Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Resort

[celina14]

Decided to book CBR to get FD for 12/17 - 12/22. So grateful to be going to WDW and with an awesome discount for my family ($955) but can't help feeling a little sad that I won't be returning to POR this year. Unless of course the PIN code gods smile on me and include POR (or POFQ) for my dates. I'm still gonna pop in here now and again cause I love it here.

I feel the exact same way. I made the switch to CBR for FD 11/26-12/4. I was really looking forward to staying at POR but the opportunity to get FD was too good to pass up. I've already told my TA though that if a RO discount comes out later for my dates at POR to switch me back. Here's hoping!

 

[AngiTN]

DH and I arrive next Friday for our first stay at POR. Quite looking forward to it. He's had friend sell him on the resort so we are chancing it for a short 5 day trip.
I went ahead and booked a longer 10 day trip for June. We always do several short trips and 1 long trip each year. Short trips are DH and I alone, long trips include DGD8.
Anyway, booked a Royal room for June, got an AP rate. Strangely, when looking at the list of rooms available online it shows none but if I clicked on the resort it showed Royal rooms, which is what I wanted. I think DGD will enjoy the various water areas. With longer trips we spend a bit of time at the resort. Last 3 years we did WL, AKL and Poly. As strange as it sounds we aren't fans of SAB so I didn't consider BC/YC. I really think POR will suit us well.
I do wish the Royal rooms had a Murphy bed. DGD would rather have her own bed but I don't want to give up the Royal room either.

I have heard a lot about the BB-bounce back- offers. You have to book before you check out and put down your initial $200 deposit and you get free dining for your next trip. Does the BB have to be for the same time frame you are in-say September or can you book the BB for any time frame? We are going in September but would love to go back for the Flower Garden Festival in 2017. I also believe that the BB offer maybe in a brochure in your room, if not, just call the front desk???

The problem is the BB free dining dates are not likely to include F&G dates. Typically they are very similar to the GP free dining dates, you just get a better inventory list and can book sooner.
Though this last year they did include a 1 week period earlier in the year, oddly. I think it was sometime in June

And the BB offer changes during the year. The Free Dining offer is only in the rooms in the late summer through fall (I think). The rest of the year it's room discount only

 

[dizneygirl55]

The problem is the BB free dining dates are not likely to include F&G dates. Typically they are very similar to the GP free dining dates, you just get a better inventory list and can book sooner.
Though this last year they did include a 1 week period earlier in the year, oddly. I think it was sometime in June

And the BB offer changes during the year. The Free Dining offer is only in the rooms in the late summer through fall (I think). The rest of the year it's room discount only

Thanks. At least I should have some option to get some type of BB offer-hopefully!

 

[5ofus]

Well hello there! I was lucky enough to snag a free dining offer for POR for my family of five from Sept 15-24 When I began planning (literally years ago) POR was my first choice, but with FD so limited, I was sure we'd be staying at CBR so I know very little about this resort. Time to read up!

This will be part of a much larger trip for us. We're flying into DFW where we'll spend one night recovering from jetlag before flying off to MCO. Three nights at Cabana Bay with only one day at Universal for my boys (9,7 and 5)and husband - but I'm having an extra day to get my HP fix. Then we're staying at VWL for two nights before moving to POR. After checking out of POR we are going on the Fantasy for a week, then flying to LA for three days in Disneyland before driving up the coast to Monterey and finally San Francisco - and the Walt Disney Family Museum. As you can imagine, having the free dining is a HUGE financial weight off my shoulders. I'm going to enjoy not fretting that I paid $60+ for my kids to eat a bowl of Fruit Loops each!

 

[5ofus]

What is the opinion of food at Boatwrights? I've been busy organising all my ADRs but just now decided to have a look at the Boatwrights menu and I think it would keep everybody in my family happy. What's the general opinion of food quality - we're not that picky Also, would we need an ADR for mid-Sept?

 

[andrewilley]

What is the opinion of food at Boatwrights?

I quite like it, it's a bit of a hidden gem. I see a lot of posts from people who thought "what the heck, it's on our doorstep, we'll try it" who have then been very pleasantly surprised, some even saying it was one of the nicest meals they had during their vacation.

I would suggest that if you know your planned date, book an ADR anyway (you can always cancel right up to 24 hours before). You might get away with it as a walk-up in September, but with free dining in force most restaurants get significantly busier than they otherwise might be, and you might have to wait a while.

Andre

 

[5ofus]

I quite like it, it's a bit of a hidden gem. I see a lot of posts from people who thought "what the heck, it's on our doorstep, we'll try it" who have then been very pleasantly surprised, some even saying it was one of the nicest meals they had during their vacation.

I would suggest that if you know your planned date, book an ADR anyway (you can always cancel right up to 24 hours before). You might get away with it as a walk-up in September, but with free dining in force most restaurants get significantly busier than they otherwise might be, and you might have to wait a while.

Andre

Thanks, I just booked

 

[andrewilley]

Thanks, I just booked

I'm just listening to the latest WDW Radio Show podcast [Link to Episode #444] which is a live restaurant review of a meal at Boatwright's, including comparisons to their recent trip to the real New Orleans. Quick Summary: they all loved it, kids and adults - over an hour of pure food porn!

Andre

 

[piglet1979]

DH and I arrive next Friday for our first stay at POR. Quite looking forward to it. He's had friend sell him on the resort so we are chancing it for a short 5 day trip.
I went ahead and booked a longer 10 day trip for June. We always do several short trips and 1 long trip each year. Short trips are DH and I alone, long trips include DGD8.
Anyway, booked a Royal room for June, got an AP rate. Strangely, when looking at the list of rooms available online it shows none but if I clicked on the resort it showed Royal rooms, which is what I wanted. I think DGD will enjoy the various water areas. With longer trips we spend a bit of time at the resort. Last 3 years we did WL, AKL and Poly. As strange as it sounds we aren't fans of SAB so I didn't consider BC/YC. I really think POR will suit us well.
I do wish the Royal rooms had a Murphy bed. DGD would rather have her own bed but I don't want to give up the Royal room either.


The problem is the BB free dining dates are not likely to include F&G dates. Typically they are very similar to the GP free dining dates, you just get a better inventory list and can book sooner.
Though this last year they did include a 1 week period earlier in the year, oddly. I think it was sometime in June

And the BB offer changes during the year. The Free Dining offer is only in the rooms in the late summer through fall (I think). The rest of the year it's room discount only

We booked a bounce back last fall for FD. They had it available for a week at the end of may beginning of June.

 

[Dittz]

I have a question about "the royal family of the day"

My cousin's family was this last year when her and her mom took her 2 youngest to POR. I was just wondering how this was chosen (if you happen to know). It is because they were the first family to arrive that day that was staying in a Royal room? Does it even have anything to do with the Royal rooms?? Or is it again just one of those randomly selected special pixie dust treats??

 

[Wood Nymph]

We are traveling with our son and grandsons. I requested connecting rooms but of course I know that they are not guaranteed. But if by chance we do get assigned connecting rooms, will they wait until both rooms are ready before letting you check in? I'm hoping that at least one fo the rooms is ready when we check in around noon so that we will have a place to dump our stuff.

The next question is about the pool. If you are arriving that day, your room isn't ready and you want to go swimming, do they have lockers that lock by the pool?

 

[andrewilley]

I'm hoping that at least one fo the rooms is ready when we check in around noon so that we will have a place to dump our stuff.

The next question is about the pool. If you are arriving that day, your room isn't ready and you want to go swimming, do they have lockers that lock by the pool?

You should be able to get both rooms early if you're not so worried about location, but in your case you want close rooms so I would think they would prefer for both to be available before issuing either of them (in case they have to alter the other one for some reason).

You can use the pools and all the facilities in the meantime, and there are lockers, and newly refitted changing room area and shower.

Andre

 

[Jadyreen1282]

What is the opinion of food at Boatwrights? I've been busy organising all my ADRs but just now decided to have a look at the Boatwrights menu and I think it would keep everybody in my family happy. What's the general opinion of food quality - we're not that picky Also, would we need an ADR for mid-Sept?

Prime Rib is just as good as Yachtsman or Le Cellier. You can get cheesy grits and shrimp too!

 

[Wood Nymph]

You should be able to get both rooms early if you're not so worried about location, but in your case you want close rooms so I would think they would prefer for both to be available before issuing either of them (in case they have to alter the other one for some reason).

Thanks. I was afraid that you would say that.

 

[piglet1979]

I have a question about "the royal family of the day"

My cousin's family was this last year when her and her mom took her 2 youngest to POR. I was just wondering how this was chosen (if you happen to know). It is because they were the first family to arrive that day that was staying in a Royal room? Does it even have anything to do with the Royal rooms?? Or is it again just one of those randomly selected special pixie dust treats??

I think you are talking about the family of the day at MK. To get picked for that I have heard you have to be to MK really early before they open. It is completely random too.

 

[mocame]

I think you are talking about the family of the day at MK. To get picked for that I have heard you have to be to MK really early before they open. It is completely random too.

During our 2009 trip, we got picked to be family of the day at AK but we got to the park really early. We didn't plan on getting there so early for that, it just happened that way. I had briefly said "Hello" to a CM while waiting for the park to open and perusing the park map. He came back later and asked if we would like to be the family of the day. There was also another family picked and got to ride a vehicle with a couple characters (we didn't get to see it because we were finishing up our thing.) I don't know why we were chosen because there were other families also waiting there. I look at it as a once-in-a-lifetime magical things.

 

[Arielsfanmom]

Just returned last night from our week stay at POR we stayed in Acadian House room 8080. The location was very nice for us near the quite pool and not too far the bus stop,we used the East Depot. It took about 7 minutes to walk from the room to food court. My DD5 loved the splash pad at POFQ, I wish that POR had one as well but she made sure we all got our exercise walking along the river to take her daily. We only had one negative experiences with the buses,on our MK day we had to wait about 35 minutes for a bus, then wait for the driver to load 2 scooters at the main stop before headed to MK we managed to get through bag check and the turnstiles 10 minutes before our ADR for CRT. I was about sick thinking we was going to miss it.

 

[Jcon]

I have a question for those that have used a playpen at the resort.

Do they provide a bottom sheet for the playpen that can be changed during our stay?

We're just trying to determine how much bedding to carry with us.

Thank-you in advance.

 

[Dittz]

*removed as it didnt insert the quotes when done from my phone

 

[Ariel on Land]

I have a question for those that have used a playpen at the resort.

Do they provide a bottom sheet for the playpen that can be changed during our stay?

We're just trying to determine how much bedding to carry with us.

Thank-you in advance.

Yes they do. When we needed one it was a cute baby Mickey pattern!