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

[andrewilley]

Just got through all 210 pages of this thread! Thank you so much to all who post comments and replies, I've had a ton of questions answered just by reading! My husband is questioning the stroller for ds, what do you experts think? He's a trooper, but not used to crazy mileage. Thanks!:

If he's five, then a stroller might be a good plan. The WDW parks are huge, not to mention all the standing around in lines too - better to keep him relaxed and happy and avoid meltdowns (that probably applies to your husband too by the way )

My DD used a stroller until she was about 6 or 7 - just in the parks, although by that point it was more like a mobile playroom.

And even if he walks some of the way, an empty stroller is a great place for storing bags, shopping, etc.

Andre

 

[kungaloosh22]

Yes, you can quite easily sit and look out of the windows, or even sit outside in the alcove beside the walkway - think of it as a porch rather than a balcony.

These are very nice.

This isn't directed to the original requester's mom, as I'm sure she'd be respectful, but for others planning to camp outside of the rooms: Please be considerate of the people in the surrounding rooms. I've had a couple bad experiences with loud people outside my room and window, and the soundproofing just isn't that good. It can be practically like the people outside are right in your room with you.

One very early morning (after a late night for me) I had a screaming child, egged on by his brother, who was crying and screaming with his nose literally pressed to my window. Parents sat in their adjoining room, door open, chatting away and completely ignoring the kids.

Another time we had a group set up camp right outside our room, drinking and talking loudly well into the night.

I have a river view room booked for my upcoming trip, and I'm thinking about changing that, or even moving back to deluxe to avoid the exterior corridors altogether (sigh). After my previous experiences, I'm worried that I'll have another party set up camp outside my room, given its river view.

I'm hoping you all can reassure me that my experiences were unusual ones! I don't see a lot of discussions about this on disboards, so maybe I've just been unlucky? As much as I love the theming at POR, I haven't been back since the screaming child at window experience - I'm apprehensive now about exterior corridors so usually save up for deluxe - but I really do want to return to enjoy the lovely POR resort, at least for a couple nights.

 

[macadoo]

These are very nice.

This isn't directed to the original requester's mom, as I'm sure she'd be respectful, but for others planning to camp outside of the rooms: Please be considerate of the people in the surrounding rooms. I've had a couple bad experiences with loud people outside my room and window, and the soundproofing just isn't that good. It can be practically like the people outside are right in your room with you.

One very early morning (after a late night for me) I had a screaming child, egged on by his brother, who was crying and screaming with his nose literally pressed to my window. Parents sat in their adjoining room, door open, chatting away and completely ignoring the kids.

Another time we had a group set up camp right outside our room, drinking and talking loudly well into the night.

I have a river view room booked for my upcoming trip, and I'm thinking about changing that, or even moving back to deluxe to avoid the exterior corridors altogether (sigh). After my previous experiences, I'm worried that I'll have another party set up camp outside my room, given its river view.

I'm hoping you all can reassure me that my experiences were unusual ones! I don't see a lot of discussions about this on disboards, so maybe I've just been unlucky? As much as I love the theming at POR, I haven't been back since the screaming child at window experience - I'm apprehensive now about exterior corridors so usually save up for deluxe - but I really do want to return to enjoy the lovely POR resort, at least for a couple nights.

What an awful experience for you . Did you find this was a problem on the ground floor specifically? We are trying to decide at the moment whether to request ground floor (we normally prefer ground for convenience) or if it would be quieter on the upper floors.

 

[turning into fanatic]

Have a question about connecting rooms. We have a trip planned for December and there are 2 adults and 3 children in my family, therefore we will be in AB. My parents are coming along and if possible we would like a connecting room or rooms nearby each other. I have them in a king bed room because I thought this would give them the best chance to be connected or near us. My question is because there are only two would they even be able to get 2 queens in a room or are they automatically put in a king room. And would the king room be our best bet since they will first give queen rooms in AB to families of 5? Does this make sense??? Has anyone else had this situation and were you able to get connecting rooms?

 

[siskaren]

Have a question about connecting rooms. We have a trip planned for December and there are 2 adults and 3 children in my family, therefore we will be in AB. My parents are coming along and if possible we would like a connecting room or rooms nearby each other. I have them in a king bed room because I thought this would give them the best chance to be connected or near us. My question is because there are only two would they even be able to get 2 queens in a room or are they automatically put in a king room. And would the king room be our best bet since they will first give queen rooms in AB to families of 5? Does this make sense??? Has anyone else had this situation and were you able to get connecting rooms?

I don't know why they wouldn't give a 2 queen room to a couple. I've stayed at POR twice as a solo (once way back when it was called Dixie Landings) and I got Alligator Bayou both times. Also, I would imagine that even though Alligator Bayou is the only moderate option for families of 5, that that doesn't mean that there's so many families of 5 booking it that there isn't still plenty of AB rooms for smaller groups.

 

[kungaloosh22]

Did you find this was a problem on the ground floor specifically? We are trying to decide at the moment whether to request ground floor (we normally prefer ground for convenience) or if it would be quieter on the upper floors.

Actually both cases were 2nd (top) floor. I think top floor rooms are considered quieter primarily because you won't hear people in the room above you, but I don't think there would be a difference in potential outside corridor issues. Actually, the time we had the loud party camping out, they had dragged their chairs out to the corner (in front of our room) presumably because it was a better view? So maybe you're actually better off with the ground floor in that kind of situation.

But again, I'm really hoping my experiences were the exception and not the rule!

 

[scrapnmom]

What breakfast-type foods can I get for a snack credit? Our last trip was 3 years ago at CBR and we could get cereal and milk for a snack credit.

I saw a pic with drink coolers that had chocolate milk, juice, and vitamin water. Can those be used as drinks with a CS meal? I know you get refillable mugs but we don't drink soda of any kind or coffee. We only drink water at home but the kids like chocolate milk and DH likes vitamin water zero for a treat.

Are there recent pics or info from the food court?

 

[Sugar Jones]

We were in a top floor room in bldg 16 and we honestly saw maybe 5 people walk by our room the whole week we were there. We felt like we had the whole upper level to ourselves!

 

[DisneyEhCA]

What breakfast-type foods can I get for a snack credit?

I really like the pre-made yogurt parfaits for breakfast. They're a great deal for a snack credit and quite filling!

I believe they have those at POR, but also have a build your own yogurt parfait station, which would probably be a CS credit. Not 100% sure on that.

 

[macadoo]

Actually both cases were 2nd (top) floor. I think top floor rooms are considered quieter primarily because you won't hear people in the room above you, but I don't think there would be a difference in potential outside corridor issues. Actually, the time we had the loud party camping out, they had dragged their chairs out to the corner (in front of our room) presumably because it was a better view? So maybe you're actually better off with the ground floor in that kind of situation.

But again, I'm really hoping my experiences were the exception and not the rule!

Thanks. Hoping this won't be a problem as we only have a standard view room booked.

 

[momofkids]

I really like the pre-made yogurt parfaits for breakfast. They're a great deal for a snack credit and quite filling!

I believe they have those at POR, but also have a build your own yogurt parfait station, which would probably be a CS credit. Not 100% sure on that.

The build your own station is a CS credit. I asked when we were there at the end of November.

 

[Venomhatch]

All PMs returned and on the clock here lol!

 

[mkleinbe]

All PMs returned and on the clock here lol!

Good evening!

 

[DisneyEhCA]

All PMs returned and on the clock here lol!

Howdy! Tis the night before I arrive at POR, so of course I'm scrounging the boards for last minute info.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

never mind.....

 

[andrewilley]

My question is because there are only two would they even be able to get 2 queens in a room or are they automatically put in a king room.

No, they won't be put into a King Room unless that has been booked - it's a specific booking category rather than a request. Otherwise, they will get a regular queen bed room. If you have two rooms booked (make sure the reservations are linked) and you ask for connecting, it shouldn't be a big issue to get the request granted as about 50% of the resort rooms connect.

We were in a top floor room in bldg 16 and we honestly saw maybe 5 people walk by our room the whole week we were there. We felt like we had the whole upper level to ourselves!

That's been my experience too for the most part. There are 32 rooms on each floor of an Alligator Bayou lodge, and four stairwells, so just by the numbers there are only about eight rooms near to you that might have other people walking past.

All PMs returned and on the clock here lol!

Me too tonight, listening to WDW Today podcast Live Show at the moment.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

Good evening!

Good Evening to you also!

Howdy! Tis the night before I arrive at POR, so of course I'm scrounging the boards for last minute info.

Well congrats, its going to be a hard night to get sleep!

Me too tonight, listening to WDW Today podcast Live Show at the moment.

Andre

Yeah I forgot to tune in. I have way too much going on tonight to listen to that.

 

[mollyi]

Only 6 days until POR for us....I can't wait to be there!! Thanks to everyone who has posted such great information here, especially Andre and Venomhatch. I have my room request fax all ready to be sent tomorrow.....hoping for an Alligator Bayou room as I think my 2 boys will really like the theme.

I have one question (I am sorry if it is a repeat...I didn't see it here). We are planning to take a taxi to 'Ohana to breakfast one morning, and may possibly take a taxi home from the parks once or twice. Can the taxis only stop at the front of the resort, or can they drop off and/or pick up further in? We are really hoping for an AB room but didn't request a location other than that, so it looks like it is possible we could be pretty far from the front.

Thanks so much!!

 

[melissarose]

6 days! yay!! i am pretty sure i saw this someone else on this thread, and i am pretty sure the answer is yes, but the rooms have irons in them right?

 

[ShesAPirate]

We check in one week from today! So excited! Going to be very very hard to concentrate on work this week, that's for sure!