POR or CBR??

[Nikki_Arden]

I am considering upgrading my reservation from Pop Century to a moderate resort using a promotion -- which would have me paying about the same price or potentially saving me some $$. My choices are PO-Riverside or CBR. I've never stayed onsite and I'm sort of lost as to which would be better for my family. It will be my husband, 4 year old son and myself. We will be taking a 'rest' day at the hotel so we'd like to find somewhere that has really fun things to do at the resort. We're young but lazy so we'd prefer to not have to do a lot of walking outside of the parks (which I've heard you have to do a lot of at CBR) BUT the CBR has pirate themed rooms, which my son would love but it is NOT a deal breaker (we could totally not do the themed rooms if it's not 'worth it'). I would love everyone's opinion so I can hurry up and make up my dang mind. TIA!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

We stayed in a pirate-themed room this past summer, actually. We really enjoyed the rooms, but they are the farthest from EVERYTHING at the resort. We had a room in the second-farthest building in our section and decided to time how long it took us to walk from our room to Old Port Royale to get a pizza and pick up our packages. It took us about 10 minutes from walking out our door to get to the food court, order the pizza, and get our packages. OF course, then we had to wait for the pizza, but that gives you an idea of how long of a walk you will be looking at.

I love both POR and CBR. I think that the pool is definitely better at CBR. It's absolutely huge and has a more detailed theme, in my opinion. There are multiple water slides, and just a lot of fun areas. We also were able to see the Epcot fireworks from outside our room one evening, and that was really great. POR, though, is just beautiful. We have a girl and ended up staying in one of the Royal Guest Rooms which was very nice and in one of the closer buildings to the main one, but with a boy, I'm really not sure that would interest you. If you are planning to just stay around your resort on your rest day, I'd probably recommend CBR. You can spend a ton of time at the pool and Caribbean Cay. Also, your son might be interested in doing the Islands of the Caribbean Pirate Cruise (in the mornings) that they have there or pirate camp (in the evenings). With Pirate Camp, you and your husband could go have a nice dinner for the two of you while your son is learning how to be a pirate. They also have fun activities in the Old Port Royale Courtyard during the day such as tie-dying or arts and crafts. You also have the option of renting bikes or going fishing.

Now, Port Orleans Riverside does have some of these, as well. While they don't have pirate camp, they do have a pirate cruise that docks at POR and then heads to POFQ, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, and maybe Disney springs (can't remember for sure). You can also rent bikes or go fishing here. For me, the pool just isn't as much fun. They also don't have the arts and crafts, but they do things like bingo and hula hoop games. It's nice to be able to take the boat to Disney Springs, as well, and while there, you could play at Splitsville, take a ride on Characters in Flight, or enjoy one of the fun dining experiences such as Raglan Road.

In all honesty, I think you will have a good time with either choice. I go back and forth on which one is my favorite moderate.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I've never stayed at POR but have stayed at CBR twice and loved it both times. We've never done a value because an awesome pool with a pool slide is a must for my kids. The pool is probably just as important to the parks to them and they would be bummed without a slide. Also, CBR has an awesome splash pad that I'm sure your son would love. It's pirate themed. My kids have spent hours in there when they were younger.

The food court is themed really nicely and the food is good.

 

[AprilDreamsOfDisney]

Tough choice! I know CBR sometimes gets a bad rap on these boards, but we stayed last winter and LOVED it! My kids loved the theming of the main pool, we found the food options to work well for our family, and our room was lovely. The playground was also neat. We were in Aruba, which many say is really far away from the main building and yet, we were never more than a five minute walk (through gorgeous grounds and tropical paradise at that!)
We are staying at POR this coming March ... so no way to compare at this time.
Good luck with your choice! I can say that the step from Value to Moderate seems huge. You can't lose either way!

 

[mickeynut1]

Like the pps, we've never stayed at POR, but we loved everything about CBR. The grounds are beautiful, the food court is nice with a lot of variety, the pirate themed pool is fun, and the buses are quick and efficient. I don't think you can go wrong with either resort, but my choice would be CBR. Good luck!

 

[ncc1701]

OP have only stayed at at POFQ but POR would be our fallback if we couldn't get a room at POFQ. Staying at POR you can also use POFQ pool which has a new kid's splash pool.
The boat to DS is great (we go there 4 times a trip for either lunch or dinner). Since last year from 4:30pm on the POR boats no longer stop at POFQ on the way to DS.

 

[crazylady]

We've stayed at both. POR is probably my favorite resort. But for you I would recommend CBR. My kids were into pirates when they were his age and they loved the pool. They would have gone crazy for a pirate room. I don't think they had them when we stayed there when the kids were little. The pirates rooms only have double beds so that might not be what you want though. I don't find the walking any longer at CBR than POR, it all depends on where you are in the resort.

 

[Nikki_Arden]

Thank you, everyone, for your replies. We've decided on CBR for the theming, mostly. I know my 4 year old son will be ESTATIC. I cannot wait. )

 

[gregdep]

I just stayed at POR and loved it for my girlfriend and I, but I think you made the best decision with CBR for your family. ENJOY!! (jealous)

 

[maxiesmom]

Thank you, everyone, for your replies. We've decided on CBR for the theming, mostly. I know my 4 year old son will be ESTATIC. I cannot wait. )

If you book a Pirate room be aware that in addition to being the farthest away from the themed pool and food court, the beds are not normal beds either. They do not have normal mattresses and box springs.

 

[dansdad]

If you book a Pirate room be aware that in addition to being the farthest away from the themed pool and food court, the beds are not normal beds either. They do not have normal mattresses and box springs.

That was true before the latest room refurb. Now they have normal box spring and mattresses, albeit doubles.

 

[maxiesmom]

I thought they didnt change those beds. Are you sure?

 

[dansdad]

I thought they didnt change those beds. Are you sure?

Yup. New matresses and now a box spring instead of a platform. But did keep them as doubles as they didn't want to completely change the frames.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yup. New matresses and now a box spring instead of a platform. But did keep them as doubles as they didn't want to completely change the frames.

Good move

 

[emsstacey]

I have stayed at both and you can't go wrong with either, but I think I preferred the location of a preferred room at POR. It was close to everything and easy to get around. I also liked the food court options better at POR. That said, the pool area is bigger at CBR and we had less trouble with crowding at CBR. Busses were more crowded at POR, Food court always crowded at POR, and always a gazillion people in the hot tub at POR.

 

[mickeygirl78]

Thank you, everyone, for your replies. We've decided on CBR for the theming, mostly. I know my 4 year old son will be ESTATIC. I cannot wait. )

I think you made a great choice! I love CBR and with a 4 year old boy, it's the perfect place. My nephew loves CBR and preferred it over POR. We never stayed in a pirate room, we book standard and request Jamaica - but I'm sure the extra theming there will be fun.