Pondering Moderate Resorts.....

[figment1985]

I am planning a trip for 2 this coming September. I have been reading a lot of old threads on here about moderate resorts, pros and cons...etc.. and I really hesitated to ask repetitive questions, but it's coming from slightly a different angle than the ones I could find.

So far I have read that a lot of people love Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter. But I seem to be liking the themes of Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs. My main turn off for POR and POFQ (and don't shoot me) was the themes....my fiancee and I are 22 and we like beach style of CB and mexican theme of Coronado.

So basically my question is... which has better transportation to the parks (if there is a difference). I can't tell which is closer, isn't CB?

Last but not least, we are thinking about going to Islands of Adventure for literally a half day (can't let it reuin any disney fun) and does anyone know if the ticket prices there change if you are only coming late afternoon-to night?


Thanks for your help!!!

 

[CleveRocks]

BLONDE PRINCESS:

I don't get it. In post #14 you warn people thinking about staying at POFQ to check first to make sure there will be a food court and lobby bar when they plan to stay there. This implies that you know of a rehab coming up. When is it??? And if you don't know of one, why are you unnecessarily scaring people that POFQ's food court and lobby bar might be closed in the near future?

 

[Eyekimore]

Post #14 refers to PO French Quarter. I don't know what information they may/may not have. I was referring to the Riverside portion of Port Orleans. I don't remember exactly where I read about the refurbishment of the PO-Riverside food court. (It certainly needed it!) Like many, I read many postings on many sites. Call and find out!

 

[figment1985]

Thanks for the info.

Has any of you stayed at a value resort for a few days then at the contemporary? I am thinking about doing that rather than staying the whole time at a moderate. Since I am going during value season the price might even itself out. Oh and I love the old school feel of the Contemporary. I haven't stayed there since the 80's...lol.

 

[CleveRocks]

Post #14 refers to PO French Quarter. I don't know what information they may/may not have. I was referring to the Riverside portion of Port Orleans. I don't remember exactly where I read about the refurbishment of the PO-Riverside food court. (It certainly needed it!) Like many, I read many postings on many sites. Call and find out!

Thanks, I know about POR, but I wasn't referring to you, I was specifically asking Blonde Princess about her POFQ info. Because I consider myself pretty "up" on things, I want to know if she has new information (which I'd like to spread to others so they can make the appropriate plans) or if she's mistaken/it was some sort of typo (which I'd want to identify as such so people don't unnecessarily think they need to change their travel plans).

 

[bradandsarabr]

Figment,
Are you going to have an auto?? CB is very spread out. You may not want to wait for a bus or walk to enjoy the food court & pool area. However, each "island" has its own beach & own pool. I found CB very quite & relaxing.
B

 

[RedBaron]

I have stayed at POR (French quarter now) several times in the past and have always liked it there. Nice theming and great pool. However I always like to try new places when we go. I have recently been looking at the photos of the resorts at allears.net and also like the look of CBR and think I will try that one the next time we go. Our situation is slightly different than yours since we have children and will be taking our daughter for the first time and think the pool at CBR will be great for small children. I have never had any transportation problems at any of the resorts (except at the end of the day when everyone is heading back to the hotel and buses are very crowded and this is no ones fault).

 

[cabihler]

regarding the moderates

without doubt the Caribbean Beach is my favorite. given that you are young and all i would suggest it because it is so relaxing to go to the cabana lounge and sit outside enjoying a goombay smash after you have done the parks particularly the season you are going. i would suggest staying in the Aruba section. you will like the walk across the bridge to the lounge area.:wave:

 

[MissDiznee66]

We stayed at CBR and loved it! It was nice to lay on the hammock at night and watch the fireworks! I liked the roominess about it. Not feeling so cramped. I know to each his own. Enjoy! We will be there in September as well.

 

[coltow]

We liked CS. The buses were ok they just didn't seem to run as frequently as some of the others. My cousin just stayed there and said the same thing. The resort is pretty and the pool is great, but the buses are not ideal. She said it wasn't as easy to go back to the resort for an afternoon break due to that the buses seemed to never come.

 

[miles1]

Wow thanks for all the feedback guys! Now you have made this even more confusing to me! LOL.....

I definitely don't want a longer bus ride.... so going by just this.... I am assuming Port Orleans Riverside is the best choice? But didn't someone say that they share the bus with French Quarter so it's longer??

ahhhhhh :: pulls out hair::::

When they do share a bus, French Quarter is the first picked up and the first dropped off. This means you nearly always get a seat. We rarely waited more than 10 minutes for a bus at FQ, and none were full.

 

[Kadee]

I have stayed at POR (French quarter now) several times in the past ..................

POR is still POR. It was formerly Dixie Landings several years ago. POFQ has been POFQ for a long time..... I don't know if it was ever called anything else, but I don't remember it having another name.

When they do share a bus, French Quarter is the first picked up and the first dropped off. This means you nearly always get a seat. We rarely waited more than 10 minutes for a bus at FQ, and none were full.

I thought POR and POFQ always shared buses. We were there last July (VERY busy) and they shared buses every time. However, the bus service was good.

 

[saltmom1]

I actually like the themeing at Alligator Bayou (POR) better than the Mansions. Alligator Bayou side is on the same side of the water as the Main building. But again- my two cents.............

I totally agree. I didn't like the mansions as well as Alligator Bayou.

 

[mousermerf]

Answering the query about splitting between a Value and Deluxe...

It's fairly easy, and Disney can move your luggage for you while you're at the theme parks, so it's far from horribly inconvienent. I've hopped from the Polynesian to Wilderness Lodge without issues and heard of other changing from one level to another without problems.

I'm recommend Pop Century for a value just because it's the newest, tends to be a little more lively, and the theming is hard to hate, while at the All Stars you can end up in a section you don't enjoy/have an interest in, which can be a bummer. (It's harder to hate all of the 60's then it is to hate all country music for example.)

As for the Contemporary, be aware that they've changed the rooms signifigantly since your last stay. They are much more modern with dark woods and a sort of asian stylization. Check out websites for photos of the refurbished rooms.

 

[serena]

Regarding your question about Disney transportation to the parks from the 3 moderates.....

The Unofficial Guide lists the average commute times from all the resorts to all the parks using Disney transportation. For the moderates it lists:

Carribbean to MK: 37 min., Epcot: 41 min., MGM: 30 min., AK: 42 min.
Coronodo to MK: 29 min., Epcot: 26 min., MGM: 25 min., AK: 29 min.
Port O. to MK: 29 min., Epcot: 32 min., MGM: 31 min., AK: 38 min.

 

[figment1985]

Those commute times seem REALLY long... is that TO and FROM?

and thanks Mousemerf, I have actually stayed at the Pop Century a few times and love it as a value resort!

 

[RiversideBunny]

Regarding your question about Disney transportation to the parks from the 3 moderates.....

The Unofficial Guide lists the average commute times from all the resorts to all the parks using Disney transportation. For the moderates it lists:

Carribbean to MK: 37 min., Epcot: 41 min., MGM: 30 min., AK: 42 min.
Coronodo to MK: 29 min., Epcot: 26 min., MGM: 25 min., AK: 29 min.
Port O. to MK: 29 min., Epcot: 32 min., MGM: 31 min., AK: 38 min.

Those times are way too long. You could ride a bicycle faster than that.

Get a Passporter 2007.

Don't worry about the times. Pick a Disney resort based on your budget and the themeing that you like.

The only relatively 'long' trip could be from a resort to Downtown Disney. If you stay at a resort that has boat transportation to DTD, then the trip itself becomes an enjoyable ride.

Have fun.

 

[Kadee]

Those times do sound awfully long. Maybe they are just trying to make sure people allow enough time or they included wait time at the resort (15 minutes or so). I don't ever remember being on a bus for 40 minutes to get to a park.

 

[Dwarful]

Those times seem way off to me. We stayed at CSR Dec. 22-30 this past Christmas. It was not our first choice and I wouldn't stay there again unless it was the only place still available with a discount code. We had kids with us who wanted to use the main pool. Our rooms were near the lobby/food court (as others mentioned an extra 15% tip for carrying your own food to your table..I still don't get that)...but because we were close to the front we were a hike and a half away from the main pool area. Now, the kids did LOVE the pool/waterslide area.

 

[mgraef]

It sounds like this decision is being over analyzed. You are going in September. There will be no one else there. Pick whatever sounds good and enjoy yourself.

Peace.

 

[Lucky]

I am planning a trip for 2 this coming September. I have been reading a lot of old threads on here about moderate resorts, pros and cons...etc.. and I really hesitated to ask repetitive questions, but it's coming from slightly a different angle than the ones I could find.

So far I have read that a lot of people love Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter. But I seem to be liking the themes of Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs. My main turn off for POR and POFQ (and don't shoot me) was the themes....my fiancee and I are 22 and we like beach style of CB and mexican theme of Coronado.

So basically my question is... which has better transportation to the parks (if there is a difference). I can't tell which is closer, isn't CB?

Last but not least, we are thinking about going to Islands of Adventure for literally a half day (can't let it reuin any disney fun) and does anyone know if the ticket prices there change if you are only coming late afternoon-to night?


Thanks for your help!!!

Adding my 2 cents to the over-analysis....I agree with you on the theming. But on the separate issue of bus transport to the parks, POFQ was definitely more convenient than CB or AKL, particularly going to MK, which is where we spend almost half of our time.