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

[andrewilley]

I also agree those CFL ones on the head board were killer bright so if you wanted yours on to read if someone was sleeping in the other bed it would keep them awake.

In fact the lights above the beds in the Royal Rooms only would probably be dimmable if they'd left suitable switches in - I didn't check, but they looked like either halogen or bright-white LEDs to me.

But I love to talk about Disney, that is why I am perfect for Disney.

As Mark Twain says in the American Adventure, "I was born modest, but fortunately it wore off..."

Andre

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Now I'm trying to figure out why I ever felt the need to stay at YC. POR seems to have many of the same amenities....campfire, nightly movies, watercraft rentals, etc. So many great things and for so much less money.

Location, location, location!!! YC is within walking distance to EPCOT and DHS so that is the #1 reason it costs more. (Plus the inside corridors for room access)

YC is now and will always be our fav resort but POR Royal is what I have been referring to as Deluxe Lite since the attention to detail and appointments in those rooms seem fabulous!!!

(That being said, we are still switching to YC for the last 4 nights of our trip once DH arrives because he will NOT give up that EPCOT location)

 

[kelleigh1]

Yeah I cant get my fiance on the boats at all. Now especially after the Carnival Deal.

When I told my parents that we booked the cruise, it was right after the Carnival problem and my mother freaked out with "why would you want to go on a cruise." I pointed out that I'm not going to stop living and doing things because of one incident.

Well some of the higher villas would have a strait shot view of Spaceship Earth, World Showcase, and Illuminations.

We saw nothing from our room so that did nothing for us. And we've found that we have always enjoyed being away from the parks when we go back to our room. I think it was much more relaxing to feel like we were far away from the parks.

Location, location, location!!! YC is within walking distance to EPCOT and DHS so that is the #1 reason it costs more. (Plus the inside corridors for room access)

YC is now and will always be our fav resort but POR Royal is what I have been referring to as Deluxe Lite since the attention to detail and appointments in those rooms seem fabulous!!!

(That being said, we are still switching to YC for the last 4 nights of our trip once DH arrives because he will NOT give up that EPCOT location)

After staying at YC, which was our first time at a Deluxe, we found that it just wasn't our thing. We liked being able to walk to Epcot, but not enough to fall in love with the place. I think that at some point we'll try one of the Monorail resorts since hubby really wants to do that, but I really think the Mods are our thing. We absolutely loved POFQ and I have a feeling that we're going to love POR too. I just keep watching videos and checking out Andre's site and I think I'm seriously in love with the place. I suspect that Port Orleans is going to be our HOME.

That being said, I am so glad that Disney has all these different resorts. There is something for everyone.

 

[Venomhatch]

In fact the lights above the beds in the Royal Rooms only would probably be dimmable if they'd left suitable switches in - I didn't check, but they looked like either halogen or bright-white LEDs to me.

Andre

They were super-bright LED I looked. Not a traditional socket either, maybe like the ones with two poles and you push them in and twist about a quarter of turn and they are locked in.

...POR Royal is what I have been referring to as Deluxe Lite since the attention to detail and appointments in those rooms seem fabulous!!!

(That being said, we are still switching to YC for the last 4 nights of our trip once DH arrives because he will NOT give up that EPCOT location)

I love the Deluxe Lite!!! That is a nice touch!

 

[ang]

If you scroll halfway down the page here http://www.portorleans.org/room-requests.php you can click on each individual building. Once you click it will pull up the building layout and rooms will be color coded based on room type. That might give you a better idea of where the river view rooms are located.

Thanks so much for the info!!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

After staying at YC, which was our first time at a Deluxe, we found that it just wasn't our thing. We liked being able to walk to Epcot, but not enough to fall in love with the place. I think that at some point we'll try one of the Monorail resorts since hubby really wants to do that, but I really think the Mods are our thing. We absolutely loved POFQ and I have a feeling that we're going to love POR too. I just keep watching videos and checking out Andre's site and I think I'm seriously in love with the place. I suspect that Port Orleans is going to be our HOME.

That being said, I am so glad that Disney has all these different resorts. There is something for everyone.

We did our stint on the monorail resorts when DS was younger and MK took up more than half our trip time. And we like the GF and CR very much. That being said, I doubt I would pay those prices anymore (even with a discount). Plus the monorail is crazy crowded (and will only get worse, IMHO, once GF DVC opens up). There are times at CR when you can't get on because it is too full with folks going to TTC. And there are times at the GF when you can't get on because of folks going to MK. The one resort we have never tried was the Poly as the theming does nothing for us (even after going to Hawaii).

POP has always been our go-to resort when we didn't want to pay deluxe prices. But thanks to Andre, por.org and this thread, I am eager to try it out a mod again.

 

[figmentfrenzymommy]

If youre a family of 5 will you automatically be put in AB? Doesnt matter which area,just wondering because we do need that "trundle" fo ds.

 

[Venomhatch]

If youre a family of 5 will you automatically be put in AB? Doesnt matter which area,just wondering because we do need that "trundle" fo ds.

Yes automatically unless the youngest child is 3 or under I believe.

 

[elfling8]

That would work. Or if it's within an hour of Studios closing, take a Friendship boat to the Studios and a bus back to POR from there. DTD bus journeys can be some of the longer ones, so if there's a shorter route it might help.
Andre

Thanks! Someone also suggested we might want to budget for a taxi that night. The kids might have fun walking around the boardwalk (and look out if they see the arcade!). I think the boat ride would be nice on our last night

 

[siskaren]

If youre a family of 5 will you automatically be put in AB? Doesnt matter which area, just wondering because we do need that "trundle" for ds.

Just in case you didn't know, it's not a trundle anymore, it's a Murphy bed.

 

[Venomhatch]

Just in case you didn't know, it's not a trundle anymore, it's a Murphy bed.

Thanks for catching that, I missed that.

 

[figmentfrenzymommy]

Yes automatically unless the youngest child is 3 or under I believe.

Youngest is 2 but shes too big for pack and play. I dont think the cro agent was too familiar bc she asked if I need a trundle bed. Didnt realize til I got on here theyve renovated.

 

[cocofifi]

This is such a helpful thread. Andre, thanks so much for all the useful information. Also, thanks to Venom for your help.

In regards to the Royal Guest Rooms, it seems that most prefer Oak Manor for convenience. I don't mind a walk, I just want to be reasonably convenient to a bus depot. Do any of you actually prefer the Parterre Building? If so, my I ask why. Thanks in advance for input!

 

[4butlers]

Just for reference and for anyone interested, this was our view from our room. We had room #8781 in Magnolia

 

[Venomhatch]

Youngest is 2 but shes too big for pack and play. I don't think the cro agent was too familiar bc she asked if I need a trundle bed. Didn't realize til I got on here they've renovated.

Well I would ask aka put in a request for AB area just to be safe.

Just for reference and for anyone interested, this was our view from our room. We had room #8781 in Magnolia

That was pretty.

 

[mommypenguin29]

Can I ship a case of water to the resort from Walmart, Costco, or staples? How long does it take?

 

[Ima Disnewby]

Hi all!

I'm currently booked at CBR for early May and while I LOVE the look/idea of the resort, the not so great things I keep hearing about it make me nervous...

I'm curious about POR...I really like the look & rooms in Magnolia Bend but really do NOT like the theme of Alligator Bayou. Aside from booking a Royal Room (I have 2 young boys who would not be fans of that lol) is there a way to ensure I end up in MB?? By booking certain views??

I looked on Port Oleans.org and maybe I missed it

Any advice given would be much appreciated

 

[firstwdw]

Me again.....I was able to book a preferred room for Sat 4/27...our package starts on Sun in a preferred room which means we have 2 reservations (a room only for Sat and then package starting Sunday). So what does this mean? I assume I'd get the same room since I was able to book and pay for the same category for both the one night room only and 6 night package reservations. Do I check out on Sunday morning, check back in and get my tickets? Would it be easier to just cancel BOTH and rebook as a 7night package? Or just leave as is and have them link the reservations?

 

[LovingDisny]

I printed out the one for Magnolia Terrace (in color and black & white) and plan to hang it on my "planning door". We use the closet doors in our bedroom for Disney planning. Right now one us being used for our cruise, so I have a printout of the deck we're on and have highlighted our stateroom. I want to do that with the Magnolia Terrace map but I keep reminding myself that I won't know the room number until we get there. But I can still hang the map.

My husband keeps reminding me that I need to put our dining plan info on the door too.

Planning door! i love it! why didn't I think of that? I have all the maps printed out and laying next to the lap top. I think my bedroom closet is going to get some re-modeling today.


nice pictures everone. Thanks for sharing.

 

[4butlers]

Me again.....I was able to book a preferred room for Sat 4/27...our package starts on Sun in a preferred room which means we have 2 reservations (a room only for Sat and then package starting Sunday). So what does this mean? I assume I'd get the same room since I was able to book and pay for the same category for both the one night room only and 6 night package reservations. Do I check out on Sunday morning, check back in and get my tickets? Would it be easier to just cancel BOTH and rebook as a 7night package? Or just leave as is and have them link the reservations?

We did this on our last trip. When you check in, just make sure they see you have two separate reservations and request that you stay in the same room. You will have to go "check out" and check back in though. Not a big deal. I can't say that they will guarantee that you remain in the same room, but we were able to. Maybe, just to be safe, send in a fax request a few days prior also.