Moderate Resorts

[FirstTimeDisneyVisit]

DF and I were looking to book a trip to Disney for September of this year. We never look to book this late, but since we're currently trying to save for our wedding we didn't think Disney was an option for this year. We did some budgeting and its looking like a Disney vacation might be doable! We checked to see if our favorite resort, Coronado Springs, had any availability but it looks like all rooms are booked for the week we want to visit.

What other mod resorts would you recommend? We were looking into Port Orleans-Riverside as a possible choice.

 

[crazymomof4]

The resorts forum might get you more views/responses

 

[Amysita]

I would go with POFQ...it's not as spread out...easy walk to buses, boats, and food court. The only thing PORS has that FQ doesn't is a table service restaurant...but they're so close, it's a short (and pretty) walk if you want to eat there.

 

[andyman8]

I'm a big fan of CBR, particularly with the newer renovations (still not complete). Pool area is awesome, Shutter's recently has had a change in management leading to significantly better food, and the atmosphere is wonderful!

 

[Tomh]

I personally, have fallen in love with the Alligator Bayou section of POR.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

This should probably be moved to the resorts board

I like POFQ

 

[surferdave]

CSR is the only moderate I haven't stayed in.

The biggest factor to me is how you feel about the resorts being big and spaced out. To me, it makes for too much walking and the buses taking forever. Fro those reasons I would pick POFQ first because it's relatively compact, POR second because it's next smallest and CBR last because it is hu-u-u-u-uge. I would walk from my room to the front desk every morning last time I stayed there and it took forever.

 

[nfggirl5454]

I think POR is my favorite mod. POFQ is nice since it's so much smaller, but I prefer the theming at Riverside, as well as their food court and pool. Oh, and POFQ is nice since it's easier to get on the boat to DTD, since less people are using it! CBR is nice and relaxing as well, and I like that you can see the Epcot fireworks from the pool there, but it is huge, which some people dislike.

 

[Planogirl]

PORS or POFQ. They are sister resorts so you can enjoy the amenities of both.

 

[t_catt11]

Let me be the fly in the ointment, here.

Background: I've done Animal Kingdom twice, Wilderness Lodge once, Coronado Springs once, and Port Orleans Riverside once.

POR was far and away our least favorite resort. It's huge and spread out, meaning a lot of walking if your building isn't close to the lobby (lots of them are not). Ours was quite far - I'm talking 15-20 minutes round trip to send a runner to go refill mugs.

Theme-wise, this was easily the least "Disney feeling" of any resort we've stayed in. I'm aware that moderates don't have the impressive lobbies of the deluxes, but this one just felt like a nice hotel at the best (not a Disney experience).

The paths just seemed dark and oppressive. The staff (with the exception of one kind lady at check in) was the least friendly we've ever dealt with at WDW. I know that towel animals and such are supposed to be considered extra magic, but nine nights and not one single towel animal, not one clever arrangement of the kids toys just felt empty after having those experiences pretty much every night on the previous four trips.

Dining was okay. The food itself was good, it's just that the overall selection wasn't what we were accustomed to at the other resorts we've stayed at.

This isn't a comparison of deluxe to moderate; I'd go back to Coronado in a heartbeat! However, I'd go anywhere else (including values) before I'd go back to POR.

 

[Planogirl]

Let me be the fly in the ointment, here.

Background: I've done Animal Kingdom twice, Wilderness Lodge once, Coronado Springs once, and Port Orleans Riverside once.

POR was far and away our least favorite resort. It's huge and spread out, meaning a lot of walking if your building isn't close to the lobby (lots of them are not). Ours was quite far - I'm talking 15-20 minutes round trip to send a runner to go refill mugs.

Theme-wise, this was easily the least "Disney feeling" of any resort we've stayed in. I'm aware that moderates don't have the impressive lobbies of the deluxes, but this one just felt like a nice hotel at the best (not a Disney experience).

The paths just seemed dark and oppressive. The staff (with the exception of one kind lady at check in) was the least friendly we've ever dealt with at WDW. I know that towel animals and such are supposed to be considered extra magic, but nine nights and not one single towel animal, not one clever arrangement of the kids toys just felt empty after having those experiences pretty much every night on the previous four trips.

Dining was okay. The food itself was good, it's just that the overall selection wasn't what we were accustomed to at the other resorts we've stayed at.

This isn't a comparison of deluxe to moderate; I'd go back to Coronado in a heartbeat! However, I'd go anywhere else (including values) before I'd go back to POR.

Funny but we couldn't stand Coronado Springs. Luckily there's something for everyone at WDW.

Animal Kingdom Lodge blows all of the mods away though. We just love that place but the OP seemed to only be interested in mods.

 

[minnierocks]

We have stayed at CSR, CBR and POR...CBR was our favorite much to our surprise! We had heard so many negative comments that I really had no desire to ever stay there. We tried it during free dining last year and loved it! We loved the theming and there is a very relaxed feel to it. Buses and service was great...the only thing we didn't really like was the food court. POR was our least favorite as we found it difficult to navigate....the windy paths drove me crazy! Bus service was fine but the customer service was not great that week.

 

[nkereina]

Is CSR sold out entirely or just under the free dining promo? We found CBR was sold out under the promo for our dates, but was still available at rack rate.

If it's sold out in general, I think POR is a really good option. POR was excluded from the public free dining offer so I'd imagine it will be less crowded than CSR or CBR. We've stayed at POR twice and CSR once, and really like POR. It's smaller and eaiser to walk, and we think the food court is better by a mile. The boat to DTD is also a great perk. CSR takes the pool and bus categories for us, but we think POR is better in everything else.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

My family and I loved Port Orleans Riverside! We stayed in a Royal Guest Room and were very impressed. We loved the grounds, as well. It is just so lovely. We also loved that they would randomly break into song in the food court ("It's time to clap our hands *clap clap* here at the riverside. Here at the riverside. Here at the riverside....") and encourage the guests to sing and dance along.

We have also enjoyed Caribbean Beach. It's very big, so that's something to be prepared for, but very tropical and fun. I love walking around at night.

I'm not big into Port Orleans French Quarter, but that's because I'm just not into the decorations. I'm not a big Mardi Gras person. The theming is definitely there, it's just not my style. If you do like Mardi Gras, this could likely be an excellent place for you.

 

[LSUfan4444]

Have you tried renting points from a DVC owner? You'll get much more for your money at a deluxe DVC studio than you will at a moderate in a regular room.

Personally, I think a value resort is a much better return for your money if not renting points and staying at a deluxe.

http://www.dvcrequest.com/

 

[tndisneyfan]

We've stayed at all the mods and I think POR would be my second choice over CSR. The food court is nice and the rooms have recently been refurbed.

 

[ThinkTink09]

POR -Riverside is my favorite out of all the resorts we've tried (see sig). Love the theming and the boat service to DTD is an awesome perk

 

[LSUfan4444]

CSR is the only moderate I haven't stayed in.

The biggest factor to me is how you feel about the resorts being big and spaced out. To me, it makes for too much walking and the buses taking forever. Fro those reasons I would pick POFQ first because it's relatively compact, POR second because it's next smallest and CBR last because it is hu-u-u-u-uge. I would walk from my room to the front desk every morning last time I stayed there and it took forever.

We stayed at CBR a few years ago and I didn't find it too bad, but we stayed in Aruba. We had nice weather most of the time, but we quickly learned whichever way the bus turned when we got in, we were either the second stop if it turned towards our room first or we would get out at Olde Pointe and just walk the .33 miles / 8 minutes.

 

[michsig]

I usually stay at CSR, but decided to branch out and try POR this trip!

 

[t_catt11]

Funny but we couldn't stand Coronado Springs. Luckily there's something for everyone at WDW.

Animal Kingdom Lodge blows all of the mods away though. We just love that place but the OP seemed to only be interested in mods.

Absolutely agree on all counts. I know that lots of folks love POR; I honestly expected to count myself among them (we've loved every other Disney resort)... it just wasn't the case for us.

And yeah, I understand that OP was just looking at moderates. With the growth of my family, mods are where it's at for us, too.