Magnolia Bend Impressions

[closetdisneynerd]

For those of you who have stayed in the Magnolia Bend rooms at POR, what did you think? Are the rooms nice? Have they been refurbed any time recently? Any pros or cons compared with the Alligator cottages?

TIA~!! Working on booking a surprise trip for my fam!!

 

[tinkbyday]

We stayed there a couple of years ago and I did not care for this resort at all. We encountered multiple issues including a filthy room, poor management, lost luggage, etc.

Many on here love POR, so maybe my experience wasn't the norm, but I would not stay here again.

We were in the Magnolia section and the area is really pretty and I like the decor in the rooms better than AB section.

 

[Pixiedust34]

We love Port Orleans!

POR hasn't been rehabbed since 2005, but rumor has it that a rehab is supposed to start sometime within a year. The room we had last August was indeed showing some wear and tear, but the resort itself is lovely and has a nice atmosphere.

Both Magnolia Bend and Alligator Bayou are equally nice, and I think it's just a matter of personal taste as to which one people like best. We do prefer AB and have requested it each time, but for our last two trips were in MB. Don't get too hung up on wanting to stay in one area over the other because you really won't know which section you'll be in until you get your room assignment at check-in. Either way, it's a nice resort! Old Man Island is a fun pool area and the food court is good, too.

 

[Tinkh]

Magnolia Bend girl! This was our favorite of all the mods. Very clean, stunning landscaping, great food court.

 

[ehaley]

We liked our stay there(2008), rooms were fine, grounds were nice and I loved the quiet pool area. Food court was great, but restaurant was HORRIBLE and will never to that again. Loved the boat to DTD, and had no problem with busses to the parks, except for first night to MK. Not sure what the problem was - but we waited close to 45 mins for one and it was packed. Would definitely stay there again.

 

[calablovedisney]

Agree with those who love POR. We stayed here 3 times and prefer Magnolia Bend. I just find it prettier than alligator bayou. I like the look and feel of the mansions. And enjoy the walk over the bridges to the pool and food court. Food court there is excellent. And you have the added benefit of the boat to DTD and the carriage ride if you choose.
Enjoy!!!

 

[magchavez]

We have stayed in both parts. I like the Magnolia side better. The mansions are pretty and I like the landscaping better

 

[cassie]

I just got back from POR. I wanted Alligator Bayou where I once stayed, but they gave me the mansions, Magnolia Terrace. Perfect spot for the main pool and the food court The quiet pool was next to the building. I was happy with the room, it was very clean, but it does need refurb. Don't care for the food court choices, I like CBR's better.

The boat to DTD is a plus.

 

[auntie]

Take a look at this thread. Our visit in November of 2008. Not yet two years ago.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2401227&highlight=por+riverside+disgusting

Our one and only stay in the Magnolia Bend area of POR. DISGUSTING..would be putting it mildly.
Been a 19 year visitor to Disney. Never encountered anything like it. We were refunded the one night we spent there, and high tailed it to the Wilderness Lodge. Walking through the resort..I would say that the Alligator Bayou section appeared to in much better condition..at least on the outside.
If I had to pick a moderate..I'd choose Caribbean Beach.

 

[cassie]

Take a look at this thread. Our visit in November of 2008. Not yet two years ago.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2401227&highlight=por+riverside+disgusting

Our one and only stay in the Magnolia Bend area of POR. DISGUSTING..would be putting it mildly.
Been a 19 year visitor to Disney. Never encountered anything like it. We were refunded the one night we spent there, and high tailed it to the Wilderness Lodge. Walking through the resort..I would say that the Alligator Bayou section appeared to in much better condition..at least on the outside.
If I had to pick a moderate..I'd choose Caribbean Beach.

Guess I was lucky in my Magnolia Terrace room. Your pictures are so gross, glad I didn't see them before I went. My building looked great, and the room was very clean. But I will say it's time to rehab the buildings.

 

[auntie]

Guess I was lucky in my Magnolia Terrace room. Your pictures are so gross, glad I didn't see them before I went. My building looked great, and the room was very clean. But I will say it's time to rehab the buildings.

Let me tell you..the pictures..didn't do the dirt justice.
After everything I've been reading about bed bugs..I'm just glad we didn't wind up bring those home. Judging from the condition of the bedspread..I'm thinking they don't clean those all that often.
I actually slept with the light on all night..was afraid to shut it off.

 

[honeydiane1953]

IF this is what used to be Dixie Landings we enjoyed it. Food court and landscaping was wonderful!!!

 

[Mickey's Best Girl]

While I enjoyed POR property (gorgeous landscaping), I was not a fan of the rooms. Some of it was the decor (mansions), not my cup of tea, but most of it was the "worn" feeling the rooms had. These rooms are in desperate need of a freshening up.

I was happy to get my butt back to Pop for the second half of our trip!

 

[goofy4tink]

I love the rooms in Magnolia Bend but I prefer the surroundings in AB. Go figure. I like to walk around the mansions section, but I love the overgrown feel to AB.
I haven't had an issue with room cleanliness yet. The rooms have always been cleaned for my needs. But then again, I'm not all that picky. Bugs squashed on the ceiling would not make me happy and that stuff on the bathroom floor would have me calling housekeeping to come back..clean the floor and ceiling please!!

 

[jess20k]

We stayed in AB section back in 2000, when the resort was still called Dixie Landings. Last time we stayed was in 2006 in Magnolia Bend section. I did prefer Magnolia Bend over AB. I liked the decor of the rooms much better.

 

[auntie]

I love the rooms in Magnolia Bend but I prefer the surroundings in AB. Go figure. I like to walk around the mansions section, but I love the overgrown feel to AB.
I haven't had an issue with room cleanliness yet. The rooms have always been cleaned for my needs. But then again, I'm not all that picky. Bugs squashed on the ceiling would not make me happy and that stuff on the bathroom floor would have me calling housekeeping to come back..clean the floor and ceiling please!!

You know, if it was even just that..where you could have had mousekeeping come back and run a vacuum and a mop over everything, I would have been okay with it. Incovenienced, but what the heck...it's not the end of the world. What are ya gonna do. If in all our visits this was our biggest inconvenience..we can't complain. Only..this was no quick fix. There was a wall stained with appeared to soda running down it. This room hadn't been adequately cleaned in a very long time. The graffiti on the bedspread...I mean come on ...I couldn't believe my eyes! It was so obvious and the cleaning staff HAD to have seen it.
I was really amazed at the difference in ambience between the two sections of the resort. One appeared newly refurbished, and freshly painted while the other..just appeared to me to be in disrepair. Even the doors to the rooms where scuffed and in need of painting. Doesn't make for a nice impression. As I've said, we have visited Disney for some 18 years at that point, and I was really quite shocked by the condition of the room.
While I had no problems with being placed in the Magnolia Bend area(though we would have preferred the Aligator Bayou)..even if the room had been pristinely cleaned...the furniture appeared worn and tired looking.

 

[Disneydenise]

We were there last year in May for 5 nights and again this past May for just one night. Both times my husband and I were in Magnolia Bend. Our rooms were clean and well maintained. The pool was great and the food court was fine. We were on The dinning plan so we had made reservations at the restaurants prior to going to Florida. Our son and his girlfriend met us in Disney last May and they were in Alligator Byou. They liked the room but they thought our room was cleaner than theirs, I never saw their room.
This past May for the one night we were there our room was clean and well maintained.
We usually choose Port Orleans Riverside when we are staying in a Moderate resort in Disney.

 

[Brooknwdw]

September 08 we stayed in room 8016 in Building 80, Acadian House in Magnolia Bend. We loved the room itself and the whole resort visually..rooms were nice & clean as are the surroundings.
My only complaint is that it is HUGE!! It was quite a walk just from our room to the food court/pool area..we would have liked to have been in a smaller area/closer after walking all day in the parks.

This time we're trying the POFQ!

 

[DISdreamin']

Just chiming in regarding a trip back in January 2009 and what auntie has posted. We requested and got a room in AB, building 14. We were thrilled with the location, but the room itself looked pretty tired and worn. My dad joined us for three nights, but the room I booked for him went beyond tired and worn - it was filthy! There were things dropped on the floor by previous guests - including a button...not off clothing, but one of the giant "First visit" kind Disney gives out! - that hadn't even been picked up and it was visible under the edge of the bed from the doorway to the room! Crap under/behind the headboard and nightstand, the whole nine yards. There was also a huge dark red stain on the floor that looked like something out of CSI. It was nasty. Poor dad. We called management, and the response was less than stellar. I should have followed up after our visit, but I let it go.

All that said, I'm giving POR another shot in four months. I will, however, check the room over more carefully this time before unpacking anything. If it's as bad as my dads room last time, I'm not quietly accepting it, we'll request that we are moved to another location.

 

[wic0721]

Ok, after reading this thread I'm kind of nervous about staying at POR in November. This will be our first time staying there, and after reading some of these posts..I have to say I think I'll call Disney tomorrow and ask for a possible resort change!