Disappointed - back from POR

[NHTikiBeckie]

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.

 

[maxiesmom]

We had the same problem in October. Bus service to the parks was fine. It was getting back that was the nightmare. You would see only a few people in the other lines, and a bus would come and pick them up. We would wait and wait for a bus, and by the time in came, there would be too many people to even fit on the bus. How can Disney not see that that is a problem?

I should say that I will not let that stop me from staying at POR again. It is such a beautiful, peaceful resort. Just what you need after a hectic day at the parks.

 

[tinkerbell1967]

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.

I couldn't agree with you more!! I don't understand why they do not have seperate buses for both POR and POFQ. I know on 12/11 we wanted a bus to MGM and we had stood waiting for 1/2 hour. 6 MK buses came right in a row because of the MVMCP but no buses to MGM. It was terrible. It became the joke when we were leaving the parks as to where our bus stop was and we all just said look for the line that has the most people in it!!

 

[SGMCO]

We were there in Sept. and had no problems at all going to or coming back
from the parks. Sorry you were there at a bad time.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

We were there in Sept. and had no problems at all going to or coming back
from the parks. Sorry you were there at a bad time.

Problem was, it wasn't a bad time. The parks were completely dead and we walked onto everything with no wait. There was no excuse for this transportation problem at all.

 

[ilovebassets]

Problem was, it wasn't a bad time. The parks were completely dead and we walked onto everything with no wait. There was no excuse for this transportation problem at all.

I agree. We just got back from POR and the resort was not full and the theme parks were quite quiet.

We absolutely loved POR but we always took our own car to the parks and never used the buses. If you're willing to use your own car, I think POR is a wonderful place to stay.

 

[tinkerbell1967]

Problem was, it wasn't a bad time. The parks were completely dead and we walked onto everything with no wait. There was no excuse for this transportation problem at all.

have to agree with you, I have never seen the transportation as bad as POR, I loved the resort but would seriously have to think if I would stay here again because of this.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

I agree. We just got back from POR and the resort was not full and the theme parks were quite quiet.

We absolutely loved POR but we always took our own car to the parks and never used the buses. If you're willing to use your own car, I think POR is a wonderful place to stay.

I would definitely stay here if I had my own car for sure, cause this really was the only issue here. The thing I love about staying on property is not needing a car, so I probably wont be returning because of that, but with a car this place is lovely

 

[becca011906]

I was talking with dh about weather we will drive to the parks and pay to park or use Disney busses from POR, guess this tells me our best bet is drive ourselfs!!! We HATE to wait...plus i was having my own issues and feers of a bus with all my kids and no seats... i'm a car seat tech and it just make me have peace of mind being in our own car, thier own car seats!!!

 

[peyjax]

I would definitely stay here if I had my own car for sure, cause this really was the only issue here. The thing I love about staying on property is not needing a car, so I probably wont be returning because of that, but with a car this place is lovely

I agree I was like you and thought we are laid back and my husband has a lot of patience. He never understood why people got upset on previous stays about the bus system. He was singing a different tune after our visit to POR. It was so bad he has said he was done with Disney! I think I can convince him otherwise, he agreed if we had a car it would not be so bad. We were there in September with free dining (our 3rd time) and we noticed the increase in people. The place is beautiful, but I am afraid that the majority are right on this one! For us it was waiting at the resort to get somewhere and then having to find a packed bus or travel 15 minutes around the resort to pick up more guests that was the main problem. That and how rude the other guests were at the bus stations. Not all of them, but that bad apple seemed to be there every day.

 

[eugeniuss]

I was talking with dh about weather we will drive to the parks and pay to park or use Disney busses from POR

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

 

[dixipixi]

I just wanted to say that I agree about the bus service at POFQ/POR.

We stayed at POFQ in June and never had a problem catching buses at the hotel, it was the return from the parks that was a nightmare! Our only "saving grace" was that our kids are older teens and we could all stand if we had to. It's much harder for older people and families with little ones.

I will say, however, that we have also taken the bus from the Poly to the parks (after eating there) and that service was the pits as well. I could live with the bad bus service at POFQ, but I definitely don't think it's right that the deluxe resorts (with what they charge) share buses.

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.

 

[jennilynn510]

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.

doesnt POR share the buses with OKW too ??

 

[DebbieB]

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

Yes.

I always rent a car. I was there Dec 1 to 7 and I got a car from National for $99 incl tax. I would never be dependent on the bus system, regardless of the resort.

POR and POFQ share. OKW has their own bus.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I hated the buses when I stayed at POR, especially the MK one in the morning. I timed it 3 different mornings - it took me 1 hour and 20 minutes from leaving my room to arriving at the ticket turnstiles at MK. It seems no matter what, it would be the 3rd bus to come before I could push my way on (no queues at the bus stops at POR) - you have to be assertive just to get through the bus door! Then we would be packed like sardines and standing room only (since POFQ people took all the seats), but the bus still had to go to the other 3 POR bus stops (even if we were full, it had to loop around). Then finally leave for MK. I remember if I left my room at 9:45, I wouldn't arrive at MK until after 11:00.

After 3 days of this, I said enough!! I drove everywhere from that point. I am in no rush to stay at POR anytime soon!

 

[SereneOne]

We just returned, but we drove down in our car. Sorry the buses where a nightmare, we loved everything about the resort.

 

[linda1118]

I'm sorry to hear all the troubles people have had recently. I loved POR and we didn't have any of those troubles, but I would have been very upset it if had happened to me! An hour and a half is inexcusable to wait for a bus. I don't understand why some people have it bad and some don't. It can't always be that some people are patient and some aren't. Even a patient person would find hour long waits the pits!

 

[DONALD38]

We were at POR in Sept. (13-23), and the buses at that time were horrible. As for the resort, we though it was wonderful with the food court, the # of pools and the boat to DTD. But the Bus system is like I said horrible. Because of the bus system they have we decided to never stay at POR again. Yes some of the things at POR are nice but what sells you is the whole package.
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.

Yes we to were reading bad reviews before we left but though nothing of it.
Well now we know and it is unbaleivable that this problem with the buses at POR/POFQ is still going on to this day.

 

[mom22boys]

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!

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.

 

[HarryLeg]

The bus service is the reason we no longer stay at POFQ when staying moderate. Though we were picked up first, the trips back from the parks were terrible with the longest lines. We now prefer CSR.