Just back from POR.... About This Page:

[Canada Amy]

I'm actually thinking (gasp!) we'll stay off property next trip! more space, rental car, no Disney buses, and we can eat healthier food. my kids wouldn't eat most of what was served and I missed being able to keep it healthy. there ware some decent options, but not enough for a longer trip. plus we wouldn't do as many park days and we'd actually make a point to relax and possibly shop as well. oh, and we'd like to try Legoland and Sea World. possibly would do a week at a condo and then 3 or 4 nights at AKL.

[Sue M.]

Originally Posted by TinkRocks

Thanks for the report. We are headed to POR in June. I liked hearing about the grounds, and your room. And, yes, even the bus stops. It is unfortunate that the bus service was such a hassle. I appreciate you sharing the details to help me prepare!

Regarding the bus situation ... are the bus stops at POR different from other moderate resorts? I have never stayed at POP so I can't really compare the two.

Not quite sure what you mean, but yes the bus stops are the same at all moderates, they are under cover with benches, and several stops so no building is far from a stop. Only POFQ has one bus stop. Pop is a value, and their bus stop is different.
I would avoid the Main bus stop at POR, it's the most crowded.

Originally Posted by Teresa R

Wow I'm sorry to hear you had that problem. Though when I was there in January we used the East Depot right behind the Magnolia building since that's the one we were in. Never had much of a line or wait.

Me too

Originally Posted by Disneydiana

Do POFQ and POR share service during non peak hours?

We rarely shared.

[JoanneS]

I'm sorry you had such a difficult time with the busses. I remember when I stayed at POR, that the busses were an issue for me as well, but I just thought it was because there were so many tour groups staying there. If only WDW would put corrals up at all bus stops!

[Canada Amy]

yes, corrals are a much better idea. I don't see how the other bus stops could be better when the bus would already be full by the time we all loaded at the main one and still had to stop at the subsequent stops. The bus situation at FQ seems to be a well kept secret! If we stay on property again next trip, it will definitely be FQ and possibly a couple of nights at AKL for a treat.

[TinkRocks]

Originally Posted by Sue M.

Not quite sure what you mean, but yes the bus stops are the same at all moderates, they are under cover with benches, and several stops so no building is far from a stop. Only POFQ has one bus stop.

Thanks. This is what I meant.

The thing is with the busses you just never know. We've had experiences where we've waited no time at all, others we've waited forever. We always use bus transportation for a lot of reasons and just try to plan it into our day.

That being said, I do try to figure out what the best option is as far as bus stop goes. So I appreciate the feedback CanadaAmy has shared here. It does help prepare. I am sorry for all the hassles you encountered.

[Sue M.]

Originally Posted by Canada Amy

yes, corrals are a much better idea. I don't see how the other bus stops could be better when the bus would already be full by the time we all loaded at the main one and still had to stop at the subsequent stops. The bus situation at FQ seems to be a well kept secret! If we stay on property again next trip, it will definitely be FQ and possibly a couple of nights at AKL for a treat.

The main stop isn't necessarily the first one. We've had 3 stays at POR either Jan or Aug. stays, always use the mansion stop, and bus has never been filled. I think possibly the main stop fills up and another bus picks up the other stops during peak times of park opening? Not sure, I just know our experience using mansion bus stop, is that bus was never filled, and the average wait was no longer then 20 min for the most part. And that bus stop was never chaotic like the Main Depot, and no corral needed.

[mamaloya]

I will be there in 100 days!!! I will have my van if I get frustrated with the buses. I stayed at CB last year and only had issues one night with a long line for buses back from Epcot.

I have a question about the coffee maker. I heard they were now Keurigs instead of traditional "Mr. Coffee" types. Is this true? I was hoping to use them to make hot water to pour into bowls of oatmeal for breakfast.

[Canada Amy]

they give you large paper cups and then you can fill two with hot water at a time. we made oatmeal several times : )

interesting about the other stops at POR....must be separate buses. we couldn't believe we were dealing with this at 7:45am or 8am. at Pop there'd be no one lined up!

[JKnott17]

Originally Posted by Sue M.

The main stop isn't necessarily the first one. We've had 3 stays at POR either Jan or Aug. stays, always use the mansion stop, and bus has never been filled. I think possibly the main stop fills up and another bus picks up the other stops during peak times of park opening? Not sure, I just know our experience using mansion bus stop, is that bus was never filled, and the average wait was no longer then 20 min for the most part. And that bus stop was never chaotic like the Main Depot, and no corral needed.

This is what we experienced at POR in November, we stayed in AB and used the West Depot after trying the South Depot on our first day and finding it too crowded and hard to get on a bus. At the West Depot, we were usually the first stop to be picked up in the morning (I'm assuming this because the busses were empty) and there were never more than a few families waiting with us. What is strange though, is we only stopped at the North and East Depots next, never stopping at the South. I wonder if they have different busses running along those stops?

[TinkRocks]

This bus discussion regarding which stops are included on which routes is very interesting. I tried to dig around a little and found this on the "Unofficial" Port Orleans fan site:

Note: generally the early morning buses departing from the South Depot do not then continue on to service the East, North and West Depots, instead heading straight onward to their destination. Other buses will serve the outer three Depots. After 10:30am, all of the resort buses follow the entire route starting at French Quarter, then going around all four Riverside Depots in turn before heading on to their final destination. This can have an impact on overall journey times.

[Luvsun]

I love POR - you are right, it is beautiful there! When we stayed there we only had issues with the bus service at night. As with you, there were always huge lines waiting to go back to the resort.
I am glad you figured out another way to get back to POR.
I am sorry you were disappointed with the bus service.

[mamaloya]

Originally Posted by Canada Amy

they give you large paper cups and then you can fill two with hot water at a time. we made oatmeal several times : )

Thank you!!! I bought the little individual bowls of oatmeal to bring with us for breakfast in the room as well as the bowls of cereal. I just hope I remember spoons.

100 days to go!!!!

[LilRonGal]

I've never stayed at POR but I have stayed at POFQ. We took the bus from Downtown Disney and it stopped at POR first. It went through all these different stops and I was so overwhelmed by it all! I like POFQ with its one stop (and Pop as well). It's a reason I decided, for our upcoming trip, to go with POFQ again rather than another one of the moderates, although I'd love a change of pace at some point. The smallness of POFQ and their buses are too much of a draw for me.

[Sue M.]

Originally Posted by TinkRocks

This bus discussion regarding which stops are included on which routes is very interesting. I tried to dig around a little and found this on the "Unofficial" Port Orleans fan site:

Note: generally the early morning buses departing from the South Depot do not then continue on to service the East, North and West Depots, instead heading straight onward to their destination. Other buses will serve the outer three Depots. After 10:30am, all of the resort buses follow the entire route starting at French Quarter, then going around all four Riverside Depots in turn before heading on to their final destination. This can have an impact on overall journey times.

Good sleuthing! Pretty much what I thought but wasn't sure! I tried the main bus depot once, didn't like it and after that just used our bus stop near room. So much more relaxing & pleasant.

[mamasann]

"Note: generally the early morning buses departing from the South Depot do not then continue on to service the East, North and West Depots, instead heading straight onward to their destination. Other buses will serve the outer three Depots. After 10:30am, all of the resort buses follow the entire route starting at French Quarter, then going around all four Riverside Depots in turn before heading on to their final destination. This can have an impact on overall journey times."

WHAT? I'm not sure where those facts originate, because the only time we've had to share a bus with POR from FQ was heading to Epcot. And that wasn't an "all the time" thing. I think it depended on crowds perhaps. And we've never had need for a corral situation at FQ either. We're never that crowded there. As for the bus to DTD, I can't say for sure because 99.9% of the time we take the ferry there.