travellady
If only the world could be like WDW every day!
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2003
Our last 2 trips, other than a quick one night stopover at POFQ, were at Deluxes - AKL, Poly, and Contemporary. We decided on POR for a 5 night stay this time as we couldn't justify 350.00+ per night at a deluxe when we could get POR for $149.00 AAA rate per night.
We loved POR. So much to do that we regretted not staying one extra night so we could spend our last day winding down at the resort. The one day we did opt to hang at the resort we did the boat to downtown Disney, rented a sea-ray, rented a surrey bike, hung by the pool, and people watched.
We were concerned about the double beds vs. queens offered at Deluxes so called ahead and requested Alligator Bayou hoping we'd get a room with a trundle despite only being 3 of us. Happily, our request was met and we were assigned Bldg 25, Alligator Bayou. The first night, we lay in bed watching TV, all fell asleep on the comfy pillow-topped double beds, and found little use for the trundle. Maybe all that walking around the resort was enough to assure a great night's sleep despite smaller than what we're used to beds.
Mousekeeping did a great job. More than enough towels for 3 of us, room always immaculate when we got back each evening, and when I requested an extra blanket the 2nd day, there were 3 extra blankets waiting for us (I sure hope somebody in another room didn't do without
.
The resort was fully booked during our stay but the first half of the week was convention goers so very few families around the resort those days. Later in the week, and especially yesterday, the place was buzzing with families. Made for a long wait for breakfast at Riverside Mill - both ordering and paying but not overly so.
Alligator Bayou Bldg. 25 is in a very quiet, peaceful location that suited my husband quite well as he loves to get away from it all when not in the parks. However, it was a good hike to the lobby/dining area and I did this a few times a day. Thankfully we're healthy people in great physical shape but for others with mobility issues, this bldg. may be too far of a hike. I timed each way, am a fast walker, and the quickest route was 7 minutes each way at a good pace.
Our 12 year old was disappointed there wasn't as much Disney theming (think Mickey) as he recalled from the Contemporary 2 years ago. I was surprised he even brought this up since he's hit a point where he prefers a more adultish atmosphere. In fact, his actual comment the 2nd day was "this resort doesn't have any theming". I then launched into a discussion of how the theming was old South, from POFQ urban to working class Alligator Bayou. Only after this little education lesson did I learn he meant Mickey, and Donald, and the classic Disney characters
Oh well, there's still some little kid left in him after all.
We did eat at Boatwrights and Riverside Mill. Had breakfast at Boatwrights one morning and though good, I wasn't overly impressed as it was a bit more expensive than the food court but we didn't get a whole lot more and quality was pretty equal. Dinner was good at Boatwrights - I had the Prime Rib, my husband the Jambalya, and my son a Cheeseburger. We weren't overly impressed with the dinner items at Riverside Mill, not bad, just not memorable.
The only complaint, and minor, is the connecting door between rooms lets in more noise than would just a wall. The first morning, at 6 AM, were were awakened by early risers. Thankfully, they left in no time and were were able to catch a few more zzz's. The second morning, the mousekeeper turned the TV up really loud as she was cleaning and we weren't quite ready to get up. So, do request a room without an adjoining door if you can and want to keep the room as quiet as possible.
Had we stayed at Animal Kingdom, Savannah View, at the only rate I could get when we made our reservations, $380.00 per night or Wilderness Lodge at $365.00 per night, we would have spent more than $1000.00 extra for lodging alone than we spent at POR. And don't get me started on what the Poly or Contemporary would have cost as I categorize it as absurd. I'm sorry but I just don't get how an extra $1000.00 would have brought me an extra $1000.00 in enjoyment this past week and I speak from experience since we've stayed those places. I get far more enjoyment knowing I have that extra $1000.00 in my pocket
I think we may try Coronado Springs next time around, or possibly Contemporary garden wings if available and for a good rate. But POR will stay on our list of resorts we'll go back to. Poly is on the list of resorts we won't go back to - way overpriced for kitchy 50's Hawaiin themeing and dark and dank rooms (but that's a seperate thread so won't go into it here).
We loved POR. So much to do that we regretted not staying one extra night so we could spend our last day winding down at the resort. The one day we did opt to hang at the resort we did the boat to downtown Disney, rented a sea-ray, rented a surrey bike, hung by the pool, and people watched.
We were concerned about the double beds vs. queens offered at Deluxes so called ahead and requested Alligator Bayou hoping we'd get a room with a trundle despite only being 3 of us. Happily, our request was met and we were assigned Bldg 25, Alligator Bayou. The first night, we lay in bed watching TV, all fell asleep on the comfy pillow-topped double beds, and found little use for the trundle. Maybe all that walking around the resort was enough to assure a great night's sleep despite smaller than what we're used to beds.
Mousekeeping did a great job. More than enough towels for 3 of us, room always immaculate when we got back each evening, and when I requested an extra blanket the 2nd day, there were 3 extra blankets waiting for us (I sure hope somebody in another room didn't do without
.The resort was fully booked during our stay but the first half of the week was convention goers so very few families around the resort those days. Later in the week, and especially yesterday, the place was buzzing with families. Made for a long wait for breakfast at Riverside Mill - both ordering and paying but not overly so.
Alligator Bayou Bldg. 25 is in a very quiet, peaceful location that suited my husband quite well as he loves to get away from it all when not in the parks. However, it was a good hike to the lobby/dining area and I did this a few times a day. Thankfully we're healthy people in great physical shape but for others with mobility issues, this bldg. may be too far of a hike. I timed each way, am a fast walker, and the quickest route was 7 minutes each way at a good pace.
Our 12 year old was disappointed there wasn't as much Disney theming (think Mickey) as he recalled from the Contemporary 2 years ago. I was surprised he even brought this up since he's hit a point where he prefers a more adultish atmosphere. In fact, his actual comment the 2nd day was "this resort doesn't have any theming". I then launched into a discussion of how the theming was old South, from POFQ urban to working class Alligator Bayou. Only after this little education lesson did I learn he meant Mickey, and Donald, and the classic Disney characters
Oh well, there's still some little kid left in him after all.We did eat at Boatwrights and Riverside Mill. Had breakfast at Boatwrights one morning and though good, I wasn't overly impressed as it was a bit more expensive than the food court but we didn't get a whole lot more and quality was pretty equal. Dinner was good at Boatwrights - I had the Prime Rib, my husband the Jambalya, and my son a Cheeseburger. We weren't overly impressed with the dinner items at Riverside Mill, not bad, just not memorable.
The only complaint, and minor, is the connecting door between rooms lets in more noise than would just a wall. The first morning, at 6 AM, were were awakened by early risers. Thankfully, they left in no time and were were able to catch a few more zzz's. The second morning, the mousekeeper turned the TV up really loud as she was cleaning and we weren't quite ready to get up. So, do request a room without an adjoining door if you can and want to keep the room as quiet as possible.
Had we stayed at Animal Kingdom, Savannah View, at the only rate I could get when we made our reservations, $380.00 per night or Wilderness Lodge at $365.00 per night, we would have spent more than $1000.00 extra for lodging alone than we spent at POR. And don't get me started on what the Poly or Contemporary would have cost as I categorize it as absurd. I'm sorry but I just don't get how an extra $1000.00 would have brought me an extra $1000.00 in enjoyment this past week and I speak from experience since we've stayed those places. I get far more enjoyment knowing I have that extra $1000.00 in my pocket
I think we may try Coronado Springs next time around, or possibly Contemporary garden wings if available and for a good rate. But POR will stay on our list of resorts we'll go back to. Poly is on the list of resorts we won't go back to - way overpriced for kitchy 50's Hawaiin themeing and dark and dank rooms (but that's a seperate thread so won't go into it here).
