Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

What's your favorite moderate Disney World Hotel in Disney?

And why?

Looking for ideas. We love a good bed, close or easy access to MK & room service. Balcony a +.

TIA!

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

The Contemporary.

ETA: sorry, I posted before stating why. Well, I have stayed at several Disney hotels and I liked the Contemporary the best because out of the ones I stayed at, it wasn't the cheapest but it wasn't the most expensive. And the monorail goes right through it, it is super convenient. It is also a nice, clean, easy to navigate building and property. I like it the best.

Message edited 1/5/2016 3:28:23 PM.

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

The Contemporary is a Deluxe tier hotel.

We just came back from Disney a few weeks ago and stayed at the Port Orleans 0- French Quarter. We loved it and would stay there again. It is much smaller than the Riverside section, so that makes getting to and from a bit easier since the crowds are not as big as the Riverside section or the other hotels

It is clean and the beds were super comfy. They were expanding the pool section while we were there. There is no sit down restaurant but the quick service food was acceptable for the amount of times you actually do eat there.

It is closer to Downtown Disney and Epcot. However, the ride to Magic Kingdom is quick - less than 20 minutes.

Message edited 1/5/2016 3:47:16 PM.

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

The only moderate hotel that has room service is Coronado Springs. The moderates do not have private balconies.

None of the moderates are within walking distance to the parks, so you will need to take a bus to and from the Magic Kingdom.

Friends of ours LOVE the French Quarter - they stay every year.

Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

French Quarter Hands DOWN for all the reason above!

I stayed at the Caribbean beach resort too.. nice.. pretty, fun.. but I love French Quarter and going back AGAIN

the convenience of only one bus stop is such a huge selling point. No long walks to the bus stop. Booking our trip this month hopefully. Can't wait. It's just EASY staying there. It's lay back and comfy.

I've stayed there over 5 times. Did the beach place for marshmallows and price and the pirate trip.. but I'm going back to French quarter..

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

Port Orleans Riverside

Fun for kids and adults...

I've only stayed there and Caribbean Beach and I HATE CB.

Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

Port Orleans French Quarter. We stood there a while back and are staying there again next month.

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

I stayed at Coronado last time I went. The bus ride was a LITTLE long, but It was a REALLY lovely hotel.

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

thanks so much for all the replies! any room recs @ FQ?

& How long would it take to get to MK?

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

I had a love/hate relationship with Caribbean beach, but have in,y ever stayed at deluxes besides that mod.

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

Message edited 1/5/2016 5:53:51 PM.

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Port Orleans Riverside. The grounds are beautiful as are the rooms. They felt spacious and very clean too! Some people complain about the bus ride but we didn't find it to be bothersome. I also loved the boat road to Downtown Disney.

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

Don't know how it rates, by the Polynesian was dirty, mildewy and gross

Message edited 1/5/2016 8:21:07 PM.

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

We stayed at French Quarter last April and I liked it. That was our first time staying a mod. we usually stay deluxe or even value. The rooms are nice, our room was actually a 10 second walk to the main building. Loved our location! We were in building 2, all the way at the end nearest to the main buildings. We were on the 2nd floor, which was convenient, we just took the stairs.

We took a horse and carriage ride around the property, which left from Riverside. Really liked that. The pool was kind of blah to be honest, and hard to see your kids from certain parts. The chairs aren't close enough to the water at the slide end IMO. The food court was decent, but I will say, the Mardi Gras music got on my nerves by the end of the trip

Get to the gift shop first, and you can dress Duffy the Bear and get a certificate that is displayed, and then given to you to take home. Not sure if they still do it, just look behind the register when you arrive to see if there is a certificate out.

We are going to WDW in February and I booked CBR and requested a building close to the main building. Hopefully I get it because all of the moderate hotels aside from French Quarter are HUGE and spread out. We would've stayed at FQ again, but I ended becoming extremely ill 3 days into our trip last year, and I just have such bad memories being in the room alone with my kids...removed from the fun... the rest of the trip!

Message edited 1/5/2016 9:10:29 PM.

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

We stayed at POR and won't stay at this resort again. The resort is very spread out, and we had a hard time locating our room upon arrival. We ended up walking around for 20 minutes with our carry-ons before seeing a staff member and asking for help (this was our fault, because we did the online check in which notifies you of your room # via text message/email).

We also thought the main pool was small. There are smaller pools located throughout the resort, but they do not offer towels- you had to bring your own. I don't remember if the mail pool had this issue as well, it was SO crowded and no room to walk, so we turned around and walked away.

The bus wait is on the longer side, but we didn't really experience anything out of the ordinary. If you do stay here, try to stay in the Partere & Oak buldings- these are across the river from the main building, which is the main hub for the buses. The longest wait we had was 15 minutes.

If you have children, this would be a nice place to stay. There were many things geared towards families here, such as movie under the stars night, and games and activities in the main pool.

Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

I go for garden view.
She was 3 & 5 before so we had strollers. For that we wanted ground floor. Now that she'll be 8 we won't care as much. I generally prefer top floors to avoid hearing people above me (its a thing unrelated to Disney .. just a me thing).

Since its one of (if not THE) smallest properties they have, its never a long walk to your room or the bus. That is it's biggest selling point for me. I always go in the fall so the pool is never the big draw for me at any of the sites. I don't need to spend money for pool. I can go to sea world or other places for that. I come for the parks. The hotels need to be nice, friendly, clean and offer something. In the case of FQ they have a neat lawn viewing for movies.

I never want pool side, pool access, pool view. Again that's me. screaming kids splashing and blah blah, nah, not for me.

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

Port Orleans French Quarter. I love it there

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

Re: Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

The requirements you indicated are all mainly characteristics of the deluxes.

If possible, I would spring for a cheaper deluxe at the Contemporary (Garden Wing), Wilderness Lodge or Animal Kingdom to get some of the amenities you listed.

While we didn't mind the buses that much, it is SO lovely to take the monorail or boat or even walk to a park, especially if you have young children (no folding up the stroller, etc.)

Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

you could look into renting one of the cabins at Disney Fort Wilderness campground. they have little kitchens, sleep up to 6 people i believe... and you can take the ferry boat from fort wilderness to the magic kingdom, which is so neat!!
French Quarter is really nice, too-- small, nice pool. we stayed there for a night before a Disney cruise--- so not exactly sure how the buses to the parks are (but we did take the boat to Downtown Disney...)
Wilderness Lodge is a deluxe... but its where we stayed this past August/september when we went. AMAZING!!!! SO SO pretty, pool is amazing with a great little spray area for the kids, boat to MK was super easy... and we had no problems with the buses to any of the other parks, either.... BUT they're doing construction there now, so i think some stuff is closed/ a lot of noise--- so it depends on when you're going...

Favorite Mod Disney Hotel?

I would skip Wilderness Lodge since they are doing extensive construction from what I understand. That is where I had booked, then changed upon learning that. The beach area and marina are closed, along with some pathways, and the DVC side pool. Doesn't sound like much, but when you are paying a premium...I think it's an issue (at least for me)