Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread --- 2012, Part Three --- NOW FULL / CLOSED

[andrewilley]

Thanks - I was just going to ask this myself! Is this usually crowded or are most people still at the parks?

It doesn't generally get too busy. This was from Feb 2010 for example:

Andre

 

[Missytara]

Parterre is closer to the bridge? It does not look that way on the map. Hmm. I was hoping to be in Oak to be closer... I am thinking we will book garden view. I am sure whatever we get will be wonderful, if not perfect!

Parterre is closer if you are going to the front of the main building; Oak Manor is closer if you are going to the food court side.

I loved Parterre Place a few years ago, because I did an all resorts, no parks trip and mainly took the water taxi to DTD, so it was very convenient to go to the front section of the building to catch the water taxi.

 

[chskover]

We are staying at POR for the first time. There are 5 of us, so I believe we will have to be in Alligator Bayou section. I have a River View. Can anyone suggest a room area or building. I will have to suggest ground because of daughters trouble with stairs.

 

[Missytara]

We are staying at POR for the first time. There are 5 of us, so I believe we will have to be in Alligator Bayou section. I have a River View. Can anyone suggest a room area or building. I will have to suggest ground because of daughters trouble with stairs.

You can check out the map on the first page, but building no. 38 will give you the best view of the river and the closest.

Building no. 39 and no. 26 will also give you some good views, but some may be somewhat obstructed. Building no. 37 will have a good location to the North Depot, but many obstructed views of the river.

 

[Missytara]

So about a year and a half ago, my favorite server/bartender at my favorite watering hole asked me to help her plan a trip to Disney World in June 2013 to celebrate her DD18 graduation from High School. My DF was a teenage mom and has really struggled over the years and done everything she can to provide for her kids (sometimes working 7 days a week; two jobs). She is a wonderful friend and a wonderful mom.

We have talked about it for months and along the way, I made the trip a lot more complicated and bigger than it really had to be. We talked about each of her kids inviting a friend and then she would invite her best friend and her DD6, etc., etc., etc. She has never been on a vacation since before her DD was born.

About five weeks ago, she suggested we should drive, because the cost of three plane tickets for her would be astronomical. I readily agreed; I have never been a road trip longer than 8 hours.....

Last night, we got to talking at the restaurant and I said, "You know what, Holly, this trip just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger and I forgot the entire intention was for you to spend some time with your kids, for us to have a change to go out in the evenings like grown-ups and for her kids to do some stuff together by themselves. I just let the entire thing get totally out of hand.

So we are back to square one - getting a standard room in the Mansions; I loved Acadian House location. We are getting the 8 day park hopper ticket with water parks and the MYW Dining Plus plan. We are leaving on a Friday night, the 14th and rotating each of the three drivers every 5 hours, with me picking up the tail end. That will allow them to get directly into the parks and for the old lady to wait around for the room and set up shop. We will stay until the following Saturday and drive home through the night and arrive home Sunday afternoon.

No complications, no extra people, no trying to satisfy everyone. Just a couple of friends and a couple of kids enjoying the parks and all the resorts have to offer.

I am going to make sure to plan some wonderful meals that I know the kids will like and activities that will not cost us anything, but will add to the experience.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

So about a year and a half ago, my favorite server/bartender at my favorite watering hole asked me to help her plan a trip to Disney World in June 2013 to celebrate her DD18 graduation from High School. My DF was a teenage mom and has really struggled over the years and done everything she can to provide for her kids (sometimes working 7 days a week; two jobs). She is a wonderful friend and a wonderful mom.

We have talked about it for months and along the way, I made the trip a lot more complicated and bigger than it really had to be. We talked about each of her kids inviting a friend and then she would invite her best friend and her DD6, etc., etc., etc. She has never been on a vacation since before her DD was born.

About five weeks ago, she suggested we should drive, because the cost of three plane tickets for her would be astronomical. I readily agreed; I have never been a road trip longer than 8 hours.....

Last night, we got to talking at the restaurant and I said, "You know what, Holly, this trip just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger and I forgot the entire intention was for you to spend some time with your kids, for us to have a change to go out in the evenings like grown-ups and for her kids to do some stuff together by themselves. I just let the entire thing get totally out of hand.

So we are back to square one - getting a standard room in the Mansions; I loved Acadian House location. We are getting the 8 day park hopper ticket with water parks and the MYW Dining Plus plan. We are leaving on a Friday night, the 14th and rotating each of the three drivers every 5 hours, with me picking up the tail end. That will allow them to get directly into the parks and for the old lady to wait around for the room and set up shop. We will stay until the following Saturday and drive home through the night and arrive home Sunday afternoon.

No complications, no extra people, no trying to satisfy everyone. Just a couple of friends and a couple of kids enjoying the parks and all the resorts have to offer.

I am going to make sure to plan some wonderful meals that I know the kids will like and activities that will not cost us anything, but will add to the experience.

That sounds like a great change of plans, as well as a wonderful friend you are!

Tom

 

[justakrazymom]

joining in this thread..we booked PORS for Sept 2013...5 of us.. can't wait!

 

[FigmentChick]

OK....you can tell work totally swept me away because I didn't even realize we were on #3!!!

Thank you, Andre, for keeping this up. I still have quite a ways to go until my vacation next year, but I am living vicariously through others!

 

[czmom]

We are booked for a Royal Room, standard view. Also, we have asked for the top floor and will need to use the elevator with our stroller. Considering this, does it matter which building we are in...if we have to use the elevator entrance anyway? We just want to be close to the bridge to use the main bus stop.

 

[Gorechick]

I would request the center of the building as that is where the elevators are located. The center of each royal mansion is about the same distance from the bridge. Standard view will most likely put you on the parking lot side but if you are in the center near the elevator it won't be far to the bridge. I'm adding 2 pics from Parterre so you can see the distance from the building to the river and bridge. The first is the view from the top floor center of building next to elevator. The 2nd pic is my son at the end of the walkway by the river and you can see the walkway alongside the Parterre wing closest to Oak and the distance to the bridge.

 

[savannie]

DH and I are celebrating our 6th anniversary at POR in a few weeks. I have a couple of questions that I've been wondering about.

1. Do people ever get upgraded from standard to king rooms? When we booked our room only standard was available. Later, I looked and king was available, but DH didn't want to pay the extra $200. I would rather have a king bed, but will definitely be happy with (and am expecting) two queens. It seems rather silly to me that they charge extra for a king (never had a hotel do that before), but I was just wondering if there's ever a situation where they might run out of standard rooms and offer the king to us so a party of 4 could have our standard. I'm going to feel silly with a whole extra bed in the room for no reason.

2. Do you have to pay for parking at the parks if you're staying on site? I went with my parents back in 2001 and they didn't have to buy a parking pass, but I can't seem to find any info about this on line now.

Thanks so much for the help!

 

[Gorechick]

DH and I are celebrating our 6th anniversary at POR in a few weeks. I have a couple of questions that I've been wondering about.

1. Do people ever get upgraded from standard to king rooms? When we booked our room only standard was available. Later, I looked and king was available, but DH didn't want to pay the extra $200. I would rather have a king bed, but will definitely be happy with (and am expecting) two queens. It seems rather silly to me that they charge extra for a king (never had a hotel do that before), but I was just wondering if there's ever a situation where they might run out of standard rooms and offer the king to us so a party of 4 could have our standard. I'm going to feel silly with a whole extra bed in the room for no reason.

2. Do you have to pay for parking at the parks if you're staying on site? I went with my parents back in 2001 and they didn't have to buy a parking pass, but I can't seem to find any info about this on line now.

Thanks so much for the help!

Best thing to do is inquire at check-in about availability and how much it would be to upgrade to a king room, perhaps they will sprinkle a little pixie dust and let you have the upgrade. Not guaranteed to work, but worth a try. Also, if you are staying onsite you will get a parking pass for your car window at check-in so you don't have to pay to park at the theme parks.

 

[EpcotBill]

DH and I are celebrating our 6th anniversary at POR in a few weeks. I have a couple of questions that I've been wondering about.

1. Do people ever get upgraded from standard to king rooms? When we booked our room only standard was available. Later, I looked and king was available, but DH didn't want to pay the extra $200. I would rather have a king bed, but will definitely be happy with (and am expecting) two queens. It seems rather silly to me that they charge extra for a king (never had a hotel do that before), but I was just wondering if there's ever a situation where they might run out of standard rooms and offer the king to us so a party of 4 could have our standard. I'm going to feel silly with a whole extra bed in the room for no reason.

2. Do you have to pay for parking at the parks if you're staying on site? I went with my parents back in 2001 and they didn't have to buy a parking pass, but I can't seem to find any info about this on line now.

Thanks so much for the help!

Disney Resort guests get free parking at the parks and resorts. I don't know about the free upgrade.

 

[savannie]

Thanks for your help! I probably won't mention it at check-in...I really don't want to come across as a mooch. Might try to convince DH that it's worth the money, but don't know if that will work. The parking pass is good news, though! I assumed it would probably be included, but just hadn't seen any mention of it. Thanks again!

 

[TeamBlack]

I would request the center of the building as that is where the elevators are located. The center of each royal mansion is about the same distance from the bridge. Standard view will most likely put you on the parking lot side but if you are in the center near the elevator it won't be far to the bridge. I'm adding 2 pics from Parterre so you can see the distance from the building to the river and bridge. The first is the view from the top floor center of building next to elevator. The 2nd pic is my son at the end of the walkway by the river and you can see the walkway alongside the Parterre wing closest to Oak and the distance to the bridge.

But their are 2 bridges, the wide bridge and the smaller(pedistrian only) bridge. From where we were in Oak Manor, the small bridge was closer to us and almost 1 minute shorter of a walk. But everyones room placement will be different.

 

[Missytara]

We are booked for a Royal Room, standard view. Also, we have asked for the top floor and will need to use the elevator with our stroller. Considering this, does it matter which building we are in...if we have to use the elevator entrance anyway? We just want to be close to the bridge to use the main bus stop.

While Parterre Place is closer to the bridge that goes to the front of the building, the standard view rooms can be rather far out.

You may be better off asking for Oak Manor.

 

[andrewilley]

We are staying at POR for the first time. There are 5 of us, so I believe we will have to be in Alligator Bayou section. I have a River View. Can anyone suggest a room area or building. I will have to suggest ground because of daughters trouble with stairs.

An Alligator Bayou River View room would be in buildings 14, 27 or 38 only. 14 is closest for the main buildings, 38 is the closest for the main pool, and 27 is between the two. 14 is generally regarded as the best location, and it's my favourite too. But none of them are bad locations to be honest.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

No complications, no extra people, no trying to satisfy everyone. Just a couple of friends and a couple of kids enjoying the parks and all the resorts have to offer.

Sometimes the goal can get lost in the planning, and just stepping back for moment and taking the simplest option can be a lot more rewarding in the long run (and a lot less hassle!). I'm sure you will all have a fabulous time.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

Thanks for your help! I probably won't mention it at check-in...I really don't want to come across as a mooch.

Personally, I'd suggest dropping the resort a quick fax a few days before you arrive saying that you had trouble with trying to book a King Room originally, but if they do happen to have any spare now then it would make your 6th anniversary trip a little more special. What have you got to lose? And no mooch feelings at check-in that way - as either you get it or you don't.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

Personally, I'd suggest dropping the resort a quick fax a few days before you arrive saying that you had trouble with trying to book a King Room originally, but if they do happen to have any spare now then it would make your 6th anniversary trip a little more special. What have you got to lose? And no mooch feelings at check-in that way - as either you get it or you don't.

Andre

Yeah I agree with this. They may just give you some pixie dust, but as mentioned nothing is set in stone.