My mother, sister, neice and I are thinking about taking an all-girl trip in the fall of 2008. It seems I often do much of the research, so here I go again!

During the last couple of years, we've stayed at Movies and Music. However, due to some disappointment with the general convience and cleanliness of Movies this last trip, we are considering trying a moderate resort this time around.

I've never stayed in a moderate before and would really appreciate your opinions about which one is your favorite to stay at and why.

I'd also be curious if you think Pop Century is a better value than a moderate. We've never stayed at PC and I'm told they have their own bus, which could be a big plus.

In general I'm curious about the following things...

1) Size and cleanliness of the rooms
2) The bus situation--how are the lines, the wait times, do you have to stand on the bus a lot? (My mom has Parkinsons, and we rent a wheelchair at the parks, but otherwise she walks. She had to stand on the bus a few times last year and it was really tough on her.)
3) The pools--do they have nice theming and/or water slides--are they always crowded?
4) What are the dining options at the various resorts?
5) Is the atomosphere more relaxed than the sometimes hectic atomosphere at the All Star Resorts?
6) Do you feel you get your money's worth at a moderate?

I have found that the advice I get here on Mouse Planet is always helpful, so thanks in advance for sharing your experiences/opinions!

If you were tostay at a moderate, I would say the french quarter. It is the first stop on the bus, so you are garunteed a seat. It is also very small and not usually crowded. We liked the theming of CBR, but it was so big and crowded. We also like the theming of CS, but it too was somwhat crowded. I cant say anything about POR, ive never stayed there. so i hope this helps you.

My sister and I have decided for our duo trips (her husband stays home and I'm single) that moderates are the 'just right' resort fit for us. I find them to be less hectic, for the most part, than the values and my favorite is French Quarter because of the small, compact size. All of the moderates have slides at the themed pool, and all but French Quarter also have quiet pools in other locations. Also, all of the moderates except French Quarter have a table service location. (French Quarter TECHNICALLY is part of the bigger Port Orleans which includes French Quarter and Riverside, so that's how they can say that all the moderates have table service restaurant.)

For solo trips or short trips with my sister, the values are fine - but for the full week trips we just really like the atmosphere of the moderates.

I love all the moderates, but I'll agree with these guys. Given your specifics, I really think PO French Quarter is the way to go. It's so intimate and tranquil, and I think the theming is so much fun! It's nice and compact, plenty of room on the buses, which run frequently, and Boatwrights (at Riverside) is a nice place for dining. Get the beignets at the FQ foodcourt. I fell in love with the dragon slide at the FQ pool. Lastly, I absolutely feel like I'm getting my money's worth with the moderates, no question.

It's my opinion that all of the moderates have their own fans, so if this thread stays open long enough you're going to get a more or less equal vote! My favorite by far is the Coronado Springs Resort. I really like the layout, with the rooms surrounding the 15 acre Lago Dorado Lagoon. They have an excellent food court as well as a sitdown Mexican restaurant that gets somewhat mixed reviews (I've had a couple of very nice dinners there). This is a convention hotel, but the convention facilities are on the far side of the central building, and really don't impact on the average guest too much.

As to the Pop, it's the only one of the values that approaches the moderates in feel. They did an excellent job on the landscaping and room furnishings, much better than the All Stars. If you need to save the bucks, go with the Pop. If you can spring for a moderate, however, I think you'll really notice the difference in quality.

i'm with the majority. the only moderates i've stayed at are CBR and POFQ and I fell in love with POFQ and really try not to consider staying anywhere else anymore (although in Nov, i'm gonna try WL Club for the thrill of it).

it does usually share a bus with POR, but POFQ itself has just one bus stop and with the exception of the DTD route is usually the first to be picked up and first to be dropped off. You're almost guaranteed a seat in the morning, going back from a park may be a different story though since you're contending with POR guests. During more peak times, POFQ and POR will run separate buses. Another shortcoming of the POFQ bus is because Disney mixes up the bus stops at the parks so no resort has a decided advantage, the bus stops are pretty far at MK and very far at MGM. Epcot's is pretty close though.

Another great thing about POFQ is that there are no preferred rooms. It's either standard or waterview. Much of building 4 is very close to both the food court and the bus stops. No TS location at POFQ, but that means the food court (famous for its beignets) also accepts the DDE.

I actually recently took photos of the pool/slide at POFQ but haven't posted them yet, but I have a few pics of both POFQ and POR here: http://bradk.smugmug.com/gallery/2922909

As far as room size goes, moderates as a whole are larger than values, but I believe POFQ has the smallest rooms of the moderates. I never really had an issue with room size at POP for example but I didn't like how the door almost touched the bed. So not the issue at POFQ.

And also you get the refrigerator

All the value resort rooms are 260 sq ft. The moderates are 314 except for Caribbean where the rooms are 340.

All the moderates have very nicely themed pools as well as "quiet" (unthemed) ones.

The moderates all have a perimeter road, with multiple bus stops on the road so there is no long walk to a central stop.

With the exception of POFQ all have a table service restaurant in addition to a food court.

I always liked Caribbean, with many trips there. It is made up of "villages", each with its own pool (and a coin laundry right at the pool) and its own bus stop. The only downside to CBR is that there are no elevators, but all the buildings are two story ony so that is not too bad.

The only mod we've stayed at is CBR and I love it.

For your needs, what is good is the vanity area - two sinks and nice counter top area with a shelf below is good for vanity "stuff" storage (especially if all females)

The rooms are a bit bigger at CBR and each village has its own pool.

The mods come with a refridge.

The buses can get very crowded because it is a large resort.

Have fun deciding! :)

POR all the way! We loved the beauty and tranquility of this resort. I have not stayed at POP, but we had some friends who did and found it loud, brash, and kind of cheap feeling.

We have stayed at FQ, CBR, AKL, and found POR to have the nice facilities, good transportation, great food court, and the pool and slide are really fun!

Also, for dining and shopping options, the boat to DTD is just awesome. If you can swing it, it will be worth the extra $$$.

Have Fun!

I love something about each of the Moderate category resorts.

Having said that, I am going to break with the crowd here and suggest you try Pop Century, if you are willing.

The price is so much lower, and really the rooms and the beds are pretty comparable.

The big difference will of course be in the atmosphere.

Unless you are planning on spending a significant amount of time at your resort, in other words, if you plan to be in the parks almost all the time, then save the $$ and stay at Pop. People really love it.

In May, did a split stay between Pop and CBR. IMO I really noticed the smaller room size, the lack of fridge and coffee maker, the much harder beds at Pop. My teens loved the 'on the go' feel of Pop; I prefer the more laid back feel of CBR. I liked that at CBR I could control the temp in the room; at Pop there's a standard setting that one cannot(or at least I couldn't) turn down. I liked that there was only one bus stop at Pop-but that bus stop is uncovered-unlike CBR. Didn't notice a difference with transit times.

Food court-Pop's has choices not available at other resorts-twinkie tirimisu, groovy cheesecake, frozen cokes, blue plate specials. But the size and seating area are waay too small for a resort this size. CBR is more what I consider "standard" fast food items-but we loved eating outside by the fountain.

Pools-CBR-the main pool will be down from January thru June '08-meaning that the quiet pools I found so relaxing will likely be filled to overflowing. Pop-pool was jammed usually, but we liked being the "first in" on our getaway day at 8:30am.

If you're going to be using the amenities a moderate offers then by all means book a mod; if you're going to be opening and closing the Parks every day and not in your room much, then it makes no sense to pay for amenities you won't use. But IMO you definitely can see and feel the difference in amenities between a moderate and a value.

Wheelchair use-does your Mom like an ECV or would a "regular" wheelchair work for her? If a regular wheelchair would work, you can rent those-free of charge-from any on-site hotel. That would take care of her having to stand on the buses. Wheelchairs are loaded first, so there would be a seat available for her-even if she'd(like I did) transfer to a regular bus seat rather than staying in her chair.

Wheelchair use-does your Mom like an ECV or would a "regular" wheelchair work for her? If a regular wheelchair would work, you can rent those-free of charge-from any on-site hotel. That would take care of her having to stand on the buses. Wheelchairs are loaded first, so there would be a seat available for her-even if she'd(like I did) transfer to a regular bus seat rather than staying in her chair.

Thanks for this information. She does use a "regular" wheelchair. We've rented them at the parks, but I guess I never thought to ask about renting them at the hotel. This certainly would be helpful--just to be sure she'll be able to sit. In her everyday life she does not use a wheelchair, but she doesn't walk all day either.

Last year she sometimes needed to stand (as I mentioned) on the bus. She doesn't have terrible tremors, but she has muscle and joint stiffness and lack of balance, so standing on the bus was very difficult for her. However, because her tremors aren't too visible, people don't realize that she has Parkinsons. Once or twice a younger person offered their seat to her--not because they realized she has Parkinsons neccessarily--but because she was older than them. And of course, she would never ask someone to give up their seat so she could sit.

Thanks again. This is very helpful!

Yes in answer to your original question - go for a moderate! I can't speak for any other than POFQ but for your mum's specific needs I think you'd be well placed here - the buses are good and the resort is compact. The boat to DDT is a real treat too and a normal sized wheelchair will be easily accommodated on it. I hope you all have a lovely time.

My mother, sister, neice and I are thinking about taking an all-girl trip in the fall of 2008. It seems I often do much of the research, so here I go again!

1) Size and cleanliness of the rooms

As stated previously, the moderates are larger than the value resorts. As for cleanliness, I never saw any problems with things not being clean when I stayed at POR in October 2006.

2) The bus situation--how are the lines, the wait times, do you have to stand on the bus a lot? (My mom has Parkinsons, and we rent a wheelchair at the parks, but otherwise she walks. She had to stand on the bus a few times last year and it was really tough on her.)

While staying at POR, I never experienced too many problems with the bus situation, save for a few occasions of the bus being too full coming back from MK. Generally, the buses do come about every 20 minutes at POR, sometimes sooner if there are quite a few waiting.

Another note for the bus situation is that if other resorts have a lot of people waiting, they may divert buses from the value resorts in favor of moving people back to the moderate and deluxe resorts first. Someone was telling me that they were staying at the PC and it took about an hour for the bus to come because they were diverting buses to POR/POFQ, along with other modrate and deluxe resorts (this seems to happen a lot especially when leaving from the MK).

As for your mother having a hard time standing on the bus, I have found many guests being very courteous and will give up their seat for someone who needs the seat more. I have never seen anyone refuse to give up their seat.

3) The pools--do they have nice theming and/or water slides--are they always crowded?

I really liked the pool at POR. I visited POFQ, but have not stayed there yet, and that pool also looks neat.

4) What are the dining options at the various resorts?

All the moderate resorts have a food court, and all moderates except POFQ have a table service restaurant as well. But, as noted in previous posts, it is a short boat ride or walk to POR to Boatwright's Dining Hall, the table service restaurant at POR. As for a full listing of all the different dining locations, I'd look up the Disney Dining Plan on WDW's website, as it includes most counter and table service restaurants at the various resorts.

5) Is the atomosphere more relaxed than the sometimes hectic atomosphere at the All Star Resorts?

Definitely. This holds true especially at POR and POFQ.

6) Do you feel you get your money's worth at a moderate?

Absolutely. After staying at a moderate (and a deluxe for that matter), I don't think I'd ever go to a value resort.

Re :renting the wheelchair from the resort. You can't reserve them ahead of time but just ask the bell captain when you get to the resort. After you sign a credit card slip(that won't be charged if you return the chair), then they'll give you the chair to use essentially for "free". Because this are on a first come, first served basis there is the possiblity that one won't be available when you check in-though I've never had that happen. In that case, you'll be put on a waiting list.

For our trip to WDW, I actually had a chair reserved from an off-site company, but they never showed up. So with knowledge gained from many trips to DL, I asked about the hotels chairs-and ta...da...problem solved.

If you're planning on visiting DTD quite a bit, I'd really look at both POR and POFQ. The ferry to DTD available at both resorts is a nice change from the bus only mode at both of the other moderates as well as the values. As mentioned above, a regular chair fits on the ferries-an ECV does not.