Back from POR undecided how I feel!

[kileybeth]

Just back from our Anniversary trip of 4 days/3 nights at PORiverside

ask away, whatever your specific questions may be and I can offer you one thing only, my own opinion! however acceptable/unacceptable it may be it may be!

Magical Express
check in
room
general resort
distance walked
buses
parks
quiet pool
food court
boatwrights

ask away!

 

[SereneOne]

What was bad about checkin? How long where the distances walked?

I am hoping check in will be better for us being that we are going during the off season. We also plan on using our own car for tranportation, so no bus worries here.

 

[boomhauer]

I know what you mean. I was very undecided on how I felt about POR as well. I liked thr grounds, but didn't like our building. I liked the food court, but didn't like the food.

I think we psych ourselves up for a resort and at times, it lets us down a bit.

 

[maxiesmom]

Why do you give your room a mixed reaction? Was it the location? Bad housekeeping? We leave for POR 35 days from today, so I really want to know!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Just back from our Anniversary trip of 4 days/3 nights at PORiverside

ask away, whatever your specific questions may be and I can offer you one thing only, my own opinion! however acceptable/unacceptable it may be it may be!

Magical Express
check in
room
general resort
distance walked
buses
parks
quiet pool
food court
boatwrights

ask away!

I too am recently back from POR and feel mostly the same as you. I didn't have any problems with check in on 8/20 so that was fine. Our room was fine and housekeeping was great but I didn't care for the walk to our building and we were building #17 so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

The food court had great adult selections but I think the values are better suited for my one very picky eater.

Our meal at Boatwrights was great!

My next trip is at Pop and I cant' wait to go back there.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Check in couldnt of been as bad as it was on the 26th.. the day free dinning started.. by 8am the line was going down the hall past Boatwrights

 

[MzDiz]

What's wrong with the buses to POR? We stayed there once before but had our car, our next trip there we'll be using the buses. Is that bad?

 

[LisaNJ25]

What's wrong with the buses to POR? We stayed there once before but had our car, our next trip there we'll be using the buses. Is that bad?

I was there last week and had no problems with the buses.

 

[Cindy B]

What's wrong with the buses to POR? We stayed there once before but had our car, our next trip there we'll be using the buses. Is that bad?

Bad is the understatement.

Be prepared to stand a lot and not have a seat.

And as for the PP talking about check in the day of the 26th--been there done that as well. I was in that check in line around 7 am. By the time I was finished at 815 the line was close to Riverside Mill past Boatwrights.

The grounds were pretty but we had a very hefty walk from Acadian House. The main bridge to the pool had construction so it was very narrow and no more than one person could walk at a time. I didn't really see the beautiful landscaping either , I mean there was a nice fountain near the parking lot but that was about it.

 

[kileybeth]

Thanks for all the replys and questions and minimal flames

Let me try and answer at least a few. sorry if I ramble.

hey serene one, bad about check in? well, our CM could have at least pretended to care we had made a request for mansions. Instead she said (and I quote, you got mansions, I can't promise you anything else.) I was only being conversational with her for goodness sakes! I even said (again I quote myself) well, I have never been here so what is your opinion of which building is the better of the two you are offering? (Acadian or Pet. Place) her response, doesn't matter really, this is the building you are in! I told her we were willing to wait for a corner room, or even one of the two buildings she didn't offer (and we would have preferred- in all fairness I kept my request basic as I did not want Alligator Bayou at all. My only request was "mansions".We had a king bed room paid for.

What we got was a very hot, very long walk to the very back of Acadian with a parking lot view, a hike to bus stops, and not a corner room. I had even said we do not have a car so we will be relying on the buses, could we get something close to one of the bus stops maybe? Again, her response? I really can't say where your room will be when it is ready. Call this number and they will tell you then. ggrrr. She pretended not to know where she was placing us and that she did not have a map of the rooms in each building? I really find that a little unbelievable!

Keep in mind this was my DH's first on site stay he was paying for and I wanted to impress him. Not happening.

Other comments included. I see it is your anniversary (I never mentioned it to her, I just had it on our reservation) is that so? (what??!!! did she think I was lying?) (Yes, thank you it is.) How many years? 22years. Oh, that's a long time! (only excitement I ever heard out of her at all) and then she produced the buttons and said here are your buttons. (no explanation, nothing) I was not looking for a hand out or anything just maybe a verbal Happy Anniversary? No sweat, DH doesn't like attention anyway.

One last thing on check in, I didn't really feel welcomed as I did at SSR and I felt as if the staff was overworked? I'm sure they were coming off a very stressful busy long holiday week end and that made a difference. (checked in Monday of Labor Day week end.) Arrived noon, room ready around 2:30 pm.

Check in wasn't particularly long (how could it be, there were only 3 families in front of us and 3 CM's working the desk) This was a major major slow season and it showed.

My DH noticed that other corner,king bedded rooms very close to bridge, pool remained empty the entire length of our stay) . Don't know why tho.

so not worst check in but not the best either. I really wanted to knock on her head and say "hello in there! I'm out here, your customer? At least act happy to see me or pleasant when you tell me this is what you get. Oh and lady? I'm gonna write about this for lots of your future customers to read!" But of course, I did not.

more to come.

 

[kileybeth]

distances walked?
I'm kicking myself b/c I can not find that information right now and I know I had my eyes on it while I was riding the boat to DTD and even showed my DH. I may have seen it on my Blackberry though on a Disney site?

anyone? not miles of course but at least .25 to .5 miles lots of times from one place to the next. Main pool was to far for us to want to walk (and DH is a pool slide lover) even the quiet pool (we were between two) wasn't particularly close.

DH would go out why I showered each morning to fill our mugs and would come back each time saying that's a hike, especially in the heat.

Although very pretty, late at night, as a women, I would not have wanted to walk some of the paths alone. Nor would I permit my daughter to do so. Maybe my DS15?

And my goodness, do not get off the wrong bus stop or you will easily walk that mile to find your room/building!

so yes, do believe everyone when they say spread out! I thought I wouldn't mind as it was a leisurely trip with no kids but it was just to hot to enjoy and so much walking between each thing (restauant, bus stops, pool) We looked at the French Quarter walkway as we traveled there from Riverside by boat and that was one long path! (an aside, French Quarter is tiny comparitively, very compact.)

so that's all on distances.

 

[kileybeth]

boom hauer, yes, I believe you are right about the anticipation factor and knowing so much ahead of time and seeing all the pictures and everything else.

Not just POR, but throughout our stay I more than a few times felt as though I knew way more about any given subject than a particular cast member and had to explain it to them (or not). I let lots of things go but sometimes it was blatant and I really wanted what I knew I could have (thanks Disboards!) Some examples are certain items for snack credits, size of rooms at POLY (I was told the larger long house are only (and again, I quote) "they are only like an inch longer so it doesn't matter at all" ey yi yi! Let's see her fit my crew of kids in the smaller ones and she will change her mind quick. I did feel obligated at that time to quote her the exact square footage of the old and the newer longhouses and translate it to extra length based on width x height formula for her ever so nicely of course. She quickly got rid of me by saying I couldn't see the room anyway as it was after dark. NO problem, I saw it next day with the worlds sweetest CM who said she would look for us next week when we return with our children for our stay!

sorry OT! more to come!

 

[kileybeth]

maxiesmom,

never fear the mixed review was as much about location as anything but I will comment on housekeeping and other room factors since it has come up.

I was suprisingly pleased with the decor! I felt the pics here on Dis and allears did not do it justice. It was updated and very nicely done. Disney has a bent for overdoing the patterns imo, but this worked well! The bedding was busy but still okay. Very comfortable to boot. And clean. Window treatments where attractive. I liked the plantation style blinds. Carpet in good condition.

Again, Disney sink areas in Values and Mods always seem awkward to me but they worked out just fine. Shelf above sink was more than adequate for the two of us. Family of five? not so sure. I did notice a dead mosquito on ledge by sink area first day and left it to see if housekeeping would pick up on it. It remained when we checked out 3 nights later. I also tend to leave behind long dark hair after I get ready and the housekeeper got that cleaned up just fine. DH's blond shaving clippings? not so much.

Bathroom needed some work. I admit to being very picky so take my review with a grain of salt if you will. There was a bit of mold around soap dish. oh and soap and shampoo are all that are provided as bathroom amenities, old style black, white, red label with Mickey. I wished for lotion at least! turbo toilets are disgusting! again, imo. make sure you close the lid before you flush or you will get wet. yuk. no curved shower bar either (and we visited values this trip and saw them there in rooms!). towels are thin.

wall sconces on either side of bed I like! they are on a dimmer switch, very nice.

towel animals, yes on checkin, never again, and if you are wondering , yes, I tipped and cleaned up room each day before we left.

fridge worked but wasn't very cold.

and what is up with no information book about resort in your room? Instead you get a list of numbers to call for information? just weird and I do get I can turn to channel 20 and get info. I just like to read and don't like background noise on in room so tv it was but doesn't appeal to me (again just my own picky self commenting here)

flame away! but this was my impression of room at POR!

a mixed review.

 

[kileybeth]

hey loves dumbo,

after touring the values this trip (saw rooms at POP and AllStar Music including family suite (and Linda if you are out there, the suites at All Star Music are just as nice and nicer even than you claim!!) another instance though of having to educate the CM's the one who took us through had actually never even seen a suite and did not know how the chair and ottamon worked, I showed them!

we agree totally about the food courts! Our picky kiddos would like those menus better and we enjoyed 2 CS meals there ourselves! and yummo butter pecan ice cream!

I did like selections at POR CS too tho. nice variety and everything was tasty and hot or cold as appropriate. portion size was good.

Every food court we saw this trip tho, (2 values, 2 mods, 4 deluxes) all could have been cleaner. not filthy, just needed attention. that goes for lobby bathrooms as well. do you hear my huge sigh? And I repeat, it was a slow time. Can't imagine these places when they are filled to capacity or it is high season?

Boatwrights was indeed good. Although they removed/changed the menu significantly (a dissapointment to me as I was looking forward to specific items crabcakes and french onion soup to be exact and ceasar salad) the new items were fine.

again, mixed review.

 

[kileybeth]

MzDiz, LisaNJ25, and CindyB,

Thank goodness check in for us wasn't like that! My DH would never go back!

The buses are just so stinkin' long to wait for and then the travel time is so long as well. You have to allow so much time to move from place to place.

And one night after leaving MGM, we waited through 6 buses to get on and then we stood.

We considered the bus to SSR, then walk to DTD and take bus or boat back but that would have involved two transfers , no better.

In fairness, it was our first trip with no car although when at SSR in Jan this year, our car remained parked the whole time and buses seemed much better than POR.

so lucky for us we were in no hurry to get anywhere and had no tired kiddos with us. could have made things not pleasant at all, no not pleasant at all. DH was grumpy enough when we finally arrived back in room at 11:20pm (MGM closed around 9:30pm after Fantasmic) we left with crowd and proceeded directly to busstop.

 

[kileybeth]

maxiesmom,

never fear the mixed review was as much about location as anything but I will comment on housekeeping and other room factors since it has come up.

I was suprisingly pleased with the decor! I felt the pics here on Dis and allears did not do it justice. It was updated and very nicely done. Disney has a bent for overdoing the patterns imo, but this worked well! The bedding was busy but still okay. Very comfortable to boot. And clean. Window treatments where attractive. I liked the plantation style blinds. Carpet in good condition.

Again, Disney sink areas in Values and Mods always seem awkward to me but they worked out just fine. Shelf above sink was more than adequate for the two of us. Family of five? not so sure. I did notice a dead mosquito on ledge by sink area first day and left it to see if housekeeping would pick up on it. It remained when we checked out 3 nights later. I also tend to leave behind long dark hair after I get ready and the housekeeper got that cleaned up just fine. DH's blond shaving clippings? not so much.

Bathroom needed some work. I admit to being very picky so take my review with a grain of salt if you will. There was a bit of mold around soap dish. oh and soap and shampoo are all that are provided as bathroom amenities, old style black, white, red label with Mickey. I wished for lotion at least! turbo toilets are disgusting! again, imo. make sure you close the lid before you flush or you will get wet. yuk. no curved towel bar either (and we visited values this trip and saw them there in rooms!). towels are thin.

wall sconces on either side of bed I like! they are on a dimmer switch, very nice.

towel animals, yes on checkin, never again, and if you are wondering , yes, I tipped and cleaned up room each day before we left.

fridge worked but wasn't very cold.

and what is up with no information book about resort in your room? Instead you get a list of numbers to call for information? just weird and I do get I can turn to channel 20 and get info. I just like to read and don't like background noise on in room so tv it was but doesn't appeal to me (again just my own picky self commenting here)

flame away! but this was my impression of room at POR!

a mixed review.

 

[argue]

I too am recently back from POR and feel mostly the same as you. I didn't have any problems with check in on 8/20 so that was fine. Our room was fine and housekeeping was great but I didn't care for the walk to our building and we were building #17 so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

The food court had great adult selections but I think the values are better suited for my one very picky eater.

Our meal at Boatwrights was great!

My next trip is at Pop and I cant' wait to go back there.

We stayed in building 17 8/21-8/28!

What room where you?

 

[kimpossible]

So was the boat to DTD just as bad. We are supposed to do a 1 night stay with the Grand Parents and 2 kids before moving on to BWV. We have 2 diff. ressies booked POR and ASSports. We were thinking about keeping POR because we wanted to go to DTD and also for bell services.

What do you think?

 

[ReneeA]

POR looks beautiful and I've always wanted to stay there. However, our last 2 trips POR's bus stops are PACKED . We stayed at CSR last time and never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus, and only had to stand once the entire trip - one night after Illuminations.

I keep telling DH that I want to try POR, but he says there is no way he's going with us after seeing what their bus stops look like.

 

[Indianadisneyfan]

We stayed at POR Oct. last year and never had a problem with buses.I don't remember standing one time going to or coming from the parks. I think the longest we had to wait for a bus was around 10 min or so. We stayed at the Mansions and it was only 5 min walk to the buss stop. We are staying again this year so I guess I will find out if it is any different from last year.