It's The Port Orleans FAQ Thread!!!

[Pixiedust34]

Thanks for the Bob information! I hope we'll be able to fit him in sometime during our trip.

 

[minnie29uk]

Thanks for info on internet.But I dont have a lap top is there a public computer anywhere at POR?Any other hotels?

Thanks,
Lynn

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Subscribing!

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

Hi, I have a couple questions about POR, please...
By chance does anyone know how deep the main pool is where you come down the slide. We're really interested in staying at the POR, but mainly because of the pools and slide for the kids. I just want to make sure my little one is safe and if I need to by a life jacket for him?
Also has it been confirmed that the Food Court at POR will be closed until April. We're going in the middle of March, just wondering how difficult it would be there with the 3 kiddies!
Thanks for your help.

 

[candykisses]

Hi, I have a couple questions about POR, please...
By chance does anyone know how deep the main pool is where you come down the slide. We're really interested in staying at the POR, but mainly because of the pools and slide for the kids. I just want to make sure my little one is safe and if I need to by a life jacket for him?
Also has it been confirmed that the Food Court at POR will be closed until April. We're going in the middle of March, just wondering how difficult it would be there with the 3 kiddies!
Thanks for your help.

I know the kiddie pool is 36in, but I don't know how deep the main pool is. I can tell you that my son is 6'4" and doesn't have a problem when he comes down the slide.

Life jackets are available is various sizes and are free to use.

The food court is closed now and isn't expected to reopen until mid-April. There will be a limited menu for breakfast and some grab and go items at lunch. Also Boatwwrights added a limited menu lunch.

 

[jenr812]

Hi, I have a couple questions about POR, please...
By chance does anyone know how deep the main pool is where you come down the slide. We're really interested in staying at the POR, but mainly because of the pools and slide for the kids. I just want to make sure my little one is safe and if I need to by a life jacket for him?
Also has it been confirmed that the Food Court at POR will be closed until April. We're going in the middle of March, just wondering how difficult it would be there with the 3 kiddies!
Thanks for your help.

I brought a life jacket for our son - he was a month shy of 3. They can't use it on the slide - I stood at the bottom and caught him He'll be 4 1/2 on our next trip and I am trying to make time for him to take swimming lessons before that, but if not, the life vest is coming with us again!

HTH!

 

[popinl]

I'd like to thank everyone for their information on POR. My family of 5 is going in March, and it is the first time that we've stayed on site. We're getting pretty excited!! At least I am.

 

[BrerMom]

I can tell you that my son is 6'4" and doesn't have a problem when he comes down the slide.

I would hope not!

 

[njdisneyfreak]

My DH and I will be at POR from 12/21/07-1/1/08. It will be our third trip to WDW, but first to POR. I am so glad to see this thread.

Any tips for us? It's just my husband and me and not only will we be there for the holidays, but also to celebrate our 8th anniversary. Has anyone ever celebrated an anniversary during your stay? Do they do anything special when you mention it to the front desk or reservationist?

 

[marypopfan]

I was wondering what was the first bus stop in the order that they pick up around the resort? Is the main bus stop first?

 

[jeannie1962]

Hi

We just booked for 2/10-2/12~Have never stayed at POR, any suggestions for what building to request. We are usually at the parks most of the time and will probably hang out at Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island at night.

I have read that there is a boat to Downtown which is great, anyone know how late it runs or should we hop on the bus for the ride back at night. Also, we don't have kids with us, so what I think we need is something close to boat/bus and food.

Thanks!

Jeannie

 

[Sk8Leigh]

Hi

We just booked for 2/10-2/12~Have never stayed at POR, any suggestions for what building to request. We are usually at the parks most of the time and will probably hang out at Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island at night.

I have read that there is a boat to Downtown which is great, anyone know how late it runs or should we hop on the bus for the ride back at night. Also, we don't have kids with us, so what I think we need is something close to boat/bus and food.

Thanks!

Jeannie

I stayed at Oak Manor and I loved it. It was close to the main building, and we primarily used that bus stop. I'm not sure about hours for the bus or boat, but I do recommend taking the boat...it's a great ride! And I would take it in the daytime so you can see the Treehouse Villas along the way.

 

[Mickey's Sister]

Hi

We just booked for 2/10-2/12~Have never stayed at POR, any suggestions for what building to request. We are usually at the parks most of the time and will probably hang out at Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island at night.

I have read that there is a boat to Downtown which is great, anyone know how late it runs or should we hop on the bus for the ride back at night. Also, we don't have kids with us, so what I think we need is something close to boat/bus and food.

Thanks!

Jeannie

We've never stayed at POR, but we never miss Bob Jackson's show at the River Roost lounge. He's usually there Wednesday through Saturday from 8:30 till 12:00. Don't miss him - he's a hoot!

Jessica

 

[Disneyolic]

I was wondering what was the first bus stop in the order that they pick up around the resort? Is the main bus stop first?

The last time I was there was back in 1997 but I remember the busses went in the following order:

POFQ, Main bldg Riverside, then it went in a clockwise fashion, stopping at the bayou section, then finally the mansion.

I doubt it has changed since then.

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I may have to go alone with three children if my husband can't make it. Could somebody recommend a good room location for one mama and three crazy kiddos? We're going to stay in an AB room, with a trundle bed. I'd like to be close to the busses and pool if possible probably, right? Anyway, any help would be great. Thanks in advance!!

 

[magicmom99]

I may have to go alone with three children if my husband can't make it. Could somebody recommend a good room location for one mama and three crazy kiddos? We're going to stay in an AB room, with a trundle bed. I'd like to be close to the busses and pool if possible probably, right? Anyway, any help would be great. Thanks in advance!!

Building 15 was great for our family of 5. close to the bus stop, old man river and the lobby-building 14 would be good too

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

Here's the information about the boats to DTD.

 

[annie1995]

I have having some resort issues. I can't decide on where to stay. Right now were set for pop. If they offer free dining, we just might switch to POR. I have a couple of questions though. 1st where in line are the stops in the parks at night. I know POP has the last one out. Really long walk at night. Second, are there internal shuttle busses, to get you to the food court etc? Geez, I can't remember, we stayed there in 2004. How are the busses anyways. Are the waits really bad? We'll be traveling with a 12,8 and 14month old with a pretty good size stroller. Thanks for the help!

 

[jenr812]

I have having some resort issues. I can't decide on where to stay. Right now were set for pop. If they offer free dining, we just might switch to POR. I have a couple of questions though. 1st where in line are the stops in the parks at night. I know POP has the last one out. Really long walk at night. Second, are there internal shuttle busses, to get you to the food court etc? Geez, I can't remember, we stayed there in 2004. How are the busses anyways. Are the waits really bad? We'll be traveling with a 12,8 and 14month old with a pretty good size stroller. Thanks for the help!

Not sure about your first question, but I don't think so on your second ?. We stayed right near where the AB section turns into the Mansions section, and it was a nice, relaxing walk to the food court, Old Man River, boat dock, etc. That was with 3 kids - 11, 6, and 2 (35 months) at the time.

We stayed at POR in July 2005 - super busy week of July 4th - and didn't find the bus waits to be bad most of the time. A few times, we waited for what seemed like a while, but generally it was tolerable. We didn't expect to have immediate service (and usually didn't get it )

 

[magicmom99]

I have having some resort issues. I can't decide on where to stay. Right now were set for pop. If they offer free dining, we just might switch to POR. I have a couple of questions though. 1st where in line are the stops in the parks at night. I know POP has the last one out. Really long walk at night. Second, are there internal shuttle busses, to get you to the food court etc? Geez, I can't remember, we stayed there in 2004. How are the busses anyways. Are the waits really bad? We'll be traveling with a 12,8 and 14month old with a pretty good size stroller. Thanks for the help!

WE stayed POR thanksgiving 2006.
The stops in the park were at the end of the bus terminals- ususally one from the end at MK. The waits for the most part were tolerable - 20 minutes or so going back to the hotel. The waits in the morning from the hotel were usually no more than 20 minutes. The problem we had were the shared buses and no buses. Out of the 10 days we were there, we had problems with the buses probably 3 days a couple of times we waited an hour for a bus. This occurred mainly in the afternoon. Before the parks opened, we didn't have a problem. AB 15 was a close walk to the lobby, food court, and the old man river. There were no shuttles to the food court that we noticed.
to sum it up, I'd say that for the most part the bus service was OK, but I'd get on at the depot at the lobby. A lot of times it was full from here and the bus didn't stop at the other stops, or there was standing room only after the bus stopped at the lobby. Also, when the resorts were sharing buses, there would be Standing room only at the lobby stop. I never figured out a timetable as to how they determined when the buses would be shared. some days, the bus would show up full, and other times, the lobby was the first stop. We decided if we stayed at POR again, we would definitely rent a car. We figureed out we spent 3-4 hours a day on or waiting for buses when we tried to go back and rest in the afternoon. Way too much time to waste.
One more thing to consider, returning from all the parks, except MK, the buses were definitely shared between POFQ and POR and they stopped at POFQ first every time. The lines were very long at park closing time also when returning home, especially when the parks closed. We started taking a bus to MK to get back to POR because they seemed to have buses that were'nt shared.
It probably wasn't quicker, but it kept us moving and the kids(10,9 and 5) didn't complain if the bus was there and moving.