Just some clarifications here ---
First, I love POFQ, and have stayed there 11 times now -- it is the only resort I stay at anymore at WDW -- love it....
Second -- it is NOT always DME's last stop - in fact, on at least half of my trips it has been the First Stop -- those are computer managed to change routes depending on the particular resorts and number of people they are dropping off and their DVC needs. Because the POFQ DME is lumped in with OKW and SS DVC resorts, the routes frequently change.
Third -- you can hear Illuminations and MK's fireworks from ALL of the resort buildings, no matter which floor or building you are in. You can actually SEE them from some of the buildings.
Fourth -- there are no parking lot views....the buildings are angled in such a way that you basically get courtyard or water views. I suppose there are probably a few rooms that get views of sides of the parking lots, but not for the most part because of the way the buildings are designed. In fact, the views from CB and POR tend to have MOSTLY parking lot views...not so at POFQ.
Fifth -- I have stayed in about every building with every type of "view option" you can get -- they are all pretty much the same. Because the resort is designed with wrap-around walkways, none of them have any type of decent "view" from any of the rooms -- your view is of the wraparound walkway and the cast-iron grillwork.
Finally -- the loudest rooms are NOT the ones facing the pool or the courtyards. The loudest rooms at POFQ are the rooms that are directly facing the river -- the boats pass every 15 minutes between late afternoon and 11:30 pm, and they are loud. They also now honk their horns as they approach the dock, and as they pass each other. Very loud. That is also the primary route for the horse-and-buggy carriages so you get loud clip-clopping every hour or so.
That being said, I wouldn't stay at any of the other resorts anymore. This is, by far, one of the best resorts for adults traveling without children on property.
