Port Orleans Riverside vs. Caribbean Beach

[disneyfreak1]

I have booked Port Orleans-Riverside for Labor Day weekend. Caribbean Beach is also available. Please tell me I didn't make a mistake. My DS is 8 years old, so the pool area will be very important. Also, which food court is better?

 

[married2grumpy]

We will be staying at POR next week so I can't comment first hand about that resort but we have stayed at CBR for 2 weeks in May. The pool at CBR was nice. It wasn't as big as I thought it would be. They did have a pool slide that my kids loved but they are only 5 & 4. It was a rather small slide. I'm not sure about the POR slide. I think that is also a tame slide from what I've seen posted but I believe the pool is slightly bigger.

As for the food court, CBR's food court was good. It has been refurbished and looks nice. The selections were OK. No dessert counter just some pies and cakes in the grab and go area. They also do have a small freezer with Mickey ice cream and other ice pops. With my kids(and myself), while on vacation, I like dessert! I've read that POR has a better selection of foods and yes, desserts. They have some kind of pecan brittle that you can only get there.

There is also the fishing hole at POR that your daughter might enjoy and they have carriage rides there too!

You can't go wrong with either resort. When I return from POR I will be able to give you a better answer to your questions. For now, stick with POR.

 

[Sandi]

You did not make a mistake. POR is great.

Our first stay on-site was at the CBR about 7 years ago. Since then, we've stayed at POFQ a couple of times and POR 6 times. (Do you see a trend?) We have an 8 yo DD who loves POR (and is sad because we're staying at WL this fall). POR has a terrific pool, lifeguards who play with the kids (not in lieu of doing their real job -- there were plenty of guards on duty), a wonderful playground, surrey bikes you can rent, and the famous fishin' hole.

The food court, too, is quite good. We also like the landscaping and layout of POR. To us, POR is superior to CBR.

Have a great trip!

 

[diathoney]

I stayed there when it was still Dixie Landings (DL), the food court was one of my favorites. I think your 8yo will enjoy the pool at Port Orleans Riverside more than the pool at CBR. Mine loved the DL pool area when we stayed there - I don't think the pool area changed with the remodel.

The boat ride to DTD is a very nice activity. We took the boat to DTD and ate at the Rain Forest Cafe, shopped, then rode the boat back. Much easier than trying to find parking at DTD!

 

[safetymom]

I have stayed at both. I don't think you can go wrong with either choice. POR does have a fresh bakery counter that CBR doesn't have.

POR's pool is bigger but my kids enjoy the pool at CBR. CBR has the marina for boats and bikes.

You will have a great time no matter where you stay.

 

[disneyfreak1]

Thank you all so much for your replies. I think I will keep my ressies the way they are. When I made them, the CM told me she prefers POR over CBR. We have been to the caribbean several times and always frequent the beach, but have never been to Louisiana, so I'm now convinced not the change them.

 

[jajuan]

The first time I went to WDW 10 years ago, I stayed at Dixie Landings (POR) because that is where my in-laws chose to stay and they were paying. I was a little nervous...it was my first trip and it was the lowerst priced property at the time. When I walked in the lobby, my whole outlook changed. We have been 5 times since the first and after visiting and researching all of the hotels, have chosen to stay there. I am even going at a more crowded time this year, just because POR was sold out for my first choice. The grounds are so peaceful to walk around...I love walking along the path and a little bunny or lizard hops out onto the path. I also love the boat access to downtown Disney. It is my favorite place to shop and eat. You will love it.

 

[married2grumpy]

I'm back from POR and now I can compare the 2 having stayed at both.

I liked both resorts. They each were very pretty but have a different feel.

CBR's rooms are brighter,more cheerful and I think have more space for storage. The whole resort is more colorful and cheerful, IMHO.

POR grounds were beautiful. More shady and less open as CBR. The food court is slightly better at POR. No Pecan Pralines anymore. They stopped making them. They do have an ice cream counter though that CBR didn't have. The check-in area at POR caught me off guard. I didn't expect it to be so nice. It had more of a deluxe feel. The pool was fun. The slide was longer and you can watch the kids go down from the bridge over the slide. Adults are allowed to go down the slide with the children. The playground had a Tom Sawyer theme. Lots of climbing for the kids which helped to tire them out. We did not get to the fishing hole because it was only open from 7am to 3pm, I believe. We were usually off doing something else at those times.
The carriage ride was relaxing. It was $30 for 30 minutes. You go around the whole resort and it does take just about 30 minutes(minus the nature break the horse needed). The boat to DD was great. We actually learned a lot from the boat driver. You pass POFQ and the old Disney Institute tree houses. You can also see the new Saratoga Springs resort construction. The ride was about a 20 minutes long the driver said but it seemed quicker.
The best thing we did at POR was to see Bob perform at the River Roost. We all had such a great time. He sang lots of sing along songs including songs for the kids that were still fun for the adults. This resort seems to offer more than the other moderates.

Even after all that, I think I would return to CBR before POR simply for the fact that our vacation itself was better at CBR than POR.

Have a great time. You'll love POR!

 

[TINK61]

Being from New Orleans - I would choose CBR. If I stayed at POR I wouldn't feel like I left home. It looks lovely though, and I hear good things about it from people who have stayed there.

 

[Aurora in blue]

We have stayed at both in the last two years. I don't think you will be disappointed with Riverside. It always seems part of the magic to check out a new hotel. I liked the quiet pools better at Riverside than CBR. My kids enjoyed the boat ride too, it seems to add something extra to the resort and the new carriage rides sound terrific. Have a great time.

 

[wdwtheplacetobe]

Dixie Landings (POR) is our favorite resort. It is centrally located, so the bus rides are not very long to the parks. The boat to DTD is a welcome change to getting on the bus. Ol' Man Island is an excellent swimmin' hole, there are boats and bikes---didn't know about the carriage rides--will try that this time. After being in the parks, it is nice to "come home" to a quiet place--very relaxing for mom and dad.



'03, '00, '97, '95, '93--Dixie
'02 WL
'01 AKL
'98 CBR
'94 PO