POP vs. Coronado Springs vs. Caribbean Beach

[hoosierdad5]

Hello all! Tried searching the forums, but didn't find exactly what I was looking for. Our family (2 adults and 3 kiddos (aged 6 and 2 year old twins)) are planning a January 2022 trip to WDW! We usually stay at POP, have the last 3 times, and have generally been satisfied with the property. However, we are wanting to try something different and wondered how POP compared to Coronado Springs and Caribbean beach. The rooms look similar, but a little nicer at the latter two properties. It is only slightly more expensive than POP and wondered if it would be worth it to stay there this time. Thanks in advance for the info!

 

[SarahC97]

What I like about the moderates over the values are the pools. The feature pools are better and we get a lot of use out of the quiet pools. I don't think you can go wrong with either moderate. The rooms are nicer at CSR. The rooms at Caribbean haven't been refurbished in several years and they honestly need it but that's my only negative staying there. Give a moderate a try!

 

[Ross Kratter]

Of those three, I would most certainly go with Coronado. If you want to splurge just a bit more, go for a Tower room at Coronado. The Gran Destino Tower is absolutely gorgeous.

 

[hotblooded]

Pop Century, for the layout. I like having one central bus stop and one big food court. It was my top choice even before the Skyliner, and now it’s even better.

 

[bavarian princess]

Hello all! Tried searching the forums, but didn't find exactly what I was looking for. Our family (2 adults and 3 kiddos (aged 6 and 2 year old twins)) are planning a January 2022 trip to WDW! We usually stay at POP, have the last 3 times, and have generally been satisfied with the property. However, we are wanting to try something different and wondered how POP compared to Coronado Springs and Caribbean beach. The rooms look similar, but a little nicer at the latter two properties. It is only slightly more expensive than POP and wondered if it would be worth it to stay there this time. Thanks in advance for the info!

That is exactly my dilemma right now. I am torn between those 3 hotels. Even though I have stayed in all 3 of them it’s still hard to decide since all of them have pros and cons. I like Pop for the convenience, the remodeled rooms, Skyliner, the central bus stop and the price.
CRB has a lovely theming and you are on the skyliner hub. Which would be a slight advantage to Pop. But I am not a big fan of the older rooms.
And CRS/Gran Destino Tower is probably my favorite out of the three due to it’s luxurious feeling, the lovely rooms, the great food offerings and the many beautiful pools. But I would travel during a major holiday week and I don’t know if I should rely on only one form of transportation.

I think it all depends on what your family is looking for. Do you really use the pools in January? Do you use a car? I don’t know if my comments were helpful but at least you know you are not alone

 

[JFDIS]

I vote Caribbean Beach. I also have two small children (2 & 3 yrs old) their highlights of every trip are the skyliner and the pool. The splash pad there is great! It’s gated in so you can actually relax while the kids run around. Way more dining options bc of skyline access too.

 

[hoosierdad5]

We dont use the pool much...especially in January. Is there not a single area bus stip at Coronado? Are the rooms nice enough at Coronado to stay there over POP taking pools out of the equation?

 

[Ross Kratter]

We dont use the pool much...especially in January. Is there not a single area bus stip at Coronado? Are the rooms nice enough at Coronado to stay there over POP taking pools out of the equation?

Coronado has 4 bus stops, but it’s so much nicer and classier than Pop, in my opinion.

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

Coronado Springs has minimal Disney theming, if that's important to you.

 

[kwdw]

At Coronado, you are going to get two regular queen beds, whereas at Pop, one will be a pull down. The room overall size is slightly larger. With younger kids who won’t care about the quality of the bed, and if you don’t intend to use the pool, I would say save the money and stay at Pop. Now, you might get a room for five at a mod, which would let you wider choices of how to put you kids to sleep. That might be worth the cost of a mod. I don’t think Pop has that option.

 

[Dug720]

At Coronado, you are going to get two regular queen beds, whereas at Pop, one will be a pull down. The room overall size is slightly larger. With younger kids who won’t care about the quality of the bed, and if you don’t intend to use the pool, I would say save the money and stay at Pop. Now, you might get a room for five at a mod, which would let you wider choices of how to put you kids to sleep. That might be worth the cost of a mod. I don’t think Pop has that option.

FWIW, the "pull down" at Pop has a regular mattress on it and since the base of the "regular" bed is just wood also, there is literally no difference between them.

 

[mousehouse23]

I might go with Caribbean Beach just for that extra pull down bed for one of your two-year-olds. (Make sure you book a "5th-sleeper" room.) You can request bed rails if need be.

I think your 6-year-old would love that pirate-themed pool, too.