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

[emlibs1mom]

My family of 5 leaves for POR in 30 days. I've seen some say they've requested 2nd floor rooms. I know we'll be in Alligator Bayou and was wondering what you request and why. Thanks!

 

[dramaticmissy]

wohoo down to a week before we are at POR

 

[Dixiemom]

Paid our trip off today and now I am going completely nuts!!! These next 45 days are going to D-R-A-G by so slowly!!!!!!!!!! First stay at POR and every time I look at everyone's pics I get even more anxious but I can't help myself!!!

 

[DanInMN]

Just got free airfare on credit card points for 9/21-9/29. Now waiting for FD before booking a POR package. Our 20th anniversary is this summer, but will delay the celebration trip due to my job.

I asked DW if she wanted to do a cruise instead: nope - WDW again. No kids this time, as our kids are grown up and no more exchange students.

I work 7 days a week, 12 hours/day, between my day job and small business. I'm ready for a vacation!

 

[lillykat]

I've just posted the May 2013 Recreation Activities and Movie Schedules for Port Orleans Riverside. See the main Recreation Activities Schedule page for full-size PDF versions, or click on the image below.

The outdoor movies will start at 9pm and the daily campfires commence at 7pm this month.

​

Thank you so much for posting this! We leave in 12 days and this made me more excited!

 

[debedo]

Sitting on the plane to Port Orleans !! Perfect timing too 6-9 inches of snow coming!!

 

[TarrahA]

DanInMN, free dining will be available for booking May 9th for your dates Sept. Just giving an FYI for booking purposes in case you didn't already know Have fun & happy anniversary!!!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

My family of 5 leaves for POR in 30 days. I've seen some say they've requested 2nd floor rooms. I know we'll be in Alligator Bayou and was wondering what you request and why. Thanks!

I can't speak for everyone, but I always request highest possible floor to avoid the possibility of noisy neighbors above me.

 

[amcn928]

I've been reading these posts and had a question... The water view royal guest rooms....are they only on the second floor?

 

[yespie]

I've been reading these posts and had a question... The water view royal guest rooms....are they only on the second floor?

1. Go to this website: http://www.portorleans.org/royal-rooms.php

2. Scroll down to Building Floorplans and Room Interior Layouts

3. Click on the Oak or Parterre buildings and you will see what types of rooms are located on each floor.

Lots of similar information is on the first page of this thread, check it out and you may find answers to similar questions about the resort.

 

[Wismgari]

I am back from my first ever trip to WDW and it was amazing!! I arrived back in the UK yesterday morning tired, confused and cold!!

POR was amazing - I loved everything about it and wish i had got to spend more time there! First off a huge thank you to Venom for his help with my room request - I received a complimentary upgrade from GV to preferred! I was in building 27 and it was a great location for me - set round the back so pretty quiet and not too long walk to get to anything (although my BF complained it was not that close to a bus stop as his feet hurt after long days in the parks - it was only a 5 minute walk!!).

Our room was lovely - I can see how storage would be a problem for larger families but with the two of us we just lived out of our suitcases which we placed on the seat were the trundle bed would pull out from. We then stored bits and pieces on the spare bed and the table. Loved the theming of the room. Only slight complaints would be with the neighbours... as we were there for 2 weeks we had different neighbours - one lot liked really loud TV until very late at night which was a pain (but luckily they didn't stay long!). Also for the last few nights there was a big group nearby who sat out the front of their rooms talking and listening to music until the early hours... luckily we could barely hear them from our room but if we had been closer to them I would have complained! The last few mornings we had kids running part our door and screaming from about 6.30am as well... We could also hear the toilet flushing and the shower running from next door which isn't ideal when I am a light sleeper but I assume that is the same everywhere!

The grounds were gorgeous - the river and all the gardens were really lovely. I didn't explore over by the mansions very much but I saw the area from the buses and when I walked to FQ - AB was more my thing but the mansions were very well themed and very pretty too. The walk to FQ was lovely, very pretty.

The food court I thought was good - it did get very busy though. The create your own pasta was good - although I did notice a difference in quality between the different people cooking it. One guy cooked it 3 times I ate there and he was great. One time a lady cooked it and firstly she forgot my chicken (they fried me some up when I told them which was fine) but it was also swimming in oil so I couldn't eat half of it - not too much of a problem as the portion was huge!! The bakery was also really good

We didn't have any big problems with the buses. We always got on at the South Depot - Magic Kingdom buses were always busy in the morning and quite often not everyone waiting managed to get on the bus, but they seemed very good at sending another bus out straight away if that happened. One morning we were waiting for a different bus and after watching a full MK bus leave we saw another 2 turn up within 5 minutes to pick up the rest of the guests!! Getting back from the park was fine, apart from after Wishes at MK, which we were expecting! We hopped on a bus to FQ instead and walked... the line for POR was crazy!!

Overall I loved the resort and would go back, although I may have to try somewhere new next time just so I can compare!!

 

[myjourney]

I asked this a while back but did not get a response so I thought I would try again. We are driving down and can bring a couple of bikes for the grand-kids. Would they be allowed to ride them at POR or can you only use their rental bikes?

 

[deadheadmamma4]

Bike question I want to know that too?

 

[zabache]

I am back from my first ever trip to WDW and it was amazing!! I arrived back in the UK yesterday morning tired, confused and cold!!

POR was amazing - I loved everything about it and wish i had got to spend more time there! First off a huge thank you to Venom for his help with my room request - I received a complimentary upgrade from GV to preferred! I was in building 27 and it was a great location for me - set round the back so pretty quiet and not too long walk to get to anything (although my BF complained it was not that close to a bus stop as his feet hurt after long days in the parks - it was only a 5 minute walk!!).

Our room was lovely - I can see how storage would be a problem for larger families but with the two of us we just lived out of our suitcases which we placed on the seat were the trundle bed would pull out from. We then stored bits and pieces on the spare bed and the table. Loved the theming of the room. Only slight complaints would be with the neighbours... as we were there for 2 weeks we had different neighbours - one lot liked really loud TV until very late at night which was a pain (but luckily they didn't stay long!). Also for the last few nights there was a big group nearby who sat out the front of their rooms talking and listening to music until the early hours... luckily we could barely hear them from our room but if we had been closer to them I would have complained! The last few mornings we had kids running part our door and screaming from about 6.30am as well... We could also hear the toilet flushing and the shower running from next door which isn't ideal when I am a light sleeper but I assume that is the same everywhere!

The grounds were gorgeous - the river and all the gardens were really lovely. I didn't explore over by the mansions very much but I saw the area from the buses and when I walked to FQ - AB was more my thing but the mansions were very well themed and very pretty too. The walk to FQ was lovely, very pretty.

The food court I thought was good - it did get very busy though. The create your own pasta was good - although I did notice a difference in quality between the different people cooking it. One guy cooked it 3 times I ate there and he was great. One time a lady cooked it and firstly she forgot my chicken (they fried me some up when I told them which was fine) but it was also swimming in oil so I couldn't eat half of it - not too much of a problem as the portion was huge!! The bakery was also really good

We didn't have any big problems with the buses. We always got on at the South Depot - Magic Kingdom buses were always busy in the morning and quite often not everyone waiting managed to get on the bus, but they seemed very good at sending another bus out straight away if that happened. One morning we were waiting for a different bus and after watching a full MK bus leave we saw another 2 turn up within 5 minutes to pick up the rest of the guests!! Getting back from the park was fine, apart from after Wishes at MK, which we were expecting! We hopped on a bus to FQ instead and walked... the line for POR was crazy!!

Overall I loved the resort and would go back, although I may have to try somewhere new next time just so I can compare!!

Great report.

 

[andrewilley]

Sitting on the plane to Port Orleans !!

There's a plane to Port Orleans now? Wow, that'll save some time messing around with Magical Express.... I bet it's a seaplane and they'll land it on the Sassagoula River, eh?

We are driving down and can bring a couple of bikes for the grand-kids. Would they be allowed to ride them at POR or can you only use their rental bikes?

I don't see why not, just as long as they stay on the paved resort pathways and don't go on the road system or the lawn areas. I can't say I've ever tried it, but if you've got the space in the car I'd say give it a go.

Andre

 

[planplan]

My family of 5 leaves for POR in 30 days. I've seen some say they've requested 2nd floor rooms. I know we'll be in Alligator Bayou and was wondering what you request and why. Thanks!

I requested 1st floor bldg 16 and paid for the garden view upgrade. Room 1613 is what we got and could not be happier. Short walk to food court and pools,the next bldgs over were the preferred. As I said in past posts..I really recommend the garden view upgrade. The standard rooms are more facing outside towards the parking lots. For the few $ more it was nice to open the door in the morning and see the beautiful resort grounds that we paid for. Overall bldg 16 was great with a quiet pool right next to it also if needed. Had no issues with noise coming from our 2nd floor neighbors.

 

[ohnowewontgo]

Whoop! Whoop! 80 days to go!!!!!!!!

Just had to share.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Whoop! Whoop! 80 days to go!!!!!!!!

Just had to share.

Too cute!

We are 5 weeks from today

 

[Cobern]

Too cute!

We are 5 weeks from today

Whoop whoop just under 2 weeks here !!!

 

[emlibs1mom]

I requested 1st floor bldg 16 and paid for the garden view upgrade. Room 1613 is what we got and could not be happier. Short walk to food court and pools,the next bldgs over were the preferred. As I said in past posts..I really recommend the garden view upgrade. The standard rooms are more facing outside towards the parking lots. For the few $ more it was nice to open the door in the morning and see the beautiful resort grounds that we paid for. Overall bldg 16 was great with a quiet pool right next to it also if needed. Had no issues with noise coming from our 2nd floor neighbors.

We have the garden view upgrade with our package. I was thinking bldg 16 or 17. We'll be there 10 nights and expect to do laundry as well.