5 People...Riverside or AllStarMusic?

[amykissangel]

I know I've asked about Riverside before, and I even went through and checked out people's responses on old threads, but my family's biggest concern is transportation.

We usually stay at ASMusic, and like being a two minute walk away from the bus stop (we stay in Jazz), and then moving straight on to the parks after only stopping ONCE at Movie, or not at all.

We've always squeezed 5 people into the rooms before, but it's become abundantly clear that for EMH, everyone must have a room card/park pass that shows they are staying at a WDWResort. Therefor, we have to upgrade.

We are hardly ever in the rooms, and while scenery is nice, we spend most of our time at the parks and pools.

So, with all that said, what are your opinions?

Here is what I know: (Correct me if I'm wrong)

• Riverside is cheaper than the suites at ASMusic.
• ASMusic suites have 2 bathrooms and a small kitchenette. Riverside does not.
• ASMusic (in my experience) stops at Movie on the way TO the parks, and at Sports on the way BACK from the parks, while...
• Riverside's bus service is slow and tedious; ie. stopping at five stops, then on to FQ? (Only what I've heard from others, so if that's not true, please tell me otherwise:animwink: )
• There is a full service restaurant at Riverside (any good?)
• There is a boat to DTD from Riverside (does it take long? where does it stop?)
• Let me know the best places to stay at Riverside (closest to the busses that will take us DIRECTLY to MGM, MK, AK, and Epcot...we'd like the mansion sections, I think, unless transp. is slow from there.)

You're all fantastic - thanks!:wave:

 

[Nemo14]

I love POR, but I think squeezing 5 people into a room would be difficult there. The AS suites sounds great, especially the part about having 2 bathrooms for 5 people. With just the 4 of us last spring, we booked 2 connecting rooms at PC just to have the extra bathroom. It really does make a big difference in the morning!

 

[SpongeScott]

I'd do POR. POR has rooms with a pull-out bed so that you can sleep 5 people. And the grounds are gorgeous/fabulous.

 

[amykissangel]

I do agree - the 2nd bathroom would be great, but Riverside is cheaper...still wondering about transportation though...

 

[Space1205Mount]

Well scince your worried about transportation I'd stay at POFQ, and book 2 rooms conecting. There is only 1 bus stop at this resort but as long as you stay in buildings 4,5,6,7 you're close to it. Plus the bus stops at FQ first then at Riverside second so you're garenteed(sp?) at seat.

 

[hansel1]

As I have said many times before, I don't believe POR's transportation to be any worse than other resorts.

I think it all depends on when you are staying there. Our experience in january (VALUE SEASON) was that we had no longer than a 10 minute wait for the bus and 90% of the time the bus left the main depot and went directly to a park. Our bus contained no more than 12-15 people heading to the park. (At park closing, all the busses are packed) Having said that, I would suggets staying in the AB section in a building close to the food court (14, 15).

 

[monorailguy01]

I stayed at POFQ in may and there was 4 of us total and we are not small guys, so to make everyone happy my friend brought his air mattress and it worked out fine when we woke up we would put it on a bed or in the bath tub to get it out of the way... it worked out great

 

[THECARISMINE]

Riverside all the way I just like there though and get a air matress because the floor beds really kill your back =]

 

[eroyee]

:wave: We love the sit down restaurant at POR, though not too cheap. they have good breakfasts and a good pot roast dinner. the boat to DTD is a really nice ride. it stops at POFQ and then on to DTD. about 15 mins. maybe at the most. Its really neat at night. the bus stops at POFQ first and then to riverside. if you want by the food court bldgs. 14 and 15 and 18 on bayou side. cant remember the mansion side but they are not far. the whole setting of Riverside is so cool. Hope you go there. One bathroom might be kinda hard to manage,though. have a magical trip. next trip Jan. 2007 at POP. yaaaay!:sohappy:

 

[amykissangel]

I'm glad to hear Riverside is fun...the one bathroom won't be a problem for all of us. Dad and Brother take five min. each, while my sister, Mom and I primp for an hour :~)

But seriously, can anyone explain the bus system?:lookaroun

 

[metscool]

Riverside is fun and Downtown Disney is just a boat ride away

 

[whizGoofy]

My wife and I stayed there for our Honeymoon last May and we loved it!! The experience is worth every penny of it. As far as the bus system, well it was as bad as any other resort. We have stayed at all of the all stars, and the wait times are different. The buses come (in my opinion) faster, however there are more stops along the way. The advantage for us, was the fact that there are more adults at POR & FQ then there are at the All stars. With that being said the waiting/bus ride is more enjoyable. Also at the bus stops there are places to sit and there is an overhang so if it rains or is too sunny you are protected.

Also if you are fans of swimming, most of the POR resorts have pools really close to them. Our room was right by a pool and it was quite each time we went.

I guess it all depends on what kind of trip you are taking. The kind where you rush around and try to get to everywhere because you can not miss anything, or the kind where you actually relax and take in the Disney Experience.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

POR busses are no different from the rest of the resorts. We were last there the week before Easter and had no problems at all. Bus stops are minimal and sequence varies, so sometimes you could be the first stop, sometimes the last. We would usually walk to the main stop.

Water transport to DTD I think is the best. Much shorter than busses from any resort, and much more frequent.

Restaurant, snack areas, stores are better than average for WDW.

 

[amykissangel]

So is there just one bus, and it goes from the Main stop to the four other stops, then on to whatever Park it says?

Or is there one inner bus that takes you to the main stop?

Or does it stop at all the other stops first, then the Main stop, then on to the Parks?

Thanks!

 

[eroyee]

:wave: We have stayed at POR several times. If the bus got to our stop and was too full the first day then we went to the main bus stop from then on. It stops at POFQ first, so sometimes its almost full when it gets to Riverside anyway. You just have to see how it goes. I dont remember an inner bus at POR. I know theres one at CBR. busses are mostly the same at all the resorts. depends on time of day and time of year. enjoy. :sohappy:

 

[JPVonDrake]

I know I've asked about Riverside before, and I even went through and checked out people's responses on old threads, but my family's biggest concern is transportation.

We usually stay at ASMusic, and like being a two minute walk away from the bus stop (we stay in Jazz), and then moving straight on to the parks after only stopping ONCE at Movie, or not at all.

We've always squeezed 5 people into the rooms before, but it's become abundantly clear that for EMH, everyone must have a room card/park pass that shows they are staying at a WDWResort. Therefor, we have to upgrade.

We are hardly ever in the rooms, and while scenery is nice, we spend most of our time at the parks and pools.

So, with all that said, what are your opinions?

Here is what I know: (Correct me if I'm wrong)

• Riverside is cheaper than the suites at ASMusic.
  
  Based on 2 adults during regular season 2006:
  All Star Music Family Suite: $209 for 520 sq ft ( $0.41 / sq ft)
  Port Orleans Resort French Quarter: $155 for 314 sq ft ( $0.49 / sq ft)
  Plus the Suite adds more individual beds, a second bathroom, and a Microwave. For what you get, the Family Suites are a better value.
  
  
• ASMusic suites have 2 bathrooms and a small kitchenette. Riverside does not.
  
  Correct.
  Also bedding at Port Orleans Riverside: 2 double beds and a child size trundle bed. Sleeps up to 4 adults, 1 child under age 9 plus 1 infant. Bedding at All Star Music Family Suites: 1 queen bed, 1 double sleeper sofa, 1 single sleeper chair, 1 single sleeper ottoman. Sleeps up to 6 adults plus 1 infant.
  
  
  
• ASMusic (in my experience) stops at Movie on the way TO the parks, and at Sports on the way BACK from the parks, while...
  
  All-Star Resort Buses: Make 3 stops, servicing up to 5568 rooms
  Port Orleans Buses: Make 5 stops, servicing up to 3056 rooms
  
  
• Riverside's bus service is slow and tedious; ie. stopping at five stops, then on to FQ? (Only what I've heard from others, so if that's not true, please tell me otherwise:animwink: )
  
  There are 4 stops at Riverside, 1 stop at French Quarter. All buses make all 5 stops. There is 1 stop at each All-Star Resort. Based on operational needs, each bus may stop at all 3 resorts, or may stop at only 1 resort.
  
  
• There is a full service restaurant at Riverside (any good?)
  
  True, Boatwright's Dinning Hall is a very good restuarant serving Breakfast and Dinner.
  
  
• There is a boat to DTD from Riverside (does it take long? where does it stop?)
  
  The Sassagoula River Cruise ferryboat makes stops at Riverside, French Quarter, and the Downtown Disney Marketplace. One way will take approx. 30 minutes.
  
  
• Let me know the best places to stay at Riverside (closest to the busses that will take us DIRECTLY to MGM, MK, AK, and Epcot...we'd like the mansion sections, I think, unless transp. is slow from there.)
  
  As the buses make a full circle (with Guest boarding and departing at each stop) before departing to your destination, and spaced to service the same percentage of rooms per stop, all bus stops are really equal.
  

You're all fantastic - thanks!:wave:

 

[nyy102]

Having stayed at POR (in 2000, when it was still Dixie Landings) with 5 people, I can tell you that it is tight in those rooms. At the time it was my mother and father, me (12 at the time), and my two brothers (2 and 4 at the time), yet it was still pretty tight for us. If you really don't plan to be in the room I guess it shouldn't matter, but we were never in the room either (we went for christmas and new year's), yet it still seemed unnecessarily tight. I was sleeping on a rollaway bed, and my bed took could only be unfolded once everyone was in bed because it took up the majority of the floorspace otherwise (we couldn't open the door when my bed was unfolded either). I hope that helps some.

 

[monorailguy01]

The bus system for POR is not the best I think, since the resort is so big it takes many stops I think 3 or 4, the but first comes from POFQ and that resort only has one stop. The bus system works like it always has Parks from resorts and so on, can not get a resort to resort bus, so if you have dinner reservations at another hotel you have to transfer busses at a one of the 4 Parks, DTD or TTC I believe that is correct(please correct me if I am wrong)... you could also go to the MK take the boat across the water to the TTC and take the monorail to Epcot, or take the Monorail from the MK to the TTC to go to Epcot as well, The Monorail only runs to Epcot, the MK and The resorts around the Lake.

If I may suggest stayin at POFQ if you are goen to be doing EMH in the morning, You will make it for rope drop if there are 2 busses, what will happen is if there is alot of people outside waiting for busses they will send 2 one to go right to the park that has EMH and the other to POR, so you dont have to go pick up more people.. I think thats a great advantage in stayin in that hotel. It is kind of like POP CENTURY where it does not go to the other resorts music, movies, and sports, pop has its own sepret bus system....

Well I hope I somewhat helped...

 

[DubyooDeeDubyoo]

Personally, with 5 people I'd go ASMu. Two bathrooms means that you can get out there earlier in the morning without everyone waiting in line to use the potty. I would think that may make a bigger difference than bus service on most mornings.

 

[hansel1]

So is there just one bus, and it goes from the Main stop to the four other stops, then on to whatever Park it says?

Or is there one inner bus that takes you to the main stop?

Or does it stop at all the other stops first, then the Main stop, then on to the Parks?

Thanks!

There is no "inner bus". The busses come from the parks and their first stop at POR is the South Depot (the "main" depot as it is located outside the foodcourt). It may circle the resort once is stops at the south depot before it goes directly to the park.

Having said that, the bus that arrives at the south depot may or may not have already stopped at POFQ.