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

[Venomhatch]

How does everyone attach their LGMHs? I made some too. I guess with ribbon?

I went out and bought some of those ball chains like this:

 

[goofyredraider]

Hello all, I'm joining in here again. I've gone back and forth with plans, but I finally decided tonight..change the 1st ressie, and I feel good about it!
The kids and I are heading down for a week on our own, so we've booked a royal room.
After a week there, we'll switch over to BC and DH will join us there (he can only take a week off work, and I teach, so I have the summer off. )
Anyway, I've booked a Royal Room - Garden view. I'd love some help with room requests for this particular view if someone could help me. I'd like to be as close to the "hub" as possible, or a quiet pool even.

 

[siskaren]

Ok well we are booked for Jan 29- Feb 2!!

We had to book 2 of the Royal Rooms in order to have the adjoining guaranteed but we can live with that!!!

So excited. This is going to be the best Christmas present ever

Off to figure out all the details....

There's no way to have a Royal room and a regular room that are adjoining because the buildings that have Royal rooms have only Royal rooms. Specifically, all the rooms in the Oak Manor and Parterre Place buildings in the Magnolia Bend section are Royal rooms.

 

[Steph2527]

Does anyone know what building is the closest to the main building (without being preferred), that would have a king bed? The preferreds don't have kings, which is what we normally book. Which buildings exactly are considered preffered? (only on AB side please, were not fans of the mansion side). Thanks for your help!

 

[dansdad]

Does anyone know what building is the closest to the main building (without being preferred), that would have a king bed? The preferreds don't have kings, which is what we normally book. Which buildings exactly are considered preffered? (only on AB side please, were not fans of the mansion side). Thanks for your help!

From looking at the map here http://portorleans.org/room-requests.php looks like building 16 or 17 would be the closest. Also from the description of the King Bed rooms on Andre's website, there are some King's available in the preferred buildings.

I am pretty sure that since both King Bed and Preferred are bookable catagories, you'll have to make a choice as to which is more important and the other would be a request. You can book a preferred location and request a King or book a King and request a preferred locations. If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will be by shortly to correct me.

 

[andrewilley]

I am hoping we can book the royal room for the kids and a regular room for DH and I (with the baby). We would absolutely need the rooms adjoining though for obvious reasons. I am hoping that they will be able to do this??

Sadly that won't work, the Royal Rooms are in two specific buildings only (see map in first post) and there are no regular rooms in those locations. It's all or nothing I'm afraid (but you can get connecting Royal Rooms).

When I got my phone back it was in safe mode. I had to reset it so someone tried many times to enter the incorrect password. I think that because it was useless maybe that is why I got it back do I would also recommend password protecting electronics.

Playing Devil's Advocate for a moment here, it's possible that someone else saw your phone while housekeeping were working on your room and nipped in and grabbed it (I've seen housekeepers prop doors open while they go back and forth carrying stuff from their cleaning cart, and I think it would not be too hard to snatch something while the maid was cleaning the bathroom for example). Then, when the phone was found to be locked it was simply thrown away in haste by the opportunist. However there's always the other possibility that you imply, which is much less palatable.

I don't think they actually physically assign rooms until closer to your arrival, which makes sense to me!

Correct. The room assignment manager says that they now have visibility of all bookings a long way out (just like Central Reservations do), but other than in exceptional circumstances they usually tend to start looking at arrivals around 5 days out for more complex bookings, down to 2-3 days for simpler ones. Sending a fax more than 5 days out means it will probably just sit in an in-tray for a few days, which might not be the best idea.

I sent my fax 5 days out and heard back the next day. Silly question, but did you include your email address on your fax?

It's a good idea - in fact they suggest adding your email address or other contact details in case they need to contact you about your request. For example, I know of at least one Port Orleans guest request for a Magic Kingdom view - which sadly could not be accommodated - but there are also simpler misunderstandings, such as families of five requesting a mansion building room (which have a maximum occupancy of four). If it's a simple request, or maybe something which is best left until check-in time, you might not get a specific reply though. Port Orleans is very much the exception in this respect in the first place though, and I don't think most of the resorts go the 'extra mile' that Port Orleans does (in fact we suspect that a number of them don't even read faxed requests any more).

Does anyone know what building is the closest to the main building (without being preferred), that would have a king bed? The preferreds don't have kings, which is what we normally book

The preferred buildings DO have King Bed rooms, but they officially fall into the King Bed booking category rather than Preferred Location category. So if you book a King Bed you can definitely request a room in 14, 15, 18 or 27 if you wish - subject to availability of course. Same applies to Water View and River View by the way.

Andre

 

[Steph2527]

Sadly that won't work, the Royal Rooms are in two specific buildings only (see map in first post) and there are no regular rooms in those locations. It's all or nothing I'm afraid (but you can get connecting Royal Rooms).



Playing Devil's Advocate for a moment here, it's possible that someone else saw your phone while housekeeping were working on your room and nipped in and grabbed it (I've seen housekeepers prop doors open while they go back and forth carrying stuff from their cleaning cart, and I think it would not be too hard to snatch something while the maid was cleaning the bathroom for example). Then, when the phone was found to be locked it was simply thrown away in haste by the opportunist. However there's always the other possibility that you imply, which is much less palatable.



Correct. The room assignment manager says that they now have visibility of all bookings a long way out (just like Central Reservations do), but other than in exceptional circumstances they usually tend to start looking at arrivals around 5 days out for more complex bookings, down to 2-3 days for simpler ones. Sending a fax more than 5 days out means it will probably just sit in an in-tray for a few days, which might not be the best idea.



It's a good idea - in fact they suggest adding your email address or other contact details in case they need to contact you about your request. For example, I know of at least one Port Orleans guest request for a Magic Kingdom view - which sadly could not be accommodated - but there are also simpler misunderstandings, such as families of five requesting a mansion building room (which have a maximum occupancy of four). If it's a simple request, or maybe something which is best left until check-in time, you might not get a specific reply though. Port Orleans is very much the exception in this respect in the first place though, and I don't think most of the resorts go the 'extra mile' that Port Orleans does (in fact we suspect that a number of them don't even read faxed requests any more).



The preferred buildings DO have King Bed rooms, but they officially fall into the King Bed booking category rather than Preferred Location category. So if you book a King Bed you can definitely request a room in 14, 15, 18 or 27 if you wish - subject to availability of course. Same applies to Water View and River View by the way.

Andre

Thanks so much! I had no idea that they fell under the king bed category! Last year I was told they just don't have king beds in the preferred buildings! I will go ahead and book king bed then and request one of the preferred buildings!

 

[momof2gr8kids]

We will be there on Superbowl Sunday, and depending on who is playing, dh may want to ditch us.

Does POR play the superbowl anywhere - at the pool bar, lounge, etc. I saw on another thread someone mentioned seeing it on a big screen outside at CBR. Does POR do this?

 

[ItsNotMuchofaTail]

Hello all, I'm joining in here again. I've gone back and forth with plans, but I finally decided tonight..change the 1st ressie, and I feel good about it!
The kids and I are heading down for a week on our own, so we've booked a royal room.
After a week there, we'll switch over to BC and DH will join us there (he can only take a week off work, and I teach, so I have the summer off. )
Anyway, I've booked a Royal Room - Garden view. I'd love some help with room requests for this particular view if someone could help me. I'd like to be as close to the "hub" as possible, or a quiet pool even.

Hi Erin! I just had a garden view royal room. I was in 9249 and we loved it! It looks out to the center fountain. We could take a shortcut to the quiet pool, but we usually used the main pool since its November and only swam midday. We were pretty close to the bridge over to the main area, but someone might be able to point you to one a little closer to the bridge/quiet pool. The other side of the building is probably closest.

When we went in the summer last time, every step we didn't have to take in the FL heat was important.

 

[andrewilley]

Does POR play the superbowl anywhere - at the pool bar, lounge, etc. I saw on another thread someone mentioned seeing it on a big screen outside at CBR. Does POR do this?

I'm sure it'll be on in the River Roost Lounge. The resort has also been experimenting with showing live video feeds on the large outdoor screens that they use for the evening movies, but I've no idea whether they might plan to show a daytime event like this.

Andre

 

[lucifie]

45 days out! We made our final payment yesterday! Now I'm praying that no one gets sick and a major blizzard hits while we're gone.

 

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

35 days out for us and I've got a 10 yr old at home with a fever. hopefully if it's gonna spread through the house it does it quickly and goes away!

 

[vtownpatty]

We are 2 days out and our 10 year old son is home because of sore throat and throwing up...

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[NMDisneyFan]

35 days out for us and I've got a 10 yr old at home with a fever. hopefully if it's gonna spread through the house it does it quickly and goes away!

Get it over with now! I'm sitting at the Dr with my son right now. He has an ear infection, my wife has the flu, and we leave in 3 days!

 

[momof2gr8kids]

I'm sure it'll be on in the River Roost Lounge. The resort has also been experimenting with showing live video feeds on the large outdoor screens that they use for the evening movies, but I've no idea whether they might plan to show a daytime event like this.

Andre

I'm not a football fan at all, but I'm pretty sure it's at night, isn't it? Depending on what time zone it's played in, I guess. I've been to superbowl parties, at night, to gab with the girls and eat nachos and watch the half time show while the men are loud in another room.

Maybe Venomhatch can let us know if it's something POR might be experimenting with.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

Question for those who have stayed in the refurbed AB rooms...

It seems like there isn't as much room for putting your things away, both surfaces and drawer space. Did you find this to be an issue?

 

[Venomhatch]

I'm not a football fan at all, but I'm pretty sure it's at night, isn't it? Depending on what time zone it's played in, I guess. I've been to superbowl parties, at night, to gab with the girls and eat nachos and watch the half time show while the men are loud in another room.

Maybe Venomhatch can let us know if it's something POR might be experimenting with.

I am with Andre, I haven't heard anything about that. But your right SB is usually evening hours.

 

[Wendilou]

45 days out! We made our final payment yesterday! Now I'm praying that no one gets sick and a major blizzard hits while we're gone.

We are 46 days out. We are just getting over the flu and had colds at Thanksgiving. We are going to be eatting vitamins like candy until we get back home from this trip.lol

This is our first trip with more than one day at parks and our first time staying on site. I am loving this thread and so happy that I changed my reservation to POR from ASMovies.

 

[alorac]

We will be there on Superbowl Sunday, and depending on who is playing, dh may want to ditch us.

Does POR play the superbowl anywhere - at the pool bar, lounge, etc. I saw on another thread someone mentioned seeing it on a big screen outside at CBR. Does POR do this?

I know this is kinda against the purpose of the thread here... but I would recommend taking it as an opportunity to go visit the Boardwalk. Last time I was down in Disney was during the playoffs and my girlfriend and I went to see our team play at the ESPN Zone. It was a TON of fun. A lot of sports fans around and everyone was super friendly (even those cheering for the team we were playing).

 

[goofyredraider]

Hi Erin! I just had a garden view royal room. I was in 9249 and we loved it! It looks out to the center fountain. We could take a shortcut to the quiet pool, but we usually used the main pool since its November and only swam midday. We were pretty close to the bridge over to the main area, but someone might be able to point you to one a little closer to the bridge/quiet pool. The other side of the building is probably closest.

When we went in the summer last time, every step we didn't have to take in the FL heat was important.

I appreciate your help! So you didn't feel like it was a long walk at all? We've only ever stayed in AB @ POR, and honestly have never ventured over that direction of the resort.

Question for those who have stayed in the refurbed AB rooms...

It seems like there isn't as much room for putting your things away, both surfaces and drawer space. Did you find this to be an issue?

We did in June, and did not find it to be an issue. We utilized the shelves in the sink area for tolietries, gave each kid a drawer in the Murphy bed, and DH and I used the shelf/hanging rack. For our snacks, drinks, etc. We used the shelving by the refrigerator. HTH!