It's The Port Orleans FAQ Thread!!!

[dgaston]

 

[cigar95]

I've heard rumblings that reservations for Port Orleans (French Quarter, under the new system) are being accepted for late this year. Can anyone confirm?

If so, this would seem to imply that some part of Dixie Landings would be closing down about the same time to begin the next phase of the renovation.

Thanx.

 

[msteddom]

Just got back from a week at POR and I fell in love with it. This was my first time staying at a Disney resort and now I don't think we can ever go back. The first night we stayed in Parterre Place #9603, I wasn't thrilled with the 1st floor, parking lot adjacent location of this room, but I was going to just live with it, after all it's only a place to sleep right? Well the next morning my friend saud that the air conditioning generator right outside had kept her up all night and would I mind switching rooms. We went to the front dest and were immediatly transferred to Parterre Place # 9713 on the second floor of the opposite side of the building. This was a great location. It was close to the parking lot without being right on top of it, right next to the quiet pool and and easy walk over to the lobbly and the food court. It was a bit of a hike over to Old Man Island, but wer didn't mind as we prefered the quiet pool anyway.

We ate at Boatrights for breakfast and enjoyed the food, but the atmosphere just seemed to be a bit lacking there. I probably wouldn't go back. We ate at the food court several times and found it to be very convenient, but not outstanding food. The refillable mugs were great!

We also did the boat ride to DTD and really enjoyed it. It was a very relaxing and informative way to get from point A to point B. I think that about does it for my POR reviews. Overall I was very impressed with this resort and I can't wait to stay there again!!!


Melissa

 

[Poohbear123]

Hi! I have a trip planned to POR in Nov. thru Dreams Unlimited. Just want to ask, do they have a Coffee Pot and Hair Dryer in the room? Thanks.

 

[msteddom]

Poohbear: No coffee maker, no hairdryer in the room. I believe that both are available from housekeeping upon request. I hope you like POR as much as I did!


Melissa

 

[TDC Nala]

You can definitely request a hair dryer from housekeeping. I don't know about the coffee maker.

Riverside's main pool has a big round wading pool, a hot tub, and an extensive playground.

 

[EpcotBill]

We returned from a week long stay at POR on Aug. 16. We did have a coffee maker in our room. We didn't request it, they just brought it to us.

Also, only half of bldg 18 is smoking optional now.

 

[danacath]

TDC Nala, thanks for the pool info! (BTW, your spam haiku is a big hit with DH. lol )

EpcotBill, how was the construction coming along when you were there? Any major changes?

 

[EpcotBill]

We didn't notice any construction. The sign for POFQ is gone, but I didn't see anything going on there. Even when we took the boat to DTD, we only saw one guy sitting outside a FQ room, taking a break. He looked like a painter.

They did paint our walkway around bldg 16 while we were there. That was the only "construction" we saw.

 

[kinggoofy]

We just returned on Sunday 8-24. We ttok the boat to DTD at least 5 times. A few of the times we had a driver ( Don, I think ) who said that FQ is now going to open BY CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.

We too saw no construction going on. Alot of the windows along the river had no treatments. He said all rooms were being "renovated". New carpeting, plumbing and electrical fixtures, painting, window treatments; and new bedding.

I was shcoked when he said it would be opened by XMAS-03.

 

[Lou-Ann]

How neat that would be...........Here's hoping it opens then.

 

[TDC Nala]

I tried to update the smoking building stuff, but I can't... I have to remove some pictures from the first post. Can't decide which ones, though.

 

[deecee99]

Kinggoofy -

Xmas 03, as in this year?! Boy, how excited would I be for that!!

Wonder when they'd open it up for booking ... I've still got to book January and am waiting for a decent rate.

Thanks for the info ... and if anyone has heard similar, let us all know!

Cheers,
-d

ps: congrats on celebrating your 10th!

 

[Janet2k]

I will be staying at Port Orleans -- Riverside for the first time very soon. I am really looking forward to my stay. I have stayed at the French Quarter before and completely loved that resort (click here for my PO-FQ photos). Since French Quarter is currently closed, it's the Riverside for me. I will be in a handicapped room so I promise to report back how things went, along with photos of the room. By the way, I am looking forward to seeing Bob Jackson (click here) again.

 

[mnbrowns]

I remember reading that PO Riverside now has carragie rides. Does anyone have more information on this?

 

[deecee99]

Info from Deb's site on Carriage rides is here.http://www.wdwig.com/faq_dxl.htm

Hope this helps!
--diane

 

[lminster]

First of all, Thank you so much for posting those wonderful pictures of the POR resort!

My family and I are leaving in less than 3 weeks. I put a request in our reservation for a mansion room at the POR. We are a group of eight traveling all the way from Alaska. I would like to stay at the POR, but I have seriously considered changing to the Carribean Beach resort only because of my concern that my request will not be granted. I absolutely DO NOT want to stay in a AB room. I live with that rustic look everyday and I want to vacation in the ellegance of a southern mansion.

What do you experienced WDW veterans suggest? If there some way to assure I will get the room I want, or should I try to change my resort.

Looking foward to your reply.

 

[TDC Nala]

Room requests are not guaranteed. The odds are probably pretty good, but you won't be able to be absolutely sure you will get in the section you want. You could try telling the front desk at check in that you'll wait for rooms in the mansions. If it's at a high-traffic time it may not matter, and you'll have to take whatever they've got. If this will make or break your trip, you might want to consider staying elsewhere.

 

[countrydoc]

I don't know if this is the right place to ask, this is my first post. (I was at WDW 10 and 29 years ago.)
we are hoping to save some bucks on food while there 2/04 -3/04. We hope to bring cereal and bowls and eat Bkfst in the room. Is there a place there (?Fulton's?) where we can buy milk and a foam cooler? And did any of you feel a need to have a car while there (we're flying in), or was the DTS adequate? Thanks!

 

[jerseydizdreamer]

Hey, Doc. I've never stayed at POR, but have stayed at Disney quite often, and here's what I've learned over the years:

Yes, you can buy milk and such at just about every resort, but it'll cost ya! I think you'd be better of stopping at a grocery store on the way in from the airport and picking up supplies, and then paying the extra fee the resorts generally charge in order to get a fridge in your room.

I've never had a car at Disney, and have always relied on the Disney transportation system. I've never had a problem, but then again, I'm a very patient person. I don't mind tacking on the extra time to get from here to there. For many others, this is an issue (especially if they make a lot of priority seating arrangements or early character breakfasts, and need to get to a certain place by a very specific, early hour in the morning).

If you decide to rent a car, stopping at a grocery store won't be a problem. If you don't, you could always hire a car to take you from the airport to the resort, and most will throw in a brief stop at a grocery store for free (check the transportation board for more info on that). I don't remember ever seeing a foam cooler being sold on Disney property (not that I was specifically looking, but...). I'd guess they probably don't so as to encourage that you pay more for individual meals, but that's just a guess on my part. And again, for about $10 a day, I believe, you can get a fridge in your room.

Hope this helps! I'll be at POR from Nov. 29-Dec. 6, my first stay at that particular resort, but if you'd like to PM me when I return, I'll be glad to tell you anything I found out about the resort, food options and the stores on property!

Richard