andrewilley
GNU Terry Pratchett
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Sorry, this old FAQ thread is now closed, please see the latest updated version located at:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2904701
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2904701
See you over there!
Welcome to the Port Orleans Riverside FAQ
Quick Facts:
Resort: Disneys Port Orleans Riverside
Address: 1251 Riverside Drive, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 32830-1000
Tel: (407) 934-6000
Fax: (407) 934-5777
Reservations: (407) 934-7639 or www.disneyworld.com, or your favourite travel agent.
Opening Date: 2 February 1992 (under its former name of Dixie Landings)
Location: Downtown Disney area
Category: Moderate
Rooms: 2,048
Closest Theme Park: Epcot
Closest Water Park: Typhoon Lagoon
Closest Entertainment/Shopping: Downtown Disney
Introduction
Port Orleans Riverside is the largest section of the 3,056 room Port Orleans Resort complex which is situated about two miles north of the Downtown Disney area along the banks of the Disney-created Sassagoula River. The other section is is Port Orleans French Quarter and the entire complex was formed by the merger of the old Dixie Landings Resort and the Port Orleans Resort in March 2001.
Each area (Riverside and French Quarter) is treated as a separate hotel by Disneys Central Reservations, and each has its own check-in area and facilities. However, guests staying at Riverside may use all the amenities at French Quarter and vice versa including sharing the swimming pools. Its just a short ten-minute riverbank walk between the two locations, or you can use the free ferry boats.
What is the layout of the resort?
The Port Orleans Riverside Resort is split into two sections, Alligator Bayou and Magnolia Bend, plus the main facilities building (the Sassagoula Steamboat Company) and a recreational island (Ol man Island) which is located centrally between the two areas.
Alligator Bayou consists of 16 two-story buildings with 64 guest rooms in each (with room numbers 14xx to 39xx). As the buildings are fairly small, there are no elevators. The area is themed as a rustic backwater bayou, with dense foliage, meandering streams and pathways, small pools and pretty bridges. The rooms follow this rustic style and feature such themed items as bed-posts hewn from logs. Note: some people love this theming, while others comment that it feels rather basic.
Magnolia Bend consists of four larger 256-room plantation style mansion buildings (Acadian House, Magnolia Terrace, Oak Manor and Parterre Place) laid out in more formal gardens with fountains and courtyards (room numbers 80xx to 95xx). The rooms are more ornate and plushly decorated, although the actual size and facilities provided are identical to those in Alligator Bayou. The mansions are all three storied buildings near the main entrance (where the elevators are located) and two stories in the outlying blocks.
The Sassagoula Steamboat Company main facilities building is themed as a riverboat depot and an old-fashioned cotton mill, and it provides the resorts lobby and front desk facilities, shop, restaurants and bars, the main bus stop and ferry boat dock, plus boat and bike rental facilities.
Ol Man Island is home to the main feature swimming pool with slide, hot tub and pool bar, the Fishin Hole, a childrens playground and a seasonal campfire setting.
What types of room are available?
There are three basic room types: Standard, Water View and King Bed (the latter two being more expensive). There are no preferred locations as such, so your room could be located anywhere on the resort.
Standard view rooms can overlook woods, gardens or parking lots. Water View guarantees a view of either a pool or the Sassagoula River. Kind Bed rooms contain just one King-size bed instead of two doubles, and can be located anywhere on the resort so you could be allocated either type of view.
How much does it cost?
Room prices vary by day, season and room type, starting from $149 per night for weekdays in Value season to $215 for weekends in Holiday season. Water View and King Bed rooms cost approximately $15 extra per night, and there is also a $15 surcharge for having a third or fourth adult occupying a room. These prices are all plus 12.5% local tax.
If you book room-only with Disney you will pay a one room/night deposit in advance and the balance upon arrival. Cancellation with a full refund is possible up until six days before arrival, or 45 days for package bookings.
Some discounts, such as AAA and WDW Annual Passholder apply, but these are limited and often sell out very quickly once the rates have been released.
Can I request a particular location or room type?
Some people prefer to request one section or the other and its always best to make your requests along with your initial booking. You can also try faxing or phoning the resort a few days before you arrive (no more than five days) as a reminder, but please be aware that Disney will not guarantee any locations apart from on specific medical grounds.
Generally speaking, the best locations for access to the main building and bus stop are buildings 14-18 and 27 in the Alligator Bayou section. Oak Manor and Parterre Place in the Magnolia Bend mansions are also good.
Some areas, such as buildings 34-39 in the Alligator Bayou are very remote, and while there are several outlying bus stops youll find yourself a very long way from breakfast!
What facilities are in the rooms?
All rooms are approximately 314 square feet and feature two double (not Queen size) beds. Rooms containing one King bed are available for an extra charge. The Alligator Bayou double-bedded rooms (only) also feature an extra pull-out trundle bed which allows this section to sleep five people. Note: the trundle bed is smaller than a normal single bed and so is really only suitable for children up to about age ten.
Connecting doorway rooms are available, but again these are not guaranteed unless there are unaccompanied minors occupying the second room. Another often-requested option is a corner room, as these have two windows rather than one and thus tend to be brighter.
All rooms include: phone, TV, clock, small fridge (no freezer compartment), bathtub/shower, toilet, two wash basins, table & two chairs, bedside table, cabinet with drawers (beneath the TV), air conditioning & ceiling fan, cabled internet access ($9.95 for 24 hours), small wall-safe, coffee maker (four-cup basket filter type, supplied with free coffee), hair dryer, iron & ironing board, clothes hanging rail.
Some disabled-access rooms are available which mostly feature one King-size bed, a roll-in shower and wheel-chair height accessible facilities such as safe, wash basin, etc.
Is smoking allowed in any of the buildings?
No, smoking is no longer permitted in any part of Walt Disney World apart from specially designated smoking areas which are clearly marked on the resort maps.
What time can I check in and can the resort store my bags?
Rooms are officially available from 3pm but you can check in at the front desk as early as you like. You may get lucky and find that a room happens to be ready earlier, or otherwise Bell Services can store your bags while you head off to enjoy the hotel facilities or the theme parks.
Check-out is by 11am, although you can request a free later check-out time (up to 1pm) as long as the room is not need urgently for other guests. Again, Bell Services will store your bags until you are ready to depart, and they also have a fridge for items which need to be kept chilled. Note: the main pool has showers, lockers and changing rooms if you want to take a dip after you have checked out.
What options are there for eating and drinking?
The Sassagoula Steamboat Company building houses a counter service food court and a table-service restaurant, a lounge bar and the hotel shop which sells packeted snacks and drinks.
The Riverside Mill is the resorts food court, themed as a working cotton mill from the mid-1800s. It contains five varied serving stations offering everything from bakery goods and burger/chicken meals to carved meat joints to pizza and make-your-own-pasta, plus a grab-and-go area for quick fresh snack items. Refillable mugs are available for $12.95, which you can top up at the beverage station for free for the rest of your stay. The one downside at this food court is that you collect all your food from the various counters and only then queue up to pay, which means that at very busy times (such as 9am for breakfast) it can take a while before you sit down to eat.
Boatwrights Dining Hall is the only table-service restaurant at either of the Port Orleans resorts, and is situated in a recreation of an old shipbuilders yard, complete with the partially-completed New Orleans Lugger boat hanging from the ceiling. As with all of Walt Disney World these days, advanced dining reservations are strong recommended - call (407) WDW-DINE to book up to 90 days in advance of the first day of your stay. The food has a generally Cajun style, but theres plenty to choose from for everyone. The Sweet Potato Cakes and Banana-stuffed French Toast for breakfast were especially recommended, but sadly from 22nd February 2009 Boatwrights no longer serves breakfast, only dinner from 5pm to 10pm.
The River Roost lounge offers specialty drinks, appetizers, and some great sing-along piano musical entertainment from Yee Ha Bob Jackson in the evenings (Wednesday-Saturday from 8.30pm).
Light snacks and drinks are also available from the Muddy Rivers pool bar on Ol Man Island.
Fultons General Store is the resorts gift shop, and apart from all the usual Disney and resort merchandise they also carry a selection of essentials plus snack items and bottled drinks, newspapers & magazines, medicines, etc.
What about recreation facilities?
Ol Man Island contains Riversides main feature swimming pool. Its themed as an old-fashioned swimming hole located on a wooded island surrounded by the Sassagoula River. The main pool has waterfalls and a 95 ft slide, plus theres a separate kiddies pool, hot tub and the Muddy Rivers Pool Bar if you just want to sit on the porch with a drink. Life guards are on duty until 8pm (10pm seasonally) when the slide closes, but there are often people still swimming until well after midnight. Towels are provided free of charge and there is a towel-return bin next to the pool.
Ol Man Island also features a childrens playground area and a campfire around which stories are told as your roast your smores (seasonal winter activity). There is also a Fishin Hole where you can rent a cane pole and catch catfish, perch, bass and bluegill. There is a catch-and-release policy so youll have to throw em back. You can also book a fishing excursion on the Sassagoula River - bring your own rod and tackle, or rent them.
Port Orleans Riverside also has five smaller quiet pools two in the Magnolia Bend area and three in Alligator Bayou. These are open 24 hours, but they do not have lifeguards or provide towels (although there are towel-return bins). There are guest-operated pay laundry facilities at each of the quiet pools.
The Medicine Show Games Arcade is located just off the main lobby.
At the marina just behind the main lobby you can rent a pontoon boat, Boston Whaler, Sea Raycer (two-person water mouse boat) or pedal boat/canoe and travel up and down the Sassagoula River. You can also rent pedal cycles and four-wheel Surrey Bikes from this area. On Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday mornings, children aged 4-12 can experience the Bayou Pirate Adventure, a supervised riverboat excursion in search of hidden treasure. Cost is $30 per child, including a snack lunch.
Horse-drawn carriage rides are offered in the evenings (weather permitting) from 6pm to 9:30pm. Cost is $35 per 25-minute ride for up to four adults (or two adults and three small children). You can make reservations at the Riverside marina, or in advance via (407) WDW PLAY.
What transportation options are there?
Port Orleans Riverside features four bus stops with free Disney bus transportation to all of the Disney theme parks, water parks and the Downtown Disney area. Buses run at least every 10-20 minutes from one hour before park opening until 1.5 hours after each park closes. Note: you cannot get to the other resort hotels very easily and will need to plan enough time to change at a theme park or at Downtown Disney.
The bus service is the subject of some controversy as this is a large resort and for most of the day the bus service is shared with French Quarter (which often gets the first pickup on the route). Even though separate services are run at peak times, if youre trying to get back from a park (along with the rest of the masses) after a fireworks show, you may experience a lengthy wait.
There are four bus stops at Riverside, so if you board at the first one (usually the South Depot, next to the main lobby building) then you may have to go round the other three stops before the bus actually departs for its final destination. Epcot is the closest resort (usually less than 10 minutes from leaving the resort), then Studios, Magic Kingdom and finally Animal Kingdom (sharing its service with Blizzard Beach) which can take up to 20-25 minutes.
If youre travelling to Downtown Disney, a much more relaxing and romantic option is the 20-minute free water taxi service which runs along the Sassagoula River every 10-20 minutes from 11am to 11pm. From 9am to 11am a local water shuttle service runs between Riverside and French Quarter only. Before 11am or after 11pm you'll need to take the bus to get to or from Downtown Disney, and during the day this bus also serves Typhoon Lagoon.
Where can I find out more detailed information, see photos, etc?
For more information and some photos, please refer to the Port Orleans Riverside DIS Resorts Page and the DIS Port Orleans Riverside Photos Page.
You could also try the unofficial Port Orleans tribute site at www.portorleans.org which tries to answer just about any Port Orleans questions you may have - and has a ton of photos too.
There is also a fabulous Port Orleans Riverside photo thread right here on the DIS to get you excited ready for your trip.
Port Orleans Riverside FAQ text and photo (c) Andre Willey 2008, 2009. Used here by permission.
We all will be there at that same time. 
Do the little pools have a bathroom, maybe?
Not worried about me, but three KIDS! 
