POR/CSR Poll and I need advice about trip in general.

[eddiewells]

Earlier this year, my family decided to stay at Wilderness Lodge from 6/22-6/28. This would cost us, 3 people, $2599 with a Standard room and Dream Maker package. However, my parents have told me that we just can't find the money to make this happen, so we are having to go to a Moderate instead. Our choices are Coronado Springs and Port Orleans - Riverside. This would only cost us $1963. Is there any way we can get WL for less than $2000?

Relating to the poll, which should we stay at? POR Mansion, POR Bayou, CSR Rancho, CSR Casita, or CSR Cabana?
Since I didn't want to make 2 polls, I decided to combine the 'which hotel' along with 'which room'. I will just add up the different hotel counts to see which hotel is preferred.


Note, my family's top concerns are transportation efficiency (busses, not walking distance from bus stop. We are all capable of walking as far as we need to, we'd rather go for a good room than where it is located), food court, and pool. We also don't really mind if the hotel is quiet or not, loud is fine with us. Thanks for any information on any of the numerous topics I've brought up. Sorry for all these questions, but I just combined about 5 posts in one
Edit: The ages of my family are 15, 39, and 40 (just in case age is a big part of the decision).
Edit #2: By transportation efficiency, I mean how long the busses take to arrive. The trip itself does not bother us, we just don't like to wait too long to get on them.



Thanks,
Eddie

 

[Janet2k]

Eddiewells, I can't vote in your poll because I have only stayed at CSR and PO-FQ. I really enjoyed my stays in both of those resorts. Since my PO-FQ stay was just last Fall, it is freshest in my mind. I really enjoyed that stay and will definitely stay there again.

I was at PO-FQ with my young daughter in October. We began our WDW "Mother/Daughter" vacation by spending two nights at that resort. We had so much fun that we didn't leave the resort at all (we eventually had to leave because we resort hopped into BCV on Day Three of our vacation).

The PO resort is such a lovely resort, and there is a beautiful walk between both Riverside and French Quarter. Plus, there is a boat that runs between the two resorts and even Downtown Disney. A definite "plus" in my book.

One of our most fun experiences at the PO complex was swimming in both FQ's & RS's pools. When we switched between the pools, we used the resort's boat service. That was fun. Also, we went and saw "Bob Jackson" in the RS's lounge and laughed so hard we almost pee'd our pants. He was incredible and every bit as fun as I had read he was here on the Dis. Seeing Bob's show on our next WDW vacation will definitely be on our "To-Do" list. I have some PO-FQ photos posted, including one of Bob Jackson. My photos aren't the greatest, but they will give you a taste of the resort complex. Click here for my PO-FQ photos.

Also, don't forget to check out Dream Unlimited Travel's (owner of the Dis) webpages on each of the WDW resorts. Click here for DU's main "WDW Resorts" webpage. They've even got streaming video of the resorts.

You really can't go wrong with whichever resort you choose. Have a wonderful vacation.

 

[NotTooGoofy]

I've stayed at POR-Mansion and CSR - Cabana (building 9B) and my family really liked CSR better. CSR-Cabanas is close to a bus stop, the themed swimming pool and front desk/restaurants. It's a little walk from POR Mansion to the front desk/restaurant. But both properties are nice.

 

[eddiewells]

Janet2K, yeah, we stayed at PO-FQ our last visit and absolutely loved it. We would stay there again in a heartbeat (or CBR for that matter), but we have decided we never want to repeat a Disney resort until we experience all of them (that we can afford, of course). So far we have AS Sports, PO-FQ, and CBR on our list of have-dones.

NotTooGoofy, thanks for the info! We have heard great reviews of the Cabanas so far, so they are definitely under consideration right now. We are definitely leaning towards CSR at this point.



Any other suggestions or information?

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR!!!

Check out my website below for pics and info.

Good luck deciding!

 

[susy]

Just back from CSR today!!!

We stayed in Cabanas.

The Casitas are just.....WOW!!!!!

That would be my vote!!!!!!

 

[susy]

Just back from CSR today!!!

We stayed in Cabanas.

The Casitas are just.....WOW!!!!!

That would be my vote!!!!!!

 

[eddiewells]

Thanks for the input, Buzz and susy.

We have almost assuredly picked CSR now, so please direct all your votes towards Casita, Rancho, or Cabana. Thanks for all of the responses.

 

[kimmar067]

...was for CSR cabanas. We stayed in Ranchos and DxL Bayou (very realistic!!) but they wer BOTH too far from: buses, main pool, water activities, food court; well, that's pretty much EVERYTHING!

 

[SuzEm]

I really like the ranchos section, it is so well themed. We had a ground floor room by the bubbling pool in 6B and it was wonderful. They were building a new bus stop the year we were there that would have been very convenient to our room, but the bus stop we used (between the cabanas and ranchos) was not a problem to get to. We were very convenient to the pool and dig site, and I really didn't think the walk to the Pepper Market was that bad. Of course, with a coffee maker in the room, I didn't really feel the need to rush to Pepper Market in the mornings to get coffee! I could enjoy my coffee before my shower and while I got ready. I'm staying at CBR this year after much debate between that and CSR, and chose CBR just to experience another resort. If I get to stay at CSR again, I'll request Ranchos.

 

[kimmar067]

....all things considered, one of my main reasons I'd choose CSR over POR was the sink situation. The CSR sink area has a full counter with 2 sinks. On the other hand, POR has pedestal sinks with a narrow ledge....not good for putting toiletries upon. BTW ~ the coffee-maker was on the counter at CSR; this would not be possible at POR (Bayou section, anyway)

 

[epcotfan]

I would choose a Casita or Cabana room for proximity to bus stops and El Centro. I stayed in Casita #1 and we got our buses at bus stop #1. The nice thing about catching the bus at El Centro was that it left to go straight to the parks most of the time.

 

[A1A1]

I absolutely loved staying at CSR. I was so surprised, because I usually don't like the Southwest theme or food. I enjoyed the food court and liked the variety. There is an interesting musical group that plays there in the evening. You will get a great marguerita at the bar in the main building as well. The resort is centered around a small lake, at which you can rent peddle boats, fish, feed the ducks and the fish, or rent bikes. DD and I stayed in Cabanas 9A, I think, on a top floor corner room right near the entrance to the main pool. It was great for DD who loved the playground area and pool. There is a pool bar there as well. You can order good snacks while at the pool. Each of the three room areas has its own pool, so there are lots of places to swim. The areas are really not that large.

There is a small white sand beach area at Cabanas with a few hammocks. Very relaxing.

My favorite area was Ranchos. I would request this area for a future stay myself. It was so unique. This area was booked upon our arrival, and the CM at front desk said it is the most popular even though it is the furthest from the main building. The landscaping was so beautiful there. If I can remember correctly, there was a dry river, and lots of cacti. I wished we could have stayed there. I didn't mind the walk, and didn't find it a far walk at all from one end to the other. I enjoy walking, and dd and I did a nightly walk around the lake before bed. It was beautiful to see the lights reflecting off the water.


Casitas were nice, but reminded me of a standard hotel. I think it was the lights. The nicest thing about this area was the fountain and gardens.

I thought the Cabanas, where we stayed, were the most boring looking, but they did have proximity to the main pool, the hammocks, and El Centro in their favor.

I didn't rent a car for that stay, and found the transportation to be excellent. We always walked to the main building for the bus. Never waited more than 5 minutes. There are bus stops at each room area, too.

Great gift shop here. You can also buy extra coffee/cream/drinks for your room. You may even consider renting a fridge for $10/night. I did. Like to keep extra drinks, etc in it. I loved sitting out on the patio off the main building. I good place to watch the birds or just relax.

You will love this resort.

P.S. Despite many people loving the POR, I only lasted one night there before leaving. Noise killed me there, but I know you said noise doesn't bother you.

 

[Buzz2001]

....all things considered, one of my main reasons I'd choose CSR over POR was the sink situation. The CSR sink area has a full counter with 2 sinks. On the other hand, POR has pedestal sinks with a narrow ledge....not good for putting toiletries upon. BTW ~ the coffee-maker was on the counter at CSR; this would not be possible at POR (Bayou section, anyway)

CSR rooms only have one sink with the full counter but they do have the coffee maker and hair dyers in the room.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

hi, my suggestion would be book the room only and not a package,there is discount codes availible for that time, and then purchase tickets in advance and i believe you might come out about 2000.00 for a trip to the WL,try code AXA OR AXB for room only and see what they tell you at CRO

 

[luvindisneyworld]

hi, just wanted to let you know i just called reservations dept,and for your 6 night stay in a woods view room at WL for room only using the code is 1097.00 for 6 nights.we are going to purchase our tickets at www.paramountinternationaltravel.com we will be getting the 7dayPHP that has 7 days in the parks and 4 plus options that include water parks and PI,plus if you order throught them you get a voucher for a free Character breakfast also, total is 300.00 a ticket tax included, shipping is 15.00.make sure if you use them you call and place your order and tell them that you heard the tickets come with a character breakfast.
hope all this info has helped you and not confused you to much.

 

[kimmar067]

...oops, sorry!!! You are absolutely correct. (I was getting the sink "issue" confused with WL ~ we stayed there in Aug and they have 2 sinks!) I really liked the fact that there is plenty of counter space to plop down all of my "junk"; I had a hard time trying to manuever and balance items on that darn ledge at POR!!

I also liked the fact that CSR (Ranchos buildings, anyway) had elevators, but the building we stayed at in DxL (Bayou #34, if I rmeember correctly) did NOT!!(not fun when unpacking a carload of stuff up 2 full flights of stairs!)