OK....I need help...POR or POFQ????

[kmdisney]

My family is currently booked at POFQ for March 2010. However, after looking at pictures, I have fallen in love with POR.

Our main concern is bus transportation to the parks. We will spend the majority of our time at the parks and I know POFQ has first stop and first drop on the bus route for the two resorts.

Is the transportation really that bad during Spring Break if we chose to stay at POR?

Also, how hard is it to get into Alligator Bayou as our choice for rooms at POR?

Any help would be appreciated....:veryconfu

 

[Zummi Gummi]

This thread has been very helpful, so thanks to whomever started it!

I'm going down 2/14-2/20, and trying to decide which of these two to book. Right now, I'm booked into CSR, but decided I don't wanna stay there because it just seems way too spread out and massive. I'm trying to decide which of these two resorts to book.

Basically, I don't plan on using the pool much, if at all, so that's not a concern. My only real area of concern is the buses. There is nothing more aggrivating than a long line for the bus first thing in the morning, or late at night. It sounds like, in that area, FQ wins. But, looking at those photos of Riverside, those mansion style buildings look so nice. Is there a building in Riverside I could request that would be a short walk to the bus?

Ahh...decisions, decisions!

 

[RiversideBunny]

There are four buildings in the 'Mansions' area of Port Orleans Riverside.
All have convenient bus stops but if you want to be close to the main bus stop near the lobby, then Magnolia Terrace and Parterre Place are probably the best.

The four buildings are:

Arcadia House
Oak Manor
Magnolia Terrace
Parterre Place

We have had good luck in the past just requesting a room 'near the lobby/food court'. Then Disney has some flexiblility in placing you.
Good luck.

 

[RiversideBunny]

Regarding the bus service at POR and POFQ.

It can get a little confusing because some people have good luck and some don't. Reports vary. Times of the year and holidays can affect things.

A person staying at POFQ will say that the buses are always shared because from their view point the buses that leave POFQ do also go by POR to see if they can pick up some extra guests at POR.
What the people staying at POFQ don't see is that POR also has its own buses.

During the slow part of the day when few guests are going to and from the parks they often share the buses.

To further confuse things the bus stop at DHS is shared for POR and POFQ although they then use more buses in total for that stop.

We always stay at POR. Have never really had a bus problem. Sometimes of course if you stay until closing at a park and then everyone tries to get back to their resort, there can be a line for a while. True for all the resorts.

The time of leaving the resort in the mornings can make a difference in terms of number of guests trying to get on the buses.
We always eat early and head for the park for the park opening. Guests who don't leave so early could see a larger number of folks waiting for buses.

Good luck.

 

[amypooh]

This thread has been very helpful, so thanks to whomever started it!

I'm going down 2/14-2/20, and trying to decide which of these two to book. Right now, I'm booked into CSR, but decided I don't wanna stay there because it just seems way too spread out and massive. I'm trying to decide which of these two resorts to book.

Basically, I don't plan on using the pool much, if at all, so that's not a concern. My only real area of concern is the buses. There is nothing more aggrivating than a long line for the bus first thing in the morning, or late at night. It sounds like, in that area, FQ wins. But, looking at those photos of Riverside, those mansion style buildings look so nice. Is there a building in Riverside I could request that would be a short walk to the bus?

Ahh...decisions, decisions!

As I posted in the mirror thread on this subject, having stayed at both FQ and POR with 3 kinds 5 and under, FQ wins hands-down for convenience, especially if you get one of the buildings next to the Lobby (we try to always stay in building 4, facing the parking lot)

 

[Shadowdawn]

You read my mind Nepalostparks.

From the way PortOrleans.org describes it, we could stay at POFQ and either walk a little ways or ride the water taxi over to POR if we wanted to go check out the grounds.

Has anyone done that between the two sites?

That way we always have the first stop and first drop with POFQ.

We stayed at POFQ last September and loved it. We actually walked over to RS and it was a short beautiful walk, it took us about 10 mins and we still got to wander around and take everything in.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Thanks, everyone!

I think I'm going to request a switch over to Riverside, after careful debate. I've stayed at FQ before, and while I like it, I think I'll try something different, and the photos of the mansion buildings at Riverside got me.

Thanks again!

 

[NadieMasK2]

We love POR. That would be my vote. We always request a room in Magnolia Terrace, that puts you at a nice stroll from the food court and pool and also close to a bus stop.

We had our mother/daughter trip there over Christmas and didn't have any bus issues. Just assume there may be times you have to wait at any resort during peak times, although I can only think of one time that we had to wait any real length of time.

My favorite thing to do is wake up early, be very quiet and sneak up to the food court for breakfast, breathing the crisp morning air while walking by the river. (then I do bring back food for the others). Good for the soul!

 

[ThinkTink721]

Port Orleans Riverside :wave:

 

[SMRT-1Michael]

i would choose Port Orleans Riverside. It's more convenient for Spring Break. But, you have to make sure youre placed in the Magnolia Bend Mansions

 

[mickey7879]

We just got back today from our almost 3 wk FL trip and stayed 13 nights at POR. Had requested AB buildings 14, 15 or 18 and got building 28 that wasn't close to anything but maybe a quiet pool. Our room was a hike from the parking lot (rented a car), far from the bus stop (only used once), marina, main pool and lobby. Didn't care for AB landscape and winding paths....didn't find it that beautiful like a lot of people had said before we left. IF we were to stay in this resort again, would stay in the mansions. Rooms didn't impress me as much as AB rooms, but the manicured landscape is more our style.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Hey there all, As several people mentioned your bus experience may vary depending on a great many factors. Sometimes I have had a really long wait for a park bus, sometimes not. I havent figured out any rhyme or reason for it as I have been to the World at different times of year, different times of days for going to the parks etc. I can tell you the last time I was down there was a person at the main bus stop at POR monitoring the bus situation so that was certainly good. As far as POR vs. POFQ, if the theming on one attracts you more than the other, go for it. FQ Is smaller and less walking, POR is a bit grander in scale. I have always preferred the Mansion side of things there, but I dont think you can go wrong with either one!!! Belle