Just back from weekend at PORS---it was great!

[lovethattink]

We were only there for the weekend, and had a great time. Our expectations were exceded! Back in July we had a bad experience at PORS, with cleanliness of the room. This time, everything was excellent!! We enjoyed the resort so much that we did not get to a park until after we checked out on Sunday! DS and DH fished on Saturday. They caught a fish! The theme pool was cold, but the quiet pools were great! We were in the Oak Manor and the newly renovated room was fantastic. It was really nice to have a refrigerator. There were a couple things at the resort I wanted to do, but didn't have the time. I love listening to the guy (forget the name) who plays the piano on a weekend. His show is great, but we missed it this time. Also, there is a campfire on select days and we missed that too. It was on Fri night, sunday night and one other day during the week. They have smores kits available for purchase where you get the fishing rods. If they are still doing it in January when we go back, we will definitely do it!

 

[tinkerbee]

Glad to hear you had such a nice time. POR is my favorite!!

 

[swilphil]

I just made a reservation for POR yesterday and I have some questions. I haven't ween much about it, and the search function is down. I apologize if this is stuff that has been said a million times before.

Is Oak Manor smoking or non-smoking?

How do you make sure you get a Mansion room instead of an Alligator Bayou room?

How far is it to the FQ?

 

[gymmom]

Same here! I just made our reservation for 2 connecting rooms at PORS for our family of 5 for the week of Jan 22. The CRO person said she thought PORS would be more enjoyable than POFQ because of the pool area. Don't they heat the water in the main pool in the winter? That would be a major bummer! Is PORS a better location for families than POFQ, or was the CRO person just trying to get rid of less desirable or more plentiful rooms?

Is it better to be in a Mansion that Alligator Bayou? If so, why?

Also, where do I get info about all the activities available at the resort? I haven't seen anything about the s'mores (which I assume means there's a campfire?).

Lisa

 

[Lebjwb]

I just made a reservation for POR yesterday and I have some questions. I haven't ween much about it, and the search function is down. I apologize if this is stuff that has been said a million times before.

Is Oak Manor smoking or non-smoking?

How do you make sure you get a Mansion room instead of an Alligator Bayou room?

How far is it to the FQ?

PORS is a wonderful resort, we really enjoyed it last February and would go back in a heart beat. To answer your questions: I think there are non smoking rooms in both Oak Manor and AB...make a request for the Mansions. These rooms have different bed configurations. AB has a trundle bed and can sleep 5. The FQ is literally right next door to PORS. FQ was under renovation last February but you can take a boat from PORS to DD and you go right past FQ..I imagine they stop there as well. Make some time to take the ride to DD, very relaxing.

 

[Lebjwb]

Same here! I just made our reservation for 2 connecting rooms at PORS for our family of 5 for the week of Jan 22. The CRO person said she thought PORS would be more enjoyable than POFQ because of the pool area. Don't they heat the water in the main pool in the winter? That would be a major bummer! Is PORS a better location for families than POFQ, or was the CRO person just trying to get rid of less desirable or more plentiful rooms?

Is it better to be in a Mansion that Alligator Bayou? If so, why?

Also, where do I get info about all the activities available at the resort? I haven't seen anything about the s'mores (which I assume means there's a campfire?).

Lisa

The pool is great and it is heated.
PORS is a fantastic family resort. My daughter (7Yrs) loved the pool and would have stayed there the entire time had we let her. I don't recall anything about a campfire or s'mores. There was a horse and carriage ride around the resort,fishing,a play ground,boats to DD, bike/boat rentals etc. Check out the Resort info offered right here on the DIS site for more activities. You made a good choice on resorts...Have fun!

 

[lovethattink]

The pool is heated. However, for some reason last week, both of the theme pools were not heated as much as usual. The quiet pools were. I will search for the flyer I took about the campfire and post the specifics when I find it. We get a non-smoking room due to ds asthma. I'm not sure if the whole bld was non-smoking. We are returning to PORS in Jan. I'm be happy w/ 1st floor of alligator buyou (due to stroller and no elevators) or any floor at mansions (has an elevator). From our room, it took me 15 minutes to walk to FQ. They have bus and boat transportation between resorts too, but faster to walk from where we were.

 

[gymmom]

I'm still not sure I understand why the mansions are preferrable to AB. Does CRO honor specific requests? Which Mansions do you all prefer? Are they pretty much the same? We definitely need NS as I have asthma (as a matter of fact, it's acting up right now!

Anyone else going that same time?

Lisa

 

[lovethattink]

Gymmom, make sure they know you have asthma so that you get a non-smoking room. The rooms are the same set up, just the decor is different. Alligator buyou is rustic in appearance and the mansions are southern charm. I like the appearance of the quiet pools in the buyou better than the quiet pools at the mansions. When my son broke his leg, they put us in the 1st building in alligator buyou. It was so convenient, right next to the food court. The only reason I preferred the mansions was because of the elevators. AB is 2 floors but no elevator. Mansions are 3 floors and have a elevator. With a bulky stroller, either 1st floor of AB or anywhere in the mansions is doable.

 

[ufgator]

gymmom, I prefer the mansion side because I love the look of Southern mansions and the rooms are nice. Haven't stayed in AB though. I know all the mansions have been redone. Not sure if AB is done yet. I think it just depends on what theme you prefer. Many people like the mansions and many prefer AB. I just go with my DH and we don't have kids yet so I don't know if that makes a difference. I like Panterre Place in the mansions. We stayed in Room 9725 last month. On second floor, garden view, very close to quiet pool and close to bridge to get to lobby. It was quiet.

CRO cannot guarantee your request. I requested Panterre Place and got it. I called the hotel directly and CRO to request. If you have asthma, it won't be a problem getting non-smoking. Definitely tell them.