[Laneysdad]

As some may or may not know I am planning a 5 yr. Anniversary trip for my wife and I next year in June. We now have a 2yr old which you have all helped me choose to bring along and we are also bringing my parents (grandma and grampa!) to help with our daughter.

5 years ago we stayed at Coronado Springs and enjoyed it. No complaints other than its pretty friggin big.

Now the time has come to decide where for next year. Nostalgia says Coronado the Disney lover in me says something new.

Here are the factors I am wieghing:
1) Kid Friendly (Pool area, Food, Magic)
2) Older Friendly (Not too expansive so my parents dread the walking to dinner after a day in the parks, Food, Good Transportationm, and Magic)
3) Seasoned WDW Visitor "Wow Factor" - I don't want to regret changing the formula we had before that worked so well.

My daughter will be 2. She won't need much but I want her to have something exciting to do in the pools. Kid friendly food - meaning she'll eat it is a must.

My parents tend to worry about trekking. Walking is OK but less is more! The Parks should be enough for them in a day but a 1/2 mile walk from Room to Meal could be tough after a long day. As my dad looked over our various Disney Books he feared Values being loud, Big, and Fast Food.

My wife and I don't want to give up the magic Disney gives us.

What are your thoughts?

[bumble]

Have you thought about Wilderness Lodge? It has loads of WOW factor. There is a great pool with a slide, kids activities, 2 great full srevice places to eat + a pretty good counter service. It is MUCH closer together then CSR. The busses are close and the boat to MK and Ft Wilderness is fun. We loved the WL! Oh and you will be so close to Ft Wilderness that you could go to HoopDeDOO Review or the campfire program with ease! Having said all that... my fave Mod is POR. POFQ is much smaller though, maybe more of what youre looking for. It has a great slide, but only counter service foods. Nice theaming if you like masks and there is a nice boat ride to DTD. They both have good playgrounds. It is a nice resort.

[DisneyTeacher]

I agree with bumble, WL would be my first choice because of all the reasons given with POR/POFQ second if you want a moderate.

[Laneysdad]

Hmmmmm. I'll have to look into WL. I don't wanna blow the roll on a deluxe we won't spend much time in though.

I think being budget minded we were looking at a Moderate. But thats 2 votes for the POR and/or FQ.

When I was calling for Value Resort rates a few weeks ago the CM seemed to be pushing the POR properties. Wonder why?

[CaraMia]

POR and POFQ were great! POFQ is very compact...very little walking to the buses or to the main building (food). No restaurant though, just a food court. POR has a bigger food court then POFQ and a sit down restaurant. Both places had kid friendly meals. DS loved the chicken tender meals. Cant comment on the pools. Did not get to go check them out. We were in Parterre Place at POR and the walk wasnt too bad to the Main building/bus stop. It was a nice walk along the river and just over a little bridge. Very pretty at night and in the early morning. At POFQ we were in bldg #4. VERY VERY close to the bus stop and main bldg.

My 3 year old has this fear of clowns..lol When he saw the jesters all over the POFQ he was so scared. He hid his head everytime we walked into the food court because of all the jester faces around. We had to sit at a table farthest from everything. So if your 2 year old is okay with clowns maybe the POFQ is good for your trip. We wont be staying at POFQ til my ds is over this clown phase.

[slist]

Originally Posted by DisneyTeacher

I agree with bumble, WL would be my first because of all the reasons given with POR/POFQ second if you want a moderate.

Having stayed at all I would agree with you guys. WL is just so relaxing to me.

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by slist

Having stayed at all I would agree with you guys. WL is just so relaxing to me.

I wouldn't have understood that if I hadn't stayed there. I was not sure if my DMIL would like WL, she wanted POR for the classy mansions section but I moved us to WL w/o asking her. She fell in love as we walked through the doors and two years later still talks about how relaxing the resort is. It's like time slows down when you walk through those doors. Is it the lobby music or the decore?

[Laneysdad]

WOW! Rave reviews for WL. So maybe I ask how to get WL at POR Prices or close? I doubt there is away but I had to ask.

[slist]

Originally Posted by DisneyTeacher

I wouldn't have understood that if I hadn't stayed there. I was not sure if my DMIL would like WL, she wanted POR for the classy mansions section but I moved us to WL w/o asking her. She fell in love as we walked through the doors and two years later still talks about how relaxing the resort is. It's like time slows down when you walk through those doors. Is it the lobby music or the decore?

Well said, it is like time slows down. I could be tired, hot and my feet hurt from the parks but the minute I walk into WL I feel relaxed. It only takes a few minutes sitting in that wonderful lobby and I am ready to go again.

I will be sitting in that wonderful lobby from 7/11 to 7/18 Can't wait!!

[DisneyTeacher]

Originally Posted by slist

Well said, it is like time slows down. I could be tired, hot and my feet hurt from the parks but the minute I walk into WL I feel relaxed. It only takes a few minutes sitting in that wonderful lobby and I am ready to go again.

I will be sitting in that wonderful lobby from 7/11 to 7/18 Can't wait!!

I am right behind you, we arrive on the 25th. I can't wait, we stayed at SoG last summer but had to stop by WL to get our fix.

[Laneysdad]

Yikes! Whats the SOG I don't know that one?

SO Nothing at all on Carribean Beach?

[DisneyTeacher]

Shades of Green is a Department of Defense resort. You can only stay there if you meet the requirements.

http://www.disneycentral.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=15668


We have stayed at CBR several times and liked it. However, it's HUGE and everything is a pretty good walk if you are not in a preferred room.

[Erin]

POR is beautiful, Laneysdad - I've never been there - but the pictures on www.allearsnet.com are GORGEOUS! I think that's your best option. Compact - great fun for kids, etc.

[hiner]

Originally Posted by Laneysdad

SO Nothing at all on Carribean Beach?

CBR (Carribean Beach) is a great resort. It is probably as large as CSR but a lot easier to get around, IMO. They have an internal bus should you wind up staying in one of the farther islands from OPR (Old Port Royale). The best islands to request are Jamaica or Aruba, if you want quiet but yet only a short walk through the island and across the bridge to OPR. Martinique and Trinidad N. are on either side of OPR and are priced higher as preferred rooms but are the closest. Barbados and Trinidad S. are the farthest. All the islands have a beach, playground, laundry facilities, quiet pool, bus stops and beautiful grounds/courtyards. The colors are fantastic, just like the islands.

OPR is the center of the resort, other than the Custom House (check-in/guest services). There is a restaurant, Shutters, food court, gift shop, arcade, main pool, outdoor bar and water activities.

CBR is very close to MGM, EPCOT, DTD, TL and Boardwalk.

On our last trip, we went and looked at the other resorts and felt there is no comparison to CBR. I am sure there are others who feel differently though.

[llama]

For a compact Mod - POFQ would have to win. I think it's ideal for small children (clowns notwithstanding), and your parents won't have to trek too far at all. The Food Court is good, the pool is awesome and you can take the boat to DTD.