- Joined
- Jan 3, 2001
- Messages
- 9,014
I returned Saturday from my first stay at POR. I thought I'd provide a brief trip report. I'm a POFQ veteran, staying there about 7 times since the resort opened in 1991. I decided for this trip that I would try a different moderate resort. I reserved a preferred room with the AAA discount. The only request I made was for a ground floor room. About 4 days prior to arrival, I faxed in a request for a non-parking lot view. When I arrived at the airport, I went direclty to a ME bus with no waiting! The route included several of the Epcot resorts but POR was the first stop. I did on-line check in and my room was ready upon arrival. The CM did ask to see my AAA membership card. In all of the years I've booked WDW resorts with the AAA discount, this is the first time that I was asked to see my card.
I was assigned a room in lodge 18 on the first floor. The room was in a great location. It was a corner room with two windows and the ice machine and quiet pool were just around the corner. The room overlooked pine trees, hedges, and lodge 27. The room was kept clean during my stay and I received several towel animals. Everything was going great until about mid-week when the family from he** moved in next door. One the children screamed everytime she entered the room, sometimes up to 30 minutes. Often I could hear the parents screaming at the children and each other. There were times when someone was knocking on the walls, jumping, etc. After about a day and a half of this, I went to the front desk to ask to be moved. Well, someone else in the builidng had already complained and the CM said it would be addressed. The family was not moved but the noise issue did get better.
My main concern with staying at POR was the bus transportation issues you sometimes see posted on the boards. I did not experience any major issues with bus transportation. I don't think I waited more than 10 minutes for a bus, that includes going to a park or returning to the resort. Often, I timed it just right with a bus arriving just minutes after I did. I often had to stand, especially in the mornings. There was one occasion when the bus coming back from MK after closing stopped at the west depot first and the south depot last.
I ate several meals at the food court and generally the food was good. If you're eating breakfast, you need to get there by 7:30 to avoid the crowds. There was one morning when the food cout was packed and there were only three registers open. On evenings when the MK closed at 7:00 PM, you could expect lots of people in the food court just after this time.
I saw Bob Jackson at the River Roost Lounge one evening. He really puts on a good show, its worth seeing.
I really enjoyed my stay at POR but I prefer POFQ. I just like the smaller size, the quiet courtyards, and New Orleans themed architecture. For my next stay at a WDW moderate, I'll return to POFQ.
Any questions, please ask.
I was assigned a room in lodge 18 on the first floor. The room was in a great location. It was a corner room with two windows and the ice machine and quiet pool were just around the corner. The room overlooked pine trees, hedges, and lodge 27. The room was kept clean during my stay and I received several towel animals. Everything was going great until about mid-week when the family from he** moved in next door. One the children screamed everytime she entered the room, sometimes up to 30 minutes. Often I could hear the parents screaming at the children and each other. There were times when someone was knocking on the walls, jumping, etc. After about a day and a half of this, I went to the front desk to ask to be moved. Well, someone else in the builidng had already complained and the CM said it would be addressed. The family was not moved but the noise issue did get better.
My main concern with staying at POR was the bus transportation issues you sometimes see posted on the boards. I did not experience any major issues with bus transportation. I don't think I waited more than 10 minutes for a bus, that includes going to a park or returning to the resort. Often, I timed it just right with a bus arriving just minutes after I did. I often had to stand, especially in the mornings. There was one occasion when the bus coming back from MK after closing stopped at the west depot first and the south depot last.
I ate several meals at the food court and generally the food was good. If you're eating breakfast, you need to get there by 7:30 to avoid the crowds. There was one morning when the food cout was packed and there were only three registers open. On evenings when the MK closed at 7:00 PM, you could expect lots of people in the food court just after this time.
I saw Bob Jackson at the River Roost Lounge one evening. He really puts on a good show, its worth seeing.
I really enjoyed my stay at POR but I prefer POFQ. I just like the smaller size, the quiet courtyards, and New Orleans themed architecture. For my next stay at a WDW moderate, I'll return to POFQ.
Any questions, please ask.
It really does go to show that resort reports can be very subjective indeed, and I suspect that applies to all resorts to be honest.
The east terminal seems closer but we Senior Princesses don't want to stand all the way! We will do enough standing when we get to parks. 
