Why I Hated Por!!

[eclectics]

I don't get why an indoor hallway is more appealing than opening your door and seeing the beautiful foliage. (Granted, I haven't stayed at POR -- but the views at Coronado are certainly more pleasant than any hotel hallway could be).

I think it's the outside door "Motel" or inside door "Hotel" way of thinking. I have stayed at both and have to admit I enjoyed the hallway entry of the Poly even though you still have to walk outside your longhouse to get to anything. Go figure!

 

[kizmac]

Wondering why you were "walking through the rain with your luggage".
We stay at POR often (and like it better than all the deluxes, except the Contemporary).
It always amazes me when we're there (POR) how many families I see struggling with numerous bags of luggage whether they are arriving or leaving. Why don't they use bell services? I have never carried my own luggage at WDW.

I agree! With the amount of luggage we had, it would of taken us hours to unload. Bell services were there with in minutes and did it all for us. Of course we tipped nicely but it was so worth it.

 

[ADisneygirl]

Sorry to hear your trip was less than you expected. I have never stayed at POR, but I have tried POFQ so I know what you mean about the motel feel with the outside corridors. We knew this ahead of time though so we weren't surprised.

As for the pizza, well, let me tell you that as a former New Yorker, you can't find real pizza anywhere in this state! lol

Hope your next trip is better!

 

[Sammie]

Deluxe resorts come with a deluxe price for a good reason. Interior hallways, and valet and full bell services are some of the reasons for this.

I would say the OP has learned that this type of resort is not for her or for anyone else that does not like the type of setting a moderate resort offers.

As to the cost at the food court, I don't think you will find less expensive food anywhere else at any resort destination. Actually the food at the food courts at moderates and values resorts is less than the same food at deluxe resorts. As to the Pizza it's all in what you are used to buying elsewhere. I don't find Disney pizza great, but not horrible either.

As to the cell phone service, I am not sure I would even have mentioned that in a Disney resort discussion, as that is clearly something that is not controlled by Disney.

I know the OP stated she had no choice in her decision to stay there due to the group, but for further travelers I would advise to do your homework, "before" you arrive and save yourself some disappointment.

I will agree that I much prefer interior hallways due to the bug factor. Even the deluxe resorts with outer buildings such as the Polynesian.

But even there and at the Grand Floridian, it's not as convenient in a pouring rain as a resort such as Yacht and Beach where everything is contained in one large building. However those buildings make for very long hallways, so in some ways it's a trade off.

 

[sweetinmaine]

We stayed at POR in March and Bell Services delivered all of our luggage to our rooms. The gentleman was so nice. He noticed our luggage had a VT sticker on it and even mentioned what a beautiful state we lived in and how he had visited it in his younger days. Use Bell Services. That is what they are there for.

 

[LorieR]

Sorry you had such a terrible time ..... My DH and I will be going back for our fourth time at POR in two weeks!!! We have been in the Mansion section three times so far and absolutely love this beautiful resort!!

Lorie

 

[annie1995]

Last summer we had a split stay between POR and POP. We absolutely loved POR. I thought the food court was very reasonably priced, and had good quality food, not much different than the other food courts. I really don't see much difference in prices between POP or POR. This summer we also ate at CBR and the prices were again the same as we were paying at POP. We never had a problem with our cell phone service ( we have sprint ). And as for the bugs, never saw any until we arrived at POP, and the lizards were everywhere. The parks, and different resorts,( we went looking around on our day off at the different resorts, and saw tons of them whereever we went). I would definately stay again if price permits, but truth be told, I would rather stay at a value and spend longer in Disney, then cut our trip short just to stay at a Mod or Deluxe anyday!

 

[abacobaby]

I'm really sorry to hear that you had such a bad stay at POR. We are actually big POR fans I didn't know there was such a thing as carrying your own luggage to the room I mean, when we stepped out of the car, someone whisked away our bags and we didn't even think twice about it.

Food is expensive everywhere at DW. Now if we were to talk about foodcourt style quality.... I hate foodcourt style food!

Anyway, hope you have a better trip next time!

 

[Lizzybee]

We love POR, stayed there twice and experienced none of what you did, other than the comment Bob Jackson is great and we loved Boatwrights (I didn't find it any more expensive than any other TS at WDW) I guess not every resort is for everyone. I don't understand lugging the luggage in the rain, we had bell services drive us and our suitcases to and from our room. As for cell phone reception, our first trip to Disney I had none anywhere, except for a very few spots (think move 3 inches and nothing) and at the Wisconsin Dells my cell just plain doesn't work. I tend to blame the cell company for that, not the resort. Hopefully this thread won't discourage people from staying at POR, we think it's a great resort.

 

[nygrl]

I guess i thought a food court would be a less expensive way to eat... my cell phone worked fine everywhere except at POR.....we checked in late and there was no bell men available and my kids were cranky and we couldnt wait anymore....the bright lights over the doors were the main bug problem... we usually stay at thge dolphin or the contemporary so i guess i am not used to that motel feel....i understand alot of you love POR i am just letting people know that if they are not into bugs , lizards,and overgrown bushes then try somewhere else!!!

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

This will be our second time staying at POR. In June it was the mansions and in Jan. it will be the alligator bayou. I'm curious to see how that is! We love POR. It was very beautiful and lush and we like that. I have Cingular and didn't have a problem, even inside my room. Sorry, you didn't like it!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I have Cingular, and I did have to step outside my room sometimes to get service, but that wasn't a problem really.

I can't imagine carrying luggage at POR! Bell Services is your friend- use them, love them! (Especially in the rain!) You can generally hop on a bus at a stop near your room and get to the main building that way, if you don't want to walk. Unless the resort is totally sold out, you can usually request a different building if the one you're assigned doesn't work out for you.

Food court prices are pretty much the same all over WDW. In the future, you can look up the menus online to get an idea of what things cost, and figure out your food budget that way. That way it's not a shock when you get there.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

It's too bad you hated POR. I am not a outdoorsy, bug loving, over grown bush kind of girl myself, but I just loved POR. Funnily enough, when I visited the Contemporary and a few other deluxes for dinner I was completely unimpressed. It definitely didn't seem worth the extra money to me. Different strokes, right?

At least now you know, deluxe or nothing for you :0)

 

[Prissymouse]

I guess i thought a food court would be a less expensive way to eat... my cell phone worked fine everywhere except at POR.....we checked in late and there was no bell men available and my kids were cranky and we couldnt wait anymore....the bright lights over the doors were the main bug problem... we usually stay at thge dolphin or the contemporary so i guess i am not used to that motel feel....i understand alot of you love POR i am just letting people know that if they are not into bugs , lizards,and overgrown bushes then try somewhere else!!!

Thanks for the info, my DH will really appreciate it. We, like you, don't usually have time to wait for bell services. We live in south florida, drive PM and arrive late. It is faster to do it ourselves!

DH HATES spread out resorts. He will not go back to CSR because of the walk. And he insists upon being close to the food!!! He says he would rather do value than have one of those moderates where he has to walk a mile for a morsel of food! And to think, I was going to suggest maybe trying POR next time because of all the great things I have been reading!!!! This is NOT a good idea.

I thank you again.
We love the dolphin too!!!

 

[LvsTnk]

Thank you so much for your post. I always appreciate a recent reort stay report.

I haven't stayed at POR in a while but when we did it took a little bit of getting used to.

We stayed at AB as well and drove our car to food court/main building. For the same reason we didn't need a BH as well. Also, it was in Dec. so no bugs. Also, we ordered appetizers and sat in the lounge by the fire place and listened to Bob Jackson. This was one of my favorite things to do in the evening. Don't know if you can still do that.

On a different note we checked out the BWI on that trip and decided that our next stay would be there, for many of the reasons you mentioned. We haven't done a moderate since.

 

[Kitcat]

Sorry to hear about those nuisances..I too had to leave my room at CSR for phone service..Verizon ....When I opened my door their were 3 cute little frogs..glad they couldn't fit under the door. I did stay at WL for a week prior to CSR and found that WL was much better for me. Guess this is always a learning experience for next time!! For me it's WL I just loved it. CSR was to me okay. I know about the breakfast too at WL it cost us $40 ahh the price of vacation. We found the Golden Corral off property. The 1st night we were there we too got soaked at Magic Kingdom!! I was laughing all the way to my room!! Hope you had a good time anyway..

 

[Zip-a-dee-dude-da]

Wondering why you were "walking through the rain with your luggage".
We stay at POR often (and like it better than all the deluxes, except the Contemporary).
It always amazes me when we're there (POR) how many families I see struggling with numerous bags of luggage whether they are arriving or leaving. Why don't they use bell services? I have never carried my own luggage at WDW.

You know why people dont use Bell sevices.....Because they are cheap and dont want to tip for the services...

 

[JPN4265]

Our family like POR, and would stay on property when ever we could not get deluxe.

 

[boomhauer]

I don't get why an indoor hallway is more appealing than opening your door and seeing the beautiful foliage. (Granted, I haven't stayed at POR -- but the views at Coronado are certainly more pleasant than any hotel hallway could be).

I agree with this. Maybe it's because I've never stayed at a Deluxe at Disney, but opening the door right to the outside and having a window with a view feels more like Disney to me. I could care less about a corridor.

 

[annie1995]

Food court prices are pretty much the same all over WDW. In the future, you can look up the menus online to get an idea of what things cost, and figure out your food budget that way. That way it's not a shock when you get there.

Where can you see the menu's from the different food courts at the resorts? I am not so much concerned about prices since they are as you said it pretty much all the same over WDW, but I would love to see what different things they have to offer. Thanks!