Moderate Resorts

[Landy]

Can anyone recommend one of the moderate priced resorts? We've stayed at the Wilderness Lodge the past few times but that is going to be a little out of our price range. We have two girls ages 11 & 9 so pools and convenience to the parks is the most important.

 

[catbertdave99]

The only moderate we've been to is CBR this past April, and we loved it! This is after staying at WL and AKL on previous trips.

I have a DS14 and a DS11, and they loved CBR and insist we go back there on our next trip. My understanding is that CSR has a nicer pool, but the CBR main pool was fine with my kids, and they really liked the quiet pool in our area. They had a blast on the beaches, loved the hammocks, realllly liked the SeaRaycers on the lake, and had a good time in the arcade.

The food court was also a hit with them. They could walk in, get what they wanted, and be back out in a flash, and they never had trouble finding something they liked to eat!

We had great bus service, and the bus trips were pretty short, too, because CBR is centrally located. The longest ride we had was to MK, and that's not too bad either. We never waited long for a bus.

The rooms are smaller than SL, but they don't feel it. There's no balcony just for your room, but we were on the second floor and could just walk out our door to the exterior walkway and see the beach and the lake.

It sounds like all the Mods are great -- everyone probably has a different favorite. We just love CBR! I've got a handful of photos you can check out below. Also, check out the CBR FAQ's that Safetymom has put together -- lots of info, and she has lots more photos posted that you can check out!

 

[SAWYERMAW1]

Our favorite is POFQ. Great resort!! Small sized and convenient boats to DTD. We've stayed in several of the deluxe resorts but always go back to POFQ.

 

[BevS97]

I also love POFQ, it is just beautiful and totally relaxing and lovely and wonderful.....

I have some photos in my sig.

bev

 

[etwinchester]

I've never stayed onside yet, but from all the information I gathered from this board, our first onsite stay will be at CSR.

The pool looks amazing and I love large resorts. This wouldn't bother me a bit. I've also read they have quite a few bus stops and don't share the buses with other resorts.

Guess time will tell. Keep us posted on your decision.

 

[HANDYMOM]

We've stayed at CBR and POR Riverside. While CBR is very nice, we absolutely loooooooved POR. Our boys loved it too.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with any of the moderates so don't stress out over your choice.

 

[TLinden16]

I am a big fan of the POFQ--I've stayed there about five times, and have always had a wonderful stay. I have found the staff there to be warm, friendly, and helpful. The rooms are great, and the compact size of the resort is a big plus ovre the other moderate resorts. I think the pool theming is really cool, and the boat to downtown Disney is a plus.

I have stayed at all four moderate resorts, and I rank them as follows:

1. POFQ
2. POR
3. CBR--Avoid Trinidad South--rooms are a hike to the food court and pool
4. CSR--I find the walls to be paper thin, and I don't like the way they run the food court here

I really think you'd be happy at any of them--just pick the one that is best themed to your families tastes

Have fun!

Karen

 

[Manon]

Stayed in POR in june and love it , so much that we are going back in 67 days!!!

 

[Drizzo67]

Landy - we have not stayed at all of the moderates but can tell you about the two we have stayed at.

CBR - our first family trip, lucked out getting a room in the Martinique section which is close to the main building (Old Port Royale), food court, restaurant(Shutters), gift shop and main themed pool (there are 7 others). We had no real problems but did hear a lot of grumbling from other guests who were not happy about the long walk to the food court. Alot of bus stops in this resort.

POFQ------WE LOVE THIS RESORT. It is the smallest of the moderates, very clean, recently refurbished (within 2 years) and very quaint. We loved having the option of bus services to the parks or water boat to Downtown Disney. We even took the boat over to POR. Only down fall to POFQ is there is no table service restaurant...you have to go over to POR for a sitdown dinner. The bus service was great, shares busses with POR but POFQ is 1st one on, 1st one off.

Hope this helps.

 

[Buzz2001]

Definitely CSR. My DW and I love this resort. CSR is the only mod to have a spa, salon and gym (free for guests). No shared transportation like POR/POFQ and fewer stops than CBR

Photo by Ducky4Disney

Photo by buzz2001

Photo by buzz2001

Visit my website below and/or read this thread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=324638

 

[kmkja1]

We love POR but we do not have much choice since we have 5 in our family.

 

[MHTeacher]

The only mod we have stayed in is CSR. We have two DDs the same age as yours and they loved the main pool here. There were three or four bus stops and we did not share buses with any other resorts.

May 2001-All Star Sports
July 2003-CSR
Nov/Dec 2005-Wilderness Lodge
Nov. 29, 2005-Our Family's 1st MVMCP

 

[Lilolvr]

CSR!! We love the landscaping and mexican theme. Simply beautiful!!

 

[HopperFan]

We love CSR (southwest tropical) and POR (relaxed southern charm), very different from each other, but both great resorts we will be returning to visit. Have done both with kids same ages as yours. The CSR pool slide is the best of the moderates so that may factor in if that is important. Cool pyramid, playground, food and arcade at pool......POR is alittle bit more themed and lush at the pool area but was more crowded each visit than we experience at CSR. Maybe because convention folks there don't always have families with them.

There are lots of fans of POFQ but just too quiet for us and the kids thought the pool looked too tame (we did go and see it in person). Just seems short of amenties compared to POR.

CBR was our least favorite and not on our radar for a return visit.

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

Having stayed at POR, POFQ and CBR...I would recommend POFQ and CBR at the top of my list. CBR is huge but, I love the theme so much that it makes up for the inconvience of the size. POFQ is small and intimate, which is a big part of it's charm...plus after it's recent rehab it's beautiful.

 

[3disAddicts]

We've stayed at both CBR and POR. We're fans of POR hands down. Me, DH, and DS who is 4. We've stayed both times in the AB section. The grounds are lush and clean, and just the whole ambience of the resort is nice.

 

[DiznEeyore]

We are en route home from 7 nights at WDW -- we stayed the first two at CBR (our first stay there) and we all loved it!! The room was spacious and pretty, and all the CMs were extremely nice. Transportation was fast and convenient, and the food court had lots of variety.

We own DVC and have stayed at all levels of resorts at WDW -- CBR now ranks as one of our favorites. When we do strictly cash trips in the future, we will definitely stay there.

 

[dolphin01]

CSR is a great mod resort. It has the best pool of all the mods, the transportation is awesome and not shared and only has 4 stops.

 

[lovewdwdvc]

Have you thought about renting points at a DVC? Check out rent trade board.

 

[hockeybabe]

Another vote for CSR! Our first vacation was at WL, and we thought we'd be disappointed with anything less, but we couldn't afford to do WL this time, so we "settled" for CSR. It was great! Now we have 2 favorite resorts

The kids loved the pool and slide, the Pepper Market was good (esp. if on the dining plan), and the transportation was great (not sharng with any other resorts was a definate bonus). Buzz's website will give you all of the info you need, and pictures galore, although there's nothing like the real thing!

Good luck in making your choice!
CSR!
CSR!
CSR!