Al & Diane'sWDW TR- 11/6-11/14: Port Orleans
Alan Schaefer
asks!]) Al- 40 something, lover of Disney parks & animation, 12 trips to
WDW, Theatre Production Manager in real life.
Diane- 40 something, lover of Disney parks and all things Paris, 15 trips to
WDW (former FL resident). Pyscho-social worker in real life.
Where: Disney's Port Orleans Resort
When: 11/6 to 11/14/2000
How: Continental Airlines from Newark, National Car Rental
We pulled into the front of Port Orleans around 12:30 and were surprised
there were no valets out front to greet people. Check in was fast, but the
CM was not particularly enthusiastic and offered us very little information.
I was glad we weren't first time visitors! Our room was ready, so we
followed her sketchy directions and found Building 7.
Our room looked great! Pretty window treatments, lovely lattice work arching
over the sink area, the pedestal sinks gleaming... However, as we settled
in, we realized that the room was really quite worn. The carpet had many
pulls and was stained in places. There was a hole in the wall where someone
had forced the door closer into the drywall. The upholstery on the chairs
were getting threadbare, and old M & Ms were hiding under the air
conditioning unit . But it was still pretty, quiet and a corner room.
We set out to explore and buy our refillable mugs. PO is themed on New
Orlean's famed French Quarter. There are some beautiful spots in this
resort! Chattering fountains lie amongst the lawns and hedges admist the
well themed buildings. The cleverly named narrow streets (Rue De Baga) are
lined with brick, ornate metal streetlights and black wrought iron fences.
Benches dot the walkway along the Sassagoula River where waterfowl play and
visit you for a handout.
But, the place needs some attention. The hedges were thin (time of year?)
and garbage lay amongst their roots. The landscaping seemed neglected. There
were empty spaces were plants had died, missing mulch, poor trimming and in
general not up to the usual Disney standards.
Closing Bonfamiles seems to have impacted the food court (Sassagoula
Floatworks & Food Factory. As there are no other food options (without
taking a boat or walking to Dixie Landings), the food court is mobbed in the
morning with lines that rival the fast food eatries at the MK on a Saturday!
Closing Bonfamiles seems like a bad move to me. I don't suspect that many
guest will bother with either the boat or the walk to Dixie Landings,
leaving only one food option. I know this will impact as to whether or not
we would return to this resort. I like to eat at least one "nice" breakfast
during our stay, but was not about to waste at least a half hour in
transportation alone.
The food court service area is set up like the counter service restaurants
in the parks, as opposed to cafeteria style. You order from the cashier,
and then wait at the counter for your food to come out. This was much slower
than the cafeteria style food courts such as Dixie Landings and Wilderness
Lodge and was particularly annoying when you just wanted a single item like
a bagel; making grabbing a quick breakfast an impossibility. At least two
mornings I skipped breakfast because the lines were just too long. There is
a bakery window, but it was only open twice the entire nine days we were
there. The beverage choices for the refillable mugs is good: many Coke
products, ice tea, HiC, coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Food quality ranged
from okay to good, but the menu is rather limited.
Doubloon Lagoon, POs themed pool area is beautifully done. The jaccuzi is
located at the front of the complex behind well themed brick walls. The
landscaping here is quite beautiful, making the jaccuzi a real escape for
mind & body. The path to the main pool is lined with an "alligator band:"
alligator figures dressed in band costumes "playing" various instruments.
You pass the pool bar (quite nice) on your left and then enter the main pool
area. The pool features a water serpent slide and Old Man Neptune. The
serpent seems a bit faded, but it's a great pool nonetheless. Chairs were a
bit hard to come by, and it must be difficult for parents to keep their eyes
on their kids, as the pool winds like the serpent.
The gift shop, Jackson Square Gifts & Desires is on the small side. Unlike
the shops at other resorts, I found little here that I desired. Perhaps
their merchandise is limited due to the impending name change, but I found
even their selection of general WDW merchandise uninspired. Note that they
sell milk by the pint and quart as well as soda, water and juice. If you
need a quick beverage that's not included with your refillable mug, this is
the place. It's much faster than the food court! They also have a selection
of beer, wine and liquor (little airline bottles for the most part) and a
small selection of snack and health and beauty items.
As most RADPers know, the bike and boat rental at PO was closed along with
Bonfamille's. We considered visiting DxL to rent a surrey, but decided it
wasn't worth a boat trip. I wonder if many PO guests bother with the boat,
as it was empty every time I saw it pass.
Although we never spent anytime there, the lounge, Scat Cat's Club didn't
seem like anything special. I expected an ornate New Orleans style bar
complete with a jazz band, but instead found a generic bar with a big screen
TV and a singer-with-guitar.
The buses for the most part, were very crowded, and the four stops at DxL
most annoying. The buses came frequently, but returning to PO, we often had
to stand. We quickly abandoned the buses in favor of the rental car and
drove everywhere. We used the boat to Disney Downtown once. The boat came
quickly and the ride was most pleasant. The skipper was very enthusiastic
and kept up a running commentary the whole trip. The only problem was he
spoke broken English with a very heavy accent and no one could understand
him! He'd make an announcement and you'd hear everyone around you trying to
interpret what he just said.
Overall, I felt that PO was slightly rundown and suffering from the PO/DxL
merger. The lack of a full service restaurant and the loss of recreational
opportunities made this feel like a second-class moderate, overshadowed by
it's big sister. The bid advantage to this resort is it's size: it's a short
walk to the main building, the bus stop and the pool from anywhere in the
resort. We were in one of the furthest buildings, and it was still less than
a five minute walk to the food court. PO has great theming, a relaxing
riverside location but really needs to address it's food service problems.
Would we stay at PO again? Certainly, but it wouldn't be a first choice. If
choosing a moderate, my first choice would be Corando Springs, followed by
Dixie Landings, followed by Port Orelans.
--
Al Schaefer
http://home.earthlink.net/~adschaefer/index.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~adschaefer/macstheatre.html
Russell Yim
never even stayed there! I just love the look of it. Too bad it's
being merged with DxL...it sounds like it's already suffering the
transition.
>The cleverly named narrow streets (Rue De
>Baga) are lined with brick, ornate metal
>streetlights and black wrought iron fences.
Rue De Baga? HAHAHA! Didn't know about that silly detail!
Russell
Trekkie, Disnoid °o°, and Sheena Easton fan
"Life will teach you all you need to know, but only Love Will Make You
Wise"- Sheena Easton
http://community.webtv.net/TrekkeRuss/TheTrekkieDisnoido