BWI or POR

[wilda]

We are trying to decide between POR and BWI for a December trip with our 7 year old GS.

We spent a week at AKL last November (Jersey Week)and found it to be isolated. I'm concerned that POR will be similar.

We are leaning towards BWI because of convenience (restaurants, shops) and proximity to the parks.

Planning to go the week of Dec 10th (after Pop Warner) so the crowds should be lighter and that won't be a issue.

Any and all opinions are very much appreciated !

 

[goodferry]

I would choose BWI, but I love it there, we will be there December 13-21st! Can't help you with POR, we have never stayed. BWI is a beautiful resort though, within walking distance of Epcot, Mgm, all the restaurants on the Boardwalk, plus the YC/BC, the Swan and the Dolphin.

 

[johnsonet]

You definitely won't be isolated at the BWI
I have never stayed at POR but people seem to love it.
If it's within your budget, I think staying in a Deluxe resort, especially one within walking distance to Epcot and MGM Studios, would be extra wonderful
Good luck!

 

[bellebud]

If it's in your budget and you're willing to spend it, I'd go w/ BWI. Your room will have a balcony, which is nice when someone gets up earlier than others or goes to bed later. The main thing though, is the LOCATION. You can't beat being able to walk or boat to Epcot and MGM.

POR is a gorgeous resort (we just stayed at POFQ and visited POR), with a fun pool and great food court, but having to take a bus everywhere gets old. At POFQ, they didn't have a morning bus to MGM... my dh and ds had to take a bus to MK, hop on the ferry to TTC, then take an MGM bus. He was not a happy disney camper, being on transportation for over an hour to get to MGM. I don't know how typical this is. It was our first stay at a moderate (we've taken about 8 trips in the past 4 years, all deluxe or villas), and he said never again to a moderate. I myself would be ok with a moderate again, but he was annoyed and is willing to pay for convenience.

have to add... your gs will LOVE the clown slide! my 7yo dd and 5yo ds can't get enough of it. it's their favorite pool in WDW by far! and he'll also love the nighttime activities on the boardwalk itself (the magician's, jugglers, etc)... it's really fun!

 

[MiaSRN62]

At POFQ, they didn't have a morning bus to MGM... my dh and ds had to take a bus to MK, hop on the ferry to TTC, then take an MGM bus. He was not a happy disney camper, being on transportation for over an hour to get to MGM. I don't know how typical this is.

Bellebud,
Was this during your entire stay ? I've never stayed at the POFQ, but I have at POR and there was most definitely a morning bus to MGM. Did the FQ state they didn't offer an MGM bus ? Because this sounds odd ?

*I just called the FQ front desk (because I was looking to stay here this December), and they said they definitely offer bus service to MGM every morning.....so not sure if you experienced this once bellebud, or if this happened every day of your stay ?

To answer wilda......
If you felt the AKL felt isolated, then I think you would feel the same about POR. Comments like "feeling isolated" are made by many here on the boards about certain resorts. I hear it alot. I feel it's disney's themeing at it's best. I don't feel the AKL would feel like the African savanah if you could see the parks----iow, I feel the lush landscaping and location help to "hide" the resorts and make them "feel" like they're taking you away to another place. This is the charm I love about alot of the disney resorts that feel "isolated" to others.

But many prefer to feel right in the middle of everything. And I feel BWI will give you more of this sort of feeling. In my opinion, the balcony is a huge plus for this resort. You are comparing a moderate to a deluxe with BWI and POR, and to me, I think if it's in your budget, the deluxe would win out. The room will be larger, you'll have a balcony, you'll be inside a hotel......

 

[jmkrat]

I have stayed at both, and would pick Boardwalk. It is my favorite resort, you can walk to Epcot, you can also walk to MGM but it is a bit of a hike. That is where the boat comes in handy. The whole atmosphere of the Boardwalk is magical. The POR was ok, I did like it well enough. If you can afford the deluxe, that is my choice.

 

[kapoof]

bwi, it is sooo nice. plus the short walk to epcot and mgm is better than waiting for a bus.

 

[bellebud]

Bellebud,
Was this during your entire stay ? I've never stayed at the POFQ, but I have at POR and there was most definitely a morning bus to MGM. Did the FQ state they didn't offer an MGM bus ? Because this sounds odd ?



I don't know if this was every day, or a fluke. I was even questioning dh (like i didn't believe him) because dd and I stayed behind and went to another park so I wasn't with them. I thought he must have gotten the info wrong... he said the bus driver told him that, and a resort CM standing at the bus stop told him that too. They both said in the mornings they didn't have an mgm bus, but they did in the afternoons. I still thought this sounded too odd to be true. I should have questioned the front desk that evening, just for my own curiosity. we didn't try mgm again that trip, so i can't be sure about the other days. I remember once at the WL, the bellman told me they didn't have a boat to MK anymore, and if we wanted to go we had to take a bus. I questioned him a couple of times because i just couldn't believe it... he was ''certain' about his info. I went in and asked the front desk, and they said "of course we have the boat"... I let them know who the bellman was and that he was giving out wrong info so he could be told the correct info. I have to say, i would have been very mad if we took the bus. I really find at WDW, if you ask 3 cm's the same question, often you'll get 3 different answers. I really love most cm's, and maybe it's just a breakdown of communication between workers. so... who knows about the mgm bus at POFQ... I don't even want to tell dh it might have been wrong info... he'd blow a gasket for sure!

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

We are trying to decide between POR and BWI for a December trip with our 7 year old GS.

We spent a week at AKL last November (Jersey Week)and found it to be isolated. I'm concerned that POR will be similar.

We are leaning towards BWI because of convenience (restaurants, shops) and proximity to the parks.

Planning to go the week of Dec 10th (after Pop Warner) so the crowds should be lighter and that won't be a issue.

Any and all opinions are very much appreciated !

We stayed at the BWI this past January and we absolutely loved it! It was such a fun place to be at night and the funnel cake was really good!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

We stayed at the BWI this past January and we absolutely loved it! It was such a fun place to be at night and the funnel cake was really good!!

Ok Karen....can u please fill me in on where you can find the funnel cake ?

 

[byoung]

BWI gets my vote, but I am a BWV owner.

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

Ok Karen....can u please fill me in on where you can find the funnel cake ?

Maria, the funnel cake is located right near where the MGM/EPCOT ferries dock. If you are walking out of the main building go to the left and you will see a little "house". There is the funnel cake!! YUMMY!! Just an FYI, if you go and get funnel cake make sure you are not wearing black especially if it is windy. The powdered sugar blows all over you if it is windy!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Maria, the funnel cake is located right near where the MGM/EPCOT ferries dock. If you are walking out of the main building go to the left and you will see a little "house". There is the funnel cake!! YUMMY!! Just an FYI, if you go and get funnel cake make sure you are not wearing black especially if it is windy. The powdered sugar blows all over you if it is windy!

Thanks Karen ! I can't believe I haven't seen it before. I'll be making a special trip to the funnel cake stand this July.