Disapointed with PORiverside!!

[AOPI57]

We are DVC members and still stay at POR and POFQ. We just love the atmosphere at these 2 resorts. We check into POFQ or POR for a few nights at the beginning or the end of our stay at a DVC resort. There is definitely a difference going from a 1or 2 bedroom to a standard room. But my family always wants to spend a few days at POFQ-our favorite - or POR. These were our first on site resorts we stayed at when the kids were small- now they're all teenagers and still enjoy them. Problems or wonderful experiences can occur at any resort- no matter how much you pay for the room.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

imho the delux patrons are very snotty people who think the world is owed to them.

no looking up no smiling nothing...are u sure u werent still at the akl..
the moderates happen to be where more "normal" "families" go who arent snotty and seem to be more happy and content rather than complaining about the bad batch of cosmos they got from their waiter...

we have more interaction with other families at moderates than any other because they are more down to earth

Sorry i disagree, my DH and i pushed the boat out and blew our budget to stay at the wonderful Poly last summer. We are not snotty and never complain unless there is huge reason. We had honeymoon on our reservation and did not get anything special and that is fine i had a wonderful time anyway. This year I am going to POR for the first time because I simply can't afford the Poly. I hope that will be just as wonderful.

 

[TN Traveler]

While I don't have the experience staying in multiple resorts at Disney I will admit I absolutely positively loved POR when we went Memorial Day week last year (2004). While I agree it is somewhat spread out I think this is a nice touch. My kids loved the smaller pools close to our bldg and I liked having the laundromat near the pool so I could keep an eye on the girls while I washed clothes. I would definitely stay there again...and being a travel agent, I will definitely recommend it to my clients.
But you know what........we're talking Disney here........how can you not have a wonderful time!!

Karen aka TN Traveler

 

[invaderzim]

Sorry, but I agree with the original poster. We stayed at Dixie Landings (now Port Orleans French Quarter) in 1996 for 14 days and thought we were in paradise. Pristine, beautiful and comfortable.

In 2000 we stayed at Beach Club as part of the land/sea package and loved that also. But last August we were put up by Disney Cruise line at the old Dixie Landings for one night because of delays due to Hurricane Francis. At first we were so excited to be able to get back to Dixie Landings again. What a shock! It was dirtier, the stewards and baggage handlers were rude and uncaring and the pool was FILTHY -- there were branches, twigs, leaves and debris floating in it and laying on the bottom. The rooms were not as clean and there were missing tiles and ripped wallpaper and the carpet was in desperate need of a cleaning. I was so disappointed. Not at all like it was 10 years ago for sure. I just hope they get their act together and fix up the moderate resorts cause some of us just can't afford the higher priced ones, but still should expect a decent and clean room from Disney!

 

[nhpooh]

Sorry, but I agree with the original poster. We stayed at Dixie Landings (now Port Orleans French Quarter) in 1996 for 14 days and thought we were in paradise. Pristine, beautiful and comfortable.

In 2000 we stayed at Beach Club as part of the land/sea package and loved that also. But last August we were put up by Disney Cruise line at the old Dixie Landings for one night because of delays due to Hurricane Francis. At first we were so excited to be able to get back to Dixie Landings again. What a shock! It was dirtier, the stewards and baggage handlers were rude and uncaring and the pool was FILTHY -- there were branches, twigs, leaves and debris floating in it and laying on the bottom. The rooms were not as clean and there were missing tiles and ripped wallpaper and the carpet was in desperate need of a cleaning. I was so disappointed. Not at all like it was 10 years ago for sure. I just hope they get their act together and fix up the moderate resorts cause some of us just can't afford the higher priced ones, but still should expect a decent and clean room from Disney!

I have to say something about the pool thing. You were there because of a hurricane don't you think that is why the pool was a mess. Can't say anything about the rooms. But the grounds were not like they should be because of all the hurricanes last year. We were there during Francis and I did see what happened to the grounds of all the resorts. Also, to Orlando itself.

 

[Sammie]

Gee interesting thread, we have the cold unfriendly people who live in the Northeast, to the snobby people who stay at a deluxe resort. I hope I don't run into any Northeasterners staying at the Grand Floridian, my gosh how horrible would they be, Just Kidding based on comments earlier in this thread.

Every resort will not appeal to everyone. And it shouldn't. Unclean rooms are not acceptable anywhere. I have found them in value rooms all the way to the deluxe suites. I do think one should know what one is getting in a resort. Deluxe rooms have queen beds, moderates have full. I truely do not see how one can complain about that. It comes with what you paid for, as does the outside corridors, smaller rooms, etc.

As to the comment about unfriendly guests, maybe they picked up vibes that the OP was not glad to be there, where as at the AKL the OP was happy and satisfied.

Both are great resorts, both have been visited by many that have had wonderful stays and will do so in the future.

I don't care for the decor of the AKL but I would never hestitiate to recommend it to someone that might enjoy it.

As to unclean rooms I would only have one for as long as it took to have someone come clean it properly. As to any comments made about the conditions of Disney resorts during or after the hurricanes, well I can only say they leave me speechless.

 

[lotte]

Let's not forget, different strokes for different folks! We have stayed at several deluxes and still love POR and POFQ. I will admit, we absolutely hate Fort Wilderness, just not our style. Even WL is not my first choice. I would stay at POFQ anytime!

 

[lotte]

Excuse me Sammie --- "cold, unfriendly people who live in the Northeast" Not a nice remark to us that do live there!

 

[Sammie]

Excuse me Sammie --- "cold, unfriendly people who live in the Northeast" Not a nice remark to us that do live there!

I truely wish people would read the entire thread before commenting. It was a joke made about a earlier comment in the thread made by some one that lives there. Just as there was a comment about snobby people who stay in deluxe resorts.

It was a light hearted attempt to lighten up the thread based on previous comments made by others. Did you not see the wink icon?

I don't make generalizations about anyone based on where they live, rude people can live anywhere.

 

[lotte]

I did read the entire thread, did not get the impression you were referring to a previous thread. Guess I didn't see that one. Oh well, no ill feelings about it! After all, we are talking about the happiest place on earth!

 

[Sammie]

I did read the entire thread, did not get the impression you were referring to a previous thread. Guess I didn't see that one. Oh well, no ill feelings about it! After all, we are talking about the happiest place on earth!

It was said in this thread, not a previous one, page 2. by someone living there.

The quote was:
"The people you probably encountered on your passing where probably from New England (I can say this I was born here and lived here most of my life)."

 

[Hawk]

Take what you read here with a grain of salt (sometimes a very large grain) unless there is substantial evidence to the contrary. When someone gives a negative review, look and see how many times they have been to the resort. A one time trip means nothing. A number of extenuating circumstances can make a resort look bad to any particular individual.

POR is a lovely resort, look below at "our" evidence. Thus far, we have been to each "grade of resort" and to us (and only us) POR is our favorite. (FYI - DxL is the former name of POR) When you visit, you will make your determination. That will be your "rating" of the resort.

Negative reviews here are a dime a dozen. Many are trying to justify the visits to their favorite resort. The reasonable attitude is that Disney is not going to run an operation that is so unsatisfactory to an individual that its reputation is tarnished. Too many on these boards respond with attitudes favorable to each and every resort so as to make the "bad resort" determination as less than convincing.

Don't let run of the mouth undo what could otherwise be a very merry vacation. Find out for yourselves. Enjoy your vacation and feel good about your selection of accommodations.

Tim/Hawk

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I have to say something about the pool thing. You were there because of a hurricane don't you think that is why the pool was a mess. Can't say anything about the rooms. But the grounds were not like they should be because of all the hurricanes last year. We were there during Francis and I did see what happened to the grounds of all the resorts. Also, to Orlando itself.

Deja Vu...I remember reading a terrible post about the GF. I couldn't believe it because the poster was saying that the GF had totally gone downhill...debris everywhere all over the grounds, leaves in the pool, brush under the poolside lounges, overturned patio furniture, missing white lights around the building's trim...There was NO WAY I could imagine the GF being maintained like that, and then I realized they must have gone right after the hurricanes. That would exactly explain the kind of scene they were describing.

Too bad for them to have misjudged the resort by a one-time visit. Had they tried it again, they most likely would have seen the pristine grounds that I always encounter there.

 

[lovethattink]

We had one bad experience out of 4 stays at POR. Knowing now what I know in retrospect, I would have notified the housekeeping manager immediately. It did not take long for them to rectify the problem once we finally reported it.

 

[ChrislovesMinnie]

POFQ is the only way to go. I would not even consider POR.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hawk-Wow, I guess you REALLY like POR! And isn't is funny that Chrislovesminnie is so adamant about POFQ? Now I am going crazy trying to decide between the two!

I already booked a room, POFQ water view (I am going to call back and REQUEST "riverview") for the first weekend in May (which I am noticing is Mother's day!) It was $185 (incl taxes.) I think that is TOOOOO MUCH! I thought the mods were like...I dunno...$130 a night? Last time I stayed at CSR (5 years ago) I got an FL res rate of $84. When I stay at WL on a FL res rate (In the autumn and in Dec or Jan) I pay around $130, so I just can't see myself paying that much. Is that what most of you pay to stay at POFQ or POR?

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread (although it has already taken several turns previously) but just wanting some thoughts on this from people "in the know."

 

[invaderzim]

I have to say something about the pool thing. You were there because of a hurricane don't you think that is why the pool was a mess. Can't say anything about the rooms. But the grounds were not like they should be because of all the hurricanes last year. We were there during Francis and I did see what happened to the grounds of all the resorts. Also, to Orlando itself.

Oh, believe me, I was well aware of the hurricane and the damage it did. I'm from Florida and lived through many. My point is that if they made the decision to open the pool for the hotel guests, they should have taken the time to clean it out first. The hurricane had passed two days before, and in my opinion they had plenty of time to clean out the pool -- or not open it. A resort normally does a daily cleaning anyway. It looked to us like they hadn't bothered to clean it in two days. We were actually stepping on twigs and branches laying on the bottom, there were cigarette butts and paper-type products (kleenex and napkins) also in the water.

 

[goofy4tink]

We love POR. Loved it when it was DxL. Yes, some of the rooms are in need of rehab, but they are doing it slowly. It's hard to rehab a whole resort without shutting it down, as they did with PO-FQ (before it was FQ). We have always had good service at POR. We love the theming.

As far as how spread out it is versus the deluxes....how much walking are you doing every day anyway. You're in the parks, walking mile after mile. What's another 1/4 mile at the resort. And for those of you that don't think there are any walks involved in the deluxes....try having one of the out there rooms at BW...you hit your target heart rate getting to some of those rooms!!

So, while the main part of our stays will be at DVC resorts, we will always add on to the end, or start, of our stay with a value or moderate resort. We have had no issues whatsoever moving 'down'. It's all about expectations....if you stay at a value, knowing that you won't have queen size beds, or a full service restaurant, or pool slides...then you'll be fine. We have found some of the most pleasant CMs at the value and moderate resorts. Some of the best housekeeping also. It doesn't always follow that the more you pay, the better your experience. Your experience is mostly what you make it.

And Sammie...as a northerner...I got what you were saying. No offense taken by this northerner!!

 

[inluvwithdisney]

I agree about the Pool thing! We stayed at the POLY in September between Ivan and Jeanne and the pool at the POLY was horribly dirty too! I still loved the Poly and figured it was due to the hurricanes!! We saved big time to stay at the POLY but felt it was nice but no better than OUR experience at the POR a year earlier!!

As said before everyone likes different things!!

 

[HANDYMOM]

Excuse me Sammie --- "cold, unfriendly people who live in the Northeast" Not a nice remark to us that do live there!

Sammie's comments were completely "tongue in cheek" He/she was actually poking fun as some of the other generalizations made.

It looks like you're pretty new to the boards, welcome. You do need to take some time to get to "know" the other posters before you become defensive. While there are some that make unflattering generalizations, they are the exception and not the rule.

By the way. I was born and raised in Mass. and have spent the last 12 years way down south so I could speak to this subject but I won't so at not to hurt anyones feelings....