IMPORTANT Info. Re: POR......

[kinggoofy]

I talked to a CM @ POR "Front Desk" ( I called the resort direct),
she said that ALL of the POR section will be up and running as of July 19th, 2003.

NO buildings will be closed as of 7-19-03. She mentioned the food court and ALL bus depots will be opened for regular service.

The staff @ POR had a meeting yesterday ( 6-16-03) regarding the July 19th "opening" of the POR Section.

She stated that too many requests for rooms at POR are being made for them to shut down parts of POR and all of FQ.

I then asked her...would POR shut down once FQ is completed ?

Her reply was, "Once FQ is completed, then sections of POR would be shut down for renovation. BUT they ( she meaning Disney) doubt very much that POR would ever shut completely. It is too popular."

To me, I think the honchos at Disney realized they "goofed" when they decided to renovate POR at the same time as FQ.
Hence, the opening of all of POR on July 19th.

 

[honeymo78]

Thanks for the good news. It would be nice for the mansion bus stop to be open when I go in August.

 

[Debi]

That is great news!! Thanks for posting.

 

[ls1222]

Thanks for the info!! We will be there in Sept/Oct and I was a bit concerned but it looks like all will be fine.

 

[bratray]

kinggoofy

thank you so much for that information!

i am going 7/16-7/23

you mentioned parts of the food court closed- do you know which parts are closed? it will be great to have this open for part of my trip- when i called the resort directly last week i was told that nothing was closed at the food court - but i didn't really trust this due to other postings stating the opposite

thanks

lisa

 

[kinggoofy]

Hey bratray ( Lisa)

We wont be at POR until August. But a few posters have said the Ribs / Chicken section in the food court was closed.

Now, when I asked about the food court, the CM did say, "even though there may be an area of the food court closed, you could still request a certain meal / or food and they will cook / serve it."

If you guys don't mind, maybe someone else can call POR directly and ask about the July 19th " opening" and see what they tell you.

Back when we were waiting for the AP rates and when the FQ section was closing , we all got different answers from the CM's.

If you call, you MUST call POR directly. I think I can post this number here because its not an 800 number. POR direct line is 407-934-6000.

Thanks
Pete ( AKA Kinggoofy)

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

that is great news.......!

 

[schwaa]

OK, I just got off the phone with Amanda at the Front Desk of the Port Orleans Riverside Resort. She said that they are shooting to have all (or most) of the buildings opened back up by July 19. She did not make it seem like a definite date - more like a goal, but she did say that for my trip in August, it should be back to normal.

She did tell me, however, that nothing is closed in the food court right now. But, there are some of the bus stops not being used.

I feel bad now that I booked my trip for the Caribbean Beach Resort. I feel like those of us who love POR, should show our support by booking our vacations there. I'm going to call and change my resort to POR.

 

[schwaa]

I just called Disney Travel Co. to change my resort to POR. The guy on the phone said that he wanted to warn me that there is construction going on at the that resort and do I still want to stay there. I told him that I called the resrot directly and they said that it was going to reopen fully in the middle of July. So he put me on hold to get a second opinion and he confirmed that they will not be doing any renovations at POR until they finished at POFQ. So at least two different sources are saying the same thing now.

 

[kinggoofy]

Great job Schwaa

Thanks for confirming what the CM told me yesterday. We all get different answers from Disney. Its about time they are giving us " one " answer. Fortunately for us POR lovers....its the answer we want to hear.

 

[schwaa]

Kinggoofy,

I just noicted how many times you've been to POR. And all in Aug. This is my first time gonig to Florida in Aug. Any tips on the heat and crowds in late Aug? My best friend and I will be there Aug 19 - 26.

Congrats on the anniversary.

 

[KLL]

Thanks for the updated information. We are going for Thanksgiving week 2003. It is beginning to look promising for a good stay at POR.

 

[dizkidz2]

We just came back from a stay @ POR 6/6-6/10. We did not see any renovation being done and we took a walk around from building #26 over the bridge, through some of the mansions, back over the bridge to the front entrance.
The food court definately had a section closed, the bakery, pizza/pasta section and the hamburger section were open. There was also a refrigerated section that had prepared salads and fruit. The selections were very limited, especially in the evening when the only thing available was the bakery and the pizza/pasta section. I'm really glad we were only there a few days the pickens would get old after awhile.
Also Boatwrights did not have a buffet for breakfast or dinner.

 

[mjkwt]

WHAT!!!!!!

I am leaving for POR in 2 days and I have heard nothing about constrution there, I did know that the FQ section was closed, but thought they were waiting for the FQ to be completed first. Can anyone tell me whats going on for sure. I would luv to hear from more people who just returned and that stayed or visited POR on construction updates. Please Help..........

I hope I am not walking into a construction Site!!!

Thank You Liberty Travel.........

 

[kinggoofy]

Hey Schwaa...

I noticed you will be at POR the same time we will be. We MUST hook up. Maybe a night in the lounge or something. I'll be the one acting like a big "Goof" during Bob's show.

We go in August because DW is a DayCare Director. She runs two pre-schools. She lets her staff take their vacations in June and July and then she takes her 2 weeks in August.

We usually like going in August for 2 reasons....

1. Its closer to our wedding anniversary ( Sept. 25 )
and
2. if we took our vacation early in the summer, then we would have nothing to look forward to for the rest of the summer.

As far as the heat, it is hot and HUMID. I guess we have learned to " pace " ourselves. ( we are in our 30's so when I use the word pace..don't think we are seniors...LOL)

We drink plenty of fluids and walk in the shade as much as possible. Also, we attend alot of indoor attractions. (We have no kids, so we don't have to spend alot of time waiting in lines for the " kiddy " rides.)

It is crowded, when we go it almost seems like everyone is taking their last vacation before school starts. But I think the local school kids start mid-August.

We bascially have the mind-set of " we are on vacation, we are there for 10 days....whats the hurry."

But I will say this, towards the end of our vacation...."its time to go home."

Last year was the first year we were able to go in November for Thanksgiving. WE LOVED IT !!!!!

The weather was perfect.

For those of you who have questions about POR....I would suggest NOT calling CRO...call the resort directly. They have the answers.

 

[lmm]

This is great news! I would love to hear from anyone just back.

 

[magicmouse2]

Good news and glad I do not have to worry anymore
Do you know if any of the rooms at POR actually got renovated ?If so which ones ? I heard the mansion section was closed and that is where I would like to stay in September (I thought I was going to have to pay lots for an upgrade to AKL )

 

[bigsky]

Hey!!
We'll be there as well!! Our first time at WDW. We're staying at POR. We're doing the land/sea pkg. Will arrive at POR on Wed. before Thanksgiving..be there until Sunday.
Hoping the crowds won't be too bad. A bit nervous about that.
But with the that special extended, maybe everyone will get it out of their systems during the special, and leave us alone for Thanksgiving! Just dreaming..

See ya there!

 

[magicmouse2]

I am going to call POR later to find out if any rooms were renovated, and if so where.

 

[lmm]

Thanks Magicmouse2 - please post as to what they say. It would be nice to score a freshly renovated room!