POR vs. WL

[jemeh5]

I posted earlier with a question about WL, but now that I've got myself obsessed (it's snowing and what else can I do but obsess about Disney???), I'm wondering if anyone has stayed at both resorts and if so, what are your thoughts?

 

[Dis31]

Hi,
I saw your other thread, we're actually going down to POR march 10 and we chose to stay there over the WL. We love them both but basically the pool situation at WL made us want to go back to POR. The last 2 stays we have split btw POR and WL and have had great trips! POR is the nicest moderate we feel, and if you get a room in AB section like we did,it felt simlar to WL, not totally but it reminded us of the lodge. I think youll have a great time. Plus the boat to downtown disney is really nice. Have a great trip

 

[jemeh5]

Thank you for that! I tend to be wishy washy about decisions (definitely my worst trait), so you're opinion really helped!

BTW, what is the pool situation?

 

[helenk]

I have stayed at both resorts and I love the WL, especially during the Christmas season.
POR and POFQ are nice moderate resorts (I prefer the POFQ over POR) the themeing in both are lovely.
I had wanted to stay at the WL again this past Dec, but it was booked for our dates and we ended up staying at the AKL, which was nice but I liked the WL better.
When we stayed at the WL we had a courtyard view room, if I stay again I would opt for a woodsview, just for a bit more serenity.
If the WL is in your budget I would go for it, I am sure you will enjoy your stay.

*** The pool situation the other poster was referring to, is that the pool at the WL was or maybe still is undergoing rehab.

 

[Mayl]

My wife and I did WL for our honeymoon awhile back (wow, almost 12 years already). We loved the hotel and was wonderful

Now we have two children and we are going back in April for our 2nd trip since we had kids..

We did the Cabins at the campgrounds last year with the inlaws and it was great...

This year we picked POR so we can have connecting rooms. (we found that while we love the inlaws, sharing the cabin and more importantly one bathroom was a little rough)

If you have children I think POR will be better. WL is super,and I know there is family stuff there but it still lends itself to a couple place. Or at least we get that feeling.

Plus the pools and a food court just seems more family oriented at POR

 

[helenk]

The food court at the POR was bigger than the food court at the WL but we were quite happy with the selections.
The one thing I do not like about the POR is the bus system. The POR shares with POFQ and the POFQ is first on the pickup and drop off. There were many times when we've stayed at the POFQ that the buses picked up at only one bus stop at the POR and then had to go right to a park as the bus was standing room only.
The WL shares buses with Ft Wilderness and I think the GF for one of the parks, but the WL was always first and it was nothing like the bus sharing situation at the POR and POFQ.

 

[jwfla422]

Stayed at both. We love WL and have stayed there several times. One year we couldn't get WL so we decided to try POR. Well, although the grounds were pretty, POR was not for us and I was missing WL the first day we were there.

I think it all came down the deluxe vs. moderate thing. Since that stay at POR we never stayed moderate again and quite frankly we have no desire to. We're spoiled deluxers all the way!!

Things like inside corridors and being much closer to RF than the food court at POR are definite pluses. (especially when it's raining ) There are 2 full service restaurants right downstairs in WL. There's 1 at POR for both POR & POFQ. WL has access to MK by boat or even bus vs. only bus from POR. Don't forget WL just refurbished their rooms too.

Not only are the amenities much nicer at WL but the location is definitely a plus. WL gives you that secluded feeling yet you're only a boat ride away from MK or even CR where you can then hop on the monorail to the other MK resorts or even the TTC. You can take a bike ride to FW which is one of our favorite things to do.

 

[FlyingBelle]

You can see from my signature that we've stayed at both... and both within the last 6 months.

POR used to be my favorite... until we stayed at WL! Our last trip at POR was a bit of a hassel because it was raining everyday and you couldn't get to the food court without getting wet. Also, didn't like that our room was so far from everything - seemed like I was doing a 15 minute walk just to get coffee.

Cost-wise, when I can't get a discount at WL, then POR is our 2nd choice.

Both are nice - but WL is just worth it for us!

 

[DznyLvr2005]

I've stayed at both an equal amount of times. When I'm feeling the save money route, I go with POR, when I'm feeling the splurge route, I go with the WL. WL is my favorite though!

 

[dejr_8]

Our two favorite resorts are WL and POR (and/or POFQ).

We like POR/POFQ for the food court and the quality of the grounds. The pools are also very nice. We have two boys 5 and 8. There is a great wood fort/playground at POR near the pool. We tend to do a carriage ride when we stay at POR/POFQ. Seeing Bob Jackson at POR is a fun time for everyone. We have also watched the one-man Jazz show at POFQ.

We like WL for the lobby, the hot tubs and the boat ride to MK. We try to stay concierge at WL because the food court is small and the selection limited for breakfast. WL has a beach area and you can get beach toys to play with. We tend to rent mouse boats when we stay at WL. At Christmas time, we have also done the sleigh ride which is fantastic - if you do it rent for an entire hour so that you can go all the way to FW.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We have stayed at both resorts and they are apple and oranges. I prefer WL...but we liked POR too.

The food court is better at POR than WL.

The gift shop at POR is better than WL

The arcade is better at POR than WL

The rooms are nicer at WL than POR.

I like the location of WL better than POR.

I like the lobby of WL, it is gorgeous!

I like the bus service of WL better than POR.

 

[FlyingBelle]

We have stayed at both resorts and they are apple and oranges. I prefer WL...but we liked POR too.

The food court is better at POR than WL.

The gift shop at POR is better than WL

The arcade is better at POR than WL

The rooms are nicer at WL than POR.

I like the location of WL better than POR.

I like the lobby of WL, it is gorgeous!

I like the bus service of WL better than POR.

I would agree with this entirely!

 

[XantheFan]

We've stayed at both. Love WL especially in the winter and agree about Woods View. Had both Woods View and Courtyard and Woods View provides a little more peace and quiet.

POR was nicely done, but just not our cup of tea. We were too far from the lobby and food court to get anywhere near them. The pool was also a hike as were the bus stops.

WL in our humble opinion has the best layout as far as convenience. Everything is easily accessible and we love taking the boat to the MK.

We got an AP discount for CSR we cannot passup for this summer, so we'll see if our next moderate experience is better.

 

[IluvXU]

I am trying to decide which hotel for our August Trip POFQ or WL. We have stayed at POR before... but decided to book FQ since it is smaller and we have two young children (1 and 4). Now I am getting the itch to switch... and this thread is great.

 

[jemeh5]

I know how you feel about the "itch to switch." We stayed at the Yacht Club 4 years ago and had the BEST time and loved the resort, but unfortunately the cost this time of year is crazy. Since the WL is currently booked, I should just be happy with POR, but I can't help but wish for a deluxe...
I'm not at all into the POR decor, but think I can live with it, so that's not it. I don't know why I can't just be satisfied! LOL! I'm thinking of calling everyday to see if WL gets an opening - anyone know the price range for WL in April?


BTW, anyone know what's going on with the pool at the WL - when it will be up and running again?

 

[lasmickey]

I'm trying to decide between POR and WL for our next trip too (we've stayed at WL but never POR). I think we've decided to save the $ and stay at POR. I just hope we won't be disappointed. It sounds like alot of people really like it though.

 

[WDW1979]

I have stayed at many Disney deluxe, DVC and moderate resort hotels, including several times each at Wilderness Lodge and Port Orleans Riverside. My last stay at WL was August 06 and my next stay at POR is March 07.

The biggest advantage of WL over POR: the boat to Magic Kingdom which is very quick, convenient and relaxing. Other than that, both WL and POR get equal billing with me. I love both. Of course, there will be those who say "we only stay in Deluxes, and POR is not a Deluxe", and that's great for them, but as for the original poster who is open to considering a non-deluxe resort, let me tell you that POR, in almost all respects, is as good as a deluxe resort.

At POR you have a full service restaurant, an excellent and well-themed food court, a lounge with entertainment, a pool with slide plus access to POFQ's pool with dragon slide, five quiet pools, boat access to Downtown Disney on a river that winds through the center of the resort, lots of beautiful trees and vegetation, plenty of long, winding walkways, and great atmosphere whether at day or by night. The grounds of POR are truly beautiful and relaxing. In fact, although the WL is very beautiful in itself, both looking at it from the outside and sitting in the wonderfully huge lobby, WL does not compare to POR in terms of the extent and beauty of its external grounds. A great way to de-stress at Disney is to stay at POR and enjoy a long, relaxing walk through the tree-lined pathways or along the Sassagoula River, or down to POFQ, and across several bridges in between.

WL is wonderful, wonderful! WL is a beautiful hotel with great access to Magic Kingdom. But don't discount POR just because it's not a "Deluxe" category hotel. I think POR is one of the greatest bargains at Disney World. You get a hotel with grounds that are at least as beautiful and relaxing as, and maybe even more so, than any other resort on Disney property, at a moderate price. No, you don't have monorail or boat access to a theme park, or internal corridors, but POR is fantastic, beautiful, relaxing, and an amazing bargain.