It's The Port Orleans FAQ Thread!!!

[bellenbuzz]

I have never had a problem using the Disney Bus System...
But the boat from POR to DTD is Awesome, a Big Plus !!!

 

[MHTeacher]

We are booked at POR for free dining. DH and I stayed there for a anniversary weekend, but I left my room up to chance...BIG MISTAKE. We were so far from a bus stop, and POR is pretty big resort. I know that being there with three kids, I will not feel like walking a long way to an out of the way room.
I know since we have five in our family, we'll be in the Alligator Bayou section. We paid for a water view. Anyone got a good building request for us? We'd like to be not too far from a bus stop or the registration/food court building.

 

[mom2mykids]

We are booked at POR for free dining. DH and I stayed there for a anniversary weekend, but I left my room up to chance...BIG MISTAKE. We were so far from a bus stop, and POR is pretty big resort. I know that being there with three kids, I will not feel like walking a long way to an out of the way room.
I know since we have five in our family, we'll be in the Alligator Bayou section. We paid for a water view. Anyone got a good building request for us? We'd like to be not too far from a bus stop or the registration/food court building.

We were in building 18 and loved it! It was close enough but still far enough to be away form it all. We used the bus stop at the main building (where check in is) and there was a path through the trees to a parking lot and then the path to our building, not a far walk at all.
Here is the link to the property map
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/port-riverside.htm

 

[Groovee]

We were in building 14 when we were there last summer. We checked in very tired from our 9 hour flight form the UK. It was 9pm at night to our body clocks but I was shocked to get building 14 considering we had requested the mansions. But was delighted with our room and it was a corner one too. It was ideal for the small pool, for the food court/main building and a short walk to the front bus stop.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

I'm not much of a gamer, but I understand that the POR arcade is one of the biggest ones in WDW so your kids should have a blast. It'll be a lot more expensive these days though!!

Glad to hear this. My big kid (my husband!) loved getting up in the mornings and going to the arcade at POP on our last trip. This gave me the space I need to get ready in the mornings. When we decided to try POR on our next trip that was the first thing he asked about.

 

[themcgoos]

Glad to hear someone was able to get bldg. 14 at 900pm at night. I would have thought that bldg. gone by then. We arrive in 5 days at about 300pm-400pm and bldg. 14 is one of the ones we requested....

 

[MHTeacher]

We were in building 14 when we were there last summer. We checked in very tired from our 9 hour flight form the UK. It was 9pm at night to our body clocks but I was shocked to get building 14 considering we had requested the mansions. But was delighted with our room and it was a corner one too. It was ideal for the small pool, for the food court/main building and a short walk to the front bus stop.

How was the noise level at night in building 14? We have a water view, so it seems like we'd be on the side near the main walk. Do you think there would there be a lot of foot traffic at night?

++ We have five in our family, so we will be placed in a room with a trundle. Do all of alligator bayou rooms have the trundle, or only so many? AND if they are limited, which buildings have the trundle?

 

[andrewilley]

How was the noise level at night in building 14? We have a water view, so it seems like we'd be on the side near the main walk. Do you think there would there be a lot of foot traffic at night?

It's fine, we've stayed in water-view rooms in building 14 at least four or five times and you simply don't notice people on the main pathway which runs near to the building. It's just Disney Magic I guess.

We have noticed some noise from the room above when staying in ground-floor rooms though, especially when a herd of hefalumps (sorry, enthusiastic small children) moves in above you!

Andre

 

[SiClone]

August will be our 1st time at POR and on-property. This will also be our 3rd trip (ever) to WDW. We don't land until 11 PM so room choices and buildings isn't a big deal for us (myself, DW, DS's: 13, 11, 3). My question is regarding getting around.

Obviously they have buses that go directly to each of the 4 parks. What about to the other resorts? Do they have buses that go to the places like the Poly, GF, or Contemporary - if I have ADR's over there? How's the travel time in between places?

On our last day, we don't depart MCO until 5:35 PM. I wanted to plan a character breakfast at 10 AM or so at either Chef Mickey's or Cape May. If we spent an hour eating, would we still have time to head over to DTD for an hour or so (bus from there direct to DTD?) and still make it to the airport by no later than 4 PM? Is that cutting it too close? Prolly need an earlier ADR?

I've never used Magical Express so I don't know how that works either in terms of specific times it leaves the resort or certain locations (from DTD??).

Just want to get the "been there/done that" response and recommendations.

TIA

 

[staci]

Obviously they have buses that go directly to each of the 4 parks. What about to the other resorts? Do they have buses that go to the places like the Poly, GF, or Contemporary - if I have ADR's over there? How's the travel time in between places?

No buses resort to resort. You will need to take a bus to the MK, and then hop on the monrail there in front of MK to get to the Poly, GF, or Contemporary. Or if you are at a park/DTD, you can just hop on the bus/monorail to the resort.


On our last day, we don't depart MCO until 5:35 PM. I wanted to plan a character breakfast at 10 AM or so at either Chef Mickey's or Cape May. If we spent an hour eating, would we still have time to head over to DTD for an hour or so (bus from there direct to DTD?) and still make it to the airport by no later than 4 PM? Is that cutting it too close? Prolly need an earlier ADR?

I would do an earlier ADR just to be safe. Dont want to rush through your last day. You might have to wait a bit for your ADR, and transportation... Last trip we had an 11:30 ADR at CP and needed to be out of the park by 12:45 - we did it, but felt like we were rushing alot. The server was great and got the characters around to see ds, we missed Piglet but saw everyone else, but the adults had no time to relax. HTH.

 

[aubriee]

If your plane leaves at 5:35pm, DME will pick you up at your resort around 2:35pm (three hours before your flight time). They require the three hours because they will probably be stopping at other resorts to pick up guests and they want to make sure you get to MCO in time for your flight. No DME buses leave from DTD. You must catch the bus from your resort at your assigned time. Your DME transportation voucher that's in your DME packet will be stamped with the resort you are leaving from and will be checked by the DME driver.

I posted a story here on the DIS transportation board about an incident that happened when I was at WDW last May. Just as our DME bus pulled up, a rather frantic family came running up, saying that they had gotten distracted at DTD and missed their assigned bus. They were demanding to be allowed on ours. When told there was not room for them and they should have made their assigned bus, the father became irate, but finally admitted they intentionally missed the assigned bus, but thought it was ridiculous to get on the bus three hours before their flight, and assumed they could just catch a later bus. Then time got away from them and they were later than they intended and now was going to miss their flight if they didn't get on this particular bus. When again told that this particular bus already had people assigned to it and it didn't have room for them, the man started insisting that some of us should have to give up our seats and could catch the next bus, so they wouldn't miss their flight. A manager had to be called, but before he got there, the man started saying if there wasn't enough seats on the bus, then they would just stand and then attempted to get on the bus. Of course he was told that wasn't possible either. By then a manager arrived. As we were loading, the family was being escorted into the resort and the man was screaming at the manager that they better not miss their plane. I don't know the outcome, but would guess they wound up having to take a taxi to the airport.

 

[micheleluvsmickey]

I am booked for por aug 28th-30th for free dining and i was wondering what are the closest buildings to request for the boat launch to DTD? Thanks

 

[SiClone]

If your plane leaves at 5:35pm, DME will pick you up at your resort around 2:35pm (three hours before your flight time). They require the three hours because they will probably be stopping at other resorts to pick up guests and they want to make sure you get to MCO in time for your flight. No DME buses leave from DTD. You must catch the bus from your resort at your assigned time. Your DME transportation voucher that's in your DME packet will be stamped with the resort you are leaving from and will be checked by the DME driver.

I posted a story here on the DIS transportation board about an incident that happened when I was at WDW last May. Just as our DME bus pulled up, a rather frantic family came running up, saying that they had gotten distracted at DTD and missed their assigned bus. They were demanding to be allowed on ours. When told there was not room for them and they should have made their assigned bus, the father became irate, but finally admitted they intentionally missed the assigned bus, but thought it was ridiculous to get on the bus three hours before their flight, and assumed they could just catch a later bus. Then time got away from them and they were later than they intended and now was going to miss their flight if they didn't get on this particular bus. When again told that this particular bus already had people assigned to it and it didn't have room for them, the man started insisting that some of us should have to give up our seats and could catch the next bus, so they wouldn't miss their flight. A manager had to be called, but before he got there, the man started saying if there wasn't enough seats on the bus, then they would just stand and then attempted to get on the bus. Of course he was told that wasn't possible either. By then a manager arrived. As we were loading, the family was being escorted into the resort and the man was screaming at the manager that they better not miss their plane. I don't know the outcome, but would guess they wound up having to take a taxi to the airport.

Thanks for the story. This is exactly what I wanted to know!

 

[SiClone]

New question...

Does Disney allow me to bring my own fishing poles (for the kids to use) or do I have to pay $4/half hour for rental poles only???

 

[Mom2AAA's]

New question...

Does Disney allow me to bring my own fishing poles (for the kids to use) or do I have to pay $4/half hour for rental poles only???

I'd like to know this too, we have a Grand Gathering going in Aug and all the men are fishermen! We are driving down and can bring the poles.

 

[Groovee]

How was the noise level at night in building 14? We have a water view, so it seems like we'd be on the side near the main walk. Do you think there would there be a lot of foot traffic at night?

++ We have five in our family, so we will be placed in a room with a trundle. Do all of alligator bayou rooms have the trundle, or only so many? AND if they are limited, which buildings have the trundle?

We barely noticed any noise until our last few days when a VERY NOISY family arrived. They had a 3 year old and 2 teens and the 3 of them were noisy. I know my kids are noisy but these 3 were horrendous. I got them back by singing loudly the next morning to the TV. The mother looked away when we left at the same time but we never heard them again after that.

All AB rooms have trundles.

 

[teacup317]

Good Morning: I'm sorry, I believe I've asked this question before and I've attempted to go through the thread but can't find the answer.

We are schedule to arrive at POR on 4/30 we have paid for a King room, is it possible that a king room is also a corner room. (Would that be asking too much? ) We would prefer a room in Magnolia Bend, does anyone have any idea about king rooms / corner rooms in that section?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

 

[andrewilley]

We are schedule to arrive at POR on 4/30 we have paid for a King room, is it possible that a king room is also a corner room.

Yes, I believe some of the King Bed rooms are on corners.

Andre

 

[teacup317]

Yes, I believe some of the King Bed rooms are on corners.

Andre

Thank you Andre!

 

[pkondz]

I am booked for por aug 28th-30th for free dining and i was wondering what are the closest buildings to request for the boat launch to DTD? Thanks

In AB section, building 14 is closest with buildings 15 and 18 next. In Mansions, Magnolia Terrace and Oak Manor are closest. You can check out the resort map here:http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/port-riverside.htm