What is a good moderate Disney resort?

[c&m]

Hi all: We are planning for our 2005 WDW trip. We are considering staying on-site. Looking at the moderates -- Port Orleans, Caribbean Beach Resort, and Coronado Springs -- and do not know which one would be better than the other. Our criteria for our hotel is:

1. An incredible pool, with waterslides and other fun waterplay activities (i.e. sand, grotto, waterfalls, and the such).

2. Clean rooms with clean bathrooms.

3. Good hotel restaurant.

The hotel is going to be a key part of our time at WDW because we don't want to spend our entire time at the parks. We want to have some R&R time just hanging out by the hotel pool.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Vavasmon]

Port Orleans - great pools (old man island and the sea serpent at FQ); good food court and Boatwrights at Riverside and
we had no complaints with the restrooms

 

[SeaSpray]

I feel that all of the Disney World resorts are great, so I don't think you can go wrong with whichever one you choose.

We've stayed twice at the Caribbean Beach Resort. If you want to see some of my pictures and comments, click on the CBR icon below. The pool at CBR has a water slide (although it's not the largest slide of the moderates) and it does have water falls. The CBR has beautiful white sandy beaches with hammocks, and several playgrounds on the beaches, around the resort. There is a wading pool there for children, and for adults who just want to sit on the edge and put their feet in. All of the rooms at CBR have been completely refurbished in the last 2 years, including new bathrooms, carpeting, etc. CBR has the largest rooms of all the moderate resorts. I can't comment on the restaurant there because they're remodeled that as well and built a whole new sit down restaurant.

Happy planning!!

 

[Nolcrest]

Just LOVE POR. Great place to spend down time too. Fishing for the kids, boat to DTD, carriage rides and absolutely beautiful grounds. Very relaxing sitting in rocking chairs on the "porch" of the bar near the pool. Nice food court and evening lounge too.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Port Orleans is the absolute BEST!! I have two sons (10 yrs and 16 months) and this was the perfect resort for us! I have stayed in all three resorts and my family loves this one the best. They have the best pools, best playgrounds, and the best restaurants (Boatwrights is to die for)

 

[jvas]

POR for sure...........love the grounds.....love the atmosphere,
pool was great.......for the cost...you can't beat it!

 

[PamNC]

I vote for Coronado! The pool is very very nice and you mentioned that in your criteria. Also, they have a great full-service restaurant, Maya Grille.

The resort is beautiful and in my opinion the most "deluxe" of the moderates. And the newest.

PamNC

 

[AspiringCindy]

Originally posted by PamNC
I vote for Coronado! The pool is very very nice and you mentioned that in your criteria. Also, they have a great full-service restaurant, Maya Grille.

The resort is beautiful and in my opinion the most "deluxe" of the moderates. And the newest.

PamNC

Ditto! Coronado Springs!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Of the 3, we've only stayed at CBR, but POR has my vote. We just found it as we visited resorts on our last trip, and I would stay there in a hearbeat. The fishing hole is a wonderful crystal clear spring, and you can see the sunnies and other underwater creatures. CM were very friendly, and the pool looked very inviting.

Also, Boatwright's has a wonderful menu, we can't wait to try it.

Bobbi

 

[barbeml]

We have stayed at Port Orleans (what is now called POFQ) three times and loved it, but were very disappointed when Bonfamilles, their excellent full-service restaurant, was closed. Trekking over to Boatrights did not do it for us.

We stayed at CRB in November and honestly had a better time there (by a nose) than at the Poly in 2002.

There were six of us, including my 3 and a half year old nephew who was just crazy about the play areas, the lake, the pools and Parrot Cay Island. We adults loved the laid-back atmosphere, gorgeous surroundings and the drinks at the Banana Cabana. The food court is really excellent and we all had a nice relaxed dinner at Shutters.

Our room was very clean and well appointed--lots of clever storage options. We plan to go back in November.

Barbe

 

[jvas]

We stayed at the CBR the first time we went to WDW...and I have to agree....it is nice, and the girls, when they were 7 and 10 loved it......the food court is great too.......
But.....we did prefer the POR.....however, CBR would be my 2nd choice...

 

[jvas]

Almost booked the Coronado on our upcoming cruise, but read it was kinda like a resort for "the business crowd"....
did you take any pics of the resort you could share......?
If we get bumped from the POr in June becuase of the rehab, I may consider staying there...can you give me more detail on the reosrt if you have time please?....

Originally posted by PamNC
I vote for Coronado! The pool is very very nice and you mentioned that in your criteria. Also, they have a great full-service restaurant, Maya Grille.

The resort is beautiful and in my opinion the most "deluxe" of the moderates. And the newest.

PamNC

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Another vote for Coronado Springs. My kids liked it better than some of the deluxes we've stayed at.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

We stayed at Coronado and PO (French). Of the two, I prefer Port Orleans French Quarters. We would definitely stay at there again.

However, for Coronado, our room location did us in. Back then, I did not know a fraction of what I know now so our room was all the way in the back. We would never stay there again.

I know, I know, alot of people love Coronado, but for us, it left us with a bad taste of the resort.

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR is a great mod resort with one of the best main pool areas in WDW.

 

[susy]

CSR has an amazing pool area!!!

A huge hot tub, kiddie pool, playground, and sand play area, volleyball area, LONG slide, pool bar with food choices, and an arcade right there. You could definitely spend a whole afternoon there without moving.

The Pepper Market is a more upscale food court and the Maya Grill has a wonderful breakfast buffet.

 

[susy]

Oh yeah... you wanted a waterfall.... how about a waterfall coming down a Mayan Pyramid????

 

[mousefansmom]

Hi-
We just stayed at CSR last week, and my seven year old voted it as the best yet. He loved the pool area, it is huge. He didn't like the Pepper Market (but we did), it was too busy for him (felt like he was lost).

We have also stayed at POFQ, and it was lovely, not as spread out. The pool there was fun, but my ds still preferred CSR, as he really liked the water slide.

Good Luck!

Mousefansmom

 

[c&m]

WOW! Thanks, everyone, for your responses! You gave us a lot of detail to consider. It is so expensive to get to WDW from the Pacific Northwest that when we do go, we want it to be the best experience. This trip planning part is so much fun too!

If anyone has anymore info, please keep it coming.