POFQ or CSR during NYE?

[mommy in wonderland]

Which resort POFQ or CSR would be better during NYE? Which has better Christmas decorations, better bus service, you know the better package? Anyone been there at that time of year?

 

[FINFAN]

struggling with the same decision...started a thread the other day asking what resort folks choose for NYE, only one response and that was POFQ...so I guess the score is
POFQ 1
CSR 0

right now...we are only looking at 2 nights, 3 max...so may actually consider a value, but have 2 teens, no bed sharing..I am not too worried about the busses as it appears once you get to a park for NYE stay put 'till next year!

 

[mommy in wonderland]

That's the truth! My husband and I are going there alone for the first time. We are excited. No kids ! We have stayed at CSR and love it but, we have not been there since they've redone the rooms. The rooms look awesome on line. We just wanted to try a new resort this time. Also the x-mas decorations will be up at that time and I thought it would feel more Christmasy at POFQ. The only thing is every time when we go to catch a bus for CSR I would look over at POFQ and POR line and it would be CRAZY long! So are you getting 2 rooms since your kids don't share a bed?

 

[FINFAN]

well, we do the used to do the air mattress thing until DS had a spider incident @ POP last summer...he hates any rooms that have an exterior door, but a deluxe is out of the budget ( and we have 40% off) Would love to snag the Dolphin, but too much $$$ as well. I booked CSR for the Q beds and figure we'll anty up for the roll-a-way , but then I realized they may not be able to fit a roll-a-way there now BECAUSE of the Q beds...we also pay the extra adult fee per night, so our total not including extra bed is just under $165 a night, guestimating $18-20 a night for roll-a-way...so $185. Best I can do for 2 values is $210 ( no extra adult fee for 2 rooms)...so need to figure if risking non-connecting rooms is worth it,( if I am not there beating on the kids to get up, they won't) however 2 bathrooms is really nice, but no fridge so would use a cooler...unless DD agrees to be the one in the airbed, the a mod is the choice for 165.
I agree, for Christmas I think POFQ looks awesome, and we may still switch, I need to call CSR and verify that they have roll-a-ways, and if they fit now.
If for some reason we switch to a value, may just try Movies, have stayed at ASMU and POP, and we will have a car, but do NOT want to drive it on NYE. So cool you guys get a grown up trip...
so how was the bus transportation at CSR? What section did you stay in?

 

[Amy&Dan]

I have stayed at POFQ during Chirstmas and the decorations cannot compare to CSR's holiday decorations. I love POFQ, but the new rooms of CSR are hard to beat right now. Also, CSR has a tendancy to feel less crowded, more room to spread out in. POFQ also only has one pool, and our Christmas week (we actually were at POFQ NYE 2005) was warm and the one pool at FQ was always mobbed.

I think both resorts are lovely, but CSR would get my vote.

FinFan, I am sure they can still fit a rollaway at CSR. I had one in there pre room redo and there was plenty of room to spare. The size between a double and queen is not that much more. We do the airbed every trip and I can relate! And for the record, the only bug problem I had was at an interior hallway hotel in WDW. Those balcony doors let critters in quite easily I'm afraid!

 

[FINFAN]

wow, from pictures I think POFQ looked a bit more "embelished" w/decorations, maybe it is just the overall theming to begin with, CSR looks very open, so maybe not "filled" looking in pictures they way POFQ does to me?
Thanks for the rollaway info, good to know they offer them. We are driving so I will throw the air mattress in the car just in case there are no beds avaiable when we arrive. Not sure if we will have time for the pool, and being late December and all I imagine it will be a bit chilly at night, but CSR has hot tubs !
Where did you set the bed up ? By the window? I know the ottomons are moveable which is really a good thing!

 

[Amy&Dan]

wow, from pictures I think POFQ looked a bit more "embelished" w/decorations, maybe it is just the overall theming to begin with, CSR looks very open, so maybe not "filled" looking in pictures they way POFQ does to me?
Thanks for the rollaway info, good to know they offer them. We are driving so I will throw the air mattress in the car just in case there are no beds avaiable when we arrive. Not sure if we will have time for the pool, and being late December and all I imagine it will be a bit chilly at night, but CSR has hot tubs !
Where did you set the bed up ? By the window? I know the ottomons are moveable which is really a good thing!

I want to say we put it at the foot of one bed, near the bathroom area. I think! I did a rollaway vs. my airbed that trip because it was before a cruise and I didn't want to have mess with an extra piece of luggage when I had so much anyway (and the cruise ship had two beds for my kids).

I may have a picture of that rollaway at CSR, I'll have to look later. It did fit very nicely, that much I do remember. It was like $17 a night with tax as I recall.

Here are some holiday photos of CSR, I can vouch that POFQ looked nothing this holidayish when we stayed there:

http://coronado_springs.tripod.com/content/xmas.htm

Oh and CSR has the biggest hot tub in all of WDW, so that may come in handy during late December. I have been when its 80 and when its like 50. Within the same trip!

 

[mommy in wonderland]

FinFan: I stayed in Cabanas and Casitas. They were both great locations. The walk to the front was 5 to 7 minutes. Bus stop 4 was right behind our building so we mainly used that one. I did'nt really like using bus stop one because it was the last stop and most crowded. The only complaint was with the refillable mug. They aren't that big so it was almost empty by the time we would get to our room. Oh we went in June and September. I thought the bus service was good. There was only a few times where they were overly crowded. And that was only when the parks were closing. But, we are going during New Years and I'm expecting waits and a crowded bus. So I'm hoping for a pleasant surprise since I'm expecting the worse.

Amy&Dan: Thanks for the info about the decorations. I love CSR to. Just curious but does POFQ share a bus with POR during NYE time? I think I might go with my gut feeling and return to CSR. They have that new lounge/club. Going on my first trip to the world without kids. EXCITED! Also my first time in 10 years to go out on NYE!!! Over due!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Our experience was that POFQ and POR shared the entire time we were there that week, including NYE. Which is why I was very glad we were staying at POFQ. Too many times, during that crowded time, the last stop of POR would see our bus drive by because we were too full to stop. But I do want to stress this was in 2005, so four years ago. So they may not have done that in more recent Christmas weeks.

If I was on an adult only trip, CSR for sure. That way if you don't feel like going out NYE, you have some nightlife right there at the resort. Also, you have the spa and salon, you could do a massage, manicure whatever adult type pampering things you want to do!

I love the Port Orleans resorts though and you can't go wrong picking either one of them.

I'll also mention one thing. MK always has a pre NYE thing on the 30th. They do the NYE fireworks, usually have EMH until very late (4:00 a.m. our year) and its a great way to see the NYE stuff on the 30th. We did that, I have wonderful memories of doing EMH until 4:00 a.m. with our kids, by 2:00 the place was deserted! I remember walking down Main Street a bit after 4:00, it was just us. We then slept in big time that day (NYE) got up, had dinner in DTD then headed over to Epcot at 8:00ish. All we did was people watch, it was packed (but not to capacity) and then they had Illuminations (they actually do Illuminatiosn twice on NYE, once at around 8:00 I think, then again arond 11:30 maybe to go right before the NYE fireworks) and the special NYE fireworks. So we got to see MK's NYE stuff on the 30th then do Epcot on the 31st. And it stayed open until 1:00 so after the fireworks, we went over into France, saw the movie then exited slowly sort of behind some fo the crowds. Those two nights at MK and Epcot are probably my top 2 Disney moments in 24 trips to DL and WDW!

 

[mommy in wonderland]

Now you've got me really excited!!!! I can't wait!!! Thankyou for answering all my questions.

 

[FINFAN]

oh man, the pre NYE sounds awesome! One year we did a late night EMH that ended at 3 a.m, took a cab to the Dolphin and ate at Tubbi's (or Picabu, whatever it is called now) went back to the room to shower and hit early EMH for DHS...wemade it until about 3 pm, then back to the room to crash..but what a blast! I am ALL OVER getting to do it again, sounds so cool! (of course now everyone will be doing the same thing, but it's all good!)