Need some help re: Moderates

[GADISNEYGIRL]

Ok, everytime we stay at a Value, we swear on the way home we're going Mod next time. And everytime, we convince ourselves that it can't be worth the money...

But our January 12 day trip has us reconsidering... we do NOT want to listen to toilets flushing for 11 nights!!

However, we also can't decide which moderate to try. I don't particularly want to move during our stay (so trying out all of them isn't really an option). DH doesn't want to stay at POR, because, as he says, we LIVE in the south, why would we stay in "the south" at WDW? I think POFQ would be kind of neat, but he isn't sold on that one, either. (I've never been to NO, he has.) CBR~don't know...do all the rooms have the same decor? I think I'd like to look at something not quite so "bright" for all that time. CSR sounds appealing because we hear it might be quieter, but we're not sure we're sold on the themeing.

Yikes, do we sound picky, or what?!? Our two most recent stays were at VWL (very short stay) and BWI (paid for by someone else), so we're having a hard time going from Deluxe to something less...but Deluxe just isn't an option for 12 days.

So please help us make a decision! Which is your favorite, and why? We've watched the planning video(s), and checked out pics online, and still we're stuck! Please, please help!

 

[Buzz2001]

You're right, you can't go worng with either. It just comes down to a personal preference. We love the pool area at CSR, the Pepper Market and the transportation and central locale of the resort.

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[Disneyjosh229]

Who's going, this will help in my recomendation....

 

[GADISNEYGIRL]

Me (32), DH (33), DS (almost 4 at trip time)... DH and I have made approx 17 trips in the 7 years we've been married, and DS has been 7 times in his short life. We've previously stayed at Contemporary (before DS), BWI and VWL (with DS); and ASMo and PC (with DS). We're completely new to the moderates!

 

[Kim&Chris]

Of the mods, I've stayed at CBR many times, and only once at CSR. I really liked CSR - they have the best pool on property. But I love CBR. The rooms are slightly larger, and each village has their own quiet pool. I love the theming...makes you really feel like you're on an island. Nothing is better than sitting at the Banana Cabana, having a strawberry daiquiri and watching the fireworks from Illuminations on a beautiful Disney evening!

 

[RangerPooh]

While DH and I really like the WL we enjoy POR more. The theming is wonderful, landscaping nice. We've satyed in both the mansions and aligator bayou and request the bayou section everytime now. The pool arae is very cute. We have never had a problem with noise. There are quite (even adult pools) scattered about. The food court is much better than WL and is more accommodating later in the evening. If you ahve little ones they can go cane pole fishing which is a treat. There are websites that allow you to see pictures of all the moderates, but for us this is the best choice. Plus you cna rent all the water craft there and take a ferry into DTD.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

If I were you, I would convince your husband into POFQ...

Its a great resort (it doesn't get the credit it deserves) with another awesome pool, good food court and great location. The resort is much smaller then all the other resorts in the category, which makes it an "easy in-easy out" type resort. I've stayed at CBR, and frankly, I was a little disapointed. The room was very very clean, but the entire property seemed to have this "unappealing" feature to it, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

Either way, have a great trip...

 

[kelleigh1]

Do you sound picky? Yep , but it's Disney and you're allowed to be. You want to stay somewhere memorable so be picky.

I can't recommend any of the resorts since I haven't been to any of them yet. We are booked at POFQ, however, and we're really looking forward to it. CBR was our second choice only because we were married in Jamaica and thought the Caribbean theming would be fun. I'm not sure what settled us on POFQ. I know that we debated it for a while, but for some reason we always came back to POFQ. I think it was a combination of the beauty of it and the riverboat to DTD.

 

[princessjv]

We have stayed at a value (1 night) and hated it. We then moved to CSR, which was very nice but we felt it was a long walk to anything. Next trip we went with POFQ. LOVED IT! It is charming, well themed, great pool and very easy to get around. I will have to say we did hear the toilets flush and the doors slam a bit though.

This trip we thought we would try it's sister hotel POR, which is often voted one of the best choices for a moderate. No matter which you choose, I think you will be happy!

 

[Tinkaroo]

I would stay at POFQ. With a young child, I think the convenience to all of the amenities would be great. POFQ is the most compact of the moderates - the other 3 are much more spread out. Plus, you can legitimatally use the pools, food court, marina, etc. at POR since they're sister resorts. The pictures of POFQ are just beautiful, and everyone raves about the newly refurbished rooms. POFQ will be our next resort to try!

We've also stayed at CBR, and really enjoyed it there, too. I do think the decor is fairly similar (if not the same) in all of the rooms, so it is very bright and "tropical." We found it to be fun, but every person has a different preference. We stayed in Jamaica when we were there, and really enjoyed the location. We didn't think it was too far from Old Port Royale, and it was very peaceful looking out at the lagoon, walking the grounds, etc. Also, Jamaica was the 1st pick-up/drop-off on the bus route at that time, so we always had a seat. Don't know if that's still the same...

CSR doesn't appeal to us either - we live in Texas, so a Southwest/Mexican theme just doesn't fit the bill for us - too close to some of what we see at home (and don't like).

Good luck with your decision!

 

[nanalisa]

We've stayed at all of the moderates now and there is something nice to say about all of them - as well as things you might not like. There are so many different opions on the board that the only way you are going to know is to stay there. CSR, CBR & POR are big resorts and could involve a long walk to pools, food court, etc. POFQ is much smaller, but there is only one pool and bus stop. POFQ and POR have the boat transportation to Downtown Disney and the resort is shady (tree wise). Look at the resort maps and request buildings that are close to the places that are important to your family. You might not get it, but it doesn't hurt to ask. My favorite, POFQ. Least fave is CSR. Good luck!

 

[ZZUB]

It looks like you've gotten some pretty good advise here. I'm replying only to add two thoughts:

We used to eschew what was once called Dixie Landings for the same reason your husband doesn't want to stay there. We lived in the south at the time and I saw no reason to vacation "in the south." However, a few years ago, we stayed there for the first time and really enjoyed it. The thing to remember is, although you live in the south, you probably don't live in either a mansion (if you do, then I imagine you would now be choosing between the concierge at GF or Contemporary) or a rustic cabin. In other words, it won't feel like home. At least it didn't to us. We really enjoyed the resort. It's very pretty and there are a lot of activities. The food court is quite good, the pool options are excellent and at least the Mansions are very quiet.

As for POFQ; one thing to consider is that it lacks all of the recreational options of POR and the other mods. In some ways, it feels like the unloved stepchild.

I think you're right to want to stay at a mod over a value for 11 days. I don't mind the turbo flush, but no one should suffer 11 days of that "whoosh!"

 

[CanBeGrumpy]

If you are looking to escape bathroom noise, you may be disappointed no matter where you choose! The worst bathroom noise we ever heard at Disney was at AKL, where I could actually hear the person use the bathroom AND THEN the flushing! The Polynesian was pretty bad, too, and in addition to the bathroom noise, we could actually hear the people next door when they were talking at a normal volume! I have never really noticed more "bathroom sounds" at the values than other resorts. At least at the values, you are paying a lot less $$ to hear the guest next door use the bathroom!!!

 

[jfritz]

We have stayed at CBR 3 times so far with another booked for Nov. We really like the resort layout. You can have your own separate pool in your land or you can choose to go to the food court area and use the main pool which has slides. You can lay on the beach and watch Illuminations and you can hang out in a hammock. It also has a lake for water rentals.

 

[Steve Hurley]

We have stayed at CBR (3X), POR (2X) and CSR (1X - Yuck).

I always reccommend CBR (Jamaica Section 4500) with young children. The three times we stayed there with our children they loved it.

We stayed at POR twice but it was only DW and I (kids in college now - yicks!!!) but I saw alot of families there.

We stayed at CSR once when the kids were in high school and none of us liked it. It did not have the Disney feel to it, really bland.

 

[SnoweyWhite]

I've only stayed at POR and POFQ, and enjoyed both. But out of those two, my favorite would be POFQ. I have visited CBR and found it to be much larger and spread out. POR and POFQ's grounds aren't nearly as spread out. I too, am from the south and understand your husband's reasoning--I thought the same thing when we stayed there, but still enjoyed it. I say go with POFQ, it's a great place, and I think your son will like the pool.