So many Resorts ..How do I decide?

[Mommy2cody]

Hi everyone! I am in the very beginning stages of planning my family’s very first Walt Disney World vacation! I have been trying to plan this vacation for the last 5 years! Every time we start planning life seems to interrupt and we have to postpone our trip. We will FINALLY be going in 2013!!! I know, it’s still FEBRUARY of 2012, but I’m so excited, I HAVE to plan!

Sooo after all that, here is my question. I have always planned on staying at the All-Star Movies resort. It was the most economical and screamed Disney to me. My son LOVED Toy Story so it was perfect! Well now my son is 11 and the huge Toy Story figures aren’t as “cool” to him anymore. Also we can afford to move up to a moderate resort now! I have been researching like crazy. Looking at pictures, reading reviews and just trying to make up my mind! Every time I decide on a resort, I second guess myself and keep looking up other resorts then I change my mind again!

I really just want to make a good choice for my family. We are a family of 3, my son will be 12. I am leaning towards Port Orleans Riverside or French Quarter. I have read some really good things about Coronado Springs Resort too and the pool looks awesome. Caribbean Beach resort looks nice and I like the water/marina aspect but not too fond of the Nemo or Pirates rooms.

What do you seasoned experts suggest! I have tried to ask my husband and he says whatever I pick is fine! Please help!!! Thank You!

 

[Doors]

Riverside. It is the best of the moderates and blows all of the values out of the water. If you can afford a moderate then it's a no-brainer. In comparison to a value resort you get way more bang for your buck, as opposed to moving from moderate to deluxe. The pool is amazing. They have a wonderful lobby and Boatwright's restaurant right there in it. They also have the marina and much more beautiful surroundings than French Quarter.

 

[cecilia]

i agree we have only been 1 time back in 2010 we stayed at all stars movies. going back in 2013 not sure what resort we will pick i want a mod or deluxe husband loves all stars for the price and all we do is sleep in the room

 

[pepe of ohio]

If we ever did chose a moderate, it would be POFQ...we did a quick trip once to CSR....didn't care for it or its location at all, and once did a 1/2 day stay at Dixie Landings (now POR) room issues and we moved to the Yacht Club but the resort was too huge even though we were there 1/2 a day...

We visit POFQ every trip...we bus over for the food court...really decent offerings, we also like the lounges nightly entertainer and finish up the visit by boating to DTD (love the boats and it's a nice long ride) and busing to our resort....POFQ is more compact than Riverside...just for that reason we would prefer it over the other mods.....but the new Royal Rooms at POR are interesting......just depend on location...location is important to us....we walk enough in the parks and want convenience at the resort......but we do like the looks and layout of the French Quarter...

 

[shannonstar]

POFQ is a great resort. However, the pool isn't the best for an 11 year old. If you are planning to spend a lot of time in the pool, maybe POR?
For my family though, we would always do POFQ. It's small, quaint, has just one bus stop, in other words, perfect for us.

 

[Aliceacc]

My friends and theirr 2 pre-teen sons LOVED POR!!

 

[Kim1964]

Will you have a car? Do you plan to spend a lot of time at the pool?

If no car and don't plan to be at the pool a lot, then POR and POFQ are good location and have the boat to DTD, which is fun. POR has a very good food court, which we go to at least once every trip, even though we haven't stayed at POR since 2006.

If you have a car and the pool (and slide) matters, then CSR. A lot of people consider it spread out, so having a car is nice. It's got the best pool slide of all the moderates, imho.

 

[DizDaD7]

I know I posted this a few times on a bunch of different threads, but I'm not sure who has or hasn't read this, so I'll post again, my view.

Let it be known that both times I went to these were during Jersey weeks in Nov.

CSR- Resort Grounds: The theming here is really nice. All 3 areas are unique to its section and very well maintained. A nice walk around the whole resort is roughly 15-20 minutes or so.

POR- Resort Grounds: The theming here is also very nice. Just a little different. Southern feel. Both gorgeous grounds though. I'd say just a tad longer to walk around the grounds, but a pleasant stroll again.

CSR- Rooms: Stayed in Casitas 4 which had renovated rooms & was a perfect location. Queen Size beds too.

POR- Rooms: Stayed in Magnolia Mansions. Also Beautifully redone, w/ queen size beds as well.

CSR- Pool The main Pool is awesome. Really nice slide. Plenty of lifeguards on duty. Never Ever,ever crowded. I think the most amount of people there while we stayed was maybe 20. The quieter pools are very nice too.

POR- Pool: This Pool Is very nice as well. Slide is just a tad smaller than CSR but equally nice. the pool always had plenty of people around , but never felt like overcrowded. You always had plenty of chaise loungers to sit at. a lot more kids it seemed too. quieter pools were just that very quiet..

CSR- Food Court: aka. pepper market. I know not many people like the idea of being escorted to you seat, but literally u wait maybe 5 secs, honestly. Never is it packed, the market itself has a nice array of food too. A small gratuity ( maybe $5 ) should cover your server.

POR- Food Court: Although the food selections here are awesome, the way it's set up is like the values. And yes the seating area is bigger, It was always busy, no matter what time of day. Mornings are Chaotic though. Worse lines here than the darn parks...LoL

CSR- Bus Service: The best hands down: Although there are multiple stops, It seems most people grab it at the main one, to go to the parks. Never di we wait for more than 1 bus which were sooo frequent. NEVER did we have to come close to standing either, Going to the parks or returning..

POR- Bus Service: This one was just Eh. Imho. At least heading out to the parks in the morning. I think we waited for an extra bus 3 days going to parks. Coming back from DTD we waited for 3 buses, & forget coming back from Fantasmic. That was like 7 buses... But when we do return, the west stop ( i think) was very close to our mansion, which was nice.
Also POR, Has the Boat ride to DTD, which is a pleasant ride & convenient.

I didn't eat at either of the 2 TS restaurants here, but have heard very good things about both. Also POFQ is just a smaller version of POR, but the New Orleans theming & closer feel, just didn't do it for me. Also the pool is a lil on the kiddish side. CBR I'm just not a big fan of. Layout, Theming, buses. The pool is good though. If I want to get a tropical theme ,then I'll go to the islands, not here. Thats just my $.02. Sorry. Don't mean to offend all of the CBR lovers

My suggestion, ( although its a hard one ) would probably got to CSR. It's a convention hotel , so it's never too crowded.

Either one you pick I'm sure you won't be disappointed.. Have a fun time choosing and once again...Sorry for Rambling here. LoL

 

[fla4fun]

Once you have your budget set, sit down and make a list of the things your resort needs for you to have a great vacation. Do you need a hot tub? Fitness center? Room Service (Pizza only or expanded)? Is bus only transportation OK or do you want boats, monorails, and walkways too? Do you want bike or boat rentals at your resort?

Once you have your list, you will be able to cross off several resort choices. Then it is all about the theme that works best for your family. Every family is different, so what would work best for you might not be what works best for someone else.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I suggest you pick the top 3 things you want at a resort - as a family. Then go with the resort that matches it. If multiple resorts match it, go with the theme or what your gut tells you to do.

For our family, our top priorities in a resort are:

1. Pool and slide - For instance, I like a pool you can see the whole thing from one spot with a cool slide.
2. Room size/layout - For instance, I do not like resort rooms for 4 people where the sink is outside of the bathroom and everyone can see and hear you.
3. Food - MUST have a pool bar and the 'quick' food must be decent (something other than a burger).

Because of this, I actually don't prefer BC (sinks outside the bathroom, pool you can't see the whole thing from one spot). And Coronado Springs is appealing to me because of the wood door between the room and bathroom area.

Other people might prefer a smaller resort or they have to have elevators in the buildings or they want more transportation options than the bus (like the boat from POR to DTD).

There are a LOT of choices, but once you focus on the few things most important to you, you will narrow it down quickly.

Once you decide, make the most out of it and don't second guess yourselves! Enjoy the resort for what it is. And if you are truly unhappy with your choice once you get there, you can always ask to switch to another resort (as long as there are rooms available).

 

[Mommy2cody]

Thank you everyone for all the help! I have been leaning toward POR because the grounds are just so beautiful and I am always reading great reviews about it. I sat down with my husband and pulled up pictures and you-tube videos of all the moderates and as soon as we got to POR he said 'Lets stay there, I like that one". (i didn't even tell him I was leaning towards that one!)

Now I feel 100% certain and I am excited to start planning!

 

[DizDaD7]

Thank you everyone for all the help! I have been leaning toward POR because the grounds are just so beautiful and I am always reading great reviews about it. I sat down with my husband and pulled up pictures and you-tube videos of all the moderates and as soon as we got to POR he said 'Lets stay there, I like that one". (i didn't even tell him I was leaning towards that one!)

Now I feel 100% certain and I am excited to start planning!

Congrats, and have a great time...The place is very very nice...If you are definitely staying there, Might I recommend the Magnolia Bend, in the mansions. In my opinion, the most perfect location, centrally located near everything. Including:
Bus stop, Main Pool, Night Movies, Main Bldg( Food )Boat to DTD. Others may be closer to certain things , but not all. This bldg, is this the closet on a whole for everything...have fun...& remeber if that don't have accomodations...* which I hope they do for you...There's always CSR to fall back on..LoL

 

[Liv4Dis]

Hi there,

My vote would be for Riverside first and then the French Quarter. This resort has beautiful grounds broken down into two sections -- Alligator Bayou and the Mansions with a main pool in the middle and five satellite pools scattered throughout. Not to mention the boat that takes you to French Quarter and then to Downtown Disney. You can also use the pool at French Quarter ... (you can walk along a path from one resort to the other -- maximum 10 minutes). Riverside has an excellent food court as well as a great arcade for kids and adults. Also Riverside and French Quarter both have great entertainment most nights.

Don't get me wrong, Caribbean Beach is also very nice, but for us the boat to Downtown Disney tips the scales in favour of Port Orleans. Just so you know we have had an excellent time in all the resorts we have stayed at, so wherever you choose, you will have a great time!

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

POR. We've stayed there several times and always enjoyed it. Very relaxing, great theme, and the boat to DTD is a treat. If you have a car, you should drive to AK, though that's true from just about everywhere except AKL. Hope you have a great trip.