Has anyone stayed at all the moderates?

[BWgirl]

I'm really having a hard time choosing one. DH and I are going over the summer and I am just torn!! Can anyone offer perspectives, opinions, etc. on all of them? The goods and the bads?

At this point I'm considering POFQ and CSR the most...but I want to hear about all of them

 

[donkthemagicllama]

How long are you going for? My fiancee and I had the same delimma when planning our honeymoon this August.

We've only stayed at value resorts before, but wanted to upgrade for this trip. After much deliberation, we decided on POFQ. However we couldn't get a AAA discount for 15 nights at POFQ. We decided instead to stay
5 nights at CBR
5 nights at CSR
5 nights at POFQ

We got discounts on all stays, and get to see all 3 moderates (don't get stay in POR, maybe next time).

 

[BelleNJ]

Hi there. I have stayed at all the moderates and I am torn between CBR and POR as my favorite. I may have to go with the Riverside section of POR in a mansion building. I just love something about the old south. CBR was really nice too because it was a true vacation setting. Very tropical also very big. DH and I did not care for CSR because of the convention center. I work with trade shows and seeing people in suits on cell phones actually working took away from our vacation feel. I would go with PO Riverside but that is just my opinion.
Have fun!

 

[BWgirl]

We are going for six nights in July. It is our first trip alone...we have always brought people! I am REALLY having a hard time choosing!!


Belle--did you stay at POFQ too?

 

[crystalrp]

We have stayed at POFQ, POR, and CBR. Never stayed at CSR. We are going back to POFQ this trip. Liked POR. Did not care for CBR, but we were very far from the food court, and we also had trouble because we were supposed to be near the other cruise people (according to the CMs) but we had added extra days on, so we ended up having to move in the middle of our stay and it was all just a big hassle! We will NOT be going back to CBR again, but this is just MHO.

 

[daannzzz]

I have stayed at all four and it seems my favoprite is the last one I stayed in!! I can tell you that my least favorite is Port Orleans French Quarter as I found it to be bland. It was a good idea but not executed well IMHO. It is still a nice place to stay and the compact layout was convenient. I didn't care for the food court there. It was not bad but not great either.
The other three are about equal as far as design, atmosphere, food offerings and location.
Here are some pros and cons of the resorts.
The CBR has bigger rooms. The food court is good though a far walk from some of the rooms which doesn't bother me but is a major issue with other people. I saw a snake there. The bus stops are close to all the villages. The main pool is fun though a bit small. There are lots of quiet pools but they seem busier than at the other moderates and they are a bit bland. There are 6 or 7 bus stops. It has expansive views across the lake.
CSR has only one sink in the vanity area. The quiet pools are very quiet. The main pool is fairly spectacular though crowded. The water slide is longer than the other moderates. The food court is good though a bit more expensive. the 3 themed areas are distinctive from eachother. It has expansive views across the lake.
POR has two distinctively themed areas both with loads of atmosphere. Staying in the Mansion Homes really does feel like you are staying at someone's estate. This has my favorite food court in terms of atmosphere. The food is fine too. The quiet pools are nice here. The boat to Downtown Disney is okay but over rated in my opinion.
POFQ is smaller and compact with newly remodeled rooms. The main pool is very fun and very crowded. There are no quiet pools though you can walk over to POR and use theirs (along with the full service restaurant).
In general they are all fine places to stay and you should pick the one with the theme that appeals to you the most.

 

[PatriciaH]

Originally posted by BWgirl
I'm really having a hard time choosing one. DH and I are going over the summer and I am just torn!! Can anyone offer perspectives, opinions, etc. on all of them? The goods and the bads?

At this point I'm considering POFQ and CSR the most...but I want to hear about all of them

You picked my two favorites I don't think you can go wrong with either one!

 

[Hugpug]

I've stayed at all the Mod's and my choice is POR AB section but the Mansions are nice to. My second would be CB. I would have choosen POFQ but since they took the sit down restruant out I don't care for it as well I don't like where the Spa is located.

 

[wld]

We have stayed at all 4 resorts with CBR twice and CSR twice.

Part of it is what theme you like. We are from Michigan so they all appeal to us as they do not feel like home.

The first time we stayed at CBR we were so far from the food court we were pooped by the time we walked all day at the parks and 15 minutes to the food court. The second time we were much closer and on the ground floor openning to a garden and it was beautiful although the main pool is just okay. The bigger room is nice with 2 adults and 2 teens as well as the 2 sinks

Both times we stayed at CSR we loved it. This is a beautiful resort at night and the pool area is lovely too. We didn't notice the convention types to be honest. Last time we were there just to eat at the Pepper Market it was alot busier in that area than I remember. It also has some nice little private areas if you walk around. We like the Pepper Market alot.

We stayed once at POR in the mansions. I wouldn't choose this again but think I would like Alligator bayou as it looked really cute and private when we walked through there. The food court is nice, and we love having the option of the boat for Downtown Disney.

We stayed once at POFQ a few years ago and liked the intimate feel and the boat. The pool is kind of cool too.

I honestly would stay at any of them in a minute. We loved them all for different reasons.

 

[yecats]

I do love PORS and would tell you to split your vacation between the two that strike you the most. When you check into both, always ask for a room close to the main building. The worst they can do is tell you there not available/full and put you farther out which may mean that you'll have a 5/10 minute walk to the main bldgs. Each mod. is unique and you'll enjoy your stays there.

 

[cheerdaddy]

we have stayed at CBR, CSR and POFQ...It would be difficult for me to say which one would be my 100% exact favorite...there are so many variables and they are all great in their own ways...

CBR: this resort holds a special place in our hearts as it was the first disney resort we ever stayed at....It was also our first major family trip....the grounds were utterly gorgeous in the middle of may with all the flowers and the colorful buildings...we stayed in the village of Martinique; building #26....the blue buildings and the red roofs set against the beautiful florida sky, the white sand beaches and the lake really made you feel like you were in the carribbean...this room location was perfect for CBR: right next to Old Port Royale(food court) and the main themed pool..the bus stop was right next to the building...they have a good food court with a pretty descent selection...the main pool had a small slide and a nice cabana/poolside bar....CBR just has a great feal to it...warning: you will have those tropical theme song playing in your head for 2-3 weeks upon arriving home. the rooms at CBR are slightly bigger than the other moderates...

CSR: reminded me alot of CBR...about the same size and basically the same type of set up with the villages around a centerpiece lake theming...the major difference being each of the "villages" had a distinct individual theme...we stayed in the Cabanas section; building 8A...again, with the carribbean theme...we loved this location! It was closest to the main dig site pool, steps from the parking lot and bus stop and also right next to guest laundry and one of the "quiet pools"...it was about a 3-5 minute leisurely stroll to El Centro...the other two section were the Ranchos with a southwestern theme and the Casitas with a more modern city type theme...the Casistas were closest to El Centro, but, farthest from the main dig site pool. the dig site pool has the best slide of any of the moderates; in fact, one of the best overall pools on site and a HUGE jacuzzi...the food court at CSR was a little more upscale than the othe moderates...If fact, CSR really almost feels more like a deluxe resort than it does a moderate...both CSR and CBR have marinas for small boat rentals..some people don't care for CSR because of the conventioners, but, it has never bothered us at all...I didn't feel like CSR was any less family oriented or have any less disney "magic" than any other disney resort...we're going back there in june again this year..p.s. we thought the bus transportation to and from CSR was some of the best we've ever experienced at disney...

POFQ: stayed here last year and will return again this year...although this resort doesn't seem to have a ton of amenities, it makes up for it in convenience...It's a very compact resort and you're never really very far from anything no matter which building you stay in....we stayed in building #4 last year and it was so convenient...the parking lot and bus stop were literally right outside our door...the food court and lobby a 30 second walk, and about 1 minute to the dragon pool. there is no sitdown restaurant on site, but, you can walk over to POR for one if you like...there is also a boat to the DTD area which was pretty cool...the boat ride is almost an attraction in and of itself...I would think that POFQ would be a great place for a couple with no kids to stay. oh yea, the food court here was smaller than the other moderates and I think the selection was slightly more limited than the others.

Alot just depends on what you guys like...I can honestly tell you that I have never had a disappointing stay in any disney resort(we've stayed in all levels from deluxe on down to the values) and know you'll have a great time no matter which one you choose....you can't go wrong really..

 

[jaguar9748]

My vote would be:

CBR - in first place by a lot
POR - my perennial favorite, but some of the rooms need rehab
CSR and POFQ are tied at the bottom

I think CBR is simply an outstanding resort.

 

[BWgirl]

Wow this is great information!! Thanks for all the opinions!

 

[JKanownik]

DH and I stayed at CBR for our honeymoon and loved it! We were in Aruba which was just a short walk across a bridge from the food court, but isolated enough for it to be quiet and romantic. At night we always had the quiet pool to ourselves and could hang out in the hammocks watching the fireworks at Epcot. Even though it is a large resort, it never seemed crowded. We had a fabulous time!

My other favorite moderate is PO Riverside which is also very quiet. My mom and I stayed here in Oct. 2002. We had a great time and I kept saying how I wished DH was there with us cause it was such a romantic setting. The mansions are gorgeous and you cannot beat the boat ride to DTD. We stayed in Alligator Bayou in building 15, which is very close to the food court. It was so nice to be able to wake up and take a stroll by the riverside. Very relaxing!

 

[mep319]

Stayed at all but CSR....POFQ was our favorite. CBR our least...as you see by my signature. Too big, terrible bus service..etc..etc. Loved POFQ, small, easy to get around. Like PORS too but have a soft spot for POFQ. CBR is the only place at WDW I will never stay at again!