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!