POR Riverside...Mansions or Alligator Bayou?

[elaine and the boys]

I just booked 6 nights at POR Riverside for Presidents' Week in February. Would you request the Mansions or the Bayou? If Mansions, which one? We're staying in a standard room, so water views are not important in this decision.

Thanks for your help!

Elaine

(I really need to change my outdated signature!)

 

[thesaurinis]

We went last April and had Alligator Bayou building 17 I believe next to the quiet pool and it was wonderful. The walk to the main building took maybe 2 mintues and it was a nice walk. And when we walked out of our room the pool was right there.

 

[ohmama]

alligator bayou.. we loved it it was close to everything but yet still quiet and cozy.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

If you are a group of 4 or less, you probably should expect the mansions, no matter what you request. President's week is quite busy, and POR may keep Alligator Bayou only for groups of five (since it has a trundle bed).

I went solo twice to POR (in the off season) and requested Alligator Bayou, and both times I was flatly refused, and both times I was placed in mansion Parterre Place in the farthest corner next to the parking lot (maybe it was punishment for asking! ). Oh well! Other DISers here have stayed in Alligator Bayou with less than 5, though - maybe I am the only one who ever had the problem!

 

[hoosiergirl7]

We stayed in the Mansions. At the time we were only a party of 2 no kids yet but it was wonderful. It was quiet and we had a great view of the waterway. We weren't that far away from the main building either. We were advised that Alligator Bayou was mostly for families with little kids and wasn't as quiet as the Mansions. We have one child now and wouldn't care where we stayed if we stayed at POR again.

 

[themudd4]

Unless there are 5 in your party the Bayou will only be a request. We requested this section as did the family we were traveling with. They got it we didn't. We were on the oppisite end of the resort. But both sections were nice. Go look at a resort map and see what is most important to you...being close to the food court & resturant. The main pool...or any of the other amenities!
Happy Planning!

 

[SeaSpray]

When I stayed at POR last May, I was in Alligator Bayou and I LOVED it! Here's a link to my web page with my comments and pictures of the resort:

http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/html/POR2007.htm

P.S. We were a party of 2 adults and had no problem getting Alligator Bayou which we had requested.

 

[Smailey]

We have 8 people going in 3 rooms so our first choice is to be in the same building. Beyond that our hope is that we get into the AB section. It never hurts to ask. Can't wait for Thursday to come and get out of this cold New England air!!

 

[buckeyegirl]

When are you arriving to POR? Whats the date for your rezs?

PM me with your name and date of your reservation and I can see what I can do for you.

The rooms are exactly the same with the exception of a different decor and AB has a trundle bed. If you stay in AB, I would recommend buildings 15-17 as they are close the food court. If you want the mansions, building 85 puts you right in front of the bridge that connects you to the pool and main building.

Never know who on these boards can try to make Dreams come true -

 

[SnowWitch]

Very nice bukeyegirl!

 

[Pixiedust34]

We've stayed at both sections. You can't go wrong with either side. The Bayou and the Mansions are both nice.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you are a group of 4 or less, you probably should expect the mansions, no matter what you request. President's week is quite busy, and POR may keep Alligator Bayou only for groups of five (since it has a trundle bed).

I went solo twice to POR (in the off season) and requested Alligator Bayou, and both times I was flatly refused, and both times I was placed in mansion Parterre Place in the farthest corner next to the parking lot (maybe it was punishment for asking! ). Oh well! Other DISers here have stayed in Alligator Bayou with less than 5, though - maybe I am the only one who ever had the problem!

We just had this same experience in October. My only request was the AB section, and we didn't get it. The CM at check-in told me that the resort was at capacity, and only groups of 5 were being place in the AB section. We only had 3 in our group, so we were stuck in Mansions.

We ended up in Magnolia Terrace, and while I was disappointed, it ended up being fine. There is a bus stop right behind the building, so it was only 5 minutes from when we left our room to the bus stop. Which is especially nice when you come back from the parks and are dog-tired.

 

[Minniemouse07]

We are a family of four and I requested:

Alligator Bayou (w/ trundle bed)
Close to Main Building
Building 18 or 14

We were put in a LOVELY room in Building 18 and it had a great view once we walked out the door (Sassagoula to our right, pool to our left).

I really wanted a trundle bed for our 2yo to sleep on and it worked out great!

 

[fightinillini229]

We have stayed in both areas, AB twice and Magnolia Bend once.
It really depends on where you end up on the property.
AB building 14-18 and 27 are very close to the main food court and bus platforms, and if you manage to get into these rooms you definitely wont be disappointed!
Building 85 is your best bet in Magnolia Bend, as it is fairly close to Ole Man Island and a short walk to the food court area. It is also nice during peak season because the east bus depot is right behind this building.

My personal opinion is that AB is better because the buildings are smaller and it feels a bit more homier.

Anyway you go, you will not be disappointed, Port Orleans Riverside is a fantastic resort!

 

[jamounger]

We just stayed in the Mansions building 85 a few weeks ago. The location was great and the grounds were beautiful. It was aquick walk across the bridge to the pool and food court and it was right next to a bus stop. The stop was the last one on the route. I will request this building again. For a fraction of the money, I was as happy with this trip as I was with the Poly.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

We just had this same experience in October. My only request was the AB section, and we didn't get it. The CM at check-in told me that the resort was at capacity, and only groups of 5 were being place in the AB section. We only had 3 in our group, so we were stuck in Mansions.

We ended up in Magnolia Terrace, and while I was disappointed, it ended up being fine. There is a bus stop right behind the building, so it was only 5 minutes from when we left our room to the bus stop. Which is especially nice when you come back from the parks and are dog-tired.

Wow! I feel better knowing I am not the only one denied AB! Reading these boards, it seems everyone else always get the perfectly located AB buildings, while I always get the back lonely corner of Parterre Place (twice even). There was nothing good about the location - it wasn't particularly near any pool, bus stop, or the food court. I won't stay at POR anymore because of this issue - I like seeing different parts of the resort. But at POR, I keep getting the same thing, no matter what I request, or how much I beg at check-in. I would love to stay in AB, but it isn't going to happen! Oh well!

 

[OhioMom]

We stayed in Acadian House when we were there this past Spring. We were in the last building closest to Alligator Bayou. When you look at it on the map you would think "I don't want to be way over there" but it was a wonderful spot. We were literally a two minute walk from the North Depot...and I say "from" because it was so awesome after a long day at the parks to have such a short walk back to the room. We really enjoyed the walk to the main pool and food court because the grounds were just beautiful. I didn't look at a map of the resort until we got home and realized we were so far from things but I never felt it. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again and I might just request Acadian House, although I like the "fancier" look of some of the other mansions. Acadian House was the last of the four mansions and each of them get progressively less fancy on the exteriors as you work your way over to Alligator Bayou.

 

[SGMCO]

Each section of POR is nice in it's own way.
It all depends on what decor style you like:

AB- Rustic-Hillbilly style-twig/log furniture-patchwork quilts-
very thick natural unsculptured landscaping.

Mansions-more Gone with the Wind-Elegance-Charm-
Landscaping is Manicured, shaped nicely (like you would expect
from an Mansion). Each mansion has it's own unique
architecture--different shaped buildings, stairscases, some have
ironwork railings and more.

We stayed in Magnolia Terrace close to the Quiet Pool
and it was just beautiful--had an nice Gazebo.Close enough to the main Building and even to walk over to POFQ.

 

[SGMCO]

We also had a short walk to main pool and a very close bus stop.

 

[Disney Dee]

When are you arriving to POR? Whats the date for your rezs?

PM me with your name and date of your reservation and I can see what I can do for you.

The rooms are exactly the same with the exception of a different decor and AB has a trundle bed. If you stay in AB, I would recommend buildings 15-17 as they are close the food court. If you want the mansions, building 85 puts you right in front of the bridge that connects you to the pool and main building.

Never know who on these boards can try to make Dreams come true -

Can you help me out also? My SO suprised me with a trip to DW as a christmas gift Its been 5 long yrs since we have been and are really looking forward to it. This has been a tough yr on our relationship and we need a romantic getaway suited for a mid 50's couple, so short walks to everything would be nice. We are staying at POR from 3-10 to 3-15. We are both smokers so smoking areas near by would be a plus! Thanks.