POFQ v CSR

[girlsmom]

I always thought when we bumped from value (pop) to mod that we would do POFQ b/c I love the theming -bright, cheerful...the fact that its quaint resort, too...
it's like NO, LA without the grime (sorry if I offend any NOLA natives!)...but I feel like everyone's favorite mod is CSR...? I had gotten the impression (not sure where from) that CSR was a boring "convention" hotel...? I haven't actually ever been to CSR (I have been to POFQ), but from the pics, it looks rather blah (esp compared to pop!)...? SO has me wondering do ppl that like CSR like "calm, relaxing" like adult vaca...? maybe that's the difference (we have 3 kids, no ours is definitely NOT an "adult vaca"
Who loves POFQ? Who loves CSR? and WHY!?
TIA!!!

 

[LGH1946]

I love POFQ. We stayed there in Nov. '08 and are staying there again next weekend. It is smaller and no room is very far from the food court and the buses. The only thing I don't like is sharing the bus with Riverside. I guess I just like the atmosphere better than the other moderates or values.

 

[luckylady131]

We are going for the first time after Thanksgiving. I thought long and hard between POR and CSR. And chose CSR specifically for the queen beds!!! The decor is kind of 'eh' to me from the pictures. I added a night to our stay in the beginning and will be staying at POR (not FQ though). I want to see the difference between resorts.

I was afraid that the values would be too "loud" ... meaning I would never be able to shut off because the decor is bright, big, colorful, etc. And with small children I wanted to be able to actually relax at some point!! We are used to Mexican all inclusive resorts, and have taken our children to them. I figure will have enough excitement at the parks and during the day, I wanted our resort and quiet time to be relaxing as possible for everyone.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I prefer CSR (have stayed at both). The compact size of POFQ is a plus and minus for me. It is nice knowing you will be close to the main area regardless of what building you get. However, the downside is that POFQ does not have any quiet pools of its own (you can use the pools over at POR but that requires a walk, drive or boat ride to get over there) and I found its main pool to be too crowded much of the time.

The main pool at CSR on the other hand is in my book one of the best pools on property including the deluxe's. It has a huge hot tub, plus three quiet pools.

CSR rooms are also recently redone and have the queen beds, flat screen tv's and are just very upscale.

If it weren't for reading it on the disboards, I would have never known CSR was a convention resort. To me it feels pretty much like every other Disney resort, however the pools were never very crowded. I guess a lot of the conventioners don't have time to swim! But we never felt like we were in the middle of some downtown area Marriott with a bunch of suits and business people around! And the plus side to its being a convention resort besides uncrowded busses and pools (at least much of the time they are uncrowded) is that it has the queen beds and more dining options (including room service that is far more reasonable than the deluxe room service offerings) to cater to the conventioners. And many of those attending conventions do bring their family members along and tour the parks on their off hours so you are certainly surrounded by plenty of tourists with kids. My kids found lots of kids to hang out with at the pool in the afternoons just like they have at other Disney resorts.

POFQ is getting a refurb, not sure when that will begin so it may have new rooms too by your visit. And since it is a sister resort to POR, its nice because its sort of like getting two resorts in one. I do prefer POFQ's food court to Pepper Market although we still like Pepper Market and the food is very good. CSR also has a couple of other cs places including Cafe Rix which is more standard take out food and there is no gratuity like there is at Pepper Market. POFQ does not have its own full serve restaurant. It does have the boat to DTD though which is nice.

I think both resorts are lovely and well themed, to me CSR is far from boring but that's just me! When we stayed there I loved the southwest theming that stil had a very tropical flair. I also love the theming at POFQ just missed having grounds and multiple pools.

To me the moderates offer some peace and tranquility, without at all being stuffy or dull. They are more about outdoor theming and landscaping vs. the icons and bright colors of the values. Don't ge me wrong, we love the values but now find we just prefer the mods. The rooms are larger, there is less noise, less crowds and they (mods) are still very family friendly with arcades, fun pools, neat gift shops and all the stuff kids like to do. They also have boat and bike rentals at all the mods. My kids even now that they are teens love to rent a surrey bike. POFQ does not have that, however POR does. CSR and CBR both do.

I also love having a larger bathroom area with either double sinks or in the case of CSR one sink, with a very long counter.

I don't think you can make a bad choice between POFQ and CSR, it comes down to theming. My kids stayed at POFQ and CSR when they were roughly 9 and 11 and they both preferred CSR hands down. Larger pool area and a way cooler slide!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We like CSR for the renovated rooms, very comfortable queen beds, the great bus service, and the theming. My kids (11 and 7) like the pool and slide at CSR better than any other pool at Disney except for the Beach Club (we've also stayed at Poly, OKW and AKL).

I don't really care for the theming at POFQ, and the pool doesn't look nearly as interesting to my kids as the CSR pool. I like that POFQ has a boat to DTD, but if I'm going to stay in a resort with double beds and bright icons, I'd just as soon save the money and stay at Pop.

DH likes CSR because it is understated - he wouldn't want to stay at POFQ any more than he would want to stay at Pop. My kids would choose Pop if we were staying value or moderate and not at CSR, but we (DH especially) do enjoy relaxing surroundings. DH prefers the deluxes or CSR because they are not in-your-face Disney, but my kids love CSR for the cool pool and nice rooms.

 

[DizDaD7]

<----Intereseted in all the info here as well. As I am* (er) We're going to be having our 1st mod, which also happens to be a CSR. So the more good things the better. But never forget once you're in Disney ask yourself this, " Does it really matter all that much on the grand scheme of things?" You can't have a bad time in Disney, Can you? Nah it says so in the Diz Handbook...LoL

 

[kaffinito]

I have stayed at POFQ and did not like the CS there. But I did like the rooms, the size of the resort, the pool, and the general theming. We went from POFQ to POR a few times to swim and to eat at the CS there, and found it to be a short pleasant 10 minute walk between the resorts.

I have not stayed at CSR but have visited there a few times. To me CSR just seems too spread out and too much in the open. On an April day the walk from the Pepper Market to the main pool was a hot one! I also thought the main pool looked a little small for the size of the resort, but they do have a large hot tub. I must say though, that even with the gratuity, the Pepper Market is my favorite CS place! The food was outstanding there, and I was very impressed with the place.

It's really up to you which resort you think you and your family will like the best. But just because a resort has a lot of fans doesn't mean it will be the right one for you and your family, KWIM?

 

[skipperkim]

I've stayed at both POFQ and CSR and won't ever stay at CSR again for all the tea in China. The last stay I had there was possibly the worst I've ever had from the room to the food court. The buses weren't all that great either.

I've stayed at POFQ and have had a great vacation there. The buses were great and so was the boat to DTD. I've only eaten at the food court twice there and loved it both times. There's also nightly entertainment Wed-Sun evenings at Scat Cats. POFQ is a very quiet resort and everything is very close.

OP how old is the 3rd child? If he/she is over 3 you'll only be able to stay at POR in the AB section as they are the only mod resort to hold 5.

 

[girlsmom]

Thanks so much all of you for your input! I really appreciate it You have given me lots to think about!

 

[girlsmom]

@ skipper kim -3rd child is 1 now...but we might do 2 adjoining rooms to have the extra space, regardless of where we stay

 

[KatMark]

We have only stayed at CSR...nine times in fact, just returning earlier this week. We have visited the other moderates and the POFQ would be the third choice on my list if the CSR were not available. We love everything about hte CSR and have never had any major issues at the resort. We love the new beds (they are heavenly to sleep in), we have had top-notch service from everyone we have encountered; the main pool and slide are great (one of the many reasons our kids loved it more than the CR and the Poly where we used to always stay); three quiet pools and a huge hot tub. It also has a fitness center/spa (I get a massage almost every trip) and a terrific playground. We like the food court at the POFQ and the fact that you can take a boat to Downtown Disney. What we don't like is the pool or the hot tub--the hot tub is very tiny and every time we have visited, during different times of the day, it has always been very crowded. And I don't like the fact that they don't have a quiet pool. Yes, I know you can share with the POR as they are sister resorts. But people talk about the "long" walks (which I personally find overexaggerated) at the CSR, yet if you want to use the quiet pool at the POR you have to walk over or take a boat.

I'm sure you'll be happy with whichever one you choose -- after all, you'll be at Disney.

 

[skipperkim]

We have only stayed at CSR...nine times in fact, just returning earlier this week. We have visited the other moderates and the POFQ would be the third choice on my list if the CSR were not available. We love everything about hte CSR and have never had any major issues at the resort. We love the new beds (they are heavenly to sleep in), we have had top-notch service from everyone we have encountered; the main pool and slide are great (one of the many reasons our kids loved it more than the CR and the Poly where we used to always stay); three quiet pools and a huge hot tub. It also has a fitness center/spa (I get a massage almost every trip) and a terrific playground. We like the food court at the POFQ and the fact that you can take a boat to Downtown Disney. What we don't like is the pool or the hot tub--the hot tub is very tiny and every time we have visited, during different times of the day, it has always been very crowded. And I don't like the fact that they don't have a quiet pool. Yes, I know you can share with the POR as they are sister resorts. But people talk about the "long" walks (which I personally find overexaggerated) at the CSR, yet if you want to use the quiet pool at the POR you have to walk over or take a boat.

I'm sure you'll be happy with whichever one you choose -- after all, you'll be at Disney.

That's cuz I had them all for you in one room. I'd never wish the room I had on anyone. Though I'm also willing to bet the issues in that room don't exist anymore either.

 

[skipperkim]

One other thing to consider, POFQ has 2 sinks and CSR has only one.

 

[cjsm&d]

I always thought when we bumped from value (pop) to mod that we would do POFQ b/c I love the theming -bright, cheerful...the fact that its quaint resort, too...
it's like NO, LA without the grime (sorry if I offend any NOLA natives!)...but I feel like everyone's favorite mod is CSR...? I had gotten the impression (not sure where from) that CSR was a boring "convention" hotel...? I haven't actually ever been to CSR (I have been to POFQ), but from the pics, it looks rather blah (esp compared to pop!)...? SO has me wondering do ppl that like CSR like "calm, relaxing" like adult vaca...? maybe that's the difference (we have 3 kids, no ours is definitely NOT an "adult vaca"
Who loves POFQ? Who loves CSR? and WHY!?
TIA!!!

Though it is used for conventions, CSR has the best pool and play area of the mods IMO (CBR fans may disagree). The best all-around bus transportation to parks, and best restaurant of the mods (IMO of course).

I've been to POR, POFQ, and CSR, and CSR is the favorite of myself, DW, and DS. POR is 2nd.

If it were just DW and I, I think POFQ is a nice choice, though I hate that they don't have a sitdown restaurant unless you considering trucking to Boatwrights at POR on site (I don't, and it isn't good enough to go out of my way. The boat ride to DTD is nice.

Hey, you're gonna have a great time wherever you stay! It's Disney!