POR advice?

[DissyLove]

Thank you so much everone! Love the links and hearing about everyone's favorite/not-so-favorite things about this resort.

I still don't know what section or building I should request, but since we will probably walk to the food court each morning I am thinking of requesting something near the main building?
Thanks again all!

 

[Cindie-rella]

WoW Mijo...your pictures are great! What kind of camera did you use? We'll be at POR starting April 24th and your pictures made me so much more anxious to be there. I'm sure everything will be in full bloom by the time we arrive and will look even more beautiful in person!
We were going to stay only 4 nights at POR then 6 nights at the POLY, but after reading so many good things about this resort and reading quite a bit of disappointing remarks on the POLY we didn't think all the extra expense of the POLY would be worth it. So, we changed to all 10 nights at Riverside and so glad we did. Just can't wait to get to that Florida sunshine! This PA weather is just too cold, snowy and dreary!

Have a great time at POR everyone!

 

[DissyLove]

Hi again! I know many people LOVE the poly, but I stayed there a couple of years back and we really did not care for it. The convenience with the monorail was great, but otherwise, for the extra money we had to pay, I didn't think it was worth it. That is why we have switched to the mods (plus my DS is scared of the monorail ) and enjoy them.

This will be my first PO stay though, so I too am glad to hear such nice things.

 

[flamom]

wow ty all for your great reviews on POR. we are staying there in june and now i really can't wait. it sounds wonderful.

 

[bratus913]

One more VERY important question - are there coffee makers in the rooms? We will be staying in the AB section in the beginning of May

 

[AuntieM03]

I love POR!! We have stayed there on all three of our previous visits. The ambience is just so peaceful. We are staying this December for the 1st time at SSR because my friend joined DVC. POR will always be my home away from home in my heart.

 

[MiJo]

Cindi-rella: The camera I use is a Fuji FinePix 2300, 2.1 megapixal digital. It's not a great one but it is sufficient for what I need. The flash isn't the greatest, though. As you can see, I took most of our photos on a cloudy day, early in the morning, so they aren't real bright. BTW: We're from Easton and my DW and I are both sick of winter.
bratus913: The rooms do have refrigerators, a coffee maker with complimentary packets of coffee, an ironing board/iron, hair dryer/night light combo and a safe. In the Magnolia Bend section, a curtain can be closed to separate the sleeping area from the bath area (the sinks are separate from the comode and shower. I imagine the AB has the same thing.
The pool has a spa which is nice but it isn't as secluded as the one at POFQ.
The sweet potato pancakes at Boatwright's are also great!

 

[DissyLove]

Thanks MiJo for all the great POR info!! I am really looking forward to it now. I was asked about getting a standard or water view rooms, are there really any BAD standard view rooms? Should I spring for a water view? Where should I request to be near the food court and main pool? (Hard for me to tell on the map)
I ask because one of my children is small but likes to walk and I don't want to have to drag her ALL over every mornging to the food court, etc....

 

[MiJo]

When we stayed at DxL (now POR) in '99, we had a standard view room in Bldg. 24. It was a first floor, corner room nearest the West Depot. We had a parking lot view but the vegetation was so lush that it didn't really matter. This past trip, we requested a King Bed room in the mansions and were given a room in Acadian House looking out onto a "courtyard". I believe it was still a standard view room but we did pay an extra $10/night for the larger bed.
Personally, the "view" doesn't mean a whole lot to me except for AKL. I don't think there are any "bad" views at POR; besides, we don't spend much time sitting in the room looking out the window. However, we did get a comp upgrade to a water view room at POFQ in 2003 and that was pretty nice. We had a second floor room and we could see the river if we stood outside on the walkway. Would we have paid extra for it? Probably not.
As for where to request at POR, Building 14 of the AB is popular and close to everything. Magnolia Terrace in the Magnolia Bend section would also be fairly close to everything. Requests are not guaranteed, however. Building 24 of the AB, where we stayed in '99, is quite a hike to the main building. From our room in Acadian House, it took us (2 adults) about 4-6 minutes to get to the pool and another couple minutes to get to the main building. We were in a room closest to the North Depot and the AB, Building 37. On the map, "C" is the food court, now called the Riverside Mill. (The map is from the old days when the resort was called Dixie Landings.) This is a spread out resort but the walks are really nice, especially in the AB.

 

[kdtwiss]

ok - I am so excited reading such positive things about POR! We will be going in May - unless my dh finds out my plans and vetoes- I have been trying to figure out what building to request and I am having a tough time deciding. I think our #1 most important thing is to be close to the main pool with the slide - ds is autistic and Loves waterslides. Any suggestions?

 

[soccermom5]

we will be there the end of april i am so excited esp. after reading all the posts

 

[Laura's Dad]

We have stayed at the PO-Riverside mansions 3 times and PO-French Quarter twice and there is no where else in WDW that you get the value you get at these resorts. The landscaping is just beautiful. I just have to second the idea about seeing Bob Jackson's show. We have 65 days to go until we see Bob again. We are anxious to see the room renovations. Check out www.yeeehawbob.com and sign his guestbook.

 

[Lizzybee]

When I originally booked the reservation, they said there was nothing available at POR. We ended up booking two rooms at ASMu. I checked online for the heck of it and found an availablity at POR, I called my parents (they are taking us on this trip but they leave most of the planning to me). My dad was SO excited to think we could stay at POR. It is beautiful! We were probably just about as far from the Food Court/Boatwrights as you can get, but very close to a bus depot, not a bad trade off. We didn't have a chance on a warm enough day for the kids to swim (it was November). I think they got to swim a bit in a quiet pool, but we never made it to the main pool. They loved the park though. Also as mentioned before, Bob is not to be missed. My son, then 8, was so impressed he asked Bob to sign his autograph book. Bob had my son help him with the next song. It was a priceless memory for our family. Lots of fun for all ages. We ate a few times at Boatwrights and were never disappointed. The sweet potato pancakes are to die for. I can't think of a negative thing to say about our previous stay at POR and we can't wait to check back in ...10 more days

 

[tygerlilli]

i've loved reading through this thread. my husband and i stayed at POR in Sept. 2001. It was my first time to stay in the park and the first time for anything Disney for my husband. We had such a wonderful time there! Just reading about it makes me wish I was on my way there tomorrow!

I think POR has such a nice atmosphere to it. Its calm and beautiful. I loved the pools, and the river, and the landscaping and the food court and just EVERYTHING!

 

[sprite]

Reading these posts reminded me about our trip last year and how much we enjoyed POR. Our catch phrase for the week was "just around the river bend" which we would sing throughout the day when referring to our resort or while walking back and forth to the pool, riding the boat to DTD, etc.

Can't wait to make some more "magical memories" this year

 

[firstmickey]

Another POR lover here! I have stayed at POR three times and POFQ twice.
I prefer POR...seems more like home to me!


Boatwrights is one of the best kept restaurant secrets on property. Especially for breakfast....it is actually cheaper to eat at Boatwrights then to get a full meal ala carte at the food cart. And it never seems to be crowded. We were able to walk right in several times during the crowded summer months! (well, except for the hurricane...but that's a whole different story... )

also love the boat to DTD, Bob Jackson, the pools, the theming.
I prefer the mansions because I like that look but I have heard people rave about AB too.


I love this resort!

probably going back this summer!

 

[flamom]

we are staying at POR in june. do we need ps's for breakfast at boatwrights or can we just walk in? also i was wondering can you see illuminations from the resort? thank you

 

[firstmickey]

flamom: for Boatwrights, I would advise maybe calling from your room before you walk over.....the longest I ever had to wait was about 15 mins for a table. And this was in August. I think it depends on what time you plan to eat also.
And you are NOT able to see illuminations from POR. (at least not that I ever saw....I would think it would be too far away). You can see illuminations from CBR.

 

[flamom]

thank you firstmickey.

 

[DissyLove]

When we stayed at DxL (now POR) in '99, we had a standard view room in Bldg. 24. It was a first floor, corner room nearest the West Depot. We had a parking lot view but the vegetation was so lush that it didn't really matter. This past trip, we requested a King Bed room in the mansions and were given a room in Acadian House looking out onto a "courtyard". I believe it was still a standard view room but we did pay an extra $10/night for the larger bed.
Personally, the "view" doesn't mean a whole lot to me except for AKL. I don't think there are any "bad" views at POR; besides, we don't spend much time sitting in the room looking out the window. However, we did get a comp upgrade to a water view room at POFQ in 2003 and that was pretty nice. We had a second floor room and we could see the river if we stood outside on the walkway. Would we have paid extra for it? Probably not.
As for where to request at POR, Building 14 of the AB is popular and close to everything. Magnolia Terrace in the Magnolia Bend section would also be fairly close to everything. Requests are not guaranteed, however. Building 24 of the AB, where we stayed in '99, is quite a hike to the main building. From our room in Acadian House, it took us (2 adults) about 4-6 minutes to get to the pool and another couple minutes to get to the main building. We were in a room closest to the North Depot and the AB, Building 37. On the map, "C" is the food court, now called the Riverside Mill. (The map is from the old days when the resort was called Dixie Landings.) This is a spread out resort but the walks are really nice, especially in the AB.

Thanks for the location info, Mijo!! My kids and I looked at the info last night and they are very excited....