Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
Yeah, that's right, I said it. I am jealous. I totally wish I had the cash for it. My life long dream has been to stay at the Grand Floridian. Maybe one day...in the very distant future. For now, all I can afford is a moderate hotel. I am thinking Port Orleans Riverside.
POR looks to be the nicest looking, in my opinion. It has the charm I am looking for, for sure. Only... It is so darn enormous! I'll have to rent a bike to get to the bus stop. (and I heard the bus system is atrocious) (Confirm/Deny). I would much rather take the monorail.
All you Deluxers... You've got it good.
Disclaimer: This is not really a rant more than a tease. I have a weird sense of humor that burdens me and I hate that I have to explain myself most of the time but in order for people not to think I'm an A**, it is a must. =D Carry on.
I know how you feel. I envy those who can speak (write) so casually about their multiple stays in deluxe resorts, when the cost of one night at those places -- pin code or no -- is more than our monthly mortgage payment. Notwithstanding the fact that I am a lawyer with a decent salary and that our family lives an extremely frugal lifestyle, a week in a deluxe at standard rates would bankrupt us! (*Disclaimer: We are, however, about to find out how the other half lives -- we're staying in a 2-bedroom villa at the Wilderness Lodge on our next trip. Between renting DVC points and splitting the cost with relatives who are traveling with us, we're paying the same amount we'd pay to stay at a standard room in a moderate resort. If you want to "go deluxe," renting DVC points is the cheapest way to go!!! We went through David's DVC rentals, but the rates per point are the same with David's as with the other couple of reputable rental places you've seen talked about here.)
PORS is a beautiful resort and one I think you should consider despite its size and the rumors of "bad bus service". (Frankly, every resort has such rumors attached to it. There's always somebody who has a bad experience.) We stayed there in October 2012 and had terrific bus service, waiting less than 10 minutes for our desired bus from the resort just about every time. If you don't want to have to wander hither and yon, either pay for a "preferred" building close to the food court/front desk/main bus depot, or do as we did and simply request one of the non-preferrred buildings that is closest. (We stayed in Alligator Bayou, Building 17, just 5 minutes away from the main building and a quick 3-minute cut-across-the-parking-lot walk to the main bus depot). Our room in Alligator Bayou was freshly refurbished, and certainly felt deluxe to us!