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

[Yellowstonetim]

Which the royalist in me still finds ironically amusing by the way.

Andre

Sorry, we Americans don't know how to do the royal stuff right. It isn't our forte.

 

[Day-Day]

There is no advantage, it is all in the theming.

Mansions have elevators which could be an advantage...

 

[SRUAlmn]

Ohhhhhh you could be very right! That's what I get for reading too fast

I did the same thing and was trying to figure it out and finally realized it said before RR

 

[Napria]

Regarding milk/cream in coffee... We usually bring half and half with us and buy the refillable mugs first thing upon getting settled in at the resort. We get up in the morning, put some half and half in the bottom of our mugs then head out for coffee. Viola! It's our morning Disney routine

 

[LisaTC]

We are considering changing our November reservations to a RR at POR.

My first question is: Does it still feel like Disney? We have only stayed at Pop and you can't help but feel the Disney vibe with all of the giant characters on the property. I don't want it to seem like just another hotel to my 9 & 11 year old.

How long is the walk from the RR to the bus? To the boat?

Where all does the boat go to? Is it just to DTD?

The thing about POR is that it truly is a respite from the parks. Nothing obvious like POP. We didn't want that. Yet..it has a cleverly subtle Disney vibe. Sometimes, you have to look for the touches. It is so relaxing after a go, go, go day at the parks. It's hard to stay anywhere else. The location is really convenient as well with the boats to DTD, the bus to MK is really fast. We drive to the other parks and, by car, they are a quick 10 minutes or so.

We had RR in Dec. Oak Manor 9240. 2nd floor near corner. You can check Andre's map. We were closer to the 2nd foot bridge, so we took that one and it dumps you right out at the path to the boat dock and the lobby. If it was 5 minutes, I'd be surprised. Then you just walk across the promenade to the doors to the food court. I have a DD9. She loves POR. We didn't feel crowded. We unpack. We nest our luggage or put the empties back in the car, if you have one, you can save space. We hang clothes. The vanity shelf does provide lots of space and the shower has enough shelves for all your shampoos, etc. and there's a closeline in there to extend for your bathing suits.

In some ways, my favorite part of the day (we're fairly early risers) was in the morning. The water, the view, the walk over to the food court is so serene and lovely. We saw lots of bunnies and birds and turtles. We used the main depot near the food court to depart the day, but returning at the end of the day we used the East depot and the walk wasn't bad at all to Oak Manor...less than 5 minutes. We also saw lots of deer. Our bus driver actually had to hit the brakes for some meandering along. He was very apologetic, but it wasn't any big deal. I live in Ohio...we constantly break for deer! LOL

DD enjoyed the pool area. I think they refurbed the slide. It's a nice pool area. It isn't comparable to Beach Club's, but that's ok by us. There's a nice pool bar and lots of pool towels available. They have trivia games and music playing.

TxRabbit gave a nice reporting of POR. Kudos.

 

[mousefan73]

I'll take some more detailed pictures, and a new Panorama, when I'm over at POR in four weeks time, but in the meantime here's a quick shot to be going on with (thanks D!).

Not a prince in sight this time, which perhaps veers the rooms slightly more towards girls than they were before.

Andre

Nice! I like this better than the group shot.. I didnt like the mix up of princess. What does Snow White have to do with Tiana and the deep south?
I hope these are nailed down!

 

[ateam79828592]

We are looking to book at POR for our next trip. Our kids would be 9, 6, 4 & 9 months. Obviously it will be a tight fit.

Anyone have pictures of how they had their room organized with a family of 6?

Does the pack n play fit under the closet rod in the sink area like it did in the other mods?

Looks like there is very little drawer space...how did you handle clothing?

We take pop-up hampers for dirty clothes, over-the-door organizers for smaller bathroom/household items. Our suitcases are collapsible so they usually fit between the bed and the bathroom wall.

Thanks for any pictures and/or suggestions!

 

[mousefan73]

We are looking to book at POR for our next trip. Our kids would be 9, 6, 4 & 9 months. Obviously it will be a tight fit.

Anyone have pictures of how they had their room organized with a family of 6?

Does the pack n play fit under the closet rod in the sink area like it did in the other mods?

Looks like there is very little drawer space...how did you handle clothing?

We take pop-up hampers for dirty clothes, over-the-door organizers for smaller bathroom/household items. Our suitcases are collapsible so they usually fit between the bed and the bathroom wall.

Thanks for any pictures and/or suggestions!

Do they allow 6? Even if one is a baby in a crib? I had thought max ocuppancy was based on number of "souls".

 

[LisaTC]

You'd likely have room next to one of the beds for the pack 'n play. There seemed to be enough room in front of the connecting room door. The bathroom would be a bit of a squeeze. There is a fold down murphy. Don't know if they allow 6 to a room even with a baby?

Here's some more photos: https://www.google.com/search?q=alligator+bayou+layout&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=4nzVUey8Kc-w4AOth4GwAQ&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1241&bih=584#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=a_g22TiIh6DjCM%3A%3B8Ezv3O8vmnRryM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.portorleans.org%252Fimages%252Fgallery%252Fguest%252FPrg-Guest-SurlyMermaid-photo02_forum.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.disboards.com%252Fshowthread.php%253Ft%253D2904701%3B800%3B600

 

[ateam79828592]

Do they allow 6? Even if one is a baby in a crib? I had thought max ocuppancy was based on number of "souls".

Yep...under 3 doesn't count toward room occupancy at any of the Disney properties.

 

[andrewilley]

In some ways, my favorite part of the day (we're fairly early risers) was in the morning. The water, the view, the walk over to the food court is so serene and lovely.

I'll agree with that one! My DD and I have a first-morning tradition, while we're still on UK time and so we're awake by 5am, to take a "moon walk" around the resort and watch the dawn arrive and the sun come up. We've been doing it since she was about 3 years old, it's a really magical time.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

Do they allow 6? Even if one is a baby in a crib? I had thought max ocuppancy was based on number of "souls".

In Alligator Bayou, yes. The max adult/child occupancy is 5, plus one infant of 9 months. It'll be a bit of a squeeze, but quite do-able.

Andre

 

[ChristineOH]

What view did you have booked ?
We are looking into Rver view.

Any photos of the room outside regardless of view ?

What floor were you on ?

Did you enjoy the grounds/amenities ?

This is the view from outside our room, looking off to the left. We were in room 3854, which is a river view room in AB. We asked for and received a second floor room. Because we were toward the middle of the building and second floor, we hardly had anyone even walk by our room. It was so unbelievably quiet. We never heard anyone else ever.

We loved this location. We used the North Depot in the mornings and South Depot sometimes when getting off the bus. You aren't far from anything here.

We only had six park days, and wished we had more time to enjoy the resort. We used the main and quiet pools, and took the boat to POFQ for beignets, but didn't do a carriage ride, surrey bikes, relax in a hammock, etc. More to look forward to!

 

[shannon006]

How late does the water taxi and bus transportation run to and from DTD from Riverside?

 

[bigmac5]

I'll agree with that one! My DD and I have a first-morning tradition, while we're still on UK time and so we're awake by 5am, to take a "moon walk" around the resort and watch the dawn arrive and the sun come up. We've been doing it since she was about 3 years old, it's a really magical time.

Andre

Not an early riser here--but looks like that should change!!

 

[TxRabbit]

How late does the water taxi and bus transportation run to and from DTD from Riverside?

For our visit, June 29 to July 2, the last boat left POR for DTD at 11:00 PM. The last boat left DTD for POR at 11:30 PM.

 

[Mom2six]

Hi! I have been following this thread forever and am posting for the first time! My family (myself, my husband, and our two kids -my son is 4 & my daughter is almost 2) will be visiting in about a month - August 6-13. We have a royal room with a garden view booked. Your post was awesome because we are in a really similar situation. My daughter can't have any dairy and also has some other dietary restrictions we are still figuring out (hoping for more answers once she is scoped next week.) Did the TS restaurants have milk substitutes? We use Almond Milk, but she can have soy as well. I plan on having some delivered to the room, but am hoping she can some at dinner some times as well. I am assuming no c/s restaurants have anything.

We will not have a rental car and will have a double stroller... Any tips for managing the buses?

Thanks!
Michelle

Hi Michelle. Two of my kids are allergic to cow's milk and they drink almond milk. I did not see any at the restaurants. I ordered almond milk from amazon to get in the individual 8 oz cartons (you cannot always get those in the grocery store). They do not have to be refrigerated so are perfect to take with you for the day. I took some to the park for my little ones. I am pretty sure I saw soy milk at the resort grab and go at POFQ. (My dd is also allergic to soy so we don't use it but I recall seeing it and wishing they had almond milk ).

Also, if you have TS ADRs, you may be able to speak to the restaurant beforehand and see about getting a substitute for dairy products.

 

[JasmineClermont]

Which is the best depot to use on site? At wich depot do we have the more chances of getting on and at wich one is it less likely. Assuming that one bus start at one depot and then goes at all the other depot until it's full.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Which is the best depot to use on site? At wich depot do we have the more chances of getting on and at wich one is it less likely. Assuming that one bus start at one depot and then goes at all the other depot until it's full.

I know it changes, so this is based in our experience during our stay from June 8-13. We were in Oak Manor in the RR so we almost exclusively used the South Depot. All parks except MK came to the South Depot first (after going to POFQ.). That meant the bus was already 1/3 full when it arrived and we had to ride around to all the other POR depots. Even if we got a seat we always ended up standing because little ones or elderly always got on at one of the other depots.

The MK bus went to POFQ first and then all the POR depots (west-north-east) and then south. The MK buses were the worst because a LOT of people went to the south depot so it was really crowded and by the time a bus came it only had room for about 10-15 people. We often had to wait for a second bus and once we had to wait for a third bus. Luckily, the drive to MK is short bc they use the back way in

 

[Missytara]

How late does the water taxi and bus transportation run to and from DTD from Riverside?

Boat transporation - 11:00 am

Bus transportation - 1:00 am