What Moderate Would You Suggest

[Blackburn23]

My wife and I are debating what moderate we want for our next trip with our kiddos. They will be 5/3 on the trip, looking at May 2016. We want a resort with a great pool, easy access, good food selection and Foodcourt, in room dining options, great play ground area, etc.

I am pulling for Carribean Beach, she likes Port Orleans Riverside. Suggestions?? (I know art of animation isn't a moderate but I hear its good). Also open to an upgrade or downgrade if its worth it

Thank you for your help!!

 

[Blackburn23]

And yes I voted on my own poll.... Don't tell my wife

 

[englanddg]

I'd go for CBR. But, PORS is a beautiful resort.

With the choices you listed, you really can't go wrong.

For the per night price though, I'd seriously look into a family suite at AoA...but, I think you'll find the family suites are more expensive than the standard Moderate rooms.

 

[Andrew C]

For the amenities you listed off, I would say CBR as well. Try to ask for the Jamaica. Good location and renovated rooms.

 

[englanddg]

For the amenities you listed off, I would say CBR as well. Try to ask for the Jamaica. Good location and renovated rooms.

Yeap. Aruba and/or Jamaica. Ask for "near the bridge" to be noted as a room request on your reservation. They'll know what that means.

 

[Blackburn23]

My wife and I stayed in Aruba a couple of times and loved it! Agree, Aruba and Jamaica seem like a great spot

 

[Victor Kelly]

My wife and I are debating what moderate we want for our next trip with our kiddos. They will be 5/3 on the trip, looking at May 2016. We want a resort with a great pool, easy access, good food selection and Foodcourt, in room dining options, great play ground area, etc.

I am pulling for Carribean Beach, she likes Port Orleans Riverside. Suggestions?? (I know art of animation isn't a moderate but I hear its good). Also open to an upgrade or downgrade if its worth it

Thank you for your help!!

With what you listed, I would suggest AoA with kitchen if available. The pool area at AoA is awesome. Granted I can only say so because we walked from POP to AoA one night to look around.

Now PO Riverside is beautiful to the extreme. But sometimes you can be far from parking and it is spread out a little. But that is what adds to the charm. As for in room dining options, I am not sure of that anymore since it has been 20 years or so since I stayed there last.

 

[englanddg]

With what you listed, I would suggest AoA with kitchen if available. The pool area at AoA is awesome. Granted I can only say so because we walked from POP to AoA one night to look around.

Now PO Riverside is beautiful to the extreme. But sometimes you can be far from parking and it is spread out a little. But that is what adds to the charm. As for in room dining options, I am not sure of that anymore since it has been 20 years or so since I stayed there last.

In room dining is pretty much the same at all the value and moderates...

Pizza...and it's not very good Pizza at all.

(or, you can visit the food court and bring the food back to your room, which is what I do)

 

[Gaston's gal]

If you want Moderate resort, then go with CBR. If you want a little more space though, then go with AoA. It may cost a little more, but the suites are fun and bigger than the rooms at the Moderate resorts. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Victor Kelly]

In room dining is pretty much the same at all the value and moderates...

Pizza...and it's not very good Pizza at all.

(or, you can visit the food court and bring the food back to your room, which is what I do)

That is kinda what I thought. I never touch resort pizza, especially after eating pizza at Via Napoli.

 

[Buzz2001]

My family would recommend CSR in a heartbeat! Besides having a great main pool area, CSR offers a few deluxe amenities at a mod price. They are home to the largest hot tub and one of the longest pool slides on Disney property. The pool, slide, arcade and playground area are all located at the main pool.

The rooms have queen beds, a sliding wooden door separating the sink area from the room (can be good for little ones napping in a pack n play) but only one sink.

CSR also offers business class level rooms with access to the Coconino lounge. Other amenities include a fitness center, spa, free wi-fi, tanning beds, a sauna, salon, full menu room service and a night/dance club.

They offer the same toiletries as the deluxes (except GF). CSR has separate shampoo and conditioner instead of the shampoo/conditioner combo at the other mods and values (a small thing, I know, but it means I don't have to pack shampoo and conditioner).

Bus service is terrific and is not shared with another resort.

 

[Disney_Ash]

My family would recommend CSR in a heartbeat! Besides having a great main pool area, CSR offers a few deluxe amenities at a mod price. They are home to the largest hot tub and one of the longest pool slides on Disney property. The pool, slide, arcade and playground area are all located at the main pool.

The rooms have queen beds, a sliding wooden door separating the sink area from the room (can be good for little ones napping in a pack n play) but only one sink.

CSR also offers business class level rooms with access to the Coconino lounge. Other amenities include a fitness center, spa, free wi-fi, tanning beds, a sauna, salon, full menu room service and a night/dance club.

They offer the same toiletries as the deluxes (except GF). CSR has separate shampoo and conditioner instead of the shampoo/conditioner combo at the other mods and values (a small thing, I know, but it means I don't have to pack shampoo and conditioner).

Bus service is terrific and is not shared with another resort.

Another vote for CSR. We've stayed at POR & CSR and much preferred CSR. Absolutely nothing wrong with POR, we had a great time there. We just found all round experience at CSR was much better. The food at the pepper market was great.

 

[princessmommy]

In room dining is pretty much the same at all the value and moderates...

Pizza...and it's not very good Pizza at all.

(or, you can visit the food court and bring the food back to your room, which is what I do)

Except at csr... cSR has a full service room service menu to rival some deluxe resorts.

 

[daisyduckie]

I voted CBR but I think if the pool is a main selling point, you need to get a preferred room. That is the only way to know you will be close to it.

I will say that I liked the food selection better at CSR than CBR. So if food is important, pick CSR.

 

[Ben_since_1971]

CBR - great pool for the kiddos, and a nice playground on the island. Food court is right near the pool area.

 

[Hopperfan]

My wife and I are debating what moderate we want for our next trip with our kiddos. They will be 5/3 on the trip, looking at May 2016. We want a resort with a great pool, easy access, good food selection and Foodcourt, in room dining options, great play ground area, etc.

I am pulling for Carribean Beach, she likes Port Orleans Riverside. Suggestions?? (I know art of animation isn't a moderate but I hear its good). Also open to an upgrade or downgrade if its worth it

Thank you for your help!!

CSR is our favorite but I almost voted for CBR, our least favorite because your kids are young. Love POR but find we use the main pool and other areas minimally. A plus for it is the boat to DTD. POFQ we enjoyed for a trip we needed no amenities, loved walking around but not sure the price is worth it. Love AoA but if looking at a standard room, you will probably have some walking to do.

Using your concerns...

Great pool: CSR has the best main pool area for lots of reasons. One of the longest and best pool slides on property, excellent playground right next to the pool, counter service food right next to the pool, plenty of lounges tables and chairs, largest hot tub on property and an excellent theme. CBR has a pirate theme pool area with zero entry, two slides and a water play area. It is a large pool deck that wraps around all the pirate themed area. You will have to leave the pool area for other amenities. OTHER: POR pool is less geared for the youngest kids and we find it is always packed and chairs hard to find, POFQ has a nice youthful pool that families seem to enjoy.

Easy Access: If you mean location and transportation, CSR wins hands down. One of the most centrally located resorts it's easy to arrive to, short bus rides to parks and has it's own excellent transportation. CBR is a large resort that requires an interior bus system and is located closer to DTD. Due to the size you will have more bus time to pick up the guests and head to the parks. When staying there we drive to parks. OTHER: POR transportation can be very crowded depending on which bus stop you use. Bus may be full from the start if it went to POFQ first. POFQ transportation is great unless you are coming home from a park and having to share with POR. Boat to DTD from both POR and POFQ is very nice perk.

Good food selection and foodcourt, in room dining options: CSR, because it is a convention hotel, has more food options than any other moderate including traditional room service. 2 Table Service, 3 Counter Service, very nice To Go selection, 2 Bars (actually 3 with pool bar) and Room Service for Breakfast and Dinner. OTHER: POR has an excellent Table Service dining and good food court, POFQ has no table service.

Great Playground Area: CSR has their playground right at the pool - great for swim breaks. OTHER: CBR playground is way removed from all, POR is close to the pool but in a wooded area behind the pool and POFQ is a fenced in area between pool and food court.

I would suggest studying photos of the resorts and see what visually appeals to you, pick the most important things you will utilize at the resort and how what they offer fits in to your plans. Good luck!

 

[DisneyPrincess5]

My opinion isn't terribly valuable I guess because we have only stayed at one moderate, Coronado. But we adore it. Great food, beautiful grounds, great bus service, awesome pool, and lovely rooms. I just always get a warm, home-y feeling there. Happy choosing.

 

[DisneySurprisePA]

Well...we just came back from the renovated rooms in the CBR. Rooms are nice...Murphy bed is great for a small child. It is small, and a thin mattress. Wouldn't suggest it for anyone beyond a child. Now the down side... since the five person renovation they have MANY groups coming in. Even though I asked TWICE not to be placed in a building that was part of a blocked group, asked to check again at check in...we ended up in a block that we were a canceled room in an entire building of dance competition girls of all ages. The last two nights were unbearable with noise, people knocking on the wrong door, and the cherry on the cake was the drunk girl swearing we were in her room at four in the morning. Management apologized and said the five person rooms will see a TON of groups and he wasn't sure how we ended up there. But he did say they were not being as forthcoming to what groups were coming and if you were in a section that was partly or almost completely blocked for a specific group.

We aren't big complainers, but missing items on the last night of our stay soured our opinion of CRB. Things taken off the table while we were at the park.

It is spread out, but we liked the walking. The buses were all under 15 minutes wait except for Magic Kingdom. Three days at MK were delayed waiting for buses. One day for more than 40 minutes. We did notice a transportation "specialist" at the bus stop one of our last days, maybe trying to fix it?

I would have stayed somewhere else knowing what I know now... Wasn't worth what we paid or the hassle.

 

[Blackburn23]

Thank you all! Keep them coming. To be honest, never really considered Coronado but from looking at it it looks very nice! As a kid, we stayed there one time and I remember my dad being upset at the food court (something about having waiters and being forced to tip for drink delivery only). And it was a rushed trip so we were never at the resort except to sleep.

I am very partial to CBR, but am definitely open. We stayed at the Dolphin for a weekend getaway in October, and my wife has now set that as her new bar. Great pool area but we want more of a scenic resort and less of a hotel w/hallways.

 

[daisyduckie]

Thank you all! Keep them coming. To be honest, never really considered Coronado but from looking at it it looks very nice! As a kid, we stayed there one time and I remember my dad being upset at the food court (something about having waiters and being forced to tip for drink delivery only). And it was a rushed trip so we were never at the resort except to sleep.

I am very partial to CBR, but am definitely open. We stayed at the Dolphin for a weekend getaway in October, and my wife has now set that as her new bar. Great pool area but we want more of a scenic resort and less of a hotel w/hallways.

Fairly recently they did away with the weirdness of it. They no longer bring you your drinks and leave you to get the rest of it. It is more like the average food court.