Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Does Magical Express drop off at any (many?) resorts before getting to POR? What are the approximate travel times by resort bus to the parks. And finally is the resort situated so given those travel times it's practical to spend mid-day at the resort between park hops? As always, thanks for your tips and advice.
Originally Posted By 20years I'm pretty sure I read that Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter share a bus that doesn't go to other hotels. There are 4 stops at POR, and 1 at POFQ.
Originally Posted By Ursula Yes, POR and POFQ do share busses. The time I stayed there, the POR side got dropped off first. To answer your second question, it depends on where you stay at POR. They have the main bus pick up near the lobby area, but then also other areas of pick-up/drop off through the resort. There can be the chance that your room is near on the satellite pick-ups. The problem with going to POR mid-day is that you usually have too much fun to want to go back to the parks. I LOVE their poor, and yes, I mean the POR and not the POFQ. Plus, you can fish on the dock at POR. It is catch and release. I never caught one, came close once, but I assure you with every moment spent fishing, stress just melted away.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS We stayed at POR in December 2008. One ME bus services both resorts, but as I recall, POR was the second hotel serviced. POFQ was dropped off first. Please make sure to use the main bus stop (busses to the park) at POR on the gift shop side. This is the first pick up and drop off point of the POR resort. This may sound like a pain, but after walking for hours I doubt you want to stand on a bus with Joe Schmo's kid kicking you in the shin. Also please keep in mind that when we stayed there all of the resort busses serviced POFQ first so there might be times it's a little crowded on the bus. However, that said, we never had to stand.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb So I don't have to worry about the ME bus going to far flung resorts, only POFQ? That's a relief.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Also, I think the bus ride from MK to POR was only about 5-10 minutes. Not long at all.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Hopefully nothing's changed but keep in mind we were there in 2008. With all of these bus crashes, etc, things may have changed. Maybe the booking agent might know the answer? I'd be curious to know myself as we are planning for next year.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I already figured we would use the main stop in the mornings. Pick up a little breaky and catch the bus right after (maybe even eat pastries while waiting). You think we should also get off the bus there at the end of the day too? Interesting, I can see the advantage of hoofing it a little extra to not have to deal with a crowded bus.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I'll be sure to let you know if recent "incidents" negatively affect the bus service.
Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS The walk, no matter what part of the resort they stick you in, is absolutely beautiful. It doesn't even seem like you are tired.
Originally Posted By -em I think most has been covered but yes POR is very idealy situated for midday hotel runs. Location wise the farthest from DAK and MK but still not bad (and the tiny commute from Epcot and rather short from DHS helps make up for it) -em
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Since we are there largely for Star Wars Weekend we'll be spending more time than usual at the Studios, so I am very happy to read it's a short commute there. Thanks -em!
Originally Posted By 20years After everything people have said about POR I'm SO glad we chose that resort. AutopiaDeb --- are you going to post a trip report when you get back? I really want to hear allllll about your trip!
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb I am notoriously bad about posting them. But I will try. Maybe I'll attempt another "live" TR, since I'm not driving maybe I'll use bus time to update it.
Originally Posted By LacyBelle <<So I don't have to worry about the ME bus going to far flung resorts, only POFQ? That's a relief.>> We stayed at POR last month. We were the last to be dropped off by ME after stopping at Beach Club, Yacht Club, and Boardwalk first. Last year we stayed at POFQ and the ME bus route was Saratoga Springs, OKW, POFQ, then POR. That route at least made sense to me as they are all on the same road. I was a little confused at the routing this year going through the EPCOT resorts first. There doesn't seem to be a standard route. I think it's all a matter of the flights coming in and where passengers are needing to go. Luck of the draw is my guess. Happy planning.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb :-( Hopefully with our early morning arrival there won't be many guests on our bus from other resorts. The only other time we used ME, back in '06, the bus took guests to Coranado Springs, and I think 1 other resort before hitting All Stars, of which we were staying at Movies the last in line.
