Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Resort

[CJK]

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

Yes.

 

[emmamomma]

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!

Im sorry for what happened to you but you really shouldn't give up on what you want!

 

[Sue M]

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!

I'm sorry for the rude people, and bus drivers. They are in the minority. Just as there's rude ECV drivers. Once a woman on an EVC ran over my daughters foot, and we were standing still in line for Haunted Mansion. Not so much as an I'm sorry and tried to make like it was my daughters fault? Totally bizarre behaviour. EVC rider wasn't in line but it started to rain and she wanted (I think?) to get under the awning where queue is. Just thought it was ok to bulldoze anyone in her way.
Also the people who use strollers as battering rams.

As to people stopping suddenly in front of you, it's one of my peeves, walking I've had people suddenly stop in front of me to read a map, text, take pic, ugh. Never occurs to them to step to the side instead of stopping in the middle of pathway. I've accidentally walked into someone who suddenly stopped!

Don't let it deter you from POR. Sadly there are ignorant, rude people out there but it is the minority, and it's their problem, not yours.
It's a beautiful resort. We stayed in the Royal Rooms last January and they were super cute. I would either request a room near elevator or a ground floor.

 

[andrewilley]

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.

I'm always in two minds about whether to offer unsolicited advice to other guests for whom I could actually make life a lot simpler and less stressful. Sometimes people are grateful, other times it just seems to annoy them that someone else thinks they know better.

I'm sure we've all heard some HUGE misconceptions being discussed by other guests and bitten our lips, but if their mistake is going to spoil their day I do tend to chip in as often as not. I reckon that after 25 years of visiting WDW, 20 years of visiting Port Orleans, and nearly 10 years of running a dedicated website on the subject, my advice is probably just as good as the next person's, and possibly a little better. Generally people do take comments in the spirit they are intended - and if they don't, well good luck to them with finding the Harry Potter ride in Disney's Hollywood Studios, I'm sure they'll have great fun looking.

Andre

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm always in two minds about whether to offer unsolicited advice to other guests for whom I could actually make life a lot simpler and less stressful. Sometimes people are grateful, other times it just seems to annoy them that someone else thinks they know better.

I'm sure we've all heard some HUGE misconceptions being discussed by other guests and bitten our lips, but if their mistake is going to spoil their day I do tend to chip in as often as not. I reckon that after 25 years of visiting WDW, 20 years of visiting Port Orleans, and nearly 10 years of running a dedicated website on the subject, my advice is probably just as good as the next person's, and possibly a little better. Generally people do take comments in the spirit they are intended - and if they don't, well good luck to them with finding the Harry Potter ride in Disney's Hollywood Studios, I'm sure they'll have great fun looking.

Andre

I had one guest, at the AKL bus stop, ranting and raving about the bus having technical issues, which would make him late to GF. He said something that didn't make sense to me, and being the good little Transportation board moderator, I asked him what he meant. Seems he thought that this bus was going to the GF! It had started to rain a bit and he was not happy. I told him that when he got to MK (the bus we were waiting for) he could head to the monorail or the boat and get to the GF that way. He was appalled to find that 1. he wasn't going directly to the GF, and 2. he would have to go out, from under cover, and possibly get wet. Man, he wasn't happy....told me that I really didn't know what I was talking about. Because I've been told off so many times, I now keep my thoughts to myself. If someone has incorrect info, so be it.

As far as timing to AK goes, it depends on what time you need to be there. The buses start running by 6:30, but they aren't as frequent as the regular buses are. Until about an hour before park opening, they tend to run about every 20-25 mins, starting at 6:30. So, if you have to be at AK, for an ADR, at say, 8:30, I would be out at the AK bus stop by 7:15ish. If you just miss the bus, you might not get on one until past 7:30!

 

[dpswift]

I hate to say it but with all the ECV talk it seems as though the overall attitude of guests has changed over the last few years. When we were staying at POP last month I never once saw a person offer their seat to the elderly , young parents, or small children. On past trips it was the norm but this time teenagers and young adults sat while older people stood.

Hopefully I just had bad luck on the buses I rode.

Also those sitting would jump up as soon as the bus stopped even before all the standers were off.

 

[goofy4tink]

I think one of the biggest issues facing POR, as well as other moderate resorts, is the crowd waiting at the bus stops. If you arrive at the stop and the bus has just left, you're apt to take a seat. Then, more and more people arrive. So now, you've been waiting the longest, but you're way in the back of the crowd. I've heard guests yelling to make way, they've been there the longest. I've stood there, surrounded by people, have a bus arrive, and have a family walk right in front of all of us waiting, and board the bus as soon as the doors opened.
I think that, many times, people either just don't understand how it works, or they're in their own little world. The size of the moderate resorts mean more people at the stops. At the value resorts you have a well defined queue.....people know where to go. I sometimes wish the moderates would put that in as well.
The outlying stops, at POR anyway, don't have that issue...seems to be just at the main stop.

Happily, the rest of the resort is wonderful. Incredibly beautiful and peaceful. It will always be one of my favorite places to stay.

 

[Sue M]

I think one of the biggest issues facing POR, as well as other moderate resorts, is the crowd waiting at the bus stops. If you arrive at the stop and the bus has just left, you're apt to take a seat. Then, more and more people arrive. So now, you've been waiting the longest, but you're way in the back of the crowd. I've heard guests yelling to make way, they've been there the longest. I've stood there, surrounded by people, have a bus arrive, and have a family walk right in front of all of us waiting, and board the bus as soon as the doors opened.
I think that, many times, people either just don't understand how it works, or they're in their own little world. The size of the moderate resorts mean more people at the stops. At the value resorts you have a well defined queue.....people know where to go. I sometimes wish the moderates would put that in as well.
The outlying stops, at POR anyway, don't have that issue...seems to be just at the main stop.

Happily, the rest of the resort is wonderful. Incredibly beautiful and peaceful. It will always be one of my favorite places to stay.

One of the reasons I avoid waiting at the main stop. Also people queue up whether the bus coming is the one they want or not. Impossible to tell. I was waiting and large group was ahead of me and queue was not moving. Finally I asked, nope, lots weren't getting on that bus & I had to walk around them to get bus.
Outer bus stops are a lot more pleasant.

 

[Sue M]

I hate to say it but with all the ECV talk it seems as though the overall attitude of guests has changed over the last few years. When we were staying at POP last month I never once saw a person offer their seat to the elderly , young parents, or small children. On past trips it was the norm but this time teenagers and young adults sat while older people stood.

Hopefully I just had bad luck on the buses I rode.

Also those sitting would jump up as soon as the bus stopped even before all the standers were off.

That's awful.

 

[shaneray]

Probably a strange question but do you think the crickets you hear in the evening around POR are artificial, as in coming from speakers? Just made me wonder since crickets sounds are featured on the POR buses. I would ordinarily think the idea ludicrous but it is Disney we are talking about.

 

[pigletto]

Probably a strange question but do you think the crickets you hear in the evening around POR are artificial, as in coming from speakers? Just made me wonder since crickets sounds are featured on the POR buses. I would ordinarily think the idea ludicrous but it is Disney we are talking about.

LOL... I've wondered the same thing. Don't have an answer for you.. but I hope we will get one!

 

[squeegee]

When we were staying at POP last month I never once saw a person offer their seat to the elderly , young parents, or small children. On past trips it was the norm but this time teenagers and young adults sat while older people stood

Just to offer my $.02, it's not always obvious if those younger folk have health issues, too - I appear to be a healthy, average "young" adult to most folks. You can't tell by looking, that I've been through two rounds of surgery and cancer treatment in the last three and a half years, and am on lifelong suppressive medication for it now, which leaves me fatigued and with heart issues.

I'll be heading to Disney in December, staying at POR, and I know it will be a challenge for me to get through the day, so I may just be sitting in the bus while someone else who "looks" like they need the seat stands. I would hope that someone isn't there "tsk-tsking" under their breath, should another young mother with a toddler have to stand when I may be physically very "done" for the day. We are all there trying to enjoy the same things as best we can.

My husband, however, will always offer to give up his seat to those who he thinks might need it, and half the time is turned down. LOL.

 

[TillyDe]

Probably a strange question but do you think the crickets you hear in the evening around POR are artificial, as in coming from speakers? Just made me wonder since crickets sounds are featured on the POR buses. I would ordinarily think the idea ludicrous but it is Disney we are talking about.

I think I would be more at ease walking by myself knowing that it was artificial crickets. I hate crickets jumping towards me. But that is just me.

 

[Sue M]

Probably a strange question but do you think the crickets you hear in the evening around POR are artificial, as in coming from speakers? Just made me wonder since crickets sounds are featured on the POR buses. I would ordinarily think the idea ludicrous but it is Disney we are talking about.

I think they're real. My mother lives in Florida and her previous condo complex was built around a lake with lots of landscaping. We loved walking at night listening to the crickets.

 

[Disfan1968]

Hello!

Could someone speak to the issue of sound transfer and ceilings. My inclination is to ask for a ground floor room so that I don't have to lug my double stroller up and down stairs. However, that potential benefit might be superseded by a desire for less noise if people report back here that ground floor rooms at POR tend to get a lot of overhead noise.

Thoughts?

 

[hildarumpole]

It depends on your upstairs neighbors. Our first night of a week long trip was a bit rough. We were awakened by what sounded like an angry T-Rex at 1 a.m., stomping loudly and yelling incoherently in the room above us. Fortunately, we got new neighbors the next day and the rest of the week was quiet. If you're very concerned about noise, request top floor, mansions section. There are elevators available.

 

[Rivermonster]

Wanted to know your guys' thoughts on how I should handle our upcoming room requests. We will be at POR for the first time from 9.20-10.1. The first 9 nights we will be in a garden view room, and the last two we will be in a Royal Room.

Would you recommend staying in Alligator Bayou the first part, since we will definitely be in Magnolia Bend the last, or would y'all recommend the mansions the whole time of our stay? Both of our girls are accustomed to sleeping independent of one another, so I'm thinking the Murphy Bed would be better than any crib or pack'n'play that could be brought in, but I've not heard the best things about Alligator Bayou's accessibility to other locations. Also, being that we have never experienced POR before, I'm thinking it might be cool to experience both while there.

Thoughts?

 

[Kirby]

Generally people do take comments in the spirit they are intended - and if they don't, well good luck to them with finding the Harry Potter ride in Disney's Hollywood Studios, I'm sure they'll have great fun looking.

Andre

 

[Sue M]

Hello!

Could someone speak to the issue of sound transfer and ceilings. My inclination is to ask for a ground floor room so that I don't have to lug my double stroller up and down stairs. However, that potential benefit might be superseded by a desire for less noise if people report back here that ground floor rooms at POR tend to get a lot of overhead noise.

Thoughts?

We had ground floor once, and our last day the problem wasn't coming from above me, but next door. I was glad it was our last day, was doing a split stay and moving resorts. Inconsiderate neighbours do happen. If it's bad you can make a trip to the front desk or find security the next morning if disruption was in the middle of the night.

Wanted to know your guys' thoughts on how I should handle our upcoming room requests. We will be at POR for the first time from 9.20-10.1. The first 9 nights we will be in a garden view room, and the last two we will be in a Royal Room.

Would you recommend staying in Alligator Bayou the first part, since we will definitely be in Magnolia Bend the last, or would y'all recommend the mansions the whole time of our stay? Both of our girls are accustomed to sleeping independent of one another, so I'm thinking the Murphy Bed would be better than any crib or pack'n'play that could be brought in, but I've not heard the best things about Alligator Bayou's accessibility to other locations. Also, being that we have never experienced POR before, I'm thinking it might be cool to experience both while there.

Thoughts?

Everyone has different likes. For me, I'd stay in Mansion Section, because AB just doesn't appeal to me. But have a look at the resort room pics. The one thing about AB rooms us that the Murphy Bed takes the place of the dresser.

 

[dpswift]

Just to offer my $.02, it's not always obvious if those younger folk have health issues, too - I appear to be a healthy, average "young" adult to most folks. You can't tell by looking, that I've been through two rounds of surgery and cancer treatment in the last three and a half years, and am on lifelong suppressive medication for it now, which leaves me fatigued and with heart issues.

I'll be heading to Disney in December, staying at POR, and I know it will be a challenge for me to get through the day, so I may just be sitting in the bus while someone else who "looks" like they need the seat stands. I would hope that someone isn't there "tsk-tsking" under their breath, should another young mother with a toddler have to stand when I may be physically very "done" for the day. We are all there trying to enjoy the same things as best we can.

My husband, however, will always offer to give up his seat to those who he thinks might need it, and half the time is turned down. LOL.

It is not the occasional person that I am talking about it was that no one offered their seat and let young children 3 or 4 stand. Yes some have disabilities that are not noticeable including the middle aged couple that are in danger of falling into the laps of those sitting.

I did not mean to upset anyone I was just stating an observation from other trips.