We're also just back today. I was with my DH, my DD (11), DS (8), and my DD (4). We checked in on 9/24 and checked out today at 6 am FL time (which would be 3 am Oregon time!) Overall, I found the resort to have many good points, but I'm not sure that I would stay there again.
We checked in on SAt., 9/24; we may have waited 5 minutes in line prior to checking in. I had requested a king room connecting with a double/double room. I was given two double rooms - when I requested a room change, I was told that the resort was overbooked. We had requested the 4th floor, facing away from the pool, in the 50's building; we got the 4th floor, facing the parking lot, in the 80's building. Although I was initially disappointed, I actally liked the location as it was a short walk to the bus stop and the food court (I did cut across a small corner of the parking lot, but it wasn't a huge time-saver.) I don't think I would be very happy with the 90's building - it looked to be a bit of a hike.
ME was great - we were in our room within an hour of leaving the airport ( a bit of a line at the airport but nothing excessive). I was aware that it could take up to an 3 hours for our luggage to arrive, but after about 3 1/2 hrs. of waiting and kids that really needed to brush their teeth and go to bed, I was ready to go find my own stuff.
The bus service was good. The lines were incredible (definitely not covered), but the buses came frequently; we had only one prolonged wait of 25 minutes (there were 3 buses during that time - part of the delay was 3 wheelchairs that needed to be loaded). Most of our waits were less than 10 minutes, and we had several waits of 5 minutes or less.
The rooms were larger than I expected and were as quiet as any WDW resort I've ever visited. As for the famous loud toilets, I could occasionally hear one, but it was nothing excessive. (Perhaps we need to start a list of noisy rooms like they do over on the cruise board.
) I grew up in the Deep South and I've met many cockroaches (none of whom I've liked); there were none spotted in my room (which isn't saying that they weren't there because I know that they're always there!) The room was very clean and mousekeeping was good. We had no towel animals, but the mousekeeper occasionally did cute things with my DD's stuffed animals.
The thing that I definitely dislike about POP is the food court. I have 3 kids and I'm fairly noise-tolerant - that place is deafening. The tip about sitting near the tv's . . . I sat there last night and I found it to be relatively intolerable. We always split up to order our food and met up again to pay; our food was almost always cold as the waits were excessive. I did like the selection and I thought the quality was good.
In POP's defense, we've only stayed in deluxe resorts in the past; obviously, it wouldn't be fair to compare the two. I did love having the two connecting rooms. As we were stumbling to the bus this morning, I asked my two older kids if they liked the resort, and they really didn't. They both agreed that they preferred a pool with a slide.
Who knows, maybe I'll see this tag under your name yet.
The car saved us! To each his own when it comes to where is the best place to stay. I will be renting points again, for my May trip. OLD KEY WEST 
here I come!
). But one solid week of all that high-volume, high-energy atmosphere left us a bit weary. At POR, we all enjoyed coming "home" more, and felt more rested and ready for the next day after being there.
and I am getting more and more nervous. We have always stayed deluxe (due to our family size), but since we need 2 rooms for this trip, just couldn't justify the expense of 2 rooms deluxe and couldn't all fit in 1. I stayed at the ASMu for a few nights while chaperoning a music days trip, but we didn't use the bus system (we used our own) or even visit the food court that often (although what I saw I liked). I am just so worried that DH and DS (17) will be so frustrated - both were frustrated with the boat transporation at WL last June. Think I will check out the prices at POR, just to see. We have AP and CM discounts, so the rooms are certainly cheap enough at POP....but if I am with 4 or 5 miserable people, I don't know what good that will do.....
