Just back from POR!! (long)

[cinder1]

We got home on Saturday after driving back from WDW to Dallas. Boy are we tired. We of course already miss WDW.

First, let me say I loved POR. I was worried since we last stayed at the Poly that I wouldn't like POR, but it was fine. DH thought there was more to do at POR (bike rental, boats, carriage ride, boat to DTD, playground for the kids), but we all missed the monorail.

The resort was very quiet, never heard our neighbors. It is quite a hike to the food court or the parking lot, depending on where you are. Just be aware. We asked for and got building 27, 2nd floor. We loved the building, but it was very far from the parking lot. The grounds are lovely. The only problem was bees. We used the West bus depot a lot and one morning there were like 30 (yes, I said 30) bees hanging out. Keep in mind that these were the biggest bees I have ever seen. Well, my DD6 was in hysterics. DD8 and DS3 were scared, but ok. DD6 was so terrified that she didn't want to go to the parks again if it meant going to that bus stop. I called the front desk and told them the problem and they said they'd send the exterminator. We used a different bus stop for the rest of the trip.

The food court was ok. The biggest problem for us is that you go to different lines to order different things so you wait twice (or maybe more times), then wait again to pay. That was a pain, but otherwise, it was fine. We did not eat at Boatwrights, but we did go by when Bob was in the lounge. He seemed like a lot of fun.

DH was not impressed with the CMs at POR. He got the feeling that they were not happy to be there, no magic from them. I did not have this experience. Every CM I dealt with on the trip was very nice. The only other negative was the cheerleaders that arrived the last couple of days we were there. The girls were not loud (at least where we were), but there were so many of them that when they came into the food court, it was suddenly quite crowded and they weren't always considerate of others.

When we ran into a few at a time, they were very sweet, but a lot of them together and they weren't as nice. One day we were standing in a very long line for security at Epcot. It was after 5 pm and a lot of people had come over from MK since Epcot was staying open later. A group of about 20 cheerleaders walked up to a friend in the front of this very long, slow moving line. Well, I spoke up and said there was a line. I received a very rude comment from one of the girls, but they did move to the back of the line. Now I don't have a problem with a couple of people getting in line with the rest of their party (a parent and young child for ex.), but 20 people? No way!!

As for the busses...We waited anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes for busses. Longer than I'd like but it was ok. My only gripe about the busses is the rudeness of some of the riders. I think there should be a rule that if it is standing room only, able bodied adults and teens should give up their seats for young kids. My DD6 had to stand once and she had such a hard time. It is ridiculous for grown men and women to sit there and watch a child being tossed about the bus. We only had this problem once, thankfully. Other times, people gave up seats. I don't have any problems with a parent sitting with a young child in their lap. They shouldn't have to stand and hold a young child either. (DH had to stand holding DS3 which I could not have done. I'm not tall enough to hold on well as it is.)

Now before anyone gripes at me for this, let me add that when we got on the bus the one time we all had to stand, we couldn't tell that we weren't going to get a seat yet and by the time we did know, we could not back off. There were way too many people behind us. Like I said, most of the time, this was not a problem. I am surprised Disney doesn't have this rule anyway. It was totally not safe for my kids to stand up. I had to grab my DD6 at one point and hold her up when the bus stopped at a light.

Oh, one other thing about POR. We had 5 in the AB section with a trundle bed and we did not feel cramped. Now if the kids were older, it might be a different story, but for now it was fine.

Sorry this is so long. I will post dining reviews later.

Paige

 

[girlsx2]

Thanks for the run down on POR. I am booked to stay there in the AB section with a trundle bed next February. We stayed at WL last month and I was affraid that I would have the same expectations that I have come to love about WL for POR. I have requested building 14. How was the pool? What were the renovations like?

 

[DisneyFreaks]

It's funny that you brought up about the busses. I will not for any reason stand on a bus. It is not safe and I think Disney should not allow it. It is too likely someone could get seriously injured the way those bus drivers fly. I have seen people make their young children sit on the floor and they seemed to be okay. Maybe that would have helped. I always asked my children to give up their seats for adults so I guess to each his own.

 

[WDWorld2003]

Thanks for the report on POR. We'll be arriving in 11 days and are also staying at POR. It's our first trip on site - we were there 9 years ago at the Comfort Inn. How was the pool? Did you go to Downtown Disney on the boat??? Rooms clean?

I can relate to the bus situation. We had the same problem with the bus from the Comfort Inn. Our girls were 6 & 3 at the time - the first view of Disney World they had was standing up looking through the seats - no one gave their seat up for 2 adorable little girls - hard to believe!!! Little ones just don't have a good sense of balance and are also frightened by this. They would never be asked to stand on a school bus. This happened to us many times and finally one night we were leaving Epcot very late and they tried to cram us on a bus where we were practically hanging out the front door - I had a fit and they sent a private van just for our family (although I thought the driver might not take us home as he wasn't happy with us either).

I think they have a dangerous situation on their buses - little ones should not be standing - and for that matter adults shouldn't either. It will take an accident (as always) and then policies may change. I'm sorry you had to deal with the same situation still years later - I thought Disney buses would be different. It's one of my most vivid memories of our trip years ago. We had a wonderful time but the bus situation was so irritating. This time we are renting a car so if the bus situation is the same we have another option. Also, we will give our seats up for young ones

Looking forward to the rest of your comments on dining......

 

[cinder1]

The pool was nice. They added some fountains. But our last day, the pool was closed again to do some repair work on the slide. I don't know what and my impression was that it was minor and the pool would open later in the day.

We thought the room was clean. My DH took the kids to POFQ and thought that pool was in great need of renovation.

As for the busses...my DD6 tried sitting on the floor but it was scary for her and she slid into people's feet. My biggest gripe was that there was a mom, small boy (about 2 or 3) and teen sitting by us. The mom was holding the 2 yr old and put her backpack on the sit next to her while watching my 6 yr old struggling to hold on. Eventually, when we were close to the hotel, the mom moved her bag and let me DD sit down. I would have made my teen stand and certainly would not have taken a seat for my bag. The dad was sitting on the other side of the bus and also did not move. Once some of the people got off at POFQ, we were all able to sit. One nice note, an elderly gentleman would not sit down until he was sure that my kids had seats and that I had a seat. Very sweet.

The next day, a group of young men (I'd say 20 to 22 yrs old) again made sure all the kids on the bus had seats and they stood. Very classy.

My poor DD6 was scared and I was scared for her. My DH would never let a child stand while he sat. He moved several times on busses and off benches in the parks for kids and elderly ladies.

I agree that standing on the busses isn't great for anyone. I'm 5 ft exactly and I can't hold on to the upper handles they want you to hold on to. I have to hold the seat backs or vertical poles. If I can't hold on safely, you know kids can't either.

I don't mean to sound like we didn't have a great time. We did. The bus situation was only a problem once. It's just that as a mom, it really bothered me.

Paige

 

[n2mm]

Love POR, but never take the buses. I agree, it's tough to try to stand and sometimes the rides are long. We took the buses a couple of years ago for e ticket night and had to wait 45 minutes for a bus, standing room only, and that was after 2 buses left while we were still in line. While no one should stand, one thing that has bothered me when taking the bus, is when you see it's crowded and a parent and a child are sitting in a seat and the parent makes no effort to maybe have the child sit on their lap. My grandson, 9 would be on my lap, (even though it would take a while for the blood to start flowing in my legs again). I think the sitting parents need to think about that also. So there are inconsiderate folks that come in all sizes. I will continue to rent a car and avoid the buses at all costs, no matter what resort we're at.

 

[DramaTech]

Thanks for your POR report. We will be staying there in late May and I can't wait! I've heard so many great things about the themeing there.

 

[copper0426]

I know it may seem a bit inconvenient at times, but you usually can see when people are standing on a bus and it is totally up to you if you want to get on the bus and stand or let the other people in line go ahead of you and you can then wait for the next bus and you can be first in line and get your choice of seats. We have a six year old, and have been going approx. 3 times a year since he was three weeks. Not very often are we offered seats for him, however if we see a small child or an elderly person or someone in need we always give up our seats. Sometimes if my husband, mother and I are all standing and a child needs a seat, my son 6 offers for that child to share his seat. Yes, I am proud of my little boy.

The cheerleader thing is another gripe we have. We can't believe that they have now moved over to the Moderate resorts. This is something Disney is going to seriously have to consider telling guests about when families make ressies. While they all aren't screaming all of the time. The ones who decide to do cheers etc. while other guests are trying to enjoy a relaxing meal gets to be a bit much and most of their chapperones just think it is great, well take it from a mother of a six year old who can't stand the noise that the cheerleaders make, it is ANNOYING.

Sorry just my little rant.

Diane

 

[DisneyFreaks]

Oh, don't get me started on those darn busses.Or the rudeness of some people who share this planet with us. LoL I really do believe those bus drivers could cause you bodily harm if you have to stand. {They're worse than the moving floors on some of the attractions!} I have a knee injury and it can be downright miserable after walking long hours at the parks. As I said I will not stand. I wait for the next bus. Once my sister and I went back to the rooms and while riding the bus a young pregnant lady was standing. She was right next to a man who was sitting and even after the bus jerked and she practically fell into his lap he still would not offer her his seat. We were watching from the back and I got so discusted we both jumped up and offered her our seats.

 

[pouncingpluto]

Just a note to say that not everyone who didn't offer your child a seat was being rude. For example, I am 24 with no kids, and it never would have occured to me that kids have more trouble than adults standing on a bus. Now that you've explained it, I see your point, but previously I would have thought the opposite, "Oh, they're young, healthy, and have lots of energy."

On the other hand, I have offered seats to older people lots of times.

Thank you for giving your experience, as it is a perspective I haven't heard before, but please don't think that everyone who doesn't behave as you wish they would is being rude.

 

[Gillian]

I would have said to the person with a bag on the seat, "Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?" It usually gets you a seat very quickly! Why should you have to stand so someone's backpack can relax?

 

[Tink42]

We just got back yesterday and I was also amazed at some of the inconsideration shown on busses and monorails. We were on the monorail one time and a father had his two children slide closer together so I could sit down. Before I could get to the seat, another man took it. The father and I just looked at each other and smiled. It takes all kinds.

 

[kilee]

I think the bus thing comes down to manners and common courtesy. We encounter rude people everywhere and Disney (the happiest place on earth) is no exception. If we are able to get seats on the bus. I always put my 9 year old on my lap if there is anyone standing. He isn't small either, but we manage. I hate the bag thing too. Nobody really wants to be cramped into small spaces with people they don't know, but I could never watch people stand while my bag had a seat. It's just the way my husband and I were brought up. He always holds the door open too.

 

[Hawk]

Well I guess I have to give my two cents! If you get on a bus that appears full you take the chance of having to stand and thats it! Nobody owes you a seat or any consideration other than to not interfere in your space. I for one, and my children, will always give their seats up for the elderly, infirm, or mom with baby. However, I have many many times stood with a child in my arms knowing that it was the risk I took when I boarded the bus, rather than wait for the next. So don't complain, next time wait for another bus.

Rude people are a fact of life. They are on vacation and will not let you interfere. Just feel good that you are not of that sort, but learn to expect it. Get real, if there were no rude people what a wonderful world it would be!

By the way, let a rude person interfere with my space when my family is on vacation and we then have a problem which I will deal with in an appropriate manner.

Hawk,

 

[WDWorld2003]

Just my 2 cents...... Sometimes there isn't a next bus..... In my case we stayed at the Comfort Inn (see previous post) in Lake Buena Vista and were at the mercy of their buses - if we had waited for the next bus it would have been more that 90 minutes - try that with 2 young kids in tow! Also, on our return trip late at night at Epcot it was the last bus..... no one else would come for us. We were on a tight budget, no $ for a car or cab. We were naive in those days, also, thinking if they advertised transportation they would be able to accomodate the people based on # of occupants - I think they should have that down by now!

I would hope that if the bus was full the driver would have enough sense to radio for another one and not let more people get on - that is the driver's responsibility and not the responsibility of the people getting on..... Bus windows are tinted and sometimes you don't know it's going to be full until you're trying to get a seat. It's a safety issue and should be dealt with as such by Disney and all resorts offering transportation. It's part of the $$ you pay with your tickets and room. The bottom line is the driver should call for another bus and the hotel should provide it and yes, I will complain with the amount of money we're spending I should be sitting when I use the transportation provided.

Yes, rude people are everywhere but you do expect less of them at the happiest place in the world I will give up my seat if needed - my heart could not let someone stand who obviously needed to sit.

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by WDWorld2003

I think they have a dangerous situation on their buses - little ones should not be standing - and for that matter adults shouldn't either.

If you don't think that adults should be standing either, then why are you upset that they didn't give up their seats?

Standing on the busses is your choice. If you stay for Illuminations or Fantasmic, then you should expect big crowds on the busses. If you don't want to stand, you can wait for another bus or find alternate transportation.

 

[cinder1]

I want to address all the folks who say to wait for the next bus. When we got in line to get on the bus, I told my DH that I'd rather wait than to have the kids stand. As we were being herded on to the bus by a CM, not the driver of the bus, we could not tell if we would be standing or not. The lady CM rushing everyone to get on to the bus did not tell us the bus was already full. When we got on, we walked all the way to the back where people were still getting seated. My point is that even once on the bus, we could not tell at first that we were not going to get seats. Once we did realize it, we could not get off. The CM had this bus jammed, people in the door wells, crammed in like sardines. Keep in mind that this was the 3rd bus that had arrived for POR guests. It was a huge bus, bigger than any others we had been on and we did not know how many people the bus would hold. Now we know more how to handle this, but I still say that adults who watch a small child struggling and do nothing are just inconsiderate. Maybe it's a mom thing. I also agree that you should put your kids on your lap to make more room. Keep in mind that most everyone we encountered did the nice thing.

It's our job as parents to not only keep our kids safe but to teach them things like consideration and empathy.

 

[WDWorld2003]

gepetto - I believe you missed the intent of my posts.....and what I stated - 9 years ago there was NOT another bus coming where we were staying (offsite)! We also did not have the money to rent a car or cab - we were just happy to be at WDW but unhappy with transportation. We were young, naive and new to WDW.

I thought transportation would be different this time since we are lucky enough to stay on property this year and use WDW buses but after I read this post I guess not.

No one should be standing. Remember, it is WDW that is choosing to let the buses become overloaded. If people are standing, they should be told to disembark by the driver and told that the next bus will come along soon. WDW will also be held responsible if an accident occurs. People standing should not be allowed, period. So many accidents have happened in this world where one ounce of prevention would prevent a tragedy.

Would you put your kid on a school bus that was jam packed with the kids standing? Why not? Because it is a dangerous situation. I don't think this is much different. The kids don't even have anything to hang on to at their height. Again, WDW should be providing SAFE reliable transportation and enforcing it - it's their bus and their job. With the cost of the rooms and tickets - we are paying for it....heck, they advertise it as one of the benefits of staying onsite. They also know they have the Fantasmic and Illuminations shows every night and should provide adequate SAFE transportation at the end of the evening. I am willing to wait for the next bus and do agree it's a choice.

Anyway, the original subject was POR and we got way off. No offense to anyone. I just had to spout off as this was a gripe of mine 9 years ago and it's still going on - so glad we are renting a car. I am thrilled we're going to WDW and can only hope that if we take the bus we'll have a seat

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by cinder1
. I also agree that you should put your kids on your lap to make more room. Keep in mind that most everyone we encountered did the nice thing.

That I do agree with. You should make more room when you can.

You never know if the "rude adults" you see sitting, waited 20 minutes for the next bus so they wouldn't have to stand.

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by WDWorld2003
gepetto - I believe you missed the intent of my posts.....and what I stated - 9 years ago there was NOT another bus coming where we were staying (offsite)!

The second half of my post, I wasn't referring to you specifically. I've seen the offsite busses and shuttles and where they are parked. A looooong ways away. I feel really for the first time visitors that have to rely on them. So many of the offiste resorts feature free shuttles, but in reality don't run them that often.