What Moderate?

[atterris]

I'm planning a trip in March and I'm trying to figure out what moderate I would like to stay at. Please tell me what is your favorite and why or the same for your least favorite. Some background information on me and my friend. We are both in our 30's and I'm a teacher, we have been to to WDW before and have stayed at the BC, WL, and BW. This will be our first moderate so any advice would be great!

 

[ParentsOf4]

Port Orleans French Quarter is the smallest and perhaps the most adult feeling Moderate Resort. (The Big Easy, New Orleans, Mardi Gras) You can take a boat to DTD for dinner and drinks. No Table Service restaurant but dining at a Moderate Resort tends to be a bit more boring than dining at a Deluxe Resort.

I suggest against Caribbean Beach Resort. It's very spread out and with the popularity of Pirates, well, it tends to draw more children. (Not that every Disney Resort doesn't draw them.) According to the Unofficial Guide to WDW, Coronado Springs has the best bus service, something to consider. Port Orleans Riverside is enjoyable but also is spread out. The pool bar is pretty good. POR also has perhaps the best TS restaurant at a Moderate Resort.

Consider checking out photos of the theming and go with one that appeals to you the most.

 

[luv]

It would be difficult for us to know which Moderate would suit you. They're all good, but they aren't all that different.

Just look at the pictures and see which one floats your boat. Go there.

 

[real mad hatter]

Aye! The million dollar question. Stayed at CBR in 2004 and loved it,then in 2006 stayed at POFQ and liked it better.Then 2008 we opted for PORS and that was it for us.So why? Well we have just returned from our third stay and it still has it's charm.Great theming,lovely grounds,superb food court,beautiful boat ride to downtown,new renovated rooms with queen beds.We were told on our first visit it was a huge resort and lots of walking req. Eh! Were going to WDW and walking round the parks is no problem so walking around riverside is a doddle.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

Coronado Springs is the only choice!

Here's why

1) Beautiful Property

2) CSR offers some amenities that only the Deluxe resorts do with newly refurbed rooms that have Queen size beds, Deluxe resort toiletries and a room separator between the room and bathroom.

3) Great pools, the Dig Site has one of the longest resort slides and largest hot tubs plus 3 other Quiet Pools.

4) A few wonderful dining options in every category (QS, CS, TS, Full room service menu)

5) Night Club and other adult entertainment options (Laguna bar is great)

6) Marina on Lago Dorado

7) Unlike the other Mods CSR also has a Health Spa and Salon with a gym and quiet pool adjacent

8) Really great bus service

 

[Buzz2001]

I'd recommend CSR in a heartbeat! Besides having a great main pool area, CSR also offers many deluxe amenities at a mod price.

CSR has queen beds and the rooms are gorgeous. The rooms also have a sliding wooden door separating the sink area from the room instead of a privacy curtain like the other mods (can be good for little ones napping in a pack n play).

Amenities include a fitness center, spa, free wi-fi, tanning beds, a sauna, salon, full menu room service and a night club. In 2013, they will also offer club level rooms.

The resort offers 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).

CSR has the largest hot tub of the mods and one of the longest pool slides on Disney property. The pool, slide and playground area is great and all located in one area at the main pool.

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

 

[ExtinctJenn]

We stayed in CBR once and enjoyed it but ended up going back to value for a bit (because it just didn't impress us as being worth what we spent). Last trip, because we had a party of 5 guests, we booked at POFQ (the only moderate with rooms that legally accomodate up to 5) and we fell in love. It was peaceful and just absolutely beautifully themed. The property was gorgeous and we loved the Food Court options. If it wasn't for the opening of AoA we'd be staying there again on our next trip for sure but we want to experience a suite over there at least once.

 

[real mad hatter]

The only reason we never gave CSR a try was reports of it getting used for conference meetings and the food court was poor,do they still have one sink/mirror instead of a double?

 

[Avenger117]

I would say Coronado Springs. I just really like that resort, its really pretty! But I have recently been to POFQ and I really like that one too. its nice and really easy to get around.

 

[DisneyAubs]

I would say either POFQ or CSR.

Like others have said, POFQ is the smallest which gives it a certain level of charm. It is a beautiful resort and the refurbished rooms are gorgeous. It is my family's favorite and I think they would stay there every time if I wasn't trying to expand our horizons!

CSR is a great resort too. It is spread out, and they do have a convention center on property if that makes a difference to you. But I think that CSR feels like a deluxe. I love the the beds at CSR have those fluffy duvet type bedding instead of the normal scratchy bedding. And the food court at CSR rocks too. This is where we are staying on our next trip.

 

[DrummerAlly]

I've stayed at Caribbean Beach twice and had wonderful experiences both times. I'll be trying out Coronado in November, so I can't comment on which is better really.

If you're a teacher, you may want to check out the Swan and Dolphin. With your discount, the price is likely to be roughly the same as a moderate.

 

[luv]

The only reason we never gave CSR a try was reports of it getting used for conference meetings and the food court was poor,do they still have one sink/mirror instead of a double?

Many hotels have conference people staying there. Grand Floridian, Contemporary and Beach Club leap to mind, but there are others. And people in town for convention stuff, but adding days in parks, can be in any hotel. I've done it!!

The food court is my least favorite of all the mods, though. And they charge an additional ten or twenty percent to the check to eat there, because someone hands you silverware and brings you your beverage. In addition to the fee for this unremarkable service, I am unclear as to whether the folks who bring the beverage want a tip. It's crazy.

Like the resort, hate the food court.

POR has a much better food court. CBR has an equally good/bad food court, but there is no extra charge to eat there.

 

[disneygirl76]

I'm planning a trip in March and I'm trying to figure out what moderate I would like to stay at. Please tell me what is your favorite and why or the same for your least favorite. Some background information on me and my friend. We are both in our 30's and I'm a teacher, we have been to to WDW before and have stayed at the BC, WL, and BW. This will be our first moderate so any advice would be great!

I have never stayed at a Moderate before, like you, only Deluxes in the past. But this year, we are doing POR in a Royal Room - so I pick that! (i'm a nanny in my 30's )

 

[SuprDav]

Coronado Springs is the only choice!

Here's why

1) Beautiful Property

2) CSR offers some amenities that only the Deluxe resorts do with newly refurbed rooms that have Queen size beds, Deluxe resort toiletries and a room separator between the room and bathroom.

3) Great pools, the Dig Site has one of the longest resort slides and largest hot tubs plus 3 other Quiet Pools.

4) A few wonderful dining options in every category (QS, CS, TS, Full room service menu)

5) Night Club and other adult entertainment options (Laguna bar is great)

6) Marina on Lago Dorado

7) Unlike the other Mods CSR also has a Health Spa and Salon with a gym and quiet pool adjacent

8) Really great bus service

Agree with all the reasons mentioned here.

 

[bethymouse]

POR is very nice and I liked CBR. I just think you can't go wrong w/ any of the moderates. They're very nice!

 

[EvilQueen-T]

we float between the deluxe and moderate resorts as well and with the moderates i've stayed at them all and have taken both all adult trips and trips with kids. for the all adult trips i really like pofq for it's size but more adult disney feel to it but honestly other than cbr, csr, and por being more spread out (equal to each other imo) i honestly like them all and don't think you can go wrong. when we have the same problem we look more at what the feel, theme, or reason for the trip is and choose that way. i know one person said they don't like cbr but it's one of our first choices when we're going on a trip specifically focusing on say food and wine so look at where you plan to be and what resorts says "yes, this is my vacation"...you won't go wrong.