POR Atmosphere

[LaurEm378]

Hi all! I'm going to WDW next month and I'm thinking hard about changing the first three nights of my stay from CR to POR preferred. I've never even visited POR/POFQ but I've always wanted to give it a try, and I'll end up saving $600 if I make the switch. I'm not in love with anything about CR except its location, so I won't miss it if I don't stay there.

Last year I stayed at WL and I hated it. Unpopular opinion, I know, but I found it very dark and isolated. I realized that when I'm in WDW, I still want to feel like I'm in Florida, and I didn't get that feeling at WL. Just for reference, my favorite resort is Y&BC--it's got that New England flavor, but I still get to see palm trees and beaches and feel like I'm in FL.

So that's really my question: will I feel like I'm in FL, or in a different place entirely? I've checked out lots of videos of POR and it doesn't remind me of WL at all, but I'd love to hear some opinions before I make the switch. Thanks for any help!

 

[Ismo]

POR is probably my favorite resort in all of WDW. We stayed there our last 2 trips and were very happy with it. It is so scenic and peaceful, it has a really lovely vibe to it. We would leave our room a little early each morning to have a nice stroll long the river and and over the bridge. It doesn't feel anything like any other Disney resort in my opinion. That being said, there are 2 different types of rooms there. The alligator bayou and Magnolia Bend. We preferred the look and feel of Magnolia Bend and always requested there.

Preferred rooms at POR are only in Alligator Bayou rooms.

This is a really good site with tons of information and pictures: http://www.portorleans.org/

We won't be staying at POR anymore as we bought into DVC last year, but DH and I have both said we're kind of bummed about that and miss POR already.

 

[Jon84]

If you stay POR in the Mansions on Magnolia Band you won't be disappointed. Can be a long walk to the bus sometimes depending on where in the block you are.

Aligator Bayou rooms aren't really my thing, the kinds look like the CBR rooms pre-refurb.

We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a Royal Room in the Mansions which was really nice. If you're going with Princesses or are a Princess you'll love it!

Edit: You do feel like you are in New Orleans, the styling of the buildings really helps.

I didn't like the look of POFQ so much, it's almost like it's Mardi Gras all the time in decoration, but is a quiet resort too

 

[Ismo]

If you stay POR in the Mansions on Magnolia Band you won't be disappointed. Can be a long walk to the bus sometimes depending on where in the block you are.

Aligator Bayou rooms aren't really my thing, the kinds look like the CBR rooms pre-refurb.

We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a Royal Room in the Mansions which was really nice. If you're going with Princesses or are a Princess you'll love it!

Edit: You do feel like you are in New Orleans, the styling of the buildings really helps.

I didn't like the look of POFQ so much, it's almost like it's Mardi Gras all the time in decoration, but is a quiet resort too

I agree with the Magnolia Bend rooms, beautiful location.

But just be careful, Preferred rooms at POR are in the Alligator Bayou section.

And I also agree that I prefer POR over POFQ.

 

[afnaechiquita]

POR is my favorite resort. The atmosphere is very relaxed, like PP said you feel like you're in Louisiana, but still very much Florida. The best part about it (IMO) is the boat to Downtown Disney. It's very relaxing.

 

[nkereina]

POR is beautiful but I don't know that you'd feel like you're in Florida. I don't recall seeing many palm trees and there are no beaches. We love it though, and think the food court is one of the best on property. The boat to DTD is also wonderful. For $600, I wouldn't hesitate to make the switch.

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

POR for us. We will be there in October! We haven't stayed at Yacht or Beach Club yet, but being from NE it would be more about the location than the actual theme. Not that I ever get to go and stay at The Cape, but......
We thought about WL before we booked POR and decided that it didn't look like the feel we would like.
I agree about the Mansions and Magnolia Bend. I'm hoping not to be put in the Bayou because from what I've seen thus far, I'm sure I'd be fine, but I am not much for woodsie life. I'm more a Mansion kind of life. If that makes sense.

But honestly the option of staying home or any resort at WDW, I'd take any resort for a Disney vacation.

We have stayed at POFQ and I like it but Riverside has been my favorite.

 

[Meldev]

I totally support the POR Magnolia Bend opinions - stayed there few years ago, loved the atmosphere, just beautiful grounds! I could walk around there all day!

 

[Fizban]

Hi all! I'm going to WDW next month and I'm thinking hard about changing the first three nights of my stay from CR to POR preferred. I've never even visited POR/POFQ but I've always wanted to give it a try, and I'll end up saving $600 if I make the switch. I'm not in love with anything about CR except its location, so I won't miss it if I don't stay there.

Last year I stayed at WL and I hated it. Unpopular opinion, I know, but I found it very dark and isolated. I realized that when I'm in WDW, I still want to feel like I'm in Florida, and I didn't get that feeling at WL. Just for reference, my favorite resort is Y&BC--it's got that New England flavor, but I still get to see palm trees and beaches and feel like I'm in FL.

So that's really my question: will I feel like I'm in FL, or in a different place entirely? I've checked out lots of videos of POR and it doesn't remind me of WL at all, but I'd love to hear some opinions before I make the switch. Thanks for any help!

You will not feel like you are in Florida at all. You will feel like you are in Louisiana in the old south of around 1750. My advice without knowing your party is to request the Mansion rooms. You will be thrilled.

 

[firstwdw]

French Quarter has palm trees. POR does not. Neither has beaches but they are my favorite resorts!

 

[BobC]

I've stayed at POR Aligator Bayou quite a few times. To be honest in my opinion, if you did not like WL you won't like POR either. It doesn't have that 'Florida feel' like you wanted. Many evergreens, streams, and the feeling of being secluded.

 

[LaurEm378]

Thank you all so much for your responses!

I guess that's what I'm worried about, that the resort and particularly the Alligator Bayou section would feel woodsy like WL.

Lots of recommendations for the Magnolia Bend rooms, and truthfully those buildings and rooms appeal to me more, from what I've seen in pictures. But I know POR is very spread out, and I'm afraid Magnolia Bend would have me walking a long way to the pool and the food court. I don't mind logging a lot of miles at Disney, but I recently stayed at AoA in a Cars building that was furthest from the main building. The 5-minute walk to refill mugs got very old very fast, simply because I had to do it so many times a day. That's why I was aiming for a preferred room in AB.

Decisions, decisions! Any more info and opinions are appreciated.

 

[Disneylover99]

I would definitely make the switch to a preferred room at POR. If you're in a preferred room, you're not deep into the AB section anyways and you'll be nice and close to the Foodcourt.

I've stayed in the royal rooms which were nice, but I'm generally not a fan of the Mansion section.

 

[wdwrich]

Mansions all the way! POR is our favorite moderate resort, and we love the mansion buildings.

 

[thr33boys]

OP I hope you don't mind if I tag along and post a related question.

We are a family of 5 so we will be in AB section, I think I'm ok with that but what has me questioning it is all the love the mansions gets on here. Why does everyone recommend the mansions over AB? I'd love to here some positives for the AB section to help get me excited.

 

[LaurEm378]

I don't mind a bit, @thr33boys ! I'd like to hear some answers to that question as well!

 

[loves to dive]

I usually stay in the deluxes but did a split stay with POR and OKW and really liked it. I'm from Georgia and stayed in the Magnolia Mansion, which no did not make me feel like I was in the south but I liked the room and loved the resort. There are no beaches (Maybe CBR would be a better choice) but I really did not find the walk bad at all. The bus stop was right behind my building and I would cut through the pool area to go to the QS location to get my breakfast (the only meal I ate at the resort) and it didn't seem like a long walk to me. I would get up each morning early, around 5 or 5:30 and walk around the whole resort and over to POFQ (which I didn't like) and the whole walk didn't take more than 15 or 20 minutes. If you didn't like WL you probably aren't going to like the Bayou Bend rooms, from what I've seen they have the rustic look and the area is sort of swampy for lack of a better word.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

I guess that's what I'm worried about, that the resort and particularly the Alligator Bayou section would feel woodsy like WL.

We find that POR has a similar quiet rural feel to WL, which we enjoy about both resorts. I do think you may have an issue with the seclusion of POR, since it definitely isn't "in the middle of the action" like CR and YC/BC. While the boat to DTD is great, it takes a bit and makes POR feel secluded from DTD, similar to how WL is from MK. We love it, but for many of the reasons that it might not be the best option for you.
As for Alligator Bayou vs Mansions, the room floor plans are the same, but the building configurations are different. AB has 2 story buildings, the mansions are three story buildings with higher room density, and a less rural feel. We really like the preferred room though not only for the more spread out feel, but mainly for being so close to the food court and lobby.

OP I hope you don't mind if I tag along and post a related question.

We are a family of 5 so we will be in AB section, I think I'm ok with that but what has me questioning it is all the love the mansions gets on here. Why does everyone recommend the mansions over AB? I'd love to here some positives for the AB section to help get me excited.

Not everyone prefers the Mansions. The AB rooms have a more rural spread out feel, despite having the same in-room floor plan as the mansions. The AB rooms can be the closest to the lobby or the furthest away, while the mansions are a more constant distance from the lobby, across the island that is in the middle of the resort. We found the preferred room to be a great option, because it guarantees that you will be so close to the lobby, food court, and main bus stop. We found the walk to the lobby and buses at POR from a preferred room to be shorter than at WL or many other Deluxes.
Other nice things about the AB rooms are the fold up extra beds, which get out of way nicely if you don't use them. Also there are wetland or grassy areas between the buildings, making it a pretty walk around the rooms. While all AB buildings are shaped similarly, they are laid out in a variety of configurations so each has a unique feel. Even if you wind up in one of the furthest rooms from the lobby, you will never be far from a bus stop. POR is beautiful, you will have a great time.

 

[spiceycat]

then go with CBR - now be prepared to walk there - it is not quite Florida - but probably the best in the moderate

 

[jon18uk]

Thank you all so much for your responses!

I guess that's what I'm worried about, that the resort and particularly the Alligator Bayou section would feel woodsy like WL.

Lots of recommendations for the Magnolia Bend rooms, and truthfully those buildings and rooms appeal to me more, from what I've seen in pictures. But I know POR is very spread out, and I'm afraid Magnolia Bend would have me walking a long way to the pool and the food court. I don't mind logging a lot of miles at Disney, but I recently stayed at AoA in a Cars building that was furthest from the main building. The 5-minute walk to refill mugs got very old very fast, simply because I had to do it so many times a day. That's why I was aiming for a preferred room in AB.

Decisions, decisions! Any more info and opinions are appreciated.

The Royal rooms are a long way from the pool. But the regular Magnolia Bend rooms are fine. If you have a room facing the river you are even closer!