Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Resort

[MichellleH]

They charge the credit card on your arrival day for a room only reservation, not when you do online check in.

Ok good! We are going to pay it in advance anyway but wanted to be prepared in case my husband checks his account today and asks why I did it already lol

 

[uccats97]

I am afraid that our Magic Bands won't be activated properly and when we get to the park they won't work. Or something to that effect. (don't think I don't realize it is an irrational fear, but a still a fear)

Your MagicBands are already active when they are mailed to you. You can see their status in your MDE account. The only way to deactivate them is if you log in to your MDE account and do so. Online check-in has nothing to do with activating your bands. It's more about putting your credit card on file and adding room requests. It's actually quite convenient and a time saver. You can always stop by the front desk if you have any questions or concerns.

 

[RunDisney Crazy]

Just book River View category and request a room close to the food court. To be honest none of the river facing rooms are that long a walk, but if your request is met then you could be in Alligator Bayou buildings 14 or 27 which are regarded as preferred locations anyway.

Andre

Awesome information. Thanks a bunch!

 

[RunDisney Crazy]

Which are better Alligator rooms or Mansion rooms. Both as far as style and location?

 

[CJK]

Has anyone done Andre's scavenger hunt recently? We did it a few years ago and enjoyed it. I just wondered if all the landmarks are still there, with all the recent construction at both resorts. Thanks!

 

[andrewilley]

Has anyone done Andre's scavenger hunt recently? We did it a few years ago and enjoyed it. I just wondered if all the landmarks are still there, with all the recent construction at both resorts. Thanks!

I'll have to check, but I think they are all still there.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

Which are better Alligator rooms or Mansion rooms. Both as far as style and location?

That depends, which is better a red car or a blue one? Or perhaps an iPhone or an Android?

OK, I know that sounds like a fatuous answer, but it's very hard to answer without knowing what your own definition of "best" is, as both areas have lots of advantages and there are fierce advocates in both camps. For some thoughts to help you, I did make a few relatively objective notes at http://www.portorleans.org/faqs.php#Choice, but in the end it's really very subjective and down to personal preference. The one specific difference is that the AB section has the extra fold-down bed which the mansions do not, but at the expense of slightly less storage space.

For what it's worth, I've stayed in both many times and I lean slightly towards the smaller buildings and more rustic feeling of AB - but quite probably because that's the first area I stayed in as much as anything else.

Andre

 

[starousse]

Does anybody have a favorite preferred room building that they request? and why?

 

[JaimeK]

What's the best way to get to the FQ pool? We're really close to the north bus stop. Is there an internal bus?

 

[andrewilley]

What's the best way to get to the FQ pool? We're really close to the north bus stop. Is there an internal bus?

Yes there is an internal bus that you can catch at the north depot, it's the Disney Springs bus afterwards.

Andre

 

[Sinders99]

DH & I will be travelling from Australia in September and are staying at POR 16-20 Sep. We'd like to reserve a carriage ride but all the information keeps saying we need to ring Disney to reserve 180 days out. Obviously calling from Australia is going to be very costly. Is there any other way to reserve a carriage ride for overseas guests who can't call? We're having the same issue in reserving the Marceline to Magic Kingdom tour so any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[DanInMN]

I'll be dropping off the thread for a while. We added 2 kids to our upcoming trip*, so now have 6 people. POR was full for our dates (4/1 - 4/10) so I could not add a second room. I switched to a AoA Family Suite. I really dislike the garish theming, and the crazy high pricing, but the kids seem to like the photos - so off we go. But I'll be missing POR, Bob Jackson, and the boat ride to DS. I'll be back to POR, hopefully soon.

*Our recently adopted twin teen girls know very little English. Also, due to their background they are "keeping their distance" from us (ie: varying between rude and mean to us, aka "no good deed goes unpunished"!). They have made 2 delightful bilingual friends who can translate and are great at helping the twins smile. So we are bringing these first timers along on an all-expenses-paid Disney vacation!

 

[McKelly]

If I book a preferred view room, can I request pool view? Or is that a separate booking option and not included in the preferred buildings? Does that make sense?

 

[Sue M]

Which are better Alligator rooms or Mansion rooms. Both as far as style and location?

I agree with Andre, it's pretty subjective. Depends which theming you like. I prefer the mansions.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Has anyone used online check in here recently. I don't know why the idea scares me to death (8 days to go and I am having my pre-travel panic attacks)

I'm just back & always use online check in. It's quick, easy & everything was ready for me when I walked in the door last Sunday at POR.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

If you booked a room only and there is a balance due upon check in, they will charge the CC on file for the remaining balance around 2 or 3 AM of your check in day. So prior to your arrival.

Not quite true. We were just there & our deal was room only. They didn't charge my card on file. I paid cash at check in & yes I checked my CC account to make sure I wasnt double charged. This is how we handle it every trip.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Does anybody have a favorite preferred room building that they request? and why?

We don't request a specific room - we just request building 14 or 15 & haven't been disappointed with any room in these buildings. Close to everything.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

DH & I will be travelling from Australia in September and are staying at POR 16-20 Sep. We'd like to reserve a carriage ride but all the information keeps saying we need to ring Disney to reserve 180 days out. Obviously calling from Australia is going to be very costly. Is there any other way to reserve a carriage ride for overseas guests who can't call? We're having the same issue in reserving the Marceline to Magic Kingdom tour so any advice would be much appreciated.

When were were there last Sunday they were taking walk ups for the carriage rides both for that night & Monday. They also said you could reserve at the concierge desk inside upon arrival - which is what we did last year - or by calling the number you were given.

 

[bigmac5]

DH & I will be travelling from Australia in September and are staying at POR 16-20 Sep. We'd like to reserve a carriage ride but all the information keeps saying we need to ring Disney to reserve 180 days out. Obviously calling from Australia is going to be very costly. Is there any other way to reserve a carriage ride for overseas guests who can't call? We're having the same issue in reserving the Marceline to Magic Kingdom tour so any advice would be much appreciated.

We went the first week of September and we booked our carriage ride the day of...we just spoke to the lady who was driving the carriage to book

 

[andrewilley]

Is there any other way to reserve a carriage ride for overseas guests who can't call?

The only way to book in advance is by phone, but you can always try to book when you arrive at the front desk too. I'd normally recommend pre-booking if you really want a specific date, but generally a few days in advance (especially during quiet times of year like September) would be sufficient. Do you not have any cheap international calling services in Australia? I use a pre-dial number in the UK which makes my calls to the US cost just 1p per minute (which is tiny). There are tons of companies over here that offer similar prices.

If I book a preferred view room, can I request pool view? Or is that a separate booking option and not included in the preferred buildings? Does that make sense?

It is officially a separate booking option, "Pool View" - which would mean the room could be further from the main buildings though. However there are a number of Preferred Location rooms which still look towards the quiet pool, not technically designated as having a 'pool view', but which would do just fine. So I'd suggest requesting a room "with easy access to, or facing in the direction of, the leisure pool if possible" or something similar.

Andre