I have some POR? Help needed please!

[LeahA]

I want to know if POR is a nice resort? Is the pool nice? The food court nice? Is the boat running to DD and POFQ? Is it true that guests can use the pool at POFQ?

I have a reservation at the Hilton DD through Priceline. My dh and I are in total byers remorse. I haven't been feeling good lately, and we are really thinking on just chucking our HH reservation and staying onsite for once. We had a reservation at CBR, but, unfortunately missed the deposit date. When I called back CBR was booked. I was able to get the POR for $94 per night with the code for AMEX card holders found on the DIS!

So, before we leave, which is less than a month away, end of April actually, we need to know all about the POR!

Leah

 

[schwaa]

First look at my signature.

We just went to Disneyworld in march and stayed at the Hilton in DD through priceline. It was a very nice hotel, the rooms were really nice. The housekeeping staff was incredibly friendly and they did a wonderful job. The front desk staff was ok. It was a very nice hotel, definitely 4 star.

I stayed at POR alone last year. It was my first time to DW since I was 5. I went alone after a very long and hard school year (I work at a college). The resort is beautiful. The food court is fabulous. It is so great to wake up in the morning, and walk through the goreous landscaping to the food court to have breakfast. It's also really nice walking around there at night.

The boat is running again. It's very relaxing. FQ is still closed. I think I read it will open again in October.

The pool is really nice, on an island in the middle surrounded by trees. There are also 5 other quiet pools. I only saw the one by my mansion. It looked like a fancy inground pool you would see on an estate.

If you can afford it I would chuck the priceline reservation and stay at POR. The biggest drawback staying at the Hilton was you cannot charge to your room key in DW. It was very convenient walking to DD and using the busses from there to get to another resort.

As you can see, I'm taking my friend back in August so that he can experience staying on site. I chose POR because it is such a wonderful place.

 

[LeahA]

SCHWAA,

Thanks for your insight.

Leah

 

[drogerstn]

We stayed at CBR during our 1st visit to WDW in 1992; liked
it so much we chose in again on our 2nd visit. Tried to book
on our 3rd visit, but it was full so we selected POR. POR was
our number 1 choice after that visit. We like the food court and
pool better than at CBR. Also, Boatwrights is a nice sit down
restaurant; we have eaten breakfast there, but not dinner.

I know you didn't ask for a comparison between CBR and POR,
but if you would be happy at CBR, I think you would be happy at
POR. I don't know how the transportation compares with Hilton,
but the buses were fairly convenient at POR (we have always had
a car, so we use the car at certain times and the bus at others).

Will you have to pay for the Hilton if you cancel since you got it
through Priceline?

I attended a conference at the Hilton, but haven't stayed there.
From what I saw, I'd much prefer the "resort" feel at POR along
with the food court and Boatwright's.

 

[LeahA]

drogerstn,

Unfortunately we'd have to pay for the Hilton reservation whether we use it or not. My dh and I are not rolling in the dough, but, we have a certain amount of vacation money set aside each year. So, although we have the extra money, I want to make a decision we can live with, and not feel guilty.

Thanks for your insight.

Leah

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

How long is you trip? Why not do the first 2 nights at Hilton then move over to POR? Or some sort of split. Then all your $$ will not be wasted and you will get to enjoy both places ! We have stayed at Downtown Disney in the past, but we do prefer POR and other resorts. Hilton is a nice place and you could take advantage of DD while there. Do both!

 

[WedWay72]

POR is a beautiful resort and I'm sure you'll really like it there. Our website (as many others) has many, many POR pictures...and I've had several visitors tell me that they brought their family to POR because of our pictures. The scenery there is unlike any other Disney resort.

The landscaping is great, the river adds character and the food court is really handy with kids.

 

[LeahA]

WedWay72,

Great pictures, it does look like a beautiful resort. Do you like the Bayou section or the Mansions?

BibbidiBobbidiBoo,

We have thought of that as well, that way we wouldn't feel to guilty about chucking it, but, we'd be able to stay onsite as well.

Thanks to both of you for your help!

Leah

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

My vote is for Magnolia Terrace Mansion! One day, I would like to try the bayou though. Mansions are so pretty, as is the decor inside.

 

[jaguar9748]

POR is an absolutely beautiful resort! It really doesn't matter whether you stay in the mansion section or bayou section - they are both great in their own right. The resort is beautiful, the food's good, there's a lot to do, and the bus transportation is excellent. While the Hilton is right next door, it's not quite the same as staying on Disney property. Have fun!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

LeahA , Another vote for POR ! My wife, daughter, and I returned from a Priceline stay at the Hilton just a few weeks ago. as far as a hotel it's okay, probably worth your priceline bid but certainly not worth paying anywhere near rack rate for . The room was in good order, and about the same size as the rooms at Riverside.

However, there were some things we did not care for. The pool at the Hilton was not heated, or at least never felt so to my wife and daughter. The walls are THIN - it was easy to hear anything above a normal conversation in another room. And if you're going to the Magic Kingdom you are going to be dropped off in the middle of the bus parking lot at the TTC, and then take the monorail or ferry across to the Kingdom. And - for us - we just didn't find any "Disney Magic" staying there, just a stay in a hotel. .

In fact, the only time we felt "at home" during our stay was when we were in the parks, or when we visited disney resorts - POR and OKW. This difference we felt from being on-site versus off-site was so profound for us that for an upcoming trip in June we decided to stay on-site only. We will do a couple of weekday reservations at Boardwalk (DVC) and Old Key West (DVC) and some weekend stays at POR so that we can stretch two weeks out of our points. We discussed it at length on the drive home - a priceline 4* room at $60~$70 per night or Riverside at about $105 an night. Needless to say Disney won in a runaway landslide vote ! We may pay a slightly higher "cost" to stay at Riverside, but for us we find it to be a Much better "value" !

 

[LeahA]

Thanks to all of you for your responses. I don't think I have ever changed/cancelled reservations so much in my entire life! I hope to make a final decision soon. I'm driving my dh crazy!

The bayou section looks cool, but the rooms looked sort of bare, is that an accurate description?
The mansions look so prim and proper, rooms, landscaping etc...

I can hardly believe the differences between the 2 sections, they look like they'd be at complete separate resorts.

Any more imput would be appreciated.

Leah