Just Back from POR last night

[DZNYMGCFAM]

We have stayed there quite a bit over the years (as you can see in my signature). We absolutly love POR...but I can say this, the POR/POFQ busing situation stinks!! They really need to seperate POR and POFQ as far as buses go!! Each resort should have there own bus system. When we were there last year in June, they were packed (pretty sure close to full capacity), I have never seen it that full before. While we did not have any problems per say in the food court (it was crowded, but not bad enough that we felt we could not eat there), the wait for the buses was absurd (anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes..per bus )!! The boat wait was crazy as well. One night we wanted to goto DTD and do some shopping and walk around...we did not end up going as the line for the boat was an hour to an hour and a half long (not a good thing with three children), the bus depot was so crowded and everytime the DTD bus came, everyone and I mean everyone in the depot stood up and practially trampled my children ...that was enough for my husband to go in and ask for a manager. Well, of course the manager spouts off the usual "We are booked to almost full capacity.....", well that was not calming my husband down in the least (I mean they should know it is going to be that full and account for it !!!!! DUH!!!! ) ...he stood there and just kept getting more angry with the people, until the manager finally offered us a credit on our room account of $75.00!!! While that helped a little , it did not solve our bus problem.

I say that it takes more than one person to get something done!! If everyone goes to the guest services desk and complains enough about the bus situation...maybe, just maybe, we can get a step forward in getting POR it's own buses!!!!! We pay for the service when staying there, and we are not getting the service in a acceptable time frame!!! I would stay there again (my ressies for June this year was orginially for that resort), I would be (and was) prepared for the bus situation.

 

[princessknb]

We'll be there 5/28/05-6/4/05 and now I'm thinking I should have stayed with CBR!?!?!? When we stayed at CBR we had not complaints about anything but we decided to try POR after reading some many wonderful and positive reviews and now I'm having second thoughts. I do believe there is power in numbers and if enough people complain about the situation they will have to do something.

 

[SunshineKathie]

We are staying @ POR during "Value Season" on our Disneymoon in September. Can someone tell me which bus stop to choose going into the Parks? I rather have the first stop for POR to ensure we dont have a long wait.

 

[Linda T.]

We stayed at POR in 1999 in Section AB 17 and loved the beautiful grounds but absolutely hated the bus system. We had long waits to go to the parks and long waits to get back to POR. The food court was ok. It was my idea to experience a new resort and I felt terrible about it. We have now been back to Disney twice and we stay at CBR and absolutely love it. We have never had a bad bus experience there and it has a great food court. My kids like CBR's themeing and quiet pools, too. We won't stay at any other moderate now.
__________________________________________

1979 - Offsite
1995 - CBR
1997 - CBR
1999 - Dixie Landings (POR)
2003 - CBR
2005 - CBR (June 22nd thru June 30th)

 

[Hawk]

We were there from April 11 to April 28. Yes the resort was at full capacity and the bus service was at its limit. However, those who know how to manage themselves through a peak period should not have had any problem.

If you have a rental car - use it for every park except for MK. You will save a huge amount of time and energy. Don't go to the bus stops between 8:00 am and 10:00 am and 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm expecting to stroll right on. Furthermore, don't expect to leave the parks at closing time and be first in line to go home.

Do not go to the food courts or resort restaurants at 8:00 am - 10:00 am, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm or after a park closing and expect to be seated upon arrival.

If you are going to visit WDW at a peak time you need to alter your schedule to accomodate for the crowd capacity. This is where many rookies falter and end up with a negative experience making the resort seem less desirable to others.

Some of the humerous statements I here at WDW are from those who don't know how to manage the parks! An example: Father and son at Splash Mountain in a line that is a 20 minute wait. Time is 11:15 am on a Saturday. Dad tells son "As soon as we get off this ride we can go over and hit Space Mountain then Buzz Light Year and get to Blizzard Beach by Noon. Yeah Right! Was that noon Sunday!

The first two times we visited WDW I vowed to never return. Now we go two or three times per year. Each time we go to WDW, we meet a person or family who has more experience than us and learn another secret to beat the crowds. I suggest all newcomers take note and pay attention.


Tim/Hawk

 

[ninaeve]

I am not new to WDW at all, and feel that we did excellent with 2 small children, large crowds, and having "real" expectations.

I NEVER stated that I expected to hop right on a bus, nor did I complain about the wait at the end of the day(park closing). Actually park closing with a 30 minutes wait(very reasonable with the crowds) was the shortest waits that we had the whole time.
It was actually getting to the parks that was the issue. And we were not waiting during the times the pp mentioned as being the busiest.

I also never enter a restaurant expecting to be seated immediately, or go during peak times. I repeat once again that we went during odd hours not the typical b'kft/lunch/dinner/park closing times.

I also stated that my overall experience at POR was a positive one, and truly resent it being insinuated that myself, and the others that have posted with complaints over the bus issue, NOT the resort as a whole, are rookies or basically just don't know what the crap we are doing. I would recommend this resort to most people with just a warning about the bus system.

 

[Hawk]

ninaeve:

Didn't mean to imply that my response was directed to you - not at all. Sorry you took it that way. Just giving some overall insight to some personal experiences.

Tim/Hawk

 

[ninaeve]

Forgive the hormonal pregnant lady.

 

[WVMomof3]

I was also there last week and had long waits for the buses. Mostly leaving the parks in the evening. And I have to agree that ours seemed to be the most crowded bus stop at all the parks. But our first park day, Sunday, we went to the AK and we saw 3 Epcot buses and 2 MK buses and at least one of every other bus before our AK bus came. That seemed to be the only bad morning experience we had. Also regarding which order the stops are, the return stops were always the same, POFQ, POR - South, West, North, East. But in the morning, they must radio the next bus if they have a full bus before they finish their stops to tell them which stop to go to first. There were several times we got onto an empty bus at the North depot.

I only had 1 experience with the food court. Our first night, Saturday the 23 around 8 pm, it was a MADHOUSE. That was enough for me not to go back.

 

[Disney Bumfords]

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.

That's exactly what I was going to ask? How about driving to the parks? We too will have our car there, and the resort parking lot will be convenient. I'm thinking it's going to be well worth it to drive to the parks.

How does it work driving to the Magic Kingdom? Do you have to drive to the TTC and then take the monorail/ferry across?

 

[mongobites]

We will be at POR May 14th to May 21st. I'm starting to wonder if it would be worth renting a car. I'm very paitent when it comes to lines and waiting for buses and rides, but my DH is not.