Family Voted-Wilderness Lodge or POR/POFQ-WHICH of the 2 is your FAV?

[FairyDust2008]

Well, we had a family vote between me, hubby, and kids and our vote was finalized tonight. Now, we just have to decide between a moderate, POR/POFQ or a deluxe, The Wilderness Lodge We are very excited now because we have thrown around several choices and use to be going more towards the AKL for our deluxe choice but after watching the Disney DVD and seeing more reviews on the Wilderness Lodge and the close proximity to the Magic Kingdom, it just seems right. We love the theming of POR/POFQ and we just have to decide if we want to put more $$ in our accomodations or less but still have a nice place onsite at Disney. The decision of where we stay I know is in the end up to us but it is always nice to get the feedback/opinions from the disboarders I'll be posting another post requesting photos from those that have stayed at both. Thanks in advance for all your help

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I haven't stayed at WL just yet but in about 3 months I will be there. I have stayed at POR and was not a parent at the time. Although it didn't bother me that much, I did get sick of riding buses to all the parks. With our stay at WL in April our son will be able to ride the monorail to Epcot by way of CR or MK which he loves. We can take the boat from WL to MK. We will have to bus it to Disney Studios & AK but that's better than bus to all the parks.

I've heard that WL is really cool and that all the rooms (at the lodge) have balconies or patios with table & chairs. Big plus for us to have somewhere to relax while the kiddo winds down and goes to sleep. Also at WL you can go down to the beach and watch the Electrical Water Pageant. This will be a first time event for us and we're looking forward to it.

I've also heard that the pools at WL are cool and that they're zero-entry (although I'm not positive) - so don't quote me on that but I thought I had read somewhere that it was.

POR & FQ are pretty quiet resorts and the nice thing is you can catch a boat to Downtown Disney. It was a nice little boat ride. The pools were pretty quiet most of the time, although we didn't spend a whole heck of a lot of time there.

That's my .02 cents and hope it helps you make a decision. I'd be happy to give you a better report after I've stayed at WL. But I honestly think that once we stay there, we might not ever want to stay anywhere else.

 

[bradisgoofy]

Wilderness Lodge, hands down!

 

[Buzz2001]

It depends if you want interior corridors, larger beds and everything in one building. WL also has the boat to MK.

 

[Sandi]

My vote is POR and we've stayed at all of POR, POFQ and WL. The pool at WL is not zero entry as I recall. We thought that was kind of odd for a deluxe. I think it has undergone refurb, so maybe they changed it since 2005.

WL is a beautiful resort, but the food court isn't as good at POR's and with kids, that's pretty important. You can also do a boat to DTD which is nice.

 

[alldiz]

My vote is for WL....the place is just fabulous

No zero entry pool there....it is a really fun pool though
happy planning
Kerri

 

[hepcat620]

Having stayed at both, I can say that while POR is nice, especially for a moderate, for us WL is the winner hands down. It's more intimate and relaxing. You can go to the pier and see the Electric Water Pageant. The ferry to MK is wonderful.

 

[Mickey23]

Wl!!

 

[Ciao Mickey]

I would stay at the WL if given the choice.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I have never stayed at WL but I have stayed at POR. I would always pick a deluxe hotel over a moderate if it is not a financial consideration. The deluxes have much better ammenities (Queen beds vs. full, rooms that open to the inside not the outside etc.)

 

[spiceycat]

both have restuarants (WL has 2)
POR has a food court, WL has a snack bar (more choices at the food court)
both main pools have slides

POR has one hot tub, WL has 3 - 2 at the main pool and one at VWL's pool.

WL has a gym

WL has a kids' club.

both have nice outdoor walkways

in the rooms
WL has a balcony, either 2 queen beds, or 1 queen bed and bunk beds.

POR has 2 double (full) beds.

POR has more quiet pools - 5. WL has one.

WL is one building, POR is many.

POR map
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/port-riverside.htm

WL map
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/wildlodge.htm

if you can afford it - would go with WL. but don't overspend your budget.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

We've stayed at POR and WL....WL is the winner, no questions about it. POR was nice, but WL is far better to us. We'll be there at the WL in about 72 hours

 

[mayesq]

WL. No doubt. And I've stayed at both with kids.

 

[adreamisawish]

I agree...WL. Stayed at both, enjoyed both...but WL is so much nicer, cozier, and homier. I miss it!! Go deluxe!!

 

[PA Princess]

We have stayed at both WL and POFQ with kids and really for us we greatly enjoyed both. For us each resort is a different kind of trip.

When we are heavy on hitting all four parks and looking at less resort time, we tend toward POFQ. It is a lovely resort. Yes, the transportation is by bus, but it is a more centrally located resort than WL so the over all time spent getting all around WDW property is less. We really like the boat to DTD. Also, we think it is a plus that you have the use of two themed pools by being able to use the sister resort pools at POR.

Also, we have a few things we like better at the mods than the deluxe level. I know for many outside corridors are a negative (and before staying mod we thought so also), but our stays at mods have been far more peaceful without the echo involved in a hotel hallway. As well, the full size beds mean more room in the room...WL rooms have queen beds, but they really eat up the room space. Also, the mod foodcourts are far better...even the smaller one at POFQ is superior than WL in our opinion.

Our last 2 stays in September 2006 and 2007 have been at POFQ. In September 2008 we are staying at WL. This trip we do not plan to do all 4 parks and we are looking for more resort time over all and a more peaceful trip in general. It will also be a shorter trip just before our Disney cruise

Reasons we picked WL for this trip include the magnificent theming (entering the lobby is truly breath taking), easy acess to MK (only park we will visit), and a desire to do several activities in that corner of WDW including HDD and the Fort Wilderness activities.

Happy resort picking

 

[Esmerelda]

Having stayed at both....WL hands down.

This is not to say the POFQ is not nice...because it is. But when I think of WL, I think of the WOW factor there. The massive lobby...the smells...the lobby music in the background....the awesome pool area...the view of Baylake....great restaurants...boat to the MK or to the Contemporary....the geyser....the bike rentals...the shop...the pin trader cart....wow...I could go on and on.

Having originally stayed at the lodge in 1994 when it originally opened, I can honestly say I'm still in awe when I step thru the front doors of the lobby. Its just a fantastic place. FWIW: I asked my 16 yr old last fall where he would chose if we could add on a few days to our DVC week coming up in June....he instantly said..."Wilderness Lodge mom, I love that place!"....so WL it is.... I upgraded us to the club level for our stay even though my family doesn't know it.

have a great time no matter where you stay...afterall...you're at DISNEY!
Esmerelda (it beats being at work...)

 

[dsquarednz]

We haven't stayed at the POR, but we *almost* decided to stay there this year to save money. At the last minute, we decided to stay with our favorite - WL. Part of the reason is because WL is a hotel (doors are inside the building) as opposed to a motel (e.g. POR) where the doors to the rooms are external.

Most of it, though, is the theming. We just fell in love with the WL theming, and it is the least expensive of the Deluxe resorts.

Either way - enjoy!!