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

[Hoosier Mom]

I'm only on page 11 so far reading this thread. But could someone help me out with my question. I'm not getting very far with Disney reservations.

So I went online today to book a "preferred" location at Riverside. We are a family of 3 and online it said that a preferred location includes 2 queen beds AND a pull down bunk. There were some other different style rooms that said 2 queen beds OR 2 queens beds & pull down bunk, but that wasn't the case with the preferred ones. So I was taking that to mean that all preferred rooms at Riverside include the pull down bunk.

So then my travel agent calls to book the room and is told that there's no guarantee for the pull down bunk, that those go to larger families. That did not make sense to me. So I got online to chat with a disney reservations person myself. She said yes, there are preferred rooms that do not have a pull down bunk, just only 2 queens. It's the luck of the draw. If there was a chance to have no pull down bunk, wouldn't the online reservation have listed it as 2 queens OR 2 queens with a pull down bunk?

Can anyone confirm this? Will we get down there (in January), and find that indeed it is possible that we will not have a pull down bunk?

 

[ChristineOH]

Andre will chime in and confirm later, but I believe all of the preferred rooms have the pull down Murphy bed, with the possible exception of the handicap accessible ones. I am pretty sure I read that there's not room for the Murphy bed in those.

 

[Venomhatch]

Andre will chime in and confirm later, but I believe all of the preferred rooms have the pull down Murphy bed, with the possible exception of the handicap accessible ones. I am pretty sure I read that there's not room for the Murphy bed in those.

Yeah that is right. Andre might have went to bed for the night there in the UK.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

Andre will chime in and confirm later, but I believe all of the preferred rooms have the pull down Murphy bed, with the possible exception of the handicap accessible ones. I am pretty sure I read that there's not room for the Murphy bed in those.

Thank you for your reassurance. That matches with what the option was online. Why in the world don't the reservations peoples' information match what is listed online. We definintly don't want an accessible room. And surely they save those rooms for the folks who need them.

 

[Venomhatch]

Thank you for your reassurance. That matches with what the option was online. Why in the world don't the reservations peoples' information match what is listed online. We definitely don't want an accessible room and surely they save those rooms for the folks who need them.

They try to hold them in fact for that purpose. As for the Reservation CMs they are reading from what they can readily grasp for info to help you. They have been wrong many of times just because of that.

 

[andrewilley]

I thought they were switching them between guests. Certainly not leaving guest without refrigeration.

'Fraid so mate. This is effectively an estate-wide recall. All of the problem type of fridge are going to have to be either removed or disabled (plug removed, wire labelled as do not use, etc). The process to procure tens of thousands of replacement fridges can't happen overnight (you can't phone your local fridge shop and ask for 20,000 fridges to be delivered tomorrow please!) so unfortunately there is going to be an awkward period in between where guests will inevitably be a little disappointed. Disney CMs should be able to check for an Advisory notice on the Hub I would have thought.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

Yeah that is right. Andre might have went to bed for the night there in the UK.

Sorry, yes, was tucked up in bed at 1:30am.

To confirm, ALL of the Preferred Locations (which means Alligator Bayou buildings 14, 15, 18 or 27) have the fold-down beds, with the sole exception of the wheelchair accessible rooms. It is possible that you could be assigned an accessible room if they don't have any disabled guests needing the facilities at the time, but it's very unusual. If you're worried, put in a request with your booking, it can't do any harm.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

I've just gone through all of the 2014 seasonal rates from the WDW website and entered them into a table for POR rooms (that's three hours of my life I'm not going to get back! LOL). If you want to have a look at the list (inc tax) it's at www.portorleans.org/roomrates2014.php (it's a work in progress, no Royal Rooms yet and some other details will need updating from the old layouts).

This time, every category seems to be priced separately (although Pool View and Preferred rates are very similar). There are some odd discrepancies in the pricing of King Bed rooms too - sometimes they are cheaper than Pool/Preferred rooms, sometimes more expensive. I wonder if there is an error with some of the initially loaded figures, especially for Summer and some weekend rates which seem rather cheap? Also, the increments from Standard View to River View rooms are as much as $60/night during some periods, and overall the rate structure seems much less consistent than in previous years.

Andre

 

[Hoosier Mom]

Sorry, yes, was tucked up in bed at 1:30am.

To confirm, ALL of the Preferred Locations (which means Alligator Bayou buildings 14, 15, 18 or 27) have the fold-down beds, with the sole exception of the wheelchair accessible rooms. It is possible that you could be assigned an accessible room if they don't have any disabled guests needing the facilities at the time, but it's very unusual. If you're worried, put in a request with your booking, it can't do any harm.

Andre

Thank you!!

 

[Venomhatch]

I've just gone through all of the 2014 seasonal rates from the WDW website and entered them into a table for POR rooms (that's three hours of my life I'm not going to get back! LOL). If you want to have a look at the list (inc tax) it's at www.portorleans.org/roomrates2014.php (it's a work in progress, no Royal Rooms yet and some other details will need updating from the old layouts).

This time, every category seems to be priced separately (although Pool View and Preferred rates are very similar). There are some odd discrepancies in the pricing of King Bed rooms too - sometimes they are cheaper than Pool/Preferred rooms, sometimes more expensive. I wonder if there is an error with some of the initially loaded figures, especially for Summer and some weekend rates which seem rather cheap? Also, the increments from Standard View to River View rooms are as much as $60/night during some periods, and overall the rate structure seems much less consistent than in previous years.

Andre

Thanks Andre!!!

 

[spiritsim]

'Fraid so mate. This is effectively an estate-wide recall. All of the problem type of fridge are going to have to be either removed or disabled (plug removed, wire labelled as do not use, etc). The process to procure tens of thousands of replacement fridges can't happen overnight (you can't phone your local fridge shop and ask for 20,000 fridges to be delivered tomorrow please!) so unfortunately there is going to be an awkward period in between where guests will inevitably be a little disappointed. Disney CMs should be able to check for an Advisory notice on the Hub I would have thought.

Andre

I just retired from Whirlpool and you can make 20,000 fridges in less than 2 days. Seems unbeleavable but we worked 3 shifts and 2 lines. one stainless one plastic we made 5,000 dishwashers a shift per line. That's 30,000 a day. Fridges do not take much more time than dishwashers so Disney I am afraid does not have an excuse except for the time to get them shipped from the plant a couple days if they put a rush on it.

 

[andrewilley]

I just retired from Whirlpool and you can make 20,000 fridges in less than 2 days.

Assuming those are not already ordered for any other customers of course.

Andre

 

[n3rf]

I'm not Andre (obviously ) but the schedule probably won't be available until the 30th or 31st of July.

oh ok, thanks

too bad wanted to finish my planning prior to beginning to pack...

oh well! one last thing to look forward to.

thanks

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

I have a question for you guys!!!

We are 2 family of 4 and we booked at POR.

What are the chances we have a room in AB section VS Mansion?

We have been 4 times in POR section AB because we were 5, but this time we are 4 per room.

Thanks!!!

 

[andrewilley]

We are 2 family of 4 and we booked at POR.

What are the chances we have a room in AB section VS Mansion?

Better than 50/50, as there are more AB rooms than there are mansion building rooms anyway, and you could put in a request in advance too. What room type have you booked? Preferred Location will guarantee you an AB room.

Andre

 

[FrenchSnowWhite]

No we have garden view booked

 

[bumbershoot]

I just retired from Whirlpool and you can make 20,000 fridges in less than 2 days. Seems unbeleavable but we worked 3 shifts and 2 lines.

Eek. And maybe that sort of rush-rush thing is why they are being replaced?


When thinking of the timing, I think we should remember that they are giving the 4 months estimate for it to ALL be done. We also need to think about what will go into replacing it in each and every resort room, the manpower, the time it takes, the number of times they have to come back due to a scheduling conflict with any individual room, etc. Just getting those RFID room locks on took months and months (and then ours at Kidani fell off) and that's a door lock. If they have to change the cabinetry, that's even more time, etc.

I hate that this fridge thing has happened, but I don't think the total timeframe is unreasonable.

 

[mm1971]

I'm only on page 11 so far reading this thread. But could someone help me out with my question. I'm not getting very far with Disney reservations.

So I went online today to book a "preferred" location at Riverside. We are a family of 3 and online it said that a preferred location includes 2 queen beds AND a pull down bunk. There were some other different style rooms that said 2 queen beds OR 2 queens beds & pull down bunk, but that wasn't the case with the preferred ones. So I was taking that to mean that all preferred rooms at Riverside include the pull down bunk.

So then my travel agent calls to book the room and is told that there's no guarantee for the pull down bunk, that those go to larger families. That did not make sense to me. So I got online to chat with a disney reservations person myself. She said yes, there are preferred rooms that do not have a pull down bunk, just only 2 queens. It's the luck of the draw. If there was a chance to have no pull down bunk, wouldn't the online reservation have listed it as 2 queens OR 2 queens with a pull down bunk?

Can anyone confirm this? Will we get down there (in January), and find that indeed it is possible that we will not have a pull down bunk?

Some of the POR rooms sleep 5, that is the reason for the pull out bunk. They do try to keep these available for parties of 5. From what I remember, the wording as "either 2 Q or 2Q and bunk" when we registered. I am guessing a family of 3 would be automatically placed in a room without the bunk. Request having one and hopefully the CM is in able to get you one. They are usually held for larger parties since they are limited.

We were in a preferred room without the bed. It could have been a Handicapped Accessible room, not sure as it didn't even cross my mind to check. Heading to a royal room next month.

 

[spiritsim]

Assuming those are not already ordered for any other customers of course.

Andre

we always have rows and rows in the wearhouse waiting for orders not all are made to order

 

[phoebec]

does the pool bar have a mug refill station?