Please help me - POR or Embassy Suites

[turls401]

My DH and I are planning a trip to WDW - the first for him, I haven't been here since 1988. We got an excellent rate for POR ($109/night for KS bed), and were very excited. However, given what I have been reading on these websites, I'm a little nervous about being disappointed - especially since as a kid I was spoiled by always staying at the CR (with the gold key cards - anyone remember those?). I can't justify spending twice the price for a deluxe, which is what the quotes are looking like for this time. We can get the Embassy Suites offsite for the same as the POR with the full breakfast buffet/manager's reception - plus they have an iron, hairdryer, refrigerator, coffee maker in the room. I know that these can be requested at POR, but given that soap and shampoo has to be requested, I'm worried that I'd be spending my first afternoon trying to get the room straight. We travel frequently and are surprised that these items aren't standard - even the motels I stay at usually have these items. We will have a rental car, and our park hoppers will allow us to use Disney Transportation.

We have friends staying at FW Campsites who think we're crazy to stay outside of the park. However, given what I've read about POR lately and visiting WDW Blues website (photos of stickers left on walls of hotel rooms), I'm afraid of being disappointed.

BTW - when I spoke with two different CMs about the boat, both of them said it was the low water level that was preventing the boat's operation, for what that's worth ...

 

[BobBrazeal]

Here are my thoughts.

If you are 100% satisfied with staying offsite then it is going to be hard to justify staying onsite. I stayed off site for many trips to WDW. Then one trip, I believe it was around 1995, I decided to stay onsite. Wow, what a difference, at least it was for me. I've never once felt that the cost wasn't justified to stay onsite. One thing that I do is that I don't get a rental car. The first stay onsite, I parked it and never used it. I've never gotten one since and that saves quite a bit.

I've stayed at all the moderates and I've never been disappointed. There are some that I like much better than others but they are all very nice. I love PO-FQ and stayed there whenever I could get it. PO-R and CBR are in a tie for second with me. I truly enjoy either of them.

I've since joined DVC but if I hadn't, I'd still be staying in the moderates on every visit which is usually two or three times a year. For me it is a magical experience. The only thing that would beat it was if I could walk into the lobby of my hotel right off of Main Street, U.S.A.

 

[turls401]

Thanks BobBrazeal for your quick response! I haven't checked the rental car prices for that week, but if they are higher, it might tip the scales toward staying on site.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

turls401 , my family and I would all vote for staying at Riverside ! We just returned last night from a 5-night stay at the Hilton in Downtown Disney. Our stays previous to this have been Riverside (aka Dixie LAndings) twice, Wilderness Lodge Villas, and Old Key West. This was our first time to stay more than one night off-site.

And we swore to never repeat this again ! When we returned from Disney to the hilton it felt just that way - that we were no longer "in" Disney. Several times during our stay we drove over to Riverside or OKW, and as soon as we drive in we felt "at home" - we never felt that way at the hilton. We did get the room at the hilton for a lower rate than Riverside, but this will definitely NOT be a deciding factor in the future.

For us, there really is the "Disney Magic" in staying on-site.

 

[kbeverina]

Tough question because we love Embassy Suites and stay there any time we're traveling elsewhere. But I think I'd still pick POR. I like staying on property and still being at Disney.

 

[Nolcrest]

Definately POR, especially if it is DH's first time. I love the Embassy Suite chain, but for me POR is a whole experience. My husband loved Riverside. I agree that you still have that Disney feel at the resort. Plus, I love not having to carry cash around with me. You can just charge to your room and have packages delivered there too.

 

[Caveman]

We have stayed at PO (French Qtr) for the past three years (99, 00 & 01) and the Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista the in 97 and again in 98. I would easily stay at either resort again without reservations.

However, given the recent decline in the perks offered to guests staying at a Disney resort, I would probably tend to lean towards the Embassy Suites if the price was right. If Disney brings back the surprise mornings and the boat to Downtown Disney as they are expected to do in the near future, than I would probably lean towards the POR.

I really envy you since from my perspective, you win regardless of your decsion! Both resorts have alot going for them and you won't regret either.

 

[Patio]

I have stayed at both resorts and enjoyed them both for different reasons. Embassy Suites has the 2 room suites which are nice and roomy. I like the interior corridors, breakfast was excellent and even though the buses to the parks only ran certain times, they were very efficient. POR is a beautiful resort to walk or rent bikes at. I love the quiet pools and they have a great food court. I like being on property though and would choose POR. Have fun deciding!!

 

[DCinNs]

I vote for POR....its so nice to use the buses instead of driving...especially the end of a long day. I find it feels so much SAFER on site than off site. Unless I was saving a ton of money I wouldn't even consider it. We stayed at POR for $89.00 the first week of Feb. so it wasn't much more expensive.

 

[jaguar9748]

Is this the Embassy Suites in Lake Buena Vista? If so, just know that some rooms face I-4. In fact, some rooms are almost on I-4!

I like the Embassy Suites also and the breakfast is fabulous. You definitely will not get a deal like that on-site. However, even though on-site is definitely more expensive, in our opinion, it is the only way to go! Beat the crowded roads, enjoy the magic and so on. It's just not the same staying off-site.

 

[turls401]

Thanks everyone for your comments and information about both resorts. DH and I are
leaning towards POR, especially since the rental cars are close to $300, and even with
the free breakfast at ES, we could have a lot more fun with $250 (cost of rental- cost of
shuttle to/from airport) by staying on Disney property.

We are very excited about the trip - it's been 14 years for me and DH's first time!