Where would you stay?

[Christinaxo]

If you could have your first stay at WDW all over again, and had to choose a moderate resort, which would you choose and why?

*I ask because I am wanting to downgrade from the WL to save some money. Never been to WDW (first timer) so any advice is so helpful to making our trip magical! Transportation is probably most important to us, as that is the last thing we want to worry about, not having a car up there. DD is 4 & DS is 8. I really like how compact POFQ is and that they only have one bus stop but my kids freak out everytime we look at the resort videos. The mardi gras theme just does not seem to appeal to them and its their first time! They love the look of all the other ones but because they are so big I am TERRIFIED of transportation issues. I hate not knowing what to expect. & DF refuses to do double beds so values are out of the question! Please help!!!*

 

[AllieV]

I'm a big fan of moderates. We bounced between mods and deluxe every other trip or so. Our best experience was at Dixie Landings, now POFQ. Loved it. I booked it again for this upcoming trip before we bought into DVC (we cancelled to book a villa).

Really disliked the Caribbean. Always wanted to try Coronado Springs because it looks so lovely but I can't endorse it personally.

 

[Disneylover99]

POFQ...it's small, only one bus stop, boat to DTD, so compact, nice little playground near the hot tub, great pool for younger kids, quiet ...as for the Mardi Gras theme, we never really noticed it. Maybe it won't bother your kids.

 

[Cotillard]

We really loved POR last year. We stayed in one of the royal rooms, which was brand new. The resort was in beautiful condition and the resort moved way up on our list

 

[Christinaxo]

I'm a big fan of moderates. We bounced between mods and deluxe every other trip or so. Our best experience was at Dixie Landings, now POFQ. Loved it. I booked it again for this upcoming trip before we bought into DVC (we cancelled to book a villa).

Really disliked the Caribbean. Always wanted to try Coronado Springs because it looks so lovely but I can't endorse it personally.

POFQ...it's small, only one bus stop, boat to DTD, so compact, nice little playground near the hot tub, great pool for younger kids, quiet ...as for the Mardi Gras theme, we never really noticed it. Maybe it won't bother your kids.

We really loved POR last year. We stayed in one of the royal rooms, which was brand new. The resort was in beautiful condition and the resort moved way up on our list

We were going to do the royal rooms at POR at one point because even my 8yo DS felt his lil sis would DIE to be in that room lol but with all the bus stops I have always leaned toward POFQ. Maybe once they realize it doesnt matter because they are in WDW, the massive heads hanging over their heads in the food court wont even be noticeable thanks for the advice!

 

[Neesy228]

For the ages of your kids and bang for your buck, have you looked at the Values? Honestly, my kids LOVED staying at them when they were that age. Nothing like 3 story Buzz Lightyear to a Toy Story fan, or a gigantic football field to the sports fan....this last trip, we did AoA family suites and my kids flipped for the theme! The one year we did POR and it just didnt feel like Disney to my kiddos. So, we always pick a place based on the coolest theme....I'm not sure if any of the mods have a theme that bowls me over, although my personal fav is CSR.

 

[Mom2gymnasts]

We stayed at POR this past Sept. and really enjoyed it. We stayed in a preferred room in Alligator Bayou. We had a corner room in Bldg 15. One window had a garden view and the other looked over the parking lot. When we came out of our room and down the stairs to the parking lot and looked to the left we could see the main bldg. and to the right was the South bus stop which was always the 1st stop picked up. It was only a 2-3 min walk to either. We took the boat to DTD and never had to wait long for a bus. I didn't feel like the resort was that big, but maybe it's b/c we were so close to everything. There was a quiet pool nearby and the main pool was really close too.

 

[jupers]

Another vote for POR...our first stay with kids was at POR and we moved over to Wilderness Lodge...we had a better experience at POR. We now own DVC and I still search trips at POR! By the way...no resort is perfect with transportation...even the monorail resorts. Just roll with it.

 

[Christinaxo]

For the ages of your kids and bang for your buck, have you looked at the Values? Honestly, my kids LOVED staying at them when they were that age. Nothing like 3 story Buzz Lightyear to a Toy Story fan, or a gigantic football field to the sports fan....this last trip, we did AoA family suites and my kids flipped for the theme! The one year we did POR and it just didnt feel like Disney to my kiddos. So, we always pick a place based on the coolest theme....I'm not sure if any of the mods have a theme that bowls me over, although my personal fav is CSR.

That is definitely something I researched and I LOVE the theme of the values! There is so much going on, as far as colors, statues and even the arcades! But they seem to only have double beds and we plan on heading to the rooms mid day (were going in August) and they just seem so small. I like the AoA suites but the preferred ones were booked so fast and they are the same price right now as staying at WL so it defeats the purpose

 

[Christinaxo]

We stayed at POR this past Sept. and really enjoyed it. We stayed in a preferred room in Alligator Bayou. We had a corner room in Bldg 15. One window had a garden view and the other looked over the parking lot. When we came out of our room and down the stairs to the parking lot and looked to the left we could see the main bldg. and to the right was the South bus stop which was always the 1st stop picked up. It was only a 2-3 min walk to either. We took the boat to DTD and never had to wait long for a bus. I didn't feel like the resort was that big, but maybe it's b/c we were so close to everything. There was a quiet pool nearby and the main pool was really close too.

Another vote for POR...our first stay with kids was at POR and we moved over to Wilderness Lodge...we had a better experience at POR. We now own DVC and I still search trips at POR! By the way...no resort is perfect with transportation...even the monorail resorts. Just roll with it.

Are the preferred rooms only in alligator bayou? I like the sound of being so close to everything and would definitely pay more to stay there (seeing as there is a bigger discount than POFQ anyways) but there arent anymore preferred rooms left for when we go! <-- that smiley is totally exaggerated but I love it lol anyways I think I am just worried because I do not know what to expect. The transportation cant be so bad cause so many people love POR! Plus we save more which is Thank you guys!

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

I would do a preferred room at CBR. Yes, the resort is huge, but if your room is close to food court and main pool it's not bad at all. Transportation wasn't an issue during any of our stays at CBR, and we have stayed there 3 times now. I think your kids would LOVE the main pool.

We have stayed at all 4 moderates (as well as 4 of the value resorts, and over half the deluxe resorts), and my kids keep asking to return to CBR! It is the only moderate they ask to return to.

 

[vicb224]

Are the preferred rooms only in alligator bayou? I like the sound of being so close to everything and would definitely pay more to stay there (seeing as there is a bigger discount than POFQ anyways) but there arent anymore preferred rooms left for when we go! <-- that smiley is totally exaggerated but I love it lol anyways I think I am just worried because I do not know what to expect. The transportation cant be so bad cause so many people love POR! Plus we save more which is Thank you guys!

Yes the preferred rooms are only in alligator bayou.. You can try faxing a request to one of the closer buildings that aren't preferred before you go, though. POR is beautiful. Stay there- really.

 

[mickeynut1]

If you could have your first stay at WDW all over again, and had to choose a moderate resort, which would you choose and why?

*I ask because I am wanting to downgrade from the WL to save some money. Never been to WDW (first timer) so any advice is so helpful to making our trip magical! Transportation is probably most important to us, as that is the last thing we want to worry about, not having a car up there. DD is 4 & DS is 8. I really like how compact POFQ is and that they only have one bus stop but my kids freak out everytime we look at the resort videos. The mardi gras theme just does not seem to appeal to them and its their first time! They love the look of all the other ones but because they are so big I am TERRIFIED of transportation issues. I hate not knowing what to expect. & DF refuses to do double beds so values are out of the question! Please help!!!*

Our first onsite stay was at CBR and we loved it (although it was almost 11 years ago). We thought the transportation was great as CBR is centrally located and it didn't take more than about 10 minutes to get to any theme park, water park, or DTD. I think your kids would love the pirate themed pool, but it is a big resort and depending on where your room is, it can be a hike to the food court and pool and it is the only moderate that still has double beds. With that said, we wouldn't hesitate to stay at CBR again as we loved the resort, but if we wanted to try a different mod, my first choice would be POR. POR is also a large resort, but it looks beautiful and neither POFQ nor CSR appeal to me as far as theme/decor. Good luck .

 

[lady_hlh]

We stayed at POR last year in a royal room and I thought the resort was beautiful and the food court was great. However my DD who is no longer in to pools said the main pool was lame. We stayed at CSR when she was maybe 7 and she loved loved loved the main pool, we spent lots of time at that pool. I wasn't wowed by the theme/architecture but the buses were so much less crowded than POR. If your boys are really in to spending time at the pool you might want to consider CSR.

If you decide to book POR and you're over in the mansion buildings, you can take the PQFQ bus back at night and just walk back over. We did that quite a few nights because the line for the POR bus was insane but almost no one was waiting for PQFQ bus. I would rather get back quicker and walk a little than stand in line for 45 minutes.

 

[Christinaxo]

I would do a preferred room at CBR. Yes, the resort is huge, but if your room is close to food court and main pool it's not bad at all. Transportation wasn't an issue during any of our stays at CBR, and we have stayed there 3 times now. I think your kids would LOVE the main pool.

We have stayed at all 4 moderates (as well as 4 of the value resorts, and over half the deluxe resorts), and my kids keep asking to return to CBR! It is the only moderate they ask to return to.

Our first onsite stay was at CBR and we loved it (although it was almost 11 years ago). We thought the transportation was great as CBR is centrally located and it didn't take more than about 10 minutes to get to any theme park, water park, or DTD. I think your kids would love the pirate themed pool, but it is a big resort and depending on where your room is, it can be a hike to the food court and pool and it is the only moderate that still has double beds. With that said, we wouldn't hesitate to stay at CBR again as we loved the resort, but if we wanted to try a different mod, my first choice would be POR. POR is also a large resort, but it looks beautiful and neither POFQ nor CSR appeal to me as far as theme/decor. Good luck .

When comparing resorts my DF said he thought the CBR theme was best for the kids. He loved the pool area and didnt seem to notice there was only double beds which he has been SOOOOO against The pool area is super important because we are going in August and won't go more than one day at a water park so we want to spend alot of time in the resort pool! It sounds like a great resort, it makes me wonder why it gets such bad reviews Thanks for the help! This is so much harder than I thought!

 

[Christinaxo]

Yes the preferred rooms are only in alligator bayou.. You can try faxing a request to one of the closer buildings that aren't preferred before you go, though. POR is beautiful. Stay there- really.

Thank you!

 

[glammadiva]

CBR. Our kids love the pool, but if you can swing it cost wise AOA family suite for the space.

 

[Christinaxo]

We stayed at POR last year in a royal room and I thought the resort was beautiful and the food court was great. However my DD who is no longer in to pools said the main pool was lame. We stayed at CSR when she was maybe 7 and she loved loved loved the main pool, we spent lots of time at that pool. I wasn't wowed by the theme/architecture but the buses were so much less crowded than POR. If your boys are really in to spending time at the pool you might want to consider CSR.

If you decide to book POR and you're over in the mansion buildings, you can take the PQFQ bus back at night and just walk back over. We did that quite a few nights because the line for the POR bus was insane but almost no one was waiting for PQFQ bus. I would rather get back quicker and walk a little than stand in line for 45 minutes.

I like the overall look of the rooms at CSR, I actually was leaning towards booking there because the rooms are to my liking and my son thought the pool was "cool". It being a larger resort did kind of make me nervous a bit with all the bus stops but even then I went to book and no more rooms available during the time we are there I took it as a sign because my DF didnt like the theme of it anyways lol

 

[Christinaxo]

CBR. Our kids love the pool, but if you can swing it cost wise AOA family suite for the space.

I really like AoA but it is the same price as our reservation at WL right now, so I am tryna save a little. Hows the food at CBR?

 

[mickeynut1]

When comparing resorts my DF said he thought the CBR theme was best for the kids. He loved the pool area and didnt seem to notice there was only double beds which he has been SOOOOO against The pool area is super important because we are going in August and won't go more than one day at a water park so we want to spend alot of time in the resort pool! It sounds like a great resort, it makes me wonder why it gets such bad reviews Thanks for the help! This is so much harder than I thought!

Everyone has their own opinion, but I also don't know why CBR gets bad reports, but we loved everything about it. Our boys were 7 & 9 when we stayed there and they loved the pool (which has recently been refurbished). I will say, though, that we didn't mind the walking. I know some people feel that with walking so much in the parks that they don't want to walk forever to get around at the resort, but we didn't mind it, so maybe that's why we didn't think CBR was bad as far as size . As tinkerbellybutton said, a preferred room would put you close to the main pool and food court. I'm sure you'll have a great trip no matter which resort you choose, but we loved everything about CBR from the beautiful grounds, to the wide variety at the food court, to the awesome pool, to the efficient bus transportation .