questions about moderates/riverside for feb!

[disneylaura55]

hey everyone....need to book our february trip in a few weeks!!!!!
called and talked to somebody last night...i told him i didnt know much about the moderates because before we had always stayed value. anyway....he said the week we want to go (feb 22 - march 1) coronado springs is already booked up!
he said it was probably due to a big conference....this is where we originally wanted to stay....he suggested we stay at riverside...because it would be best for our family of 5....my, hubby, 3 boys (11, 6, 2).... he also said we should pay for a preferred room???
so i guess my question is what is your thoughts about riverside...and is the preferred room worth the extra 300 dollars for the week? he said this would insure us to be near food/bus...thanks for the help disboards!!!

 

[momofboyz3]

Hi!!!!!!! You will get some more detailed responses shortly, from POR vets they helped me w/my 1st stay a few months ago.
POR is a beautiful resort, my boys and I loved our stay! We stayed in the Mansions & even that was not far at all. The preferred room is in Alligator Bayou it has an extra bed for a child. That's why the CM probably suggested it. And yes, we saw them during our stay it is very, very close to everything.
POR is a great choice. For our 2014 trip I'm hoping to try CSR but if it's booked I would have no issues with POR again

 

[MiramarQE]

We have never stayed at CS but love POR - been there multiple times

Wonderful landscaping/theming, probably the best QS food of the moderates (except CS - again, no experience). Nice quite pools (POFQ has no quiet pool - but it's a 10 minute walk from anywhere in POFQ to a POR quite pool). POR has the combined POFQ/POR marina, a TS restaurant (Boatwrights - we have never dined there - usually in a park at lunch/dinner) and the boat ride to DTD is quite nice (about 25 minutes - POR to POFQ to DTD)

Buses are OK - every time we've been at POR they have been shared with POFQ - but when we were there last Feb it was not crowded so the buses were actually pretty good - although there are a total of 5 stops at POFQ/POR combined - seems like you're never going to get to a park if you get on at POFQ or POR South (first stop in POR)

The "preferred rooms" are all in Alligator Bayou - they have a pull-down bed - so you can have 2 queens and a single - they are also the closest to the main building/South bus stop and have a quite pool. If possible we take the preferred room due to the proximity to the main building/dining and quiet pool/South bus stop - we think the're worth it and there's only 2 of us.

 

[detarica]

I much preferred POR over CSR. The atmosphere is so beautiful and relaxing. You can not believe that you are in Disney. Which is welcome after the crowds at the parks. We stayed in the Royal Rooms and my girls loved it. The Alligator Bayou sleeps 5 with a small trundle for a under 8 kid. It is a "special" bed and most kids love it from what I hear. I hear that area of the resort is really nice from friends who stayed there.

CSR is too much like a convention hotel for my taste, and since I do a lot of business travel, it doesn't feel like a vacation when there are lots of people running around in suits and dresses heading to the convention. I did enjoy the hammocks around the lake at night though.

 

[disneylaura55]

thanks for your responses! cant wait to book!!!