OMG...What's Wrong With POR??

[dreamscometrue]

We just got back from another magical 11 day vacation at the world. As is always the case, I felt blessed for every minute that I was able to be there enjoying time with family and friends. I did have one issue however and was hoping that someone on these boards could provide some explanation or insight.

We decided to split our vacation between one of our favourite resorts (Coronado Springs) and one we'd always heard great things about (Port Orleans Riverside). We decided quickly that we like CSR much more for the theming and The Pepper Market (best food court on property), but that's just our personal preference. What each of us noticed separately, and talked about on our way home, was how dirty POR was. Besides chipped paint, missing fountain fixtures, plants in need of help, etc. what was far more disappointing was all the trash, cigarette butts, ketchup packets, branches, etc. that were on the walking paths, steps of the mansion, landings, etc. It was everywhere, and there was lots of it! Nothing was picked up during our entire stay! We never saw anyone sweeping, pruning, cleaning the gounds, etc. During our last 2 trips which saw us at POP and CSR and during the first part of this trip at CSR, the property was very clean. At POR, we couldn't belive we were on property because it was so dirty and in need of TLC in so many locations.

Has anyone else noticed this at POR or was it just a really, really bad week to visit? Also, does anyone have any explanation as to why so much garbage was left all over for days when we never experienced anything even close to that dirty at any of the other 5 resorts we stayed at?

 

[bhg469]

Our entire travel group has become passionate defenders of The Pepper Market. We had read some negative as well about eating there, but during our 2 stays at CSR, we ate there (breakfast, lunch and dinner) about a dozen times and found it wonderful every single time. We have found the selection, quality and serving sizes much better than the other 5 food courts at which we have dined.

Don't be afraid to try The Pepper Market.

You can count me in on your group.. The pepper market is great and we have eaten there quite a few times as well. I enjoy it alot and you are correct its food cannot be compared to any of the other resorts at all.

 

[Master Yoda]

I am going to have to say that you might have hit a bad week. I have lost count of the number of times that I have stayed in Alligator Bayou and have never noticed anything less that pristine grounds. Was your stay at PORS during the cold snap? If so it is a pretty good possibility that there was some damage to the plants and I am sure grounds keeping maintenance was not to hip about being out in the cold and probably did a half job of keeping the place clean.

 

[1DisneyDad]

We stayed at POR for the first time Oct, 2007. I was actually not looking forward to it because I love WL. We had a great time. Everything was clean and big pool was a lot of fun. Going back in Feb!

 

[bayoutinkbelle]

I stayed at POR in October. It was nice, but I wasn't overwhelmed (probably because I had just moved over from Portofino at Universal. Wow!). One thing that ticked me off was the condition of the vending machines. They either were off, out of everything or took my money. But in the overall scheme of things, not a huge complaint.

The grounds looked great while I was there. It was very tranquil and I enjoyed some time just sitting on this grounds.

 

[SallyShine]

I stayed at POR in October. It was nice, but I wasn't overwhelmed (probably because I had just moved over from Portofino at Universal. Wow!). One thing that ticked me off was the condition of the vending machines. They either were off, out of everything or took my money. But in the overall scheme of things, not a huge complaint.

The grounds looked great while I was there. It was very tranquil and I enjoyed some time just sitting on this grounds.

That would be a come down. Portofino Bay is fabulous! The perks are even better!

 

[bayoutinkbelle]

That would be a come down. Portofino Bay is fabulous! The perks are even better!

My friend and I half-joked that we could have lived comfortably in the Portofino bathrooms. It was huge! And who doesn't enjoy a telephone right by the toilet? :lol:

Something that I completely forgot about in my previous post was mentioning the bus service. My group, including two friends who have far more Disney experience than me, all thought POR's bus service was horrible. The waits were far too long and there always was a shortage of buses for particular parks and too many for other parks. One night we sat and waited for an Epcot bus as three MK buses - all mostly empty - passed us by. We spent our time devising ways we could best catch buses. It became like a game to us.

 

[Chape19714]

To the OP, are you talking about Riverside or French Quarter. I'm staying at French Quarter next month, so just wondering.

 

[gabroccoli]

I was just there for 5 nights at the begining of december. And for the most part everything was very clean. We really did not notice all the trash and lanscaping issues that you described.

 

[bhg469]

To the OP, are you talking about Riverside or French Quarter. I'm staying at French Quarter next month, so just wondering.

Eat an ice cream sandwhich for me.

 

[Chape19714]

No issue there, I love Ice Cream Sandwiches!

 

[gibsonc]

I stayed at POR in October. It was nice, but I wasn't overwhelmed (probably because I had just moved over from Portofino at Universal. Wow!). One thing that ticked me off was the condition of the vending machines. They either were off, out of everything or took my money. But in the overall scheme of things, not a huge complaint.

The grounds looked great while I was there. It was very tranquil and I enjoyed some time just sitting on this grounds.

I seem to get that problem with vending machines everywhere, especially at the Grand Californian at Disneyland back in November!. But a few days before at POR the vending machine gave me 3 bottles of water for the price of one so I guess I can't complain too much

I've stayed at POR maybe 8 times now, never really noticed the issues mentioned. Sometimes there are small branches on the paths in the mornings, but it is a big resort with lots of plants and trees, to be expected to a point and I usually see someone sorting it out.

 

[MichWolv]

Our entire travel group has become passionate defenders of The Pepper Market. We had read some negative as well about eating there, but during our 2 stays at CSR, we ate there (breakfast, lunch and dinner) about a dozen times and found it wonderful every single time. We have found the selection, quality and serving sizes much better than the other 5 food courts at which we have dined.

Don't be afraid to try The Pepper Market.

I second all of that. My family and I prefer the Pepper Market to any of the other Disney food courts.

 

[Katybug]

I don't know what happened during your stay. Maybe the staff was on strike :lol:. I was there December 15-21 and thought it was the most beautiful place I've ever been. Everything was PERFECT! I hate to hear yours wasn't.

 

[dr_teeth90210]

We just got back from another magical 11 day vacation at the world. As is always the case, I felt blessed for every minute that I was able to be there enjoying time with family and friends. I did have one issue however and was hoping that someone on these boards could provide some explanation or insight.

We decided to split our vacation between one of our favourite resorts (Coronado Springs) and one we'd always heard great things about (Port Orleans Riverside). We decided quickly that we like CSR much more for the theming and The Pepper Market (best food court on property), but that's just our personal preference. What each of us noticed separately, and talked about on our way home, was how dirty POR was. Besides chipped paint, missing fountain fixtures, plants in need of help, etc. what was far more disappointing was all the trash, cigarette butts, ketchup packets, branches, etc. that were on the walking paths, steps of the mansion, landings, etc. It was everywhere, and there was lots of it! Nothing was picked up during our entire stay! We never saw anyone sweeping, pruning, cleaning the gounds, etc. During our last 2 trips which saw us at POP and CSR and during the first part of this trip at CSR, the property was very clean. At POR, we couldn't belive we were on property because it was so dirty and in need of TLC in so many locations.

Has anyone else noticed this at POR or was it just a really, really bad week to visit? Also, does anyone have any explanation as to why so much garbage was left all over for days when we never experienced anything even close to that dirty at any of the other 5 resorts we stayed at?

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

 

[DisneyPirate85]

I am going to have to say that you might have hit a bad week. I have lost count of the number of times that I have stayed in Alligator Bayou and have never noticed anything less that pristine grounds. Was your stay at PORS during the cold snap? If so it is a pretty good possibility that there was some damage to the plants and I am sure grounds keeping maintenance was not to hip about being out in the cold and probably did a half job of keeping the place clean.

YES 1 day was pretty cool! High of 58 and very windy....but the sweep would have improved it ALOT...saw grounds keepers...even 1 mowing but was little shabby...but its a BEAUTIFULL resort still:wave:

 

[hcphish]

Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Huh?

We have stayed at POR once back in Jan '07 and loved it enough to go back again here in a few weeks. The place was awesome and did not have the experience you did.

Although we stayed at POR the dining area was closed for refurbishment so we went to POFQ for breakfast and dinner on some nights and they were pruning the trees. So landscaping was constant and no trash anywhere.

 

[ThinkTink721]

I just don't understand why it was in such a state.

Me either...it was so nice when we were there.

 

[dreamscometrue]

To the OP, are you talking about Riverside or French Quarter. I'm staying at French Quarter next month, so just wondering.

Our stay was at Riverside. We actually walked to POFQ to look around, and it looked to be in great shape. This is another thing that puzzled me and led to starting this thread.

 

[dreamscometrue]

I am going to have to say that you might have hit a bad week. I have lost count of the number of times that I have stayed in Alligator Bayou and have never noticed anything less that pristine grounds. Was your stay at PORS during the cold snap? If so it is a pretty good possibility that there was some damage to the plants and I am sure grounds keeping maintenance was not to hip about being out in the cold and probably did a half job of keeping the place clean.

We arrived there from Coronado for the cold days last week, and the days immediately after that. It's interesting that you note that, because I commented to a CM about it being cold, and he (jokingly?) replied "Man, we might not have any employees around here for the next few days if this continues." I never really thought of the cold affecting maintainance, but perhaps it does indeed do that.

 

[dreamscometrue]

No issue there, I love Ice Cream Sandwiches!

We stumbled across a small take out stand in Dinoland that serves these ridiculous ice cream 'sandwiches'. They are made from 2 gigantic chocolate chip cookies with 3 or 4 scoops of ice cream sandwiched between them. I couldn't believe what I saw the CM preparing after I ordered it. It was obscene, but really did make a nice breakfast treat.