Disapointed with PORiverside!!

[keith-atl]

Don't let this discourage anyone from staying at a moderate or POR. The wonderful thing about Disney is they have resorts to suit all tastes.

I've stayed at deluxes and moderates and quite frankly prefer moderates right now.

If the theming appeals to you don't worry about it. Everyone is looking for something different on their vacation.

Thanks for the post though. I like reading about everyone's experiences.

Stayed at all 3 and right now we are trying all the resorts for fun, but to be honest my favorate is WL and next is PoP 3rd is POFQ, so I guess it doesnt matter. I think AKL is nice, found the room to be a bit small but overall it was nice, as well was POFQ so its really a personal thing I believe.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

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....

I was surprised by this whole generalization just because I drove through the northeast last year on a two week road trip, just to see everything (including NYC!) and never got the impression that people were colder than normal. In fact, I was surprised at how nice Manhattanites were (and I LOVED Mass!). I lived in the midwest for several years and felt pretty isolated there, I thought the people in mid country were much colder than either of the coasts, but just my (humble) experience! (not trying to offend anyone, could've have just been the people I lived around--I don't want to specify the state as to unfairly paint w/ my subjective experience)
On this note, what I LOVED about WDW is the friendly guests. Most seem very happy, vacationing with their families. DL seems much more like a commuter park without the hyper-excited families-everywhere feel. That's what I missed most when I visited DL after spending several years going to the world.
Oh, and I prefer POFQ to the POR, but it was because POR was not refurbished when I went, and it looked like it was due. POFQ had just been redone when we stayed, and it was divine! And more compact, which was easier for my little one. Anyway, we usually stay deluxe and loved POFQ, but I'd probably still return to deluxe whenever I had the money saved.

 

[GrannyEv]

sorry you had such a terrible room. I found the resort to be excellent. Have stayed at value and moderate and have never had a problem with the rooms.

 

[newfamilyluvsdisney]

my dh and I stayed at POR for our honeymoon and absolutely loved it. We had nothing but good experiences from the other guests to the CMs, and our room was lovely. Everyone has a different opinion, sometimes you just have to see for yourself, but we say give it a shot there is nothing wrong with "moderate" resorts.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I was surprised by this whole generalization just because I drove through the northeast last year on a two week road trip, just to see everything (including NYC!) and never got the impression that people were colder than normal. In fact, I was surprised at how nice Manhattanites were (and I LOVED Mass!). I lived in the midwest for several years and felt pretty isolated there, I thought the people in mid country were much colder than either of the coasts, but just my (humble) experience!

Oh man!!! Call out all of the Ohioans and Michiganers!!! There's going to be blood on the thread tonight!!!

Speaking for all Manhattanites, we appreciate the props and hope you come back and visit us again soon! The negative, angry, pushy New Yorker image is really just an urban myth perpetuated by the miserable citizens of Boston who are jealous of our fair city!
Jokes, people...jokes! I kid because I love!

 

[nhpooh]

Oh man!!! Call out all of the Ohioans and Michiganers!!! There's going to be blood on the thread tonight!!!

Speaking for all Manhattanites, we appreciate the props and hope you come back and visit us again soon! The negative, angry, pushy New Yorker image is really just an urban myth perpetuated by the miserable citizens of Boston who are jealous of our fair city!
Jokes, people...jokes! I kid because I love!

You just opened up another can of worms, with "the miserable citizens of Boston" thing. I do live in New Hampshire but work in Boston. We are not miserable.

Some people can't take a joke so watch out

 

[cyndibelle]

hubby and i just got back from por riverside last week and i would have to say we were very dissapointed also.....our room was nice...but the area overall was disappointing....we thought there would be some sort of music playing on the grounds...none....we found the people there to be rude also..no one in particular...just in general....the bus system was awful...we thought for sure that we would have a hard time staying at pop again with the kids..but now there is no doubt that pop is for us....hubby and i are going back the beginning of june before our family trip in october and we will definitely we staying at pop...

 

[cobbler]

Oh man!!! Call out all of the Ohioans and Michiganers!!! There's going to be blood on the thread tonight!!!

Not to be rude or cold but its MichiganDers. You forgot the D

ETA:
Just a general comment to anyone thinking of trying Riverside
I enjoyed Riverside very much when I stayed in '03. Bottom line is different strokes for different folkes. Don't let one persons expirence deter you from trying it. Sure there are good things and bad things that happen at all resorts, the world isn't perfect. But everyone has their own preferences and you won't know if you like it or not unless you try

 

[Alicnwondrln]

POSTED BY MARI ANNIE on page 2
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)
having experienced life down South, there's a HUGE HUGE difference
a VERY VERY PLEASANT difference.
People here are cold, distant and not friendly for sure.
Even my kids say it.

I would have to say this is not true
I was born in Boston and have lived here all my life and I dont feel that I am this way or are many people I know
i think you could say there are mean and cranly people everywhere not just in the northeast its to much of a generalization

this is just my take on your comments
as for the OP
I have never stayed at the POR but this thread makes me wanna try it
as for AKL i visited there in Sept when I was staying at the WL (which i loved) and wasnt that impressed but it doesnt mean i wouldnt try it
my DH wants to go there so its probably our next stop

 

[nhpooh]

In Sept of this year we will be going to Orlando for a conference. We will be staying at PBH at US. Then for the last half of our stay I would like to stay at POFQ, DH thinks just for three nights would be good. From what I have read on these board I am looking forward to going to POFQ.

 

[Luigi's Girl]

In April 2000 we stayed in the Mansions of what used to be called Dixie Landings (now POR) . We thought the resort was beautiful and enjoyed it very much. Unfortunately for us on a future trip in November of 2002 we stayed in the AB section with my DD's dance studio and were very dissappointed. It wasn't anything like our earlier stay and in desperate need for refurbishment. The food court was also not up to par in many areas (like no coffee and milk, slow workers, not so clean, ect.). We were very surprised to see it that way. We became DVC owners in 2001 and had a trip home at VWL in between the two stays I mentioned and it just reinforced the notion that joining DVC was one of the best things we've ever done.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

We stayed at POR last August and our rooms were BEAUTIFUL! I think they had just been re-furbished. The rooms were big and airy. We found the people we met at the pool area etc GREAT! We had nothing but great things to say about the hotel. We will be staying there again in July. We have in the past stayed at the POLY and yes, I can honestly say it is nicer...but it more $ I have enjoy the POR and I think you get more than you pay for.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

We have in the past stayed at the POLY and yes, I can honestly say it is nicer...but it more $ I have enjoy the POR and I think you get more than you pay for.

I agree with the cost versus what you get at PO Riverside or French Quarter (given what I paid at these stays was about 79$ a night which is considerably less than some who stay during holiday season at 199$). For about a hundred a night you get beautiful grounds and theming, boat access to DD, great pools, better than average rooms (our room at POFQ was much nicer than our POR room, but that was because the former had just gone through refurbishment while the latter had not).

I definately felt like POFQ was worth more than 79 a night during our last stay, absolutely. It was a deal

 

[nwdisgal]

I am a Refurbished Room groupie... If it is recently renovated, I follow it. That said, I went to CBR shortly after it was done and loved it, and would like to try POR now too. Sorry OP ended up with an old alligator room. Just skimmed some remarks on this thread about New Englanders. Actually, I've lived my whole life in the West, but my parents and siblings are from the East. Also met made many friends from that part of the US, actually some of my closest friends. I especially love my friends from NY. As one guy friend from Queens told me, "In NY we're not rude, we just walk with a purpose." I loved that comment.

Everything is a balance act and you have to weigh peoples opinions out. I just go with my gut feel, reading DIS, checking lots of different sources. Also, I visit the resorts on foot when I can, ask to see the rooms and get a good look at the lobby and common areas. I have actually selected places for future trip - AKL, YC, Swan, etc. on my own past visits and observations. Resorts go through cycles and after a renovation, general wear and tear eventually takes over making places look more run down. It's funny, because I went to HRH shortly after it opened, saw peeling wallpaper and things I didn't like and figured the property was going to be run down in a short time. Now I read about it on the boards, and am not surprised with negative comments on room condition...There is always going to be a minimum standard for places like GF were there is such a premium to stay there. People aren't going to be too happy if things start falling apart and will express their concern faster than maybe they would at a $49 a night place.

$79 a night at a mod is a great value for the amount that you are getting (the whole experience). Disney mods are much more in line with a deluxe someplace else, IMO.