which is the best / worst moderate and why??

[Kajunswty]

I am trying to decide so any input ~ positive or negative would be helpful...

thanks,
Jon

 

[JulesMom]

I like PO-FQ best. I like the theming of the "big easy". But, most of all, I LOVE the size. It is very small, so you can get around really quickly.

We loved the theming of CBR, but it is large and can be a hike to the food court and bus stops.

Same with PO-R.

There are (+) and (-) to all the mods, but I think they are a great value!

 

[Tink]

When I stay at a moderate, a like PO-FQ first. I like that it is small. It was also the first on-site hotel that I stayed at so I guess it holds a special place in my heart. The only down side to that resort is that the food court is small and so are the selections. And I definately liked it better when they had their own sit down restaurant. The pool is great and very large.Since I first started staying there they added a little play area for the kids which was good timing for our family.Second I like CBR. I love the Island feel, the smaller pools and the food court area. There are so may little places to sit that you don't have that "food court" feel. This place is pretty also, but you just have to be careful about where you stay. Some buildings are far out there so do your homework in advance. Next for me is PO-R. I like the mansion section better than the bayou, but this place is really spread out. Now that I have kids who are in strollers it's a bit much for me. I'd probably stay there when my girls get older. This resort has a great food court, and Boatwright's is always a must for us no matter where we stay (altho, last trip it wasn't that great). I do not like CSR. It feels to business to me, it is very spread out, and I do not like the food court set up. I stayed there, looked around and then checked out and switched my ressies to another hotel. The pool looked cool, tho. My husband has stayed there for a business convention and stayed it was just "ok"

I hope this helped you a little. It's hard to make the decision, I know.

 

[mkellym]

POR best, CS worst. Just my opinion

 

[GeorgeG]

I like the CBR. Every time we try another, we keep coming back to CBR. I guess it's very much a personal taste thing, though.

 

[Piglet203]

Well, I have only stayed at one moderate in the past, which was PO-FQ (before the two resorts combined). I really liked it a lot. I thought the theming was great...had the potential to be extremely romantic.....notice I say potential.....my experience was not I thought everything about the resort was nice. My favorite after my trip in May will definitley be CSR!!!! Mickey76 and I are staying there for 12 glorious days and have heard nothing but the best. Everything about the resort appeals to us....and I know it's going to be an amazing vacation. I think all of the moderates are great (even though I haven't stayed at them all). THey all seem to offer something different, yet still offer that Disney experience. I'm sure which ever you choose will be a good choice. Have a great time

 

[eeyore0062]

My favorite so far is PO-R, but we are staying in PO-FQ, so that might change my mind after this October. We love the theming or PO-R, the laidback atmosphere, and the fact that it isn't quite as spread out as CBR, or especially CSR. The landscaping is beautiful, and of course there is the fact of the boat to DTD!

As for our least favorite, it would have to be CSR. It is too spread out, it has less of a real Disney feel, and there is only one sink in the room, whereas the others have 2, which makes a big difference when the whole family is trying to get ready in the morning.

As for CBR, it is a close 2nd to PO-R because of the increased room size, but parts of it just aren't really convenient.

 

[SeaSpray]

I am very partial to the Caribbean Beach resort!!! I've stayed there twice; May 2001 and February 2002. I have a lot of pictures, and information, on my web sites. The links are below. Feel free to ask any questions!!!!

 

[Gabrielle]

I think it depends on the time of year you're going and the age of the kids with you. FQ and Caribbean have the better pools for the littlest ones and PO Riverside and Coronado have the better pools for the older kids.

During a crowded time, I'd stay at PO FQ - it's small and feels like an oasis when you've just had it with hordes of people. Since it's small, this is a great resort if you have little ones (up to age 8) with little legs that get tired. Wonderful slide for tykes. Downside - it no longer has its own restaurant, bike or boat marina - long hike to PO Riverside for those things.

During a less crowded time, I'd stay at the Caribbean. Kids love the bright colors and beach - but the slide in the pool is pretty lame for older (over 8) kids. Downside - large, spread out resort that could entail a lot of walking. But, just gorgeous to look at.

Coronado - I loved this place and so did my kids. Great slide for the older kids. Great hot tub. We stayed at the Cabanas which is the beachy part. We also liked the Pepper Market. Dowside - same as Caribbean; big resort - I also didn't like the feel or look of the Rancheros (sp?) the most remote part of the resort - it looked parched to me. But, I loved the city look of the Casitas and the beachy look of the Cabanas. The convention aspect of it didn't bother me - at dusk, one night, we watched the conventioneers stroll to the main building in formal wear for some soiree. They looked lovely. Because it's such a big resort, I wouldn't stay here during a crowded time - too risky you'd be stuck far away from the food court.

PO Riverside has a good slide for the older kids and a good game room. Loved the mansions - but didn't like Alligator Bayou. My daughter was uneasy walking around by herself in that section. It felt so deserted and dark.

 

[Kajunswty]

I think we are going to do CBR I just like the theme's - DH likes the water taxi @ P/O Riverside but from what I've read it's not in operation anyway. Plus, we live in New Orleans so it is alittle too much like home! Here is our plan:

Thur - Sun @ CBR
Sun - Thur Disney Wonder (land / sea package)
Thur - Sun @ ASM


this will be our 1st Disney cruise! my girls are 7 & 9 and it'll be there 4th cruise - they love CCL - now they will have somthing to compare it to

I look forward to more responses,
Have a disney day °O°
Jon

 

[DeeP]

I have like all the moderates for different reasons but if I had to pick one it would be CSR. I love the added amenities of having a coffee maker in the room, a health club, a direct bus to the boardwalk, and the largest hot tub on WDW property. We enjoy their food court the most out of all the moderate and value resorts food courts because you have such a varied menu and it is not all fried food. We love the look and location of the Cabanas section, and also love the theming in the main building with the music playing, at night it is so nice to sit outside and look at the lake with the lights reflecting off the water and the music playing in the backgroud.

 

[Buzz2001]

It all depends on what type of theme you like. But if you like a Mexican/SouthWest theme, an awesome pool, great food court then CSR could be the place for you. Check out my website below.

 

[HookedOnDiz]

We are staying at BWI in 3 weeks, but we'll be back in November for another visit and we'll most likely be staying at CBR... I haven't stayed at any of the moderates yet, but CBR looks like the nicest and seems to get the most consistent good reports from people on the boards.

 

[Kajunswty]

that I am alittle worried about :

1 - is the double beds - is this normal for a moderate or is it just CBR? (I 've had 2 queens at lots of hotels - can't remember ever having doubles??)Don't know why Disney would skimp on something soooo important!)

2 - why on earth would they charge for coffee - cream - sugar if they are supplying the coffee pot in the room? I've stayed at Motel 6 up to the W (Starwood) and have never been charged for coffee packets and condiments. (I read this on a trip report)

anyway - I'm off the soapbox and back to my I'm just happy to be staying onsite in the Happiest place on Earth!

Jon°O°

 

[SeaSpray]

All of the moderate resorts have full sized beds. I have to say, though, that DH and I used to have a king waterbed until recently and we were quite comfortable sharing a full size bed at CBR last year.

I personally don't like the fact that they charge for the coffee packets in the rooms either. But since we get the refillable mugs, we just go to the food court for coffee or tea each morning Last year I packed individual packets of coffee, sugar, Cremora, etc, and we never used them anyway. CBR's food court has my favorite tea bags at the beverage station, Twining's English Breakfast, so I was in heaven, I had at least 2 cups each morning! They are out in the open, with the Tetley tea bags, so you can help yourself There is hot water for tea at the beverage stations, too.

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR does not charge for coffee, sugar and cream packets left in the room. That's one of the many perks of it being a convention resort.

 

[Kajunswty]

I loved your website - it was very helpful in deciding on which resort. I can't wait to see more of your Feb. pictures. I read somewhere that there is a set order to the drop off in the evenings. Did yid find Martinque one of the first drop off's? Also, is the slide "cool" enough for a 9 & 7 year old? And, how was the weather in Feb? One last thing, were you able to get a discount on your room since it was peak season?

As you can tell I am full of questions, but that's all for now!
thanks~

Jon

Oh, Mario -

I looked last night and I don't believe CSR is one of our options with the land / sea package. It is not listed - I don't know why though???

 

[Buzz2001]

I don't much about the land/sea thing but I do remember seeing the Disney Cruise Line buses parked in the parking lot all the time along with a trailer office. Not sure if they keep them there or if CSR does participate. Sorry I can't help more.

 

[Kajunswty]

I was curious so I went to the Disney website and CSR is not one of the options. So, I guess I can call DU now. I was still thinking about CSR but I will go with CBR. I just don't want to spend my vacation back here in New Orleans! like I said before Port Orleans is just alittle too real

 

[eeyore0062]

Well, out of the ones I have stayed at, we liked PO-R Alligator Bayou section, building 14, the best. We love the theming, the landscaping, the pool, the foodcourt, the general store, and the whole laid back atmosphere. The boat to DTD is a nice added touch, too!

Although we have never stayed there, we have visited, our least favorite would be CSR. It is too big and spread out. Seems like it is trying to hard to be a deluxe, and doesn't have the Disney feel, as it seems to cater to the business crowd that use the convention facilities.

We also feel that the lack of a 2nd sink in the room is a big drawback.

We also like CBR, the only drawback to that being if you happen to be staying at one of the remote ends, such as Barbado, or Trinidad South. That is just not very convenient to anything.

We are staying at PO-FQ this fall, and hope that it too will be a favorite. It is more compact in size, and from the pictures, looks like the theming is very well done.