FQ or POR?

[b&tsmom]

We stayed at FQ last August and LOVED it. But this year when I booked our May 2010 trip, it was not available. We booked POR but I am afraid it is soooo big that my kids will just be exhausted after a long day at the park that it is just too much walking. Any thoughts if we should try again to book FQ or maybe upgrade to AK or WL??? thanks so much.

 

[mjp12831]

We're a fam of 5 - last year we went with my parents so could split up into rooms of 4 and stay at FQ. This year, had to book POR with 5. I have the same concern about the size of POR - FQ was so easy to get to the pool, bus and food area.

I'm just trying to get our room close to the main depot to avoid having busses go around the entire loop before dropping us off. I think I have read that if you use the main depot at prime times (early am and late pm) that you can get direct bus service.

We did that loop last year in a mid day bus trip and it took a while to go around the whole thing.

 

[b&tsmom]

thanks. I was worried about the busses also. We stayed at CS the year before and it was just so big that our room was really far from the theme pool that the kids (were 4 and 7 at the time) just hated the long walk. and the multiple bus stops were a pain. We had a perfect room at FQ too. So we may not be as lucky this time around going back to FQ. And making a room request ahead of time doesn't always seem to work.
Any thoughts on an upgrade to AK or WL? they seem smaller but of course more $$$??

 

[IWannaBeAPrincess]

We requested the Magnolia Terrace builing. If you look at the maps, it is close to the Main Building and Bus Stop. I know that requests aren't guaranteed, but they are usually very good to make those accomodations!

Good luck!

 

[wdwrich]

We've stayed at POR twice and were very pleased. We actually like the fact that it's a large property (DW is a walker and I'm a runner). Also, having visted FQ multiple times, we find the grounds at POR much more to our liking. We stayed in the mansion section both times and never had an issue with the walk to the main building.
We always have a rental car so I can't address the bus transportation.

 

[b&tsmom]

Ok, thanks for all the advice. Sounds like the mansions are the way to go. I can try to put in a room request. So the one closest to the main building would be best?? We have a res for a waterview room. How is the themed pool? Are the other pool just as fun for the kids (6 and 9 now).

 

[b&tsmom]

Have you stayed here before?

 

[wdwrich]

We had a water view room for one of our stays at POR and quite honestly, I don't think it was worth the extra $$. Water view can either be a view of the river or a pool, but since moderate resorts have access walkways outside the room (vs. indoor corridors), the view from your window isn't just of the river/pool.

 

[Golf4food]

b&tsmom - check out the official POR FAQ thread - it is full of information, photos, and helpful POR fans who can answer any and all questions you may have.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1920531


POR is our favorite moderate resort. The themeing is great and fits best in its surroundings (ie the pine trees, etc. all make sense, unlike at CBR or CSR where the pines are a little out of place).

 

[SmallWorld71]

Ok, thanks for all the advice. Sounds like the mansions are the way to go. I can try to put in a room request. So the one closest to the main building would be best?? We have a res for a waterview room. How is the themed pool? Are the other pool just as fun for the kids (6 and 9 now).

I suppose it depends on how strong of swimmers your kids are, but I would think that your 9 year old would much prefer the slide/ pool at POR. I know the one at POFQ would have been way too tame for my boys at 9. They were 11 and 8 when we went to POR and loved the slide. Also, no matter where you are at POR you are never far from a bus stop. We were not that close to the main building but didn't find it a problem. Our kids were 11, 8 and 4. We did have a stroller for the 4 year old.

 

[b&tsmom]

Thanks for that link to POR. I will definitely check that out. Everyone is just so helpful here ..... Thanks so much.

 

[b&tsmom]

I suppose it depends on how strong of swimmers your kids are, but I would think that your 9 year old would much prefer the slide/ pool at POR. I know the one at POFQ would have been way too tame for my boys at 9. They were 11 and 8 when we went to POR and loved the slide. Also, no matter where you are at POR you are never far from a bus stop. We were not that close to the main building but didn't find it a problem. Our kids were 11, 8 and 4. We did have a stroller for the 4 year old.

I guess we will keep the res for POR this time around. Never know until you try right? We have tryed POP,CS,FQ and now POR. So it will be good to have something else to compare to. Just want to keep the walk minimal since my youngest is type 1 diabetic and the heat/walking gets to him a bit.

 

[webstah]

Another link which covers both POR and POFQ
www.portorleans.org

 

[SmallWorld71]

I guess we will keep the res for POR this time around. Never know until you try right? We have tryed POP,CS,FQ and now POR. So it will be good to have something else to compare to. Just want to keep the walk minimal since my youngest is type 1 diabetic and the heat/walking gets to him a bit.

My kids love the decor at POP. That said, they do enjoy the slide at POR. The decor is just very understated from a kids' point of view. We also found the food court to be quite good.

I would politely mention the health issues when you put in your request. It might not help, but it can't hurt. Our DD has asthma and can't walk a lot in the heat. (We went in August) We had hoped to be closer to the main building but we went during free dining and the resort was booked solid. Once we figured out the bus system, it was fine. If she was really tired, I would get off with her at our bus stop which was close to our building and DH would take the mugs and refill them and then come back to our room. The walk was fine for the rest of us. We also tried this in reverse and had DH and the boys go to the food court in the morning and refill the mugs while DD and I got ready and then we would get on at the close bus stop.

 

[b&tsmom]

My kids love the decor at POP. That said, they do enjoy the slide at POR. The decor is just very understated from a kids' point of view. We also found the food court to be quite good.

I would politely mention the health issues when you put in your request. It might not help, but it can't hurt. Our DD has asthma and can't walk a lot in the heat. (We went in August) We had hoped to be closer to the main building but we went during free dining and the resort was booked solid. Once we figured out the bus system, it was fine. If she was really tired, I would get off with her at our bus stop which was close to our building and DH would take the mugs and refill them and then come back to our room. The walk was fine for the rest of us. We also tried this in reverse and had DH and the boys go to the food court in the morning and refill the mugs while DD and I got ready and then we would get on at the close bus stop.

Thanks, that all sounds great. I never like to use any excuse for him so that he never feels different from anyone else. But I do want him to feel the best he can the entire time while on vacation. And if I can help minimize any of the walking than that is great.
thx again.