Just back from a 10 night stay POR

[solfan68]

Ok, we are looking to stay at POR mid June 2008. We stayed at CSR in June of 07, and on several occasions had the bus to ourselves. Any insights on what the POR bus situation is like as the schools are letting out in June ?

 

[bonkers]

Ok, we are looking to stay at POR mid June 2008. We stayed at CSR in June of 07, and on several occasions had the bus to ourselves. Any insights on what the POR bus situation is like as the schools are letting out in June ?

The boat is slow and the buses will be packed. Check out these threads along with this one.

POR Buses

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1411881

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1438767

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1526053

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

We're leaving in a week for the POR. Should be interesting..LOL

 

[byoung]

Thanks for reporting.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Ok, we are looking to stay at POR mid June 2008. We stayed at CSR in June of 07, and on several occasions had the bus to ourselves. Any insights on what the POR bus situation is like as the schools are letting out in June ?

Since CSR is a convention resort, many of the guests don't go to the parks. So their buses are generally less crowded than any other resort at WDW! My advice for POR is ask for a building near the main food court which also has the first stop on POR's route. If you don't get that request met, it might be worth your while to just walk to that stop in the mornings so that you are getting on the bus before the other stops at POR. It will have already picked up POFQ guests but shouldn't be packed yet.

And I think POR is a resort where rental car can be very handy! The buses between POR and POFQ don't always share but when they do, if you are on the last stop at POR you can bet you'll be standing some to all of the time.

POR is lovely, we really enjoyed our stay there. I think most of the resorts at WDW have some sort of bus issue. They either share (even the deluxe resorts frequently share), or they are huge resorts with tons of guests in their own right, meaning they will have packed buses much of the time too! CSR is the only one that I think has the perfect solution: no sharing and many guests who don't use the buses at all! But I think POR is worth a try, not everyone has had a bad experience with the buses. And if you rent a car, your worries are over!

 

[Lilolvr]

Since CSR is a convention resort, many of the guests don't go to the parks. So their buses are generally less crowded than any other resort at WDW! My advice for POR is ask for a building near the main food court which also has the first stop on POR's route. If you don't get that request met, it might be worth your while to just walk to that stop in the mornings so that you are getting on the bus before the other stops at POR. It will have already picked up POFQ guests but shouldn't be packed yet.

And I think POR is a resort where rental car can be very handy! The buses between POR and POFQ don't always share but when they do, if you are on the last stop at POR you can bet you'll be standing some to all of the time.

POR is lovely, we really enjoyed our stay there. I think most of the resorts at WDW have some sort of bus issue. They either share (even the deluxe resorts frequently share), or they are huge resorts with tons of guests in their own right, meaning they will have packed buses much of the time too! CSR is the only one that I think has the perfect solution: no sharing and many guests who don't use the buses at all! But I think POR is worth a try, not everyone has had a bad experience with the buses. And if you rent a car, your worries are over!

Well said.

 

[FlavioP]

We're leaving in a week for the POR. Should be interesting..LOL

Please report when you return. I'm interested in you post.

 

[pta-mom]

After having read the reports regarding busing prior to our stay in POR, I was prepared for chaos!! I was pleasantly surprised on our trip 09/22 to 10/03 to see that the busses were not really too bad. However, we did use the West depot...that helped a lot! Never once did we stand to go TO a park.

Coming back however there were times we did not get seats. Long lines for sure often but also, I find DW busses very strange....a lot of them are laid out in such a way that there really are not that many seats available, especially if there is a wheel chair on board as well.

I do have to say though...I agree with the original poster regarding some rude guests & CMs, those we did see. One woman actually yelled at my eleven year old, accusing him of "butting" in line when he happened to pass her prior to the entrance of the "queu" at the park bus stop. I was not very pleased with her & let her know!

Anyway, it was hot, people are tired, they want on a bus...NOW...& it just doesn't work that way! I do maintain, having stayed at both, CSR busses are better than POR!

 

[Taytorjo]

The buses can be busy or not busy depending on what time you are planning to go places. If you are heading to the parks in the morning, then the buses will more than likely be busy. Same goes for nightime leaving the park...if you leave right after fireworks or right at park closing, then the buses may be crazy (then again they are like that for ANY resort leaving the park). Usually the buses will go to FQ first and then start at the bus depot by the lobby at Riverside...the bus may be packed at that time, but remember some people may be getting off at the next three stops. More people will be getting on at those stops too, though.

At the beginning of June it isn't quite "peak season" yet, so buses won't be as bad as they will be later that month. I didn't use the buses in the early morning at that time, but in the late morning through afternoon it wasn't too bad at all...in fact I sometimes had the bus all to myself! Keep in mind leaving the parks will be crazy, though.

I've used buses at all the resorts and found out that they can all be crazy and inconvenient. In fact, a lot of the deluxe resorts share buses like FQ and POR do and yes it can be inconvenient, but it's tolerable.

There are different combinations of ways you can use the buses to get to the park too. You can always walk down to FQ and get on the bus there or even take a bus to DTD and get on a bus to the parks from there as it may not be as crowded or if you are going to MK and it seems everyone else at POR and POFQ are too, get on the bus to EPCOT and take the monorail over...it may seem more complicated or more time consuming, but it really isn't! I have found that when the buses are busy these tricks can be A LOT faster!

Don't stress or worry about it though because it really isn't that bad. Have fun!!

 

[chip 'n dale rule]

We just got back today from a week at POR. We must have gotten some pixie dust because more often or not the bus we wanted was there when we got to the bus stop or pulled up in less than two minutes. Twice we waited 10 minutes for the bus but never any longer than that. We had to stand only a few times. By the way, I thought Alligator Bayou was beautiful!!! Good luck to all those headed to POR. I wish I was still there!

 

[APK]

about going to WDW this year..........I hear of SO MANY problems with this resort. We are two people wanting to take a 5 day/4 night trip and the prices are UNBELIEVABLE..............4 Nights at BC during "value season" is $1200.00 using "special offer" option, 2 5-day adult passes $550.00, food (estimated)
$500.00, souveniers etc........$250.00....we figure it will cost us $2500.00 for 5 days.That doesn't include airfare from NY, limo to airport, rental car, when all is said and done we are looking at "about" $3800.00 for a 6 day trip. We are now looking at a 9 day/8 night stay in Hawaii with everything except food for only $3000.00!!!!!!!!! When you read these posts about the bad service, bus issues, rude CM's it makes me think that WDW is turning into a "corporate money trap" where profit is more important than the people who made this resort what it is today. Even if I was a millionare.............I will not give Disney 1200 bucks to stay 4 nights in one of their resort hotels!!!!!!!!!!!!( and that is for a "special offer" during "value season")
It is bad enough that I have to pay $550.00 just to walk into the place but then that is how I see it.

 

[DRRluvsWDW]

We just got back today from a week at POR. We must have gotten some pixie dust because more often or not the bus we wanted was there when we got to the bus stop or pulled up in less than two minutes. Twice we waited 10 minutes for the bus but never any longer than that. We had to stand only a few times. By the way, I thought Alligator Bayou was beautiful!!! Good luck to all those headed to POR. I wish I was still there!

Sounds wonderful! Hope to hear more from you!
What building were you in?

 

[Taytorjo]

I'm sorry your experiences or experiences you've heard of have not been that great. I've stayed at this resort (POR) AT LEAST once a year every year since it has been open which totals more than 20 visits and have never once had a single problem. We also know many friends who have stayed at POR and said they would never go to any other resort again because they loved it so much. There are always complaints of the resort being large, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's fun to walk around and sight see the resort because there are plenty of things to see that a lot of people miss. The bike, boat, and carriage rides all start at POR. The food court is larger, there is a TS restaurant, and the gift shop is much larger and has a much better selection. There are many pools at POR where FQ there is only the one big one. Unfortunately it seems you only hear the negative stories about Disney anymore, but there are plenty of good things. As an ex Cast Member, I can assure you that WDW is NOT turning into a "corporate money trap." First and foremost we are trained in good customer service, but there are those CM's who seem to ruin the reputation of all cast members. As for CM's at POR...they are the same as FQ. Most are trained for both resorts (I knew several people in food and front desk that worked at both) so you cannot say the CM's at FQ are friendlier. I am not doubting anything anyone else has said, but remember these are all personal opinions and one person's opinion of a crowded bus or whatever else may be different from others. Remember other resorts including deluxe resorts share buses too and they can be just as crowded. I stayed at AKL last September and dealt with buses that were just as crowded as the buses at POR...same with BWV. I thought AKL was beautiful and it was nice to visit, but to me it's not worth the extra money when I plan on going to AK and riding the safari where I will see all of those animals even closer. In the end it's what you make of it and what you are willing to pay for the experience...experiences that don't just happen everyday. Some people don't want to be there so they just do not enjoy their time at WDW and that is really sad because it should be a good experience. It may not be worth it to you, but to plenty of other people including me, it is worth it. The magic does still exist.

 

[bonkers]

I'm sorry your experiences or experiences you've heard of have not been that great. I've stayed at this resort (POR) AT LEAST once a year every year since it has been open which totals more than 20 visits and have never once had a single problem. We also know many friends who have stayed at POR and said they would never go to any other resort again because they loved it so much. There are always complaints of the resort being large, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's fun to walk around and sight see the resort because there are plenty of things to see that a lot of people miss. The bike, boat, and carriage rides all start at POR. The food court is larger, there is a TS restaurant, and the gift shop is much larger and has a much better selection. There are many pools at POR where FQ there is only the one big one. Unfortunately it seems you only hear the negative stories about Disney anymore, but there are plenty of good things. As an ex Cast Member, I can assure you that WDW is NOT turning into a "corporate money trap." First and foremost we are trained in good customer service, but there are those CM's who seem to ruin the reputation of all cast members. As for CM's at POR...they are the same as FQ. Most are trained for both resorts (I knew several people in food and front desk that worked at both) so you cannot say the CM's at FQ are friendlier. I am not doubting anything anyone else has said, but remember these are all personal opinions and one person's opinion of a crowded bus or whatever else may be different from others. Remember other resorts including deluxe resorts share buses too and they can be just as crowded. I stayed at AKL last September and dealt with buses that were just as crowded as the buses at POR...same with BWV. I thought AKL was beautiful and it was nice to visit, but to me it's not worth the extra money when I plan on going to AK and riding the safari where I will see all of those animals even closer. In the end it's what you make of it and what you are willing to pay for the experience...experiences that don't just happen everyday. Some people don't want to be there so they just do not enjoy their time at WDW and that is really sad because it should be a good experience. It may not be worth it to you, but to plenty of other people including me, it is worth it. The magic does still exist.

You're a lucky one. I stayed there once and will never return. For one, I'd like to try other resorts and two, the transportation is a nightmare. Who can two resorts with so many people still share buses. Maybe during the winter months but they should each get their own during peak times. You pay mod prices and get value transportation. Even POP doesn't share.

 

[maxiesmom]

You're a lucky one. I stayed there once and will never return. For one, I'd like to try other resorts and two, the transportation is a nightmare. Who can two resorts with so many people still share buses. Maybe during the winter months but they should each get their own during peak times. You pay mod prices and get value transportation. Even POP doesn't share.

You can have a bad transportation experience at any resort! You want bad? Try staying at the Beach Club. Not only do you share with the other boardwalk area resorts, you are a long drive from both AK and MK. Try 40 minutes each way after boarding the bus! And that was during October of last year, not exactly peak season. I don't think that any of the deluxe resorts have their own busses either.

The bus service is what it is. Public bus service. Sure you might have to stand, and you may be packed in like a sardine, but at least you're not driving.

 

[chip 'n dale rule]

Sounds wonderful! Hope to hear more from you!
What building were you in?

We were in building 15 which I thought was really nice. It was a very short walk to the bus stop and quiet pool. It was also close to the food court and store. The only thing I didn't like is that we had a parking lot view, but we had a corner room with two windows and only one of the windows had a parking lot view so we just kept the curtains to that window closed. The gardens in AB were wonderful. We loved the walk to the quiet pool.

When we checked in we were told to resort was full but we never felt like it was crowded. We used the south (main) bus depot and it was never overly crowded. We always had a bench to sit on while waiting and always got on the bus without having to wait for the next one.

We usually try a different resort whenever we go to Disney but I would really like to head back to POR.

 

[SmallWorld71]

You can have a bad transportation experience at any resort! You want bad? Try staying at the Beach Club. Not only do you share with the other boardwalk area resorts, you are a long drive from both AK and MK. Try 40 minutes each way after boarding the bus! And that was during October of last year, not exactly peak season. I don't think that any of the deluxe resorts have their own busses either.

The bus service is what it is. Public bus service. Sure you might have to stand, and you may be packed in like a sardine, but at least you're not driving.

So true! Our worst transportation of the trip was the monorail! We didn't have to wait long for it, but then there were problems on the way. They didn't say what. It took us longer to get to MK from GF than it did from POR. That incident aside though, we had great transportation for the rest of the trip. (Bus, boat and monorail.)

 

[klwdisney]

I plan on writing an email complaint about the sharing of the busses. Maybe if more people did the same and then they'd do something about it?

 

[Sophie_2003]

Well, we will see when we get there (4 days!!! ). However, I believe attitude is the main thing when dealing with these situations. We are frequent cruisers, and on a cruise you often get 3000 people wanting to do the same thing at the same time...so we always try to chill, try a less "beaten path" and keep a sense of humor.

Waiting for a bus at Disney in the rain at a crowded park beats sitting at my computer at work any day!

 

[DawnF]

Waiting for a bus at Disney in the rain at a crowded park beats sitting at my computer at work any day!

So true!