Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Resort

[disneyjr77]

it is beautiful! If you like going for a stroll, you'll love it. it's really not so far. At one point, I could see the mansions and FQ buildings. It probably took us 15-20 min, but we were all the way over in building 24 and had our 6 year old with us, so the pace was leisurely.

ETA: The beignets were totally worth the walk!

And the walk might go some way towards deferring all those calories.

Andre

It sounds to me like a win-win situation

 

[dpswift]

We will have to walk over there and check out the beignets. Now DH has decided on his own that he would rather stay in AB. I am just afraid that we will not get AB being just the 2 of us.

 

[tinkerbella16]

We will have to walk over there and check out the beignets. Now DH has decided on his own that he would rather stay in AB. I am just afraid that we will not get AB being just the 2 of us.

We stayed at POFQ last year and one morning we walked over to Riverside to check out the giftshop/pool. It took us about 15 minutes. It was a nice walk along the river.. very nice!

 

[dpswift]

We stayed at POFQ last year and one morning we walked over to Riverside to check out the giftshop/pool. It took us about 15 minutes. It was a nice walk along the river.. very nice!

I love walking outside at the resorts. Let us all know what you think of the RR as compared to POFQ.

 

[em36]

We have a reservation for Oct 5-10 at POR in a RR. Here is my question. We have a YC reservation for 7 nights beginning next week. I would love to drive over to POR to see the resort. Is this allowed? Will the guard have a problem with us parking there since we are guests at the YC?

 

[dansdad]

We have a reservation for Oct 5-10 at POR in a RR. Here is my question. We have a YC reservation for 7 nights beginning next week. I would love to drive over to POR to see the resort. Is this allowed? Will the guard have a problem with us parking there since we are guests at the YC?

It won't be a problem at all.

 

[tinkerbella16]

I love walking outside at the resorts. Let us all know what you think of the RR as compared to POFQ.

I have stayed in a Royal Room and they are my favorite rooms I've stayed in so far! They did an excellent job with the decor. I do love POFQ for its size and the rooms are a little plain but still okay.. but the royal rooms and their location are so great, I feel like I'm home there. I have to say I also enjoy the foodcourt at POR more than POFQ.

 

[andrewilley]

They normally load ECVs first of the currently waiting passenger queue, but they don't unload the whole bus to do so. They will ask any passengers sitting within the area designed for wheelchair use to move to different seating, or to stand, though.

Recently I've heard rumours that this sort of priority boarding might be going away though (as it has with rides access) and guests in wheelchairs or ECVs may be asked to wait their turn in line the same as everyone else. Currently, wheelchair/ECV guests automatically get first boarding access, even if they only turned up at the bus stop a minute ago while the rest of the queue has been waiting for 20 minutes or more.

Andre

 

[goofy4tink]

There are elevators in the middle of each building, and the walkways go around the whole building providing access to all rooms.

However the only two ramped access points from the riverbank pathway lead into the 'wing' sections, so it's a bit of a meandering route around the building to get to the elevators if you need to get to an upper floor:

Andre

Ahhhh. I didn't take the time to go to the far side of the building!! Thanks.

I have a question that might be better suited for the DISabilities forum, but I thought I would try my luck here first since so many of you folks are so knowledgeable about POR!

If I decide to switch my upcoming stay to POR (which I'm seriously considering), it will be my first time as an ECV-user at a resort with multiple bus stops. In the past, it's been my understanding that ECVs/wheelchairs must be loaded onto an empty bus, for the safety of all passengers. How does this work at a moderate resort like POR, where there odds are very good that when I report to the bus stop closest to my room, every bus that pulls up may have already visited other portions of the resort and have people on it?

I know they won't evacuate the bus just to load my ECV onto it (nor would I want them to!), so how can I be best prepared? Is there a set Depot order the buses consistently use every time, and if so, should I just always report to very first stop on the circuit, rather than the one closest to my room? If I switch to POR, it will be to a Royal Guest Room, so I had planned on just crossing the bridge from those two buildings and using the South Depot (which is my preferred bus stop regardless, due to it's proximity to the main resort areas).

Helpful responses appreciated! Thank you!

When I was there two weeks ago, ECVs, that were there and waiting, were loaded onto buses that had passengers already. If people were sitting in the specially designated seats, they had to move. They weren't happy, but I guess they probably either didn't read the signage above these seats, or they figured it wouldn't happen.

 

[Fizban]

How's the walk from POR to POFQ? I want to walk over one day to get beignets

The walk is about 15 minutes and its really nice. Also walking along the river is just peaceful first thing in the morning if you are an early riser like I am.

 

[andrewilley]

If people were sitting in the specially designated seats, they had to move. They weren't happy, but I guess they probably either didn't read the signage above these seats, or they figured it wouldn't happen.

Exactly. Asking people to move or stand is fine by me - and I see no reason for anyone to complain either (after all, it's not as though the person in the wheelchair can stand instead!).

However I would be concerned if the bus was completely full to capacity and they requested existing passengers to exit the bus and catch the next one in order to load a wheelchair guest who had arrived after them.

Andre

 

[Elevationist]

Hmmm...on every one of our trips that I can recall, we have seen the drive load an ECV on a bus with people already on it. We have stayed at POR and CBR, both have multiple stops, and even if it's the last stop as long as the ECV area is empty they will load the ECV. So I really wouldn't worry about it.

They normally load ECVs first of the currently waiting passenger queue, but they don't unload the whole bus to do so. They will ask any passengers sitting within the area designed for wheelchair use to move to different seating, or to stand, though.

Recently I've heard rumours that this sort of priority boarding might be going away though (as it has with rides access) and guests in wheelchairs or ECVs may be asked to wait their turn in line the same as everyone else. Currently, wheelchair/ECV guests automatically get first boarding access, even if they only turned up at the bus stop a minute ago while the rest of the queue has been waiting for 20 minutes or more.

When I was there two weeks ago, ECVs, that were there and waiting, were loaded onto buses that had passengers already. If people were sitting in the specially designated seats, they had to move. They weren't happy, but I guess they probably either didn't read the signage above these seats, or they figured it wouldn't happen.

Oh dear. Thank you all three of you for the replies, this is very informative. And may very well deter me from staying at POR. And it has nothing at all with wanting to be first on the bus while others have waited 20 minutes. (Though in the interest of fairness, I would point out that wheelchair/ECV users are also the last OFF the bus and are often just leaving the ramp while able-bodied guests from that same bus are already through the turnstiles and starting their day, so it all comes out in the wash.) While I've absolutely no problem waiting my turn (I would even be perfectly content to wait for the next bus, if that's what was needed of me), it is important to me to not have to load the ECV into a bus full of people.

The one and only time that a driver had me do this, about 6 weeks ago on a bus from AK to Epcot, it was a horrible experience. The driver would not help me park it, and while I'm a proficient ECV driver, trying to parallel park the thing into that tiny space on the bus really is a nightmare, and not a quick or easy process. So many people on the bus were staring at me, giving me dirty looks, and rolling their eyes at me. It was completely humiliating. (It didn't help that the driver was also being really rude, huffing, puffing, and yelling at me.)

I'm a very shy girl, I absolutely hate being an inconvenience to anybody, even complete strangers, and if I saw seated people being made to stand to make room for me and my ECV, it would really put a damper on my day. As much as I love the Moderate resorts, and am dying to stay in a Royal room, I would rather stay in a Value with just one bus stop than ever put myself through that again.

So sadly, POR and CBR might just be off my wishlist for good. I'll have to really think about it now. Thank you again for your information. I'm so happy to have a helpful community like the DIS to come to with these kinds of questions!

 

[cluno]

The one and only time that a driver had me do this, last month on a bus from AK to Epcot, it was a horrible experience. The driver would not help me park it, and while I'm a proficient ECV driver, trying to parallel park the thing into that tiny space on the bus really is a nightmare, and not a quick or easy process. So many people on the bus were staring at me, giving me dirty looks, and rolling their eyes at me. It was completely humiliating. (It didn't help that the driver was also being really rude, huffing, puffing, and yelling at me.)

I'm sorry that happened to you. It's sad that people can't have a little bit of patience.

 

[squeegee]

Oh dear. Thank you all three of you for the replies, this is very informative. And may very well deter me from staying at POR. And it has nothing at all with wanting to be first on the bus while others have waited 20 minutes. (Though in the interest of fairness, I would point out that wheelchair/ECV users are also the last OFF the bus and are often just leaving the ramp while able-bodied guests from that same bus are already through the turnstiles and starting their day, so it all comes out in the wash.) While I've absolutely no problem waiting my turn (I would even be perfectly content to wait for the next bus, if that's what was needed of me), it is important to me to not have to load the ECV into a bus full of people.

The one and only time that a driver had me do this, about 6 weeks ago on a bus from AK to Epcot, it was a horrible experience. The driver would not help me park it, and while I'm a proficient ECV driver, trying to parallel park the thing into that tiny space on the bus really is a nightmare, and not a quick or easy process. So many people on the bus were staring at me, giving me dirty looks, and rolling their eyes at me. It was completely humiliating. (It didn't help that the driver was also being really rude, huffing, puffing, and yelling at me.)

I'm a very shy girl, I absolutely hate being an inconvenience to anybody, even complete strangers, and if I saw seated people being made to stand to make room for me and my ECV, it would really put a damper on my day. As much as I love the Moderate resorts, and am dying to stay in a Royal room, I would rather stay in a Value with just one bus stop than ever put myself through that again.

So sadly, POR and CBR might just be off my wishlist for good. I'll have to really think about it now. Thank you again for your information. I'm so happy to have a helpful community like the DIS to come to with these kinds of questions!

Don't give up on the Royal Rooms!!!! There are stinkers everywhere, and you've been looking forward to this for such a long while!

 

[andrewilley]

So sadly, POR and CBR might just be off my wishlist for good. I'll have to really think about it now. Thank you again for your information. I'm so happy to have a helpful community like the DIS to come to with these kinds of questions!

Sadly, I don't think this is particularly a Port Orleans issue. The stories I heard about wheelchair/ECV guests no longer automatically getting priority boarding were from a theme park, not a resort. It could just be a trial of course, but I suspect the disABILITIES! board would be the best place to get the latest info. Whatever, don't let it put you off Port Orleans specifically, as quitew a number of resort buses serve more than one hotel location.

And there is no excuse at all for thoughtless, rude or unhelpful bus drivers (or guests). The drivers are meant to assist all guests with mobility issues to board and park safely before the bus departs. I'm sure it must be a daunting task to try to manoeuvre an unfamiliar ECV up a ramp and into a tight parking space at the best of times, and even more so if you've got lots of other guests to try to avoid.

Andre

 

[goofy4tink]

Exactly. Asking people to move or stand is fine by me - and I see no reason for anyone to complain either (after all, it's not as though the person in the wheelchair can stand instead!).

However I would be concerned if the bus was completely full to capacity and they requested existing passengers to exit the bus and catch the next one in order to load a wheelchair guest who had arrived after them.

Andre

I have never seen guests on a bus asked to get off the bus in order to make room for an ecv or wheelchair. I have, on the other hand, heard of it happening.....not more than one or two mentions though. I just don't think it's something that happens.

I know that people sneer, roll their eyes and make snide comments when an ecv roll up. And it annoys me beyond belief. I have spent time with a woman who uses an ecv routinely. Spending time in WDW with her, for just a few hours one evening, was eye-opening! She's an expert when it comes to moving that ecv around....on and off buses, in the parks, at attractions. I hazard a guess that she takes less time to get her ecv on that bus than it takes a family with a huge stroller. But....the looks and comments I heard were incredible. In the park? It was as if she was invisible.....people walked in front of her, cut her off, stopped dead in front of her. Truly eye-opening.
Most people have no issue waiting a bit longer on a bus, while an ecv is loaded. Most. It's that small percentage that make it miserable. I'm so sorry a bus driver was neither helpful or pleasant. His name would have gone into my bag and I would have mentioned him to someone.

Sometimes, it's up to the rest of us to stand up for those being made to feel uncomfortable. I well remember the time, a few years ago, that I was waiting to get on a bus at the resort, when a family ambled on up. There was a gentleman, using an ecv, waiting in the appropriate area. So, the dad, I assume, turns to mom, again I assume, and says 'Oh Jesus....now we get to wait while this guy tries to park himself. He probably has no clue. Terrific. Now we'll probably miss our ADR. Great!' Mom said they still had time.....they had 30 mins to get to the GF. I turned around and told him that the gentleman using the ecv was t going to make him late.....that even if there had been no ecv there he was t going to make it to the GF by 9:20 or so! That he hadn't left nearly enough time. His response? 'I highly doubt you know all that much about the buses at WDW, so why don't you stop trying to be an expert. Just shut up!' I told him to have a truly magical day, and that I sincerely hoped he never needed any mobility assistance. The bus arrived, the ecv was boarded, quite quickly I might add. I had more than one person thank me for speaking up. Yes, that guy grumbled the entire ride. And yes, I will admit it.....I was more than thrilled when we arrived at MK at 9:23! Makes me a bad person I guess. And because evidently the transportation gods were behind me, both the boat and monorail left just as our group made its way toward bag check.
Having to wait an addtl 8 mins while someone with special needs boards the bus is not so bad. People need to step back and look at the big picture. Oh, and I kind of do know a fair amount about WDW buses and transportation!

I really hope that you have a good experience with transportation on your trip!!

 

[siskaren]

We will have to walk over there and check out the beignets. Now DH has decided on his own that he would rather stay in AB. I am just afraid that we will not get AB being just the 2 of us.

I've stayed at POR twice, both times as a solo, and got AB both times, once by request, once by chance. I doubt that they hold the AB rooms aside just for groups of 5, if for no other reason than the fact that that's too many rooms to hold aside for one specific group size - I mean, half the rooms at POR are in AB.

 

[Elevationist]

Thank you all for all of your supportive comments! I didn't mean to hijack the thread and turn it from POR talk to ECV talk, I swear! I do want to respond specifically to one bit quickly though, then I promise I'm done!

I know that people sneer, roll their eyes and make snide comments when an ecv roll up. And it annoys me beyond belief. I have spent time with a woman who uses an ecv routinely. Spending time in WDW with her, for just a few hours one evening, was eye-opening! She's an expert when it comes to moving that ecv around....on and off buses, in the parks, at attractions. I hazard a guess that she takes less time to get her ecv on that bus than it takes a family with a huge stroller. But....the looks and comments I heard were incredible. In the park? It was as if she was invisible.....people walked in front of her, cut her off, stopped dead in front of her. Truly eye-opening.

This, absolutely this, 100%. I have been using an ECV at WDW since 2002, and I have experienced ALL of the above.

Following my last two trips I did Trip Reports here on the DIS, and particularly my recent trip in April, I talked a lot about my adventuring specific to the ECV. Many of my readers there said similar things, how they found it eye-opening to read about so many of the unexpected issues that we ECV-users encounter. I consider the thing to be both a blessing and a curse... A blessing because it would be impossible for me to visit WDW at all without it, but also a curse because of all the challenges that accompany it.

And while I don't consider myself expert level, I am pretty dang good with it, and extremely careful. But the one trick I still haven't mastered after all these years is parking it on the bus. I can zip up the ramp like a pro, but then I need a lot of help getting it into it's spot. It's my understanding that the drivers aren't allowed to instruct you to get off and let them slide it into it's parking spot (which I personally find to be the fastest, safest, and most efficient way to get the ECV where it belongs), but if you ASK them for help in this way, then they absolutely can do it. However, they aren't required to. And I always ask, and I find that 95% of the time, the bus driver is totally cool and helpful! But the other 5% refuse to, and will stand there and bark orders at me "Back up, more, now cut the wheel, no, harder, the other way, go forward! Too fast, back up! Keep going! You hit the wall, do it again!" Etc. With me hitting walls and seats the whole time. I don't love it, but I can deal with that stuff on an empty bus. A bus full of people? I can feel my anxiety issues ramping up just typing about it! The one time that I mentioned earlier, 6 weeks ago, I was nearly in tears by the time it was all said in done, it was so embarrassing.

And to bring it back On-Topic, I say all this to explain my extreme hesitation now regarding POR (or CBR or CSR or any resort with multiple bus stops), as it sounds like buses pulling up that already have people on them are the norm. Where as at resorts with just one bus stop, the bus usually shows up empty (not always of course, but usually). I haven't ruled it out completely, because I do LOVE those Royal rooms and have been wanting to stay in them ever since they were unveiled. And while I usually travel solo, I'll have my aunt & uncle with me for this one, so maybe in a worst case scenario they can help with getting the ECV into place when we have a bus driver who won't. (My aunt is also the type who won't hesitate to give somebody a piece of her mind if they are rude to me about it. )

Anyhow! I return you to your regularly scheduled DISing and POR-discussing! Thank you again for all of the advice and support!

 

[jknc]

Can anyone suggest an ideal time to get to bus stop to have a somewhat early arrival at AK?

 

[MissMaryQC]

Is it safe to assume that there are not hot tubs at the quiet pools?