Just Back from POR last night

[estnh]

We just returned from a 7 night stay at POR late last night. We have stayed at this resort three or four times before, going back to when it was Dixie Landings. As usual, the resort grounds were beautiful, and we love the overall theming. We were in AB building 27, on the front side of the building very convenient to a quiet pool, and a short walk to the food court and main bus stop. The room was immaculate, and recently rehabbed. However, this was the most disappointing stay we have ever had at this resort.

Let me preface my comments by saying that the resort was at capacity--completely jam packed!

The bus system was nothing short of awful. Sometimes we had to wait for two or three busses at the resort because the lines were so long. At the parks, it was incredible. One night at Epcot, the line for POR was so long it stretched back out of the designated bus stop area going back as far as the eye could see. Six busses came before we finally got on, and when we left the line was still incredibly long. And when you did get on, they just kept pressure fitting people into the standing room area to the point where you couldn't even move. The funny thing about the bus situation was that when you looked around the other bus stops at the parks, NONE, and I mean none, of them had any significant lines, other than POR.

It became a joke for the guests--no one had to look for POR bus stops, they just looked for masses of people and went there! By the middle of the week we just gave up on the bus service and started taking our rental car everywhere we went.

Also, the food court was very disappointing. Again, this may be because the resort was at capacity, but it was so jammed that it really was not even an option for us to eat there.

We still think this is the most beautiful moderate resort, but will think long and hard before we stay there again.

If anyone has any POR questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

 

[Beln]

Did you use the laundry facilities? Do they sell small packages of detergent or do you have to bring your own? We leave tomorrow - sorry to hear it was so crowded. I'm glad we're renting a car. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[estnh]

Did you use the laundry facilities? Do they sell small packages of detergent or do you have to bring your own? We leave tomorrow - sorry to hear it was so crowded. I'm glad we're renting a car. Thanks for the heads up.

Sorry--can't answer that one--we didn't use the laundry.

 

[landmark]

I think that the busses would have to be the main complaint I'd have about POR also. We stayed at POFQ last year and stayed at POR just last month. I found that many times the bus drivers are new to the route etc and sometimes didn't hit POFQ when we were staying there and then last month we were in AB 16 so the closest bus stop was the main depot and the bus driver told us that it doesn't stop there! What! It picked us up there! So we had to walk a LONG way from one of the outer stops all the way up. Not enough to make me not want to stay there but it's a terrible inconvenience to not be able to take advantage of transportation... we ended up driving ourselves as well.

When we were at POFQ we lived the pain you speak about waiting for six busses etc at the end of the day. I do have to say that they worked really well in getting additional busses on the line. I'd complain more about the way people pushed etc to get on the busses as if they were the only ones tired at the end of a long day.

I know that this peak season was exceptionally crowded when we were there i'm sure that the crowded food court is a result of the large crowds. I know that in planning my next vacation I remembered two small words... "Value Season"

We even decided if we ever need a Disney fix during peak season again it will just be a cruise... only so many people can be on that ship at a time!

 

[MiJo]

They do have a vending machine for laundry packets, etc. in the laundry area but I can't tell you how much they are since we took our own. I will say the laundry area we used was very clean.

 

[twinklebug]

Did you use the laundry facilities? Do they sell small packages of detergent or do you have to bring your own? We leave tomorrow - sorry to hear it was so crowded. I'm glad we're renting a car. Thanks for the heads up.

The laundry buildings have a small built in vending machine which sells single use packets of soap. I don't recall the prices... we were only in there to use the drier after being caught in a downpour.

 

[ninaeve]

I agree with all the wonderful things you said about POR, but we also will have to think twice before staying again. We were in AB building 25 April 17-24 which was a nice, not unpleasant walk to everything. The food court was fine except the last 2 two days where we ended up eating at Boatwrights(very hard to get ressie at), and we ended up eating a lot of the prepackaged sandwiches.

The bus wait was as horrible as u said. Our average wait for a crammed pack bus was 1-1.5 hours! Our total travel time back & forth usually totalled 2.5 - 3 hours NOT including our down time. The drivers blamed it on the resorts being 100% capacity, but then also admitted that 6 buses(the day we went to MGM) did their stop at POFQ(the first stop going and coming) and did not even make it over to POR bc they were already full. Horrible experience. The day we drove to Sea World was a nice break.

I have only great things to say about our stay other than that, but it was such a hassle it will be a big consideration in our next trip.

Oh, we brought laundry det, but did end up having to buy one small pack for a 3rd load.

 

[saintloo]

We'll be at POR May 16-21. I'm not liking what i'm reading here. I just hope the crowds are less when we're there.

 

[bwallace]

We'll be at POR May 16-21. I'm not liking what i'm reading here. I just hope the crowds are less when we're there.

Me too

Hopefully this is just peak time trouble

 

[DMRick]

Personally, I think based on this, that all of you staying at POR-Riverside the 17th - 24th, should stay somewhere else. It sounds like it's prob gonna be a nightmare. I never liked the place anyway



Yeah, just three more weeks til we'll be at POR-Riverside!! Shhh...don't tell anyone how great it is!

 

[ptrbryant]

It seems most of the complaints I've read recently about POR have to do with buses and the food court crowds. We'll be staying there for the first time May 20-23 (SSR 4nts. before that), but we always drive to the parks---DH likes the freedom--and rarely use the resort food courts for anything more than a late night snack or something. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that, because of our needs, we won't be disappoined?!?!?

Karla B.

 

[goofy4tink]

When we have stayed there in the past, I have tried to use the food court at off times...either really early, almost as soon as they open for the day, or say around 9:30 for a late breakfast. It's awful to try and get something quick to eat on the way to the bus stop for park opening!!
That's also why we never leave a park when it's closing...either leave 1/2 hr. before it closes or wander the streets while the crowds die down. Especially at MK!! That is a nightmare when it closes.

 

[cbsunfish]

I'm amazed it was that crowded. I was there Easter Week, and never waited longer than half an hour for a bus, usually no more than 10 minutes. And every bus I was on stopped at every stop all the way around the resort, and if they filled up and didn't get to one, I heard the bus driver call in and tell dispatch that they'd missed it, and a new bus was sent out.

 

[TigerLilyBlossom]

Sorry--can't answer that one--we didn't use the laundry.

I used the laundry while we were there (4/19-4/24) -- the detergent was $2.00 per single use box, washers were $2.00 per load, as were the dryers.
-----------

I think we got lucky with the buses...some folks were saying they were waiting 30-40 minutes to leave for the parks, but we were lucky and got on quickly (once in the morning we had to wait for another bus, but that was about a 10 minute wait if that). Most mornings there was a CM there with a radio and clipboard marking down the times buses came/went, which was nice. Leaving Magic Kingdom one night there was a huge line...huge. But, the buses came fairly quickly one after another, and we got on I would say within 30 minutes, which was impressive to us considering the length of the line.

The only complaint I heard from fellow POR guests other than the couple mentioning their wait at the bus stop was a woman who was fuming at Boatwrights...she had a ps for "x" time and wanted to be seated at that exact moment, though they tried explaining that they have a 10 (or 15??) minute window to seat people from the time of their ps. Our ps was for 7:30 and we had about a 5 or 10 minute wait, which wasn't bad at all..dh waited inside and the kiddos and I waited outside and enjoyed the scenery.

There were a ton of people at the resort, so all in all I think we made out pretty well (it was our first trip, so we have nothing to compare it to, but we were happy).

 

[estnh]

It seems most of the complaints I've read recently about POR have to do with buses and the food court crowds. We'll be staying there for the first time May 20-23 (SSR 4nts. before that), but we always drive to the parks---DH likes the freedom--and rarely use the resort food courts for anything more than a late night snack or something. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that, because of our needs, we won't be disappoined?!?!?

Karla B.

If you don't use Disney transportation or the POR food court, you'll love it. Those were the only complaints we had.

 

[DisneyDreamer2]

Do you remember which bus stop is first? My friend says its the AB west depot, with the main/lobby depot last, is that correct?

 

[Catrin]

You guys are scaring me....

I am going to POR June 9 - 13 with my 10 yr old. THis will be the FIRST time that we will rely completley on WDW Transportation - we have always rented a car and taken that everywhere.....
The one time we took the bus to the MK last year was not a great experience, but we took it because DH had too many drinks at the pool bar that day! LOL (without the kids that trip).

Keeping my fingers crossed!
Catrin

 

[SHAMIL10]

We stayed at POR AB bldg 17, Dec 17-23, 2004 and had no problems whatsoever with the food court or bus transportation. The longest we ever waited for a bus was one night leaving MK at closing, we had to wait about 15-20 min b/c we just missed the first one. Otherwise it was typically 5-10 min wait. Also, we ate at the food court a couple of evenings- but we may have missed the crowds by eating a little later.

 

[ninaeve]

We ate b'kst in our room, and only ate at the food court at strange(to us) times, like 9:30pm or 3:30 pm. The most crowded was the day that we left, and we went in at 10:20am purposely trying to miss the b'fast crowd, but it was jammed packed. We turned around, walked and took pics, and went offsite to Bob Evans.
I really did not mind the crowds at the food court, that was to be expected at 100% capacity, but it is the lack of space, most specifically in the area where u walk around, and attempt to form lines for the different areas.


Again for our trip, April 17-24, we have some really great memories and pics of the resort. It was really nice, and very relaxing with the river. The butterfly garden was beautiful, and even had a resident hummingbird. We saw lots of wildlife, and talked with one of the conservationlist who pointed some things out to us like some baby ducks and baby turtles. Housekeeping was awesome, almost all the CMs were courteous albeit very tired, and the choice of pools and recreation great!

I think that the bus system could definitely be improved with splitting the FQ and POR apart for all the parks.

To the poster asking about stops - this was the order while we were there.
Going to park - POFQ, POR - West, North, East, & South(main)
Returning from park - POFQ, POR - South, West, North, East

We were at the West stop which meant when a bus did finally arrive, we did get seats which with me 7 months pg, a 22 mnth old, a 4.5 yr old, and dh carrying the bag & 2 strollers was a really good thing though dh was a gentlemen and often gave up his seat to very young or elderly. I was amazed at how many people would ignore the mothers trying to stand carrying a baby, and trying to balance around the curves. Where have manners gone?? Anyway, that is another post.

I just don't want anyone to think they will have a bad trip, but I do think there needs to be a different bus setup. If the bus fills up at one stop, the next bus should head to the other stop to even out the waits. The bus driver said that they have to go by policy which can mean if FQ keeps on coming out with people, the buses take hours to get to POR which is exactly what we found.

 

[jenrose66]

I was at pofq last July 4-11 and had no problems with the busses. I will admit that the food court wasn't my favorite, but it wasn't enough to sway me from staying there again for my upcoming trip from July 3-10. We also did not have a problem walking into Boatwrights for breakfast (I hope that is still the case).

Jen