Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Resort

[BeckyEsq]

Another bus question for those who have visited POR recently. We have several very early morning ADRs and must use bus transportation. Will likely be in a mansion room since that is our request. Are we better off walking to South Depot or going to the nearest stop behind Magnolia Bend? Don't want to risk the bus being full before we can get on. Last trip we always walked to South Depot because I liked the screens announcing arrivals (they don't have those at other stops yet do they?) but it was always a mob scene first thing in the morning. Thanks in advance.

 

[OneTimePoet]

We are checking in on Monday, and suddenly, I'm freaking out with questions!!!

We are driving down this time, and never have before. Is parking at Riverside easy to find? Get to? Access?

Also, we are arriving early in the morning, likely before a room will be ready. Our plan is to head to the parks and stay until close. Is it possible to unload our luggage with bell services when we get there, and have them bring it to our room when it's ready? I'd love to avoid hauling four suitcases from the parking lot at midnight!

Clearly the Magical Express has spoiled us...

 

[USCAnna]

We are checking in on Monday, and suddenly, I'm freaking out with questions!!!

We are driving down this time, and never have before. Is parking at Riverside easy to find? Get to? Access?

Also, we are arriving early in the morning, likely before a room will be ready. Our plan is to head to the parks and stay until close. Is it possible to unload our luggage with bell services when we get there, and have them bring it to our room when it's ready? I'd love to avoid hauling four suitcases from the parking lot at midnight!

Clearly the Magical Express has spoiled us...

We always check in at our resort first thing in the morning. (7am or so). Bell services will hold your luggage. In fact, one year our daughter had some antibiotic that had to stay refrigerated, and they kindly kept it stored for us until we returned that evening. They text you your room number, so you can head back mid afternoon or come back in the evening. You can call bell services and they will deliver your items to your room when requested.

I've never stayed at POR (first time will be this Nov) but we've passed it several times. It seems relatively easy to find.

 

[OneTimePoet]

We always check in at our resort first thing in the morning. (7am or so). Bell services will hold your luggage. In fact, one year our daughter had some antibiotic that had to stay refrigerated, and they kindly kept it stored for us until we returned that evening. They text you your room number, so you can head back mid afternoon or come back in the evening. You can call bell services and they will deliver your items to your room when requested.

Thank you!

 

[andrewilley]

We have several very early morning ADRs and must use bus transportation. Will likely be in a mansion room since that is our request. Are we better off walking to South Depot or going to the nearest stop behind Magnolia Bend?

South Depot is now the final pickup before going to the parks, so time-wise that would be your best option. If you're going for an early-morning ADR, so will be getting the bus at 7am or so, you will have no problem at all getting on at any of the stops. Trying at 9am might be a different story though, and then some thought about the route planning might help.

We are driving down this time, and never have before. Is parking at Riverside easy to find? Get to? Access?

Also, we are arriving early in the morning, likely before a room will be ready.

Parking is really good at POR. There is ample parking outside the main lobby area for checkin, and lots of further parking round by each of the buildings too.

If you're coming down I-4, get off at junction 67. Then, after you go under the Walt Disney World entrance portal, take the third exit on the right, and then turn left at the lights. Riverside is then a about half a mile along the road, on the right-hand side. See http://www.portorleans.org/airportroutes.php for details (there's a zoomable Google Map on there).

You can check in as early as you like, and if you're not fussy about special requests you might even get a room there and then. Officially rooms are not ready until 3pm though, so you may need to leave your bags with Bell Services and head off to the parks (of leave them in your car if you feel comfortable doing that). They will text you your room number when it's ready, so you can go straight there and call Bell Services to have your bags brought up.

Andre

 

[rdesisto]

Congratulations! POR is a great choice. It is beautiful and very relaxing. Do you also need to be close to the food court? If so, preferred is your best bet. It is in Alligator Bayou.

Oh very good to know, than you!! Do you know if king beds are in those rooms?

 

[andrewilley]

Oh very good to know, than you!! Do you know if king beds are in those rooms?

No, you won't get a king bed if you book Preferred Location. There are some King Bed rooms in the same buildings (14, 15, 18 and 27) but you'd need to book a King Bed category room to get them, and then you run the risk of getting any king bed room around property, not just the ones in those four buildings.

Andre

 

[Molfetto]

We just booked for Oct 8th to 16th. Was able to get the royal guest room and I'm sure my two girls (4 and 2) will love it!

 

[Barbanellie]

Last trip we always walked to South Depot because I liked the screens announcing arrivals (they don't have those at other stops yet do they?)

We were at POR in May, and there are now screens with bus times at every stop. IMHO, however, they were completely random times and basically useless We always used North Depot, and did not have any issue ever getting on a bus.

 

[rdesisto]

No, you won't get a king bed if you book Preferred Location. There are some King Bed rooms in the same buildings (14, 15, 18 and 27) but you'd need to book a King Bed category room to get them, and then you run the risk of getting any king bed room around property, not just the ones in those four buildings.

Andre

Thanks for the response! Sorry it took me a bit to reply- busy weekend.

I think we will be okay forgoing the king bed. Health is a bit more important than comfort!

 

[Ra643dp]

How would having a scooter affect your wait time if you where at the last bus stop? I would assume those spots would be filled at the first stop or two?

 

[dbecker]

Hey, I will be staying in a preferred room in September and I was looking at what building to request and I was looking at building 14 and 15 and I have a couple of questions.
1. Witch building would you say is better, 14 or 15?
2. Since they are close to the main building are there any noise problems with these locations?

Thank you so much!

 

[CrazyPhillyDisneyFamily]

Hi all,
We are planning our kids first trip Sept 2017. DS will be turning 5 on the trip and DD will be just over 3. We have gone a bunch of times (6) before, but never with kids. My sister's family, my mom/stepdad, and my in-laws will also be joining us so we chose POR rather than our usual resort of Pop Century.

We've never stayed here before, but have stayed at POFQ once. I'd love some tips and tricks.

We decided to book a Royal Room for the kids as we thought it might be really fun and magical for them. Is it worth the extra cost for their first trip? We probably won't come back until they are around 8-10, so I want this trip to be extra magical! The rest of the family is requesting to be in the Magnolia Bend area.

We are hoping to get free dining though I know that's iffy with POR. What back-up resort would you recommend for free dining? My issue is I think the Value resorts won't be "nice" enough for my in-laws and mom/stepdad, otherwise we would have stuck with Pop.

Thanks for your help.

 

[StephanieCL]

First time at WDW and staying at POR! Can't wait! We had All stars Music booked and I luckily was able to upgrade to POR with FD.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Hey, I will be staying in a preferred room in September and I was looking at what building to request and I was looking at building 14 and 15 and I have a couple of questions.
1. Witch building would you say is better, 14 or 15?
2. Since they are close to the main building are there any noise problems with these locations?

Thank you so much!

We stayed in room 1401 and it was close to both the food court and the bus stop. We didn't hear any noise from delivery trucks or cars. Building fifteen is a lot closer to the parking lot and further from the food court than 14 or 16. But it is close to the bus stop.

Hi all,
We are planning our kids first trip Sept 2017. DS will be turning 5 on the trip and DD will be just over 3. We have gone a bunch of times (6) before, but never with kids. My sister's family, my mom/stepdad, and my in-laws will also be joining us so we chose POR rather than our usual resort of Pop Century.

We've never stayed here before, but have stayed at POFQ once. I'd love some tips and tricks.

We decided to book a Royal Room for the kids as we thought it might be really fun and magical for them. Is it worth the extra cost for their first trip? We probably won't come back until they are around 8-10, so I want this trip to be extra magical! The rest of the family is requesting to be in the Magnolia Bend area.

We are hoping to get free dining though I know that's iffy with POR. What back-up resort would you recommend for free dining? My issue is I think the Value resorts won't be "nice" enough for my in-laws and mom/stepdad, otherwise we would have stuck with Pop.

Thanks for your help.

We just got back from a trip with extended family last month. Only two of the four family groups were in the same building. We met up at the pool for the afternoon and it was really fun.

POR has been available for free dining in September but you never know what Disney will do in 2017. Whether or not you want to spend the extra money for the Royal Room is a personal decision. The rooms are cute but kids that age will find everything fun and exciting.

We really liked POR and I would stay there again with a big group. My sister likes Caribbean Beach as well as POR so that might be the other option if you can't get free dining at POR.

 

[Sue M]

We are checking in on Monday, and suddenly, I'm freaking out with questions!!!

We are driving down this time, and never have before. Is parking at Riverside easy to find? Get to? Access?

Also, we are arriving early in the morning, likely before a room will be ready. Our plan is to head to the parks and stay until close. Is it possible to unload our luggage with bell services when we get there, and have them bring it to our room when it's ready? I'd love to avoid hauling four suitcases from the parking lot at midnight!

Clearly the Magical Express has spoiled us...

Wow! That's an ambitious plan going to the parks all day after driving all night! I would check in when you arrive and drop your luggage with bell services. I wouldn't want to leave my luggage in the car in the Florida heat, especially toilettries/cosmetics or electronics.
As mentioned, you can check in any time. Sometimes my room has been ready.

 

[andrewilley]

We decided to book a Royal Room for the kids as we thought it might be really fun and magical for them .... The rest of the family is requesting to be in the Magnolia Bend area.

The Royal Rooms are all located in the Magnolia Bend area - in fact booking RR is the only way to guarantee a mansion building room.

Building fifteen is a lot closer to the parking lot and further from the food court than 14 or 16. But it is close to the bus stop.

Buildings 14 and 15 are both equally close to the parking lot (some of the rooms in both overlook it in fact). 14 is slightly closer to the main buildings, while 15 is slightly closer to the nearby quiet pool. And there's not much in it between the two in terms of walking to the main bus stop. I would recommend 14 if I was asked to choose (noise or foot traffic are honestly not issues at all in 14).

Andre

 

[keahgirl8]

Buildings 14 and 15 are both equally close to the parking lot (some of the rooms in both overlook it in fact). 14 is slightly closer to the main buildings, while 15 is slightly closer to the nearby quiet pool. And there's not much in it between the two in terms of walking to the main bus stop. I would recommend 14 if I was asked to choose (noise or foot traffic are honestly not issues at all in 14).

Andre

I actually stayed in 14 on my last trip. I clocked it at under 2 minutes to the food court door.

 

[Koz]

Which rooms in Bldg 14, in the Preferred category, would you, the experts, consider most desirable on the 2nd floor if you were hoping for some view of the water/walkway?

 

[andrewilley]

Which rooms in Bldg 14, in the Preferred category, would you, the experts, consider most desirable on the 2nd floor if you were hoping for some view of the water/walkway?

The River View category rooms are the nicest, 1444 or 1448 being my favourites. If you want just Preferred Location, 1449 has a partial view of the river (from the second corner window) and pathway too.



Andre