Just back from POR 9/30 to 10/8

[Caleb's Mom]

Just returned late last night from a week at the Port Orleans Riverside. We were given a room on the Mansion side - Parterre Place (in the 9700 block).

A few notes positive and negative:

Negative = This room block of Parterre Place is about as far to the end of the mansion side as you can get and is to h*ll and gone from the nearest bus stop. We ended up walking to the main (south) depot every day instead. Noticed that seldom, if ever, were there guests waiting at the final mansion depot to be dropped off or picked up. I'm guessing other guests found it as inconvenient as we did.

Negative = Love the hot tub area by the pool to soak our weary bones after a long day tourning the parks but that area was still well under renovation. Lots of fencing and piles of dirt around it - didn't look like it would be done anytime in the near future. Missed it.

Negative = We arrived at 3:30 on check in day and waited in line over 45 minutes to check in. Don't know if it was the time of day or if a ME bus just dropped a bunch of people off before we arrived but it was packed and very slow moving.

Positive = The grounds around the mansions are exceptionally beautiful! Groomed shrubbery, rose bushes, fountains, columns - absolutely gorgeous! Really makes you feel like your someplace else - we're from WI so that southern feeling was new and nice.

Positive = Love that boat ride to downtown. Very relaxing and our boat driver (an older gentleman) narrated and gave us a bunch of great facts and info during the ride as well.

Room was fine and housekeeping was efficient. Love the refrig in the room, didn't have that last year. We brought in a case of bottled water and it was nice to keep it cool.

All in all we like this resort and would stay here again.

We did stay at POR last year and liked it enough to return to it this year. We were on the Alligator Bayou side last year (#26) so now we can officially compare both sides and say we've experienced the entire resort.

Fire away with any questions, I'll be happy to answer as I can.

PS - We did do the free dining and I'll report separately under the dining board about that experience as well.

Edited to add (funny side note):
On our second night as we crossed the bridge to our room we witnessed a bellman cart loaded down with luggage speeding down the sidewalk. He hit a bump and a large bag fell off the cart and began rolling toward the Sassagoula River quickly, one roll away from the river's edge & being submerged in the drink the bellman literally dove (was airborn) and tackled the bag before it hit the water. Good save on his part (how would he have explained the drenched luggage?) and quite humorous for us to witness!!!

 

[ciera321]

Edited to add (funny side note):
On our second night as we crossed the bridge to our room we witnessed a bellman cart loaded down with luggage speeding down the sidewalk. He hit a bump and a large bag fell off the cart and began rolling toward the Sassagoula River quickly, one roll away from the river's edge & being submerged in the drink the bellman literally dove (was airborn) and tackled the bag before it hit the water. Good save on his part (how would he have explained the drenched luggage?) and quite humorous for us to witness!!![/QUOTE]
I can just picture that in my mind....Glad you had a nice time!!!

 

[prue]

We are arriving next week at POR and it was good to read your factual review on negs/pos and I was just wondering.... we stayed in Oak Manor when we came 11 years ago (!!) and I know you can only put in requests concerning your rooms but I wondered where you would ask to be? Also as the hot tub area is being renovated does that mean the whole pool area is not looking as good as usual and is noisier with workman? We loved Dixie Landings and I have been longing to hear from someone a review of the current situation.

Thank you very much and I look forward to hearing your views from across the big pond.
Prue

 

[Terri C]

Thanks for posting We are staying at POR 3 in 3 weeks
Did you prefer the AB section or the mansions? I requested AB because I wanted a trundle bed.

TIA
Terri

 

[Caleb's Mom]

We are arriving next week at POR and it was good to read your factual review on negs/pos and I was just wondering.... we stayed in Oak Manor when we came 11 years ago (!!) and I know you can only put in requests concerning your rooms but I wondered where you would ask to be? Also as the hot tub area is being renovated does that mean the whole pool area is not looking as good as usual and is noisier with workman? We loved Dixie Landings and I have been longing to hear from someone a review of the current situation.

Thank you very much and I look forward to hearing your views from across the big pond.
Prue

Only the hot tub area was fenced off, the remainder of the pool area was open for business as usual. Actually, we visited the pool area twice and at neither time were there any construction workers in site, but we did vist later in the afternoon/evening.
As for where we'd ask to be, the entire resort is wonderful - AB is more rustic and the mansions were more manicured. Both are/were nice surroundings wise. Oak Manor is a bit closer to the action than Parterre Place is when it comes to the main buildings and bus stop.

 

[Caleb's Mom]

Thanks for posting We are staying at POR 3 in 3 weeks
Did you prefer the AB section or the mansions? I requested AB because I wanted a trundle bed.

TIA
Terri

Terri - We loved both areas - I think it's a matter of personal preference as to what type of surroundings you like best. Both types of rooms - AB & mansion have the same room ammenities - it's just how the buildings look and how they are decorated that differ. We didn't need the trundle bed as there were only 3 of us but if you have a larger group that would definitely weigh in my decision too. When the CM at the front desk assigns you a room at check in, take the minute or two to really look at a resort map as to where you'll be in relation to the resort offerings and if you don't think it will work for your family, request another area. I really wish I had taken the time to look at the map the CM gave me - I would have wanted a building closer to the bus.

 

[lverga]

Did you get the refillable mugs? If so what did they look like (colors, design) Just wondering if they've change since the last time we were there

 

[Terri C]

Hi Caleb's Mom...that's a great idea to check the resort map
I will definately do that when checking in.

Terri

 

[Caleb's Mom]

Did you get the refillable mugs? If so what did they look like (colors, design) Just wondering if they've change since the last time we were there

No, we didn't get the mugs - no need to with the dining plan as a drink came with each meal or could be had as a snack. Yes, the mugs were exactly the same as last year.

 

[Flyerfan]

Do you know where the closest grocery is in relation to POR?

 

[Caleb's Mom]

Do you know where the closest grocery is in relation to POR?

Don't exactly know what's closest but we went to the Super Target on Orange Blossom Trail on our way in from the airport. We rented a car.

 

[hegs65]

Which of the mansions in your opinion would be the best in regards to proximity to the bus stop and food court? I remember looking at a map when we stayed at the Contemporary and thinking that our room location was going to be great, closest to MK blah, blah, blah,- that is until I got there and had to drag 3 kids back -what a hike!!! It's just dh & I this time so I would love to stay in the mansions but am just not fond of walking 2 miles back and forth from the bus stop.

 

[kjbstore]

Okay, are the "double beds" really double beds or queen? When we went before, we had a king bed but we'll be taking our daughter with us this time. Thanks.

Kathryn

 

[snowmouse]

Thanks for the report. We arrive this Friday, can't wait. I did have one question about the hot tub construction. It sounds like this is at the main pool, correct? Are there other hot tubs at the quiet pools? We've only ever gone to the main one, but this would be a bummer for us.

 

[Caleb's Mom]

hegs65 - I'd recommend almost any other mansion other than Parterre Place, it's at the very end of the mansion row.

kjbstore - yes the beds really are just double beds.

snowmouse - there is only the hot tub at the main pool and last week it was still under construction - no hot tubs at the quiet pool areas - just pools.

 

[lverga]

Which of the mansions in your opinion would be the best in regards to proximity to the bus stop and food court? I remember looking at a map when we stayed at the Contemporary and thinking that our room location was going to be great, closest to MK blah, blah, blah,- that is until I got there and had to drag 3 kids back -what a hike!!! It's just dh & I this time so I would love to stay in the mansions but am just not fond of walking 2 miles back and forth from the bus stop.

We stayed at Magnolia terrace last time. Loved it! REALLY close to Bus stop not to bad of a walk to food court etc.