Pool is very important to DS. Where to stay for April birthday trip?

[speakupjc]

I would suggest the WL. The pool is great!

 

[leight]

Add me to the CSR recommendations! In our subdivision we have a 2 story slide so my kids weren't at all impressed by our stay at POFQ last september. We really liked CSR for all of us; the slide is cool, the pool is very open so you can see the kids from many vantage points- even at the pool bar! The play ground also rocks!

We're trying POR this december - but since it is Dec I'm not overly concerned over the pool= going for the xmas decorations!

 

[KathylovesPooh]

Hands down.....CSR. Best pool, best pool slide. DD12 also fish from very young and she agrees. Several years ago DH was at conference and we spent a week down there with a car. Took this as our opportunity to look and eat at different resorts and have not seen a better pool.

 

[bonnielynn]

We just got back from the Beach Club and they have an excellent pool.. both my teenagers and my 8 yr old were impressed.. stormalong bay (?) .

 

[CdnMom2]

I've read this pool is quite cool too. Open long hours. Nice location. Another option to look into for you.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Thanks guys for all your suggestions. I guess the majority pick CSR. We will go to one of the waterparks while we are there, I'm sure. We did BB , 2 weeks ago and he LOVED it. I just wanted a good pool, because I figured in April, the parks will be crowded, so we will probably come back for PM breaks.

I do get a nurse discount at S/D , so that may be an option also. I never thought of renting DVC points. Only bad thing, we do have to go over the weekend, due to the way I work and his school. I already pulled him out for a week for 1 WDW trip, so this one I would like to pull him minimally.

I'm going to show him all the pics and let him decide. Thanks again!

 

[Prissymouse]

CSR!! It has a great main pool area with an arcade, sand volleyball area, 123 ft slide, a sandbox and playground.

Nothing says it better than these pics. I agree, and so does my son that the "jaguar" slide is one of the best. But CSR is very spread out. You may have to walk quite a bit. I love this resort and think it is the best value of the moderates. My husband was not happy, so we don't go back.

If I were taking just my son, I would stay here and spend the extra money on a water park and disney quest. My son still talks about the jaguar slide ,blizzard beach,and the virtual pirates @ disney quest. He's the same age as your boy, roliepolieoliefan!!!

Also, the slide @ CBR is better for younger kids. These pics don't really show how great the jaguar slide is (about 2x the height of CBR)

Buzz2001, these are beautiful pics ! Thank you for sharing

 

[Prissymouse]

Roliepolieoliefan,

If you get that great nurse discount @ swan/dolphin, use it!!!

The waterslide and pool @ swan/dolphin is great too. It is my son's second favorite resort pool.

The location of this is the best ,since you can walk to the boardwalk & epcot. The game room in the dolphin "rocks". As you know, this matters to an eight year old boy.

My husband had business in Orlando while we were there. So, for the most part, it was just my son and myself. THE LOCATION WAS SOOOOOO GREAT!
Much easier for a mom & son than the spread out moderates. And with your discount it will be the same price or less.

 

[Tikiman]

CSR!! It has a great main pool area with an arcade, sand volleyball area, 123 ft slide, a sandbox and playground.

Great shots Mario!!!

 

[lark]

I'm actually surprised WL doesn't get more votes. Not sure if it's in the budget, since it's sort of at a price point between moderates and deluxes, but I think the pool is really nice.

I really wish they would improve the pool at the contemporary -- although looking at it, it would be a major project.

 

[PortieOwner]

Does the Unofficial Guide still rank the resort pools? I found their opinions pretty much right on.

Portie

 

[Pembo]

My 6 yo and 9 yo "fish" loved the pools at POR and POFQ. They just loved the slide at POFQ!!! And they liked that we could choose which pool we were going to use that day. There's something about that Dragon slide that they love.

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

All the moderates have nice pools, both main pools and private pools. The private pools are a nice option when the main pools get crowded. I agree that CSR does have the best pool of the moderates.

If you do decide to look into renting points, may be pretty pricey since you have weekend dates, SSR has a fantastic pool. We stayed there this summer and my 12 year old son and his friend loved this pool. Has a great slide and is zero entry too.

 

[lark]

Does the Unofficial Guide still rank the resort pools? I found their opinions pretty much right on.

Portie

Yup -- the UOG actually has POR as the best of the moderates, and actually the second best pool overall, other than storm along bay. Saratoga Springs also gets high marks.

CSR is in the second tier along with AKL and WL, and the other deluxes are all grouped just below that.

The values, SOG, and FW, among others, all get the lowest ranking.

 

[lyncruiser]

The best pool on property, other than Stormalong Bay is the Grotto Pool at Swan/Dolphin. No question about it. I would actually rate it over Stormalong Bay because it is never crowded.

 

[skiwee1]

Just wanted to say that the Poly pool would be out of your price range too if Stormalong Bay is. The Polynesian is a higher priced deluxe then the BC/YC resort.

 

[skiwee1]

I'm actually surprised WL doesn't get more votes. Not sure if it's in the budget, since it's sort of at a price point between moderates and deluxes, but I think the pool is really nice.

I really wish they would improve the pool at the contemporary -- although looking at it, it would be a major project.

While I think the WL pool is a big improvement over the CR pool I still think it lacks a bit. It is very small for that resort and always overcrowded.

 

[PortieOwner]

While I think the WL pool is a big improvement over the CR pool I still think it lacks a bit. It is very small for that resort and always overcrowded.

It has been a long time since I was there but I agree. The pool would be great with 1/3 as many people there. It was always too crowded and noisy. After that trip I wrote a review on R.A.D.P. suggesting that a lot of illegitimate pool-hoppers must have invaded the resort because many of the other guests seems to have left their trailer park to visit the WL pool.

Portie

 

[WDWOKW92]

A yote here for YC/BC. Love that granular floor, all the little coves and waterfalls,... otherwise everything else is just a swimminmg pool!

 

[robinb]

My DD is also a fish.

Here is my opinion of the pools of the resorts I have stayed at by category:

Deluxe Resorts
Beach Club -- SAB, enough said
Boardwalk Villas -- Big slide!
Wilderness Lodge -- nice pool area, nice slide, deep water
Swan/Dolphin Grotto Pool -- very nice pool area
AKL -- OK slide, relaxing pool area.
Polynesian -- OK slide, nice view
Contemporary (I agree, it's boring!)
* Note, I think Grand Floridean would be before the CR, but I have never stayed there.


Home Away From Home Resorts
(Rent DVC points)
Beach Club Villas
Boardwalk Villas
Villas at Wilderness Lodge
Old Key West -- I have not been back since the pool rehab.
* Note, SSR may be better than OKW, but I have not stayed there.

Moderate Resorts
CSR -- Interesting pool area, ok slide, it's cool in the falls
CBR -- I thought this pool was boring
POFQ (babyish, ok for little kids)
* Note, I think PO-R might be better than CBR, but I have never been there

Value Resorts -- All pretty boring. No slide, no hot tub.
Pop Century
AS SPorts
AS Music
* Note, AS Movies is probably better than AS Sports, but I have never stayed there.