Help Me Choose A Moderate

[Wendi2000]

Well, I've been planning on staying at AKL for my 10-day trip Sept 30 - Oct 10... with my 4-year-old, my mom and my bro. Well, bro backed out... and I just can't justify the expense, so I think we'll downgrade to a moderate. I am leaning towards Coronado Springs or POFQ. Help me choose!!! We've been to WDW once before - almost exactly the same time last year - and stayed at Pop Century. We really loved the trip and the hotel, but having the farthest bus stop at all of the parks and the longest lines to get on the buses was frustrating at times. I'm hoping for better transportation back to the hotel at night this time - that is really my main concern because I know everything else will be fantastic. I think my son would love the dig site at CSR, but then again, he'd probably like any pool and playground area! Please help me!!!

 

[DisneyWorldWisher]

Well, Coronado is the one of the farthest resorts.

POFQ isn't really close to anything, but it isn't really far either.

I'd go with POFQ.

 

[eblack0409]

We are staying at POR this time, but if we get to stay at a moderate again, my choice will be Coronado Springs.....I LOVE the pool!!!

 

[disneyluv4]

We LOVE POR!!! But with your group I would choose POFQ. It is the smallest of the moderates and with your mom and 4 year old it would not be as much walking. Plus, your 4 year old would LOVE the pool, it is very cute. Have fun!!!!!

 

[tileman]

We have stayed at all the moderate's.
My favorites were POR and CS.
The atmosphere was realy great at the POR, but the themed pool was realy crowded when we went.
I think I would choose CS not only the atmosphere is great the themed pool has the best moderate waterslide. At least to me it's the best!

 

[mommyseven]

We love the POR. During our last trip we visited POFQ several times. While it is nice, we still prefer the POR.

 

[Bugsmom73]

I like CBR but POFQ would be nice too.

 

[Wendi2000]

We love the POR. During our last trip we visited POFQ several times. While it is nice, we still prefer the POR.

Why do you prefer POR?

 

[jcriket]

POFQ is smaller and the buildings are vey similar. Bus service can be better, but lots of times FQ shares with riverside, but FQ is usaully first stop. FQ's pool is themed with a giant whimsical sea serpant, Riverside's is like a riverside playground made by one of it's residents using anything that could be found. Riverside as I was told, has buildings like plantations close to the city.(FQ) As you go down the river it was harder to get builiding supplies from the city so the buildings become more rustic, almost log cabinish. So does the furniture. Riverside has more to do as far as a marina, fishing hole, sit down dining, however your within walking distance, or a boat ride, to either one. You can get a carriage ride in the evenings at Riverside. Both share a boat to DTD.

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR is a large resort that does not share services with other resorts and offers some deluxe amenities because it is a convention resort.



CSR has a salon, spa, and a gym that other moderates do not offer. CSR has full menu room service and offers an internal shuttle system provided by golf carts to assist in getting to and from the main building to the villages.



It is also the only mod to offer suites.



CSR is situated around a 15 acre lake and CBR is situated around a 45 acre lake.



CSR has terrific transportation. It does not share with any other resort (like POR / POFQ) and it only has 4 bus stops within the resort (vs 8 at CBR). And since CSR is centrally located, you'll have a quick ride to all the parks.



And being a convention resort, the buses seem less crowded because guests are busy with their conventions.



CSR is the most central to the 3 parks you mentioned. See the map below.

Photo by Ducky4Disney

CSR has the best pool of the mods and probably the second best on WDW property. Best mod pool. It offers a great slide (123 ft long), an arcade, a sand volleyball court, and a playground at the main pool area.

Review from mousesavers.com!!



Coronado Springs is my Best Value choice in the Moderate category. It has several advantages compared with the other Moderate resorts. It is newer, so there has been less wear-and-tear on everything. Also, Coronado Springs is a convention hotel, so it has a few extra amenities not offered at the other Moderates, including a salon, a health club and a more upscale food court.



The theming is radically different in the three areas of Coronado Springs. You can request a specific area when booking but there is no guarantee you'll get your request.

• The Spanish-style Casitas at Coronado Springs are very peaceful, with courtyards featuring tiled fountains. Casitas Buildings 1, 3 and 2 (in that order) are the closest to the restaurants and services. Casitas Building 4 contains the salon and health club, if those are important to you.
  
• The Cabanas at Coronado Springs have a beachy Caribbean feeling. Cabanas Building 8A is very close to the feature pool, which may be a blessing (convenience) or a curse (noise, light). Cabanas Building 9B is closest to the marina and relatively convenient to the restaurants and services.
  
• The Ranchos at Coronado Springs feel quiet and secluded -- some would say isolated -- and feature desert landscaping and pueblo-style architecture. They look closest to the main pool on a map, but in actuality they are separated from the rest of the property by a swamp, so it can be a fairly long walk from these buildings to the pool, and a very long walk to the restaurants.

 

[Soccer Princess]

POFQ!! It's more relaxing and not spaced out at all! I love taking the boat to DTD as well!

 

[Wendi2000]

OK... here's the major dilemma... I am just tearing my hair out trying to get it all perfect!

What would you do in my situation? Keep the entire 10 days and stay at a moderate ~or~ cut the trip down to 8 days and stay at AKL?

 

[Buzz2001]

10 days at CSR!!

 

[Badllamamama]

I vote for CSR!! Best pool, great transportation and centrally located!

 

[dolphin01]

Definitely CSR because of the better pool and transportation! POFQ shares transportation with POR and we had a bad experience with our kids and the strollers trying to fit on the buses because they were/are always packed.

 

[ktink]

I would go w/ CSR rather than PORFQ. CSR is beautiful and very well themed. The pool is by far the best of all the mods. I posted a poll last year and CSR won as far as the pools go. The beach and hammocks are all great. CSR has a sit down restaurant and they have wonderful margaritas The resort is larger than FQ but they have the internal shuttle although we didn't need it at all for our stay. We were in the cabana section and it was a short walk from bus stops 1 & 4 and also a short distance to Dig Site and Pepper Mkt.

 

[Lilolvr]

Definitely CSR because of the better pool and transportation! POFQ shares transportation with POR and we had a bad experience with our kids and the strollers trying to fit on the buses because they were/are always packed.

I can confirm a similar situation for us with strollers and kids on the bus. I would pick CSR in a heartbeat over POFQ!!

 

[Buzz'sBetterHalf]

I would go w/ CSR rather than PORFQ. CSR is beautiful and very well themed. The pool is by far the best of all the mods. I posted a poll last year and CSR won as far as the pools go. The beach and hammocks are all great. CSR has a sit down restaurant and they have wonderful margaritas The resort is larger than FQ but they have the internal shuttle although we didn't need it at all for our stay. We were in the cabana section and it was a short walk from bus stops 1 & 4 and also a short distance to Dig Site and Pepper Mkt.

Another vote for CSR!! These are some of the great reasons to stay there over POFQ.

 

[byoung]

Whichever you choice you will be happy there. Have a great vacation.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I vote for POFQ. It is a "compact" resort and you don't have to worry about being too far from the bus/food court/pool. The Marti Gras pool is very colorful and is great for kids! Buses stop at POFQ before they go to Riverside, so the FQ guests have first "dibs" at seats in the morning. Plus, POFQ has boat transportation to Downtown Disney, which is a nice ride.