Help! Which moderate resort do we choose?

[PrincessAbbyDisney]

Dear Disney Fans,

I need help big time! I'm planning a trip to disney world for the first week in May 2005. Where should we stay?!?!?!

We're looking at one of the moderates on disney property. I stayed at Port Orleans Dixie Landings (riverside) in 2002 and loved it. But, I want to experience a different hotel. The things I loved about riverside was nice room, we were close to a bus stop, bus rides to all the parks were quick and convienient. The only thing I didn't like was that it was a hike to the main lobby.

So which do I choose? Caribbean beach? Coronado? Or Port Orleans the french quater?

My priorities are:
#1 - buses that are close and get to the other parks in a relatively short amount of time
#2 Decent food court
#3 Hotel lobby and food court that isn't a million miles away
#4 Clean nice cheerful rooms

Please give me any and all advice!!

 

[webray]

With your priority list...skip the moderate and stay at the All Star resorts. Everything is totally convenient..the food court is much better than in any of the moderates. Buses are very quick and convenient.

At Coronado..the walk is horrible, at CB..also..unless you pay extra for a preferred room..you have to drive up close or walk for miles. We have never found the disney moderate resorts to be of any value. They are poorly laid out, not convenient at all.

Try a value resort, or try to find a great rate on a deluxe resort.

Good luck!

 

[DJFan88]

I've stayed at the Caribbean and really liked it for our honeymoon. Although they have preferred (read pay more) locations near food court (by end of week you'll be tired of saying the Ol' Port Royale', LOL), I like going across the bridge which is not too far and has paths and birds to get from our room. I had booked it this Apr/May, but changed due to a desire to go to the POLY but would've loved it here again. I requested for a shorter walk across bridge Jamaica 45 or Aruba 51, with waterview( extracharge). There are other buildings near as well, see resort map. This will minimize the walk. Do NOT book Trinidad South if you do not want a long walk to food court. When we stayed at the far end of Aruba, we caught the busses at Aruba, and it seemed we were usually the 2nd stop on and the 2nd stop off, for the most part, and were very pleased with the busses. At night you can walk onto the bridge and catch the top part of the fireworks from Epcot (not the whole thing, and not the illumination part).

 

[yecats]

I voted for POFQ because of the varies choices you listed. Of all moderates, this one is the smallest with less walking, everything is relatively close to bus stop and you'll have a few choices in the food court. Additionally, if you have time you get all of additional choices at RS as well (can use all pools, food court and amentities there as well).

I used to say that PO was my favorite mod resort but now it is Coronado Springs. I would tell you to stay at CS but it is a hike to the lobby and the food court works a bit differently as well.

 

[scoutsmom99]

I voted for Caribbean it is my favorite moderate resort. I think what I love about the Moderate resorts is the "resort" feel of having expansive grounds to walk around and explore (I love the beaches at CBR, feeding the ducks and turtles by Old Port Royale, and walking around the lake!). I will answer your questions according to CBR.

1. Busses at CBR are great I was just there in October and we our longest wait was around 7 minutes. The resort is pretty centrally located so your rides won't be long.

2. The food court has a lot of great options for all of your needs. You might check out the menu section on all ears to see exactly what they have.

3. The Lobby and food court are in 2 seperate areas at CBR. We basically only needed to be at the lobby when we checked in, but if you need to go back there for anything the CBR has an internal bus that goes around it and you can use that to reach the lobby. Although the resort is large you can get a room close to the food court/pool/shops...Certain Buildings (Trinidad North and Martinque) are preffered buildings and cost a little bit more. Aruba and Jamaica are a quick 5-10 (depending on your building) minute walk over to the food court When we were there in Ocotber we were in Jamaica Bldg 44 Room 4450 and our walk to the food court/main pool/shops was 5 minutes and the bus stop was about a 2 minute walk. If you have kids Jamaica also has a playground on its beach.

4. The rooms at CBR were re-habbed in 2002 and they have a nice color scheme in them also they are a little larger than other moderate resorts (340 sq ft vs 314 sq ft). Look on all ears for pictures of them and also for a map of the resort.