Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Resort

[andrewilley]

I had reserved Preferred in Dec.
...
When did Disney start down grading when the error is theirs?

Sadly, the actual date that you made the reservation is not relevant at all, they normally allocate rooms on the day on a first-arrival basis (it's called "Ready Room", to try to accommodate as many guests when they actually arrive at the resort from the pool of currently available rooms as possible). If the system has overbooked a category though, that can cause problems with the last to arrive, or if a room has been assigned via the online checkin process and then that turns out to be unavailable. The front desk cast members don't have the authority to reallocate rooms beyond what they see as available on their screen, but a manager from the room inventory team can override that and issue a room which might have been held back for example.

I don't know which room in 80 they first planned to give you, but some of them are very close to the Ol' Man Island footbridge and can actually be nearer to the main building than some of the Preferred Location areas. Glad you got building 14 anyway (was it perhaps a River View like 1448 maybe, as if so then you actually got upgraded).

It's a small thing but can anyone tell me if the drinks machines serve caffeine free Diet Coke

Yes, they do, from http://www.portorleans.org/riversidemill.php:

• Coca Cola
• Diet Coke
• Diet Coke, Caffeine Free
• Sprite
• Fanta Orange
• Coca Cola Cherry
• Barq’s Root Beer
• Hi-C Flashin’ Fruit Punch (still)
• Minute Maid Light Lemonade (still)
• Coca Cola Zero

So out of ten dispensers, five serve variations of coca cola. Which always seems a bit excessive to me, but hey.

Andre

 

[Barbanellie]

As a party of 2 are you less likely to be granted your request for the Alligator Bayou section? We've stayed at POR in the past but always requested the Mansion section. Knowing that the AB rooms sleep 5 make me wonder if they're less likely to place a party of 2 there?

In my experience, I would say not any less likely to get this request than any other. We've only been to POR twice, but requested AB both times, and got it both times. And the first time, we had three rooms, two people only in each, and we got three AB rooms.

I love AB. I wonder if I'll ever be able to request a mansion room if we return to POR!

 

[mawatcha]

I love AB. I wonder if I'll ever be able to request a mansion room if we return to POR!

What do you love about AB? I am staying at POR for the first time in January and really want the mansion rooms, but curious to know what people like about AB too!

Thanks.

 

[JennLTX]

What do you love about AB? I am staying at POR for the first time in January and really want the mansion rooms, but curious to know what people like about AB too!

Thanks.

Landscaping, quiet, very comfortable rooms (IMO). Not going to lie, it can get a bit confusing on some of the paths, but it's always a really lovely walk.

 

[mawatcha]

Landscaping, quiet, very comfortable rooms (IMO). Not going to lie, it can get a bit confusing on some of the paths, but it's always a really lovely walk.

Thanks! I've been worried about being disappointed if we end up in AB, it's good to know that lots of people like it.

 

[siskaren]

What do you love about AB? I am staying at POR for the first time in January and really want the mansion rooms, but curious to know what people like about AB too!

Thanks.

I prefer the more rustic decor.

 

[Moxiepup]

What do you love about AB? I am staying at POR for the first time in January and really want the mansion rooms, but curious to know what people like about AB too!

Thanks.

I loved the lush landscaping. Tropical plants abound! Plus it's nicely shaded. The mansion area just looks too formal to me. I suppose it's nice if you're into lawns...

 

[andrewilley]

What do you love about AB? I am staying at POR for the first time in January and really want the mansion rooms, but curious to know what people like about AB too!

Well if a picture speaks a thousand words...

Andre

 

[FelisLachesis]

This little discussion is really fun! It seems to bring up a bigger question for everyone in POR-land!

Do you consider AB and The Mansions two parts of the same hotel, or do you consider them more two separate hotels that share a common reservation system, lobby, and main pool?

For example, would you be happier if it got split into PO-AB and PO-M (and POFQ sitting there going "hello!" on the side), knowing that if you booked a room you're guaranteed a room in The Bayou or a Mansion room? Yes, I know you can book Preferred or Royal, and get a AB or Mansion room, respectively, right now, but do you wish you could do that for any room? Or do you enjoy that bit of randomness that comes in with booking a room here?

 

[JennLTX]

Well if a picture speaks a thousand words...

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

Do you consider AB and The Mansions two parts of the same hotel, or do you consider them more two separate hotels that share a common reservation system, lobby, and main pool?

I think AB and the mansions are very, very different areas, and while I don't think separating them completely would work because all the facilities areas are common, I do think that they are different enough for it to be better to allow people to specifically book one side or the other (like you can at Saratgoa Springs with the regular sections or the treehouse villas)

Andre

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

I think AB and the mansions are very, very different areas, and while I don't think separating them completely would work because all the facilities areas are common, I do think that they are different enough for it to be better to allow people to specifically book one side or the other (like you can at Saratgoa Springs with the regular sections or the treehouse villas)

Andre

Also like you can at AoA, where you can choose a section, or choose random.

 

[mawatcha]

Thanks everyone, especially for those gorgeous photos @andrewilley. I think we'll chance it and see what we end up with now!

 

[Barbanellie]

What do you love about AB? I am staying at POR for the first time in January and really want the mansion rooms, but curious to know what people like about AB too!

Thanks.

I think Andre's photos say it all My husband and I are, in general, more rustic-deco kind of people than upscale rich places. Don't know if I make sense? We love that look of the wood for the bed posts and the chairs. The landscape with all the plants, and winding pathways. There's also something about how the AB buildings are made that you can be in a quiet corner and almost feel like you've got your own cabin (ok, I might be stretching the imagination, here, but that's how I felt!).

It's not that I wouldn't like the mansions, but we just fell in love with the bayou section.

 

[JennLTX]

There's also something about how the AB buildings are made that you can be in a quiet corner and almost feel like you've got your own cabin (ok, I might be stretching the imagination, here, but that's how I felt!).

That's exactly how we felt, too!!!

 

[Wood Nymph]

This little discussion is really fun! It seems to bring up a bigger question for everyone in POR-land!

Do you consider AB and The Mansions two parts of the same hotel, or do you consider them more two separate hotels that share a common reservation system, lobby, and main pool?

For example, would you be happier if it got split into PO-AB and PO-M (and POFQ sitting there going "hello!" on the side), knowing that if you booked a room you're guaranteed a room in The Bayou or a Mansion room? Yes, I know you can book Preferred or Royal, and get a AB or Mansion room, respectively, right now, but do you wish you could do that for any room? Or do you enjoy that bit of randomness that comes in with booking a room here?

We love AB and would be disappointed if we ended up in the mansion section. AB has a rustic charm and the landscaping is lovely. It would be nice to be able to guarantee AB with every room type, not just preferred.

 

[TillyDe]

, the actual date that you made the reservation is not relevant at all, they normally allocate rooms on the day on a first-arrival basis (it's called "Ready Room", to try to accommodate as many guests when they actually arrive at the resort from the pool of currently available rooms as possible). If the system has overbooked a category though, that can cause problems with the last to arrive, or if a room has been assigned via the online checkin process and then that turns out to be unavailable. The front desk cast members don't have the authority to reallocate rooms beyond what they see as available on their screen, but a manager from the room inventory team can override that and issue a room which might have been held back for example

Andre

Thanks for the information. I did the online check-in. We arrived at two pm. We did not receive a text until 6:48 pm. We were in our room about 3:30.

 

[Tia1977]

24 days out, got MB's yesterday, and getting really excited! I'm a die hard CBR fan who felt (corny as it sound bc hey it's still Disney! ) totally deflated in switching resorts at first. (Due to the massive CBR construction, deal breaker for DH. And it just wasn't in our budget to upgrade to deluxe) I grew up with heavy family ties in LA, the overall theming just felt too familiar (The way Wildernesses Lodge would feel due to living close to the mountains now, and having many local trips under my belt with a rustic/cabin feel). To each his own, but typically part of my WDW fun is the feeling of being somewhere different than my "real world"

After making peace (while I admit, kinda hard lol) with the resort move, stalking info/pictures online, and now general Disney excitement washing over me ...I'm determined to view this as a wonderful WDW adventure and come home feeling silly that I ever doubted I could love POR

We have Preferred booked, I'll submit a request for any available (chances low I assume) river view rooms a week before arrival. I've worked in taking advantage of the Riverboat to DS, we'll have a lazy main pool night the day of arrival, and looking forward to some of the resort food. Other than Yeehaw Bob (would rather utilize last AP trip time differently), what are your favorite resort loves to experience?

My family sleeps in later than I do, and part of my personal fun is getting out/about the resort for lazy coffee time. I'll definitely become acquainted with the lake path. Any particular favorite spots around the resort that you love to rest/take in/people/nature watch, etc?

After 3 months of doubt I'll enjoy bc of the resort change, I can now fully say I'm super excited!

 

[JennLTX]

The Sassagoula in the morning is GORGEOUS. Hang out on a bridge with your coffee and watch the birds; it was one of my absolute favorite things to do.

 

[FelisLachesis]

The Sassagoula in the morning is GORGEOUS. Hang out on a bridge with your coffee and watch the birds; it was one of my absolute favorite things to do.

A morning walk from my Riverside room to the French Quarter food court to get some beignets was a big highlight of my trip. It was so quiet, even on New Year's Day (I think everyone else was still hungover )