Tell me what you love (and hate) about POR....

[susy]

Just booked a Sept trip (Labor Day weekend)...... was able to get POR for $89 with the Ap rate.


I am undecided about room requests, so have deicded to let them choose for me (except for Non-smoking)....

we will drive up early sat morning (is it EE that day?), go straight to MGM , have a nice lunch at the Brown Derby and check in. Maybe take boat to DTD that night or just hang out at the resort......

sun- maybe AK..... eat dinner at Boatwrights or DTD

mon-home

give me your opiniosn both good and bad. Thsi is te only mod we haven't tried yet.

Oh, yes and if a hurricane comes-oh, well..I will probably rebook and then cancel-just can't go through all that again.

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

I can only speak about Riverside. I personally loved it. I loved the feeling the resort had, between the bayou and plantation style rooms. Walking at night, with the willow trees was just so romantic and it was just a hop skip and a jump to walk over to it's sister resort and to get a bit of Mardi Gras.

 

[tone.def]

I can only speak about Riverside. I personally loved it. I loved the feeling the resort had, between the bayou and plantation style rooms. Walking at night, with the willow trees was just so romantic and it was just a hop skip and a jump to walk over to it's sister resort and to get a bit of Mardi Gras.

that's right! I found everything about it relaxing. I didn't get the rush rush feeling I've had at other resorts.

you can even have a horse-drawn carriage ride there...

 

[magicmouse2]

The only thing I dislike is the bedsteads at POR, and the sink area lack of worktop space. I love everything else.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

My only issue with POR is something silly but it bothers me - I can't ever get a room in Aligator Bayou! Every time I stayed there, I get a mansion since I was never in a party of 5. I begged for AB last time, but still no. Yet I read here of plenty of solos or couples getting Aligator Bayou with no problem at all. So I guess it's just me - I guess my file is red-flagged or something so I will be denied AB every time!

I am tentatively staying at POR in August (probably moving trip to fall though), and I bet anything I will get a mansion again. I am destined to never set foot in AB ever!!!!!

OK, besides that, I enjoy the resort - beautiful grounds, relaxing boat ride to DownTown Disney, and decent food court.

 

[copper0426]

Our family just loves POR formerly Dixie Landings. What I (hate) dislike is the name Change.

It is so relaxing. The boat to downtown Disney is so much better than taking a bus there. Old man island is great. Bob Jackson in the lounge is fun. It is one of our homes away from home. We were just there the 2nd of June.

HugsForEeyore sorry to here you have been unable to stay at AB. We always request it when we make our ressies. What time of day do you normally arrive?

The only time we were bumped from AB was when my brother came with someone from work who was in a wheel chair and since we had are ressies attached they wear going to move us too. But we said no, that is ok we want AB. Here is some pixie dust that you get AB

Diane

 

[MICOL]

We stayed in the Mansions and it was very relaxing to come back from the busy parks. Nice pools, nice place to walk along the river.

 

[Linda T.]

We stayed at Dixie Landings (Now POR) in 1999. We stayed in Alligator Bayou section and really liked it. We loved the boat ride to Downtown Disney. The grounds were beautiful, but we did not like the food court, and the bus service was terrible.
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1979 - Offsite
1995 - CBR
1997 - CBR
1999 - POR
2003 - CBR
2005 - CBR (June 22nd thru June 30th)

 

[ckoncurat]

We stayed in Alligator Bayou in 2000. Loved everything. The landscaping is so lush and beautiful- we really felt like we had "gotton away from it all". Extremely peaceful. Loved the boat to downtown disney, loved the look of the food court-although it can get crowded at peak times. Order a plaline from the bakery-they are fabulous. Woulds stay again in a heartbeat.

 

[ckoncurat]

PRALINE.
We were in building 16, which is a short walk from dining hall and bus stop, and overlooks a quiet pool.

 

[sydprincess]

The grounds are so beautiful. You'll feel like you're in another world.

You have to eat breakfast at Boatwright's. The food is magnificent.

Overall, you almost feel as though you're at a Deluxe, even though you paid for a moderate.

Enjoy your stay. Wish I could be going soon. I'm jealous!

 

[Merandab4]

I have stayed at both POR and POFQ. I liked them both, but POR is probably my favorite. (probably because of the theming and the Mansion buildings).
We stayed in the Magnolia bend Mansion and loved it. This building even had an elevator. We only had one mishap with our room, and that is the first night we were there is smelled like smoke. It was suppose to be a non-smoking building as well. Now I must admit, I have a real sensative nose and allergies, so I could have probably smelled it a mile away. Housekeeping, (or mousekeeping..lol) came up to our room and sprayed, but after she left, I noticed that it was the bedding that smelled, so I had her come back and change the bedspread. (I don't remember if she came back that night or the next morning), but it was not a problem for them at all and they were happy to do it.

I personally like the food court. We only ate breakfast there, but it was quick and cheap. I usually got the kids meal which consisted of bacon, eggs, pancakes and a biscuit and it was more than enough for me.

The boat to DTD is definetly a plus. We also rented a boat one afternoon at their marina and had fun traveling down the river past the other resorts. We drove all the way to Old Key West which was fun because I've never seen that resort before.

Also, the Horse and carriage rides are offered there, (which someone already mentioned) I've never done one, but plan to when we stay there again sometime.

We also had a good time just hanging out in the lounge listening to the piano man.

In all, I would say POR is a great choice! It is a fairly large resort, and some buildings are a further walk from the main buildings then others, but the landscaping and whole resort in general is so beautiful that you may not even mind the walk. I know we didn't.

 

[snowmouse]

We really like POR having stayed in AB twice. Beautiful grounds and quiet. We always request building 14, closest to food court and pool, and find it very convenient. Our kids really enjoy the marina and pool. Very convenient food court for snacks and mug refills. Only negative is the distance to parks, which is why I prefer the EPCOT resort locations. What those don't have that POR does however is great prices, gotta love that!!

 

[flamom]

we just got back from our stay at POR yesterday. I can't see any reason why anyone could find anything to hate about the resort. we loved it.It was my first time staying onsite and now i'll never be able to stay offsite again.we stayed in oak manor.The room was just fine for us.my kids loved the main pool and the arcade.DH and DS's went fishing at the fishing hole, they enjoyed that. we ate at the food court alot, the food was good.we had our last breakfast at boatwrights yesterday, it was wonderful,loved the stuffed french toast. the mousekeeper didn't make any towel animals, but one day we came back to the room and she had my ds's mickey mouse and his fox hugging, it was so cute, another day she made a fan out of a washcloth put it in a glass and put our toothbrushes in the folds of the fan, that was a nice suprise.I also think it's nice how they put your statement on your door knob on the last day of your stay so you don't have to go to the front desk to check out. I will definately stay at POR again.

 

[susy]

thanks for all the quick replies.
This trip is VERY tentative as I am almost postive that there will be a hurricane around. It's different for those of us living in FL. I can't "ride out a storm" at a resort. With traffic and not knowing which way a storm is headed (remember Jeanne), it just isn't a good idea to be traveling. If we make it to POR, I'll be surprised..... so I'm trying not to get my hopes up. This is all DH's idea......

 

[soccer mom]

We loved everything about the resort and prefer the bayou side to the mansions. The only thing I would be afraid of is some of the buildings are quite a hike (maybe 20 min?) to the food court, pool, store, lounge, etc. This would be an issue for us because we do like to spend time at the resort.

 

[Piglet42]

I personally like the food court. We only ate breakfast there, but it was quick and cheap. I usually got the kids meal which consisted of bacon, eggs, pancakes and a biscuit and it was more than enough for me.

The boat to DTD is definetly a plus. We also rented a boat one afternoon at their marina and had fun traveling down the river past the other resorts. We drove all the way to Old Key West which was fun because I've never seen that resort before.

Also, the Horse and carriage rides are offered there, (which someone already mentioned) I've never done one, but plan to when we stay there again sometime.


.

I agree on the food court, we had breakfast one morning and dinner one night- enjoyed them both.

The Horse and Carriage ride is very nice. It goes between POR and POFQ, very relaxing.
We loved the boat to DD, it was great to have a choice other than a bus. We also rented bikes one day and rode between POR and POFQ.
And by the way- We share the same anniversary! Although, we had the wedding in Indiana, not Disney World, but we were for the Honeymoon- and will be again for our anniversary this year. You're wedding looks beautiful.

Now back to POR- I loved it! Granted, last year was my first visit to DW since I was 5, so I don't have anything else to compare it to, but we choose it again this year. I didn't think the bus service was bad at all, but that's only b/c I've never stayed anywhere else, and it was in Sept, between hurricanes so attendance was fairly low.
To whoever first posted this, sorry I can't remember the screen name, I think you will enjoy it. Of course anyplace is going to have good and bad points, and you are going to get good and and bad CM's, just remember you are at the Happiest Place on Earth!

 

[tigger002]

POR is our favorite Moderate hotel. We like the Bayou the best. There is rarely a bad room when you get a standard view. We love the quiet pools, bridges, ducks etc. We did stay once in the Mansions and did not like the standard view as the hall ways were long with kids running up and down and there was a very large, very noisy air conditioner in our parking lot view (and we did see the parking lot, I have only seen the parking lot once in our many stays at the Bayou even though it was a standard view). The Bayou is quieter than the Mansions, only a few rooms to a side and no air conditioner view.

Con:
Very large resort with lots of walking unless you get really lucky with a building close to the food court/main pool.

 

[kmjmom]

We've stayed at POR FQ and AB. The first trip in 2000, we were in a building far from Food Court. Not s fun stroll to the food court with tired kids! Second trip to AB we had the building closest to the food court and it was great. Close to bus stop and very convenient. Bldg 14 or 15 are great locations. FQ is more cozy and we preferred the pool theming. Have fun!

 

[jeanylaser]

we stay to this hotel with our family but my sister fights which bed i sleep on and now i don't hotel to stay in.