AB rooms at POR

[mom22boys]

For those of you who have stayed in the AB section of POR what was your building number? Did you like your location? How long was your walk to the food court? How close was the closest bus stop? Were you one of the first ones on the bus or one of the last? Did you have a quiet pool close by?

Much thanks! I am just having fun learning as much as I can before our trip!

 

[mom23boyz]

We stayed there last Feb in Bldg. 15. It was a fairly decent location, about as close as you can get to the lobby/restaurant area and not too far from the main pool. We didn't ever go to a quiet pool, so not sure how close that may be. We were upstairs and lugging our bags up there was kind of a pain. Next time I would request a ground floor room. We had a car, so didn't use the bus stop, but the parking was very close. We loved the theming of this resort. Enjoy your stay!

 

[magsnden]

we just went about 2 weeks ago. we were in building 26. the problem we had with this location is that it was a LONG walk from the parking lot. we had a car so walking at the end of a long day at the parks, was really difficult. it doesn't seem that far on the map, but it was!! while we were at the hotel, it wasn't too far to everything, main pool, lobby, etc.
good luck, and have a GREAT trip!!

 

[Sorsha]

We were in AB building 37 at the end of September. It was a loooooooong (but very pretty) walk to the main building/restaurants, but not too far from the main pool. Every morning I would get up before everyone else in my family (I am a very early riser) and stroll through the early-dawn morning down to the food court to refill my mug... it was usually a 30 minute round trip. We never used a quiet pool, but I believe one was not too far away.

North Depot bus stop was VERY convenient though, literally right out our door. We were usually the second stop in the mornings (South Depot usually gets its own bus, the other three combined in one bus); West Depot was first, but the bus was usually still VERY empty when it got to us. When we were there in September, East Depot was under construction, and was very seldom used.

 

[Harvest02]

We were there in October and stayed in building 25. We weren't sure we would like this location at first because when we got there we were tired and it was about a 5-10 minute walk from the main building. Plus, we had our luggage to drag with us. But, after the first day we discovered this was an IDEAL location! It was a LOVELY walk around the grounds and we also were closest to West Depot(literally a 1-2 minute walk from our room). We were the first pick-up so we didn't have to stand, EVER!!! It was really nice and I didn't want to leave POR!!!!

 

[mom22boys]

Thanks everyone. It is so much fun reading about everyone's different experiences.

Sorsha, this is the first time I have heard about the South Depot having its own bus, very interesting.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

We have stayed in a couple of different places in AB. Even the area the farthest away from the main building didn't have a bad walk. We just had to make sure to pay attention or we would get lost in the maze of sidewalks. AB is our favorite place to stay when at POR.

 

[Scutapipig]

We stayed in building 38. We weren't too far from the parking lot and we had a quiet pool just around the bend. It was a bit longer walk to the food court, but to be honest, I think the walks that people say are so long, don't seem all that bad when you have such beautiful scenery to see as you walk. I would rather have a bit longer walk in a peaceful setting then be right up where all the action is. That's not relaxing for me.

We also picked up the bus at the North Depot. Very easy and we were usually the first ones on the bus.

 

[HANDYMOM]

We stayed in AB building 17, facing a quiet pool. The location was great! We used our car, which was just on the other side of the building, to get to the main bus stop. The walk to the food court was about 5 minutes, but the lush landscaping and little animals made the time fly. Great location!

 

[Sugardimples]

I was surprised that there are no elevators in the AB section.

 

[PrincessPaczki]

We stayed in building 39 with a water view. It was a great location. It felt like we had the quiet pool all to ourselves during the day. We were close to the bus stop, hardly anyone on when it picked us up, and alittle walk to the foodcourt. It is such a beautiful resort that you really don't notice the walking time.

 

[Sorsha]

Thanks everyone. It is so much fun reading about everyone's different experiences.

Sorsha, this is the first time I have heard about the South Depot having its own bus, very interesting.

I am not sure it works that way all the time... however a couple of times when we were there we caught the bus at South Depot (had had breakfast at Riverside Mill and didn't need to return to the room, just left right away to go to the parks). Each time, there were SO many people waiting for a bus that it got filled up at South Depot and left from there to go straight to the parks. Apparently many, many more people use South Depot than any of the other stops. Also, each morning when we caught the bus at North Depot, it was pretty darn near empty, which would lead me to believe it had NOT stopped at South Depot first to pick up the aforementioned masses of vacationers.

 

[linda1118]

I am not sure it works that way all the time... however a couple of times when we were there we caught the bus at South Depot (had had breakfast at Riverside Mill and didn't need to return to the room, just left right away to go to the parks). Each time, there were SO many people waiting for a bus that it got filled up at South Depot and left from there to go straight to the parks. Apparently many, many more people use South Depot than any of the other stops. Also, each morning when we caught the bus at North Depot, it was pretty darn near empty, which would lead me to believe it had NOT stopped at South Depot first to pick up the aforementioned masses of vacationers.

Are you sure it wasn't other POR people on the bus when it picked up at the South Depot? When we were there the South Depot was the LAST stop, after West, North and East. So when those people at the South Depot got on, it DID go straight to the parks. But that was because it had already picked up the other stops, not because it was full from POFQ and the South Depot. Just throwing that out there to muddle it up a little further!

 

[peyjax]

We stayed in bldg 17 across from the quiet pool and it was about a 5-8 minute walk to the food court. The south depot was about the same. I was not crazy about it because it was a maze to get to the room. I was so determined to stay in the AB section and afterwards was wishing we were in the mansions. Disney does a great job of recreating the Bayou, it is full of lizards and natural wildlife. I would not have been surprised if a real alligator jumped out at me! I then learned I like the indoor hotel feeling. It is very nice though and I loved the rooms. It really did feel like a cabin. I would have loved to stay in bldg 38 (?) it was right by the the main loop and not a maze to find. It was across from the main pool. I love that you could hear the music playing from the pool. I am a dork and as my husband says "all about the ambiance". I will admit it, I think I would have felt more strongly about the POR if I had stayed across from the pool, where you could hear the music and the lights of the Main building all lit up at night. I think thats why I liked the mansions section. It really is beautiful at night. The Ab section definatly has it beat on the interior of the rooms. Enjoy your stay!

 

[peyjax]

Are you sure it wasn't other POR people on the bus when it picked up at the South Depot? When we were there the South Depot was the LAST stop, after West, North and East. So when those people at the South Depot got on, it DID go straight to the parks. But that was because it had already picked up the other stops, not because it was full from POFQ and the South Depot. Just throwing that out there to muddle it up a little further!

We spent two weeks trying to figure the bus system there and you just can't. They do thing a million different ways everytime. Sometimes we would think we were headed straight to the parks and would spend 15 minutes traveling around the resort to p/u others. Then sometimes you would go to the French Quarter sometimes you wouldn't. I would definatly rent a car if I stayed there again.

 

[Sorsha]

Are you sure it wasn't other POR people on the bus when it picked up at the South Depot? When we were there the South Depot was the LAST stop, after West, North and East. So when those people at the South Depot got on, it DID go straight to the parks. But that was because it had already picked up the other stops, not because it was full from POFQ and the South Depot. Just throwing that out there to muddle it up a little further!

Well, when we were there (Free Dining) and would get on the bus at North Depot in the mornings, it was always either totally empty, or only had just a very few passengers. That leads me to believe that it had started at West Depot before going to North. Then we MIGHT stop at East Depot (but usually didn't - it was under contruction) but never any other stops; we always went right off to the parks. The only time I saw South Depot in the morning was when I was getting on at it.

Who knows though... maybe things have changed... this is Disney, after all... just when you get used to something being one way... POOF! It changes.

 

[skipperkim]

I do know that sometimes POR will get its own bus in the AM because the one at POFQ fills up. Having stayed at POFQ twice I do know it stops at POFQ first then West with South being last before leaving the parks. In the afternoon POFQ is still first with South being first and then East being last before heading to the parks. I think they do that so you can get from one resort to the other for pool use or TS at POR.

 

[mom22boys]

We stayed in bldg 17 across from the quiet pool and it was about a 5-8 minute walk to the food court. The south depot was about the same. I was not crazy about it because it was a maze to get to the room. I was so determined to stay in the AB section and afterwards was wishing we were in the mansions. Disney does a great job of recreating the Bayou, it is full of lizards and natural wildlife. I would not have been surprised if a real alligator jumped out at me! I then learned I like the indoor hotel feeling. It is very nice though and I loved the rooms. It really did feel like a cabin. I would have loved to stay in bldg 38 (?) it was right by the the main loop and not a maze to find. It was across from the main pool. I love that you could hear the music playing from the pool. I am a dork and as my husband says "all about the ambiance". I will admit it, I think I would have felt more strongly about the POR if I had stayed across from the pool, where you could hear the music and the lights of the Main building all lit up at night. I think thats why I liked the mansions section. It really is beautiful at night. The Ab section definatly has it beat on the interior of the rooms. Enjoy your stay!

I really appreciate all of your input. I have read on this thread and others that people have been pleased with buildings 39 and 38.

Thank you!

 

[RIGrandpa]

We stayed in building 27 last week at POR and had a great time. Walk to the food court was not too long and we used the bus depot by the main entrance with out any problems. Sometimes the buses were crowded and we had to stand but overall the bus transportation worked OK for us.

 

[linda1118]

We spent two weeks trying to figure the bus system there and you just can't. They do thing a million different ways everytime. Sometimes we would think we were headed straight to the parks and would spend 15 minutes traveling around the resort to p/u others. Then sometimes you would go to the French Quarter sometimes you wouldn't. I would definatly rent a car if I stayed there again.

Oh, I would never drive, even if I had my own car there! I didn't find anything wrong with the buses. Making the loop adds about 5-10 minutes, not that big of deal to me. But that's just me, I'm easy to please!