Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Resort

[HopperFan]

I didn't realize the bridge was going to be shut down as well. I do have a preferred location this time, so I suppose it won't matter. I just hope everything isn't a mess because of it.

Two completely different permits but makes sense to work on it while the main pool area is closed down. The real bummer will be for those in the back of the resort that will have to walk around the river to get to the food court area.

 

[andrewilley]

I didn't realize the bridge was going to be shut down as well. I do have a preferred location this time, so I suppose it won't matter. I just hope everything isn't a mess because of it.

Bridge access definitely won't be closed for the whole period (not sure which bridge the permit is for, there are three) but if there's any work that needs doing then it would make sense to do it while most of the island is closed.

Andre

 

[tikkipoo]

I am so confused about ALL the room types. I know I have a river view room with 2 beds. But then there are River Preferred, River Royal... I don't have a clue what room to put in for. I think I am just going to chance it and take what they give me. LOL I love the walks there anyway.

 

[bjscheel]

I am so confused about ALL the room types. I know I have a river view room with 2 beds. But then there are River Preferred, River Royal... I don't have a clue what room to put in for. I think I am just going to chance it and take what they give me. LOL I love the walks there anyway.

Royal rooms are a separately booked category, so you will either have a regular mansion room with river view, or it looks like there are a few AB rooms with a river view. With a river view you will be close to the main things regardless so I'm with you, I would just chance it and take what you get. The portorleans.org website does have detailed maps down to the rooms, though, so if you go to the map there and click on the buildings along the river, you can see which ones are color coded as river view.

 

[linzjane88]

Can I just say that I just got back from 3 nights at POR and I loved it? I would definitely go back. It felt very home like. I have stayed at CBR (did *not* like it) and CSR (it was just ok). That being said we did a split stay at the Bonnet Creek and I think I give the edge to the WBC for giving us 2 bdrm/2 bath and a full kitchen for less money. But still it was a very enjoyable trip and the pull out bed was adorable.

 

[andrewilley]

I am so confused about ALL the room types.

I feel your pain! I'm not going to re-type it all here, but I wrote a detailed guide to all ten booking categories and what they mean, along with some tips about ideal locations around the resort (and the maps include clickable links to the building floorplan layouts that bjscheel referred to above). See www.portorleans.org/room-locations.php

Andre

 

[rcraw45425]

Which bus stop is the most convenient for the Royal rooms?

 

[alhurricane]

Well after getting a 'magical' offer, we are returning to POR this year! We will be there April 10-17. This will be our first April trip as all of our other trips have been in late May. We stayed at POR 2 years ago and WL last year. We really loved POR, so we are excited to be going back and saving a good bit of money at the same time!

 

[siskaren]

Which bus stop is the most convenient for the Royal rooms?

Depending on where your room is located, either the east or south depot could be the most convenient.

 

[rcraw45425]

Depending on where your room is located, either the east or south depot could be the most convenient.

thank you, Have never stayed there but changing from Polynesian to a Royal Room for four nights is saving me $1k (and that is with the passholder discounts!) It's been about ten years since we've even walked around POR so this is all new to me

 

[Son of Evad]

My all time favourite resort and i cant wait to go back.

 

[skuttle]

We recently returned from a quick trip to WDW for Osborne Lights and stayed at POR for the first time. We loved it. Very impressed with the room size for our family of five. It felt bigger than the bunk room we had at the WL in April. We were only there a short time (4 nights) so we didn't pay for a preferred room. I think if we were going to be there longer, and knew we'd use the food court more often, we'd pay for the preferred location. My only complaint is that I felt the beds were a bit hard.

 

[ras1121]

What's the extent of the work being done at the pool, is this a complete redesign? Or just an update to the existing structure?

 

[WestYorkshireUK]

I think Andre might be the only one to answer this question.

We stayed at POR in May 2014 for our once in a lifetime trip. We are booked to return in April 2016 because we loved not only Disney but POR

We stayed in Alligator Bayou and I am hoping someone can give me the dimensions of the shelf above the hanging rail so I can get some pop up boxes to stash clothes in. It is mainly the depth of the shelf but the length would be incredibly helpful too. We are flying in from the UK and staying for 2 weeks again.

Thank you.

 

[CQuinn]

Hello! Our trip is coming up and I'm thinking of faxing a room request. We paid for garden view, what's a good request that will get us semi close to the food court? I know preferred is the only guarantee but I figure it can't hurt to request something!

 

[dansdad]

Hello! Our trip is coming up and I'm thinking of faxing a room request. We paid for garden view, what's a good request that will get us semi close to the food court? I know preferred is the only guarantee but I figure it can't hurt to request something!

I would word your request as "close to the food court".

 

[courtneybeth]

Husband and I booked a spa afternoon at the Saratoga Springs Resort during our stay -- so here's the dumb question of the day:

What is the best method to get from Port Orleans Riverside to Saratoga Springs? I was thinking a bus to Disney Springs then back to SSR, but is there a better method?

We have dinner at Victoria and Albert's that evening - so it's going to be a magical day!

 

[dansdad]

Husband and I booked a spa afternoon at the Saratoga Springs Resort during our stay -- so here's the dumb question of the day:

What is the best method to get from Port Orleans Riverside to Saratoga Springs? I was thinking a bus to Disney Springs then back to SSR, but is there a better method?

We have dinner at Victoria and Albert's that evening - so it's going to be a magical day!

I would boat from POR to Disney Springs then boat over to Saratoga Springs. The dock at Saratoga Springs is right behind the main building and spa. The boats are lovely and so much more relaxing of a ride.

 

[andrewilley]

What's the extent of the work being done at the pool, is this a complete redesign? Or just an update to the existing structure?

Nothing too major as far as I know, mostly just the sort of general maintenance that needs to be performed every few years to keep everything up to scratch. I believe they are going to be modifying the perimeter boundaries though, in line with safety recommendations to avoid kids accessing the pool unattended (although I'd have thought the Alligator Bayou quiet pools would be more of an issue to be honest). I don't think they are going as far as adding Magic Band access restrictions though, which has been done at some of the most popular WDW resort pools.

I am hoping someone can give me the dimensions of the shelf above the hanging rail so I can get some pop up boxes to stash clothes in. It is mainly the depth of the shelf but the length would be incredibly helpful too.

We store suitcases and even our Owner's Locker box (which overlaps a bit but is quite safe) on the shelf, so you won't have any problems. I guess it's about 12 inches wide, or perhaps a little more?

What is the best method to get from Port Orleans Riverside to Saratoga Springs? I was thinking a bus to Disney Springs then back to SSR, but is there a better method?

Ferry boat to Disney Springs and then walk. The boat dock for the Port Orleans ferries is on a jetty which connects directly to the southern end of Saratoga Springs. Otherwise, by the time you've waited for a bus, or walked over to the further boat dock to get a ferry there, you would have got there on foot.

Andre

 

[courtneybeth]

Ferry boat to Disney Springs and then walk. The boat dock for the Port Orleans ferries is on a jetty which connects directly to the southern end of Saratoga Springs

Huge favor for me - can you draw this out? I'm ... so confused. (Fail, self. Fail!)

I was also debating going to EPCOT and switching to a bus there since they're super close.