Disapointed with PORiverside!!

[SAWYERMAW1]

Guess it's just 'different stokes' as we've stayed at AKL and BC but much prefer POFQ. I would even pick POR over AKL and BC.

 

[hAm53]

i'm sorry to hear that you didn't like PoR. Personally I love it there, but to each . . . his own. that's why they have 2478541 resorts to choose from on property.
For those who are now second-guessing staying at someplace they have booked, I say this "You chose it for a reason. Try it." I understand that if you end up not liking a place, it stinks, but how much time are you actually at the hotel?
We stayed at ASMu for in November (thanks to a $49 promo) and I hated it. I've stayed at ASMo and enjoyed that, so I know its not the whole Value vs Mod vs Deluxe comparison. Meanwhile there are people that love ASMu. To me, it just didn't do anything. Luckily we were only there for 3 nights (wedding planning session), and only spent 2.15 hours awake at the resort.
One last thing about POR, out of all the place in WDW for my parents to stay (who haven't been to WDW since it was just the 3 Monorail Resorts), I suggested POR. Knowing full well that its been 15 years since they've been, I think this is the best place in all of WDW (until we try the Poly for the first part of our wedding/honeymoon trip).

 

[DMRick]

you will see that I am also from the Northeast, in a city that many people might think has millions of rude people (which isn't the case!).
**********
Point taken, sorry..I should have gone back and seen who was who! You just had people not talking to you (although I stand by the reasons I gave LOL)..I think it was Mari (but I didn't go look, so hopefully I don't have it wrong again), who said they must have been Northerns. My son lived in your area..and I live much further north. I've not had a problem with people not talking in either aea. Gosh, we're only outside for a few months a year..us northerners will bend anyones ear, we can find!

 

[Loops]

Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy your stay at POR. We stayed there 11/03 and had a room in the Oak Manor and had a magical stay there....we loved POR and will be staying there again in April. From what I've read, they are refurbishing the rooms.

What building did you stay in?

 

[bytheblood]

I love POFQ and I am sure that I would love POR as well.

I think for a lot of people, if you have stayed Deluxe, it is hard to "down-grade" to a mod or value. Please note: I said "a lot of people", I did not classify everybody into one big group.

I love POFQ, will be going back there again in June. My in-laws wanted to do a value...after staying in a mod, I just cannot do a value. This is one of my many reasons I will not stay in a Deluxe. If I did, I could never move back down to a mod.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Laugh O Grams-You really should not have to defend yourself. You just shared what was "your" experience! I am still going to try POR or POFQ in May (well, only if codes come out...if not, we will probably go elsewhere besides WDW.) I really want to try EVERY resort eventually. We will only be going for 2 nights, so if we do not like it...well, we'll know for next time!

I LOVE the WL...and I have read reports from people who hated it, and said they would never stay there again. I don't take it personally...some people like chocolate, some vanilla! Also, sometimes folks just have a bad experience.

Thanks for your review.

 

[bytheblood]

Laugh O Grams-You really should not have to defend yourself. You just shared what was "your" experience! I am still going to try POR or POFQ in May (well, only if codes come out...if not, we will probably go elsewhere besides WDW.) I really want to try EVERY resort eventually. We will only be going for 2 nights, so if we do not like it...well, we'll know for next time!

I LOVE the WL...and I have read reports from people who hated it, and said they would never stay there again. I don't take it personally...some people like chocolate, some vanilla! Also, sometimes folks just have a bad experience.

Thanks for your review.

Very nicely put!

 

[llrain]

But im being generalized as he/she was with people who stay at moderates.....so could you say the same thing about him/her remarks too

he or she gereralized about what they experienced...I generalized about what i experienced.....

why are mine unfair and his not?

I am glad for being able to go.....But i was only (vaguely using this next word)
defending the moderate resort folk

Its all about jealousy too ...wishin i could stay at WL every time..

Don't you think generalizations about deluxe resort guests is a little uncalled for and unfair? I know I've read posts on these boards about people of very meager means that saved and saved and saved just to have an over the top experience at a deluxe vs. going twice to a lesser resort. While the average guest at a deluxe resort probably is higher income, that doesn't mean they think the world is owed to them. Remember, less than half of the very wealthy people in this country have inherited money, which means that someone in their family actually had to work hard for it. I also don't think many people would consider Disney World a place to come to be catered to. There are plenty of other destinations that would do that better.

Instead of hardening your heart against people you don't know, just be glad for the fact that you have been able to experience Disney at all. It is a very pricey vacation regardless of where you stay and the majority of people will never, ever go there! How sad! Imagine what a happier place our world would be if everyone could be a kid again (at heart) at Disney for a short time in the span of their lives.

 

[DMRick]

I don't have any problem with anyone telling about a resort (in fact, I love to hear all about people's views on resorts)..we just keep going between POP (grands love the All Stars and picked POP for this trip as something new) and POR, as those are what appeals to us...and I sure don't care if someone doesn't like POR..all the more room for me. Certainly, if your room is found in less than stellar condition, that should be reported..both to the management, and to us, to let us know how it was handled. But if it's not reported, how will they know? Also, some things should be known in advance, such as size of beds and rooms, and the size of the resort, and how far away you could be from a food court or bus (we can walk from anywhere in POR in about 10 minutes..unless we are strolling just to stroll). I don't understand someone saying the beds are small, and that being a reason to not like it, when all the literature gives the bed sizes. Same with room sizes. They are what they are, and I'm sure they feel even smaller, when coming from a deluxe. Also, as far as talking in the hallways..well, POR doesn't have hallways, as I mentioned earlier. That's a feature of the deluxes. But what I don't care for, is when groups of people are generalized about. The people visiting the resorts are just people, and could show up at any resort at any time. That said, not everyone will enjoy all the resorts all the time. As I said earlier, that's why they make so many different ones.

 

[exwdwcm]

Where are my AKL bretheren?!? I need help!!! All these people saying bad thinks about MY resort. Bad CM's, bad mousekeeping, dark rooms, snotty people...sheesh!! It's amazing anyone would even consider AKL! Had I known that I was going up against the POR Mafia, I wouldn't have posted anything! Seriously, I love the exchange of ideas that this board provides. I've said it many times before, but I really enjoy the DIS!

LOL! i hope someday to experience AKL--i've only visited the resort to check it out, never stayed though, i actually have heard tons of great things about it too. and hey, i actually dig dark rooms after a long day in the park! who's to say that is a bad thing?

 

[bethbuchall]

Where are my AKL bretheren?!? I need help!!! All these people saying bad thinks about MY resort. Bad CM's, bad mousekeeping, dark rooms, snotty people...sheesh!! It's amazing anyone would even consider AKL! Had I known that I was going up against the POR Mafia, I wouldn't have posted anything! Seriously, I love the exchange of ideas that this board provides. I've said it many times before, but I really enjoy the DIS!

Even though you are being tongue-in-cheek, I think you hit the nail on the head here. I think that people get defensive when they hear negative reports about a place they enjoyed. It's almost like they are hearing that they must have bad taste or judgment or that they aren't intelligent/perceptive enough to notice the negatives.

I know that I cringe whenever I hear people say how they would never stay in a resort that I have had a great time at.

So far we have stayed at the CR, Poly, POR (when it was Dixie Landings), CBR, and off-site over the past 14 years. There isn't a single one that I wouldn't do again, and I'm looking forward to trying others!

Beth

 

[jeancbpugh]

We didn't like PO-R or PO-FQ. We liked CS.
We love the Poly, AKL, BC, and Swan.
Next to try: Contemporary.

Different strokes

 

[estnh]

Just noticed this thread, and have to throw my two cents in in defense of one of our favorite resorts. As certified Disney nuts, we have stayed at many of the Moderate and Deluxe resorts, including PoR, POFQ, AKL, Poly, WL, Yacht Club, CB, and CS.

They all have their own unique charm, but the Port Orleans resorts are wonderful in their own right. We have stayed at both the mansions and AB, and found both sections to be everything we wanted in a Disney resort. As compared to AKL, we prefer POR, just because we like the location better.

I would urge anyone who is considering not staying at Port Orleans because of something they read on a message board to take it with a grain of salt.

For us, POR is a beautiful place, overflowing with Disney magic!

 

[Pugsley]

From some of the reports on the DIS I didn’t even want to stay at AKL, but I tried it anyway and just got back a couple of days ago. It was AWESOME! Everyone was very friendly -- guests and CMs. We were upgraded to savannah view, our room was lovely, maid service was great and we even got towel animals every day. How amazing to get to sit on your balcony and watch giraffes, zebras, gazelles grazing just a few feet away.

It’s certainly not the resort’s fault if the guests aren’t friendly. It’s all the luck of the draw as far as good guests and CMs – I don’t think it has much to do with the resort. I think peoples’ views on each resort have a lot to do with their mood while they’re there or how their day goes. An encounter with one bad CM or guest, a rainy day, a crowded park, can put a damper on the whole experience. I’ve stayed at nine Disney resorts, including value, moderate and deluxe and have enjoyed them all. But I will say that POR & POFQ are my least favorite. That’s mainly because the theming just isn’t my cup of tea. And the POR food court was so crowded when I was there that I couldn’t stand to be in there. But we had to eat there since we couldn’t get breakfast in the restaurant without waiting for an hour (and this was at around 10am).

 

[dreamflight99]

POR is what it is. A beautiful moderate in the middle of being refurbished.

ITA...and, IMHO...POR is a DELUXE with a MODERATE PRICE! We never experienced a BAD stay at POR. We usually only stay Deluxe, but years ago...always included the POR in our plans. Everything posted here regarding the ambience can not be denied. The landscaping and theming of this place is phenomenal. I met some of the nicest people ever...while doing laundry near oak manor. Some are truly loyal fans, returning each summer for 3-4 weeks! It's simply a matter of preference. You'll find all types of people, from every economic background, staying at each WDW resort. VIVA POR!

 

[mybgirl]

FOR ALL OF US , HAVE A GREAT VACTION!!!!!!!!


HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Cindybell]

I am staying at POR this June and I am not worried one bit about it bieng a mod as opposed to a delux. I have stayed a CBR, ASMu, and AKL at Disney and RPR at Universal. I find that unless you are staying at a 5 star hotel in the President's suite that has the grand piano and fire place in the living room that basically all hotel/resort rooms are the same. Some may have bigger beds or a little more space or you may even get a newspaper put under your door in the morning but but as long as they are clean there is not much difference. The thing that does matter to me is the theming and the amenities such as the pool and places to eat. As far as the people being rude and not very helpful well that can happen anywhere. I plan to enjoy my stay at Disney and just be glad I am there. POR seems to have a lot of things I like at a resort which is water that I can enjoy seeing sparkling in the morning sun, beautiful foliage and flowers that I can admire as I walk down the path to my room, and activities such as fishing and bike riding that I and my family can enjoy when not in the parks. I really loved the animals at AKL but I do not feel like I am settling to go to POR only trying out something different.

 

[MAC3]

Arrrrgh! I am so confused! We usually stay at WL, and have stayed at AKL once and LOVED it! we stayed at CSR on our first trip and were very happy there...but now we are afraid to go back to a mod after staying at deluxes! We were planning an anniversary trip...just DH and I..and we were gonna stay at POFQ or POR but now I am having second thoughts!

I too am confused WLL but I want still want to try it myself. If I were you though maybe you should book 2 resorts (not sure what the cancellation policy is) then if you want to change you can.

Anyway as much as I have read about this resort I am still going to give it a try (others have complained about how spread out CS is ) and we tried it last April and Loved it! We even requested Ranchos) I would have tried it again but wanted to try another.

After I've tried them all, I will chose my favorite.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hiya mac!

If we go in May I will let you know what I think! Honestly...if we are going for a romantic anniversary trip, I am sure we will be just fine wherever we stay! We just need a nice, private room and a lounge nearby...and we are good to go! LOL!

 

[smjj]

Having stayed at the Poly and WL and POR and several others I can say that POR is a bargin. We loved it. We stayed in AB bldg. 14. The resort is very relaxing and bueatiful. The location is great and the restaurants are very good. You should expect better service at a 6 key resort, you are paying quite a bit more for it. I would not hesitate to stay at POR again. I never saw any mold or postage size beds either. I have read other threads where folks were complaining about mold in 6 key resorts. I guess with all the rooms and people there are going to be those who find mold somewhere. I just wish POR was part of DVC which we just joined. I would try and stay there...smjj