Originally Posted By u k fan I'm sure these questions come up all the time so I did look for an answer, but here's my situation. I'm booked to stay at POP for a week starting 11/29 and I'm thinking of upgrading to a Moderate Resort. The purpose of this trip was to be a budget shopping trip, but I just got a (kinda) promotion so what the hey. The UK reservation site is showing POFQ and The Caribbean Beach Resort as available, if those are my only options when I call the US reservation center later which should I go for? I haven't stayed at either, but I gather that the CBR is very popular. Also, does anyone know if either or both of these has WiFi so that I can use a laptop in my room? Thanks in advance!!!
Originally Posted By leemac Kieran I'm sure other LP-ers will have differing views but I never understood the popularity of CBR. It is the oldest moderate and shows it. I personally think that Port Orleans beats it in every category from location, architecture, facilities and food (especially food). That said I think Coronado Springs is the best of the moderate overall. I don't ever recall being able to get WiFi in a WDW-owned room. They do have LAN though in all of the WDW resort rooms now. Smart City, the company that bought WDW's telephone network a few years back, is offering WiFi in some lobbies and convention rooms though. I believe the charges are similar and around $10 per day.
Originally Posted By u k fan Thanks Lee! I've heard that some of the rooms at the Coronado can be quite remote (as in far from resort facilities), is that correct?!!!
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 I like CBR, to me it is really pretty. In some spots really quiet because it is so spread out. But I've heard that POFQ is nice too, I've just never been there.
Originally Posted By leemac ^^ To be honest I'd say the same about any moderate. If you have a car it isn't a problem. The lake is pretty huge though at Coronado. Pepper Market is just the best of the counter serve locations on property. Excellent fresh food. French Quarter is definitely more compact and the pathways are very pretty indeed. Plus you have the convenience of the boat service to DtD.
Originally Posted By u k fan We will have a car so it's not a major issue if the resort is spread out!!!
Originally Posted By stitchcrazy My favorite moderate is POFQ, I love the smaller layout, the pretty walkways and fountains and the boat service to Downtown Disney is a convenient feature and a nice ride. My first stay at CBR will be this December, I think I'll enjoy it as I've enjoyed Riverside and Coronado Springs...but I'd be surprised if it exceeds my preference for POFQ.
Originally Posted By u k fan I've just looked at some pics online and PO does seem to be more my taste than the CBR!!!
Originally Posted By bloona I LOVED the CBR this April, I would recommend it. Walking around the grounds is beautiful.Mr bloona walked for breakfast on a morning and brought it back to our room, it was about a 20 min round trip, but he loved doing it each day.He could have got in the car too to do it. The location is amazing. Infact,given the choice, I would pick it above the AKL because of the car parking arrangements and location. It was a LONG walk from the car park there!!! Have a good time Kieran!
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I have been told that every single Disney pool area has wireless, and that every single room has fee for service DSL.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Kiz, we love PO Riverside, but FQ is a nice compromise. Next moderate we will stay at is Coronado Springs however. Of the 2 options on offer for you, I would opt for POFQ personally. I don't know why, but I find CBR quite bland. Great location though.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom My favorite moderate by far is POR. I find magnolia bend noisey since they don't have room air conditioners. The air conditioner units are all located on ground level making the first floor rooms unbareable. I also find the furniture in the Magnolia Bend rooms to be your standard Marriott Hotel style, cherrywood. Just normal. Nothing really pulling you into a "southern plantation" motif. The art work in the rooms doesn't help either. I really really like the older furniture that was in Alligator Byou much more than I like the newer furnishings. The older furniture really gave the rooms that "rustic, woodsy" charm. It was like staying at a reasonably priced Wilderness Lodge accomidations. The new rooms look awful! Fake denim material for bedcoverings and window treatment is just awful! What there they thinking? If you have young children in your party then I would strongly encourage a stay at POFQ. For my upcoming January trip I think I am going to stay at CBR. I really really really need a change. I think CBR is going to do that for me and my party. I really could use a "pirate" themed vaction getaway. Honestly, I think your going to be extremely pleased with any of the moderates. Yes when you get down to brass tacks, they are going to offer some different amenities. But overall they are conviently located near the parks. I would highly suggest you check out the pictures of the rooms at each resort by visiting different websites. Then go to Disney's website and listen to some of the music that is going to be "piped" around the resort. I love the Wilderness Lodge... but I can only take so much of that "what ever it is" music they pipe around the resort. If I spend too much time in the Lobby I go MAD. I LOVE ragtime music hence one of the reasons why I always choose POR.
Originally Posted By u k fan Thanks for all of the tips guys. I'm leaning towards POFQ, but a "Caribbean" getaway does sound nice!!!
Originally Posted By vtwdwfan My son and I stayed at Pop Century in August and being 16, had to bring his laptop. He used it on a "rest day" to report to his friends back home. He hooked it up (or whatever you do to it-I'm still not computer literate!) for $10.00 for 24 hours in our room. PS- I really love POFQ and would stay there again when we go for a Moderate resort-
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey I've stayed at both CBR and POFQ and I would go with POFQ. I stayed a CBR quite a few years ago, but I found it to be dinghy looking. I never walked to the shop, food court or restaurant because we were so far away from it. I definitely prefer POFQ. Everything is fairly close together and well-themed.
Originally Posted By danyoung I'm right there with leemac on this one. Between the two original choices I'd go with POFQ, easily. But Coronado Springs is really a nice property. The lagoon is somewhat large, but it's maybe a 7 minute walk from the farthest rooms. And the walk is a most enjoyable, peaceful one. All Disney rooms now have LAN service, and they provide a CAT5 cable for you to use. The cost is $10/24 hour period. And the lobby areas have WiFi, but use there will cost you an extra $10 for access, so use one or the other.
Originally Posted By u k fan Thanks everyone, I'm still checking out my options, but I'll keep you posted!!!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip My favorite moderate by far is Dixie Landings (POR). Of the two resorts mentioned, POFQ and CBR, my personal choice would be CBR. We really enjoyed the resort when we stayed there. CBR has the largest room size of any of the moderates... in fact they are the same size as the rooms at the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge. We really enjoyed the live entertainment every evening on the plaza by the main pool and Old Port Royale. We stayed in the Jamaica section which is just across Barefoot Bay from Old Port Royale, the "main building" with the food court and shops. The walk was quite pretty, with bridges across the Bay stopping at Parrott Cay in the middle. The resort has been completely renovated fairly recently, so I think the dingy thing would not be a problem.
Originally Posted By irishfan I'd go for the Port Orleans. Very nicely themed, and I love the boat ride to Downtown.
Originally Posted By jkayjs We just upgraded to CBR from a value for our stay. As a matter of fact uk I think dave said we are all there @ the same time. We have stayed @ all of the mods except POR. Our fave is POFQ second being CBR. I do think CSR is lovely but the rooms only have one sink and I really don't like the food court @ all. We enjoyed CBR for it's beaches and seclued feel. I loved taking a book down to the beach and laying in a hammock as long as I wanted. This resort is indeed spread out but there is lots to do. Every village has it's own quiet pool as well as the main pool. The marina rents water craft and bikes. And I too enjoyed the live entertainment. The food court is average but I have had several folks tell me that the TS Shutters is very good. We plan to try it this trip. I liked the size of the room and it is indeed bright and cheery and they all have ceiling fans. Having a frig and coffee maker is nice as well. That being said I would be @ POFQ if I could have gotten my discount there but is wasn't available. I love the size of the resort as well as the decor. Add to that the boat to DtD and it is always my first choice in the mods. Deb's web site has a lot of pics of all and actually you'll be on vacation so I bet you'll like either. If you stay @ CBR maybe we'll run into each other @ the OPR.
