POFQ or CBR?

[labfan]

Planning a trip and trying to decide between these two resorts. Haven't been to either one and both look nice.
Any suggestions from people who've been to both? Which one do you prefer and why?

 

[kelleigh1]

Hubby and I have stayed at both. POFQ was our first trip together (2006) and CBR was our 2nd (and the most recent in 2007).

We loved POFQ. It was quaint and peaceful. The boat to DTD was great. We really enjoyed just walking around the resort. We knew we were at WDW, but still felt when we got back to the resort that we were away from it all.

We didn't love CBR. We felt that it was missing some of the Disney magic. It's hard to put it into words, but we just didn't feel it. It was big and beautiful, but we just didn't feel like it was the place for us. We were married in Jamaica (the actual island, not the Disney island), so we thought we would really enjoy CBR, but we just didn't feel "tropical" there.

We've always said that we will stay at POFQ again when we are staying in a moderate. But we don't think we'll go to CBR again.

 

[jcano]

We haven't done CBR, but just returned from POFQ and loved it. We will definitely be staying there next time!

 

[Sagginit]

i vote CBR. a big part of the reason i liked it over POFQ was the feeling. they play jimmy buffett and the pool has a pirate them which made me feel like i was in the Caribbean a bit. i also felt like the beachy tropical landscaping has a more vacation like vibe than the traditional trees and architecture at POFQ. the pool at POFQ was just louder for some reason and we tried pool hopping around but still did not enjoy our pool time as much as we did at CBR. we only did DTD once so the boat was not much of an advantage. while POFQ was prettier for us it did not have the disney feel we wanted. as two adults we were fine with the nemo room we got at CBR. also while it is based on room we felt it was easier to move around CBR for some reason.

 

[labfan]

Are there more marina activities available at CBR?
Which food court do you prefer also?

 

[BridgetR3]

I think it all depends on what you are looking for.

We have stayed at CBR and are staying at POFQ in June after walking around it last year.

CBR is LARGE, too large in my opinion as even the preferred rooms are sometimes pretty far away from Old Port Royale. POFQ is small, very small for a Disney resort.

I find the big pool at CBR better than POFQ because it has two slides and a small splash area for the little ones.

My hubby hated the 7 or so bus stops at CBR because we would travel around the resort for a while before actually heading off to the park. POFQ has only one which is nice if you don't have to stop at POR.

CBR has its own TS restaurant (not a big deal to us ) and POFQ does not. I did prefer the variety of food in CBR as opposed to POFQ. Maybe it was just the way it was set up but it felt like more choices. However, POFQ has beignets and that alone is heaven!!!

POFQ has queen beds which is SOOOO much nicer in my opinion that CBR.

Honestly, it's what you are looking for but for our family POFQ has our vote!!

 

[DisneysPrincess25]

Pofq

 

[MinnieGolf]

We've stayed in both and prefer POFQ. CBR is pretty, but it is large with potentially long walks to the food court and lobby. Bus rides seemed interminable with multiple stops within the resort itself. The POFQ architecture is beautiful, and the setting along the river is gorgeous. The resort's small size means that the food court, lobby, bus stop and pool can be reached in less than five minutes from any room. The resort's atmosphere is more intimate and less frenetic than CBR, which is a welcome feeling after a long day at the parks. POFQ's newly refurbished rooms feature comfortable queen beds, and the bathrooms are lovely. The boat to Downtown Disney offers access to many restaurants, and the boat ride itself is relaxing and entertaining. Honestly, I can't think of any negatives for POFQ.

 

[aubriee]

I go to WDW several times a year and have pretty much settled on the moderates as my resorts of choice with a strong preference for CSR or POFQ. We also like PORS.

I've stayed at CBR twice in the last few years and did not particularly care for it either time. Both times housekeeping was pretty bad, bus service was bad, and the main pool and hot tubs were always so packed we couldn't even get into them, except early in the mornings. Once the refurb at PORS is finished later this year, CBR will be the only moderate that doesn't have queen size beds. We also did not care for their food court or TS restaurant. The resort is huge and as a previous poster said even some of the preferred rooms are a long way from the food court. It is the only WDW resort that has it's own internal bus system just to move people around the resort. Also if you happen to be facing a courtyard, it's easy to get turned around in. lol It's a very pretty resort though. Again I go to WDW several times each year and usually stay in a moderate. The only time I stay at CBR is when I'm bored with the other three moderates and want something different.

Reasons we love POFQ: smallest resort on property so no room is very far from anything, food court decent, queen size beds, love the boat to DTD, buses may share with PORS, but POFQ is the first stop so you pretty much always get a seat in the morning, buses come pretty frequently, since POFQ and PORS are sister resorts, you can legally use the pools at both resorts and we love the short walk, boat ride, or bus ride up to PORS.

You might also want to give CSR a look. They seem to consistently have the best bus service of any WDW resort we stay at and their queen size beds are the most comfortable.

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

I have stayed at both POFQ and CBR and my family prefers POFQ, in fact, we have reservations for this summer at POFQ. I liked CBR and it was the first WDW resort at which we stayed so I had nothing to compare it to at the time but we decided to try other resorts in our travels and so we tried POFQ and now that is my son's favorite and he's 22! We like the smallness and quaintness of the resort, the closeness to the food court, bus stop (plus it is the first bus stop on the route, even when picking up POR), the boat access to DTD and the charm of the resort. Whichever one you decide I know that you will enjoy the magic that is Disney.

 

[Missytara]

I have stayed at both POFQ and CBR and my family prefers POFQ, in fact, we have reservations for this summer at POFQ. I liked CBR and it was the first WDW resort at which we stayed so I had nothing to compare it to at the time but we decided to try other resorts in our travels and so we tried POFQ and now that is my son's favorite and he's 22! We like the smallness and quaintness of the resort, the closeness to the food court, bus stop (plus it is the first bus stop on the route, even when picking up POR), the boat access to DTD and the charm of the resort. Whichever one you decide I know that you will enjoy the magic that is Disney.

Ditto for me; I think there is no comparision between the two. POFQ is by far the better resort of the two; I stayed at CBR my first time and switched over to POR - and have never looked back. The amentities at the Port Orleans property far outweigh CBR in all aspects.

 

[dansdad]

Let me say up front that I have never stayed at POFQ, but have stayed at POR. Having said that, my family loves CBR. It really feels like you are on a tropical vacation there. Even when the resort is full it doesn't feel that way. We love strolling around the serene grounds and take in the ambiance. Just so relaxing! After having eaten at quite a few different resort food courts, CBRs food court is our favorite. The layout is great and the food is awesome.

The main pool has varied activities for the kids and the slides are great. One of our favorite things to do after a full day at the parks is to hit the pool, hot tub and Banana Cabana for a drink. Housekeeping was wonderful and the buses were great.

You can't go wrong with either choice, but for us it's CBR all the way.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Ditto for me; I think there is no comparision between the two. POFQ is by far the better resort of the two; I stayed at CBR my first time and switched over to POR - and have never looked back. The amentities at the Port Orleans property far outweigh CBR in all aspects.

I hate to disagree since you and I both love POR so much but I am going to have to do just that!

CBR has seven pools, POFQ has one.

CBR has a food court and a sit down restaurant, POFQ has a food court only.

CBR has a marina with boat rentals and surrey bike rentals, POFQ does not, you have to go over to POR for that.

CBR is more centrally located and the rooms are a tad larger.

POFQ does have the queen sized beds and the boat to DTD.

It is a matter of personal preference. While POR is my most favorite resort (can't believe I am not staying there in March) I actually prefer CBR over POFQ because to me it has more amenities. In spite of being able to go over to POR to use their pool when you stay at POFQ, to me that is not convenient. CBR has an incredible main pool with several slides, two hottubs and a large splash area,as well as six very nice quiet pools. POFQ's pool is too small, the slide is too short and the lack of quiet pools are a deal breaker for us.

Everyone is different in their tastes but to me if the OP is looking for a lot of pool time, CBR would be the better pick in my opinion. Now between POR and CBR, well that is a different story imho lol. Although we really did enjoy CBR and would gladly stay there again for the tropical theme, central location, larger rooms, views of Illuminations and just an overal nice feel.

POFQ while very nice, is the one and only moderate resort we have said we probably won't return to. Loved the feel, room and food court, but felt it lacked the amenities of the other mods.