POR bus stop route?

[disneyobessed]

Anyone know what is the first bus stop at POR? We are staying in the preferred section which is Alligator Bayou... Is the first stop right at the front of the hotel?

 

[NML11383]

I know that this is going to be the least helpful post ever, but when I was there there was no rhyme or reason to the bus stops it seemed. Perhaps I just wasn't paying enough attention, but some days it seemed as though the front was the last stop at the resort before heading to a park and some days the first before heading around to the other stops on property then to a park. For drops offs, sometimes they would go to the front first, and other times they would go to the west depot first.

In terms of making sure there's room on the bus, the west depot always seems to be the first or second stop at the resort, so that might be your best bet if you really want to get a seat. The east depot where we were was always the last or second to last, but we went during an off-peak time (mid-late january), so it was never an issue for us and was actually nicer to get right to the parks instead of spending another 10-15 minutes on the buses while they went around the property.

 

[boltfan]

First stop is actually at POFQ and then they move on to POR. Usually they stop at the main stop by the hotels main area, then moves around to the other depots, west, then north, then east. If the buses fill after those stops they go directly to the parks and skip the other depots. That's why I prefer POFQ...don't have to worry about catching a bus. Our last trip we were in Acadian House (rooms at POFQ were all booked) and used the North depot. More than once it was 30 minutes between buses. That's why I'm glad we're staying at POFQ in September!

 

[NML11383]

Maybe my experience was unusual, but when I was there POR and POFQ didn't share a bus route in the mornings before park opening (it was just a POR or just a POFQ bus). They did, however, share them for the rest of the day (with POFQ being the first pick up and first drop off).

 

[maxiesmom]

I've stayed at both resorts 3 times, and there doesn't seem to be a set pick up order. My last 2 stays at POFQ we didn't stop at POR at all. When I've stayed at POR sometimes the South Depot (the stop by the main building) is the last stop, sometimes it was the first. More often it has been the last stop. But it could be totally different for your trip.

 

[sadossey]

We were there last week and it seemed like the MK busses went to AB bust stop first and the main (south) bus stop last. Other park busses seemed to go to main stop first then make their way around. It could have been more random than that, some busses went to FQ, some didn't. Never really knew what to expect but we had pretty good luck overall with the busses. Mostly never waited more than 5-10 minutes. We used main bust stop just about every time and we were in Oak Manor.

 

[SmallWorld71]

When we were there, POFQ and POR did NOT share in the morning when everyone was heading to the parks. They DID share mid-day. (Much like the All-Star resorts)
Our experience was usually this:
-When picking up in the morning - the buses started at the West Depot over in Alligator Bayou and then continued on around ending at the main depot.
-When dropping off from the parks mid-day- POFQ, then the main depot, then the West Depot, then the others.
-When dropping of from the parks at the end of the day - no sharing again - stopped at the main depot, then West and so on...

 

[*Fantasia*]

So that's what it was.. I couldn't figure out why sometimes we would head straight to the park and sometimes we would pick up the guests at POR. I wasn't paying too close attention to the time when it was happening. But now I know. Thanks for sharing the infos.

AM- no sharing buses
Afternoon- sharing
PM from the park- no sharing

 

[nkereina]

When I was there in September, POR and POFQ only shared during weekday afternoons when it was fairly slow. It wasn't every day, only periodically. Seemed like it was on an as needed basis. At park opening and closing, each resort had their own buses.

 

[aubriee]

So that's what it was.. I couldn't figure out why sometimes we would head straight to the park and sometimes we would pick up the guests at POR. I wasn't paying too close attention to the time when it was happening. But now I know. Thanks for sharing the infos.

AM- no sharing buses
Afternoon- sharing
PM from the park- no sharing

Not necessarily. I've stayed at POFQ five times and the only times we've not shared with PORS in the mornings was the MK bus this past Feb. All other times we have shared. The buses do usually pick up first at POFQ though (the only one that doesn't is the DTD bus, which goes to PORS first). Coming back from the parks I'd say 90% of the time we shared with POFQ being the first stop, but there have been several times they dropped off at PORS first. We've stayed at PORS only once and was in building 18, so used the North Depot (in front of main building). We were usually the first stop picked up (after POFQ) and the second dropped off (again after POFQ). It may just depend on how busy it is, but we've been down there in early Dec, Feb, May, and Sept.

 

[dvcHammer]

My theory on POR bus stops. The front is the best bet, but it is also the most crowded.
If it's peak time to head to the park, I tend to go to the front. For non-peak I go wherever is closest.
If time is an issue I go to bell services and have them call a taxi, relax on a bench, and get going within 10 mins.

In the cost of a Disney trip, an occasional $20 cab fare is not a big deal. When I see a line for transportation to or from the parks that I am not in the mood for, I grab a cab.

 

[disneyobessed]

Thanks everyone for the responses! My son has a motorized scooter b/c he has cerebral palsy. We usually rent a car and arent until our 3rd day into the trip so we will be using the busses. I LOVE POR but we may switch to POP or AOA now because of the bus issue. I would have preferred FQ but there are 5 of us.. So now I have to make a decision.. 2 rooms at POP, better busses.. or POR with an interesting bus issue.. We are only staying here for 3 nights then onto DVC.. so who knows..

 

[nkereina]

Thanks everyone for the responses! My son has a motorized scooter b/c he has cerebral palsy. We usually rent a car and arent until our 3rd day into the trip so we will be using the busses. I LOVE POR but we may switch to POP or AOA now because of the bus issue. I would have preferred FQ but there are 5 of us.. So now I have to make a decision.. 2 rooms at POP, better busses.. or POR with an interesting bus issue.. We are only staying here for 3 nights then onto DVC.. so who knows..

IMO, buses at any resort can be good or bad on any given day. Bus service is a matter of opinion to me. While 10 minutes for an MK bus may be fine by some, it may be far too long for others. I've heard negatives about Pop before too. And from what I've read, the values do not have covered bus shelters so you are standing in the hot sun, rain, etc. Having stayed at POR twice, there have been a few times when we've been annoyed with the bus but overall, it was not a deterrent for us to stay there again.