We have stayed at POR twice, and enjoyed it. The pool was nice, and it was great to take the boat to Downtown Disney (now Disney Springs). One negative about POFQ: one time we took the boat to the French Quarter to look around, and went inside the dining hall - our daughter was slightly worried the whole time about the giant heads hanging above the table - they sort of loom over you, staring down at you. She still remembers them. While it is supposed to be about Mardis Gras, it can be creepy to some - just Google POFQ + creepy and you can read the hits. POR is laid back, we LOVED the frogs sounding off at night, the food court is one of the best, for what it is, and it is great to have that boat shuttle.
I had one idea which you may or may not have thought of. I know that you said deluxe is not an option, but have you thought of renting points? In some cases, staying at a Deluxe Resort will cost you less. This is the first time we will be doing it, (we are traveling in August - I rented from David's DVC ) - I crunched the numbers many different ways. If you are planning on getting a % off, or
free dining, be aware that some resorts are typically exempt from discounts, and last year POR was exempt from discounts as well as part of the Free Dining promotion - it is discussed here:
https://goo.gl/l1J5XA) If you are just looking at the cost of the room, it is very close, if not less expensive, to rent points. Especially when you see that renting points is tax free.
Example: Staying, for example, two nights: the nights of August 16th and 17th, leaving on the 18th:
Vacation direct through Disney.
POR: $254 a night, without tax. $285.75 a night, including tax.
$571.50 total, both nights including tax.
IF you get 20% discount: $203.20 a night + $25.40 tax each night =
$457.20 total, both nights
but historically, those discounts are often exempt from POR, as it is popular.
Renting DVC Points through David's DVC (I didn't feel comfortable risking our $, so for at least this first time, used David's DVC - very easy process). https://www.dvcrequest.com/cost-calculator.asp
Standard Studio at Animal Kingdom (Jambo or Kidani) :
$390 total, both nights. No tax. (animals!)
Bay Lake Tower (next to Contemporary) :
$510 total, both nights, No tax. (walk to MK)
Polynesian DVC Studio :
$630 total, both nights, No tax (larger room, 3 beds and best transportation)
The last one on the list, Poly, would cost you $60 more for the trip, or $30 a day, if there is no discount at POR. I am putting it on as it has three beds, which helped our vacation
a lot when we had two teens. The room was also a lot larger. It has a bed, pull out sofa and a pull-down-from-wall single. (BLT has a bed and a pull out couch, but no wall single). The pool is amazing, and the Poly offers the easiest transportation at the parks - you can walk to the TTC, take a boat or the monorail to MK, and there are teen activities at the fun pool. It is very laid back and relaxed. My teens liked being out late, then sleeping in, and I remember loving to walk around the grounds, and my husband and I even had a lovely romantic breakfast together while our kids slept in.
You
could save some money at POR if they give a 20% off, but keep in mind the tax, which is 12.5% - no free dining with that discount. And they don't often discount POR. It is
still less $67 less expensive to stay in a standard room at AKL when renting points compared to 20% off at POR (you would not get free dining if you took the discount.)
If you payed rack rate, it
may be less expensive to stay at POR if you were able to get free dining. It depends how you eat. We are usually there in August and split counter meals and if we are there for 5+ days will eat at two of the sit down restaurants. We have done free dining, but it was way too much food for us.
Sorry to rattle on. In short:
1) if you want to spend the least amount of money, it will cost you less to rent points at Animal Kingdom Villas (specify Jambo or Kidani);
2) if you want to spend less money and there is no discount at POR, stay at BLT or AK - either will cost you less;
3) if there are no discounts at POR, and you could swing $30 more a night, I highly recommend the Poly, for the extra bed, transportation, pool, food options.... I could go on and on. I think that it is the best place to stay on site with teens. I remember hanging out in a hammock with my daughter one dark evening as we talked, waiting for the rest of our family to join us to take the boat shuttle to head on over to extra magic hours at MK. It was pretty magical.
