Resort Dilemma!!!

[petey]

@Master Yoda
In the past I have stayed at AKL and loved every experience, have stayed there several times. The only other resort I have ever stayed at was WL. Trying to watch expenses I currently have booked for early Jan 2014 @POFQ. I was torn between there and CSR. While I wanted to be somewhat close to AKL because I really enjoy the restaurants there as well as Victoria Falls, have gotten to be friends with the bartenders there, I understand CSR is such a big resort, may be alot of walking depending on where your room is located, someone recommended POFQ, as nice, quiet, and much smaller a resort. As you can tell I am having mixed feelings. Here is where you come in Master Yoda. I know that you know all of the positives and negatives of all the resorts such as size, bus service, entertainment, restaurants etc. Can you please give me your honest opinion of these resorts and any advice you may have about them. Thanks for your time it is appreciated!!!!

 

[Master Yoda]

@Master Yoda
In the past I have stayed at AKL and loved every experience, have stayed there several times. The only other resort I have ever stayed at was WL. Trying to watch expenses I currently have booked for early Jan 2014 @POFQ. I was torn between there and CSR. While I wanted to be somewhat close to AKL because I really enjoy the restaurants there as well as Victoria Falls, have gotten to be friends with the bartenders there, I understand CSR is such a big resort, may be alot of walking depending on where your room is located, someone recommended POFQ, as nice, quiet, and much smaller a resort. As you can tell I am having mixed feelings. Here is where you come in Master Yoda. I know that you know all of the positives and negatives of all the resorts such as size, bus service, entertainment, restaurants etc. Can you please give me your honest opinion of these resorts and any advice you may have about them. Thanks for your time it is appreciated!!!!

CSR's size is highly over played, much like the critique that AKL is far away from everything. Is it a larger resort where you could be farther away from the lobby than you would be at another? Absolutely. Numbers don't lie. However, that extra distance is far from a deal breaker in my opinion. When I timed my walk (I actually did break out the stopwatch) is was 7 minutes from building 7A to the lobby. Granted, I tend to walk rather briskly, but even at double that time it is not that bad. The thing you need to ask yourself is will you even have to make that walk? If you don't plan on using the food court at the resort you will never make that walk. You longest walk will be a couple of minutes to one of the 5 bus stops. Also if you don't plan on using the food court, or if you are on the DDP the other con to CSR (high priced food court) drops away as well.

In the same token, POFQ is an equally great resort. It is smaller so getting around is a tad easier and the bus system tends to be a one stop dedicated bus. The food court is nice and you are a short walk away from PORS and their night time entertainment.

I know I am not being much help, but you really can't go wrong either way. If being as close to AKL as possible is your number one priority, then CSR will fit that bill. If you will be coming from your resort every time you go to AKL, you will more than likely get there a little faster from CSR than you would from PORS, but we are talking about 1/2 an hour tops on average. It just as well might be a wash.

What you might want to do is look at renting a car. The great thing about a car is travel time is consistent. There is no waiting for a bus, no transferring at parks, no waiting for people to load, etc. You hop in and your off. If you do that, it really does not matter where you stay. The driving distance to AKL from POFQ or CSR is around 5 minutes difference. Then you can stay at which ever resort you like better based on the resort, and not its proximity to AKL.

 

[shmmrname]

CSR vs POFQ

size/location
CSR is a bit more spread out. You'll notice it (depending on your room location) mostly if you plan on eating at the resort or spending a good amount of time in the pool. This could be a positive too though, as you feel a bit more isolated. (And, I think it helps in CSR's case, because there's less of a chance that you'll see the 'conventioning'-aspect of the hotel.)
POFQ is smaller and more compact. It's still charming, but you'll notice the size difference almost immediately as you walk to the bus. It also has a boat ride to DTD (and I believe PO:R), which is slow... but still helpful and relaxing. Plus, the boat means you can use PO:R's pool/food easily as well.

pool
Both were charming. We liked the CSR theme a bit more, but seriously, both were just fine pools.

food
We much preferred CSR. POFQ offers beignets, but outside of that, CSR was clearly superior.