POR Vs. Pop

[Tinkyroo]

I need some help here. We have always stayed at Pop but this year I am considering Port Orleans Riverside Alligator Bayou. Actually I have 2 reservations at the moment. I am on the fence. The free dinning with the Mod is probably the better deal but you still have the tips to pay and you have to make sure you don't miss your reservation time. We have only eaten CS on our trips so TS might be a nice treat, though I will say I like CS. I LOVE Pop but POR is a Mod and aren't they always better? Other worries - the buses for POR sharing with POFQ is that a problem? Are there elevators in the Bayou section? Are the rooms there really that much bigger than Pop? We bring lots of luggage. In photos I have seen it looks like Pop has more floor space. Also, POR seems very spread out. Is the main house a far walk?

My DH does not want to plan this with me or even talk about it so I call on you Disney experts for your advise.

Thank You!

 

[Tinkyroo]

The policy is that medical needs are met first but like every request they can not always be met. There are a variety of reasons that they may not have been able to honor the request among those being, it may not have been noted on the reservation as a medical need request, the request was to specific (ie room 2201 or corner room 1st floor building 14), the special requests could have been cleared due to a reservation change (requests do not always follow changes), or it was simply not possible to to the resort being at 100% occupancy.

But it's ok to say close to main house like 14 or 15, first floor, corner? Or is that too specific? Should I call back and change it to I just want to be close to main house?

 

[RiversideBunny]

We sometimes request 'close to lobby/food court' and it works.
The term 'close' is relatively subjective since no building connects with the lobby building at POR.

 

[Master Yoda]

But it's ok to say close to main house like 14 or 15, first floor, corner? Or is that too specific? Should I call back and change it to I just want to be close to main house?

No what you have is just fine. The CM will look at your request and know what you want. You want to be close to the main house and would prefer building 14 of 15. If 14 of 15 are not available they still have the most important piece of information...you want to be close to the main building. Problems arise when the request are so specific that the CM has no idea what your reasoning is for requesting it is. If I was to tell them that I wanted room 1509 and it was not available the CM might assume that I wanted that room because it was close to the main house and stick me in building 27 because room 1509 was occupied. Well the reason I requested room 1509 was because it faced a parking lot and now I am mad because I am in a building no where near a parking lot. But the CM had no way of knowing that.

Anyone can look at your request and tell what you really want and they will do their best to honor that request. If when you check in you find that you are far away from the main house simply politely ask if you could be moved and if they can they will.

One special note....Special requests tend to get deleted from the system if you make any changes to your reservation. If you make any changes have the CM read your special requests back to you to confirm they are still there.

 

[corey154]

When we went to POFQ one december there were cheerleaders, but they never bothered you. Nothing like the all-stars.

also tinkyroo, you shouldn't need bug spray in december. it's the summer/rainy months that they're really bad. the mosquitos breed in water, in the winter it's cooler, dryer air and not real rainy in florida so they're not around.

 

[Tinkyroo]

Thanks guys!

 

[CuriousDeGeo]

As much as I love POP I would hands down pick POR over it any day. We actually were facing a similar dilemma on our last trip in May and picked POR in the end. We had stayed there before and the ambience and scenery brought us back. It is extremely pretty and while it is a little spread out, it is still very accessible and we honestly had no trouble getting around. It is a great place to walk around and take in the views and feels very secluded from most everything else. Our only issue (which didn't really bother us that much) was the whole bus thing. Yes they do stop at every depot, however I would not use this as reason not to stay. We love Alligator Bayou, each time we've been at POR we've stayed here and never left unimpressed. (The food court is very nice too btw) I say go for POR over POP and you will not be disappointed!

 

[WDWVito]

We stayed at POR during July 4th of this year.
Our room was in Alligator Bayou, 14 building, bottom floor….
(Pretty much near the main building) I could be out of our room and in the dining hall in about 3min. (if that) Bus stop was not much farther. Even the main pool was a short walk.
This was our first trip since our HM in ’96 (stayed at CB then) and I was on a quest to make everything perfect for the first family trip to WDW.
I was a bit skeptical after reading the reviews you did. I also did not think it would be “something to remember” for the kids either from the pictures on the website.
Not that it the hotel looked bad on the website, I just was not sure if the theme would be interesting to the kids. I could not have been more wrong and worried for nothing!
The kids loved the hotel, the pool…everything. (Mom and Dad also) J
We did not do a “room with a view” but what we had was very nice.
Bus rides were shared with other stops, but it was not bad.
One thing I want to point out is the bus ride back from the parks seemed to have fewer lines then other resort bus stations. Never really had a long wait going back. But…We also closed all the parks, so it was late.
For our next trip, I would certainly look at POR again!!!! Now, I just have to plan that next trip!!! :sohappy:

 

[amypooh]

I like both, but if you've only stayed at Pop I think you should try something new, I'm sure you'd be happy. But anyhoo for what it's worth here's my pros and con list.

POR:
PROS:
-the bus waiting area is covered
-pool has a slide
-boat to DTD
-nicer rooms
-not as many kids running around
-laid back atmosphere
CONS:
-it is a little spread out that's why i like PO french quarter the best, it's smaller.
-the boat/buses go to french quarter 1st (that's another reason i stay there instead)

POP:
Pros:
-neat resort w/theming
-i like the gift shop
-don't share buses
-food court is good
Cons:
-busy enviorment
-so busy that the buses you still have to wait alot, sometimes another 20-30min for the second bus b/c the 1st one was filled up before you got there.
-waiting in the sun for the bus
-took the icee machines out
-smaller rooms

Would also recommend looking at POFQ if you are leaning towards moderates. Have stayed in both POR and POFQ, FQ felt more vacation-like (cozy, quiet), and if you get one of the buildings next to the lobby / food court / bus stop you will be in heaven!