Was anyone bothered with this at POR?

[Pumbaa_]

On our first trip ever to Disney we stayed at POR and absolutely loved it! The landscaping felt romantic when we strolled around the grounds, loved the boat ride to DTD, their is a quiet pool in each 'compound' of buildings, and lots of bus stops so even if you are farther away from the main building odds are you will be close to a bus stop.

Since that trip we have since purchased into DVC and love the different resorts. I do like the deluxes and home away from home for the balcony and being able to keep curtains open. But if we were conserving points I would not hesitate to stay at POR again

Good luck on your decision!

 

[KBFinFan]

Ooo! I forgot about the boat to DTD. Taking the boat to DTD from POFQ last year was great, so I am looking forward to taking it from POR as well.

 

[mrscoobs]

We have stayed in many of the deluxes (just not BW, AKL (thats changing soon), and BC) and find all of them to be wonderful in their own merit. When we stayed in POR in January it was due to budget crunch and we found it to be an excellant change of pace! The walk was almost a relief and made the trip feel more relaxed at moments (unlike say, CR-tower that we love, but certainly deposits you directly into the action). I especially liked taking a stroll at night with the wind blowing just enough to make the temperature right and to carry the sound of horseshoes against the pathways. The property is beautiful and we loved our location in oak manor, right next to a quiet pool, a short walk across the bridge to the main building and a bus stop in the opposite direction. If we go moderate again, we def. will return to POR!

 

[eclectics]

As beautiful as some resorts are (i.e. Poly) this has always been an issue with me. I don't like having to go out in the rain to get to the main building. That's why I prefer hotels like YC/BC and AKL. I also like being able to go to a restaurant if need be without going out in the rain or just walking around so that I don't feel caged up. When it's not raining it's not really an issue but I like going down on the elevator and being "in the lobby." Just personal preference I suppose.

While I loved the Poly and probably will stay there again, I can see your point. Not a deal breaker for me because I loved walking the Poly paths, but being able to take the elevator to the lobby, snacks, and restaurants is a definate perk, especially in bad weather. However, staying at one of the outer buildings at the GF and having to walk (while paying a premium and looking at mediocre landscaping to boot) would indeed be a deal breaker (at least for me), so I doubt I will ever stay at GF unless it was the main building and I got a great room deal.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

As beautiful as some resorts are (i.e. Poly) this has always been an issue with me. I don't like having to go out in the rain to get to the main building. That's why I prefer hotels like YC/BC and AKL. I also like being able to go to a restaurant if need be without going out in the rain or just walking around so that I don't feel caged up. When it's not raining it's not really an issue but I like going down on the elevator and being "in the lobby." Just personal preference I suppose.

I can see your point--I know I didn't like all the walking at POR--but then it was particularly a hassle for me because I'm a single mom, so every time I wanted a coffee refill I'd have to walk my child over to the food court area, which was a hike. My child was irritated, too That said, we did not have that experience at POFQ, nor have I had that hiking issue at any the deluxes like GF that have the outdoor buildings (the grounds just aren't as stretched out).

Additionally, at AKL, for example, you can be quite farrrr from the lobby or food areas when you are at the end of one of those corridors. For this reason, I usually request to be near the lobby.

Of course, now that my son is older (six) the issue is not as big a deal (the walking issue was more when he was 3-4). If someone were in a two parent situation, there'd be another adult so the child could stay in the room.

Other than this time-frozen issue (well, at least until I'm much older and have difficulty getting around) the long distances don't especially bother me (knock on wood! )

 

[CleveRocks]

We've only stayed at Mods a couple times, and only once in the last 10 years, because we feel that they have more of roadside, Holiday Inn type vibe than the Deluxes, which have an all inclusive, upscale, Marriott vibe. I'm afraid that if you're used to the Marriott, upscale type accomedations, you will probably be disappointed...we were!

Why, if you can afford Marriott resorts on other occasions, don't you just book one of Disney's Deluxes? They're in the similar price range...and I guarentee you'll be much happier!!

I'm sorry, I'm really not flaming in any way, but I just had to chuckle, A LOT. MARRIOTT is upscale???


Kinda reminds me of when I moved to my current area. One of the first business associates I met told me she'd lived in the area her entire life. I asked her what the shopping was like and she told me, "We have all the normal stores, plus some of the really high class expensive stores like J C Penney." True story.

-- Eric

 

[speedyf]

I'll throw in my 2 cents from our trip in June of 2005.

We stayed at POR...Me, My Wife, and our 5 year old son. Got a special pin rate of $79 per night, so we figured we would upgrade from the values to try it out.

We did not enjoy the hotel very much and we won't be returning any time soon. But, I can see how it would maybe be different for us without a child.

We stayed at Magnolia Bend / Magnolia Terrace. Our room was on the 2nd floor facing the parking lot and the walk seemed rather long to get across our building, over the bridge to the "swimming pool island", around the pool, over another bridge, and into the main building.

We were, however, close to the East Depot bus stop. Only about a one minute walk down the stairs and across the parking lot. The only problem with that is that the East Depot is the last pick up/drop off on the property. The buses go to POFQ, then main building POR, then the other 2 depots before finally ending up at East Depot. The problem was that every time the bus arrived it was either full or had standing room only. Then, on the way back from the parks late at night, we had to wait until the last stop to be dropped off with our now sleeping 5 year old.

Anyway...If it were just my wife and I and we were there to relax instead of trying to fit in every ride twice during our 8 day stay, I could see how that resort would be relaxing.

In my opinion, I would choose POFQ over POR for these reasons:

1. The resort is small and most of the buildings are close to the main building...so, you have a better chance of getting a room close to the main building.

2. You are first to be picked up and first to be dropped off...basically, guaranteeing that you will have a seat every time.

3. The boat service to Downtown Disney is better again because you are the first to be picked up and the first to be dropped off.

4. You can still use every ammenity at POR since they are sister resorts. If you want to go walk around one day to see the landscaping, you can either walk over to the hotel or just take any one of the buses over.

Of course...this is all my opinion. We much more enjoyed our stay in the 50's building at Pop Century over our stay at POR. Maybe when the kids are grown and we want to relax a little more, we may try a moderate again....but, for now....we are value folks.

If you do decide to try POR, I would definitely try to get a room in Alligator Bayou 14 or 15....since they are the closest to the main building. After walking miles upon miles in the parks each day with a 5 year old, the last thing I wanted to do was stand up in a bus or take extra walks through the resort at midnight with a sleeping child.

Speed

 

[jbthi]

We have stayed at POFQ and POR and both are our favorites for the moderates. The grounds are so pretty that I don't mind the walk from POR.

We own at BWV and BCV and they are very convenient, but if I were renting, for the difference in price I would take Port Orleans. (Or better yet, rent points from a DVC member. Not an offer to rent, I've used my points and borrowed next years.)

June

 

[aalan]

the deal with the moderates is that you have to walk to get food, visit a pool, or get to the bus stop.

some people make this sound like its a five mile hike. of course its not, you can be a distance from things, but its just not that far. walking around the grounds (especially at por) is part of the experience for me, something i enjoy. the grounds and landscaping are lovely. but i understand that everybody has a different idea of what a vacation and hotel should be. i say give por a try, and see if you like it.

 

[HANDYMOM]

I can see your point--I know I didn't like all the walking at POR--but then it was particularly a hassle for me because I'm a single mom, so every time I wanted a coffee refill I'd have to walk my child over to the food court area, which was a hike. My child was irritated, too That said, we did not have that experience at POFQ, nor have I had that hiking issue at any the deluxes like GF that have the outdoor buildings (the grounds just aren't as stretched out). )

POR now has coffee makers (with free refills on coffee daily) and fridges, so you can avoid having to trek over to the food court as much!

 

[AdventurerKat]

I second the comments about the landscarping at POR. Its beautiful. I have a favorite building that is much further than many of the others simply because of the landscaping there.

With the addition of the refrigerators, it makes it easier to keep beverages and snacks available in your room so you don't HAVE to walk up front if you don't want.

So, I guess the short answer here would have been "nope, doesn't bother me at all."

 

[HGLightlyj]

The wonderful part of staying at POR is the beautiful grounds and the Sassagoula (sp) Bay or River that runs through it. I always enjoyed the walk to the food court. I have stayed in the Mansions and enjoyed it thoroughly. The boat to DTD is great!