Help with POR

[nutsforgolf]

We are staying at POR this august (during free dining). Not that we are resort snobs, but we have stayed at BC/YC/BW/GF before (wife's chosing). I convinced her this time to try a MOD. Can anyone give me advice on the resort and how to ensure that she likes the MOD. It was really my choice, in wanting to save the money. Also, we are going for 8 nights which is longer than she wants, but me and the kids would go for longer if we could.

Thanks

 

[patclairesmom]

Tell her how much you saving. In Nov, we did a split stay between POR and Poly. People say, that once you stay in a delux you can't stay in a moderate again. Well we actually liked POR better. Although the rooms are smaller, everything about the resort was great. I think it's a better value. If something is wrong at POR, I don't think in my mind it costs my value as if something was wrong at the POLY.

 

[tlrotzoll]

It is a beautiful resort. Seeing the sun come up over the river is amazing. It is a great place for a stroll.

I think you will really like it. We stayed in Magnolia Blend - only because I couldn't decide where I wanted to be, so I let them decide for me & it was wonderful. I think you will be happy wherever you are in there.

 

[WVDisGeek]

DW and I have always stayed at POR (Since back when it was Dixie Landings) and we love it. It is a very romantic resort. Lots of paths for strolls and the boat ride to DTD is very nice at night. I think you will like the resort just fine. That being said, we have booked our first non POR stay for this December at WL. We wanted to try a deluxe and see if it really was worth the extra money.

 

[deanie]

We have stayed at POR for our last 3 visits and just love it there. It is fairly central to the parks and the water parks and easy to visit DTD. I love the landscaping there are the winding paths. The buses do get crowded sometimes, though.

 

[chickenskin]

Just at POR last week and still in our top 3 favorite resorts, along with WL and POLY. The place was beautiful, we prefer AB but the mansions are very nice as well. Be sure to walk the grounds and take the boat to DTD.

 

[stopher1]

We really enjoyed our stay at POR...the carriage ride is wonderful option that makes that resort feel special, too. Disney landscaping is great all over WDW - but it feels extra lush at POR, for some reason. While the pool complex might not be quite as good as some of the Deluxe pools, it is quite good...Ol Man Island is great.

 

[a1tinkfans]

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!

Beautiful, an active pool with slide for kids (and you too) and quiet pools, great atmosphere, wonderful restaurant and food court, lovely paths to walk, great shop, walk to sister resort. Lovely Boat to Downtown Disney.
Its our Home Away From Home!
Take a LOOK below and you'll see, LOL We are LONG time visitors and NEVER feel like we're missing, (actually need to update below as we did a short stay at GF which I left out accidentally, even that and AKL don't beat POR in our opinion)

 

[cheerforchelsea]

Over the years I have stayed at nearly all of the WDW resorts - and the moderates are my favorite!!! I love the CBR - but the POR is my second favorite. We stayed in one of the Mansion Rooms and it was great!! I love the laid back atmosphere of both the CBR and the POR. I like the fact that when I come back to my room I don't have to go through a busy lobby - the last thing I want after a day at a busy park is to see a bunch of people in the lobby.......

 

[nutsforgolf]

Over the years I have stayed at nearly all of the WDW resorts - and the moderates are my favorite!!! I love the CBR - but the POR is my second favorite. We stayed in one of the Mansion Rooms and it was great!! I love the laid back atmosphere of both the CBR and the POR. I like the fact that when I come back to my room I don't have to go through a busy lobby - the last thing I want after a day at a busy park is to see a bunch of people in the lobby.......

But, should I be worried about the bus service, I have heard that lines can get long and there could be overcrowding on the bus, as POR is not the first stop within the resort.

 

[pkondz]

As previously mentioned, take in a carriage ride, especially after the sun goes down. Very relaxing and enjoyable. Try for Magnolia Terrace if you want the mansion side (closest to pool, dining and east depot bus stop) or buildings 14, 15 or 18 in Alligator Bayou (same reasons).

 

[pkondz]

But, should I be worried about the bus service, I have heard that lines can get long and there could be overcrowding on the bus, as POR is not the first stop within the resort.

I gotta be honest here. We went during spring break, one of the busiest times of the year and we never had a problem with the busses. On the other hand, I have read here on the DIS that some people have had problems with slow service or crowded busses. But then again, I've read the same for just about every resort! I don't know if anyone could offer you a definitive answer either pro or con. If you're really pressed for time, the bus will be slow, if you've got time to kill and are in no hurry, the bus will be there immediately.

 

[anniegsu]

POR is a beautiful resort. We are returning there in June.
I found the biggest advantage of staying at a deluxe ( we stayed at the YC last year) was the size of the room. We are a family of 5, and the larger room with a day bed was very nice. Also having a balcony was almost like having another room to go outside and drink my morning coffee. That being said, I still don't think its worth the extra $$$$. I may change my mind this year after 9 days in the smaller room with 3 growing boys and DH

 

[kxmeeh]

we stayed at por for christmas and going back again in july. We were going to stay somewhere else, but couldn't come up with any other reason than because of the location of epcot to BC. the buses weren't that bad, even on christmas. they do come steadily, the longest we had to wait was for the MK bus, all the others came very quickly. the grounds are completly beautiful, we swam every day. try taking some quiet time and go fishing. I am going to make sure I get to see the show in the lounge this time. I keep hearing great things about Bob. This is one resort that is fantastic. it is a large resort, and some may worry about the walk to get to the busstops, but all the trees make it a beautiful walk, shaded from the sun.

 

[mickeymousemom]

Well...POR is our favorite resort. Other than the beds not being queen size and the rooms being a bit smaller, I think its like getting a deluxe for the price of a moderate. It does sounds like your wife would appreciate the Mansions section of POR more than Alligator Bayou if she's accustomed to the deluxes. AB is our favorite section, but we're simple people...and I think its a bit more charming and lush over there. We stayed in the mansions section our first time and really enjoyed it though. The grounds are beautiful all over the resort. It is pretty spread out and depending on what building you get you may have to walk a bit to get to the food courts, general store, etc. The thing is, other people complain about this, but to us it just makes for a nice relaxing walk through some gorgeous, lush landscaping. You can request the Mansions section, and also put in a request for Magnolia Terrace, as its one of the closer buildings.
Of all the mods, I think this was your best bet to stay in if coming down from a deluxe. It really is a great resort!

 

[kileybeth]

I hate to say it but I'm with your wife on this one. Do make sure you request the mansions not AB. The themeing there will put her on edge if she is a deluxe girl as I am. With 8 nights try to spend a lot of time away from the the room and resort if possible. make lots of ADR's at the deluxes. Make use of the monorail as often as possible and take buses early for less congestion. <sigh> I know others love POR but I did not love it but stop short of saying I hated it. Just hard to adjust to the motel feel.

But it is Disney! Maybe consider a split stay ending on a deluxe?

 

[camdensmom]

We have stayed at all levels and I honestly feel the MODS are the best dollar value. The deluxes are hard to justify and the values...well...there just not for me. The mods are a great value as far as what you get.

With that being said....

I do like POR. It is a lovely resort with great theming. The boat to DTD is very nice.

However, if you are used to Deluxes and are traveling in August I think I would opt for CSR. It has the same amenities as a deluxe (including a gym), but the bus service is much MUCH better than POR. We never stay at POR without renting a car because the buses are very crowded and shared with POFQ.

My other concern for you in August since you mentioned traveling with kids is the pool. CSR has a great pool and it is very large. POR has a fun pool, but it always seems much more crowded even in the off season.

 

[andrewilley]

My other concern for you in August since you mentioned traveling with kids is the pool. CSR has a great pool and it is very large. POR has a fun pool, but it always seems much more crowded even in the off season.

POR has six pools - surely one of them must suit you!

Last trip we stayed a week at the Beach Club and a week at POR. We enjoyed both, but at half the price POR takes a lot of beating - apart from the location; the five-minute walk from the BC to Epcot kinda spoils you!

Yes, POR has got more of a 'motel' feel in that the rooms are in separate buildings and are accessed from external walkways rather than an indoor corridor, but the theming of the common areas and walkways is such fun and the landscaping so beautiful that we rather prefer it that way to be honest.

Buses: well, there are over 3,000 rooms in the combined Port Orleans resort so it'd be a lie so say that you're going to beat that 5-minute walk to Epcot, but if you aim for the main (South Depot) stop if possible, you should be OK. I've been to POR a number of times (!) and only on a couple of occasions did we find any issues with the outgoing buses, normally the wait is a max of about 15 mins for any bus. Coming back to the resort can be an issue if you decide to leave a park right after the fireworks (they do run separate services for POR and POFQ then, but it's still very busy). My advice is don't follow the sheep and stay a little while longer in the park - no one will kick you out for at least an hour.

I'm compiling some general info about Port Orleans, with photos, on my wesbite (www.portorleans.org) if that's any help to you.

I'm sure you'll have a great time - just don't go with the mentality that you're going to a concierge-service deluxe and you'll be fine.

Andre

 

[camdensmom]

POR has six pools - surely one of them must suit you!

The quiet pools suit me just fine, but since the OP mentioned he will be traveling with kids the main pool/slide might be worth taking into consideration. When we stayed there last March we couldn't get chairs at the pool. I can only imagine it would be worse in August. Just thought it was worth mentioning.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I have stayed at POR over Memorial Day Week and during Thanksgiving week - and I never remember having a problem with the bus transportation. Both times we were in one of the Mansion Rooms and boarded the bus right outside of our room......never a problem. I love the quiet pools at the POR - many times you are the only ones at the pool......so relaxing.....