Please Help Choose!

[kaymak]

I know this has probably been asked a million times but I really need help deciding between Pop Century and a Moderate resort. It will be for a week long stay. We have 2 girls, 5 and 8. Would like the most convenient to the parks and good swimming. We will have the dining plan so we will eat most of our meals in the parks.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I haven't tried the values but I've really liked the moderates that I've tried--both Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter. Have you looked at the pictures? The theming is gorgeous. My son LOVED the pools at both places--the POFQ had this big dragon and cute alligator jazz characters around it. The POR had streams of water coming down in it and it was just a blast. I'd recommend a moderate, personally.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

If you can afford a moderate, then I would recommend one of those. We like Carribean Beach or Port Orleans Riverside the best. Pop is also a good hotel and there should be plenty for your kids to do.

 

[magicaldisney]

I think the bigger question is....do you want to spend the extra money on the moderate? If so, moderate offers a little more than the value. As for swimming, moderate resorts offer slides, value resorts do not.

Our first resort was a value, our second was a moderate. After staying at the moderate, we both said we would not go back to the value. For us the value resort was a little to crazy. Don't get me wrong, moderates can get crazy too, but we just don't feel it as much as we did in the value.

With the age of your children, I would recommend PO French Quarter. It is a MUCH smaller resort and very easy to get around. Nice swimming, short walk to main building, dining, bus stop, swimming and the boat to DTD. POFQ is also the first bus stop, so you should always get a spot on the bus. The bus then goes to POR. You can also walk, bus, or boat over to POR to enjoy what that resort has to offer.

Let us know if you have any other questions.

 

[kaymak]

How long is the boat ride to downtown disney?

 

[maxiv]

i've been to coronado springs in summer and really loved it ! i think it would be great for you children since the theming is outrageous and the pool with ne slide absolutely rocks ! i havent been to the other moderates though but i really loved csr !

greets, max

 

[ter-moo]

How long is the boat ride to downtown disney?

It takes about 10-15 minutes from POFQ and is very pleasant and relaxing. You can also ride the other direction to POR if you're staying at POFQ and want to eat at a sit-down restaurant or look around the other resort.

 

[cindyfan]

When are you going?
That could make a difference too. If you are going during the more crowded months..... I would say if you can afford it to go with the moderate.
If you are planning slower months like Sept.... I think value would be fine.
The girls will enjoy either.... but if it is crowded... I really like the option of using the quiet pools at the moderates. The pools at the values will get very crowded.
Also, if you are going during spring break or when there might be organizations going..... such as the cheerleading competitions, etc.
I would stay away from values at those times.

The moderates also give more dining options.... we've never used the dining so I am not sure what resorts offer.... good idea to check into that.

 

[kaymak]

We will be going the last week of May, so I am sure the crowds will be beginning to pick up. I guess I have just assumed we would stay at the value resorts and never really checked into the moderates. I like the idea of POFQ being a little smaller and everything being closer together. We love Downtown Disney and I think it would be great to have that just a boatride away!

 

[amarberry]

We stayed at a value resort (Pop Century) for the first time in Sept./Oct. I was very nervous about doing so since we had only stayed at moderates and deluxe resorts in the past. Guess what...we're going back in January and are staying at Pop Century again. It's a tremendous value IMHO.

My DD is much younger than your kids (she'll be 18 mo. on our next trip), but the pool was fine for us. If your kids like slides and stuff like that, Pop doesn't have that.

As far as distance from the parks, it seemed like a long ride to MK, around 20 minutes, but it was a quick ride, around 10 minutes, to the other 3 parks. The other thing that we really likes about Pop over the moderates and even Beach Club was that there was only one stop when you arrived at Pop rather than circling around a resort making several stops (or with Beach Club, stopping at Yacht Club, Swan, Dolphin, and Boardwalk). I'm sure other people prefer being dropped off closer to their room, but we sometimes feel like we walk fast than the buses can drive.

For our trip in January, our hotel for 9 nights at Pop with our 9 day park hopper is a little under $1100. If we were staying at Port Orleans, it would cost a little over $1600. Personally, I would rather spend that extra $500 adding on the dining plan to my package, but every family needs to determine what is important to them (we like lots of food! )