Trying to decide on a resort for 2018

[disneyjr77]

We're planning on late August 2018, and i can't decide which resort to stay in. We know we want to stay moderate but they all look great and are around the same price, so that makes it even harder.

Please help me make up my mind...what you guys love or don't love about each resort. I've read the articles on the different sites and they are chock full of info, but it doesn't give personal opinions, just the facts. I read the threads here on the DIS as well. If it matters, DD will be 11 almost 12, and we love to do a balance of park days/eating vs resort pool days/eating lol

 

[Shellyb84]

Out of the mods I've stayed at CSR and CBR. We really enjoy CSR and I wouldn't hesitate to stay there even with all the construction. It is a beautiful resort, the pool is nice, and the bus service has been great all 3 times I've stayed there. I was not a fan of CBR and probably wouldn't stay there again. The layout was confusing and it's just not as pretty and peaceful as CSR.

 

[disneyjr77]

Out of the mods I've stayed at CSR and CBR. We really enjoy CSR and I wouldn't hesitate to stay there even with all the construction. It is a beautiful resort, the pool is nice, and the bus service has been great all 3 times I've stayed there. I was not a fan of CBR and probably wouldn't stay there again. The layout was confusing and it's just not as pretty and peaceful as CSR.

Thanks I didn't even think of construction! I wonder if it will impact us next summer.

 

[Shellyb84]

Thanks I didn't even think of construction! I wonder if it will impact us next summer.

The construction projects going on at both CSR and CBR are extensive, so I believe they will be going on for quite a while still.

 

[Sue M]

Our fav is POR. On one trip we were staying at AKL, and happened to have a car ( don't usually). We decided to do some research on our next stay. We knew we wanted a moderate. We had already stayed at CBR, and liked it. So we headed to explore CSR and had lunch. Then walked around. CSR looked ok. Next stop POR. The minute we drove thru I said, this is it!
Love the beautiful landscaping and theme. The mansions are our fav. Love walking out onto the river path. Great food court and a decent table service.
POR has a little more to offer with a boat to Disney springs, carriage rides and evening entertainer who puts on a great show.

 

[LISAMWDW]

I have stayed at all 4, they all are great, and it really is personal preference and which is not having renovations done. Of course there pros and cons to each based on ones individual preferences as nothing is perfect, well except the Poly, which is perfect. JK. Size of the resorts never bothered me as much as some people make an issue of it. Especially since all one does is walk in WDW. Using the buses is what it is, the one you always want to last it seems. Seriously though, I've never had an issues with busing except at Animal Kingdom Lodge.


POR-Pros: great theming, great rooms, love that you can walk/share resorts with the French Qtr and take the boat to DS. I have stayed here many times and love it. Cons-Not crazy about the main pool area but I usually use the quiet pools anyway. I don't like that their restaurant is not open for breakfast anymore.

PFQ-Pros: small sized and easy to get around. Again, you can share with POR and take the boat to DS. Cons-no on-site restaurant without walking to POR. Theming does not appeal to me much and no quiet pool either. So, this is my least favorite moderate.

CSR-Pros: great theming, larger rooms, great main pool, good dining options, has benefits of a higher end resort such as salon, fitness etc. Cons: larger groups tend to use this resort so pools can be noiser. Also, stayed here several times and loved it.

CBR: great theming, love the hammocks in the caribbean theming here, great main pool, more relaxing grounds. Cons: currently has basically no dining right now due to the vast construction. This is my next Moderate stay AFTER the renovations are done.

This is what is important to me but I hope it helps you in some way.

 

[Tiggr924]

We've stayed at POR, CBR, and CSR. In the summer, we prefer CBR for the theming but due to the extensive construction we chose to stay at POR this past July. POR is beautiful and love the boat to Disney Springs. We also love to walk over the FQ for the beignets! CSR was our least favorite.

 

[ChasingLeslie]

I've stayed at CBR, POR, and CSR. And I would rank them 1. CSR, 2. POR, 3. CBR.

CBR is a fun resort but the busing and size is a turn off for me. There are seven stops and the busing just seems to take forever.

POR is a beautiful resort with a delicious food court and boat to DSp. The resort still feels spread out and the pool is slightly lackluster.

CSR is my favorite. It is the most central and I find the busing to be above average. I love that there are multiple dining options, including QS and drink refill at the pool. The Dig Site is great...it boasts the biggest hot tub on WDW property and the best mod pool slide. There's also deluxe-like amenities such as a gym and spa. Maybe it because we've visited multiple times, but the resort feels easier to navigate than the other mods.

I've not stayed at FQ (because jester heads and usual exclusion from discounts) but it is the smallest mod resort, which many like. It does lack extra amenities, like a table service restaurant, which I feel does not justify the price.

 

[CynBeth]

We really enjoyed POFQ when we stayed there a few years ago. We liked the compact size and it was an easy walk to POR. There is a boat to Disney Springs and the times they shared a bus with POR they were always the first stop.

 

[Babsy]

I have stayed at all 4, they all are great, and it really is personal preference and which is not having renovations done. Of course there pros and cons to each based on ones individual preferences as nothing is perfect, well except the Poly, which is perfect. JK. Size of the resorts never bothered me as much as some people make an issue of it. Especially since all one does is walk in WDW. Using the buses is what it is, the one you always want to last it seems. Seriously though, I've never had an issues with busing except at Animal Kingdom Lodge.


POR-Pros: great theming, great rooms, love that you can walk/share resorts with the French Qtr and take the boat to DS. I have stayed here many times and love it. Cons-Not crazy about the main pool area but I usually use the quiet pools anyway. I don't like that their restaurant is not open for breakfast anymore.

PFQ-Pros: small sized and easy to get around. Again, you can share with POR and take the boat to DS. Cons-no on-site restaurant without walking to POR. Theming does not appeal to me much and no quiet pool either. So, this is my least favorite moderate.

CSR-Pros: great theming, larger rooms, great main pool, good dining options, has benefits of a higher end resort such as salon, fitness etc. Cons: larger groups tend to use this resort so pools can be noiser. Also, stayed here several times and loved it.

CBR: great theming, love the hammocks in the caribbean theming here, great main pool, more relaxing grounds. Cons: currently has basically no dining right now due to the vast construction. This is my next Moderate stay AFTER the renovations are done.

This is what is important to me but I hope it helps you in some way.

Exactly! Great comparison and excellent points! You've said pretty much everything that I would say.

My opinion: (FWIW)
I would normally recommend CSR with the age of your children, but would currently suggest POR due to the likelihood of continued construction at CSR,

 

[disneyjr77]

Oh wow, you guys have given me more to think about...thanks!!

I don't like that POFQ doesn't have quiet pools, i like those for when we get back from the parks at night...so it may be out of the running.

Where can i find info on all the construction on CBR and CSR? If the dining is affected at CBR, then they will be out of the running as well lol There's so much to read in the resort thread, i scroll through looking at the pictures, and read the more recent posts, but between reading on my phone and computer, i lose track.

 

[Shellyb84]

Oh wow, you guys have given me more to think about...thanks!!

I don't like that POFQ doesn't have quiet pools, i like those for when we get back from the parks at night...so it may be out of the running.

Where can i find info on all the construction on CBR and CSR? If the dining is affected at CBR, then they will be out of the running as well lol There's so much to read in the resort thread, i scroll through looking at the pictures, and read the more recent posts, but between reading on my phone and computer, i lose track.

Dining is affected at CBR, I'm not sure for how long. There's a CSR Facebook group that keeps very up to date info on the refurb there.

 

[Tiggr924]

Check out the resort threads for CBR and CSR. CBR has been doing a really good job of providing updates. The Theme Park Brothers on FB also have been creating videos of what the resorts currently look like, but not necessarily what it will be in 2018. Some of those have been posted in the CBR thread.

 

[morrik5]

disneyjr77, have you thought about The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort? This is altogether a different type of stay and the transportation to MK is just a smooth boat ride. The buses also transport to the other resorts and parks from there as well.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

We just got back from POR and loved it just as much as ever! This August, the resort was not crowded, at all. We were always able to get a seat on the bus in the mornings whether we were using the first or the last bus stop. I love the theme, as well. It is so beautiful walking around the grounds and I love being able to walk to POFQ to use their pool if I so desire.

I also recommend CBR. I think it gets a bad rap on here. No denying that the resort is large, but I didn't find it nearly as bad as many will say - and I have even stayed in a Pirate themed room in the farthest section. The pool is absolutely fantastic and I love the tropical decor of the grounds. It is under construction and will be for some time, but my mom's friend recently stayed there and said that it really wasn't as bad as people make it out to be. She was still able to use the pool and get a counter service meal (by the way, some of the wraps that they served before construction - not sure if it is the same menu now - are quite excellent) without much hassle. I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again, but if size is a problem, definitely look into getting a preferred room.

For my family, POR is our favorite mod, but CBR is my personal favorite. And we all agree that the pool at CBR is tops.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Oh wow, you guys have given me more to think about...thanks!!

I don't like that POFQ doesn't have quiet pools, i like those for when we get back from the parks at night...so it may be out of the running.

Where can i find info on all the construction on CBR and CSR? If the dining is affected at CBR, then they will be out of the running as well lol There's so much to read in the resort thread, i scroll through looking at the pictures, and read the more recent posts, but between reading on my phone and computer, i lose track.

I really like this site for info on Caribbean Beach: http://www.disneycaribbeanbeach.com/

 

[disneyjr77]

disneyjr77, have you thought about The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort? This is altogether a different type of stay and the transportation to MK is just a smooth boat ride. The buses also transport to the other resorts and parks from there as well.

We looked at the cabins this morning and loved them, but it was almost $1000 more than one of other moderates...so it's on the list for another year.

I think it's been narrowed down to CSR and CBR. POR looks great too, but the main pool at CSR looks very cool. I'm going to go dig through the threads a little more and facebook, to get more info on the construction and all.

I was told this morning...let's get through this years vacation before you start planning next years. yeeeaaaahhhhh, that's not happening

Thank you guys so much, you've been very helpful!

 

[ChasingLeslie]

I think it's been narrowed down to CSR and CBR. POR looks great too, but the main pool at CSR looks very cool. I'm going to go dig through the threads a little more and facebook, to get more info on the construction and all.

Thank you guys so much, you've been very helpful!

C'mon over to the CSR thread, we'll have you loving it the way we do

 

[dkmulder]

I love mod resorts and have stayed at all except CSR (booked for next April). POR is my favorite, hands down. I love the extensive theming that is also understated band subtle in so many ways. There's a lot more greenery than POFQ. I always feel reasonably close to the main pool, food court, and bus stops no matter where my room is, and the boat ride to DS is a huge bonus. I've never had any bussing issues there that wouldn't happen anywhere else.

POFQ is smaller and uses the same boat to DS. Nothing really to complain about there, just prefer POR over it.

CBR....one and done for me unless I have a preferred room AND a car. Of all the resorts I've stayed at, this one was by far the worst in terms of layout and bussing (not the typical bussing issues you would encounter anywhere). Due to its large size, we would spend more time on the resort picking up guests than what it takes to get from the resort to the parks (we were in Jamaica, so the second of seven for pick up). Also, we were in the farthest building in jamaica from the food court, and the walk was about 15 minutes one way. We like to walk up to the store/food court daily to refill our mugs, get a bite to eat, etc, and this was just not possible to do quickly in the morning before catching the bus to the parks. It was a huge ordeal. And yes, they have an internal bus, but by the time you wait for that, you may as well have walked. It just wasn't the nice, leisurely morning stroll I'm used to and valued at POR or POFQ, or any of the other resorts I've stayed at. Now if I had my own car and was even half the distance to the food court (remember requests are never guaranteed) than where we were, I would stay there again. I loved the setting and wooden walkways on the water. The food court was amazing - I loved everything I had there.

 

[disneyjr77]

We finally decided on CBR. I went through the threads, and facebook groups and read up on all the news, rumors, pics, etc. The deciding factor was the rooms, we didn't care much for the renovated rooms at CSR weren't Disney enough for us. I like to have a touch more Disney in the rooms, and they seemed like a generic, higher end hotel set up. I know there will still be construction at CBR, but I don't think it will impact our stay much. The only thing i worry about is the food court.

Thanks again for all your help!!