I can't decide- CSR or WL?

[Jchoma]

We have a split stay booked the week after Thanksgiving. First five nights at CBR, last 2 at CSR. We have free dining and also qualified for the CBR gift card offer.

I've been debating for quite awhile whether to change our 2 CSR days to WL, to splurge since we are saving with FD and gift cards. I thought I'd made my mind up to stick with CSR, but I keep second guessing my decision.

Money of course is the deciding factor. It would cost an extra $400 to stay 2 nights at WL. I know this is a personal decision but I just can't decide if it's worth the splurge and would love some input!

The last 2 days of our stay would be full park days, although staying at WL would afford us a mid-day break which we would NOT take at CSR.

Kids are 6 & 10. We won't get to WDW again until at least 2019.

Pros of WL: easy/faster transport to MK, the ambience at Christmas, nicer room

Pros of CSR- great pool (though might not have time to use it or might be too cool), possibility of a refurbed room (but not a guarantee), cost

Would love some help deciding!!

 

[AMB1]

We have a split stay booked the week after Thanksgiving. First five nights at CBR, last 2 at CSR. We have free dining and also qualified for the CBR gift card offer.

I've been debating for quite awhile whether to change our 2 CSR days to WL, to splurge since we are saving with FD and gift cards. I thought I'd made my mind up to stick with CSR, but I keep second guessing my decision.

Money of course is the deciding factor. It would cost an extra $400 to stay 2 nights at WL. I know this is a personal decision but I just can't decide if it's worth the splurge and would love some input!

The last 2 days of our stay would be full park days, although staying at WL would afford us a mid-day break which we would NOT take at CSR.

Kids are 6 & 10. We won't get to WDW again until at least 2019.

Pros of WL: easy/faster transport to MK, the ambience at Christmas, nicer room

As long as $400 isn't a huge amount to your family that will stress you out, my vote is WL.

You will be experiencing a disrupted resort for 5 days at CBR, so I think you should give yourself something to look forward to at the end of the trip.

I don't think pools should be the deciding factor at that time of year.

Wilderness Lodge will give you one of the nicest holiday/Christmas vibes. If there were ever a time of year to choose WL, this is it.

 

[pbb&j]

We have a split stay booked the week after Thanksgiving. First five nights at CBR, last 2 at CSR. We have free dining and also qualified for the CBR gift card offer.

I've been debating for quite awhile whether to change our 2 CSR days to WL, to splurge since we are saving with FD and gift cards. I thought I'd made my mind up to stick with CSR, but I keep second guessing my decision.

Money of course is the deciding factor. It would cost an extra $400 to stay 2 nights at WL. I know this is a personal decision but I just can't decide if it's worth the splurge and would love some input!

The last 2 days of our stay would be full park days, although staying at WL would afford us a mid-day break which we would NOT take at CSR.

Kids are 6 & 10. We won't get to WDW again until at least 2019.

Pros of WL: easy/faster transport to MK, the ambience at Christmas, nicer room

Pros of CSR- great pool (though might not have time to use it or might be too cool), possibility of a refurbed room (but not a guarantee), cost

Would love some help deciding!!

If those last 2 days would be heavy park days, I would save the money and stay at CSR. I really don't think it's THAT big of a difference, time-wise, to take a break and return to CSR midday. We found it to be very well located.

You could always take a break and just visit WL in the afternoon and have lunch, anyway, without staying there. Other than having a balcony, I don't think the rooms at WL feel much larger or nicer than a moderate resort size room.

 

[Jchoma]

Thanks for the input!

ou will be experiencing a disrupted resort for 5 days at CBR, so I think you should give yourself something to look forward to at the end of the trip.

This is one my my reasons for wanting to stay here- it would be truly great to look forward to! The extra $400 isn't a total stresser but it's SO hard not to lose perspective on spending at WDW. It's so easy to think, we're already spending thousands, what's a bit more??

If those last 2 days would be heavy park days, I would save the money and stay at CSR. I really don't think it's THAT big of a difference, time-wise, to take a break and return to CSR midday. We found it to be very well located.

That's good to hear. We'll have our car, so won't be relying on buses which would also help. When did you last stay at CSR? Ever stay there during the holidays?

 

[Shellyb84]

I would stick with CSR, it's a beautiful resort. I just don't see the appeal of WL, especially for $400 more for just two nights. If it were a different deluxe, maybe, but not WL. The rooms there are smaller than other deluxes and in my opinion they look tired and dated. You can't walk or hop on the monorail to any park, so really the transportation isn't much of a benefit. Bus service at CSR has always been great.

 

[Micca]

We love both resorts! I'll agree that it comes down to the money issue, if it's no biggie to spend the extra money go for WL. They are both great places to stay.

 

[izzylovesmickey]

I would stick with CSR, it's a beautiful resort. I just don't see the appeal of WL, especially for $400 more for just two nights. If it were a different deluxe, maybe, but not WL. The rooms there are smaller than other deluxes and in my opinion they look tired and dated. You can't walk or hop on the monorail to any park, so really the transportation isn't much of a benefit. Bus service at CSR has always been great.

I agree with all of this. We have stayed at both and prefer CSR. We found during our stay at WL that while the boat ride is nice, we didn't find it anything extra special and it isn't a quick trip back to the resort. We stayed in a deluxe room which was larger and did enjoy that but had a number of issues with the room. While you may have more walking at CSR depending on where you are, the grounds are beautiful (however, we were there pre-construction). We did find the bus transportation to be very good and we were there Christmas/New Year's week. Kids like the Pepper Market for it's variety. We typically stay at BC but our next trip is being planned for CSR, just have to finalize the dates. Can't wait to go back there!

 

[Jchoma]

I've read some negative reviews about CSR that have had me worried, but hearing so many positive things about the resort has me reassured. I also looked up pictures of the Christmas decorations at CSR. They're really gorgeous! I kept thinking WL would have a better Christmas feel- and while I still think it would- CSR looks pretty nice at Christmas, too. I think I'll FINALLY lock in our decision to stay at CSR. Thanks so much for everyone's input!

 

[pbb&j]

That's good to hear. We'll have our car, so won't be relying on buses which would also help. When did you last stay at CSR? Ever stay there during the holidays?

I was just there 2 weeks ago, so I can't compare holiday decorations, but we did really enjoy it. We did have a refurbished room, which was beautiful. I also appreciate the door/curtain at moderates separating the sink area from the rest of the room. It's handy for multiple people getting ready. Also, if you use your car, at a moderate you'll probably be closer to your car than at a deluxe where there is just one parking area. The pool at CSR is great! Lots of seating, including shady seating, and a long slide.

 

[GPC0321]

We have a split stay booked the week after Thanksgiving. First five nights at CBR, last 2 at CSR. We have free dining and also qualified for the CBR gift card offer.

I've been debating for quite awhile whether to change our 2 CSR days to WL, to splurge since we are saving with FD and gift cards. I thought I'd made my mind up to stick with CSR, but I keep second guessing my decision.

Money of course is the deciding factor. It would cost an extra $400 to stay 2 nights at WL. I know this is a personal decision but I just can't decide if it's worth the splurge and would love some input!

The last 2 days of our stay would be full park days, although staying at WL would afford us a mid-day break which we would NOT take at CSR.

Kids are 6 & 10. We won't get to WDW again until at least 2019.

Pros of WL: easy/faster transport to MK, the ambience at Christmas, nicer room

Pros of CSR- great pool (though might not have time to use it or might be too cool), possibility of a refurbed room (but not a guarantee), cost

Would love some help deciding!!

CSR is the only WDW resort I've stayed at so far (twice), and while I can't compare it to anything, I can say that my second stay there (some 17 years later) was less "amazing" than the first. But that first was my first time ever staying at a Disney resort, and it was 17 years newer than the last visit. Still, there are a lot of good things about CSR. It's beautiful, has great bus service, is centrally located so that you're never very far from any of the parks, it has a fantastic main pool and nice quiet pools, it has two table service restaurants and a decent quick service. There is hot food served at the main pool bar. And if the pool isn't a main priority, staying in a preferred room in Casitas will have you very close to El Centro and the first bus stop on the route at the resort.

All of that said, I'd choose Wilderness Lodge. Maybe it's because I've only stayed at CSR and am excited to stay other places. Or maybe it's because Wilderness Lodge at Christmastime seems so ideal (after the Grand, *wink*). Probably a bit of both factor into what I know would be an easy decision for me if the money isn't an object.

 

[patty57]

I've never stayed at CSR, but have stayed at WL during the holiday season. I love the decorations at WL, and would opt for that.

 

[mickeynut1]

As long as $400 isn't a huge amount to your family that will stress you out, my vote is WL.

You will be experiencing a disrupted resort for 5 days at CBR, so I think you should give yourself something to look forward to at the end of the trip.

I don't think pools should be the deciding factor at that time of year.

Wilderness Lodge will give you one of the nicest holiday/Christmas vibes. If there were ever a time of year to choose WL, this is it.

I agree!

 

[Monorail_Man_NJ]

Wilderness Lodge

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I've always wanted to stay at CSR. WL does nothing for me BUT it gets so much love on these boards I've always wanted to try it but only around Christmas. So I would go with WL most definitely.

 

[DJFan88]

The deluxe at WL is a whole different feel since its based from the inside. It is beautiful. CSR is walking around the place like at CBR. I thought they also had some construction there too, though not as much of an issue. Ive stayed at CSR and it's fine. But, I would definetly vote for WL, because there are similarities in the set up kind of thing at CSR so it's kind of like more of the same, where at WL, its like a whole new vacation experience. Whenever we do splits, we do things that are different than the other. I know CSR is different than CBR, I stayed there too, but there are some like similarities.