Is it worth spending more to stay at Port Orleans Riverside rather than Pop Century?

[allstar]

We are planning a trip to WDW September 14-25, 2011. Is it worth it to spend more to stay at the Port Orleans Riverside rather than the Pop Century in a prefered room?

 

[Missytara]

We are planning a trip to WDW September 14-25, 2011. Is it worth it to spend more to stay at the Port Orleans Riverside rather than the Pop Century in a prefered room?

Is it worth the extra money to you? Would you rather spend the money somewhere else?

Both Pop and POR have great food courts. Both have wonderful rooms with great views. Both have wonderful theming. Pop edges out on bus service, because they don't share with another resort; POR shares with POFQ.

Is it worth it to have a fridge in the room that is included in the cost?

Do you like the idea of having DTD close to your resort?

Do you like the idea of having entertainment in the lounge a few nights out of the week?

Do you like having a table restaurant as well as the other restaurants at the resorts that are just a water taxi away from POR?

They are both wonderful resorts, but POR does have some wonderful amentities. Depending on the difference in cost, is it worth it to get the extras I have listed above?

 

[allstar]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I think that it's worth it. When we were there last time staying at POR, my friend and her girls were staying at POP and we went over to visit them. I like the resort, but I LOVE POR so much more. It's just relaxing to me and I love being able to ride the boat to DTD, and I love the food court too.

 

[mauigal]

I've stayed at both and I like both! Depends what you are looking for. POR is quite and quaint & POP can be busy and loud! If I go with my husband I like POR...when I go for fast trips with my daughter POP serves us just fine!!
Either way you can't go wrong!! Enjoy your trip!
Like the previous posted mentioned the entertainment in the lounge is nice too. Nice to sit and have a drink.

 

[cbg1027]

It's worth if you plan to use your resort for more than sleeping and showering. If you're in the parks as much as possible, than I would go with POP.
If you want to spend some time relaxing at your resort, then it's worth it to spend more on POR.

 

[let'sgo]

Both are really nice resorts. I'd be tempted to do a split stay--stay the first part of your vacation at Pop, then head over to POR. You'll have a nice change of scenery and be able to experience both resorts.

 

[jakeybake]

It is so worth it to move up to the POR.

I stayed at Pop for a work conference in early December and I hated it there.

The moderates give you so much more for not much more. A sit down dining establishment, a lounge, nicer grounds etc.

When I was at Pop I felt like I had no place to hang out and just enjoy the resort. It was basically the food court or my room, and the food court was a madhouse.

I have stayed at POR in the past and it is our favorite moderate. I would switch over in a heartbeat.

J

 

[pepe of ohio]

No doubt about it even if we just used the room for showering and sleeping. We got forced into a Pop stay to ride out a hurricane until Amtrak got going again for 3 days and that cured me of the values.

We visit POFQ every trip, we like the pool bar and food court and spend a couple of evenings there in the Scat Cat Club for their entertainment. We'll bus over and have a sandwich, watch the entertainer and have a few drinks and take the boat from there to DTD to return to our resort. We almost stayed there this past Thanksgiving ( we usually stay at WL) but we had 3 families and wanted to cut costs and we like the layout of POFQ, plus moderates have a fridge and coffee pot, values don't, but we snagged a deal at OKW, 2 bedroom we al shared and came out cheaper.

Anytime we can trade up...it's no question...we do!

 

[DizneyLizzy]

I think it depends on the type of trip you are taking. When I'm traveling with girlfriends, sisters, etc, and plan to spend most of my time in the parks I feel like it's almost wasteful to stay anywhere but a value.

When I'm with my husband who is not such the WDW fanatic (but still enjoys himself a lot when we go) we "spring" for POFQ because of its more tranquil atmosphere and king size bed option.

 

[zhazhazsu]

I have stayed @ both. The main features I like about POP are that it is on Disney Property and has a cool theme. I did not like the food court food, the room was very basic and kind of blah and the bus stops are not covered with fans. In September covered bus stops are worth paying a premium for. My scalp was fried from the sun in September 2008. Also there are TONS of bunnies and lizards @ POP. and the lake view rooms are quiet and the view is great.

POR is a more esthetically pleasing resort. Rooms are nicer and more well themed. The coffee maker and fridge are great to have, and the vanity area is blocked off from the main area with a curtain ( nice for privacy in the morning) I liked the food @ POR CS so much more, fresh salads, make your own pasta, cupcakes, and magic bars. The transportation has plusses and minuses over POP. The huge PLUS is the boat transport to DTD (so relaxing) the BIG minus was that the bus transportation after evening shows was very lacking on 3 occaisions. I never had that issue @ POP.

Also in terms of the grounds, POR has a slide at the main pool, cane fishing for a fee, surrey bikes for a fee, and the marina boats to rent.

If you can afford the upgrade ( with the current pin code it might not be much at all ) then I say go for POR. Pop is basic clean and fun, but POR offers so much more.

 

[2TxAgs]

I agree with PP about splitting your stay - then you can sample the best of both! We love POR - the pool is great, they have YeeHaw Bob playing piano which is wonderful (he even got my 'too-cool' teenagers dancing), we like to rent a kayak and go around the river. We've walked to POFQ for beingets (sp?) in the morning. Very quiet and relaxing grounds. Nice boat ride to DTD.

We've stayed at POP - it was a room to sleep in, but I don't recall it particularly fondly like I do POR. Nothing wrong, just nothing to write home about.

Almost every one of our visits has involved a split-stay, and none over 7 nights total, so it can be done very easily. Disney takes care of moving your bags - check out one morning and leave your bags, visit a park, and return to your new resort where your bags are waiting. No problem!

I say go for both!

 

[buzznina]

I do not think this was mentioned, but POR will be getting a major refurb with queen beds. It is suppose to start right after POFQ is finished (currently rumored for May).
POP is our favorite value but whenever possible and the $ is not that big of a difference we will always try to stay at a MOD. We also add the extra cost of a fridge to POPs cost, because we always use it with 2 little ones.
If you do not spend any time at the resorts, then POP is a perfect fit, but if you do spend some time at the resort and like the extra ammenities then yes, it has been worth it for us.

 

[Leajess99]

I say definitely worth it. We stayed once at Pop and have stayed moderate the rest of the times. There is no way that we can be comfortable in a room at Pop so i will spend more for the comfort of a moderate. My kids also love the waterslides.

 

[aubriee]

I go to WDW several times a year and most of those trips are solo trips (my husband is not as much a WDW fan and will only go once or twice a year). Even on my solo trips I usually stay in a moderate. With all the discounts out there, the price isn't that much more. I'd definitely pick either of the PO resorts over Pop (even though I have stayed at Pop multiple times also in the past and enjoyed it). At PORS you will get bigger rooms, double sinks, ceiling fans, refridgerators, better landscaping, a more laid back relaxed feeling resort, better food court, TS restaurant, nicer pools with slide, hot tub, boat to DTD, covered bus stops with benches, and usually the bus stops at the parks are closer for the moderates. There is also the fact that as soon as they finish rehabbing POFQ in late April, they'll be starting the rehab over at PORS, so there is a chance you may get a freshly rehabbed room with queen size beds and a flat screen TV.

OT: I just noticed your dates. I'm planning what is probably going to be a solo trip to WDW Sept 17th-25th, so will be down there the same time you are. lol I'm planning on staying either at CSR or one of the PO resorts. lol

 

[rusty4]

http://www.portorleans.org/ This site may help you decide

 

[Missytara]

It's worth if you plan to use your resort for more than sleeping and showering. If you're in the parks as much as possible, than I would go with POP.
If you want to spend some time relaxing at your resort, then it's worth it to spend more on POR.

I have to agree with you. I just spent my eighth trip in ten years at the World and my fifth at POR.

I had a glorious first floor corner room in Parterre Place with a king bed and the best riverview. I decided to enjoy the resort this time and in eight days never once made it to a park. I think it was one of the nicest vacations I ever spent....

 

[sjs314]

http://www.portorleans.org/ This site may help you decide

I was going to post this web site but someone already did............do check it out. I have never stayed at Pop or POR only POFQ but in my opionion you can never go wrong with a moderate resort if you plan on any down time.

 

[dennis99ss]

just got back from my first stay at pop century. I was surprised. i have stayed at the moderates, including por, in the past. Frankly, i actually think pop is a bit better, when looking at value. Granted, we never sat in the lounge, fished, etc. at por. so, if you take the lounge, and fishing out, you have two hotels with exterior doors, similar room types, both have pools, both have food courts, both have gift shops, pretty similar. pop does not have sit down meals but we don't eat at the resort much anyway besides food court. transportation at pop was much better than at the moderates. food in the food court was good imho. So, imho, pop is better than por. now, if you are comparing pop to wilderness/akl/gf, you are not comparing similar places, so the comparison is unfair. My vote would be to go to pop. it has all the other amenities, i.e taxi service to golf, pizza delivery, etc.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Yes

In my opinion, POR is great and better than POP. But I do not like the value hotels and hope to never stay at one again.