Please help me decide???

[seaprincess]

HI, I have planned a weeekend getaway for my hubby and I on May 19th-22nd. I am having the hardest time deciding between a Moderate and a deluxe resort. I have narrowed it down to the Carribean Beach Resort and Animal Kingdom Lodge. For a three day weekend CBR prices at $1081.00(king bed standard view) and AKL(savannah view..no pool view available) is $1600.00-both packages include disney dining and a 2-day park hopper (the current special that upgrades tickets to park hopper and water parks). I am not sure I can justify spending almost $500.00 more. The problem, we have always stayed in deluxe resorts and I have heard mixed reviews about CBR.

Please share your opinions!! Thanks for your help!

 

[Bugsmom73]

I would maybe consider POFQ or CSR if you are worried about the CBR. CSR does have some availability according to the website, as does POFQ.

 

[CMedley78]

My husband and I honeymooned at CBR and we loved it. I think it is perfect for a weekend getaway.
Colleen

 

[ADisneygirl]

I've been to both resorts and can say that for us AKL is well worth the extra $500 if you can swing it.

Also, you've said you always stay in deluxe resorts. Is the $500 worth the differences between a mod and a deluxe? Only you can answer that. We usually stay in deluxes too. But we've tried some mods. We notice the smaller beds, the longer walks to our room, no balcony, outside corridors, no valet, and less dining options. Still, we have stayed at POFQ and liked it. But we still noticed the differences.

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

Haven't stayed at AKL so I can't speak for it but, I have stayed numerous times at CBR and love it. For the difference in price I don't think I would jump up to AKL, especially since this is only a weekend trip with 2 days in the parks...if this were a longer trip where you could spend alot of time back at the resort I might consider it but with short time I would go CBR if it were me.

 

[rnorberg]

I love CBR...the only issue with CBR i have is the food chocies arent very good. CSR has better food onsite...but if you plan to go out and eat mostly when youre there, i would go CBR.

 

[pinkminnie]

We have stayed at CBR and loved it. However, if i were planning a getaway for my hubby, I would choose AKL. We have never stayed there, but have visited the resort. It would be a lot more romantic and the restaurant choices are much better. IMHO, if you could afford either, I think you should choose AKL.

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR is a large resort that does not share services with other resorts and offers some deluxe amenities because it is a convention resort.

CSR has a salon, spa, and a gym that other moderates do not offer. CSR has full menu room service and offers an internal shuttle system provided by golf carts to assist in getting to and from the main building to the villages.

It is also the only mod to offer suites.

CSR is situated around a 15 acre lake and CBR is situated around a 45 acre lake.

CSR has terrific transportation. It does not share with any other resort (like POR / POFQ) and it only has 4 bus stops within the resort (vs 8 at CBR). And since CSR is centrally located, you'll have a quick ride to all the parks.

And being a convention resort, the buses seem less crowded because guests are busy with their conventions.

Photo by Ducky4Disney

CSR has the best pool of the mods and probably the second best on WDW property. Best mod pool. It offers a great slide (123 ft long), an arcade, a sand volleyball court, and a playground at the main pool area.

Review from mousesavers.com!!

Coronado Springs is my Best Value choice in the Moderate category. It has several advantages compared with the other Moderate resorts. It is newer, so there has been less wear-and-tear on everything. Also, Coronado Springs is a convention hotel, so it has a few extra amenities not offered at the other Moderates, including a salon, a health club and a more upscale food court.

The theming is radically different in the three areas of Coronado Springs. You can request a specific area when booking but there is no guarantee you'll get your request.

• The Spanish-style Casitas at Coronado Springs are very peaceful, with courtyards featuring tiled fountains. Casitas Buildings 1, 3 and 2 (in that order) are the closest to the restaurants and services. Casitas Building 4 contains the salon and health club, if those are important to you.
• The Cabanas at Coronado Springs have a beachy Caribbean feeling. Cabanas Building 8A is very close to the feature pool, which may be a blessing (convenience) or a curse (noise, light). Cabanas Building 9B is closest to the marina and relatively convenient to the restaurants and services.
• The Ranchos at Coronado Springs feel quiet and secluded -- some would say isolated -- and feature desert landscaping and pueblo-style architecture. They look closest to the main pool on a map, but in actuality they are separated from the rest of the property by a swamp, so it can be a fairly long walk from these buildings to the pool, and a very long walk to the restaurants.

 

[seaprincess]

Wow, thank you all for so much feedback!!! It really has helped me to gain insight from those of you who have stayed at CBR. We have stayed at AKL this past October and loved it!! We had a pool view and a wonderful room on the Zebra Trail. Sadly, we are such creatures of habit that I am trying to "persuade" ourselves to try different resorts and I love the tropical feel that CBR offers.

The "kicker", if you will is that we do not arrive until 8:00pm on Friday night and we fly back on Monday at 4:30pm. So essentially we will not be occupying the room until late. That's why I thought moderate, a little less expensive and I would not feel so guilty spending a lot for a weekend getaway. After staying in Deluxe resorts, I am most afraid of missing the perks of a deluxe...valet, restaurants, the safety of indoor corridors, shops, etc.

Can anyone tell me, how are the rooms and do you feel safe with outside entrances??

Thanks!!

 

[lizanne]

If you can afford it, go with AKL.