POR after the Beach Club

[Sam1]

Am I going to feel disappointed with POR after only staying at the Beach Club?

With the price increase for next year we'd decided not to go, but at the very last minute I booked POR to lock in free dining and the gift card in case we change our mind.

We didn't get the benefit from staying at the Beach Club last year, we don't really use the pool and don't take advantage of the Boardwalk so it seems a lot of money for just a nice room. No other resort took my fancy when we looked round, apart from POR because of the grounds and the style of accommodation, but I'm now worried the downgrade will be felt. We've booked a preferred room to guarantee the style I want, but I've read that although the sleeping space is about the same as the Beach Club, the storage is limited. Also, is it due a refurbishment any time soon because I've read the beds can be lumpy with springs coming through.

I really like that area and the fact you can get a boat to DS, it's just the actual room I'm concerned with.

 

[flortlebap]

The grounds of POR are beautiful - probably nicer than BC. It has a decent food court too which is a massive plus. I wouldn't complain about staying there again, at all, as I think it's gorgeous.

The downsides are slightly smaller rooms, no internal corridors (which I don't mind, but I know some people do) and the lack of ability to walk to the parks... I don't know about the refurb, but there's a recent comment on TA saying the room was like new, so hopefully you'll luck out...

 

[Sam1]

I don't think the lack of internal corridors or not being able to walk to any of the parks will bother us. We like walking just for the sake of it so enjoy the walk from the Beach Club to HS, but I think we'd enjoy walking around the grounds of POR just as much, if not more.

Hopefully I'm worrying over nothing, I love the grounds of POR but love the Beach Club rooms.

 

[loves to dive]

I've stayed at both and while the Epcot resorts are my favorite, I did enjoy POR. As far as the rooms, they are a tad smaller but I didn't find anything horrible about mine. Personally, I wouldn't pay for preferred, especially if you don't mind walking since the actual room is the same, it's location that makes it preferred. I was in Magnolia Bend, which was just perfect, bus stop right behind and a short walk to both the pool and the main building. If I couldn't go to WDW unless I stayed in a moderate, I would have no problems with any of them and I'm a person that stays in a deluxe every trip. I've started doing split stays with my first two nights in a moderate then moving over to an Epcot resort. We drive down and get there around 2 or 3 so it didn't make sense to me to pay for a deluxe for such a short time in the room that first night and then I thought well you have to take a bus to AK no matter where you stay so why not stay in the moderate for two nights and do AK one of those days. Saves money and I've been able to stay at just about all the resorts.

 

[Tash87]

We stayed at GF last year and have booked POR preferred room for next year.

We are really looking forward to staying there, it looks beautiful and like you I'm concerned with the lack of storage space in the room

Don't get me wrong it's not the GF but with the price increase we just couldn't afford it again for our next trip. I also would like to stay at all the Disney resorts so this is a perfect way to start

Have you looked at POR resort forum? There is a lot of info on there

 

[Tash87]

Just to add to my pp.


I'm also slightly concerned about the bus situ. Very mixed reviews

We will have a car but would like to use the bus as much as possible.

 

[adisneyaunt]

POR is beautiful! Great Bar inside and out, one of the best food courts, nice boat ride to DS and POFQ ( and u can use those amenities) the walk between them is 10 minutes, easy, paved, lighted ...walking aside the Sassaghoula River, where you re sure to be waving to others and on the passing boats, just lovely.
Preferred is the ONLY way to stay as the location is best. ( bldg 14, especially imho )
the carriage rides, beautiful main pool And the Quiet pools as well.. very large gift shop with sundries area)
Buses.. we have had 1 issue over many many many stays there. I actually brought that issue up to a CM and unexpectedly some pixie dust happened ( it was a b/driver issue )
The rooms are typical mod, I like getting corner if I can... I'm an efficient packer and basically hang stuff up, so no issues there tho I typically ask for xtra hangers and now( I thro the plastics in my suitcase lol)

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a stay there and think it'll be a Beautiful visit.
Enjoy!!! And the restaurant is good too!

 

[Sam1]

Personally, I wouldn't pay for preferred, especially if you don't mind walking since the actual room is the same, it's location that makes it preferred.

We don't mind walking, it was more to guarantee that style of building. I'm not as keen on the mansion style one, I like the pauper ones, at least from the outside.

Have you looked at POR resort forum? There is a lot of info on there

Is that a sub forum on here, or somewhere else? I'll have a look if I can find it, that'd be really useful! Until yesterday I had no plans to book, but wanted to lock in the offer before the gift card reduced. So now it's a case of researching the accommodation to make sure I don't want to change my mind. I don't think I do, it's just the actual room I was having doubts about after the lovely comfortable ones at the Beach Club.

The rooms are typical mod, I like getting corner if I can... I'm an efficient packer and basically hang stuff up, so no issues there tho I typically ask for xtra hangers and now( I thro the plastics in my suitcase lol)

I've not stayed in a mod, so don't know what they're like. I think I read the corner ones only have king beds, or I'd definitely be trying for a corner one with the two windows.

I love the look of POR and the boat ride to DS is very appealing. We were wanting something different and none of the other deluxes appeal. We're still considering a car, we usually do hire one and probably will, so buses shouldn't be an issue.

 

[loves to dive]

Don't know if we allowed to link this or not so mods. forgive me if we aren't. This is a good website for info. http://www.portorleans.org/

 

[Tash87]

It is a sub-forum/thread ( if that's what it's classed as ) On the Disney resort page.

I've picked up some useful tips and advice

 

[chmurf]

I think I read the corner ones only have king beds,

nope. Corner rooms have 2 queen + murphy in the Bayou

you'll have a lot of info on every specific room here https://touringplans.com/hotel_maps/disneys-port-orleans-resort-riverside
click on a building to see rooms inside that building
you stay preferred, so you'll be in buildings 14, 15, 18 or 27

good advice above on André's site (portorleans.org) that's the site you want to have a look at.

 

[Sam1]

nope. Corner rooms have 2 queen + murphy in the Bayou

That's good, I ruled it out because I thought it only had king beds.

I'll have a look at the other places. Thanks!

 

[Jon84]

Two Words - Stormalong Bay

 

[Sam1]

Two Words - Stormalong Bay

We wouldn't miss that. I don't like the sand bottom and we end up just being stuck in the very shallow section with having a small child, so it's not for us.

 

[Jon84]

We wouldn't miss that. I don't like the sand bottom and we end up just being stuck in the very shallow section with having a small child, so it's not for us.

Well going by that and the other posts it sounds like you won't miss BC at all!! lol

Not even Beaches and Cream!?

 

[Sam1]

Well going by that and the other posts it sounds like you won't miss BC at all!! lol

Not even Beaches and Cream!?

I won't miss it as a resort, purely because we've not taken advantage of where it's placed the last few times so wanted to try somewhere different. It's more the rooms that I'm concerned with, POR looks perfect apart from that. Ideally I'd like to stay at POR, but have a Beach Club room and maybe pay for just a value.

 

[Jon84]

I won't miss it as a resort, purely because we've not taken advantage of where it's placed the last few times so wanted to try somewhere different. It's more the rooms that I'm concerned with, POR looks perfect apart from that. Ideally I'd like to stay at POR, but have a Beach Club room and maybe pay for just a value.

haha that would be perfect!

When we did POR we were Pixie Dusted a Royal room, which was really nice. Just a little smaller than a BC room, and of course no Balcony, but all in all still a really nice room

 

[wifey]

The resort set up is different but quite relaxing despite the multitude of buildings and room categories. In fact we were just discussing this this morning ourselves for any future visits. The place is beautiful and there are plenty of places to watch the world go by , lots of pools, river boats, a fishing hole ( catch and release ) horse drawn carriage rides, brilliant bar and an awesome entertainer. There are two main areas Alligator Bayou and the antebellum Mansions. The first has a more rustic charm and the second has the elegant rooms and ones with the Princess and the Frog theming. They are just next door to French Quarter too just down the river which you can go to too and use their pool with Scales the Sea Serpent and both have wonderful staff and fab gift shops and they share the friendship boats to Disney Springs and the buses too. Riverside has plenty of bus stops and good parking.
You will enjoy a stay there what ever else life throws at you it's a warm welcoming resort and it's so very pretty at night. Even the footpaths have theming, plant prints and boardwalk prints around the Alligator Bayou and it changes as you head over to the mansions. There's a great running trail to follow or just walk around with a coffee. Check out portorleans.org for more info.