Which Moderate Resort??

[callieriggs]

So we are looking into an extended family vacation over the Thanksgiving break. It can be difficult to get three different families to settle on a place to stay. Our family usually camps! But some of the others going prefer a more luxurious stay. We figure the moderates will please everyone. Do you recommend one over the other? Initially my sister in law said she thought the caribbean beach resort would be her first choice because it has the best pool. I think we have ruled out Cornado springs but need more opinions about the French Quarter resorts and the Beach resort. There will be 10 of us in 3 rooms with kids ages 4, 7, 7, and 9. Thanks for your help!

 

[spiceycat]

really think CSR has the best pool

why is it that you eliminated it?

it is the only moderate with a gym and beauty salon


if still no then POFQ - it is the smallest - so easy to get around.

 

[kkmauch]

Great start! We have rules CSR out for many years running now.

CBR is GREAT! We are headed back in August with 8 and 10 year old. Pool is fantastic and beach is beautiful. Old Port Royale is spacious and so well themed. They offer pirate rooms if that is of interest. The rooms are very slightly larger than other moderates. By then they should all have new queen beds as well.

POR is another favorite of ours. Feels just as large and spread out as CBR. Multiple bus stops. We like the mansions but prefer alligator bayou. Again great theming, good size food court. Pool is good but not as good as CBR.

POFQ is smallest of the three. Very intimate feel. We have really enjoyed it as the kids have gotten older. It is quieter and not nearly as hectic. The pool is seriously lacking here but you are welcome to use the pool at POR. The boat is a nice option (same as POR) for downtown disney. Rooms are very nice.

Now that you've ruled put CSR, in our opinion, you can't go wrong!!!

 

[BigKid45]

Just back from our first trip to POR...our first moderate resort. The resort is beautiful, boat to Downtown was great, theming was great. We were in Alligator Bayou building #15, but I walked the entire POR and POFQ and didn't find any rooms were "too far" from dining or bus stops for either resort. I could easily see satisfying the many different tastes in a family "group" at POR.....economical, elegant, convenient, etc. POR has my vote!

 

[pamkat1820]

We have stayed a POR, it was our first moderate resort. It is very pretty. The grounds are beautiful. The food court has a great create your own pasta station.

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

In my opinion CSR is the best resort! We have stayed there multiple times and loved it! They have so many kid activities and the pool area is the best of all the mods is my eyes. Why have you ruled it out?

CBR is my least favorite resort! I hate the layout. Unless you pay for a preferred building be prepared to walk to the main pool and food court.

As for POR it's a beautiful resort. You even have the ability to take a boat to DTD from here and POFQ. POR is a huge resort thou. Bigger then CSR and CBR.

If you are looking for a resort that is more compact then POFQ is ideal. They share a bus with POR so know that once you are picked up you will then stop at POR to pick guests up there before you head to the parks.

Lastly, if you are hoping to take advantage of any discount Disney may offer during the time of your trip know that POFQ is usually not included in the deals and if it is the savings is usually minimal compared to the other mods.

Good luck choosing!!!

 

[maxiesmom]

I've stayed at all 4 Moderates, and CBR is by far my least favorite. It is just way too big. The fact that it is the only Moderate that has a bus dedicated to dropping guests off at different stops around the resort should tell you something about how huge it is.

Also keep in mind CBR is the only Moderate resort that still has double beds. Not queens. In addition, I found the food court to be lacking in choices. I didn't care for much of what they had, so I ended up eating chicken strips a few times.

I have to ask, why did you rule out CSR? If you are going for a resort with a more luxurious feel, that is the one that has it! The rooms have a more clean, higher end feeling decor than the rest. And the pool slide is the best out of all the Moderates.

Another bonus with CSR is that it is a convention resort, so the buses are not as packed as the ones at the other Moderate resorts.

If you won't take another look at CSR, I think you should go with POR. It has a really lush landscape, and is a great place to relax away from all the hubub at the parks. POR also has the best food court at WDW, imho. And one of the best gift shops.

 

[DisneyWonderful]

I have stayed at three of the four moderates, all except CBR. We just returned two days ago from a stay at POR. We LOVED Coronado Springs and very much enjoyed French Quarter, but did not like POR. If your party likes both "rustic" and elegant, as you say, CSR is the perfect choice, in my opinion. There is a rustic-themed section of the resort, and a more elegant themed section. There is both a food court (though it's more upscale than the other moderates), and a lovely sit-down restaurant. The sit-down restaurant at POR is kind of like a Bob Evans restaurant, while the food court in the AM is total chaos. The grounds at CSR are just breathtaking from wherever you're standing because of that beautiful lake and the beautiful architecture and design of the main buildings. And the pool at CSR is incredible, with a long, long pool slide your kids would love. The grounds at POR are very pretty, but it is so overgrown you only see the river if you are right next to it. And we felt that the Mansion section buildings from the outside resemble a roadside motel from the 1970s. The boat ride to Downtown Disney from POR (and from French Quarter) is a wonderful treat, but the bus rides everywhere else were horrible during our stay -- long lines, always standing on the bus, waiting over 30 minutes for a bus to come to the resort. And I've only recently learned of the CSR "business class" option, which includes access to a lounge with light breakfast in the AM and snacks & drinks (including alcohol) in the evening. If we had known about that before our recent trip, that is where we would have tried to stay! I would stay at CSR again, and also at French Quarter, but never again at POR. This is just my experience. I know others stay there and love it.

 

[Linda T.]

We love CBR! The landscaping, colors, and theming is beautiful. There are white, sandy beaches with hammocks to lay on and friendly ducks to feed bread. The main pool is zero entry and wonderful for everyone. We like the options that the food court offers, and the gift shop is really nice. There is a small lake around CBR which my daughter and I like to walk around in the morning. It is beautiful and peaceful. Each village has a quiet pool if you don't feel like walking to the main pool that day. The rooms are a very nice size with lots of storage and two double sinks. The beds are full size. We have stayed in Martinique (when it wasn't preferred), and we have stayed in Jamaica. We prefer Jamaica. It is a short walk over the bridge to the main main pool and food court. There are several bus stops at CBR. It bothers some people but it is fine for my family. Good luck with your choice and have a great vacation.

 

[mickeynut1]

We've only stayed at CBR and we loved it. The grounds were beautiful, the pool was great, the food court had plenty to choose from, and the transportation was great. I think the kids would love the pirate pool. Our boys were 7 & 9 when we stayed at CBR and they loved the pool (and it has been redone since our stay). My choice would be CBR. Good luck.

 

[kkmauch]

Just note: by the time you visit, the beds at CBR will all be switched out to Queen. POR has multiple bus stops, just like CBR. CBR is larger but doesn't feel like it when you're there.

 

[Megsie1000]

In your case I would probably choose POR alligator bayou because you would have more bed configuration options.

I would eliminate CBR for the double bed factor (unless everybody really likes sleeping in close quarters).

For more a more "luxury" feel I would do POFQ because it is a compact, quieter resort. It has a nice pool. And beautiful grounds. But no sit-down restaurant.

 

[maxiesmom]

Just note: by the time you visit, the beds at CBR will all be switched out to Queen. POR has multiple bus stops, just like CBR. CBR is larger but doesn't feel like it when you're there.

Has anyone really confirmed that? I know rumors of a bedding switch out have been floating around for quite a while, but I haven't heard anyone say they have actually started changing the beds.

I have to disagree too with your statement that CBR doesn't seem larger than POR. It felt much larger to me! Look at it this way: If you get on at the first stop at POR you make 3 more stops before heading to the parks. If you get on at the first stop at CBR you make 6 more stops. Six! That is a big difference!

 

[minnie mum]

Just note: by the time you visit, the beds at CBR will all be switched out to Queen. POR has multiple bus stops, just like CBR. CBR is larger but doesn't feel like it when you're there.

Please post a link to the official announcement of this room refurb. I haven't seen one. The rumour of a bed switch has been floating for a couple of years now.

 

[KatMark]

Please post a link to the official announcement of this room refurb. I haven't seen one. The rumour of a bed switch has been floating for a couple of years now.

When guest relations called me last year after some complaints I had emailed about (after visiting the front desk at the resort we were staying at), I was told by them that CBR was getting queen beds within the next year.

 

[pgianna]

I have a little bit of a different take. I would consider the swan dolphin. You get a deluxe hotel for the price of a moderate. The pool is awesome there and the location is great. Definately worth looking into. They have a lot of deals too, like teacher discounts, free nights, etc. I think the swan gives you a free night for every 3 or 4 nights that you book. We always stay at the swan. Dollar for dollar, I think it gives you the most bang for your buck of any on property hotel. In my opinion.

 

[minnie mum]

When guest relations called me last year after some complaints I had emailed about (after visiting the front desk at the resort we were staying at), I was told by them that CBR was getting queen beds within the next year.

Sorry, but I would rate that about one step up from the Super Secret Bus Driver Inside Info.

 

[maxiesmom]

I have a little bit of a different take. I would consider the swan dolphin. You get a deluxe hotel for the price of a moderate. The pool is awesome there and the location is great. Definately worth looking into. They have a lot of deals too, like teacher discounts, free nights, etc. I think the swan gives you a free night for every 3 or 4 nights that you book. We always stay at the swan. Dollar for dollar, I think it gives you the most bang for your buck of any on property hotel. In my opinion.

I've always wanted to try the Swan and Dolphin resorts out. One thing that always holds me back is that they don't have Magical Express. Another thing is the lack of the dining plan.

 

[minnie mum]

I've always wanted to try the Swan and Dolphin resorts out. One thing that always holds me back is that they don't have Magical Express. Another thing is the lack of the dining plan.

Plus the mandatory "resort" fee. Plus the charge for parking.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I think CSR is the nicest moderate with the best pool for elementary and older kids. The four year old might prefer the CBR pool, but the 7 and 9 year olds would probably prefer the pool at CSR unless they are very timid. The slide at CSR is fast and fun for kids and adults. My kids thought the CBR pool was too babyish when they were 9 and 6.

CSR offers more luxurious amenities like a fitness center, spa, room service, and new business class rooms (which are like a moderate version of club level with continental breakfast and snacks and drinks in the evening, including beer, wine and sangria). The bus service has been great during all of our CSR stays.

CBR is currently the only moderate with double beds. That would be a deal-breaker for us, but it might not be for you. If they are getting queen beds soon, it is about time. But I wouldn't book it without knowing for sure.

If CSR was not available for our trip, we would probably consider POR. POFQ doesn't really appeal to us for the theming and the pool - just personal preference. POR has nice theming and the rooms were recently redone. If you are bringing girls, they offer royal rooms as a booking category for the princess fans.