Changing my mind...

[WendyMichaelJohn]

Hello all. I haven't posted here before but I found a lot of information here that helped us choose POR for our first onsite trip Dec. 4-11. My niece will be attending the Pop Warner Super Bowl, and we decided to join my sister's family, although we'll be staying separately from her group. We do not plan on doing any PW related events however, and would like to avoid the resorts where the PW crowd may be.

All that aside, I was really excited about POR for a long time, but lately I just can't get excited about it. I have also read some negative transportation stories. I feel like I'm back at square one again, and I can't decide anything. The DVD didn't really help because it shows so little of the resorts. I've browsed the allears pics about a million times.

I'm wondering if I need a fresh view of the resort (or all of the resorts.) Are there any other good sites to look at pictures? Should I fight the urge to switch or should we stick with what we've got? Anyone have any suggestions? Should I listen to the little voice telling me to keep looking, or should I stick to my decision? (I'm the plan-maker in the crowd and everyone has given me full control to decide.)

I'm totally confused. We've been booked for months now. Maybe it is just that the excitement has faded?

Any thoughts?

Shelly

 

[sters]

I love the POR! I don't think you'll be disappointed, it has a lot to offer for a moderate resort. About the transportation... yeah, we had some problems and ended up driving our car. The only resort that I can think of that doesn't share busses is Animal Kindgom Lodge, which has an excellent transportation reputation.

 

[bigmerle1966]

Maybe it's just that it is still months away and you are losing some of the excited feeling. I know we started planning our June trip quite awhile ago and I was so excited in the beginning, now I am kind of EHH! about it. I think as you get closer you will get that feeling back. A good thing to get, if you don't already have it, is the Unofficial Guide to Disney World. My sister has it and she says it is a great book to have. She is the planner of our group and is quite obsessed with it.

 

[Kellydelly]

My husband and I stayed at Port Orleans and were very pleased with the room and grounds. I think you will like it!

 

[firstmickey]

Reasons why my family loves POR:


*the resort is beautiful...the grounds are very well kept and it is just so nice to walk around there

* the pools are a lot of fun....my kids love swimming under the waterfalls at Ole Man Island and the water slide . You can get a free life jacket for smaller children at the marina for the length of your stay (just need your room key)
They have towels at the main pool but not the quiet pool
* Love the pool bar....great margaritas

* fishing at the fishing hole (cane pole rental for about $4)

*bike and watercraft rental

* the boat to DTD is an attraction in itself....very nice way to get there

* only 4 bus stops in POR and 1 in FQ (compared to 8 in CBR) and in the first week in Dec. they shouldnt be too crowded ...Look at the bus ride as a time to relax and plan where you are going to go when you get to the parks. The bus drivers are a fountain of disney information....use them as a resource.

* Bob Jackson: the piano player in the River Roost lounge Wed-Sat 7p-12a. Great for adults, families, kids. Fill up your refillable mug with kids drinks and relax and have an adult drink while you laugh at his antics.

*Boatwrights: one of the best kept restaurant secrets on property. Great for breakfast. (costs less to eat a full breakfast there than a full ala carte breakfast in the food court). Dinners were very good there too. And it is not difficult to get a table.

*food court: always clean, I have never seen it very crowded except during the hurricane Charley last year. Has a wide variety of foods. Something for everyone.


* We always stay at the Mansions...we just prefer the look of them. They have the curtain separating the dressing area which is nice for in the morning when kids are sleeping. Rooms are very clean. We have had towel animals hit or miss.


* POR is close to MK, Epcot, and MGM. 5 min bus ride to DTD if you dont want to take the boat. AK is a little longer but still not too bad.



It is just a very beautiful resort with a relaxing atmosphere. It is our favorite.

(we have also stayed at CBR, AKL, POFQ...but we prefer POR).

try here for some other pictures:
http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/pix.asp?curUrl=/media/resortPix/DLext6.jpg&resId=DL&resort

 

[brentalex]

When we stayed at the POR my only complaint was the transportation. It was awful. On the way to the parks, the buses always stopped at POFQ first, so we usually had to stand. One bus driver got lost, he picked us up at the POR bus stop at the MK, but took us to the Dolphin. Now we were there doing school vacation and it was more crowded than it will be when you will be there. However, until my kids are out of school, vacation time is when we can get away, and the transportation will make it so I will never stay there again.

The resort itself was great. Very nice grounds, kids loved the pools, both big pools and the quiet pools. Enjoyed the boat to DTD, liked the bikes.

 

[shirleyb]

We just stayed at POR last week and I really loved it. I did post that I wasn't overly impressed with the transportation, but the beauty of this resort more than makes up for it, in my opinion.

 

[Sally]

I loved POR when we were there last year. If you don't want to wait for the POR bus walk to POFQ, they have one bus stop so they get around a bit quicker. Especially after Wishes take the POFQ bus, short walk down the river to POR. We did it nightly.

 

[firstmickey]

As far as transportation problems go, you have to look at the time of year.

Busy summer months, pretty much no matter where you stay...the transportation is going to be crowded.


In early December when the OP is going, there shouldnt be a whole lot of transportation problems. ( I stayed at CBR in Dec....and even that wasnt too bad with 8 bus stops). You can't let transportation issues ruin your resort stay. I have seen complaints about transportation regarding every single resort.

 

[chill]

I'm in the same position regarding POR. I was so excited in the beginning and now have second thoughts. Its our first trip and the transportation is a concern.We have party of 6 and have booked 2 rooms; hopefully in the mansions. Our first preference was CSR, but no availability! It appears that the resort is very popular! I keep checking daily for availability at CSR.

 

[fairytalelover]

POR is WONDERFUL!!! We loved it!! Everything about it!!! The grounds are gorgeous and relaxing. Out of all the hotels this one has the most ambiance and the themeing is wonderful. The amenities are grand. Great pools, bars, dining, shopping. And the boats to DTD are so fun not to mention that youcan rent a boat and ride around yourself to DTD and that was the best time ever!!!

We went last year in February and we had no problem at all with the transportation. So everyone is right about how it depends on what time of the year you go. But then that will be the case with any hotel there. High season will be crowded everywhere.

And we loved it so much that we are going back next month for our honeymoon!! We could have gone to the more expensive resorts but nothing would be as warm and inviting as POR. By the way,we prefer Riverside and staying at the Mansions.

 

[fairytalelover]

I'm in the same position regarding POR. I was so excited in the beginning and now have second thoughts. Its our first trip and the transportation is a concern.We have party of 6 and have booked 2 rooms; hopefully in the mansions. Our first preference was CSR, but no availability! It appears that the resort is very popular! I keep checking daily for availability at CSR.

What's the big deal about the transportation at POR?? It all depends on time of the year EVERYWHERE. All resorts will be crowded and a bit of a pain during high season and good during low season, period. We went to POR in February and it was low season and so we have no idea what problems you guys are talking about..............because we didnt have any probelms........because it was LOW SEASON.

 

[rileyroosmom]

I've had this resort booked for two different trips and both times I've chickened out and went elsewhere (WL and this trip Poly). From my experience I can say if it doesn't feel right, don't do it.

 

[LorieR]

My DH and I have stayed there three times in the past four years and LOVE it! Hoping to go back for a fourth time before the year is over!!

Lorie

 

[cocodog]

While transportation was not perfect, we enjoyed our stay at POR. Was our second stay there.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've stayed at POR several times and I'm looking forward to finishing up our 9 day trip with 2 nights at POR next month. I certainly wouldn't worry too much about the transportation there. I don't think I have heard of any one resort where people have been completely satisfied with the buses.Try not to forget that this is DisneyWorld and it and it's resorts are very spread out. I have heard people trying to figure out how to beat the long lines for the monorail also...so there is no perfect transportation system there!!

Just be sure to leave yourself enough time to get where you need to be. Don't try using the buses, and expect no wait times, at 7:45 in the morning or at park closings. You are going to have to wait in a line someplace, either at the bus stop or at the park entrance. The only way to avoid this is to leave your resort at 10:30 in the morning or 2 hrs before the park closes.

Relax and take your time. You will love POR...it is a very beautiful resort. Even when it is filled to capacity, you don't feel like there are people swarming all over the place like other resorts.

 

[ValerieK]

We just got back from our first stay at POR. This was our first stay at a Moderate, we usually stay at Deluxe resorts. I have to say that the resort is beautiful. We stayed in the AB section and the landscaping was incredible. We would definitely stay thee again. DH and DS loved the food court, DS especially loved the chocolate chip pancakes in the AM. Our room at POR seemed bigger than our room at WL!

Some of the buses seemed slower, espcially one trip to Epcot and then the ride to AK. Other rides were very quick, including one to MK and Epcot. I think that sometimes things just happen and buses are late. I have had to wait forever at the Deluxe resorts for some buses. I have stayed at the Poly when we have had to pick up/drop off guest at both the Contemporary and GF. And when we stayed at the BC we shared a bus with the BW, Swan, Dolphin and YC.

Don't worry, you will love the resort and think of the bus rides and waiting as part of the adventure! We have had some memorable times on the buses.

 

[Loops]

We just stayed at POR 2 weeks ago. It was our second stay there. The first time we went we had a room in Magnolia Bend (Oak Manor). Our last stay we were in the AB section (building 39). We loved both stays there. The grounds are very nice and relaxing. The boat ride to DTD is nice too. We love the theming there. We didn't have any issues with the bus system. Our first stay it was the third week in November this last time was the last week of April....and it was definetly more crowded.

 

[dgaston]

We chose POR for my extravagant birthday trip. As others have noted, Bob Jackson is great, the boat to DTD is a bonus, and the grounds are beautiful. We haven't been lucky enough to stay in the mansions, but our corner room king bed room in AB was Great! PS Becky and Ike for our carriage ride were wonderful!

 

[wright1baby]

Would you reccomend driving if you have a car? If so, or not for that matter are there certain parks or resteraunts we should or should not drive? Oh my, I have confused myself...