POR -- AB or MB

[moscow]

I am going to WDW in February and am looking to stay at the POR in a king room (me and DD will be going). Help me choose between the AB section or the MB section!!!

 

[boscov]

To me, it's all a preference in theming. I much prefer MB to AB. I like the mansion theme over the rusting AB theme. Another thing to consider is distance to the main building. Some of the AB rooms are really far away, so if you aren't paying for a prefered room, it can be a bit of a walk. I always liked Magnolia Terrace. I like this building the best because it's right over the bridge, so it's an easy walk to the pool and then just over the bridge the main building. So, if it were my choice, I would go MB.

 

[Melissa8905]

It's really a matter of theme preference. I love AB theme: rustic, jungle-bayou with lots of real lizards and shady spots. Kids seem to love AB, too, since it's much less formal than MB section (I've stayed in both). AB now has Princess & The Frog theme in rooms, so perhaps your DD would like that? You can't lose with POR, anyway, it's been my favorite moderate so far!

 

[kaysmommie]

I really like both sections, but AB seems more fun and better themed. We stayed in the mansions since we had a royal room. MB was nice but a bit boring. When we go back I'm not requesting a section since we have garden view booked. Though I would love a preferred room in AB, it wasn't available when we booked.

 

[siskaren]

To me, it's all a preference in theming. I much prefer MB to AB. I like the mansion theme over the rusting AB theme.

I assume you mean "rustic," not "rusting." Or do you?

I like the rustic theming in AB.

 

[robinb]

I am going to WDW in February and am looking to stay at the POR in a king room (me and DD will be going). Help me choose between the AB section or the MB section!!!

I would choose the mansions if I were to stay at POR again. While the AB section felt very secluded, our room was really far away from the food court. The path from our building to the food court was twisty and turny and annoying. I would prefer a direct route to the central path instead of wandering all over.

 

[GrammyJudy]

In the mansions how do you get to your room...are there outside doors, stairs, elevators? I can not tell from pictures and since I use a scooter this is important to me. I always ask for first floor as it is easier to manuver the scooter.

 

[robinb]

In the mansions how do you get to your room...are there outside doors, stairs, elevators? I can not tell from pictures and since I use a scooter this is important to me. I always ask for first floor as it is easier to manuver the scooter.

I do not believe there are elevators in any of the POR buildings and there are no inside corridors. You would have to request a ground floor for medical reasons.

 

[moscow]

Some of the AB rooms are really far away, so if you aren't paying for a prefered room, it can be a bit of a walk.

Can you get a preferred room in AB AND get it with a king bed? When we travel DD prefers to sleep in the same bed with either me or DH. Since this is just a mommy/DD trip -- I'm the one she'll want to sleep with. Getting a room with 2 queen beds would just be a waste of space!

 

[Sue M]

I do not believe there are elevators in any of the POR buildings and there are no inside corridors. You would have to request a ground floor for medical reasons.

The mansions do have 1 central elevator in each building.

 

[Sue M]

I am going to WDW in February and am looking to stay at the POR in a king room (me and DD will be going). Help me choose between the AB section or the MB section!!!

It's a personal pref as to which theming you prefer. I prefer the mansion section, not a fan of the rustic twig furniture in AB.

 

[cjsm&d]

I have only stayed in the Mansions (Oak Manor) but prefer them to to AB. Mostly because the area and lanscaping are nicer IMO, and that having walked around the AB section I found it too easy to get turned around and heading in the wrong direction at AB.

Having said that, we will likely be staying in AB next visit because DSIL has a family of 5.

 

[robinb]

The mansions do have 1 central elevator in each building.

Good to know! Thanks .

 

[believinthemagic]

I wouldn't take distance from lobby/food court into much consideration just between AB or mansions. When we stayed there my family was in an AB building and my parents and sister & her family were in the mansions. We were both equally far from the lobby/food court area. (as far back as you can get by the parking lot!) So I think you could end up really far, or really close with either.

As a lot of posts have mentioned I think it just depends on the theme you prefer. We love AB, because I love the log cabin, rustic theme myself.

 

[robinb]

I wouldn't take distance from lobby/food court into much consideration just between AB or mansions. When we stayed there my family was in an AB building and my parents and sister & her family were in the mansions. We were both equally far from the lobby/food court area. (as far back as you can get by the parking lot!) So I think you could end up really far, or really close with either.

As a lot of posts have mentioned I think it just depends on the theme you prefer. We love AB, because I love the log cabin, rustic theme myself.

Right ... but with the mansions your route from your building to the central walkway is direct. Over in AB, you twist and turn around other buildings and ponds. I was back in building 34 and while it doesn't look bad it took a good 15-20 minutes to get to the food court ... and that's when I didn't get lost.

 

[believinthemagic]

Right ... but with the mansions your route from your building to the central walkway is direct. Over in AB, you twist and turn around other buildings and ponds. I was back in building 34 and while it doesn't look bad it took a good 15-20 minutes to get to the food court ... and that's when I didn't get lost.

I definitely get the getting lost part! I don't think I ever took the same way back twice, I would just keep walking until I ran into our building. Didn't realize the walkway to the mansions is more direct. Good to know

 

[kjbean]

We had a royal room booked with our September plans so I didnt give the options a second look. Now we changed our dates to October we ended up with a garden view room. I have never stayed at POR or onsite at all for that matter. We did not request either section and was thinking to just be surprised with whichever type we got. Or is there anything I should know, say/ask, or request at check in? I am expecting to have a magical time either way with DH and our two boys!

 

[Missytara]

We had a royal room booked with our September plans so I didnt give the options a second look. Now we changed our dates to October we ended up with a garden view room. I have never stayed at POR or onsite at all for that matter. We did not request either section and was thinking to just be surprised with whichever type we got. Or is there anything I should know, say/ask, or request at check in? I am expecting to have a magical time either way with DH and our two boys!

You have got it covered. You may want to hop over to the POR thread to see the location of the two buildings; like you might enjoy being close to a pool, etc.

 

[nkereina]

We've stayed in MB twice but with the recent renovations, we wouldn't hesitate to stay in AB now. I do agree, though, that it is easier, faster and more direct to the main buildings when you are in MB.

Keep in mind that two of the four mansion buildings are all Royal Rooms. Since you are booking a King room, I will assume you are not getting a Royal Room (you can only book one or the other). This means if you are placed in MB, you will be in either Magnolia Terrace or Acadian House as the other two mansions are all Royal Rooms.

If you want a preferred room to avoid long walks, you would have to book preferred and request a king bed which you may or may not get. You can only book one room type and then have to request the other. All preferred rooms are in AB.

Also, there are elevators in the mansions - they are 3 floors. No elevators in AB - they are 2 floors.

 

[moscow]

We've stayed in MB twice but with the recent renovations, we wouldn't hesitate to stay in AB now. I do agree, though, that it is easier, faster and more direct to the main buildings when you are in MB.

Keep in mind that two of the four mansion buildings are all Royal Rooms. Since you are booking a King room, I will assume you are not getting a Royal Room (you can only book one or the other). This means if you are placed in MB, you will be in either Magnolia Terrace or Acadian House as the other two mansions are all Royal Rooms.

If you want a preferred room to avoid long walks, you would have to book preferred and request a king bed which you may or may not get. You can only book one room type and then have to request the other. All preferred rooms are in AB.

Also, there are elevators in the mansions - they are 3 floors. No elevators in AB - they are 2 floors.

Thanks for the info!! We're not interested in the Royal Rooms -- DD is not a big princess fan. I'll pay for the upgrade to the king room and put in a "request" for MB. After reading the reviews and looking at the pictures, though, I actually don't mind either MB or AB. They both look lovely. We're not overly concerned about location, either. We are big walkers so being at a more remote location won't really bother either of us.