Resort Thread Disney's PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE Resort

[andrewilley]

I called the front desk and was told quiet pool hours are 10-9. I am going to the pool to check signage but that really changes our usual routine from the last 5 trips.

The quiet pools are officially the same hours as the main pools (so should be 10am-8pm at the moment I think) but they are not enforced and the new gates are not locked. So within reason (mainly as long as there are no noise complaints) you should be free to swim any time.

Andre

 

[YRose]

We are staying at the POR April 2017. We have a Royal Room Garden View booked. I am going to request the Oak Manor building. I am trying to figure out where the designated smoking areas are near the Royal Rooms as we do not want to be near smoke. I am not sure if that is a concern at POR since it looks like the rooms are a little set back from the Garden/fountain areas. I know at CBR they said if you don't want to be near a smoking area to request a room facing the parking lot. Thank you for any info you may have regarding this.
Michelle

Anyone have any info on the proximity of the smoking areas to the rooms?

 

[bigmac5]

We just got back from a wonderful stay at POR. A couple of times we were at the lobby and my friend was finding it difficult walking...so we went to Bell services and asked for a ride back to our room and they got a cart and picked us up and took us to the room. Once we didn't have to wait but another time it was about 15 min...but we just sat on the bench and people watched. that was better than carrying all our parcels that we had delivered to the resort to our room. It sure is a wonderful service

Also the day before you leave call bell services and set up a time and they will pick you and your luggage up and take you to the luggage area

 

[FelisLachesis]

Anyone have any info on the proximity of the smoking areas to the rooms?

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/port-riverside.htm

Most of the smoking areas are by the Sassagoula River

The one behind Acadian House is a little west, and closer to building 38 in The Bayou.

There's one between Magnolia Terrace and Oak Manor

There's two in the cranny of Oak Manor

There's one in the cranny of Parterre Place

There's one more downstream from Parterre Place, heading towards French Quater.

It looks like the same request from CBR applies here. Your best bet to avoid the smokers is by requesting a room on the parking lot side.

 

[andrewilley]

Disney’s Dixie Landings Resort opened to the public on 2nd February 1992 featuring the charming rustic-styled Alligator Bayou Lodge buildings. Shortly after that, phase two of the resort opened with the more elegant sophistication of the Magnolia Bend mansion buildings, bringing the total number of guest rooms up to 2,048.

On 1st April 2001, the original Port Orleans and Dixie Landings locations officially merged to form one large resort. The combined complex was now to be called Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, with the area formerly known just as Port Orleans changing its name to Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and the area formerly known as Dixie Landings changing its name to Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside. The combined resort now spanned some 325 acres and featured a total of 3,056 guest rooms, making it the largest in Walt Disney World.

Twenty-five wonderful years of creating Southern-themed magic later, and the spirit of Dixie Landings (if not the original name) still lives on. I'd like to wish all the cast members past and present a wonderful Disney Birthday, and looking forward to visiting for the next 25 magical years.

Andre

 

[YRose]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/port-riverside.htm

Most of the smoking areas are by the Sassagoula River

The one behind Acadian House is a little west, and closer to building 38 in The Bayou.

There's one between Magnolia Terrace and Oak Manor

There's two in the cranny of Oak Manor

There's one in the cranny of Parterre Place

There's one more downstream from Parterre Place, heading towards French Quater.

It looks like the same request from CBR applies here. Your best bet to avoid the smokers is by requesting a room on the parking lot side.

Thank you. We paid for a RR Garden View so I will just use one of my requests to be not near a smoking section.

 

[pacsunmama]

This thread is awesome, thank you to everyone who has contributed! We are going to be staying here Feb. 14-23 in a last-minute, amazing trip that our friends put together for my family. My husband and I will have scooters (I had knee surgery 4 months ago, and he has stage 4 cancer and gets fatigued very easily.) We chose this resort because it seems like a very nice way for us to all relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the parks.

My husband is really looking forward to the dockside cane pole fishing, and he chartered a bass fishing excursion for one of the mornings. Any other suggestions for relaxing resort-side activities we can or should do, besides just playing in the pool? Our boys are 5 and 8, and our parents each booked their own rooms to help out with the boys when my husband needs to rest or when I need to ice my knee.

We are so excited. A week ago, this wasn't happening, and now it's happening in a HUGE way.

 

[ncc1701]

This thread is awesome, thank you to everyone who has contributed! We are going to be staying here Feb. 14-23 in a last-minute, amazing trip that our friends put together for my family. My husband and I will have scooters (I had knee surgery 4 months ago, and he has stage 4 cancer and gets fatigued very easily.) We chose this resort because it seems like a very nice way for us to all relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the parks.

My husband is really looking forward to the dockside cane pole fishing, and he chartered a bass fishing excursion for one of the mornings. Any other suggestions for relaxing resort-side activities we can or should do, besides just playing in the pool? Our boys are 5 and 8, and our parents each booked their own rooms to help out with the boys when my husband needs to rest or when I need to ice my knee.

We are so excited. A week ago, this wasn't happening, and now it's happening in a HUGE way.

First off hope your family has a wonderful time. The boat to DS can take scooters if you want to check DS . It also stops at POFQ from 10:00am to 4:00ish. After that the boats from POR go straight to DS and don't stop at POFQ.

 

[mickman1962]

Disney’s Dixie Landings Resort opened to the public on 2nd February 1992 featuring the charming rustic-styled Alligator Bayou Lodge buildings. Shortly after that, phase two of the resort opened with the more elegant sophistication of the Magnolia Bend mansion buildings, bringing the total number of guest rooms up to 2,048.

On 1st April 2001, the original Port Orleans and Dixie Landings locations officially merged to form one large resort. The combined complex was now to be called Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, with the area formerly known just as Port Orleans changing its name to Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and the area formerly known as Dixie Landings changing its name to Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside. The combined resort now spanned some 325 acres and featured a total of 3,056 guest rooms, making it the largest in Walt Disney World.

Twenty-five wonderful years of creating Southern-themed magic later, and the spirit of Dixie Landings (if not the original name) still lives on. I'd like to wish all the cast members past and present a wonderful Disney Birthday, and looking forward to visiting for the next 25 magical years.

Andre

Stayed there when it first opened (my Mom still calls it Dixie Landings) at will be making our 6th stay in May. LOVE IT

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Stayed there when it first opened (my Mom still calls it Dixie Landings) at will be making our 6th stay in May. LOVE IT

Any suggestions for us? We have been going back-and-forth between the wilderness Lodge and port Orleans .... I really want to like POR because it would make things easier financially ...we are looking at either doing a preferred room or a Royal room but I'm curious if you can request a royal room that is closer to all of the main lobby and food etc. (I know they are in 2 buildings)... The preferred rooms look really boring to me compared to the wilderness Lodge but I guess it might be hard to tell ... we actually do like to spend some time at the resort .

 

[Ensusieasm]

Here now and a little disappointed with quiet pool hours. We traditionally have breakfast poolside to let the kids swim before going to the park. I called the front desk and was told quiet pool hours are 10-9. I am going to the pool to check signage but that really changes our usual routine from the last 5 trips. Just wanted to pass the info on if it could be helpful to someone else. We are staying in a royal guest room poolview so it would be convenient to swim.

I was just there a week ago and swam in a quiet pool at Magnolia Terrace twice from 6am to 7am.
The gate does not have a lock.

 

[tgarre06]

This thread is awesome, thank you to everyone who has contributed! We are going to be staying here Feb. 14-23 in a last-minute, amazing trip that our friends put together for my family. My husband and I will have scooters (I had knee surgery 4 months ago, and he has stage 4 cancer and gets fatigued very easily.) We chose this resort because it seems like a very nice way for us to all relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the parks.

My husband is really looking forward to the dockside cane pole fishing, and he chartered a bass fishing excursion for one of the mornings. Any other suggestions for relaxing resort-side activities we can or should do, besides just playing in the pool? Our boys are 5 and 8, and our parents each booked their own rooms to help out with the boys when my husband needs to rest or when I need to ice my knee.

We are so excited. A week ago, this wasn't happening, and now it's happening in a HUGE way.

I just wanted to wish you a wonderful trip! You all clearly beyond deserve a little Disney magic. I hope you have an amazing, relaxing vacation with your family and create wonderful memories. I've never stayed at POR (just cruising the boards!), so I can't help with your question!

 

[ncc1701]

Any suggestions for us? We have been going back-and-forth between the wilderness Lodge and port Orleans .... I really want to like POR because it would make things easier financially ...we are looking at either doing a preferred room or a Royal room but I'm curious if you can request a royal room that is closer to all of the main lobby and food etc. (I know they are in 2 buildings)... The preferred rooms look really boring to me compared to the wilderness Lodge but I guess it might be hard to tell ... we actually do like to spend some time at the resort .

Royal Rooms Riverview would put you on the the side of the buildings near the bridge over to the main building with food, gift shop and lobby . Take a look at the resort map at www.portorleans.org . If Disney Springs is in your plans the boat from the PO resorts make a nice change from the buses.

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

Royal Rooms Riverview would put you on the the side of the buildings near the bridge over to the main building with food, gift shop and lobby . Take a look at the resort map at www.portorleans.org . If Disney Springs is in your plans the boat from the PO resorts make a nice change from the buses.

That is a great suggestion ... I think that category is booked when we are there ..I will look and I'll tell you which views are available

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

That is a great suggestion ... I think that category is booked when we are there ..I will look and I'll tell you which views are available

Gardenview and standard view (royal ) are available ... are those farther away ? I will look at the map again but I was pretty confused earlier

 

[andrewilley]

Gardenview and standard view (royal ) are available ... are those farther away ? I will look at the map again but I was pretty confused earlier

The best Royal Room option to guarantee a location with close access to the main facilities is Royal Pool View, as by definition all of those rooms are located very near to the footbridge which leads over to the main building. However there are also a good number of River and Garden view rooms that are actually even closer to that footbridge, but you can only request a nearby one, and like all requests it would not be guaranteed and you do run the risk of getting a room further away too. Faxing a confirmation request 3-5 days before you arrive seems to have a very good success rate at Port Orleans though, unlike some other resorts.

I would avoid Standard view royal rooms if location is important to you though, as very few of those are so well-located. See my maps on http://www.portorleans.org/floorplans.php and click on either of the red buildings to see the layout of all the room categories.

Andre

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

The best Royal Room option to guarantee a location with close access to the main facilities is Royal Pool View, as by definition all of those rooms are located very near to the footbridge which leads over to the main building. However there are also a good number of River and Garden view rooms that are actually even closer to that footbridge, but you can only request a nearby one, and like all requests it would not be guaranteed and you do run the risk of getting a room further away too. Faxing a confirmation request 3-5 days before you arrive seems to have a very good success rate at Port Orleans though, unlike some other resorts.

I would avoid Standard view royal rooms if location is important to you though, as very few of those are so well-located. See my maps on http://www.portorleans.org/floorplans.php and click on either of the red buildings to see the layout of all the room categories.

Andre

Thanks Andre... we spoke a while back . The reason is my husband is blind, but we haven't been able to write that on the ressie as they say it's not allowed. I haven't tried in the past 6 months.

 

[mickman1962]

Any suggestions for us? We have been going back-and-forth between the wilderness Lodge and port Orleans .... I really want to like POR because it would make things easier financially ...we are looking at either doing a preferred room or a Royal room but I'm curious if you can request a royal room that is closer to all of the main lobby and food etc. (I know they are in 2 buildings)... The preferred rooms look really boring to me compared to the wilderness Lodge but I guess it might be hard to tell ... we actually do like to spend some time at the resort .

Stayed at WL and it was great, however for the price I feel you can't beat POR. If money was no object WL wins hands down (except the food court).

 

[mickman1962]

Quiet pools are open "unofficially" 24 hrs

 

[andrewilley]

Thanks Andre... we spoke a while back . The reason is my husband is blind, but we haven't been able to write that on the ressie as they say it's not allowed.

How odd, I wonder why not? I would call the special assistance line (1-407-939-7807) after you have made your booking, explaining you need a relatively simple route to the main areas, and I'm sure they will be able to help you.

Andre