its refurb which is due imminently)

Having had 5 stays at CSR I can honestly say the conventions never bothered us. Yes we saw people in suits and the screen in the lobby welcoming groups but even the tax convention didn't bother me & I am an accountant
I don't actually get people worrying about the convention thing with CSR as half the deluxe resorts also have convention centres and it's never mentioned there

 

[welshraz]

Thanks all for your input. Both look so, so nice, but I'm definitely leaning towards CSR. It's so hard to choose!