Somebody stop me!!!

[sadossey]

Ok, booked my family's first WDW vacation for May 6-12. Started at CBR, then read some sketchy reviews on it and changed to POFQ. Liked what I read about FQ but thought my DD5 and DS2 would love the Royal rooms so I switched to POR. I think we will love the resort at POR but have been reading terrible reviews of POR's bus system which is important to us as we will have no car and 2 small kids, 5&2. Do I need to switch back to POFQ for smaller resort and better bus transportation? Is it really that bad at POR to use their buses? Will the time of year we are going be better/worse for using Disney transportation? Somebody help me!

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Not sure about the hotel transportation as we have never stayed at POR or POFQ for that matter.

Looking at your dates of travel, your overall crowd levels are...

May 6 - overall crowd level 7
May 7 - overall crowd level 7
May 8 - overall crowd level 5
May 9 - overall crowd level 5
May 10 - overall crowd level 6
May 11 - overall crowd level 8
May 12 - overall crowd level 8

I wouldnt worry too much about the busses. Just make sure if you are using a stroller, that you have it folded up before the bus arrives.

Maybe someone who has actually stayed there can give you some better info on the way they work there.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

You will read bad reviews of every resort on this board if you look hard enough. We loved CBR, but didn't really care for BWI. I'm sure there is someone on this board who feels the exact opposite. I think that you can be lucky or unlucky with buses at any resort too. I suggest going with the resort you like best theme wise.

 

[Gibbygirl]

You will read bad reviews of every resort on this board if you look hard enough.

AGREED We LOVED CBR! When planning our next trip we've decided on CSR to try someplace new, but would go back to CBR in a heartbeat. The themes of POFQ & POR do not appeal to us at all. You really have to decide what looks good to you and go with that one. For every bad review you'll find someone else with a wonderful experience. CBR has a wonderful kids pool area with height restrictions to keep the bigger kiddos out. Plus, the main pool has a zero entry which makes it easy to sit with the little one while your other one splashes nearby.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Ok, booked my family's first WDW vacation for May 6-12. Started at CBR, then read some sketchy reviews on it and changed to POFQ. Liked what I read about FQ but thought my DD5 and DS2 would love the Royal rooms so I switched to POR. I think we will love the resort at POR but have been reading terrible reviews of POR's bus system which is important to us as we will have no car and 2 small kids, 5&2. Do I need to switch back to POFQ for smaller resort and better bus transportation? Is it really that bad at POR to use their buses? Will the time of year we are going be better/worse for using Disney transportation? Somebody help me!

Having stayed in a couple of the moderate resorts, which are HUGE, I would make my decision this way: do you plan to use the resort facilities (pool, quick service dining, etc.)?

If the answer is yes, then I would definitely pay for a preferred room or choose POFQ. Otherwise, you could be walking forever, just to get to the pool or food court.

If the answer is no, then I would choose based on theming. Both POR and POFQ have had the most recent room refurbs, and that is ALWAYS a plus in my book. For that one reason, I would choose them over CBR. But I do think CBR has charm. I would never stay there again without a preferred room, though. Same for POR. I REALLY enjoy using the pool and quick service at my resort, and I do not want to chance being in one of the buildings that is the furtherest out from those amenities. It's just not fun feeling as though you have to walk that far to refill your mug or grab a bite to eat.

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

We stay at POR and have never had a problem. Only time is leaving parks at closing. POR and POFQ many times use the same buses so staying at POFQ does not help. It is all on your timing. If you get there just before the bus you want arrives then you are in luck and if you get there one minute after the bus leaves you have about a 20 min wait, not the buses fault. This is the same at all resorts. This is WDW and if your panties get in a bunch every time things are not perfect, you will have a terrible vacation. Step back and take your time, you are at WDW so enjoy!!!!!!!!

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

Oh! In my opinion, if you are at POR and want to enjoy the resort as well as WDW then you are at the best midrange resort

 

[DizDaD7]

I'd say stick with POR or POFQ. Ive stated in the past on other threads about the bus system here. As pp stated it is luck of the draw but coming back late from parks is not the best. The only thing cbr has that i thinkis better for your youngsters is the zero entry pool. I personally like csr as my fav resort. I think it ha s best off all things combined. That's just my opinion. Have fun choosing.

 

[focusondisney]

I have stayed at both POR & POFQ. I would suggest picking the resort by room theme. Just go in knowing that the buses will be crowded at peak times at either resort. You may end up standing sometimes. We have seen POFQ have it's own bus to MK in the early morning, tho. There isn't really a way to predict how your bus experience will go. But no matter what, you will get to the park & back to your resort, one way or the other. Transportation has never made or broken our vacation. Enjoying the room & resort are more important in my opinion. Have a great vacation!

 

[sadossey]

Thanks for all the advice. Going to keep res at POR, dont think we can beat the RR for my daughter. Maybe buses wont be bad, and if they are then I guess there are worse things to be doing than waiting for a free bus ride at the happiest place on earth! Cant wait!

 

[dansdad]

...then I guess there are worse things to be doing than waiting for a free bus ride at the happiest place on earth! Cant wait!

Having that attitude will go a long way towards ensuring you have a great trip! And not just when applied to waiting for a bus.

 

[gray52]

It's been a while since our last stay at POFQ but before joining DVC, it was our favorite resort. Small... easy to get around... short walk to the HH and bus stop. Our two trips there, POFQ was always the first stop coming back from the parks... a big plus. If you choose POR or CBR, make sure you put in a room request for near the HH. Some of those rooms can be quite the walk.

 

[DizDaD7]

Thanks for all the advice. Going to keep res at POR, dont think we can beat the RR for my daughter. Maybe buses wont be bad, and if they are then I guess there are worse things to be doing than waiting for a free bus ride at the happiest place on earth! Cant wait!

May i suggest, ask to see if any of the mansions (with refurbished rooms are available ) preferably magnolia section. We got lucky for us to get moved from a far AB room to magnolia. Middle of everything. Perfect spot. Close to main pool to its own bus stop, to the movies under the stars ideally the best spot on por.

 

[Liv4Dis]

I have stayed at CBR, Riverside and French Quarter and liked them all for different reasons. The bus system is great on some days and just okay on others BUT I would say that it would be the very rare occassion that you would say it is terrile.

Riverside is a large resort, but because you are booking the Royal Rooms you will be in Magnolia Bend in either Parterre Place (95) or Oak Manor (90) which are both not a bad location from the main bus depot and the main building that has the gift shop and the food court. This resort also has the boat to Downtown Disney which both you and your kids will love.

Riverside has a main pool plus 5 smaller pools scattered throughout and your room will be close to one of these satellite pools (but not super close to the main pool). You will also be very close to the path that you can walk to the French Quarter where your kids can go swimming as well. Your kids will probably love the slide at this pool ... the tongue of a serpeant.

No matter where you end up ... you will enjoy!

 

[sadossey]

Thanks for all the advice. Going to keep res at POR, dont think we can beat the RR for my daughter. Maybe buses wont be bad, and if they are then I guess there are worse things to be doing than waiting for a free bus ride at the happiest place on earth! Cant wait!

 

[DizDaD7]

Thanks for all the advice. Going to keep res at POR, dont think we can beat the RR for my daughter. Maybe buses wont be bad, and if they are then I guess there are worse things to be doing than waiting for a free bus ride at the happiest place on earth! Cant wait!

Thats the attitude. : enjoy your trip...

 

[browneyedgrl4282]

I have stayed CBR, CSR, and POFQ and the WORST with the buses is CBR! I never had a problem at POFQ. I am staying at POR in a few weeks!

 

[CamoMama]

We had no problems with the buses at CBR.

 

[Liv4Dis]

Just a thought ...

We also never had problem with the buses at CBR -- however, we paid for a preferred room and were in Martinique so we always used the main bus depot and perhaps that made a difference.

I often wonder why people think the bus service isn't that great and realized that we are USUALLY at the bus stop between 8 and 9:15 in the morning so the buses are really running a lot and we are USUALLY coming back right after a fireworks show or parade at night, so maybe that is why we have never had a situation with the buses.

 

[portocall]

While I will admit that we did have an issue a few times with busses at POR the last time, it was minor problem and certainly didn't keep us from booking there again.