Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Resort

[Mickey'sApprentice]

All resorts have the same TV channels, with Disney Classic cartoons on channel 17.

Just be aware that they have started showing the new Mickey Mouse cartoons on that channel

 

[dansdad]

Actually on our last trip we drove all night and got to POR at 6:30 AM. They had a room ready for us.

Us too a couple times, and I was very happy. But I would have understood if we had to wait because check in isn't until 3PM.

 

[EpcotBill]

Yes values and moderates have the orange scent while deluxes and villas get the grapefruit scent.

Not all Mods. CSR has the Grapefruit Bergamot.

 

[andrewilley]

This will be our first time at POR and I booked a Garden View room (cheapest available for our dates). Any tips for reserving a room within this category? I know we want to stay in the Magnolia Bend section as opposed to the Bayou, but I think some of those rooms have obstructed views due to the staircase. Has anyone requested Magnolia Bend and been put in the Bayou section instead?

Lastly - Does anyone know if they allow kids to go down the water slide WITH an adult

I would just request a Magnolia Bend room with a nice unobstructed courtyard view (you may want to request ground floor too if you will be using a stroller, otherwise upper floor is generally a bit quieter). It's not guaranteed of course, but if you send a fax 3-5 days before arrival (see www.portorleans.org/room-requests.php) the chances are pretty good.

Regarding the slide, it is strictly one person at a time, regardless of age, and that is enforced by the life guards. There are free life-vests for kids available at all the pools though, and you can have one parent stationed at the top of the slide to send the child down, while another waits at the bottom, just to the side of the exit, ready to collect them. So there's no danger at all, as long as the child is comfortable with sliding on their own. Most kids love it, and it's a fun pool generally.

Andre

 

[Dislaroger]

Hi All,

We stayed here April 6 - April 11 in a Royal Guest Room for our 2nd time and again had a wonderful time! This resort is so beautiful and relaxing that it is quickly becoming our favorite. Our room was on the first floor right next to the night time movies and we would have never known if we didn't see the movie paying. It was very quite, even for Spring Break. This trip we went to Downtown Disney and enjoyed the relaxing ride on the water taxi. Unfortunately my DD 4, DD 7 and DH ended up with a stomach bug but we still had a blast. The food at Riverside Mill was very good and the soup helped when they were sick. We did notice that more healthier options were added since our last trip here and was definitely welcomed. The 1 complaint that we have was with Mousekeeping. The cleaning wasn't up to par this trip and we called twice but never had any action taken. Our reason for calling was even though we had 4 guest in our room, they would only leave towels for 3. Our fix was taking a set from my inlaws room however we still called. Other than the towel and cleaning issues we had a great trip and love this resort.

 

[Baklava]

While I totally agree, then they shouldn't let anyone in before 3pm in that case. When I made my requests it asked if I wanted an earlier room over ton requests and I said yes. I also told them when I was coming multiple times. It's not like I showed up unannounced asking for a room. I get it to some degree, but at the same time it was frustrating. My friend has stayed there at least 5 times and always arrives between 7am-8am and said she's never once had an issue and her room has always been ready before she even leaves her house, which is a little under 2hrs away. I won't not stay there again based off of this, but next time I know to take a later flight so I have more sleep haha.

Early check-ins are pixie dust. I'd hate to see them stop offering little extras like early check-in just because they can't do it 100% of the time.

If you have the option of a later flight, that's a good plan. We're flying from California. Give the time difference, we'll be boarding an early morning flight and having nooooo problem about getting there before our room is ready! We will arrive, shove food into the children and face plant into our beds.

 

[ncc1701]

Early check-ins are pixie dust. I'd hate to see them stop offering little extras like early check-in just because they can't do it 100% of the time.

If you have the option of a later flight, that's a good plan. We're flying from California. Give the time difference, we'll be boarding an early morning flight and having nooooo problem about getting there before our room is ready! We will arrive, shove food into the children and face plant into our beds.

More likely they will do what some Vegas (& I'm sure others) resorts do and give the option to pay for early check in (they also do it for a later checkout too)

 

[keahgirl8]

They still had them available last time I was there - but you can always go and pick one up later, the next time you're passing the front desk. The version imprinted on the table top has been there since the Royal Rooms first opened.

Andre

Man! I was there in February and didn't know about this. I may not get to stay in a RR again!

Actually on our last trip we drove all night and got to POR at 6:30 AM. They had a room ready for us.

I live in California, so it takes me all day to get there. I have never had to find out whether if have to wait. lol

 

[Shelly D.]

This is long, sorry!
Regarding room requests, I have always received my request when I faxed in a note 3-4 days before arrival. However, I didn't receive either request for my trip to POR last week. I requested connecting rooms with our relatives and Magnolia Bend since that's where my husband and I stayed on our honeymoon 17 yrs ago. We were placed in the bayou section with adjoining rooms. We did online check in and I was close to going to the front desk to ask for a change until our kids saw the Murphy bed and thought that was cool. We decided to stick with our rooms.

Well to our surprise we ended up loving the bayou section (we were bldg 17). As it turns out, my son got very sick during our vacation so I was happy to have the extra bed so our kids could sleep separately! Funny how things turn out.

Now, we did have a few small issues. My son spent our last two days in the room missing all the fun and pretty down. We got a text from a relative in the lobby that Mickey just showed up for a meet and greet. We were there in minutes but the handler said Mickey was seeing his last family and would not allow us to line up. I begged a bit since we had been stuck in the room and my son didn't have the opportunity to meet Mickey (we were flying home the next day). He just smiled and said, "sorry this is the last family, he'll be at the parks tonight." There was no one else behind us and it would have been so nice to do that for my son who missed so much on this trip, but the handler wouldn't budge. Also, my son bought three tsum tsum plush dolls on day one that he slept with and never took them out of the room. The housekeeper hid them in cute places each day. On our last full day we left to get food and came back after she was done. We only found two. I tried asking her about the third and if she could check the laundry (I'm sure it was wrapped up in a blanket or sheet). There was such a large language barrier I wasn't able to get anywhere with her. My husband tried talking to someone else in housekeeping, but they just sent our original girl back and we talked in circles again. We filled out a lost and found card at the front desk but haven't heard anything.

We did have a little happy ending. As we were waiting for magical express to take us to the airport the next morning, Mickey and friends showed up again! You can guess who was first in line!

 

[Wishes Count]

This is long, sorry!
Regarding room requests, I have always received my request when I faxed in a note 3-4 days before arrival. However, I didn't receive either request for my trip to POR last week. I requested connecting rooms with our relatives and Magnolia Bend since that's where my husband and I stayed on our honeymoon 17 yrs ago. We were placed in the bayou section with adjoining rooms. We did online check in and I was close to going to the front desk to ask for a change until our kids saw the Murphy bed and thought that was cool. We decided to stick with our rooms.

Well to our surprise we ended up loving the bayou section (we were bldg 17). As it turns out, my son got very sick during our vacation so I was happy to have the extra bed so our kids could sleep separately! Funny how things turn out.

Now, we did have a few small issues. My son spent our last two days in the room missing all the fun and pretty down. We got a text from a relative in the lobby that Mickey just showed up for a meet and greet. We were there in minutes but the handler said Mickey was seeing his last family and would not allow us to line up. I begged a bit since we had been stuck in the room and my son didn't have the opportunity to meet Mickey (we were flying home the next day). He just smiled and said, "sorry this is the last family, he'll be at the parks tonight." There was no one else behind us and it would have been so nice to do that for my son who missed so much on this trip, but the handler wouldn't budge. Also, my son bought three tsum tsum plush dolls on day one that he slept with and never took them out of the room. The housekeeper hid them in cute places each day. On our last full day we left to get food and came back after she was done. We only found two. I tried asking her about the third and if she could check the laundry (I'm sure it was wrapped up in a blanket or sheet). There was such a large language barrier I wasn't able to get anywhere with her. My husband tried talking to someone else in housekeeping, but they just sent our original girl back and we talked in circles again. We filled out a lost and found card at the front desk but haven't heard anything.

We did have a little happy ending. As we were waiting for magical express to take us to the airport the next morning, Mickey and friends showed up again! You can guess who was first in line!

Being a character attendant is not a job I would want. They are responsible for making sure that character is safe and leaves on time. I know you may think that he could have just let you in line but really he couldn't, he had to get Mickey back to eat his cheese at a certain time. And anytime they have to cut the line they know people will be disappointed and will beg, scream or cry to get in the line. But at least you did get to see Mickey another day.

Also for anyone wondering sometimes the characters show up a some resorts on rainy days, it is not a scheduled thing, and does not always happen. The front desk staff will not know or even be notified until the characters show up. So it is a nice surprise for all.

 

[andrewilley]

Ironically (given the recent posts) I just heard that the Port Orleans Riverside lobby is now an official "rainy day" location for character visits. On those really stormy days where Florida downpours could keep you and your kids away from the parks, you might just find that the characters come to you instead.

This is NOT a scheduled meet-and-greet and it will only happen sporadically, often with very little notice even to the resort cast members. So if it does happen to occur while you are there, make the most of a lovely photo opportunity - but don't make special plans around the possibility of it happening.

This photo was taken during the afternoon of Wednesday 10 June in the main registration lobby, where Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Tigger and Stich were greeting resort guests:

Andre

 

[katdemar]

Do the thermostats at POR have motion sensors?

 

[lmtravis]

We are considering taking a rental car down but flying back since return flights are so cheap. Any idea what's the best way to return a rental car and get back to POR? Any preferred companies out there that are close to the resort or affiliated in some way?

Thanks!

 

[andrewilley]

Do the thermostats at POR have motion sensors?

I don't think so, sometimes we've come back to our room and found it nice and cool even after a long time out. We generally don't waste the power by doing that ourselves, but sometimes the housekeepers do it I think.

Any idea what's the best way to return a rental car and get back to POR? Any preferred companies out there that are close to the resort or affiliated in some way?

I think most of them will offer to drive you to/from your hotel. However otherwise the most convenient one would probably be Dollar, as their office is in the first hotel right opposite the Downtown Disney marketplace bus stop (Wyndham Resort Hotel) which is also only a few minutes walk from the ferryboat dock for the Port Orleans ferries.

Andre

 

[lmtravis]

I think most of them will offer to drive you to/from your hotel. However otherwise the most convenient one would probably be Dollar, as their office is in the first hotel right opposite the Downtown Disney marketplace bus stop (Wyndham Resort Hotel) which is also only a few minutes walk from the ferryboat dock for the Port Orleans ferries.

Andre

Thanks so much!!

 

[tinabina919]

I have a garden view royal room booked for sept. Anybody know the location of these rooms. Or what I should request to be close to bus stop/main buildings?

 

[siskaren]

I have a garden view royal room booked for sept. Anybody know the location of these rooms. Or what I should request to be close to bus stop/main buildings?

All royal rooms are in Oak Manor and Parterre Place. The below link from Andre's site has a map of the resort - just click on the two red buildings to see which rooms are garden view:

http://www.portorleans.org/room-locations.php

Just request what you want - close to bus stop/main building.

 

[tinabina919]

All royal rooms are in Oak Manor and Parterre Place. The below link from Andre's site has a map of the resort - just click on the two red buildings to see which rooms are garden view:

http://www.portorleans.org/room-locations.php

Just request what you want - close to bus stop/main building.

Thanks for the link, great site!



I have not used online check in before. I guess I can just add a location request somewhere on there? I was planning to ask for river view upgrades, could I even ask that or should I check in at the lobby?

 

[Baklava]

We booked! January 5-16 in a preferred room! Wheeeeeeeee!!!!!

I'm SO EXCITED!

 

[goofy4tink]

I just booked a long weekend trip to POR w/ my sister & niece in August. I am beyond excited!!! Originally we planned to stay at Pop, since we enjoyed it so much during our visit last year. But…it wasn't much more to bump up to POR, so I am surprising them with an upgrade

This will be our first time at POR and I booked a Garden View room (cheapest available for our dates). Any tips for reserving a room within this category? I know we want to stay in the Magnolia Bend section as opposed to the Bayou, but I think some of those rooms have obstructed views due to the staircase. Has anyone requested Magnolia Bend and been put in the Bayou section instead?

Lastly - Does anyone know if they allow kids to go down the water slide WITH an adult? I know my niece will want to try the slide, but given that she doesn't swim without a vest yet, it's not safe to send her down on her own. I pretty much chose to upgrade based on the pool's features, as my niece always says her favorite part of the trip last year was swimming in the pool (yes, even over the all the princess meet & greets!).

No adults with a child on the water slide. BUT.....when we first stayed there, my now 21 y/o dd was 5, turned 6 on that trip. She had never been on a water slide...so we were a bit hesitant to see how she would handle it. She loved it. Your niece can get a vest at the pool....then don't be surprised if she turns into a water slide nut!!!!
As for garden view rooms, most are very nice, but getting an unobstructed view wouldn't be a huge thing for me. You do't really see all that much any way, and we tend to keep the drapes closed. There are plenty of rooms in the Magnolia Bend area that have unobstructed views!

Being a character attendant is not a job I would want. They are responsible for making sure that character is safe and leaves on time. I know you may think that he could have just let you in line but really he couldn't, he had to get Mickey back to eat his cheese at a certain time. And anytime they have to cut the line they know people will be disappointed and will beg, scream or cry to get in the line. But at least you did get to see Mickey another day.

Also for anyone wondering sometimes the characters show up a some resorts on rainy days, it is not a scheduled thing, and does not always happen. The front desk staff will not know or even be notified until the characters show up. So it is a nice surprise for all.

My dd, 21, has started working at Six Flags NE...she is 'friends' with Foghorn Leghorn as well as a character escort. She has lots of interesting stories about those poor families that walk up at the tail end of a character's time out in the park. If she makes an exception for one family, the next family, coming up the walkway, will want an exception made too!!! Then, poor Foghorn is dying from heat because he's been out in the summer sun for 30 mins!!! Yep, she has a new found sympathy for the characters. They can be 'on-stage' for just so long...then they have to be escorted back stage so they can rest for a bit.