I didn't care for POR - would CBR be better?

[MomOTwins]

We've mostly stayed at deluxes at off times when we could get good discounts, but we stayed at POR about a year ago in a Royal Room, and I was just kind of disappointed. This is what I did not like: the room felt really cramped and felt like it could use a bit of a refresh/update, I hated that the bathroom was not a separate room but rather just a curtained off part of the main room (as the sole female in our family, I like some real privacy when getting ready in the morning), the windows had bars on them and looked out on a walkway so there was no "view" despite the rooms having advertised view categories, and worst of all, the transportation drove me nuts. The buses passed us full each morning without an opportunity to get on, and on the way back we had to stop at EVERY internal stop at the resort before getting dropped at the main building at night.

It made me want to write off moderates, but the cost savings is so nice especially since hotel, ticket, and dining prices seem to get higher and higher each trip. I was thinking about CBR based on the fact that it looks from pictures that the bathrooms actually have sliding doors now, and the rooms do seem updated. Can anyone weigh in on whether the internal transportation at those resorts is a little less painful than at POR (we'd be staying before the gondolas open, so I'm not factoring that in)? And are there any rooms that actually have a view or is it all external hallways again? And how is the room size on the rooms that sleep 5; is it any larger than the POR royal rooms or did they just stuff a pull down bed in the same size room?

Or should I just cough of the money for deluxe?

 

[Micharlotte]

CBR has more bus stops than POR, room sizes are the same and they just stuff a pull down bed in the same size room. Everything you did not like is basically describing a moderate resort. I would cough up the money and stay deluxe if I were you.

 

[mco65]

Doubt it. In fact, i like POR more than CBR but that's just me.. there really seemed to be little difference in the room sizes.. the 5th occupant would sleep on the pull down bed in front of the TV area. As i recall, CBR was being renovated the last time we were there so they may have updated the inside of the rooms but for sure they didn't get bigger and they were the same size as POR... best i can recall.

I never had an issue with Buses at POR... except coming back late which is an issue no matter where you stay. Since we only stayed at CBR once, i can't remember what the buses were like but that only indicates it was a typical bus experience.. easypeasy in the morning.. PIA late at night.

 

[BebopBaloo]

The bus system is going to be pretty much the same at all of the moderates.

The sliding doors can have a small gap between them. They are two doors that slide to meet in the center and I've noticed in some videos of CBR that there is a little gap between them. I haven't tried CBR, but Coronado Springs also had sliding doors. I don't really remember a gap, but there probably was a small one. The rooms there were really nice. The tower rooms are also opening there this summer, so you wouldn't have an outdoor hallway for a view if you booked a tower room.

 

[amandaleigh2]

We stayed at POR in a royal room last year after staying at CBR two trips in a row. I agree that the royal room seemed cramped. I can't really put my finger on why, but I think it may be that the furniture is larger and more ornate in the royal rooms. We also had problems with the bus service at POR that we never had at CBR. Buses frequently passed us by in the morning because they were full. We never had that issue at CBR, even being the last stop on one of our trips. I know a lot of times bus service is the luck of the draw, but you should consider CBR. It's a lovely resort.

 

[winthropf]

POFQ would solve the bus issues. As a smaller resort, there is only one bus stop.

 

[Samantha Morgan]

We stayed at CBR last summer, I thought the resort itself was absolutely gorgeous but the rooms were my least favorite part. They still had weird orange brown carpeting and they just felt really dark overall. Not necessarily dirty but I was a bit disappointed.


We are staying at Coronado this summer because the rooms were updated and have a really clean and modern look to them, I’m really excited for it.

 

[BebopBaloo]

POFQ would solve the bus issues. As a smaller resort, there is only one bus stop.

It does share with POR at times. I love POFQ. The shared bus is just a definite possibility and there's no real way of knowing when it will or will not share. Except..I believe the return from Animal Kingdom is one station for both resorts, so definitely sharing from that park.

 

[SharonZ]

You will feel the same way about CBR as you did POR. I don't think the bus system is any better or worse at any of the hotels. It's pretty much hit or miss.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with PP For the most part the things You didn’t like - room size, lack of bathroom privacy, multiple buses. - are descriptions of Moderates.
CBR is the only Resort I will not return to.

 

[maxiesmom]

I've stayed at the 4 main moderates (sorry, the cabins still don't belong in the moderate category, imho) and CBR was far and away my least favorite. Everything you say you disliked at POR will still hold true at CBR. Sounds like you are more a deluxe person, and there is nothing wrong with that!

As far as price goes, have you checked out the Dolphin? You do lose a few Disney perks, but the price can be comparable to a Disney moderate, and they will allow you to sleep 5 guests.

 

[Malyficent]

One way to mitigate the bus problem is to use Lyft (and Minnie vans for certain parks - MK and maybe HS depending on the current non-Minnie drop off area). After a few days we switched to mostly taking Lyft XLs. Looking at my ride history the prices averaged $15/ride and that includes a $5 tip. Rides averaged 10 minutes. So door to door for $30/day. Not sure if that offsets the cost of paying for a Deluxe. Still doesn't solve the bathroom curtain problem.

Maybe try to rent DVC to keep costs down?

 

[Moliphino]

The tower at CSR will have internal hallways and be brand new when it opens in July. There are still 4 bus stops at the resort, though. There are no actual room pictures yet, either, just computer generated ones.

 

[anne60]

Look at a map of CBR and count the bus stops. If my memory serves me, there were quite a few more. I only stayed at CBR once, but I think the things you mentioned would be no better.

 

[AngiTN]

Yep, we've done both, POR Royal room and CBR. CBR has all the same things you see as faults so I can't see you liking it better
FQ is going to be the only mod that will eliminate some of your dislikes

 

[kaytieeldr]

Look at a map of CBR and count the bus stops. If my memory serves me, there were quite a few more. I only stayed at CBR once, but I think the things you mentioned would be no better.

Seven, I think.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Cough up and go deluxe... for all the reasons already stated.
I thought the Royal room a “ free” upgrade for us was Awful location.. which was the disney marketers by brainchild of an idea to give the furthest least sellable room a “ perk” and charge more.
I happen to LOve POR but only stay in preferred area .. if we stay moderate

Do deluxe n be happy, it’s Vacation!

 

[Samantha Morgan]

Cough up and go deluxe... for all the reasons already stated.
I thought the Royal room a “ free” upgrade for us was Awful location.. which was the disney marketers by brainchild of an idea to give the furthest least sellable room a “ perk” and charge more.
I happen to LOve POR but only stay in preferred area .. if we stay moderate

Do deluxe n be happy, it’s Vacation!

Same mentality as the pirate rooms at CBR . Farthest away, themed room with only full size beds instead of queen. Costs almost as much as the preferred rooms.

 

[sbd78]

The tower at CSR will have internal hallways and be brand new when it opens in July. There are still 4 bus stops at the resort, though. There are no actual room pictures yet, either, just computer generated ones.

I noticed CSR started taking bookings for tower rooms, and there were club level options. Makes me wonder if they are classifying the tower rooms as deluxes?

 

[3gr8boys]

It still won't be a deluxe experience, but a preferred room at CSR may be a good compromise if it saves $ over the deluxes you are considering. The rooms are recently refurbished and have sliding doors to block off the sink/closet area in addition to the regular door for the toilet/shower area. (I am the only female in my crew also.). Preferred means being reasonably close to bus stop 2....the first to pick up on the way to the parks. It is possible to have an ok view.....but outdoor walkways instead of hallways is what it is I have wondered what will or won't change about CSR bus routes when the tower opens. While I expect the tower will be nice and I know my husband would prefer hallways to outdoor walkways, the bathroom "pictures" freak
me out. I will have to wait and see what the rooms are really like.