Disappointed - back from POR

[becca011906]

isn't parking free at the parks if you stay at a resort on property?

yes

See i have a lot to learn... onsite first timer!!!! LOL

 

[helenk]

doesnt POR share the buses with OKW too ??

No, the POR and POFQ share buses, OKW does not share buses with any other resort.

 

[nklooz]

I am sorry to hear so many people had a bad experience with the busses. I was actually really worried about them before we went, but, we had literally wonderful experiences, not one problem or long wait, not once.

 

[SGMCO]

Oh no! We are staying at POR at the end of Februray and this has been my assumption too. Yikes! I wonder if we should change resorts.

I wouldn't Change--just because some had problems the time they stayed
doesn't mean there will be problems the time you are there.
Read any resort thread and there will be someone complaining about the busses
so it not just POR or POFQ.
If you change you may be getting into a worse bus situation.
While we were there we had ADRs to eat at BOMAs in AKL and went
to catch a bus at DTD hub 1 hour latter a bus finally showed up after several
busses for other resorts (including PO) had come and gone, while all of us
waited in a severe thunderstorm, getting soaking wet (even under the AKL platform).
So AKL is also having problems with their busses.
We had left extra early because we wanted to look around the Lobby at AKL
but by the time we got there we had to get seated.
That time I wish I would have got back on one of the several busses
that were heading back to PO.

 

[Amyshubby]

Wow. We are staying at POFQ next month. I follow these boards pretty closely and hadn't heard of such bad bus problems before. We rented a car from priceline so we don't have to use the busses, but from I had read previously we were still planning on using them to get to the MK so could bypass the transportation center. Now I'm thinking we might be better off driving to MK as well???

 

[peyjax]

I wouldn't Change--just because some had problems the time they stayed
doesn't mean there will be problems the time you are there.
Read any resort thread and there will be someone complaining about the busses
so it not just POR or POFQ.
If you change you may be getting into a worse bus situation.
While we were there we had ADRs to eat at BOMAs in AKL and went
to catch a bus at DTD hub 1 hour latter a bus finally showed up after several
busses for other resorts (including PO) had come and gone, while all of us
waited in a severe thunderstorm, getting soaking wet (even under the AKL platform).
So AKL is also having problems with their busses.
We had left extra early because we wanted to look around the Lobby at AKL
but by the time we got there we had to get seated.
That time I wish I would have got back on one of the several busses
that were heading back to PO.

That is true, but I think that POR is notorious for being one of the worst.

I would agree not to change resorts based just on the busses and yes you will get different views on the bus situation. However I must say that if the bus situation is important to you, you might want to way your options. Take a car or be prepared to take taxis?? I would say have an open mind, but I thought we did and boy did we have numerous bad experiences. Lets just say the bad outweighed the good. We were extatic when the bus quickly came and we actually had room to stand!! Please don't let it ruin your trip, just go with the mindset you might have to wait and give yourself extra extra time to get places! I know people complain a lot on these boards and others will tell you to ignore them, but the I think the majority are right on this one. Please don't think I am trying to scare you out of staying there. I just want you to be prepared for the what it will more than likely be like and if it is not bad then you can be pleasantly surprised.

 

[Schmeck]

It's not enjoyable having to stand on buses to and from resorts everyday. Also it's not easy trying to stand with a stroller and holding up a 2 1/2 year old child. I saw so many children having to stand on buses that it made me sick to watch grown adults not willing to give up their seat and watch a child in front of them fall due to the bus in motion. People in my case are just selfish and rude. I with WDW had a policy that all children at least under 5 years needed to have a seat. Sorry got off on that subject.

When I have needed a seat on the bus, I have waited until the next bus arrives. Everyone has that option. There are times when I can just not stand on the bus. My leg would collapse, and I'd fall on someone.

If WDW had a policy that children under 5 had to sit, but the bus seats were already full, then you'd have to wait for the next bus anyways. It is the parent's choice to get on that bus. Don't blame others for a poor decision.

 

[Miz Diz]

Oh no! We are staying at POR at the end of Februray and this has been my assumption too. Yikes! I wonder if we should change resorts.

I've stayed at POR twice and POFQ once and we never had any trouble with the buses, but our stays were in Sept, Jan, Feb months and those are not usually that busy. I would not change resorts. POR is my favorite moderate.

The worse bus experiences we have ever had was at Old Key West and CBR.

 

[mom22boys]

I've stayed at POR twice and POFQ once and we never had any trouble with the buses, but our stays were in Sept, Jan, Feb months and those are not usually that busy. I would not change resorts. POR is my favorite moderate.

The worse bus experiences we have ever had was at Old Key West and CBR.

That makes me feel so much better. We thought the buses were great at Old Key West!

 

[scottny]

I stayed at POR in July and the busses were great. never waited longer than 15 minutes at MGM for the bus. I am going again next month and staying there again so we shall see.

 

[Tink415]

Sorry you had a bad experience. We just got back from POR. I really can't say bus service was bad although we did drive our car often this trip. No doubt, buses are very crowded for this resort but we never had to wait too long. My 74 year old Dad rode the bus once by himself and said he was not riding alone again, just too crowded and confusing. On the 14th leaving EPCOT after evening EMH the bus line was huge but at least 3 buses pulled up one after the other and we got on the 3rd bus. When I saw the line I looked for a cab but there were none around at that time. If the buses hadn't pulled up one after the other I would not have been happy.

It would be nice if the resort that got picked up first could be rotated. It does get old not getting a seat on the bus at POR because its already full.

 

[maxiesmom]

In our experience, the best transportation has been at the YC/BC or AKL. We also had pretty good service at CBR, not perfect....but we didn't have those horrendous waits at the parks. The worst...WL and POFQ/POR.

And for me, the bus service at the Beach Club was the pits! So bad that I would never stay there again without my own car. Not only do you share with the other Boardwalk area resorts, but the rides to MK and AK are long!

Just goes to show that different people will have different bus experiences.

 

[Lilolvr]

We were terribly disappointed in the bus service here and will not return because of it.

I feel the same way. For me, CSR has some of the best transportation of any resort. Quick rides to all the parks and no sharing with another resort.

 

[Markstudy]

I saw so many children having to stand on buses that it made me sick to watch grown adults not willing to give up their seat and watch a child in front of them fall due to the bus in motion. People in my case are just selfish and rude..

Yep.... I don't understand why a mother with 3 little kids, doesn't wait for the next bus. Our bus was packed and full... Yet Super Mom packed her 3 little one's on, instead of waiting for the next bus so her kids could get seats.

No one got up to offer the kids seats because we were so packed in, there wasn't room to move. But also we all felt that Mom should have thought for a minute and been the 1st group on the next bus instead of rushing and putting her kids in a dangerous situation.

She was selfish and rude, to all of us already on the bus.

I had it happen twice on my last trip. Second time- the bus was again full and a family of 8 with two senior citizens (who shouldn't stand on a moving bus, they looked very frail)..crammed in at the last minute. They were late to there ADR at DTD

I didn't see anyone get up to offer seats... maybe because the bus was packed full to begin with, but we all watched with horror as the group just ignored the problems their older parents where having standing on the way to DTD. (someone should have taken a cab)

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

This resort was a possibility for our 2nd trip but this talk of the bus situation is making me wonder if we should reconsider. The trips to the parks seems OK but the return trip seems to be the trouble. If the lines are just too horrendous are there cabs around at the park exits? I never noticed if there was or not when we were there in Oct as staying at YC we never had any trouble with transportation. We are going on a tighter budget next time but don't mind paying for a cab rather than wait for ages in a bus queue.

 

[Taytorjo]

I wouldn't let that be a reason to keep you from going back to POR. A lot of the Deluxe Resorts actually share buses too and from experience the wait wasn't any better. Next time instead of waiting so long, you could hop on a bus to DTD and pick up the boat or another bus there. It won't take that long, really! We do that sometimes even if there is no wait for the bus, but the bus to DTD or wherever is already there.

 

[brandijo5]

I agree with the bus service. We left MVMCP at 11 and the line for POR was horrendous. There were almost no waits at other resorts; as the busses were pulling off another was pulling up for that resort. We watched three busses leave for WL while waiting for one to POR. And then when it gets there we are jammed pack on the bus like sardines because everyone wants to go home. That was probably the worst of it during our stay, but we drove two days out of five. DH and I strolled around WL one morning and we both decided that is where we will be on our next trip.

 

[brucec32]

Just returned from there too and I agree it's a nice property but I have seen more and more signs of cost cutting and putting the bottom line above "the show". Seems the Eisner departure didn't reverse that trend.

It's still worthy of a trip if you've never been there, but there are far better values for the price if you just want a resort experience and have pretty much seen everything you want to see there.

We go as FL residents in the off season and passes and rooms are far cheaper than the norm. I'd feel like a schmuck paying their normal prices though. I'm not that into the disney magic thing.

Since I hate crowds the experience is actually less fun the more popular the parks are. Around 2001 it was great. Now, even "slow times" are fairly crowded and the constant waiting in line for the little things and having to dodge stroller convoys all day just isn't worth it. As long as they keep the parks filled they will never lower prices, though. Which is fine, just match the premium price with a premium experience.

PS I ran the bus service among other things for a recreational company years ago and I know the first thing you do to cut costs is send buses and drivers home. Disney corporate is just telling customers that a long wait to get back to the room is normal and you should expect it. I don't like standing in lines so I won't be going back any time soon. They made their choice, I've made mine.

I think the most obvious problem was inconsistent employee attitude. Some had what it takes, several obviously didn't give a hoot and it showed.

 

[Buzz2001]

Just got back from POR, while this resort was beautiful and peaceful, I will never return here again. The bus service was worse than I even imagined it could be. I had read bad reviews about the busses, but we're so easy going, that I just figured people who complained were possibly more uptight than us and it couldn't possibly be that bad...boy was I wrong! We picked the bus up at the East Depot, and never had to wait long for a bus, and only had to stand 50% of the time on the way to the parks. However, the rides home were a nightmare. One night at Epcot, we waited and HOUR AND A HALF for a bus. And it wasn't even closing time. Other nights we waited anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour for a bus home. We always looked around, and saw most other resorts bus stops were totally empty, while ours always had 4-5 bus worths of people at it. We were terribly disappointed in the bus service here and will not return because of it.

sorry it wasn't for you. But there is a resort for everyone at WDW.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

sorry it wasn't for you. But there is a resort for everyone at WDW.

There sure is, and this one was not ours, haha! I have stayed at CSR twice and CBR and never had this problem. It was not a busy week so I don't know why this kept happening...there were MANY angry people in line, too which was making it tense. I didn't think the property was exciting enough for me to return anyways, and the bus issue just solidified it. I will continue to stay at CSR, I have always had great transportation luck there.