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

[RubySlippers]

What was the bounceback??

35% off Deluxe Villas and Deluxe Resorts 30% off Moderate with dates through Dec 2013 excluding ALL of July

ETA: The offer was in the middle of the "Be our Guest Guide" we got at check in. It was not in our room!

 

[justakrazymom]

35% off Deluxe Villas and Deluxe Resorts 30% off Moderate with dates through Dec 2013 excluding ALL of July

ETA: The offer was in the middle of the "Be our Guest Guide" we got at check in. It was not in our room!

Ah..thank you!

 

[tink68]

35% off Deluxe Villas and Deluxe Resorts 30% off Moderate with dates through Dec 2013 excluding ALL of July

ETA: The offer was in the middle of the "Be our Guest Guide" we got at check in. It was not in our room!

Very good to know this. Thinking of booking our first Christmas trip when we are there. Going to surprise everyone with it. If I can afford it. Pixie Dust needed!

 

[andrewilley]

The new keycard touch-to-pay terminals were activated at Port Orleans this morning (a few days later than first planned due to some technical teething problems). You can now pay using your RFID-chip based room keycard at all of the Port Orleans lobbies, shops, restaurants and bars (along with the theme parks and other WDW locations). As far as I know, you cannot use the new system in the laundry rooms, arcades, lockers, etc. though.

Also, if you check in online from now on you should be offered the option of setting up a security PIN number for your keycard, which will save a little bit of time creating one when you arrive. The original intention was to only use the PIN numbers for transactions over $50 at WDW, but more recently all transactions require you to enter your PIN.

Andre

 

[ShesAPirate]

The resort lounges will be playing the Super Bowl; there will be crowds trying to get into the ESPN Club at BW and most likely the bars at DTD will be playing it as well.

Thanks very much! We were planning to go to DTD after AK on Sunday, but maybe we'll just take it easy that night instead (since that's our first night there).

 

[Chuckers]

The keycard touch-to-pay terminals were activated at Port Orleans this morning (a few days later than first planned due to some technical teething problems). You can now pay using your RFID-based room keycard at all of the Port Orleans lobbies, shops, restaurants and bars. As far as I know, you cannot use the new system in the laundry rooms, arcades, lockers, etc. though.


Andre

Andre,

If using at a restaurant, do you know if this automatically deducts from your meal plan? Because I might not want it to do that...

 

[andrewilley]

If using at a restaurant, do you know if this automatically deducts from your meal plan? Because I might not want it to do that...

Not sure... I assume they deduct your credits as and when requested, and then present you with a final cash balance to pay (just like at present) for which you can then use the new system to pay, or use cash/credit card/etc.

Has anyone tried this and knows for sure?

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

The new keycard touch-to-pay terminals were activated at Port Orleans this morning (a few days later than first planned due to some technical teething problems). You can now pay using your RFID-chip based room keycard at all of the Port Orleans lobbies, shops, restaurants and bars (along with the theme parks and other WDW locations). As far as I know, you cannot use the new system in the laundry rooms, arcades, lockers, etc. though.

Also, if you check in online from now on you should be offered the option of setting up a security PIN number for your keycard, which will save a little bit of time creating one when you arrive. The original intention was to only use the PIN numbers for transactions over $50 at WDW, but more recently all transactions require you to enter your PIN.

Andre

Yeah they need to hurry up on the Wrist bands that I have been asked millions will maybe not millions, But I hear a lot of questions about the bands. When is Disney going to get them? When will guests be able to pick colors? What colors will they be in? Etc...

 

[tinkerbell1984]

Staying at POR mid May for my sons birthday, celebrating my daughters from April as well. We will most likely exclusively use our big double stroller. Both my kids are small in size, my daughter will be 4, and even though my son is 7 he gets worn out easily due to a blood thing he has (his body stays busy destroying blood cells and remaking them to keep up). I wasn't going to make a request, hoping for birthday magic I guess! LoL but one thing i think we'll find difficult is top floor in AB (large stroller+stairs+2 tired kids=camping out in the bayou! Lol) So should I wait and see if we get top floor at check in and then request bottom or mansions or make a pre fax request of just no top floor in AB? There are only 4 of us (my moms traveling to help me) so I assume we might be in mansions anyway? 1 reason I didn't want to request (other than hoping for magic) was during our last trip I requested things at "Sports" and didn't get that but got upgraded to preferred instead and had a wonderful so very convenient location! Better than my request ever dreamed of being! LoL

Anyone?

 

[Chuckers]

Anyone?

I would make the fax request stating that your son has a health issue that may make walking up stairs difficult. You're not asking for anything for free and it's better to ask than hope there's something available at check in. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Distopia]

We are finally back and getting settled back in after an amazing 2 weeks at POR! This was easily the best trip yet--the weather was (mostly) great, everything went smoothly, we had the most beautiful room we've ever had and we all had a blast!

I wanted to give a special thanks to Venomhatch who helped me sort out a complicated situation with our booking. It really made everything magical. Thank you so much for what you did and for the help you so freely give on this thread. I wasn't fortunate enough to run into you during our stay, but we will be back! Best wishes!

 

[Venomhatch]

We are finally back and getting settled back in after an amazing 2 weeks at POR! This was easily the best trip yet--the weather was (mostly) great, everything went smoothly, we had the most beautiful room we've ever had and we all had a blast!

I wanted to give a special thanks to Venomhatch who helped me sort out a complicated situation with our booking. It really made everything magical. Thank you so much for what you did and for the help you so freely give on this thread. I wasn't fortunate enough to run into you during our stay, but we will be back! Best wishes!

Hey there, glad to see you were we'll taken care of. Glad to be of help, just trying to share the magic!!!

 

[AmyandMichael]

Hitting the POR Riverside in 6 weeks to celebrate my sweet girls 5th birthday and her adoption or 'Forever Family day". We are getting a standard Royal room. We have finally made all of our ADR's for the 4 days. Does the boat only go to DTD? Just wondering. We are thinking of hitting a restaurant there and having our central fl family meet us there to celebrate. What other things can we do around the report? I want to make some amazing memories before she has another big surgery and will be unable to walk for a while (she was born with severe club feet).Any suggestions are welcome? Not sure what other threads to check as disboards is a bit intimidating.

 

[atisikitabasket]

I have my fax request ready to go we check in Feb 9 but I can't find how far in advance you fax it. We are in RR and requesting 3rd floor do I fax now or closer to arrival date.

 

[Venomhatch]

I have my fax request ready to go we check in Feb 9 but I can't find how far in advance you fax it. We are in RR and requesting 3rd floor do I fax now or closer to arrival date.

Send it tomorrow morning your well within the window of time.

 

[Mom2six]

We made it! We arrived at POR last night around 9:30pm, and I can already tell this is my favourite resort by far. It is gorgeously themed, and so very...peaceful compared to the value resorts.

We walked around the grounds while waiting for our luggage to magically appear, and I was struck by the sheer quietness of this place. Love! Love! Love!

We'll see if it's still peaceful by the light of day...

For those of you arriving soon, I wish you a wonderful journey.

Have a great trip! I'm jealous - next September seems so far away!

 

[andrewilley]

I have my fax request ready to go we check in Feb 9 but I can't find how far in advance you fax it. We are in RR and requesting 3rd floor do I fax now or closer to arrival date.

Last time I asked, the room assignment manager suggested 3-5 days in advance as the ideal time period for routine faxes, as they tend to look at blocking out any specific room needs around then. Very much longer than that and sometimes faxes might be put to one side in the meantime, which may not be the best option.

If there is some more detailed or medical reason for the fax, they can now access booking information just as soon as it has been placed into the main Reservations system when you first book, and action requests earlier.

Andre

 

[OttawaON]

The new keycard touch-to-pay terminals were activated at Port Orleans this morning (a few days later than first planned due to some technical teething problems). You can now pay using your RFID-chip based room keycard at all of the Port Orleans lobbies, shops, restaurants and bars (along with the theme parks and other WDW locations). As far as I know, you cannot use the new system in the laundry rooms, arcades, lockers, etc. though.

Also, if you check in online from now on you should be offered the option of setting up a security PIN number for your keycard, which will save a little bit of time creating one when you arrive. The original intention was to only use the PIN numbers for transactions over $50 at WDW, but more recently all transactions require you to enter your PIN.

Andre

Thanks Andre for the information. Would love to see the laundry go to RFID instead of quarters.

 

[OttawaON]

Yeah! We are all so excited about our upcoming trip at Port Orleans Riverside. We have several celebrations and it will be somewhat of a family reunion.

A great thank you to Vernom, Andrew and the rest of the posters for your inside information.

 

[Missytara]

Hitting the POR Riverside in 6 weeks to celebrate my sweet girls 5th birthday and her adoption or 'Forever Family day". We are getting a standard Royal room. We have finally made all of our ADR's for the 4 days. Does the boat only go to DTD? Just wondering. We are thinking of hitting a restaurant there and having our central fl family meet us there to celebrate. What other things can we do around the report? I want to make some amazing memories before she has another big surgery and will be unable to walk for a while (she was born with severe club feet).Any suggestions are welcome? Not sure what other threads to check as disboards is a bit intimidating.

The water taxi for POR/POFQ stops at the Marketplace dock right outside RFC. T-Rex, Paradiso 37, and Raglan Road are a short walk away.

There is also a water taxi that takes you over to SSR; which has a wonderful restaurant called the Turf Club.

At the Westside dock, there is a water taxi that goes over to OKW, which has another little gem, Olivia's Cafe. That is a wonderful leisurely ride. You can either take the water taxi from Marketplace and transfer at the dock or you can walk over to the Westside and take the water taxi directly from there.