POR or Wilderness Lodge?

[tmaxwell]

Hello everyone!!

We are taking advantage of the bounce back offer Disney offered us and will be back next August. We are so excited!!

Question is which is better - Port Orleans Riverside or Wilderness Lodge? It's a price difference of $600.

Thanks for your input!!

 

[rchampagne]

Hello everyone!!

We are taking advantage of the bounce back offer Disney offered us and will be back next August. We are so excited!!

Question is which is better - Port Orleans Riverside or Wilderness Lodge? It's a price difference of $600.

Thanks for your input!!

I have the exact same dilemma. Last week, I booked a bounce back for next August at POR, but I'm debating about upgrading to WL. My price difference is $760. I'm assuming most responses will say WL is better. But I'm always trying to get the best deal. Since the moderate and deluxe get the same free dining plan, then the better deal would be to go with POR (if that makes any sense).

 

[Gorechick]

Those are my two favorite resorts. Can you book a split stay? One thing to keep in mind is there is currently construction going on at WL, not sure when it is expected to be done.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We love the WL and POR is a very nice moderate. I would go with POR with free dining because you will be saving more money than paying rack rate at WL. But WL is a much nicer resort and the transportation to parks is a lot better there.

 

[tmaxwell]

That's what I'm worried about - the transportation to the parks. I hear POR shares the bus - both Riverside and French Quarter - and getting on the bus could present a problem.

And I do believe that if we switched to WL we will still have free dining next year.

And it's an upgrade no matter what from AOA - we were in a Finding Nemo Suite with my mother in law - I officially broke her since she couldn't keep up with us so next year it's just my husband and two kids!

Again - thank you everyone for your input.

 

[loves to dive]

If it helps, you are still going to have to take the bus to all the parks except MK from WL. Technically you could take the boat to CR then hop on the monorail to TTC then the Epcot leg but it would probably be faster to jump on a bus. I had no problems with the buses at POR, I stayed in the Magnolia Building and a bus stop was right behind the building. Personally, I'd save the money. I have 2 nights of a split stay at CSR booked for Sept. and keep eyeing WL, it would be about $250 more to switch but I can't seem to justify it, that would be $250 more for me to spend at F&W. In all fairness, the last 4 nights of my stay are at YC so I'm really only busing the first night I get there to AK and the next day to MK.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

POR is just too convenient for us to get to DS. There are quiet pools. Foods good. For the price it's awesome. We also like WL. We eat at WC every trip.

 

[MrsJamesPSullivan]

I know I'm in the minority but I'm not a fan of POR and it was the resort I always thought I would love until I stayed there.

I do love WL. I love the boat to MK. I love that you can take a boat to CR or FW. I love that it's all under one roof so if the weather is bad we can still grab something to eat or drink or go explore the lobby and stay dry. I've never had a walk to my room at WL that was as long as the walk to my room in the mansions. Plus WL is just a beautiful resort.

For *me the extra money would be worth it. My kids would agree. They were 9 an 12 when we stayed at POR and they didn't like it either. We love Sports so it's not that we're deluxe snobs. LOL

 

[tmaxwell]

Thanks everyone! I think it's just the idea of upgrading to a better resort too in the back of my head. We stayed at AOA in a suite this past summer and I just want to see how the deluxe resorts compare to it. Would love to stay at Beach Club but that's way out of our budget.

 

[TavieP]

With the construction at WL the occupancy is lower than usual - we were there last week and at some points, during peak times, we had the bus almost entirely to ourselves, if not to ourselves. (Was really helpful as we had a stroller)

It was really really nice. And the construction was otherwise totally not an issue. No noise, our view was fine, the main pool was fine, and we got a nice set of free construction pins.

 

[cheryllarsen]

Wilderness Lodge is fantastic!

 

[cheryllarsen]

We've stayed at Both and prefer the WL!

 

[Grumpy247365]

WL is half closed and was very quiet when I stayed there in May. Paid for a standard view and ended up with a theme park view. I would stay WL, but I like the deluxe resorts and how small WL is. I don't think you can go wrong with either place.

 

[pmaurer74]

Hello everyone!!

We are taking advantage of the bounce back offer Disney offered us and will be back next August. We are so excited!!

Question is which is better - Port Orleans Riverside or Wilderness Lodge? It's a price difference of $600.

Thanks for your input!!

WL! Love it there!

 

[Hoosier Mom]

Love the bus service at Wilderness Lodge.....the quiet flute music when coming back at the end of the day and the lanterns glowing when you get off the bus and walk up to the door. It just felt calmer coming back from a park. Riverside is okay, but I thought the ride back was hectic with a LOT of kids. Riverside attracts a lot of families because of the rooms fitting 5 in the Alligator Bayou section.

 

[jamescanuck2001]

If I have a car, POR all the way. If not, for that price difference, WL is worth it. Better rooms, theming, convenience (except to Disney Springs), and overall experience.

 

[jamescanuck2001]

Another item to note, the quiet pools in the Alligator Bayou section of POR are awesome places to relax.

 

[wollydoodle]

I would vote WL. We've stayed there several times and just recently stayed at POR. I did like the POR rooms better, but like the WL better overall; the location can't be beat. I love taking the boat to MK and we've never had issues with busses. The busses at POR were ok but always packed and we had several stops within the resort each trip so it seemed to take forever comparatively speaking. Lots of walking to the QS at POR (and I like walking!) at WL you're "under one roof". We've been spoiled!! (And fwiw, my kids love the WL too!)

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Those are my two favorite resorts. Can you book a split stay?

Exactly what I would do, circumstances permitting!

 

[Perelandra]

I joined DVC through resale, but before that I upgraded from moderate to deluxe for around $600 or so, so I would take deluxe upgrade for that price.