which moderate?
in [Disney Parks]
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From: Keane on 3 May 2010 12:25 On Mon, 3 May 2010 04:31:06 -0700 (PDT), nekochan <hehass(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >I'm experiencing severe Disney withdrawal, and have started planning >my next visit for February 2011 (planning helps the withdrawal >symptoms). I was considering a moderate - anyone have a favorite and >why? I plan on a rental car for everything except to/from magic >kingdom, but would still like to know about bus service. I've stayed at all four. I still consider PO two separate resorts, and for the most part, they are. So I'll take a shot... Caribbean Beach, Riverside and Coronado Springs: Large, spread out resorts. They're enclosed by a perimeter road which circles the resort. Generally, the buses follow this outside perimeter road. Parking lots are also on the perimeter road. So it's really advantageous, especially if you're going to be driving, to *not* pay for a lake view, and get a parking lot view. You'll be closer to both the busses and your car. (Since all moderates have outdoor corridors, your lake view will be overlooking a corridor anyway.) There are several bus stops around the perimeter road. All three resorts have a central lake. CBR and POR have a central island in the lake, with bridges from one side to the other. Not so for CSR. If you're on the opposite side of the lake from the food court, it's a hike around the lake. All three resorts also have both table and counter service food options. All three resorts also have a central pool, with a few quiet pools elsewhere on site. I think CSR wins for the best themed pool, but "The Lost City of Cibola" looks nothing like it does in National Treasure 2... French Quarter: French Quarter is an "Urban" type resort, with relatively close 3 story buildings. There's only one centrally located bus stop. Parking lots are only on one side of the resort, the Sassagola River is on the other. It features a central pool, but no quiet pools. Unless you count the fountain in the lobby. (Hey, it's modeled after New Orleans, and there's a bar there...) It is literally half the size of the other moderates, in terms of size and number of rooms. Generally French Quarter shares buses with Riverside, and the bus ride around Riverside can get long, especially if there are a lot of wheelchair/scooter loads/unloads. At park closing, there are separate buses for POR and POFQ, but that means the bus stops at AK, DHS and MK are the *farthest* bus stops from the park entrances to allow for the split in bus service. POFQ does not have table service, only a food court. Boatwright's at POR (via boat or bus) is considered POFQ's table service restaurant. POFQ (and POR) has an added bonus of having boat service to Downtown Disney, so dining there is also an option. The three story buildings at POFQ and CSR have elevators. The two story buildings at all the resorts do not. (Well, they do for Mousekeeping, but you need a key. I don't have a key.) All four moderates have your otherwise normal facilities, laundry, video arcade, souvenir store, etc. I'm not sure I can pick a "best", as they're all about equivalent. I would have said the best food was at CSR, but recent reports say that's no longer true. I was at CBR literally the day before they shut it *all* down for re-hab, so my experience there may no longer hold true. The best room I had was at POFQ, about 25 yards from my car, and close to the food court/bus stops, but I didn't care for the urban type setting. I live in an urban type setting... My stay at POR was nice, about 20 yards to my car, but was in Alligator Bayou 35, about the farthest point from the food court, but had a relatively close walk to the buses. If I were to stay at a moderate again, it would be CBR, but only because it's been the longest since I've stayed there. (Of course, my resort of choice is AKL, but I digress.) I have pages for all the moderate resorts on my site, if you want to see pics and maps... Keane -- When stars are born, They possess a gift or two, One of them is this, They have the power to make a wish come true... -- Wishes Visit my site: http://keanespics.com
From: Patricia Barber on 3 May 2010 13:38 We've stayed at POR numerous times but are trying POFQ this December. The atmosphere is very nice. You have the river right there. Nice boat trip to DD. Lots of little critters. Lots of recreation options (sea raycers, surrey bikes, horse-drawn carriage rides, lounge with music in the evening, etc.). One plus is a sit-down restaurant in addition to the food court. Not crazy about the bus system and prefer to rent a car so you are all set on that score.
From: Rudeney on 3 May 2010 13:40 nekochan wrote: > I'm experiencing severe Disney withdrawal, and have started planning > my next visit for February 2011 (planning helps the withdrawal > symptoms). I was considering a moderate - anyone have a favorite and > why? I plan on a rental car for everything except to/from magic > kingdom, but would still like to know about bus service. I say save your money and go Pop Century. I just don't see paying the 50% or greater premium for the moderates over the values. But that's just me. -- - RODNEY Next WDW Vacation? Who knows! Need to know more about RADP (rec.arts.disney.parks)? http://www.radp.org http://allears.net/btp/radp_bk.htm http://allears.net/tp/abrev.htm Are you still accessing RADP via Google? Why? Get instructions on how to access to the "real" RADP Usenet Group here: http://meets.radp.org/usenet.htm
From: Steve Russo on 3 May 2010 14:42 On May 3, 7:31 am, nekochan <heh...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > I'm experiencing severe Disney withdrawal, and have started planning > my next visit for February 2011 (planning helps the withdrawal > symptoms). I was considering a moderate - anyone have a favorite and > why? I plan on a rental car for everything except to/from magic > kingdom, but would still like to know about bus service. Probably 6-8 stays at CBR and love it there. Yes, it's large and sprawling but very pretty and serene. We stayed at PO-Riverside once and liked it... but stayed at PO-FQ twice and like it more. Just a bit more compact and I loved the street layout. Never stayed at Coronado Springs.
From: Steve Russo on 3 May 2010 14:43
On May 3, 1:40 pm, Rudeney <rude...(a)mickeypics.com> wrote: > nekochan wrote: > > I'm experiencing severe Disney withdrawal, and have started planning > > my next visit for February 2011 (planning helps the withdrawal > > symptoms). I was considering a moderate - anyone have a favorite and > > why? I plan on a rental car for everything except to/from magic > > kingdom, but would still like to know about bus service. > > I say save your money and go Pop Century. I just don't see paying the > 50% or greater premium for the moderates over the values. But that's > just me. > But you're still basing this on one aborted stay at Port Orleans - one where you were in and out in less than one hour? |