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POR bad reviews - should I worry?
I've seen a lot of bad reviews of Port Orleans on a few travel review sites -- outdated rooms, poor customer service, horrendous bus lines and overly crowded buses.
The only moderate we've ever stayed in is Caribbean Beach, which we love, but we thought we'd try something new this year. Based on pictures and descriptions, we chose Riverside and are hoping for Magnolia Bend.
What do you think? What's your opinion of Port Orleans?
**mousetrapper**
CBR Oct. 1999
Poly Nov. 2001
CBR Oct. 2003
BC Oct. 2004
CBR Sept. 2005
Poly Thanksgiving Week 2007
CBR Nov. 2009
Port Orleans Nov. 2011
CBR May/June 2013
AoA Sept. 2013
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I just saw a similar question from 2008 a few pages further in. Someone said Magnolia Bend was going to get a refurb starting soon---well, should be done by now!
We stayed at Alligator Bayou some years ago and loved it. So pretty and peaceful! Didn't like the full-size beds, but I read those have been/are being replaced by queens.
Hopefully, someone who has stayed there recently will give you some answers soon. But I'd go ahead and try it!
First trip: 1992 with sister, last trip 2018 with grandchild, not done yet!
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I wouldn't worry at all. I LOVE POR. I've discovered that you can find negative reviews of EVERYTHING if you look on travel sites. Some might be a random bad experience; frankly, some of them sound made up!
Originally Posted by mousetrapper
I've seen a lot of bad reviews of Port Orleans on a few travel review sites -- outdated rooms, poor customer service, horrendous bus lines and overly crowded buses.
The only moderate we've ever stayed in is Caribbean Beach, which we love, but we thought we'd try something new this year. Based on pictures and descriptions, we chose Riverside and are hoping for Magnolia Bend.
What do you think? What's your opinion of Port Orleans?
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We LOVE POR!!! I have never seen overly crowded buses or experienced any rude staff there. It's a very peaceful resort. The only complaint I know of is getting lost in the Alligator Bayou section because all the buildings look the same and are spread out. Other than that I have never heard of anything bad about it.
Kelly
WDW TRIPS:
1985 off site; 1998 off site ;Sept 07 ASM;
May 09 POR; May 10 POR; Sept 11POR; May 12 POR
May 13 POR
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We stayed at POFQ and would have to take the bus over to POR and the grounds were beautiful. The plus side is POR is picked up after POFQ.. at least during May they are.. not sure about busier seasons..
and there are plenty of people that have bad reviews for every single resort. I keep reading bad reviews about CBR, where we're staying in June, but I also read plenty of good reviews for it and the people that like it love the resort for their own special reasons. Just do your research and pick out the building that is best for you.. and good luck.
BTW I loved POFQ. The grounds are amazing and where we stayed it was suchhh a small walk to the cafeteria and busses and we did not even have a preferred room. I liked and disliked the busses for specific reasons.. I liked them because when we went the lines were not bad and they were shaded. Which is different/better than having to wait in the gleaming sun at Pop for a bus for 20 minutes. I hated them because it felt like it took FOREVER to get anywhere. And I do believe that POFQ has one of the longest ride times to all of the parks. But we also had to ride all over the entire POR area and what felt like its neighboring stops which I did not understand but yeah.. if we ever stay in POFQ again we will get a rental.
Next trip - Sep29-Oct4! Free QS dining at POP. First trip with both kids. (6th total visit)
"In dreams you will lose your heartache"
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I agree with mom2morgan. I think there are people that have unrealistic expections or are generally negative and will post bad reviews about anything. Sure, buses can be crowded depending on time of day or time of year, but so can buses to any of the resorts. I personally LOVE POR as you can see from my sig. It is beautiful and relaxing. If you enjoyed CB, I think you will very much enjoy POR.
Have a super time
Just wanted to add after I re-read your post that I have always had excellent customer service there and I find the rooms to be just fine. Disney refurbs things on a rotating schedule and the rooms have always met with my standards.
Last edited by WDW&MK; 04-30-2011 at 06:20 AM.
Reason: Added comments on Cust service and room quality.
POFQ 09/2013, 09/2014, 09/2015
WL 09/2011, 09/2012
POR 09/2010, 09/2009, 09/2008, 05/2007, 05/2006, 05/2004,
AKL 05/2003
POR 05/2001, 10/98
Next POP 9/2016
All Star Sports 09/95
Honeymoon Dixie Landings Aug 1994
1978 first visit to Magic Kingdom
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POR is one of our favorite resorts. Great grounds, great food court, great atmosphere. I don't know if some of these reviewers normally stay at the Ritz Carlton or think they should be the only ones at Disney, but we always loved it. Hopefully you will too.
30+ trips; DCV owner at Beach Club Villas; 4 Disney cruises; 2 trips to Disneyland
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Originally Posted by mom2morgan
I wouldn't worry at all. I LOVE POR. I've discovered that you can find negative reviews of EVERYTHING if you look on travel sites. Some might be a random bad experience; frankly, some of them sound made up!
i agree sort of. you can find negative reviews if you go looking for them, but take them with a grain of salt and ready carefully. plenty of bad reviews can be attributed to unrealistic expectations, or just one bad item.
i write reviews for a hotel review website and am always very objective and list good and bad. have only written one bad review in around 5 years or so...
if you're looking for a review about a WDW resort definately look around, but look here first!
Last Ride Ridden - Test Track
Last Eatery Visited - Tangerine Cafe
July 1984 (off WDW)
June 1995 (off WDW)
July 2005 (Pop Century)
April 2008 (offsite)
Feb 2009 (All Star Music)
Feb 2010 (POP)
Sept/Oct 2010 (Sports)
Jan/Feb 2012 (ASMovies)
Sep/Oct 2013 (offsite)
Feb 2015 (POFQ)
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I really believe that you just have to try something for yourself to see if you like it or not. However, we've stayed at all 4 moderate resorts. We really liked CSR, we loved CBR, and POFQ is probably our favorite. However, I don't see us ever staying at POR ever again. We just didn't like it. I didn't like the room decor at all. To me it felt like I was staying in a cheap camp somewhere. Other than that I can't really put my finger on it, but we just didn't like it like we've liked other disney resorts.
Denise
Resorts we've stayed at in 20+ trips: ASMo, ASMu, ASSp, PC, CSR, CBR, POR, POFQ, WL, AKL Jambo, AKL Kidani, Poly, Contemporary, BC, YC, BWV, OKW, SSR, Swan, Shades of Green, Vero Beach, Disneyland Resort
Next Trip: ???
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We've stayed at all the moderates and POR is my favorite!
Jul80 DLR, Dec75 FW, Sept91 offsite, Sept95 ASSp, June00 offsite, June01 ASMo, July02 WL, June03 ASMo, Oct03 POR, Poly, Aug04 Pop,ASMu, Oct04 ASSp, Sept05 CSR,Pop,CBR, Dec06 WL,Pop, Sept07 POP,POR, Dec07 POP,May08 POP, Sept08 CR,Sept09 POP,Aug10 CBR, Feb11 POP, July11 AKL, Nov12 POP, March13 offsite
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I stayed there for the first time this year. I enjoyed the resort so much I booked another trip for this month. I liked the woodsy look I had in the room. Yes it did take a while for the buses but I didn't think it was anything different than CBR. My friend did not like it, he is a FQ fannatic and didn't care for the spread out area. I recomend a stay at the POR, at least once.
BRENDA
Been to the land of happiness more times than I can count and still going.
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We love POR! We have stayed at many different Disney resorts and POR is our favorite. We don't even have a decision to make when we are going to Disney....it's a no-brainer, we stay at POR from now on! The grounds are beautiful, the food court has really good food and great atmosphere, the pools are wonderful and you can't beat the boat ride to Downtown Disney!! Make sure you see Bob Jackson at the bar....he's amazing!
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Port Orleans Riverside is the only moderate we've ever stayed in and we enjoyed the stay. The grounds are beautiful, our room was clean and comfortable.
Diane
~•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•~
When your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme.
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Originally Posted by mousetrapper
I've seen a lot of bad reviews of Port Orleans on a few travel review sites -- outdated rooms, poor customer service, horrendous bus lines and overly crowded buses.
1) There have been legit complaints about maid service.
2) Other than that, I would not worry about the other things you mentioned.
Average Banjo Picker. Pretty-Good Sailing Master. Newly Ordained.
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The grounds are big and it seems like there is not a straight walk to any building, but we enjoyed our last stay there in january of 2010. The best kept food secret on all of wdw property is the build your own pasta at the food court.
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We loved it when we stayed there and have done so four times. The quiet pool was awesome, even during busy times of year. We never had bad customer service and the boat ride to downtown Disney is a nice bonus. I don't know where you saw all the negative reviews, but I wouldn't worry about them.
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We've stayed at POR several times and we just love it!!! No worries, just enjoy yourself - like one poster said you'll find negative comments about everything sometime or another.
December 2012 - Pop - All Girl I Wanna Go What's One More Trip
October 2009 - POR - Grand Gathering
Dec. 2008 - Port Orleans Riverside
August 2006 - Pop Century
October 2005 - Pop Century
Nov. - Dec. 2004 - Port Orleans Riverside
March 2002 - Ft. Wilderness Campground - Family Reunion Trip
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We love the grounds at POR, and the amenities. The rooms are not deluxe, but they're clean, and have everything we need: fridge, TV (can't miss our Stacey!) beds for 4-5, two sinks, a safe, adequate storage - what's not to like? The Alligator Bayou rooms are rustic in theme; I'm told the rooms at Magnolia Bend are fancier, but we always stay at AB for the trundle beds. (Moment of panic: I don't know if the refurbs will change the trundle beds?)
As far as Mousekeeping goes - we tip every morning, to make sure that each maid who works the room gets her share. We've never had anything but fabulous from Mousekeeping. I can't say if there's a connection there or not.
Kate
First visit: 1974 (off property)
In between: 6 visits (off property), then:
POR 2002
CS - 2003
AKL - 2005
POR March 2006
POR August 2006
Upcoming: August 2010
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We stayed at POR in 2010, in Magnolia Terrace, we loved it, and are considering staying there again in the future.
I loved the atmosphere there, the theming and decor were fabulous, and the restaurant and food court were very good.
We had few problems, if any, getting around via the bus, though they tended to be quite crowded at night on the way home after park closings. That seemed more of a WDW issue than a POR issue.
The only minor complaints we had were a red stain in the bath area we originally feared was blood, but then realized was probably nail polish, the food court was really crowded early mornings and late at night, and lastly that they made us check out at the end of our stay. Seriously? I really felt they should have let us stay indefinitely for no charge. What's up with that?
Long story short: POR was a good choice of accommodations.
Viva Darth Macho!
APR '98: Wilderness Lodge, 9 days, Honeymoon
OCT '99: Coronado Springs, 8 days, Halloween
AUG '03: All Star Music, 8 days, Summer Fun
AUG '10: Port Orleans Riverside, 10 days, Summer Celebration!
AUG '12: Pop Century, 14 days, My Dream Trip!
AUG '17: Hoping!
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We love POFQ! It is my favorite moderate resort that I've been to. The New Orleans theme is cool, the bus stop is never crowded, the quick service food is good with a big selection and the CM's are great! The last time I was at POR was when it was Dixie landings. I liked the resort too but I would pick French Quarters over Riverside.
Kelly
Next Trip Feb 2022 SOG
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