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

[Viking Princess]

18 days!

Long time lurker, and decided to make my obsession official with a username .

 

[joedog]

Oh my gosh!

I woke up at 8AM (EST) this morning, marking the five day point for our arrival. I used GotFreeFax.com, as suggested in the beginning of the thread, and e-mailed a PDF copy of the fax document I made (which turned out similar to the "template"). I received an e-mail from the room inventory manager about forty minutes after I faxed it!

Hmmm.

I also Faxed in a special room request yesterday, but I didnt receive any reply email afterwards. I hope I didnt anger the Tiki Gods.

Oh well, the worst thing that can happen is I won't get my request granted. Either way I will still be in WDW on vacation IN 2 DAYS!!

BTW, thanks for making and keeping this thread. It has been very informative, and checking in (lurking) daily has been a bright spot in many dull days waiting for my vacation to start.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Welcome Viking Princess!!!

To all the regular readers, did Scott MC ever come back to let us know how things ended up for his family? (I scrolled back a couple of pages but I want to make sure I didn't miss the resolution!)

Question for those who have stayed at both POR and POFQ:

How busy is the POFQ food court in the early AM (like 7or 7:30 AM?) I was thinking that on our rope drop days, we would walk over there to eat beignets for breakfast and grab their bus to avoid all the POR stops. Also, I know that they often run separate buses to MK, but what about DHS or EPCOT?

TIA!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Also, AP rates are out until 8-15 for those who were looking for them

 

[momofboyz3]

Hi All - soo this is our 1st vaca ever! Twins 13, DS 9 and me. 38 days! My question: I made res thru a TA & she booked us a GV. I have no special requests added. I'm wondering whats the worst that can happen if I don't request a certain bldd? If we just show up and check in? Is there really any bad areas??????? Thanks!

 

[Viking Princess]

Hi All - soo this is our 1st vaca ever! Twins 13, DS 9 and me. 38 days! My question: I made res thru a TA & she booked us a GV. I have no special requests added. I'm wondering whats the worst that can happen if I don't request a certain bldd? If we just show up and check in? Is there really any bad areas??????? Thanks!

I wouldn't say there are any bad areas at all. People have their preferences, and sometimes those preferences are really important to them. But if you're happy enough just to be in Disney, the Cast Members (CMs) will take care of you and give you a great room even without any special requests.

 

[andrewilley]

I also Faxed in a special room request yesterday, but I didnt receive any reply email afterwards. I hope I didnt anger the Tiki Gods.

Please don't expect replies, it might depend on how busy the department is at the time, or who is on duty and how full their inbox is.

We're lucky that they even read faxes at POR, rather than binning them as we believe some resorts do, let alone sometimes getting replies by email too.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

I made res thru a TA & she booked us a GV. I have no special requests added. I'm wondering whats the worst that can happen if I don't request a certain bldd?

I guess the worst would be that you get allocated a room in one of the very furthest buildings out (such as 35, or the more remote wing-end of Acadian House - see the map in the first post) and then it can be quite a walk to the main building every morning for breakfast, and back again at night. Nothing is further than about 500 yards away, but even that can seem quite a distance when you're tired.

When you check in, ask to be shown your room location on a map and if it seems very far out ask them if they've got anything closer.

Andre

 

[memma05]

Single digits! 9 days until I arrive at POR!

We have 10!! Woohoo!!

 

[momofboyz3]

Viking princess & Andre! Thanks for the replies! As long as the rooms & surrounding areas are still as well kept as the rest of the resort, was my concern. Two of my boys are in track & we all walk for miles on end during the weekends for fun as a family. I'm not concerned about that, I can see how many families would be. Thanks again!

 

[MINRK]

We have 10!! Woohoo!!

We leave tomorrow evening and check in Saturday morning.

 

[katemusical]

Does anyone know if the hotel lobby will post the different hours of the parks, as well as the extra magic hours?
Thank you!

Tomorrow is 60 days out...yay for early check in!

 

[Missytara]

Does anyone know if the hotel lobby will post the different hours of the parks, as well as the extra magic hours?
Thank you!

Tomorrow is 60 days out...yay for early check in!

There are pamphlets at the concierge desk right next to check-in; there are also maps for each park.

But I am all excited about my new app; My Disney Experience. I just literally added the rest of my party and logged onto My Disney Experience and they are there within two seconds!

It is a great way to keep up with all kinds of info.

 

[ttcl516]

Please don't expect replies, it might depend on how busy the department is at the time, or who is on duty and how full their inbox is.

We're lucky that they even read faxes at POR, rather than binning them as we believe some resorts do, let alone sometimes getting replies by email too.

Andre

As Andre has stated don't expect a reply. I didn't receive one either and all of my requests were met and exceded!!

 

[andrewilley]

There are pamphlets at the concierge desk right next to check-in; there are also maps for each park.

There's also an info channel on the in-room TVs giving park hours, etc. Plus, as you say, the new MDE app. When it works.

Andre

 

[Missytara]

There's also an info channel on the in-room TVs giving park hours, etc. Plus, as you say, the new MDE app. When it works.

Andre

I don't know, but my TV never seems to be able to switch off Stacy!

 

[mavlax20]

I'l be going with my gf this June, and I can't wait. However we are hoping for a room in one of the mansions. Does anyone know if all the king size beds are in the mansions? If not, I'll call to make a request for a room there, but just wanted to check here first.

 

[mommyoftwo08]

Hello -

Just curious - how long of a walk is it to get to POFQ from Riverside? We're reserved at Riverside, but going to have a morning when my husband will be working and I thought the boys and I could explore. They want to do the pole fishing then as well. Has anyone done that and can give feedback.
Thanks for the help!

 

[Missytara]

I'l be going with my gf this June, and I can't wait. However we are hoping for a room in one of the mansions. Does anyone know if all the king size beds are in the mansions? If not, I'll call to make a request for a room there, but just wanted to check here first.

Kings are spread out throughout the resort with the exception of RR, which do not have them.

They are a booking category, so if you are requesting it, it is just a request. However traveling with a smaller party does help. I have traveled solo several times, and at least twice have had a king bed room without even requesting it. But I do go at a slow time during the year. Once you hit mid-June, it starts with kids out of school and the resorts get very busy.

 

[planplan]

Can I request a green view if I paid for a standard view? I know these are just requests and may not be able to get it, but I wondered how often it happened to get a non parking lot view with a standard view room reservation?

I paid the extra $$$ for the garden view and thought it was well worth it.....requested bldg 16 in an first floor.....everything I asked for was granted when I got there. We rented a car but opening up our door every morning and seeing the nice landscaping and pathways was way better than the parking lot. Bldg 16 was close to everything also...good luck