Port Orleans Riverside Q&A Thread 2013, Part One [Thread now FULL and closed]

[Indy Denise]

Doing a little sig maintenance. Does it look cleaner? PM me with your thoughts.

You are going to be staying next at the Poly..I have always wanted to stay there. I am perfectly happy to be booked into POR as I loved FQ years ago and think it is a good fit for my group. Great grounds and the boat to DD is perfect for teens. But, one day, some day, Poly here I come.

 

[BMC423]

We are staying at POR from May 12th - 19th for our first family trip to DW. We are taking my 8 year old daughter out of her last week of school thinking crowds would be lower since school is still in session around the country. Touringplans.com is projecting lower attendance levels during our stay (mainly a 3 or 4 out of 10).

I was just curious if people have visited this time of the year and what their experience was with crowds? Also hoping for low humidity during our stay!

Yes! I love to visit during that time of the year. We only experienced larger crowds one year when Spring break was during the same time. Normally, though the crowds are pretty manageable.

About the weather the days can get really warm, but mornings and late evenings can be a bit cooler. Just bring a light jacket or sweater.

 

[luckypup]

We are staying at POR from May 12th - 19th for our first family trip to DW. We are taking my 8 year old daughter out of her last week of school thinking crowds would be lower since school is still in session around the country. Touringplans.com is projecting lower attendance levels during our stay (mainly a 3 or 4 out of 10).

I was just curious if people have visited this time of the year and what their experience was with crowds? Also hoping for low humidity during our stay!

We will be at POR at the same time! We have gone that week in 2009 & 2011 and were VERY happy with the low crowd levels. But get done any high crowd attractions early in the week, it will be MUCH more crowded at the end of your stay. Last time we skipped the parks on our last two days because we prefer them empty like they were at the beginning if the week. Weather has been summer like for us both times. (2009 was our first trip with DD who was 9 at the time. )

 

[FigmentChick]

OK....so call me a traitor: my family will not be staying at POR this year. I have a friend that was able to get me in a 1 br villa at OKW for the same price I was paying at POR. I know free dining *might* be offered during our stay, but I'm not going to hold my breath. I'd rather take the space, appliances and tranquility over free dining any day. We're not big eaters and this will give us more of an opportunity to sample the goods at the Food & Wine Festival.

I've met some really great people on here and will check in occassionally. Venom and Andre, you guys rock!!!

 

[mcever4]

This will be the first time we have driven and not flown to WDW. It has always been so easy to have ME take care of our bags and have it taken to our room. Since we will be driving, will we have to lug all of our luggage to our room or will there be bell hops to do it? With POR being a moderate and not deluxe, I have a feeling I will have to do it. That is fine, I was just curious what a big pain (and lots of walking from parking lot to room) it was going to be.

Thanks for any help!

Robin

 

[Venomhatch]

Venomhatch,

I hope your household is feeling better!

I was reviewing your trip report and noticed that you had the Fantasmic! package at Mama Melrose's. I have and ADR for the same package at Melrose's as well, and I have a few questions:

1. Did you purchase the dining plan? If so, did the dining plan cover the Fantasmic! dinner package? When I look at my reservations on DW's website, it states that my dining plan doesn't cover this meal.

2. How was the food there? What would you recommend?

Thanks!

Yes you should be able to use dining plan on this.

OK....so call me a traitor: my family will not be staying at POR this year. I have a friend that was able to get me in a 1 br villa at OKW for the same price I was paying at POR. I know free dining *might* be offered during our stay, but I'm not going to hold my breath. I'd rather take the space, appliances and tranquility over free dining any day. We're not big eaters and this will give us more of an opportunity to sample the goods at the Food & Wine Festival.

I've met some really great people on here and will check in occassionally. Venom and Andre, you guys rock!!!

We have tossed the OKW around also. We also like the space and SSR gave us a kitchen which we liked very much, along with our own laundry services right there in the room.

 

[andrewilley]

Since we will be driving, will we have to lug all of our luggage to our room or will there be bell hops to do it?

It's up to you, you can do it yourself if you want to, or use Bell Services.

Just drop your bags at Bell Services by the main entrance when you arrive (they will give you a numbered tag) and then park in the 30-minute check-in bays. Get yourself checked in and then head to your room, and once there call Bell Services to have your bags brought up to you (you must be present in the room for them to deliver). Simple as that.

Andre

 

[kaysmommie]

We just booked POR for the first week of June! This will be our second stay there. We stayed there last year during Spring break. This trip we decided to do 5 nights at POR and the last 2 at the Poly! I can't wait!

 

[BrentSD]

Yes, you can use the DP for the Fantasmic Package. The thing that's nice about it is you get an appetizer with the Fantasmic Package, so it's a pretty good deal for 1 TS credit.

We really enjoyed MM. I hadn't read great reviews, but we really enjoyed it. The flatbreads were great (especially the one with the carmelized onions on it!). Can't remember what everyone else ate, but there were no complaints. Our waiter and the service was excellent as well.

Perfect...Thanks for the information!

 

[BrentSD]

Yes! I love to visit during that time of the year. We only experienced larger crowds one year when Spring break was during the same time. Normally, though the crowds are pretty manageable.

About the weather the days can get really warm, but mornings and late evenings can be a bit cooler. Just bring a light jacket or sweater.

Thanks for the crowd info. We live in the northern plains, so I think we will be used to the cooler evenings given how cold it is here now!

 

[BrentSD]

We will be at POR at the same time! We have gone that week in 2009 & 2011 and were VERY happy with the low crowd levels. But get done any high crowd attractions early in the week, it will be MUCH more crowded at the end of your stay. Last time we skipped the parks on our last two days because we prefer them empty like they were at the beginning if the week. Weather has been summer like for us both times. (2009 was our first trip with DD who was 9 at the time. )

We are planning on going to MK Wed - Fri while spending time at the other parks Sun - Tues. Saturday is up in the air...we may relax and spend it at the resort or visit a theme park for only a partial day since we have to get up early on Sunday and fly home.

Bad idea to wait on MK until the latter part of the week?

 

[andrewilley]

There are times when people ask me why I keep going back to Walt Disney World every year, even always staying in the same boring old hotel?


Oh I dunno, I guess I must have my reasons...

Andre

 

[nonstopdisneymom]

There are times when people ask me why I keep going back to Walt Disney World every year, even always staying in the same boring old hotel?

Oh I dunno, I guess I must have my reasons...

Andre

So pretty I would love to have a picnic there today!

 

[OThopeful35]

Beautiful Picture Andre!

 

[Koh1977]

Beautiful Picture Andre!

I agree! Gorgeous!

 

[luckypup]

We are planning on going to MK Wed - Fri while spending time at the other parks Sun - Tues. Saturday is up in the air...we may relax and spend it at the resort or visit a theme park for only a partial day since we have to get up early on Sunday and fly home.

Bad idea to wait on MK until the latter part of the week?

You will probably e fine- might feel the crowd increase on Friday- I remember skipping out of the parks Friday afternoon last time and not going back. You will be fine. See you there!

 

[Venomhatch]

Sorry not posting a lot. I don't have the motivation to post here. Plus My fiance and I have doctor appointments scheduled after this recent trip

. The DD seems to have recovered. If anyone needs help with their faxes and or room requests PM me or post here and Ill PM you.

 

[justakrazymom]

This will be the first time we have driven and not flown to WDW. It has always been so easy to have ME take care of our bags and have it taken to our room. Since we will be driving, will we have to lug all of our luggage to our room or will there be bell hops to do it? With POR being a moderate and not deluxe, I have a feeling I will have to do it. That is fine, I was just curious what a big pain (and lots of walking from parking lot to room) it was going to be.

Thanks for any help!

Robin

they will drive it to your room on a "golf cart" type vehicle

 

[Shaden]

Amazing pic Andre

 

[stephyarcouette]

49 more days and I am so excited!!! This will be my kids' first plane ride, first trip to Disney...and my hubby will be home after 6 long months away in Afghanistan! So I was wondering about evening activities at POR?