Which Moderate Resort is Best

[jend]

HI guys. I've been to WDW a couple of times but never stayed onsite and am very excited to do it this time!!! But WHICH moderate resort should I choose? My kids are 3 and 5 and love fancy pools. Do any of them have "0-depth" entrances or just steps? They love slides and love the waterparks. The bigger resorts look beautiful but the smaller ones sound easier (less walking, right?) so I'm totally open. The guidebooks pretty much rate all (four, right?) of them the same. The PO resorts maybe take a little longer to get to the parks though.... right?? So, I'm pretty open and a total newbie, so PLEASE tell me where to stay.
Also, can we get away with not renting a car and just relying on Disney transportation or will this be a total pain?

(Had to add the picture - my 3 year old is waving at the screen and saying, "hi! hi!" while he is sitting on my lap!!"
Thanks!!
Jen
Mommy to Mandy and Zach
Leaving on 5/30 05for WDW!
Last tip August 2004!

 

[MiJo]

My DW and I have stayed at POR (2 times), POFQ and CSR and have enjoyed all three. It is really a tough choice because each one is a little different and very nice in its own way. We probably prefer POFQ because of its smaller size and ambiance. Its drawback is that it doesn't have a full service restaurant; you have to walk or take the boat up to POR to Boatwright's. The pool is very nice for kids. At POR, we have stayed in both the AB and Mansions sections. This resort, like CSR, is large and rather spread out, but very nicely themed. The pool area is nice and there is a rustic playground area. Boatwright's is one of our favorite resort restaurants. And, at POR or POFQ, you can see Bob "The Piano Man" Jackson perfrom in POR's River Roost Lounge. He is great family entertainment. The bus service at the PO resorts has always been very good for us but the two resorts do share buses at times and they usually pick up and drop off at POFQ first. CSR is also very nice and the food court there is our favorite because it is different from those at the other Moderates. Like I said before, though, this is a large resort and it is quite a hike from the Ranchos section to the main buildings (check a map). The pool at CSR is also very nice with the theme being an archeological site. From what I have read, the pool at POR may be the least exciting for kids, especially those who like slides.
I would vote for POFQ if you don't mind walking to Boatwright's for a sit down meal. The food court at POFQ is pretty good so, if a full service restaurant isn't real important, you will enjoy this resort. The walk to POR is about 10 minutes and you can also use the boat between POR/POFQ and to DTD.
Have fun choosing! (For your son!)

 

[dolphin01]

It depends on what you're looking for in a resort. We love CSR. CSR's pool has steps and a great slide and playground area at the main pool.

 

[Buzz2001]

CSR is excellent! Check out my CSR website below for pics, links and info

 

[jend]

Great website. Do the other moderates (besides CSR) have playgrounds? Or just CSR?
AT POFQ or POR, how is the boat to DD? Long wait? It is complimentary, right?
Thanks!

 

[wonderlandaddict]

We have stayed at all of the Mods except CB. POFQ is our favorite! The kids loved the Pool & the boat ride to DD. After walking around the parks all day it was wonderful not to have a huge resort to walk around. The rooms are beautiful with very comfortable beds. The bus service was good also. If you are not renting a car I wouldn't even consider anything else except POR because of the transportation to DD. I don't think the other resorts have direct transportation to DD, you would have to ride the bus to ticket & transportation then transfer to another bus. This could be very time consuming & not much fun coming back to the resort with tired children or even worse children asleep & you have to carry!!! We've done that-trust me not fun!!!!!

 

[liznboys]

We are a family of 5 with 3 little boys (ages 5, 3 and 1). We love POFQ. There is a playground area there, near the pool. The boat to DTD is complimentary, and it runs every 20 minutes I think. More info. is here:
http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_po.htm

 

[Blondie]

CSR is our favorite moderate but with kids your ages they'd probably prefer PO FQ over CSR. The pool at FQ is loaded with color and they get to slide down the tongue of a serpent! Very cute! As they get a little older, return and try out CSR! You can't go wrong with either resort. Let us know what you decide!

 

[jend]

Thanks for all the advice. It all sounds great. I see that POFQ has some rooms that have trundle beds. My travel agent said that unless you have 5 poeple, you can't even request those (I know that with anything - even smoking and non-smoking it's always just a request and certainly not guaranteed). Do you all know if that is the case? It would be nice to have one - but of course I understand the need of a party of five. For some reason I thought that parties of five didn't even book into just one room there. But, like I said, I'm a total newbie. Does anyone know about anything to do with the trundles and if they can be requested and, if so, at what time? Also - we only paid for standard view, so I'm not expecting much but should we still try and ask for a specific builiding? If so, what do you guys recommend and when do we do that? At check in ? Or is it all already designated by that time? Thanks.

 

[ReninDetroit]

Great website. Do the other moderates (besides CSR) have playgrounds? Or just CSR?
AT POFQ or POR, how is the boat to DD? Long wait? It is complimentary, right?
Thanks!

They will all have playgrounds.

I HIGHLY recommend POFQ. It's the nicest moderate hotel in my opinion. Short lines to check in, a GREAT food court with the best milkshakes on Disney property (short of Beaches & Cream and Ghiradelhi in DTD maybe) and a French pastry shop with incredible beignets. It's considerably smaller than POR so you have a higher chance of being close to the pool, lobby and bus stops.

The boat ride to DD is nice. About 20 minutes long, with no more than 10 minute wait. The POFQ is closer to DTD by about 5 minutes. And if you're at Riverside you have to wait for the French Quarter guests to board, which tacks on an extra 5 minutes on top of the ride over to FQ anyway. (It's POR-FQ-DTD and then DTD-FQ-POR.)

The POFQ has curtains seperating the open sinks and bedroom area, which is something the other moderates are lacking.

And it's a better pool than Riverside IMO.

Disney transportation is extremely comprehensive. You can get to anywhere from anywhere with no more than 1 extra stop using the buses alone. Then add the monorail and water launches to that and you have a HUGE network of transport. You will never use a rental car unless you (Gasp) need to leave the Disney area for something. (Target, etc)

 

[ReninDetroit]

Thanks for all the advice. It all sounds great. I see that POFQ has some rooms that have trundle beds. My travel agent said that unless you have 5 poeple, you can't even request those (I know that with anything - even smoking and non-smoking it's always just a request and certainly not guaranteed). Do you all know if that is the case? It would be nice to have one - but of course I understand the need of a party of five. For some reason I thought that parties of five didn't even book into just one room there. But, like I said, I'm a total newbie. Does anyone know about anything to do with the trundles and if they can be requested and, if so, at what time? Also - we only paid for standard view, so I'm not expecting much but should we still try and ask for a specific builiding? If so, what do you guys recommend and when do we do that? At check in ? Or is it all already designated by that time? Thanks.

At POFQ, buildings 3 and 4 are the closest to the lobby, food court and bus stops. Buildings 2 and 5 are closest to the pool. Your view will either be of gardens, the pool or a parking lot. Stay away from buildings 1, 6 and 7. They're quite a long walk.

Here's a map:

http://www.kingdom-travel.com/Walt_...isney_Port_Orleans_French_Quarter_Map_low.jpg

 

[safetymom]

CBR has several playgrounds. There is sand for the kids to play in also.

 

[Kaiya]

I would go back to this resort again and again. Loved it - theming, food, transportation (never ever waited more than 10 mins during Spring Break for a bus), pools,cast members, everything. Split stay between mansions and alligator bayou. Loved both, but it depends what you like - mansions are beautiful and I would recommend Parterre Place, but AB bldg 14 with water view was also beautiful, very convenient and closer to the main bldgs.
Happy Planning!

Just wanted to add that POR also has playground (including ol'man island that kids can explore about), and a privacy curtain between room and sinks. Don't forget that POFQ doesn't have a sit down restaurant which didn't matter much to us, but guests can use POR's with just a short walk.

Another addition here - we had a trundle bed in bldg 14 AB which we'd never requested and didn't use, but it was there!

 

[wright1baby]

Yes, families of 5 can stay in one room. The only moderate that can accomodate 5 is POR. We will be there in June and we need the trundle. There is a huge price difference between moderate and deluxe and we probably would not have been able to afford a WDW trip without POR.

 

[jend]

Is Riverside the only ones that have the trundle and not FQ? I can't find anywhere on the website (disney.com) that says it. Again, since we are just four people, the travel agent says we can't ask for it anyway. Is that right? Should we make a building preference, and if so, when? Thanks again.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Is Riverside the only ones that have the trundle and not FQ? I can't find anywhere on the website (disney.com) that says it. Again, since we are just four people, the travel agent says we can't ask for it anyway. Is that right? Should we make a building preference, and if so, when? Thanks again.

If you want a trundle ask for the AB section at POR. This is my FAVORITE section and I will be there in less than 2 months!!! POR also has great playgrounds for the kids, great pools and hot tub and INCREDIBLE grounds.....it is so picturesque. I love POR above all the other mods.....but I do love the other mods too!

 

[disneymac]

1st post here - love this site!!!! You all give the greatest info - you're amazing!

We have booked a trip to WDW in Dec at Pop Century and have been thinking of upgrading to a moderate. We were looking at Coronado Springs and now I'm questioning that, since nobody's talking about it... Is there something I should know?

Thanks.

 

[tiggersmom2]

1st post here - love this site!!!! You all give the greatest info - you're amazing!

We have booked a trip to WDW in Dec at Pop Century and have been thinking of upgrading to a moderate. We were looking at Coronado Springs and now I'm questioning that, since nobody's talking about it... Is there something I should know?

Thanks.

I like CSR.....but it is a convention resort and is frequently filled with conventioners. That isn't always the case but it is many times. I love CSR....it is beautiful, great food court and great pool. Just be sure to ask if any coventions are scheduled during your stay.

 

[DisneyJen0504]

We LOVE CSR!!! The moderates are great-you cant go wrong with any!

 

[*Fantasia*]

I would recommend POFQ. It is the smallest moderate. Less walking. Pretty and quaint. The pool here would be great for your young children. The pool is not as intimidating as the one at CSR for the age of your children. We stayed at CSR twice and neither both times my children wanted to go down the slide and their ages are 8 and 6. CSR pool slide is much longer and higher too. The pool at POFQ is very kid friendly. It is shorter and not so high. We saw lots of toddlers and Kindergartener went down the slide.

They might find the deco at the food court interesting and very colorful. I think they will really like and enjoy this resort. My kids and I had a wonderful time here.