POR - mansion or bayou??

[3reds]

Decisions, decisions. I think I want to request the mansion section at POR (because the bayou/swamp/little critters- outside-your-door theme doesn't appeal to me all that much). However, I've seen such positive remarks on the bayou rooms, plus after looking at the pictures on the WDWIG website, it seems that the bayou bldgs. actually look pretty much like mansions, too!
Does anyone have any pressing reason for thinking one is better than the other? (We're going in Oct. & it will be just teenager & me).
Thanks!

 

[eeyore0062]

We have stayed at both, and far preferred the Bayou. There are NO swamps outside of your door. It is very nice, with trees, and mother nature in her natural state (at least for Disney), instead of all manicured. It was very relaxing, and quite beautiful. We also found many of them to be more convenient to the main building, as well!

The insides of the rooms are different, in that the Mansions are done in French Provential, and the Bayou rooms have cool beds, that look to be made from actual thin trees. Rustic but very nice and quaint. We found the bayou rooms to be the most unique rooms on property, thus far!

Request bldg 14... it is non smoking, reclusive, but still only a 3 minute walk to the main building, laundry, quiet pool, and bus stop. It also doesn't have a parking lot view!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Whenever I see this I feel I need to caution you to not get your hopes up too much. I requested Alligator Bayou once and was so looking forward to that section. Well, when I got to POR I didn't get it, and dumb me, I was so upset for a few hours, it really put a damper on the beginning of my vacation. Next trip I also requested AB, also didn't get it, but by then I wasn't too disappointed. Just please, don't get your hopes up too much for one section-POR is all beautiful!

 

[3reds]

Good advice -- in fact I've been thinking that maybe I won't make a request at all & just let fate make the decision. Especially 'cause I'm really not a person who's hard to please!
(It's just that reading these boards is addictive, and tends to make one want to make every detail perfect!)

 

[jaguar9748]

I've stayed in both sections and both are great in their own respect.

The mansions are beautiful and remind you of the Old South. The landscaping and flowers are beautiful. The quiet pools are large. The rooms are very pretty. About the only negative is that some rooms are quite a walk to the main building. The most convenient mansions are Magnolia Terrace and Oak Manor. I think Oak Manor is the prettiest.

The bayou is my favorite. Sometimes the mansion buildings are too big. The bayou buildings are smaller and more intimate. They have beautiful southern vegetation with small ponds and footbridges. The rooms are the same size as the mansions - the furniture is a more rustic looking, but quite cool. The quiet pools are smaller to match the smaller buildings. I definitely agree that Building 14 is the most convenient to the main building. However, last time I stayed in Building 26 which is the 2nd cluster of bayou buildings. I found this section to be very quiet and peaceful.

Enjoy POR - it is a fabulous resort!

 

[erinch]

we requested and got a corner waterview room at the Bayou and loved it. That section seemed like a retreat setting to us.

The mansions looked nice as well, but more building and less green.

 

[GoldenAfternoon]

We stayed in Parterre Place in May and absolutely loved it! There were bunnies on the lawn, housekeeping was wonderful and the pools, foodcourt and bus stop were all less than a 5 minute walk away. We didn't have any requests either, and were thrilled with the location we were assigned to. Good luck!!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Magnolia Terrace is convenient, the prettiest, and non-smoking(IMHO ) ! We love it there.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I agree with Magnolia Terrace. I've stayed in all 4 mansions (5 trips) and once in AB. Liked MT best (BTW, for anyone who's read above, that's the one I got when I requested AB, didn't get it, and moped for a few hours-ended up as being put in my favorite location!)