POR - would love feedback - haven't stayed there before but AP rate made my choice!

[310girls2]

If anyone has stayed at POR recently I'd love some feedback> I will be traveling NJ week in Nov. with my 11yo and 1yo alone. DH will meet us 2 days later..Is there anyplace special I should request with a 1yo not walking yet and a stroller? Are the mansions really neat? HOw is the food court? Are the buses crowded? thanks.. input so much appreciated..

 

[yecats]

Hi. I love PORS. I stayed there the third week in November 2003 and had a wonderful stay. To see pictures of the rooms, check out wdwig.com and there are great pics of Bayou and Mansion rooms. I stayed in the Magnolia Bend Mansion which was a 2 minute walk to the main pool (Ole Man Island) and maybe a 4 minute walk to the main building/food court area. There was also a quiet pool inbetween my mansion and the acadian mansion and this area also housed the laundry facilities in it. There are also 2 other mansions that are closer to the main building (can't think of their names right now) by just simply crossing a small bridge with a slightly longer walk (maybe 4 mins) to Ole Man Island.

I know that a lot of people like the feel of the Bayou rooms because it is more themed and rustic but I love the way the mansions look. The mansion rooms have also just been refurbished so they are brand new again. Each of the mansions has very serene gardens and you will see people enjoying sitting around in them all day. I find the rooms to be very quiet. I don't have children but I would think that you would like to stay in the Magnolia mansion as it is very convenient to the pools, main building and has the last bus stop behind that building. It is a small walk to the bus stop past the parking lot but not very far.

The pools, food court, riverroost lounge and sit down rest. are all very nice and enjoyable. There is a nice arcade in the main building as well for you 11 yr old. You can rent bikes and boats during the day at the main building and there is a boat to DTD that leaves from the dock in the afternooon til 9:00 ish at night (a nice boat ride with one stop at POFQ). Beginning on Wed thru Sat., Bob the entertainer is in the riverroost lounge with his show, it is a must see and your 11 will enjoy it as it is family friendly and requires audience participation - the lounge will fill up quickly when his show begins around 9:00 p.m. The main island also has a fortlike playground area.

I would tell you that if you like to take walks then your going to love the grounds and walking around the Sasscagoula River. Each of the mansions and Bayou homes is slightly different from one another in architecture. It really is enjoying to begin a walk in the Bayou section admiring the buildings and realizing the slight differences which begin to change into the Mansions section.

You'll have a great stay there and enjoy. I am heading back this November myself and tried to get a room but my date was booked up.

P.S. - EDIT - Buses weren't really crowded when I was there but there are exceptions. MK can be more crowded than any of the other buses that came. Also the buses are shared with POFQ so they get on the bus first and are also dropped back off first. I found it easy to catch the bus at the front of the building. The buses that pick up behind the mansions can sometimes run a bit long (esp. MK which I had a wait of at least 30 mins one time and 40 mins another).