Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Resort

[mocame]

You don't have to convince me. Clip-Clop..Clip-Clop... Wish I was there now! Sigh.

I know, right! I can't wait! I have 22 days!

 

[Ensusieasm]

I know, right! I can't wait! I have 22 days!

Have Fun!

 

[DisPrncess19]

Where did you get that article?? everything that I have read so far praises POR!

WDW Magazine. My only experience with Riverside wasn't great but like I said it was 10 years ago so we are giving it a try again. I love French Quarter though. In my opinion it's Disney so no matter what it will be great.

 

[Marlyn]

I'm staying at POR for the first time in July. I was at Wlderness Lodge on our last trip and loved it. Prior to that we had only stayed at All Star Movies. We moved out of value resort when my boys got bigger. The beds were just not big enough. I have always been intrigued by POR so I'm so excited to try it.

We absolutely loved WL, so I was worried about being let down with POR, but reading all the reviews has me wishing my trip would come sooner. We go for 2 weeks so have a lot of resort time. We have booked preffered so will be in AB (which appeals to me more than the mansions)

One concern I had was the outdoor corridors. We are going in July. It's so hot. I appreciated having the indoor corridors at WL for the AC when we went in August. However, we have preferred so will be close to main building. And we have rented a car for this trip so won't rely on buses. We like to hop to water parks in the afternoon. A car makes that so much easier.

 

[andrewilley]

Some of those negatives were a bit of a stretch (particularly saying that the AB rooms are less posh and in a woodsy surrounding - which is of course the whole point of them!) but they are mostly valid points (if a little generic). However as long as you've done your research and put in suitable requests (especially with regard to room location) most of those comments vanish anyway.

Andre

 

[llachance]

I will be there next weekend - it is my family's go to resort!

 

[DisPrncess19]

Some of those negatives were a bit of a stretch (particularly saying that the AB rooms are less posh and in a woodsy surrounding - which is of course the whole point of them!) but they are mostly valid points (if a little generic). However as long as you've done your research and put in suitable requests (especially with regard to room location) most of those comments vanish anyway.

Andre

Yes very true, if one wanted to they could find problems with every hotel on property. Thank you for all the great information Andre her andon the website.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Is there a rhyme or reason to who gets a mansion and who gets a room in AB? I know parties of 5 will get AB, but does that mean parties of 4 are more likely to get a mansion? I am ok with either - just wondering what to expect..

*post snipped by me*
Been to POR 3x and stayed in mansions every time (party was 2-3 people). Going again soon and while I love the mansions (nostalgic reasons), I would be happy to stay AB too.

 

[lilkimmyk]

I was messing around looking for a preferred room with October/November dates on the Disney website. For the week starting October 17th (a Monday) there is no availability for standard or preferred rooms. However, the weeks before and after are showing availability. Is there something going on that week that would book the rooms so early? I was just a little curious and thought maybe someone here might know. Thanks!

 

[Minnesota!]

8 days till POR!

 

[keahgirl8]

Some of those negatives were a bit of a stretch (particularly saying that the AB rooms are less posh and in a woodsy surrounding - which is of course the whole point of them!) but they are mostly valid points (if a little generic). However as long as you've done your research and put in suitable requests (especially with regard to room location) most of those comments vanish anyway.

Andre

Clearly this article is written by a crazy person. lol

I honestly haven't had all of the bus issues people talk about. I did have to wait for a second bus to MK one morning, but honestly, if I had gotten up earlier, I probably wouldn't have.

 

[Ariel on Land]

I'm trying to figure out room requests. We are a group of 5, so we'll be in AB, and have a garden view room reserved. I've never been to POR, and am having a hard time visualizing the area based on the photos. I keep hearing there's rooms near the river? We would like to be away from too much foliage and water. We don't want to feel like we're walking through a swamp. We prefer to drive, so close to parking. Any building suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Jcon]

This is a link to the maps. You'll notice on the left hand side, AB. The blue buildings are the preferred buildings, meaning preferred booking level. If you have garden view, you'll likely be in the green buildings. The river, going around the centre of the property, is light blue. The dark blue areas are the pools. If you use this map and the pictures Andre has posted on the website, you'll get a feel for the area.

If you're really curious, Touring Plans offers views (pictures from outside) of each room on the property. From there, you'll get a sense of what you're going to see when you step out each day.

Edit: Sorry, the link above is not obvious: http://www.portorleans.org/maps-and-directions.php

 

[andrewilley]

I'm trying to figure out room requests. We are a group of 5, so we'll be in AB, and have a garden view room reserved ... We would like to be away from too much foliage and water. We don't want to feel like we're walking through a swamp. We prefer to drive, so close to parking.

Probably a bit late now, but you would have been better booking Standard View. Garden View within the Alligator Bayou section specifically means views out into the bayou/woods/streams/etc - or in your words, "swamp". Standard View would more likely place you close to the parking lots with less vegetation around you, which seems to fit your wishes better.

Requesting a specific building won't help much, so I'd suggest telling them that you don't want too enclosed a woodsy/watery view, but it won't be too easy (unless they technically downgrade you) as that is really the whole point of Garden View rooms in that area. You could request a room as close as possible to the riverbank pathway, which while it would not be directly overlooking the river would mean you won't be walking too far into the woods (however that would also mean furthest from the parking lots, so to get to your car you'd still be walking through woodsy routes).

Take a look at http://www.portorleans.org/gallery-POR-AB.php for lots of photos of the sort of area you have booked:

Examples of AB Garden View areas:

Example of AB Standard View area (from the most distant section of the resort, looking out from building 35):

Andre

 

[Ariel on Land]

Ok, thanks! Those pictures actually help a ton. THe other pictures I had found and the way I was interpreting a lot of the descriptions seemed more "swampy" and overgrown, and I guess the whole "alligator bayou" term also came across that way. These pictures look much more manicured. The standard rooms were booked, all they had was garden view.

 

[juliebee]

I've read about the bus system and the order of the pick-ups at POR, but I was wondering if the busses get full or if it is standing room only by the time they get over to the East Depot? I was hoping to request a room in Magnolia Terrace, but don't want to stand everyday on the way to the parks. Any input on that?

 

[T_O]

Ok, thanks! Those pictures actually help a ton. THe other pictures I had found and the way I was interpreting a lot of the descriptions seemed more "swampy" and overgrown, and I guess the whole "alligator bayou" term also came across that way. These pictures look much more manicured. The standard rooms were booked, all they had was garden view.

Lol, this was pretty much my husband's reaction when I said some of the rooms had views of a bayou. He rolled his eyes and said, "so you'd be looking at a swamp."

 

[mocame]

I've read about the bus system and the order of the pick-ups at POR, but I was wondering if the busses get full or if it is standing room only by the time they get over to the East Depot? I was hoping to request a room in Magnolia Terrace, but don't want to stand everyday on the way to the parks. Any input on that?

It's been a while since we were at Disney (7 years) but we always used the East Depot and it was not crowded at all. We really liked that depot. But then the bus would stop at the South Depot before going to the park and pick up a lot of people which would lead to a very crowded bus. My husband would always stand up and give someone else his seat so for most of the rides to the parks, he was standing.

 

[Kirby]

When we were there a year and a half ago, we stayed in Magnolia Terrace (loved it!) and used the East Depot. We always got a seat but many times full buses passed us by. There was only one time though that we had to wait more than 10 minutes for a bus that we wanted.

 

[Luvamouse]

I'm trying to figure out room requests. We are a group of 5, so we'll be in AB, and have a garden view room reserved. I've never been to POR, and am having a hard time visualizing the area based on the photos. I keep hearing there's rooms near the river? We would like to be away from too much foliage and water. We don't want to feel like we're walking through a swamp. We prefer to drive, so close to parking. Any building suggestions? Thanks!

I also recommend using Google Maps to look at the resort as well. You can drop down quite close and see the accompanying foliage/trees/etc., and it is great in conjunction with the pictures from Portorleans.org. I actually use Google Maps before booking any hotel, anywhere. Gives you an idea of the neighborhood. Helps you visualize driving and walking routes as well.