Save Money at POR?

[Shibafam2011]

My family of three - DH, DD(4), and me - have a trip planned for November. We are doing a split stay at Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge. However, I am seriously considering moving from BC to POR. We absolutely plan to keep WL, it is a bucket list resort for us during Christmas.

I think my daughter would LOVE the princess rooms at POR. While walking to EPCOT and HS is really the main reason we chose BC, we will have a car so transportation isn’t a huge deal. The price for the room is just outrageous, nearly $650/night. Without discounts at the moment. We would save a significant amount of money for four nights at POR in a princess room.

Just to outline our stay, we will spend 4 nights at BC or POR and transfer to WL for 4 nights.

What do you think? I would love other’s perspectives and opinions on this!

 

[Dsny4fun]

I would save the money and stay @ POR. It's a really pretty resort and I'm sure your daughter will love the princess room..

 

[TOBS2010]

We have stayed at POR three times and really enjoyed it. We considered staying there this summer to be honest, but wanted to try somewhere different. The POR grounds are beautiful, food court is convenient and the boats to DS are a bonus. The kids loved the pool and water slide. I would assume that there will be some kind of discount eventually---but I also know that it is often that BC rooms are not included from discounts.

 

[snikki]

I would save the money too. We are doing CSR next trip instead of BC and BC is my absolute favorite. I just can’t pay $650+ a night. Not even for half the trip.

 

[browneyedgirl1683]

My family really loved POR and POFQ. POFQ got the edge because there aren't multiple bus stops, and if it shared busses with POR, POFQ was first (this was during off-hours, like getting to the park for late afternoon). The grounds of both are so tranquil. The theming reminds you that you are on a Disney vacation, but you aren't hit over the head with it. We didn't stay in the princess rooms, though. You can also use amenities at both resorts, so you can do a pretty decent resort day. If it's warm enough to swim that gives you access to two pools, and POFQ has a really great splash pad playground thing.

 

[pigletto]

I also vote for POR. It’s beautiful and we are staying there for part of our upcoming trip too.
I hear you on the outrageous Beach Club Price. There just comes a point where the prices are ridiculous and $650 a night does it for me.

 

[Mle8308]

Agree 100% on POR, but the BC is my least favorite deluxe resort. Even if it were the same price, I'd pick POR. It's very pretty, there aren't people traipsing in and out of the lobby and sitting on furniture in wet bathing suits and you can actually get chairs at the pools! No, you can't walk to Epcot or DHS, but the boat to DS is great. Much more peaceful there. If you want to be in the center of things, maybe not POR, I'd still say to give it a try, it's only a few days and you may end up loving it! I will say the WL is my favorite of all the Disney resorts, especially at Christmas. We go a few times every year and love it - counting down the days until our August trip!

 

[CarolynFH]

We’ve stayed at POR when out of DVC points, and we’d stay there again. Having a car eliminates my biggest issue, multiple bus stops - just take the bus to MK, though, so you don’t have to park at TTC!

 

[lockets]

I vote POR while your daughter is still into princesses. Beach Club another time.

 

[Jess_VacayMode]

I have not stayed at POR so I will leave that to others. My advice is move up, not down. Go from moderate to deluxe not vice versa.

 

[legler2250]

Funny you are in a similar dilemma! I booked at POR for a week in September at a significant discount but decided to pay up for WL instead. While we absolutely love both POR and POFQ it was decided the time spent at Geyser Point having breakfast on the Seven Seas Lagoon was worth the additional cost. However with a military discount it was nowhere near 650 a night like BC!

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

My girls love POR and def loved the princess rooms when they were younger, they were a hit and more fun than a room at BC. IMO while I love the pool at BC/YC, the POR theming, the grounds, the food court and lobby are better suited for families of young kids. Having a nice food court with some different options so everyone can get what they want is really nice. I love BC/YC and even boardwalk but the food options at those resorts aren't that great for families with picky eaters. Having a good food court or QS with grab and go options is preferred. Also, POR does a great job with their Christmas decor in the lobby, it's really pretty. Not as nice as WL but it's decorated.

Really the only negative of POR is the multi bus stops as many have mentioned but if drive to the parks, other than MK, you'll be in good shape. We will do the bus to or from the parks and also depending on the day and what we're doing, we'll do uber/lyft since we're saving money staying moderate.

 

[Marthasor]

My family of three - DH, DD(4), and me - have a trip planned for November. We are doing a split stay at Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge. However, I am seriously considering moving from BC to POR. We absolutely plan to keep WL, it is a bucket list resort for us during Christmas.

I think my daughter would LOVE the princess rooms at POR. While walking to EPCOT and HS is really the main reason we chose BC, we will have a car so transportation isn’t a huge deal. The price for the room is just outrageous, nearly $650/night. Without discounts at the moment. We would save a significant amount of money for four nights at POR in a princess room.

Just to outline our stay, we will spend 4 nights at BC or POR and transfer to WL for 4 nights.

What do you think? I would love other’s perspectives and opinions on this!

If by "during Christmas" you mean Christmas week, I would keep BC. Having a car that week would not be an advantage. Any other time, while I love the BC location, if you want to save some money, POR is a good choice. If you want location and aren't terribly concerned about theming, I would price out the Swan/Dolphin on the Marriott website.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

POR in a heart beat. After 17 years and 40+ trips, we decided that location, for us, is overrated, plus the walk to HS is over a mile and we do enough walking in the parks, I personally do not want to add another mile to it. LOL BTW, we always drive to WDW and after the first few trips, we now leave our van in the parking lot. Our family has no issues with taking WDW transportation and have used their buses for years now, with rarely any issues and the multiple stops also doesn't bother us. To me not driving is part of my vacation, even if it adds 10-15 minutes and most of the time we use the last bus stop at the main entrance of POR. JMO

 

[minniesfriend]

Just back from 8 nights at POR.

This was the filthiest Disney resort in which we have ever stayed. (We have stayed in every resort except for the Poly, Yacht and Beach Club).

We were in a woods view room in the Magnolia Bend area. We went to the front desk. Three times. Spoke to the manager four times who assured us it would be cleaned. Third night, spoke with housekeeping manager and it was much better. But not "clean."

Specifically: Upon entrance, the bathroom floors had urine around the base of the toilet and drops (of dried toothpaste?) throughout where the vanity is located. There was dried urine on toilet. When I went to wipe up the floor, it was absolutely filthy - the hand towel came up black. The ceiling fan was covered in dust, as was the light fixture. We did not go barefoot in the room. All I could think of is that I was glad I did not have a small child that would spend time on the floor crawling or playing.

And this is why I am responding. I see you have a 4 yr old who may like to play around on the floor. We stayed in a princess room years ago after they were first finished and it was fine. After our most recent stay (not in a princess room), I would recommend bringing some Clorox wipes if you decide to stay here, and I hope that you will not need them.

We spent an afternoon at the pool. No problems. No problems with the busses. Beds were ok.

Had lunch at the food court and it was almost inedible. One of the worst meals we've had on property. Grilled chicken sandwich and pimento cheese BLT. Just awful.

I see that many folks have enjoyed their stay here, but we will never return to this resort. The room was just too dirty.

 

[danceintherain]

I would wait to see what the discounts do. Maybe something fantastic will be offered for BC or POR.
....or book WL for the whole stay. But, I don't love split stays.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Just back from 8 nights at POR.

This was the filthiest Disney resort in which we have ever stayed. (We have stayed in every resort except for the Poly, Yacht and Beach Club).

We were in a woods view room in the Magnolia Bend area. We went to the front desk. Three times. Spoke to the manager four times who assured us it would be cleaned. Third night, spoke with housekeeping manager and it was much better. But not "clean."

Specifically: Upon entrance, the bathroom floors had urine around the base of the toilet and drops (of dried toothpaste?) throughout where the vanity is located. There was dried urine on toilet. When I went to wipe up the floor, it was absolutely filthy - the hand towel came up black. The ceiling fan was covered in dust, as was the light fixture. We did not go barefoot in the room. All I could think of is that I was glad I did not have a small child that would spend time on the floor crawling or playing.

And this is why I am responding. I see you have a 4 yr old who may like to play around on the floor. We stayed in a princess room years ago after they were first finished and it was fine. After our most recent stay (not in a princess room), I would recommend bringing some Clorox wipes if you decide to stay here, and I hope that you will not need them.

We spent an afternoon at the pool. No problems. No problems with the busses. Beds were ok.

Had lunch at the food court and it was almost inedible. One of the worst meals we've had on property. Grilled chicken sandwich and pimento cheese BLT. Just awful.

I see that many folks have enjoyed their stay here, but we will never return to this resort. The room was just too dirty.

Sorry to hear about the bad room
This reminded me of a few of our stays, and I told the manager that only a different room would be acceptable. At GF our room smelled like vomit at check-in, another trip, our BW room had a number of issues and CSR had a fridge that smelled like sour milk. Each time we were moved to a different room and at GF we were upgraded to CL.
Clorox wipes is one of the standard travel items that we always take. We have stayed again at GF and CSR and BW is back on our list now that the clown, that my DW hated, is gone. LOL

 

[Shibafam2011]

Just back from 8 nights at POR.

This was the filthiest Disney resort in which we have ever stayed. (We have stayed in every resort except for the Poly, Yacht and Beach Club).

We were in a woods view room in the Magnolia Bend area. We went to the front desk. Three times. Spoke to the manager four times who assured us it would be cleaned. Third night, spoke with housekeeping manager and it was much better. But not "clean."

Specifically: Upon entrance, the bathroom floors had urine around the base of the toilet and drops (of dried toothpaste?) throughout where the vanity is located. There was dried urine on toilet. When I went to wipe up the floor, it was absolutely filthy - the hand towel came up black. The ceiling fan was covered in dust, as was the light fixture. We did not go barefoot in the room. All I could think of is that I was glad I did not have a small child that would spend time on the floor crawling or playing.

And this is why I am responding. I see you have a 4 yr old who may like to play around on the floor. We stayed in a princess room years ago after they were first finished and it was fine. After our most recent stay (not in a princess room), I would recommend bringing some Clorox wipes if you decide to stay here, and I hope that you will not need them.

We spent an afternoon at the pool. No problems. No problems with the busses. Beds were ok.

Had lunch at the food court and it was almost inedible. One of the worst meals we've had on property. Grilled chicken sandwich and pimento cheese BLT. Just awful.

I see that many folks have enjoyed their stay here, but we will never return to this resort. The room was just too dirty.

Thank you so much for sharing about your experience. I am sorry that you had to deal with that. Certainly unacceptable and upsetting. I hope that your trip was fun despite the issues.

 

[Shibafam2011]

I would wait to see what the discounts do. Maybe something fantastic will be offered for BC or POR.
....or book WL for the whole stay. But, I don't love split stays.

We haven’t done a split stay but thought it would be a nice way to experience more resorts. Just sticking with WL is something to think about for sure.

 

[danceintherain]

We haven’t done a split stay but thought it would be a nice way to experience more resorts. Just sticking with WL is something to think about for sure.

I don't think I'm organized enough for split stays to work well for us. I just hate packing and unpacking too much.