POR Pool

[klh999]

Can anyone describe the pool at POR. The pool is important to my nephews. According the Unofficial guide, the POR has the second highest rated pool. Is is nice? Does it have a waterslide? What makes it so nice? Do they give out lifejackets?

I currently have reservations at the PC, but I am thinking of switching if the pool is really cool at POR. I would love to stay at BC, but just cant afford it. CRO must hate me, if I switch my ressie, this will be the 8 different ressie I have had. I just cant decide. I wish it would hurry up and come.

 

[colleen costello]

Hi there. We went to WDW the week of Thanksgiving and stayed at Old Key West. We went down a night early, as we often do, and stayed at Riverside, one of our favorites. My kids LOVED the pool. The resort actually has 4 (I think) quiet pools, but the main pool is close to the area where the food court is, and was recently refurbished. It is a large, free-form pool with lots of seating areas around it and an outdoor bar (I personally had a wonderful pina colada). There is lots of nice landscaping all around and the "theme" is carried out with some rock islands that seem to have old stuff on them -- chests, ship steering wheels, etc. The kids can climb up through a staircase in the "rocks" to get to a slide that dumps them in fairly shallow water. It's a fun one, not a scary one -- lots of little kids were using it.

My kids LOVE this pool. They swam at night and again the next day with Dad while I unpacked in peace at Old Key West. There is a playground nearby as well as a pond where you can fish. Very kid-friendly. I am not sure where your current reservations are (PC?) but we LOVE Riverside!

 

[hawkrn]

We went last year at this time but spent all out time in the nice big whirlpool. The pool was spread out and they piped in dixieland music and there was a bar poolside. Don't remember a slide though. But you can take the boat just down the river and go to POFQ where they have a slide. We did that (POFQ pool was more crowded though).

 

[colleen costello]

Unfortunately, the great "dragon" slide is currently unavailable as the French Quarter is still completely closed for renovations. We sailed past on a pontoon boat we rented and it is definitely deserted!

Also, I forgot to mention, I don't know if they have life vests to borrow but my son brought his own and that was allowed.

 

[klh999]

Thanks so much... I have decided based on what you said to switch my ressie. It sounds like a nicer pool than PC.

My current ressie's are at PC.

 

[colleen costello]

2 cents more... If you're looking to impress the nephews, ask for an "Alligator Bayou" section room. This half of the resort is rustic-themed and it's fun for the kids. The beds look like they are made of logs and are covered in quilts. My kids always say "Can we stay in the place with the log beds?" The rustic theming is a lot of fun.

 

[trola2]

We were just there and had a fabulous time. My girls loved the slides and also the rustic area of the Alligator Bayou. They have asked to stay there again on ournext trip. I should have never left the value resorts!! lol

they do loan life jackets. Also they have a fishing hole that the kids might enjoy, bicycle surreys to rent, and we also went to the campfire on Friday night. Sang hokey songs, heard a few stories, and ate smores. What could be more magical than that?!

Enjoy your stay!

~~Beth
(home 30 minutes and already in withdrawal.)

 

[klh999]

Now I am so excited. They will love POR. I really really wanted to stay at BC, but like I said I just couldnt afford it. PC pools seems boring. So I am so excited, to get something less expensive than POR, but still a cool pool.

YEH.. CANT WAIT...

 

[colleen costello]

Go on over to WDWIG.com -- I think it is actually "ALLEARSNET" now -- and try to access Zamgwar's review of PO/R. He has a lot of nice things to say about the place!

I can't stand it anymore, trying to figure out what "PC" is -- where were you GOING to stay? I am brain dead from trying to figure those initials out!

 

[klh999]

Thanks Colleen, trola2, for all of your advice, you have been so helpful. Thanks to you, I finally made up my mind.

PC, is Pop Century. I was staying at Wildnerness Lodge, but then when disney released their value rates, I decided the difference was to go to pass up. But then I had second thoughts. Because Pop Century's pool lacks that mini-water park atmosphere, which my nephews love.

When my parents brought us some years back, we stayed at Beach Club. But I want to be able to afford to pay for the room and eat too. We could scringe on food costs and stay at the Beach club, but I would love to have both worlds. Stay at a hotel that has a nice pool and be able do every character meal. So I am excited that I think POR is the perfect answer. I can use code CTH, and get the room for $85 a night. YEH.. YEH...

This will be my nephews first trip to disneyworld, so I want it to be magical. I usually buy them lots and lots of toys, but every christmas, between santa and me they get more than they could play with and end up casting alot of toys aside. So I came up with this bright idea... bring them to disneyworld for christmas. They keep begging their parents to go, and they keep telling them it is way to expensive. They just moved from CA to NY (where we live) last week. So between moving, and christmas, their parents cant afford much.

I am giving them each mickey pj's. I am expecting them to say, is that all. And then I will say, well I though you could wear them in disneyworld. I cant wait to see their faces light up.

When I went out to visit them in CA in june, I brought them to disneyland. We stayed at the disneyland hotel for two nights. Their favorite part of the trip, was the pool. Thats how I know that a cool pool is really important to them.

So off off to POR I go.... Jan 23 to Jan 27... CRO is going to hate me though, switching my ressie again,... I have had no less than 8 different ressie. Oh well.. Just one more time I have to switch it.

 

[colleen costello]

Kristy, your post made me get tears -- your nephews are so lucky! You have to promise to post all about the trip when you get back.

Riverside is a perfect balance of amenities plus a reasonable rate that doesn't put you in the poor farm. It feels quite "deluxe" -- the landscaping is gorgeous and the buildings are themed really nicely. The main building has a nice sit-down restaurant plus a great food court with decent food at not-too-bad-for Disney prices. My kids loved the pool, plus last summer we did the rent-a-pole-and-fish thing at the fishing hole. You can rent boats and overall, this is a lovely place to stay. Pop Century sounds fun but there are defintiely no water slides at the Value pools.

I'll be thinking of you guys late January and hoping you have great weather so the boys can swim a lot. We were down for Thanksgiving and my two swam every day -- a real treat in winter!

Have a great Christmas and a wonderful trip!