POR and bus stops

[LSUDis]

If you stay at POR, I would suggest that you not stay at Magnolia Terrace or Oak Manor because of the bus stops. These buildings are closest to the East Bus Stop. This bus stop is the last one to pick up passengers (being the 5th stop--POFQ, South, West, North, then East--meaning that you will stand for your trip to any park). This bus stop is also the last drop-off point, which, of course, means that you will not only be the last one to your stop, but also that the bus is picking up people going to the park that you have left, so you will have to climb over all of those people to exit at your stop. The bus is full b/c, again, you are the last stop before the bus goes to the park, taking the new people.

Also, once we waited 35 minutes for a bus to the MK. We missed our PS at Liberty Tavern that night.

This is not sour grapes about POR (the food court is pretty good), but I was not prepared for the crowded buses and standing especially at the end of May-first of June. It was aggravating to always have to stand just b/c of where we stayed. Just a heads-up especially for those who have small children.

P.S. We've stayed at Jamaica in CBR at the same time of year and did not have this problem.

 

[helenk]

I stayed in the Oak Manor building and found it was just as easy to walk over to the main bus stop. It was not much further than going to the East bus stop and I could always make a quick stop at the food court to fill my mug.

 

[Catrin]

We just got back from our stay at Oak Manor tonight.

We did take the East stop only a few times...and had to wait for an extra bus only once (the driver with the FULL bus did come by and say that one was on its way).
For the most part, we used the main bus stop.... stopping by to fill our mugs.
We had requested an AB room - but they only had the Mansions available - this was hard for us, but we ended up liking them. Oak Manor was a good walk away - although the others seemed further, go by how close they are to the bridges over the river.
Catrin

 

[LSUDis]

These are some good points. So, you both would recommend walking over to the main (South) bus stop? I agree that the nearness to a bridge linking to the island is important, too. Is the walk through the island to the main depot shorter than the walk from Oak Manor (the room you were in) to the East bus stop?

If we stay there again, we need another option, so your comments are helpful. We didn't want to ask for a room in AB b/c we didn't need the trundle and didn't want to take the room from those who really needed the trundle for a 5th person. Aren't the North and West bus stops primarily used by AB guests? Does that leave walking to the South depot? How bad is the wait and bus "fullness" at POFQ?

 

[BethC1952]

We stayed in Acadian House last month, and just walked through the resort to the main bus stop. It didn't take any longer from our room than the "local" stop, and we love the walk. We don't walk very quickly, and it took us no more than five minutes.

We never waited more than five minutes for a bus to anywhere from the resort, and always had a seat.

POR is our favorite resort. We prefer the AB section, but the area we were in last month was very nice. It was more wooded than some of the mansion areas, and it was very close to the quiet pool, which was wonderful for our late-night swims.

Beth

 

[speedyf]

Let me second what LSUDis is saying and agree...

We stayed in Magnolia Terrace from June 3rd to June 11th (last week). We were in room 8802. The east depot was very close for us. Just down the stairs and across the parking lot. The main building was about a 5+ minute walk....which doesn't sound bad....but, after walking 10 miles in the parks all day and having a 5 year old that is asleep, it was not convenient.

What LSUDis said was exactly right....by the time the bus would stop at the East Depot, it was standing room only...if not full. The buses stop at POFQ, then South Depot (main stop at POR), then West, North, and finally East.

I enjoyed our stay at Pop Century last year much more than I enjoyed our stay at Port Orleans Riverside this year. I thought having a bus stop nearby would be convenient, but always having to stand while holding a folded stroller is no fun. I also thought that the bus rides would be quicker to and from the MK and Epcot than our bus rides from Pop Century last year....boy, was I wrong. Since the bus had to make 4 stops before finally getting to our stop on the way back from the parks, I think the bus rides were actually longer even though we were closer to the parks this year at POR than we were last year at POR.

Having to share the bus with POFQ is for the birds....I will never stay at POR again. If you are considering POR or POFQ....I'd go with POFQ. You will always have a seat on the bus because it's always the first stop.

Speed

 

[helenk]

DSUDis,
When I stayed at Oak Manor, I just went to the bridge that was between Oak Manor and Partarre Place. I was actually in one the wings that was farthest from the bridge, but it was closer that the bridge that lead to the main pool.
I just went over the bridge and over to the main building to the food court, got my drink and walked over to the bus stop.
.
I do agree with you though about chosing POFQ over the POR, I really wish that during the busier times each resort had its own bus for each of the parks. We stayed at the POFQ during the summer last year and enjoyed the fact that we were the first bus stop. Some of the time there were plenty seats for the POR guests most of the time it was standing room only or we just drove past the bus stop because our bus was filled to capacity already. During our stay in December it was not as bad, except for the nights they had MVMCP at the MK then the buses were really full.

I did like the food court at the POR better than the one at POFQ. The POR had more variety and had a big refrigerator section.

 

[carl_w]

We stayed at POFQ last month, and most of the time the buses picked up at POFQ then went straight out the exit (no stop at POR). Because of this I presumed that POR now had its own buses. It's certainly different to when we went last year. Waiting at Magic Kingdom there were buses coming into stop 12 that said "RIVERSIDE" and buses coming into stop 13 that said "FRENCH QUARTER".

 

[goofy4tink]

When we stay at POR we usually use the Main Depot stop when we leave in the morning and then get off at whatever stop is closest to our bldg at night. Worked pretty well for us.

 

[kendzee94]

We prefer POFQ over POR because of the busing situation and the close proximity to the bus stop. At the end (or beginning) of a long day, I would much rather be first on (or off).

Aside from that, when we were there in Dec 04, the buses were irritating on extra magic hour mornings because they did not have enough buses going to "the" park of the day. This happened on two or three days. There would be two EPCOT buses that came through (and no one got on) when everyone was going to MK for the EMH, for example. After we complained, we did not have it happen again. (that was the first out of three POFQ/POR trips that we had that experience with the "wrong" buses showing up too frequently.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

We stayed in Magnolia Terrace last month and never had to stand on the bus . . . to or from?!? There were six of us!! I guess it depends on how you hit it!!! BEAUTIFUL!!! LOVE POR!!!

 

[ginga]

We're going to POR early August (without kids this time) - should we request a particular room beforehand? Do you usually get your request fulfilled? Of course we'd like the most romantic setting. We plan to use the pool in the afternoon. We don't mind walking. We should be checking in during the morning. Thanks for the advice.