Sorry for starting another thread on this type of thing, but it's always nice to hear first-hand accounts from people. We're trying to make a decision between resorts and your input really does help! So...

Out of the four moderate resorts, which one do you most enjoy staying at? What made you choose that resort (bussing, cleanliness, etc)? Also, which moderate would you definitely not recommend and why?

My overall favorite is Port Orleans French Quarter, which at one time was near the bottom of my list. After the rehab about 5 years or so ago, I was won over. The rooms are by far the nicest/prettiest of the moderates, and the fake Disney New Orleans theming is so much nicer (to me) than the real New Orleans (been there once - shocked at how seedy it felt in the French Quarter).

A close 2nd is Port Orleans Riverside, that used to be my #1 favorite before the FQ rehab. I don't care much for the Alligator Bayou section, as sleeping on a bed made to look like logs/twigs isn't my idea of a vacation. The Magnolia Bend section is my pick - specificaly Magnolia Terrace or Oak Manor buildings.

3rd pick for me is Coronado Springs. It gets bashed at times because it's a convention hotel - but so is the Contemporary, Grand Floridian, Boardwalk & Yacht Club...yet nobody whines about business people at those hotels. Due to the convention business, Coronado has a few amenities not found at the other moderates - room service, hair salon, fitness center. The pool is the biggest, with the longest water slide of the moderates. The jacuzzi seats 22 people - it's huge. The room decor is rather ugly in my opinion, and some of the exteriors aren't too pretty either. Ranchos is very pretty, and is my pick when I stay here.

In bottom place, and I'd stay at a value resort before staying here - is Caribbean Beach. I've tried & tried to like this resort, but I always walk away disappointed. The pool is nothing special, the food court is improved over the nightmare it used to be, there's been noise from the room next door, I don't like 7 bus stops to get anywhere, don't like checking in a mile from the buildings with the guest rooms, etc. Other people love this resort - they can have it! It is pretty, with nice little beaches (no swimming) all around, but that's not enough to compensate for the negatives here for me.

The weekly updates on this site said that the Caribbean resorts' main pool will be under construction for almost the first half of 2008. So you might want to consider that depending on when you are visiting.

I personally had a great time at the CBR, but only because we made sure to ask for a building close to the Old Port Royale (main food court building and pool.) My dad's knees could not take a longer trek from one of the more far-flung buildings after a big day at the parks.

Thanks for the replies! There are just too many options and variables when planning for WDW as compared to Disneyland.

Thanks for the replies! There are just too many options and variables when planning for WDW as compared to Disneyland.

Don't even try to think of WDW and DL as the same thing.
They are not even like like apples and oranges more like apples and melons.

We loved Coronado for our honeymoon, and still do. I might be in the minority, but I thought the courtyards and fountains of the Casitas were lovely. Make sure to take at least one evening walk all the way around the perimeter of the resort while you're there, especially during a sunset, and build in a few minutes to cuddle in a hammock on the beach at the Cabanas and enjoy the view across the lake to El Centro. Sigh!

Another vote for Coronado Springs. I really enjoy the southwest theming, and love the fact that all the rooms are laid out around the 15 acre Lago Dorado Lagoon. Very lush landscaping, and I think the room decor is beautiful. Yes, this is a convention hotel. But they keep the conventioneers pretty much over on their own side of things, and they don't seem to impact the regular tourists too much. The food court is excellent for breakfast - they have a breakfast skillet thing that is really tasty (and huge!).

After that I'd pick, in this order, Port Orleans Riverside (Magnolia Bend section), then Port Orleans French Quarter, and finally the Caribbean Beach. The CB is the oldest of the moderates, and I think it shows. It's layout is so spread out that it's easy to wind up in a building that's really far from the central area. That said, I'd stay there again in a hearbeat if that's all that was available. In fact, on my next trip I spend 4 nights in the Coronado Springs and then have to hop for the final night to the Caribbean Beach. And I really have no qualms about this at all, as it's a very nice resort.

This is one of those questions that will result in a different answer for every person who posts, so I hope you actually receive some help for your question at the end of it all!