Originally Posted By MrDisneyGeek We are planning a trip to WDW in Feb 2010 and I am currently looking at staying at a moderate resort. What do you think is the best one and why? Why is this worth the money over a Value resort? Or why is it not? 2 adults with 1 2 and a half year old boy (who went to DLR at 8 months old and loved it) I am currently leaning toward the Port Orleans French Quarter POFQ? It seems smaller and less of a journey to and from room to whatever but I am open to suggestions. Thanks all. Mr. Disney Geek Sr.
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun I have vowed to never stay at a value again. They are OK and great if that is the only way to get to WDW. The mods just seem so much more relaxed. They make me slow down and enjoy. The values always seem so hustle bustle. I have only stayed a Carribbean Beach and we loved it. With a little one you'd probably want to request a section close to main building. we go a little further away. It's beautiful to walk around. On our last trip we toured POFQ, Riverside, and Coronado to help us decide for htis Feb. We decided on Coronado, but I have heard wonderful things about POFQ. I think you'll be happy you went for a moderate.
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie We've stayed at all the moderates and POFQ is our absolute favorite. It is small enough that you don't have to do a lot of walking and the grounds are beautiful. It does share the bus system with Riverside, but every time we've stayed we've been first on in the morning and first off on the way back. You can also take the boat to Downtown Disney which is a nice relaxing ride.
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP I've only been once, and we paid for a value, but the availabilty of a King size bed at the mods is very very tempting!!
Originally Posted By danyoung There are 4 moderates, and my bet is by the end of this thread you'll have a more or less even number of votes for each of the moderates! My personal favorite by far is the Coronado Springs Resort. I really like the southwest theming, and the setting of the room buildings surrounding a 15-acre lagoon. There's a great themed swimming area and a really good food court. This is advertized as a convention hotel. But the convention facilities are on the far side of the central building, and the conventioneers don't really influence the regular guests. As to a moderate over a value, there's just better theming, a better sense of being in a vacation resort in the moderates. And, snobbish as it sounds, you have to consider that the cheaper vacationers will always stay in the cheapest resort. Don't get me wrong - I'll stay in a value (like the Pop) when budget requires, and I'll still have a great time. But whenever I can afford it I really like the sense of luxury that the moderates bring. If the POFQ theme works for you, go for it!
Originally Posted By sun-n-fun ^^well said. Can't wait to try CR in Feb. I agree that everyione will chime in with their favorites. You'll have to take the suggestions and find what workd best for your family.
Originally Posted By cheshireqt I agree 100% with danyoung but will add my 2 cents in case it at all helps you. The only moderate we have stayed at is POFQ (Sept 07). We thought it was a nice resort and would stay there again. My children loved finding the hidden mickeys in the bedspreads, such a small thing with a big impact for them. We loved taking the boat to DTD in the evenings but did not love the bus transportation and will get a rental car from now on, regardless of where we stay. For our January 09 trip we are leaning toward CBR (going to the Carribbean in the middle of winter sounds really good to us Virginians). From what I have learned from the boards there are several things that may or may not factor into a decision for you. 1) POFQ is the smaller of the resorts and is easier to get around 2) CBR and Coronado have really well themed main pools but are much larger and more time consuming to navigate. This can be mitigated by doing homework and requesting a room near the main building/pool 3) CBR has the largest rooms of all the mods. One other thing you can do is research as many sites with photos of the mods and compare the theming to what appeals to your family most. Good luck with your decision, I think you will be happy with whatever you choose.
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie >>>2) CBR and Coronado have really well themed main pools but are much larger and more time consuming to navigate. This can be mitigated by doing homework and requesting a room near the main building/pool <<< This is a good plan, but be prepared that you will not get your request. I've had a few trips now where we were still placed far away even though we made our room request when we made our reservation. I have found this has happened to me on several occasions at the Coronado Springs as they will typically book the conventioners in one section of the resort and the vacationers in a different portion of the resort and the times I've been there, the closer rooms were filled with convention goers.
Originally Posted By danyoung Did you also make your request at the front desk? I've never had a problem getting the room section that I want. Maybe I've just been lucky. >...but did not love the bus transportation and will get a rental car from now on, regardless of where we stay.< I'm right there with you on this one. I just don't like waiting even a few minutes for a bus. And cramming into one at the end of a park day can be really stressful. I fly into Orlando, get a rental car at the airport, and I'm all set.
Originally Posted By RockyMtnMinnie >>>Did you also make your request at the front desk? I've never had a problem getting the room section that I want. Maybe I've just been lucky.<<< Yep, we did and we were told that there was a convention group there. I'd say we're about 50/50 on getting our room requests, with a bonus once when they upgraded us from a standard view to a water view at POFQ.
