What does a Prefered room at POR mean?

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

Is it worth the extra $$$? does it guarantee a certain building? Anyone have personal experience?

 

[nkereina]

Preferred Rooms at POR are in the Alligator Bayou section of the resort and are closer to the main pool, food court, and main building. It is a larger resort so is ideal for those with strollers, young kids, elderly, etc. We don't mind walking so for us, it's not worth the extra money. Also, if you prefer the mansion section, do not book a Preferred Room because there are no Preferred Rooms in the mansions.

Also note that you can only book one category. For instance, if you want both a Preferred Room and a King bed room, you can only book one or the other and have to request the one you did not book. So decide which is more important to you, book that, and then request the other.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Have you checked the Port Orleans thread? http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2904701

 

[Missytara]

As the PP stated, all the information including the maps are on the official POR thread.

While the buildings are the closest to the main building, they can also be some of the busiest buildings, because everyone in that section walks through there to get to the main building. There are areas at POR that are only 3 - 4 minutes walk to the food court, that get a lot less traffic and are quieter.

There are also other buildings that have other amentities, like being close to a quiet pool, garden view, courtyard view, riverview, that are also close to one of the perimeter bus stops and can be used to access the food court.

 

[Forensicmom]

You could also select the Royal Rooms, which are close to everything too and were just renovated. That's what we did.

 

[Missytara]

You could also select the Royal Rooms, which are close to everything too and were just renovated. That's what we did.

Actually some of the Royal Rooms in Parterre Place, especially Standard view, can be very far away from the main building. This is what makes them so enticing, is to be in the Royal Rooms. River view is much closer.

The Royal Rooms in Oak Manor are much closer to the main building, so that is most likely where you were staying.

 

[mdetloff]

We had our first stay at POR a couple of weeks ago. We had paid for a garden view because we were on FD and had too. We got building 26 which is right behind a preferred building. We loved the location. We were not too far from main lobby (about 5 min walk), not too far from main pool or a quiet pool. Not far from the bus either. I would recommend that location. We loved having the extra bed too and it really was comfy for the kids. My 16 yrd old 6'1" tall slept on one the whole time and didn't mind that his feet stuck out. The buses at POR were another story though. I thought since we were staying a level up (normally do POP) that buses would have been better. Not so! Overall, it was great stay and if I went back to POR I would definately pay for the garden view and ask for building 26 again. Have a great trip and fun planning.

 

[KarenAylwood]

If you're going when the crowds are low you shouldn't have a problem getting a good location (know the resort and where to request). We were put in an Alligator Bayou room but I wanted a Magnolia Bend room since I like the mansions better. They asked if we wanted an upgrade to a King or a Royal Room- I asked where they were located and we ended up picking the Royal Room in Oak Manor. If it was going to be in Parterre Place we would have picked the king.

If you are not ok with walking (it's a big resort!) and are going at a busier time it might be worth it to you to pay for the preferred room. We don't mind the walking as much so I always risk it

 

[LisaTC]

Last time we stayed in Acadia...asked for Magnolia, but didn't get it. We had Waterview. It was near the front right corner of Acadia overlooking quiet pool and was an EXCELLENT location. Just a couple minutes and we were at the Main areas.

http://portorleans.org/maps-and-directions.php

This time we are in a Royal room and I'm going to request Oak Manor...hope we get it. I know some have stayed at Parterre and didn't think it was bad. There is a bridge you can cross to get to the main areas...about a 5 minute walk through beautiful landscape!

 

[Missytara]

Last time we stayed in Acadia...asked for Magnolia, but didn't get it. We had Waterview. It was near the front right corner of Acadia overlooking quiet pool and was an EXCELLENT location. Just a couple minutes and we were at the Main areas.

http://portorleans.org/maps-and-directions.php

This time we are in a Royal room and I'm going to request Oak Manor...hope we get it. I know some have stayed at Parterre and didn't think it was bad. There is a bridge you can cross to get to the main areas...about a 5 minute walk through beautiful landscape!

I have stayed in all four buildings, only once before they went to the royal rooms.

Oak Manor was always sort-of my favorite, to be near the quiet pool and the proximity to the bridge that goes to the food court side.

I have stayed in Magnolia Terrace with my mom and we walked by this beautiful Magnolia tree every morning - I swear she wanted me to dig it up and take it home. She loves to walk, so we actually took the long way to the food court each day. We were also only there for 4 days, because then we went on the cruise.

I have stayed twice in Acadian House, both facing the parking lot right on the corner. I like the fact that you can use the bus depot close to the building and once you get to the building, you can walk in the shade under the walkways to the rooms. You don't have to be in the sun for very long. Also we enjoyed the walk to the food court in the morning past the Main pool.

My favorite was a corner, riverview, king bed room in Parterre Place a few years ago on a solo trip. It was the best view I have ever had; no one walked past my room because we were on an end with only four doors, and it was really close to the bridge to get over to the front of the building.

Since that trip ended up being a no parks, all resorts trip, it was perfect. I would take the DTD bus or a parks bus to transfer in the afternoon, and take the bus from the resort back to DTD in the evening and then the water taxi back to the resort. It was the best trip I have ever had there.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Its AB section, building 14,15,18 and 27. I was wondering the same so I called the resort and asked. We need the murphy bed, so AB is the only place they can put us, and last time we were in building 37. We are in good shape, DH and I are runners, so used to not only walking, but running miles at a time, and it seemed soooo far evrytime we went to the foodcourt, gameroom, etc. On a normal day its not far, but after walking around the parks for 10 hours, just didn't want to walk anymore. I happily paid the extra $300 (for 10 nights) to get a closer room. I am soo happy they added this option, so that I dont have to "hope" that a room request will be honored.

 

[Missytara]

Its AB section, building 14,15,18 and 27. I was wondering the same so I called the resort and asked. We need the murphy bed, so AB is the only place they can put us, and last time we were in building 37. We are in good shape, DH and I are runners, so used to not only walking, but running miles at a time, and it seemed soooo far evrytime we went to the foodcourt, gameroom, etc. On a normal day its not far, but after walking around the parks for 10 hours, just didn't want to walk anymore. I happily paid the extra $300 (for 10 nights) to get a closer room. I am soo happy they added this option, so that I dont have to "hope" that a room request will be honored.

It should be noted that you did not speak to anyone in the resort, but a CM at a central call center. They answer as if they are in the resort. IT is all about the illusion.

 

[LisaTC]

The POR Thread is monitored by Andre...who also has the site I listed above. On both of those sites is this info:

http://portorleans.org/room-requests.php

About 2/3 way down are the direct numbers for POR.

 

[buzznina]

We have never paid for preferred and a couple of times were in the back, but we and our lil DD's like the walk even after a full day at the park. It gives us a little time to wind down before getting to our room. It is such a nice walk.

 

[wdw4rfam]

It should be noted that you did not speak to anyone in the resort, but a CM at a central call center. They answer as if they are in the resort. IT is all about the illusion.

WOW. I called the number for POR on my reservation, and regardless where they are they answer the phone stating that they are at the resort, so either way, they were more than qualified to answer which buildings are preferred. I was stating that I called, and didn't just pull it from a board somewhere.

 

[LilyWDW]

WOW. I called the number for POR on my reservation, and regardless where they are they answer the phone stating that they are at the resort, so either way, they were more than qualified to answer which buildings are preferred. I was stating that I called, and didn't just pull it from a board somewhere.

They were just stating that so people know the information. The public numbers given all go to a call center. Depending on the number, the CM will answer for that resort. Not many people realize this so it is good that Missytara cleared things up for other readers.

 

[Missytara]

They were just stating that so people know the information. The public numbers given all go to a call center. Depending on the number, the CM will answer for that resort. Not many people realize this so it is good that Missytara cleared things up for other readers.

That is correct; people don't realize that they are pulling up your reservation and reading information off the computer reservation information in the Central Call Center.

I was fairly sure this was the way it was done, but proved it one year when I got sick very late at night. I detected a slight accent from the person answering the phone as if they were in the resort. She wouldn't tell me where she was from, but she said she was definately not in the state of Florida. At late hours, they use people in other times zones, so you don't have as many people on the east coast working late at night.