Question about moderate resorts and DDP.

[tndislvr]

Hi all! We just returned from a week in Orlando staying offsite and are already planning for our September trip! YAY!!! We are planning a week offsite in September as well but with the free dining going on I'd like to extend our trip a few days and stay onsite. We can't change our existing offsite ressie as it is non-refundable (not that I'm sad at the prospect of extending our trip ). My questions are:

1. Would a moderate be okay for a family of 4 (kids will be almost 5 and almost 2 then) for 5 nights when we are not going to the parks every day (kids need rest days)? We are used to staying in one or two bedroom condos where the baby can take a nap and DH and I can stay up after the kids go to sleep at night. I'm wondering if the lure of free dining is worth the loss of space for us. Especially when I can get something offsite for half the onsite cost.

2. What moderate would everyone recommend for kids the ages of mine (for activities at the resort)? I'm thinking Caribbean Beach for activities or Coronado Springs for the queen size beds!

3. This is more of a DDP question - but is it really worth it for us when DH and I are vegetarian and have a VERY hard time finding a CS meal at the parks? I know it is worth it for TS meals as we had some spectacular ones last week but I don't know if the cost of staying onsite for the free dining is really less than staying offsite in a condo, renting a car, and just paying OOP for our meals.

4. If we do stay onsite and use ME to get from the airport to the resort could we then use ME to get back to the airport to pick up our rental car for the second half of our vacation? Or is there an easier way to go about this?

Thanks for any advice!!!!

 

[septbaby]

1. If you are coming to WDW directly from your flight you can use ME. I don't think you can use ME to the airport unless you have an actual outbound flight. There are ways to get rental cars close to WDW, so you can still get a car.

2. You would need to rent a DVC resort or really really upgrade in a Deluxe to a suite to get separate rooms.

3. CBR would be my suggestion for your family. The kids pool area will be great for them and small enough for you to keep close tabs on them. There are things to do at the resort so you don't have to run to the parks those days.

4. You won't get separate rooms, but if the baby is in the pack and play you can put that in the dressing area and close the curtains, effectively putting the 2yo in a separate room. The 5yo would still be in the "room" with you though. If he or she sleeps like a rock that won't be an issue for TV viewing. CBR has the biggest rooms of the Mods. There are things to do at the resort so you don't have to run to the parks those days.

5. There are lots of non park things to do at WDW, though you have to buy at least a one day park pass for adults and 5yo to get FREE Dining:
a. Campfire and movie night at Fort Wilderness campground, FREE
b. Pony rides for the 5 year old, small fee also at the campground
c. Simply ride Disney transportation, ie. the boats and monorails
d. Downtown Disney for shopping, street entertainment
e. Animal Kingdom Lodge has several Children's programs for FREE
f. Minigolf courses

6. We are also a vegetarian family, we do eat fish here are some CS options
a. CBR food court has a really nice selection from an entree veggie plate to veggie burgers, salads, pasta
b. In MK we like the basil mozzerlla sandwich at the main street bakery
c. Columbia Harbor House has some nice options, including a vegetarian chili
d. Epcot has lots of vegetarian option, try Morocco or even Sunshine Seasons
e. DHS seems to be a tough place for anyone to have CS
f. Wolfgang Puck in DTD will have some unique vegetarian options

Good luck with your planning!

 

[KatMark]

If you are going to book the free dining, I would do so soon. There has been a lot of posts indicating that there was no availability at several of the value and moderate resorts for specific dates in September.

We've not stayed at the CBR for a couple of reasons, but mainly because the theme doesn't appeal to us because we go to the beach ever year while in Florida. We've stayed at the CSR eight times (and will be back for free dining again in September). We like the queen beds and the fact that there is a sliding door rather than a curtain between the bedroom and bathroom (there are also many other things we like about the CSR). There is a kiddie pool at the CSR. However, the CBR does have a newly remodeled pool that has a zero entry pool that might appeal to your younger ones.

 

[Sue M]

CBR has the largest rooms of the moderates, and a newly refirbished pirate pool. I think if you are concerned about room, that would be your best bet.
We also love POR-Riverside, in the mansion section. POR has a boat to DTD, Carriage rides, and evening entertainment in River Roost lounge, fun for all ages.

We don't commando tour, but do go to the parks daily, getting there at opening, then leave mid day back to our resort for a break, swim, etc. Then we may go back out to a park after dinner.

 

[skipperkim]

POFQ has a slide your 5 yo would love. It's fairly tame as far as water slides go. It's a small resort so you don't have to worry about room location all that much. POFQ/POR share buses most of the time, but POFQ is picked up and dropped off first so you'll always have a seat in the AM going to a park. It also has it's own bus stop at MK in the evening.

But as another PP stated you should probably find out what's available for free dining for your dates and then decide what you want.

 

[tndislvr]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Looks like I have a tough decision ahead of me as there are positives about most all the mods. Called yesterday and POFQ and CBR are both still available but now the decision of which one! Thanks again.