WL or CBR?

[browney]

I am researching and planning for our first family trip to Disney in Feb '07. My first resort choice is Wilderness Lodge but I'm also considering CBR. I like WL because it's closer to MK and because you can take the boat to Contemporary (for Chef Mickey's) and boat to Fort Wilderness (for HDDR). CBR is my first choice for the moderates but I know it's a large resort. I will try to request a building with a short walk to dining/pool if we stay there.

My questions are...
Is it manageable with young children to stay at CBR (larger resort) with longer bus rides to MK?

Is it worth the extra money to stay at WL and be closer to MK?

Thank you in advance for any advice you have to offer!

 

[rileyroosmom]

I've stayed at both and it is a tough call! As a matter of fact, I wanted to stay at the WL for our May trip, but we are staying at POFQ instead.
The WL is awesome! Lobby is breathtaking, pool is great the whole package. The rooms are smaller than the other deluxes and only sleeps 4. I didn't have a space issue and we had 5 in there (dd was almost 3 and didn't "count. Room are a little on the dark side, part of the ambviance (spelling). I never had transportation problems, but I've read of others who have.

CSR is a lovely resort. I think they have one of the best pools around. It is large with a great water slide and plenty of seating, plus the outside bar for food and drinks. Yes, it is a large resort, but not unmanagable. If your kids are young, be sure to bring your own stroller to push them around. I've heard there is a on site transportation system. CM ride around in golf carts and will pick you up so that must help. I'm not crazy about the food court. They add 15% (I think that's the right amount) for gratuity and all the CMs do is bring your drinks. I could live without that.

I wouldn't hesitate to stay at the CSR. We're not this time, just to try some place else. We've stayed there 2X.

I didn't choose the WL (I really wanted to) for the price. Using AAA, POFQ is about $800 cheaper. We are traveling with another family who didn't want to spring for it. I think I'm glad they didn't, I'll save alot.

Good luck with whatever one you choose. You can't go wrong really at any Disney resort.

 

[CleveRocks]

CSR is a lovely resort. I think they have one of the best pools around. It is large with a great water slide and plenty of seating, plus the outside bar for food and drinks. Yes, it is a large resort, but not unmanagable. If your kids are young, be sure to bring your own stroller to push them around. I've heard there is a on site transportation system. CM ride around in golf carts and will pick you up so that must help. I'm not crazy about the food court. They add 15% (I think that's the right amount) for gratuity and all the CMs do is bring your drinks. I could live without that.

I wouldn't hesitate to stay at the CSR. We're not this time, just to try some place else. We've stayed there 2X.

You can't go wrong really at any Disney resort.

Cool, but the OP was asking about CBR, not CSR.

The bus ride from CBR to MK isn't bad. It's not as close as WL is, of course, but it's not bad at all. We had no problems with our 5 year old and 2 year old. They were just so excited to be there!

Keep in mind that CBR is a less than 5 minute bus ride to and from MGM and Epcot.

 

[CleveRocks]

CBR is my first choice for the moderates but I know it's a large resort. I will try to request a building with a short walk to dining/pool if we stay there.

BTW, you can PAY $15 extra per night and GUARANTEE a room relatively close to Old Port Royale (these are called "preferred location"). If being close to the food court and main pool is important to you, then by all means it's worth the price. If you don't pay for preferred location and simply request it, you run the risk of not getting it; obviously, evenyone who pays for it will be in line ahead of you.

CBR is great. Enjoy wherever you stay!

 

[rileyroosmom]

OOPS! I really need glasses! I've stayed at CBR too. If that's the case, I like WL better. Can't put my finger on CBR, I just didn't like it. I can't even give an example of what I didn't like. Guess I'm absolutely no help at all!!!! Sorry!

 

[browney]

Thanks for the info, both of you. I didn't realize the bus rides from CBR to Epcot/MGM were so short. That's great to know! Thanks for the advice about the preferred locations. I was actually thinking about requesting a room in one of the Aruba or Jamaica buildings close to the bridge. Do you think that walk would be manageable with young kids?

Rileyroosmom, I know you said you weren't sure why you didn't like CBR but....Do you think it was because of the layout/size of the resort? or did you not like the theming and/or amenities? Just curious.

Thanks again!

 

[CleveRocks]

Thanks for the info, both of you. I didn't realize the bus rides from CBR to Epcot/MGM were so short. That's great to know! Thanks for the advice about the preferred locations. I was actually thinking about requesting a room in one of the Aruba or Jamaica buildings close to the bridge. Do you think that walk would be manageable with young kids?
Thanks again!

The kids might get a charge out of crossing the lake every day. On the other hand, if your request isn't honored then you COULD end up pretty far out. If it makes you nervous, spring for the extra money. If you were thinking of taking a towncar to and from MCO, take DME instead and the savings will pay for the room upcharge. I stayed in a preferred location room (Trinidad North 3340), but for a preferred location room it was about as far from Old Port Royale as you can get. We didn't have problems with the walking distance with a 5 year old and a 2.5 year old.

As for CBR's location regarding MGM and Epcot. CBR is so close to Epcot that you can see much of the IllumiNations fireworks show from many spots inside CBR. Bus-wise, MGM is a shorter ride, because even though Epcot is across the street it's the BACK of Epcot that's across the street. I figure if you are in World Showcase, you could go between the Italy and Germany pavilions, hop a wall, walk through some marshland and probably a mine field or two and you'll end up across the street from CBR's Aruba or Barbados villages.

 

[HopperFan]

WL

As for moderates, I would chose CSR or POR, but not CBR.

 

[lisadisney2003]

If money is not an issue, do the WL. However, my choice on Mod. is Port Orleans French Quarter. It is great and nice & small. You can take a boat to downtown disney which is fun. Also, the bus picks you up first and drops you off first.

 

[rileyroosmom]

I'm really stretching my mind to remember, it was in 1998! I do remember the resort being big, we never found the main pool. The food court was kinda crazy (but I guess they all are). I definetly remember it was a split stay with CSR and I remember when we moved over there we were like "WOW". To be fair, I believe CSR was pretty new at the time so I'm sure things looked newer and nicer. There was nothing about CBR that stands out in my mind as just awful. I just know I really didn't care for it. I'm sorry, I wish I could be more helpful. Don't let me scare you away from it. Like I said nothing stands out so how bad could it have been?

I just called DH. He remembers we had better service at CSR. They took us and our luggage in a golf cart to our room (this past stay this didn't happen) Employees were very helpful. He remembers CBR was missing a lightbulb and even though we asked, it was never changed and we were missing a drinking glass that was never replaced. Nothing major at all, but going over to a new resort the CMs were just very friendly and helpful.

Hope that makes sense!