Help a first timer choose a resort

[caidan]

I have current reservation for Caribbean Beach Resort. Stick with that or switch to Port Orleans riverside. Both would be the standard rooms. Which has better bus service? We willl be spending 2 days in MK and 1 day or half day in each of the other parks. We will have a 4 year old and an infant, so a stroller as well.

 

[Fantaluminishes]

The only moderates I've stayed at were Port Orleans Riverside and Coronado Springs. Personally, I love Coronado because I mostly travel solo, and it's more adult-friendly. With the kids, you can't go wrong with POR. It has better dining options than Caribbean Beach, and a boat to Downtown Disney. Bus service can be challenging depending on the crowds, but that's pretty consistent across all value and moderate resorts.

 

[typhoonlagooner]

It's so difficult to predict bus service... you can have 2 families, in 2 different parts of the resort, on 2 different park schedules... and they can have 2 completely different opinions on bus service.

The biggest difference you may notice... is that POR has 3 internal stops, compared to CBR's 7. In theory, it makes POR seem like the top candidate... but if you're traveling to any other park besides MK, expect an additional stop at POFQ as the two resort share a bus stop.

After 4 trips at CBR, the overwhelming positive reviews of POR lead me to book it. Perhaps it was over-hyped, or my expectations were set to high... but the resort was a huge disappointment. The awkward layout (we were in Alligator Bayou) the simplistic theme, and the overall feel of the resort just wasn't for us.

I longed for my vibrate colored villages complete with their own quiet pools and bus stops, the tropical lush landscaping and sandy beaches lining the lakeside, and an atmosphere that led me to forget I was even in WDW. It's even more tempting with the recent room renovations and expanded pool deck to include a splash playground for small children, a feature no other moderate currently offers.

We've had great service at both... and know to expect long lines at park closings. The bus service wouldn't be a deciding factor for us... as it's all just a matter of personal opinion and experiences. Again, the 3 (or 4) stops at POR is certainly less than the 7 at CBR... so that's absolutely an advantage for POR.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's really a matter of personal preference. As the poster above said...longed for what she knew at CBR. Me? I love POR. Yes, the layout is odd, and can be hard to find your way around. But, once you're there for a day or so, you get it. I have a feeling that the more distant rooms at CBR are a lot more 'distant' than the most distant rooms at POR. But, I could be wrong.

 

[RustManFan]

I would select CBR for your first visit with the little ones. I believe the pool is better for a 4 year old and the bright buildings appeal to all kids. We were here for our first onsite visit and would select it again in a heart beat..... I also selected to stay here solo when I was in the Orlando area on business and needed my Disney fix!!

Buses were fine and so was the food court

Look at a resort map for each and see if there is a building you wish to request!

 

[dansdad]

I would stay at CBR. We have stayed at both and prefer CBR. We have had great bus service at both so that's a wash. We actually prefer the buses at CBR because each village has its own stop so you are not walking far at all to get to one. I think your kids would love the pool at CBR, especially the kids splash area and the zero entry of the main feature pool. We feel the sit down restaurant at CBR is much better and we like the food court at CBR better. We feel it's laid out nicer and has better options.

You can't go wrong either way.

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

I've only stayed at POR and visited CSR, but I would recommend POR to anyone.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

I would stick with CBR. POR has 4 bus stops and occasionally shares with POFQ. We didn't notice a difference in bus service between POR and CBR.

Out of the moderates, CBR has the best pool for families with small children. The main pool is a zero entry pool and it has it's own splash area for children under 48" with 3 waterslides. It also has a great playground in the middle of Caribbean Cay.

 

[Terra Nova guy]

I've stayed at both. It's hard to choose between them. The pool at CBR may be a little better for small kids. But POR has a couple nice extras like boat to DTD and carriage rides. I found the food courts similar in both. Bus service about the same as well. Like any resort, they can get crowded at peak times. Although CBR has more stops, POR bus sometimes goes to POFQ. You will enjoy either resort, I think. Just go with the room decor and atmosphere that suits your taste best.

 

[dchronister]

I have only stayed at POR so can only speak to my experience there. My Dec trip was great, buses were OK, when I stayed in Nov, the busses were horrible. It took me forever to get anywhere. Besides the stops on the resort itself, we picked up POFQ every trip, I'm thinking because it was a slower season, so it prob just depends on when you are going. The busses where bad enough to detour me from staying next trip. I'm not saying that I will never stay there again, the resort is great, but it has been by far the worst bus service I have ever had and I have stayed at Disney several times.

 

[jperrot1]

I recommend staying at CBR. I think the main pool with it's zero entry section will suit you well. Also, right next to the main pool is a toddler exclusive water ship play area. Also consider that the food court is right next to the main pool over at CBR which makes things easier IMO. Another thing that makes me recommend CBR over POR is that CBR just completed full room remodeling and I can tell you there is something to be said staying in a newly remodeled room. If you choose to move over to POR, I would do that on the basis of desiring a really enjoyable boat transportation to DTD, as well as a very pretty resort along a river. The pathways from area to area are awesome. My wife and I spent our honeymoon at POR.