Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Resort

[SingingMom]

Same building I was in. I still don't believe the walk from a River View room to the bus stop at FQ is shorter. I wish they'd tone down the garish colors are FQ a bit. I know why they chose what they chose but there are other ways to do it too

I never request a river view room at FQ. I like a Garden View in building 2,3,4, or 5.

 

[AngiTN]

I never request a river view room at FQ. I like a Garden View in building 2,3,4, or 5.

Ah, that would be the difference. We love River View rooms.

 

[Sue M]

I'm in Oak Manor at the moment, and we are about equidistant between the South (across the bridge) and East (a little way behind our building) bus stops. The 3-4 minute walk is absolutely no problem for us - except when there is a Florida downpour of course, and then even 10 yards in the open will get you soaked.

We have had no waits longer than the specified 20 minute interval (including leaving parks after fireworks), although we have experienced the subjectively annoying situation where you are waiting for a bus for one park and 2 or 3 come past for another location. I have timed and logged every wait and journey that we've made to avoid subjective reports.

To be honest, The wait time screens are pretty much useless as they change routes and add buses so often that the system never really keeps up. They have more of a placebo effect I think.

Of course, things can always go very wrong, and when they do you can be sure to hear all about it on the internet very much quicker than you'll hear the other 99% of people saying "I got on a bus and was taken to a park".

Andre

My fav location for RR! But location wise still prefer by Old Man Isl foot bridge. 3 more days till we arrive in Wdw. We've been south in Lauderdale a week, enjoying beach

We were in the furthest Parterre building - it was closer to South than East, but "closer" is a relative term. I will stick with POFQ. ;-)
I've had that location once, River view in very end. I didn't like it much either.






Jadyreen1282DIS Veteran
Joined:
Apr 21, 2014
Messages:
3,594
The monitors are misleading occasionally when the minutes creep up one digit at a time.

 

[keahgirl8]

Of course, things can always go very wrong, and when they do you can be sure to hear all about it on the internet very much quicker than you'll hear the other 99% of people saying "I got on a bus and was taken to a park".

Andre

SO TRUE.

 

[Kona65]

Time to make reservations

 

[bavarian princess]

Hello

I will be traveling from Germany to WDW in 3 weeks doing a POR/AKL split stay. It will be my first solo trip and I am already very excited!
It will also be my first time staying at POR. I've booked a Royal Room with pool view and was now wondering if there is anything I have to take into account for the online check in. I was thinking to request the highest floor and maybe a corner room? Does that even make sense? I know that they not always honor the requests but I thought it may be worth a try.

Could anybody please help me understand the bus situation I try to find out where the buses to the parks stop first so that I can decide if I use the south depot or the east depot. I want to avoid to be left behind because the bus is already full when it arrives at my bus stop...I guess the walk from the Royal Rooms to the west depot is rather long...

Sorry for asking so many stupid questions but I feel a little lost

 

[wonderland5]

Hello

I will be traveling from Germany to WDW in 3 weeks doing a POR/AKL split stay. It will be my first solo trip and I am already very excited!
It will also be my first time staying at POR. I've booked a Royal Room with pool view and was now wondering if there is anything I have to take into account for the online check in. I was thinking to request the highest floor and maybe a corner room? Does that even make sense? I know that they not always honor the requests but I thought it may be worth a try.

Could anybody please help me understand the bus situation I try to find out where the buses to the parks stop first so that I can decide if I use the south depot or the east depot. I want to avoid to be left behind because the bus is already full when it arrives at my bus stop...I guess the walk from the Royal Rooms to the west depot is rather long...

Sorry for asking so many stupid questions but I feel a little lost

I just did our online check in and floor and corner room are an option so if that's what you would prefer (if offered) I say go for it.

I haven't stayed at POR in years so I'm no help on how the buses run at this specific resort but in my experience, getting to the parks is never too big of an issue. While many do go early in the mornings, it's very staggered on when people leave due to dining reservations, sleeping in, etc. I don't think you should have any issues getting on a bus, and if you do, worst case you just wait a few minutes for the next. It's leaving in the evenings, especially if you stay until closing, that you may find the buses more jam packed.

 

[AngiTN]

Could anybody please help me understand the bus situation I try to find out where the buses to the parks stop first so that I can decide if I use the south depot or the east depot. I want to avoid to be left behind because the bus is already full when it arrives at my bus stop...I guess the walk from the Royal Rooms to the west depot is rather long...

Sorry for asking so many stupid questions but I feel a little lost

They stop at South last. We have encountered more than 1 time where the bus was too full for more guests by the time it reached South. But, another bus was already on it's way and often could be seen right behind the other. Maybe the drivers let them know to send more? No idea. We did prefer the East stop in the mornings for this reason. From the building with the pool the walk will be about even. We were in 95, the building next door and it was just another minute or so to East, since the South stop is clear across the front side of the resort.

 

[RLGNC]

So i have repeatedly read that the tap/fountain water in the parks themselves has a sulphury smell and taste. But I haven't found much information about whether the same issue exists on the resorts, and particularly in the tap water in the rooms. Could someone comment on the tap water in the POR rooms.

Maybe it's just me, but we just got back and I didn't have any problem with the taste of the resort room water. I used it for brushing my teeth, and we also used it to fill our water bottles each morning. Maybe we just put enough ice in that it made it taste fine?

 

[RLGNC]

Just wanted to let everyone know how wonderful our stay was, our room was in building 26 and it was a very nice location. I know some people worry about being too spread out but really it is not. Our room was a 3 minute walk to the west bus stop and about 5 minutes to the food court. The buses were great and only one time had to wait long for a bus( about 20 minutes, but we just missed the bus).

We were in building 26 this past week as well! I agree that it was a nice location and that really any lodge in AB is probably not too long of a walk to the lobby/food court (we didn't do the buses). And, in any case, the scenery is so nice we really didn't mind the walking!

 

[RLGNC]

I was thinking to request the highest floor and maybe a corner room? Does that even make sense? I know that they not always honor the requests but I thought it may be worth a try.

This is exactly what we requested (although we were in AB), and the requests were granted. Definitely worth a try. Have a great trip!

 

[AngiTN]

Maybe it's just me, but we just got back and I didn't have any problem with the taste of the resort room water. I used it for brushing my teeth, and we also used it to fill our water bottles each morning. Maybe we just put enough ice in that it made it taste fine?

Much depends on what you are used to as normal. The tap water in all of the Orlando area (maybe all of FL, not sure personally), which is what you get out of the facet in the entire WDW relm, has a significant sulfur taste and smell. Doesn't matter what resort you stay in, it's all the same water. FL is not the only place in the world with this type of water so if it's something you have, or if you have something else prevalent in your water at home, you may not notice it. The ice is just as bad in most cases since it's made from the same water. I'm not aware of anywhere that makes their ice out of filtered water. But I'm sure some do.

I will say that I do think the water is less sulfur-y than it was on our first trip back in 2008. Still pretty bad. Granted, we have pretty dang good water around here, thanks to underground artisan wells for our water supply. Our rock base is limestone more than a rock with sulfur. Maybe that makes the difference.

 

[keahgirl8]

Hello

I will be traveling from Germany to WDW in 3 weeks doing a POR/AKL split stay. It will be my first solo trip and I am already very excited!
It will also be my first time staying at POR. I've booked a Royal Room with pool view and was now wondering if there is anything I have to take into account for the online check in. I was thinking to request the highest floor and maybe a corner room? Does that even make sense? I know that they not always honor the requests but I thought it may be worth a try.

Could anybody please help me understand the bus situation I try to find out where the buses to the parks stop first so that I can decide if I use the south depot or the east depot. I want to avoid to be left behind because the bus is already full when it arrives at my bus stop...I guess the walk from the Royal Rooms to the west depot is rather long...

Sorry for asking so many stupid questions but I feel a little lost

It never hurts to make requests. Those are pretty normal ones. On the first page of this thread, there is actually information about faxing requests as well.

I just did our online check in and floor and corner room are an option so if that's what you would prefer (if offered) I say go for it.

I haven't stayed at POR in years so I'm no help on how the buses run at this specific resort but in my experience, getting to the parks is never too big of an issue. While many do go early in the mornings, it's very staggered on when people leave due to dining reservations, sleeping in, etc. I don't think you should have any issues getting on a bus, and if you do, worst case you just wait a few minutes for the next. It's leaving in the evenings, especially if you stay until closing, that you may find the buses more jam packed.

I did end up in a pretty long line for Magic Kingdom one morning in February. They sent 2 or 3 buses though, so it didn't take much time at all to get on.

Maybe it's just me, but we just got back and I didn't have any problem with the taste of the resort room water. I used it for brushing my teeth, and we also used it to fill our water bottles each morning. Maybe we just put enough ice in that it made it taste fine?

I was there in Februrary and it definitely still wasn't good.

Much depends on what you are used to as normal. The tap water in all of the Orlando area (maybe all of FL, not sure personally), which is what you get out of the facet in the entire WDW relm, has a significant sulfur taste and smell. Doesn't matter what resort you stay in, it's all the same water. FL is not the only place in the world with this type of water so if it's something you have, or if you have something else prevalent in your water at home, you may not notice it. The ice is just as bad in most cases since it's made from the same water. I'm not aware of anywhere that makes their ice out of filtered water. But I'm sure some do.

I will say that I do think the water is less sulfur-y than it was on our first trip back in 2008. Still pretty bad. Granted, we have pretty dang good water around here, thanks to underground artisan wells for our water supply. Our rock base is limestone more than a rock with sulfur. Maybe that makes the difference.

I agree. The last couple of times I've been down there, it seems like the filter or a flavored mix almost takes care of it. Those things used to help, but you could still really taste the sulfur.

 

[Sue M]

Hello

I will be traveling from Germany to WDW in 3 weeks doing a POR/AKL split stay. It will be my first solo trip and I am already very excited!
It will also be my first time staying at POR. I've booked a Royal Room with pool view and was now wondering if there is anything I have to take into account for the online check in. I was thinking to request the highest floor and maybe a corner room? Does that even make sense? I know that they not always honor the requests but I thought it may be worth a try.

Could anybody please help me understand the bus situation I try to find out where the buses to the parks stop first so that I can decide if I use the south depot or the east depot. I want to avoid to be left behind because the bus is already full when it arrives at my bus stop...I guess the walk from the Royal Rooms to the west depot is rather long...

Sorry for asking so many stupid questions but I feel a little lost

I like corner rooms, it gives you an extra window, and upper floor. Less foot traffic going by room. We prefer the East Depot. The South (main) stop always seems very crowded and confusing. People Queue up on bus line, even when it's not their bus coming. So you can't tell who's in line for arriving bus and who isn't. At the satalite depots people just sit on the benches and wait, it's a lot more relaxing.

 

[lovingeire]

Myth may be a bad word but it's differently a matter of perception. We just stayed 10 days in a RR (building 95) and the walk to the bus was not bad at all. And there were lots of downpours on our trip. We find POR very convenient, with easy walks to everything. Having stayed at all the Deluxe and Mods, some of the Values I can say that without question the bus service we've had at POR was as good, if not the best, of any. Seems to me the reports of the buses are simply that folks are quick to write reports that cover how bad things were but not so quick to write reports that cover how good or normal things were.

We'll be at FQ in 2 weeks and I'll see but having seen the layout during our trip a couple weeks ago I don't see it could be better. If you are in a room with a river view I think the walk to the main bus stop would be as long as the one to any of the 4 bus stops at POR. POR has some rooms very close to buses, some a 5 min walk at most. Looked to me FQ to be the same, with just the 1 bus stop.

I think a lot is perspective or personal option as well. I've stayed at both French Quarter (in a Garden View room) and Riverside (once in AB and once in a RR) and haven't found the walk to the buses long either place. But I also don't think the Little Mermaid section is really any further than the Cars section at AoA, and none of them seem a far walk to me. And I see a lot of complaints about that as well. For our Royal Room stay we only had a couple minute walk to the South Depot. No complaints from me! Even after running a half marathon!

Agreed. I've never really had bus issues there. A lot of runners also say the runDisney buses are terrible, but I never had an issue with those either. It's kind of like restaurant reviews. More people post about how terrible something was than "It was fine!"

I've decided if there's a reason to complain, people will find it! And be very vocal about it! But the positives often go without praise or comment.

The wait time screens are pretty much useless as they change routes and add buses so often that the system never really keeps up.

I've found the screens to be fairly accurate during out past couple stays. Of course, there's an exception to every rule, but we've stayed at three different resorts, that are funnily enough at each resort level, and not had bus issues at any of them. Well, besides waiting in line in the sun at Movies which was less than ideal.

 

[camperhappy]

Hello - This will be our first time staying at Riverside. We have booked a pool view room. Since we are a family of 5, I believe we will be in Alligator Bayou. What recommendations do you have for building preference? Thanks in advance.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Hello - This will be our first time staying at Riverside. We have booked a pool view room. Since we are a family of 5, I believe we will be in Alligator Bayou. What recommendations do you have for building preference? Thanks in advance.

We really liked being in building 25. The pool there is very nice. The building is close to the west depot, which is usually the first stop for the park buses. And it didn't seem that far to the food court.

ETA: I checked the room map and it looks like building 16 has a lot of pool view rooms. It would be close to both the food court and the south bus depot, which is the depot closest to the food court.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Hello - This will be our first time staying at Riverside. We have booked a pool view room. Since we are a family of 5, I believe we will be in Alligator Bayou. What recommendations do you have for building preference? Thanks in advance.

We always book pool view. We request first floor AB and take our chances. We never request a specific building and have always been happy.

 

[keahgirl8]

I think a lot is perspective or personal option as well. I've stayed at both French Quarter (in a Garden View room) and Riverside (once in AB and once in a RR) and haven't found the walk to the buses long either place. But I also don't think the Little Mermaid section is really any further than the Cars section at AoA, and none of them seem a far walk to me. And I see a lot of complaints about that as well. For our Royal Room stay we only had a couple minute walk to the South Depot. No complaints from me! Even after running a half marathon!

That's one reason I haven't stayed there (that and the fact that I LOVE POR). People make it seem like it's miles from the main building.

I've decided if there's a reason to complain, people will find it! And be very vocal about it! But the positives often go without praise or comment.

SO. TRUE.

 

[Lisann]

Yep. Anything out of a faucet is icky. My kids did find ONE water fountain in MK that tasted like it was filtered. I can't remember where it was, though.

I'm not speaking of the MK, but at Riverside, the water faucet/spigot by the drink station at the food court has clean filtered water...and it's free.

I was not trying it for half of my trip and then the cast member suggested I try it and I was sure it would be yucky, and it wasn't! He said it was filtered (but for some reason I figured there was no way it could be...bad me), and it was great!

I wish I had known this sooner. It saved me a lot of money and I could fill my mug or get a cup for free.

Try it!