Having a hard time getting excited about POFQ

[My2QTs]

I know this sounds terrible cause I should be more than grateful that we are leaving for DW in two weeks, but I am feeling a little apprehensive about our resort. Last October we stayed at the WL, and while I don't feel this way because we're not doing a deluxe this time, I guess Im just not impressed with the photos of POFQ - or really I should say its the rooms that look sort of dull. We have two kids (ds11 and dd5) and I just don't know if they're going to get into this place very much. We don't spend a lot of time in our room, but it just doesn't seem to have the aesthetic appeal that I was hoping for. So, someone tell me Im gonna love this place and that the rooms won't detract from our experience. They just look so boring and "adult-like."

[Magalex]

We stayed at POFQ in June. Very nice & pretty hotel. I bet it is wonderful during the fall season. Our DS was 8 at the time of the trip & enjoyed the music & pool area. Have Fun,you're at Disney World

[FSUSammy]

I don't think the rooms are that bad at all. We've stayed at POFQ and WL and we really liked POFQ. I love that its a smaller hotel. You'll be fine!

[Heidijs]

We're staying there in January, I like that it's smaller than the other places! I figured it was better than the value but cheaper than deluxe. So that's why I chose it.

[mamacate]

I haven't stayed at POFQ yet (checking in tomorrow!), but we have stayed at POR twice after staying once at WL, and we went on a carriage ride through FQ. I liked WL, don't get me wrong, and we're definitely not fancy people (I have turned down a great rate at the GF because I didn't really see us enjoying the environment), so if swank is important to you, my views may not be relevant. But I like POR better than WL, and I expect to like POFQ even better. I found WL nice and fun, but not that special. There's a certain vibe that's a little like a marriott with some really nice architectural features added in. It's a bit spread out and the rooms are tiny and I actually thought that there was sort of an impersonal feel there. YMMV, and that was just our experience, but it didn't feel quite Disney enough to me.

POR seemed friendlier, and I felt more comfortable hanging out with my family there. The food court is bigger and has more variety, and the restaurant was great (it's not as fun as the restaurant at WL, and of course there's no signature dining, but again, that's not how we roll). There's lots to do--surrey bikes, fishing, hair wraps, a boat to DTD. Of course, as I'm sure you know, all that stuff is available to POFQ guests, it's about a half-mile walk or a five-minute boat ride or a two-minute bus ride away. You have access to two pools, both with great theming and slides, and I think that at least at POFQ, you're going to have a much bigger pool for the number of guests. When we were at WL, the pool was kind of a madhouse and was kind of small for the size of the hotel, IMO.

I agree that the theming in the rooms is pretty bland. But the rooms are at least as big as the ones at WL. The only thing I missed about the WL rooms was the upgraded toiletries--I can buy those for a lot less than the cost of the upgrade! The theming of the resort is top-notch--not as swanky at WL, but more Disney if that makes any sense. If you can groove on an idea that's a little less fancy, I bet you'll love it. Plus, and who can argue with this? BEIGNETS!

See you there tomorrow!

Cate

[GSDRescuer]

My family stayed at WL, POFQ and POR. We all loved POFQ and POR better than WL!!!! We loved POFQ for the quaintness and convenience of the small resort and POR for the beautiful grounds.

[cjnix29]

We will be at POFQ in two weeks also. I am also a WL fan. Couldn't justify the cost this time. I am looking forward to it though. I have always thought it looked like a pretty resort. Stayed at Riverside when it was Dixie Landings, and liked it. So hoping this will be good too. The only thing I am not looking forward to is the full size beds. Much, much prefer the queens! Maybe we will see ya there!

[stitch34]

My kids really like POFQ a lot. They love the pool, and it is a pretty resort. I don't care for the decor of the rooms at all, boring and blah. But otherwise, we enjoy it there. Buses ran well, kids like the arcade and food court being open late. We also love that it's small and is quick and easy to get anywhere there. The boat ride to downtown disney is very nice too.
wish we could have fit in a night there our upcoming trip, but can't, so will wait till next time.... but we are squeezing in some time to visit at least - want to see their holiday decorations!

But is a great resort, just me personally, the rooms I don't care for the look of them, aesthetic appeal is lacking there for me, too.
But as far as the rest of the resort, it's very pretty, especially when you head down towards the water - and the pool area we think is pretty cool looking - and fun!

My kids also liked the playground there - and our last trip they were happy to get mardi gras beads at the resort.

[mom2taylorandemily]

Well, I'm kind of in the same boat. We have stayed at WL and while we liked it just fine, it wasn't my cup of tea. We have stayed at CBR in a preferred room for the past 3 trips and we love it there, but DH wanted to try something new, and I just can't get my excitement up over it. We leave in 11 days and I fear that I am going to be miserable missing CBR the whole time. I love the tropical feel of the CBR and the pool there, my DDs also are very comfortable there. So, I am really struggling with this and I'm so afraid that I won't feel any magic.

[siestakey]

My favorite resort is now POFQ. We have stayed at CBR, POR, CSR, AKL and WL. We have decided that POFQ is the ONLY place we will stay from now on, and we go alot! 3-4 times a year. The size of the resort, the food court, the bus rides, the boat ride to Downtown Disney, the proximity to POR, the coziness of the resort, minimal walking, the pool. I could go on and on and I am sure that you will feel the same way once you have stayed there. It really is the secret jewel of Disney.

[Rip]

Originally Posted by My2QTs

I know this sounds terrible cause I should be more than grateful that we are leaving for DW in two weeks, but I am feeling a little apprehensive about our resort. Last October we stayed at the WL, and while I don't feel this way because we're not doing a deluxe this time, I guess Im just not impressed with the photos of POFQ - or really I should say its the rooms that look sort of dull. We have two kids (ds11 and dd5) and I just don't know if they're going to get into this place very much. We don't spend a lot of time in our room, but it just doesn't seem to have the aesthetic appeal that I was hoping for. So, someone tell me Im gonna love this place and that the rooms won't detract from our experience. They just look so boring and "adult-like."

We stayed at WL in Feb of 2008 for my son's birthday. Then we got a great deal at GF in October of '08 for my daughter's birthday. Last spring we didn't have the deniro for anything like either, so we did a long weekend at POFQ (we've also stayed at the Contemporary and Polynesian) - guess where we're staying next week and next spring?

In all honesty, the "deluxe" hotels at Disney are more about location and sheer room size than anything else.

My kids (3 & 9) liked POFQ more than WL, GF, Poly or CR, if that means anything. But then, we use the room to sleep and shower in, and not much else.

[Rip]

Originally Posted by siestakey

My favorite resort is now POFQ. We have stayed at CBR, POR, CSR, AKL and WL. We have decided that POFQ is the ONLY place we will stay from now on, and we go alot! 3-4 times a year. The size of the resort, the food court, the bus rides, the boat ride to Downtown Disney, the proximity to POR, the coziness of the resort, minimal walking, the pool. I could go on and on and I am sure that you will feel the same way once you have stayed there. It really is the secret jewel of Disney.

I couldn't agree more.

[Missytara]

Originally Posted by siestakey

My favorite resort is now POFQ. We have stayed at CBR, POR, CSR, AKL and WL. We have decided that POFQ is the ONLY place we will stay from now on, and we go alot! 3-4 times a year. The size of the resort, the food court, the bus rides, the boat ride to Downtown Disney, the proximity to POR, the coziness of the resort, minimal walking, the pool. I could go on and on and I am sure that you will feel the same way once you have stayed there. It really is the secret jewel of Disney.

I second that; my home resort is POR and I think POFQ is beautiful for all the amentities you listed. Especially the water taxi to DTD. I took my mom one year and we sometimes rode the taxi just for the heck of it; got on, walked around a few shops and got back on again.

[MdmMim]

POFQ is one of my favorite resorts. It's just enchanting at night, with the little "yards" in front of each building, the lighting, the little streets. It feels like a little, tiny quaint village. I love the rooms--I just really like it there.

The pool is fun with the serpent. There are cool little touches all around the resort.

It's a great place!

I have stayed at most WDW resorts, including WL. But I keep returning to FQ.

[summerlady]

We love POFQ and just got back from our 4th stay there. When we went last May, I had originally booked CSR just to try something different but my family protested so much that I changed it back to POFQ and everyone was happy. The boat to DTD is fabulous, the walking path along the river to POR is lovely, if you don't feel like walking back to POFQ you can take the boat. The rooms are nice, nothing spectacular but attractive and spacious enough. The resort never feels crowded although at certain times during the day the foodcourt can get fairly busy; we really enjoyed the choices there and at dinner you can get ribs, ribs and chicken, pot roast. Love the muffeletta sandwich with beignets for dessert.