Downsizing From Moderate To Pop? How Stupid Would We Be?

[mickeystoontown]

Hi Ya!

We've stayed at the CBR for two years in a row and loved everything about it! Our stay is 10 days so we bring along a lot of stuff.

For our 2008 trip, we are thinking of downsizing to the Pop Century. Our 20 year old daughter won't be along on the trip so we'll just have our 10 year old son (oops, he'll be 11 by then) and my husband and myself.

While we love the CBR, we want to try something new. I have already started threads about the Port Orleans and Coronado resorts and, if we go with a moderate again, we're booking a stay at the Port Orleans mansions.

Let me give you some background so that you can help. Both my husband and myself are 41 years old and, like posted above, our son will be 11. We stay at the parks for 8 of our 10 days. We do like to sleep in on our other two days and just kind of hang around the resort or go to Downtown Disney during the rest of those two days.

The CBR had wonderful bus service. Never waited long for a bus. At the CBR, we had to stand sometimes but I'm cool with that....it's just a small thing and not something to complain about if it doesn't take me too long to get to my destination.

I loved the set up of the CBR's food court. You just went to the various stations and then headed to a central cashier. Good variety of foods too. Plenty of seating.

For anybody out there who has stayed at the CBR and then switched to Pop, were you disappointed?

Can anybody give me tips on which location is good. I don't care if I have to walk a little ways. I walk 3 to 5 miles on my treadmill a day so I'm used to walking.

Any other tips or suggestions would be great! Lisa

 

[kandmwedding]

I haven't stayed at CBR, but have stayed at both POR and Pop. Based on your concerns it sounds like you'll do just fine. I didn't find the Pop rooms to be noticeably smaller than the POR (though other DISers might disagree). The biggest change you'll see in that is that you get double beds, not queen beds.

As for the food court, Pop's is awesome! They have several stations with different food at each, plus the typical grab-n-go section. Just like at the mods you pick everything up and pay at a central cashier. If you want to eat indoors there are plenty of tables. You could also opt to take your food outside since Pop's main pool is right outside the food court exit.

As for location, Pop is more compact that any of the mods so you won't have a long walk no matter what. If you want to be real close to the action you can book a preferred room. There's no difference in view for the rooms at point, just a difference in distance to Classic Hall (food court, lobby, etc). If you don't want to pay for the preferred room (I never do) make a request for a 50s, 60s or 70s room.

I personally love Pop much more than POR and I would imagine I'd feel the same way about CBR if I'd ever stayed there. Pop just screams Disney to me, and that's what I look for on my vacations.

 

[MEK]

I have stayed at CBR and POP. CBR is much quieter compared to POP. My trip to CBR was with the entire family (DH and 2 DS's). My trip to POP was just me and 2 DS's.

It's my opinion that the value resorts are good when I am only traveling with the kids and I want to keep costs down. For family travel, I think the mods are better. I also think that the values would be better for a short stay and mods for a longer stay. Your stay is 10 days. That's long, if you end up disliking the resrort. That's just my opinion.

OK - biggest differences. Pop was:

1. much more crowded around the pools and lobby
2. more crowded in the buses
3. smaller in room size (CBR has the largest mod rooms)
4. much further walk to parking lot (if you drive)
5. very popular - people everywhere

I have also stayed at POR and loved it. I would love to stay at Coronado, but have not been able to get a discount there.

I'm sure you thought of this, but you could also consider a split stay so you could check out POP. It is really a rather fun resort. Very lively and upbeat. It is a lot cuter in person than in the pictures. It's just crowded.

Tip - if you do stay there request a room facing away from the pools. I stayed in the 50's facing the lake and it was an excellent location!

 

[i3utterfli82]

We've stayed at Coronado Springs and POP, and we like POP better for many, many reasons.

 

[MEK]

One more thing - my DS 11 and DS 13 really did like POP and probably preferred it to CBR and POR because of all the activity. My DS referred to it as a "big party".

 

[disphoto]

I love POR. Much quieter than POP. I have stayed at both. You have more rooms, people, around you at POP, the buildings have more floors. I think the walls are thinner.

Plus, with POR, you have the nice boat ride to DTD. It is such a scenic route to downtown.

 

[mickeystoontown]

For family travel, I think the mods are better. I also think that the values would be better for a short stay and mods for a longer stay. Your stay is 10 days. That's long, if you end up disliking the resrort. That's just my opinion.


I'm sure you thought of this, but you could also consider a split stay so you could check out POP. It is really a rather fun resort. Very lively and upbeat. It is a lot cuter in person than in the pictures. It's just crowded.

Thanks for your input. Some of the concerns you voiced are the same ones I have. Since we are there for 10 days, I'd be super upset if we dont' like the resort and we're there for so long.

I have thought about a split stay but then, again, I don't want to pack up all my stuff and go to another resort. We also book a package and don't want the hassle of the split stay.

Thanks......anyone else?

 

[Jen66]

When we stayed at Pop 2 years ago, it was loud and crowded. The buses were not too bad except at night coming home from the parks when they were super busy and the wait was long. The pools are just pools, no slides or anything, and the rooms are just like a roadside motel, but cleaner and, of course, better themed. All in all, if you do not want to spend much time there except to sleep and shower, I would say go for it. But, if you want a couple of resort days, I would go for the moderate.

 

[mickeystoontown]

When we stayed at Pop 2 years ago, it was loud and crowded. The buses were not too bad except at night coming home from the parks when they were super busy and the wait was long. The pools are just pools, no slides or anything, and the rooms are just like a roadside motel, but cleaner and, of course, better themed. All in all, if you do not want to spend much time there except to sleep and shower, I would say go for it. But, if you want a couple of resort days, I would go for the moderate.

The noise and crowds are another concern of our's. At the CBR, we never heard our next door neighbors nor did we have a problem with the crowds. We ran into a CM who told us the resort was sold out but you would have never guessed it.

 

[msteddom]

I think you should go with POR. I found the food court there much easier to navagate. Your son will love the Old Man Island pool. Is he willing to give up a waterslide if you guys go with Pop? I have stayed at both resorts, and liked them both, but I prefer POR.


Melissa

 

[crazy_for_the_dis]

I don't think you are crazy at all. We stayed at CBR many years ago, and POP for one night after our stay at the POLY. IMHO, I think I liked POP better. They do have an awesome food court. If your son is the kind of kid that goes on the slide time after time, maybe he will miss a slide, but depending on what time of year it is, it could be too cold to go swimming, or in the middle of summer, sometimes the line for the slide can rival that of the line for Soaring (okay, exaggerating a little). But the pools at POP are just as fun, minus the slide. Plus, POP has a great arcade, much better than the mod's, with prize redemption machines. For an 11 year old boy, this alone can have WOW factor. For the money you save, and since you don't spend that much time at the resort, I would say go for POP. When we stayed, we did not hear a peep from out neighbors. Good luck planning!

 

[Stitches12]

One thing that you might want to consider is that POP rooms do not have balconies. We find we really need one, not only is it nice to sit out on and people watch but it's necessary when my husband and I decide to have a couple of drinks in the evening. With us all in one room, my 9 year old goes to sleep before we do and it's nice to have a place to go where we don't bother him and can have an "adult" conversation.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[i3utterfli82]

One thing that you might want to consider is that POP rooms do not have balconies. We find we really need one, not only is it nice to sit out on and people watch but it's necessary when my husband and I decide to have a couple of drinks in the evening. With us all in one room, my 9 year old goes to sleep before we do and it's nice to have a place to go where we don't bother him and can have an "adult" conversation.

Good luck with your decision.

Moderates do not have balconies either, only deluxes.

 

[TigerKat]

I'd stick with the mod!

 

[Skroops]

Although I liked CBR, it is not my favorite moderate. I prefer POR and CSR. Since you want a day or two of resort days, I'd definately pick POR. We stayed in Magnolia Bend last visit to a mod, and it was very nice. I think you would really like the pool area and the boat to DTD. You also have a choice of sit down and counter service for dining at the mods.

We stayed at POP for one night, and then I made my family change to a moderate. I personally hated the firm bed we had at POP. The front desk at POP was able to arrange a room for us at CSR and the bed (to my relief) was waaaay nicer. The room we had at POP may have been a fluke, but the mattress was rock hard. My DH thought it was okay. Maybe there was a pea under the mattress. POP is really cute and energetic. It is loud, but that is a part of the energy. If it weren't for the mattress, we would have enjoyed the stay. The rooms were cute and clean. The service was great.

Turns out, a split stay (since we learned the hard way) wasn't a big deal at all! I'd actually suggest that. I think that if you tour WDW with a 10 yr old, you'll be very tired and may not notice the mattress! We were probably too well rested with taking naps and park touring slowly...

Good luck! You'll have a great time!!!

 

[dis4angie]

We've never stayed at CBR so I can't say which is better between CBR and POP but we've stayed several times at POR, and once at POP and we absolutely loved POP. We really wanted to stay there again when we go in August but we have 5 in our room and they won't allow that many at POP in one room.

 

[Jewelsy]

I would definitely go with POR. On our week stay there previously we spent one day just at the resort. My kids loved it. DD9 and DS11. We rented the paddle boat which the kids had a blast with. The ducks kept following our boat. We also rent bikes for the kids which they rode all around the resort while my mother and I walked. The kids even enjoyed the arcade. The boat trip to Downtown Disney is great too. It was a nice leisure day at the resort and a great picture taking day - there are many photo ops that we wouldn't have thought of if we didn't take the time to tour the resort.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm really thinking we're going to go with another moderate. We will probably be staying at one of the Port Orleans resorts.

We are from Louisiana and I'm afraid the theming will be sort of lost on us. We live in a log home, our furniture is rustic, our yard is super large, landscaped and we have bunnies, deer, raccoons, etc. I have looked at the Port Orleans mansions and I think that might appeal to us.

Anybody out there that can give me tips on the Mansions at Port Orleans? Any pics?

Lisa

 

[lonelydreamer]

I've been to CBR several times, and a self-declared resort snob. Reading much about POP, I've decided to give POP a try...but not for 10 days. In reading your various posts on other threads, I think doing a mod for 10 days is the best choice. I'm considering staying at POP for a long weekend, when we are in the parks for the majority of the time, but I think 10 days would be too much.