POFQ VS CB and CS

[Michelle Yelner]

I just booked POFQ for May and now my friends who have been to Coronado Springs and the Caribbean Beach are telling me how great those resorts are. Has anyone been to all 3 properties? If so, which one of the moderates do you think is the best? I had booked POFQ because I had heard that CS and CB were very spread out and that it could be a long walk to the rooms which I didn't want since I have a 4 year old. However, if those two properties are so much nicer than POFQ, then, I would be willing to deal with the long walk so I would appreciate all opinions. Also, which property do you think that a 4 year old would like the best? Last, I had heard that the rooms at POFQ are real small. Does anyone know if that true?

Thanks

Michelle

 

[tink2]

I'm not positive on this one, but I think the rooms at all the moderates are the same- I may have read where CBR are slightly bigger. I don't think the difference would be enough to make a difference- know what I mean?
My family stayed at CSR and hated it! Their room was so far away from the bus stop and food court they had to drive each morning/evening b/c they had small children with them. This defeats a lot of our purpose of staying at Disney- never getting in your car.
POFQ is definitely the smallest of the moderate resorts. We love this! Wherever your building is, you are still pretty close to everything! Your DD will love the pool- though we've never tried it- always go Thanksgiving. But the slide is a serpants' tail and very neat looking. It also has alligator statues around the resort which kids like.
It depends on your family's 'important factors' For us, being close to the bus stop and food court is very important. BTW- POFQ only has one stop b/c it is so small. CB has 7 and I know CSR has a bunch too! Check out the maps from this site- the size of POFQ is much smaller!
I don't think one is any 'nicer' than the other. Just themed differently. Besides, POFQ is just reopening from being remodeled- new carpet, paint, mattresses, tile, everything! You don't get much better than that!
Good luck deciding! If you choose to stay at CB or CSR, do your homework to pick a location close to the bus stop! It could be a long walk with little legs!

 

[Michelle Yelner]

Thanks for the info. How would you describe the rooms at POFQ? Would you describe them as very small? Is there a big difference in the size of the room vs those at a deluxe property? How would you say the rooms at POFQ compares to those at an average Holiday Inn, nicer, the same or not as nice? Is POFQ a pretty looking property?

Michelle

 

[safetymom]

The rooms at the moderates are like normal hotel rooms. CBR is slightly larger. CBR is nice because of the curtain between the room and sink area. If someone wants to get up and get dressed or make a pot of coffee you can pull the curtain and keep the room dark.

The size of CBR is overrated. There are many locations where you can be close to the food court and bus stops without a long walk. I am sure that your 4 year old would find plenty to see when walking to keep him happy.

It all comes down to theming. We have stayed at POR, CSR, and CBR. I didn't like the theming of CSR and I found that resort too large for me. I also didn't like the food court area with the mandatory tip policy.

 

[TLinden16]

I have stayed at all of the moderate resorts, and I like the POFQ the best. I really like the atmosphere. I also love the compact size of the resort. Even the furtherest room from the bus stop/food court is an easy walk. The pool is really cool, as well. And the boat to Downtown Disney is nice and relaxing.

The two main things that the POFQ does not have that the other moderates do have are quiet pools and a sit down restaurant. These don't make a difference to me, but I know they do to some people.

I've stayed at the CBR twice, and although it's a very nice and beautiful resort, it is much too big for my tastes. The first time, our room in Trinidad South was about a 15 minute walk from the main building. If I were to stay there again, I would probably spend the money to get a preferred room.

I stayed at the CSR when it first opened, and I didn't really like it. It is a beautiful resort, and the rooms were fine, but there were a few things about it that really bugged me. The walls at the CSR seemed very thin--we could hear footsteps of the people above us (and they weren't stomping--just heavy walking), and we could hear the TV and voices of the people around us. At the other moderates, I never heard a peep from our neighbors. I find that at most of the newer resorts I've stayed in, the walls seem thinner. I also do not like the way they run the food court at the CSR. A host or hostess seats you, and they will get your drinks for you. You go, and get your own food (which is served on real plates instead of paper). When you are done, the host or hostess will clear the table. For this service, you an additional 10% is added on to your bill. That can add up at breakfast for a family every day.

I think for this trip, you might want to stay at the POFQ just because you know that the rooms are all freshly renovated. The rooms were completely gutted--the wallpaper, carpets, and furnishings were all replaced. It will be like staying at a brand spanking new resort.

No matter which one you choose, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time! I don't think you'll be disappointed in any of them. Have a great trip!

Karen

 

[Michelle Yelner]

I think I will keep my resevation at POFQ but now I'm wondering if AKL and WL are so much nicer than POFQU and worth the extra dollars they would cost. Are the rooms at AKL and WL bigger and nicer than the rooms at POFQ?

Michelle

 

[tink2]

Michelle,
We stayed at AKL this past trip due to an upgrade from POFQ. I must say- as far as rooms go- it is not worth the extra money. We had a savannah view room and it was not much, if any, larger than the rooms at POFQ. The only difference in the rooms is AKL has queen beds and POFQ has double. And AKL has a balcony. I think AKL has the smallest rooms of the deluxes. Now, that being said, it was a neat experience to wake up to giraffes outside your balcony in the mornings and listen to the animals at night. The resort is beautiful and neat. However, for us, it is not worth the extra money. I could not believe how small the rooms were. You can get deluxe rooms, but that is even more money. My kids liked it a lot due to the animals, but we will never pay regular price for this resort. We are not at it enough to pay the money- spend all our time in the parks!
I don't know about WL- never been to it.
The main difference between AKL and POFQ is the sit-down restaurant (which we didn't eat at), the one building factor- not going outside to go to the food court, and the animals of course. The food court was better at POFQ IMHO.
AKL is beautiful and an experience in itself. But for us, it is not worth regular price- we just don't spend enough time at the resort. If you plan to spend time there, then I say go for it. But we will be returning to POFQ!

 

[brooke1]

I understand that POFQ has boat service, but does the boat service go to the parks or just downtown disney.
thanks

 

[safetymom]

Just to Downtown Disney.

 

[honeymom]

Your 4 year old will love the pool area at POFQ. We took a 5 and 2 year old and they would rather be there than in the parks. Take a look at some of the photos of the pool. The small size of the place is nice, too.

 

[Buzz2001]

My family stayed at CSR and hated it! Their room was so far away from the bus stop and food court they had to drive each morning/evening b/c they had small children with them.

Not sure when you family stayed at CSR but CSR has recently added a bus stop in the ranchos section of the resort. I'd say within the last 18-24 months.

Walking Distances
From El Centro moving clockwise around the lake path to:
Casitas 3 = .16 miles
Casitas 4 = .24 miles
Casitas 5 = .27 miles
Ranchos = .46 miles

From El Centro to the Dig Site, via the bridge near the Cabanas
= .35 miles

From El Centro moving counterclockwise around the lake to:
Cabanas 9B = .16 miles
Cabanas 9A/8B = .22 miles
Cabanas 8A = .31 miles

OR

Take the bus instead of walking
Theme park buses go:
2 - Casitas
3 - Ranchos
4 - Cabanas
1 - El Centro

Downtown Disney buses, as well as Park Exit buses go:
1 - El Centro
2 - Casitas
3 - Ranchos
4 - Cabanas

CSR buses go in this order so that guests can hop on board a theme park bus and take it to the main building. They can then hop on a DTD bus to get back to their rooms.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've stayed at CS and FQ. Rooms are nearly identical except for furnishings.
FQ is compact, everything is close, but there is no sitdown restaurant unless you go to Boatwrights (which is still an easy walk). CS is spread out, but the walk to the main building area is not bad (but I walk a lot so it's all relative).

The sit down restaurant at CS has a great breakfast buffet, but Boatwrights has Eggs Benedict.

You can use the pools at Riverside or at FQ. CS has several pools that you can use and the main pool is really neat.

FQ has boat transporation to DTD. You have to take a bus from CS.

You could walk to Blizzard Beach from CS. You have to take a bus from FQ.

If you like wrought iron and a riverside resort, stay at FQ.

If you like the Spanish look (I prefer the Casitas over the Ranchos or Cabanas), stay at CS.

 

[polkadotminnie]

We are splitting our stay in March between CSR and POFQ. I will post a report when I return. We have 3 DD's ages: 7, 5, 1. I don't really worry about the walk, because I make my girls walk a lot around our neighborhood before we leave to build stamina.

 

[NCRedding]

We've stayed at POFQ and CSR. Our favorite by a wide margin is POFQ. Everything was very compact. Loved the pool area, especially with a 4 year old. Loved the playground, and the closeness of the resort. Thought the theming and buildings were very pretty. We liked the food court. I am soooo glad to hear POFQ is re-opening soon. I plan on staying at POFQ in the future. I don't plan on ever staying at CSR again. we have a reservation for 2 nights following our DVC stay at CB in June.

 

[Nasi]

I've stayed at all three and I think with a 4 year old POFQ would be my choice. The rooms were comfortable for 4, your child will love the pool area there, and the resort is about half the size of the other mods. My least favorite would be CSR because it is so spread out and you can't seem to be close to both the main pool and the food area there (you can at CBR). AKL is a great resort. I love the theming there and it is so awesome to have the animals right outside your balcony. Nasi