Just Back From Port Orleans Riverside

[lookingforward]

We just got back from a three night stay. This was my first time in a moderate, after staying at both value and deluxe. The hotel is beautiful and the setting is really lovely. Here are our thoughts:

Check-In: Not so great. Waited until almost 5 pm for room to be ready. We requested 14, 15, etc. but were given 38 in Alligator Bayou. This was a wonderful location, actually.

Room: In great shape. Clean, and convienent. No safe, though. I loved the theming, too.

Ammenities: We dined at Boatwrights (longggggggggggg wait for food, good quality, though) and the food court. Both served up expensive but decent fare. Breakfast at Boatwrights was really nice (banana french toast).

Pool: Great! Lots of lifeguards, lounge chairs and fun. One note of concern: Toddlers in the hot tub, kids unattended. Scary!

Fishing Hole: Fun for little kids, live worms and tiny fish, but fun!

This hotel is really relaxed and charming. Very much like a deluxe in many ways. I would stay there again. Any questions, let me know.

FYI: Bus service is crowded, but easy to navigate.

 

[lookingforward]

I forgot to add, mousekeeping was really great! The women who did out room was so nice and accomodating (extra towels,etc) and left towel animals all around the room. It seems as if the hotel is a bit short staffed on housekeeping(turn over of rooms, etc) but the rooms were in tip top shape. Bell services were great too, on time and polite.

Parking is really plentiful and easy at the POR-Riverside, both in front of the hotel and behind the various outlying buildings.

 

[ILuvWDWorld]

we're leaving wednesday and are very nervous about the bus situation. we've read so many negative reports lately.

 

[Harvest02]

No safe in the rooms?? I thought all the resorts had these!!! I would also like to hear more about the busses. Were they long waits??

 

[lovesdumbo]

No safe in the rooms?? I thought all the resorts had these!!! I would also like to hear more about the busses. Were they long waits??

There was a safe in my room in AB building #17. It was at the end of the closet nearest the rest of the room.

 

[Flametamr]

we're leaving wednesday and are very nervous about the bus situation. we've read so many negative reports lately.

Leave an hour earlier than you think you need to. They changed the bus routes and it takes longer now. We know the routes and we always seemed to be running close to time on our trips. We ended up just driving after the second day so we wouldn't have to leave so early.

 

[Flametamr]

Our safe was at the back behind the left wall under the clothes rack behind the curtain. We were in Bldg 36.

 

[lookingforward]

Our safe was at the back behind the left wall under the clothes rack behind the curtain. We were in Bldg 36.

Gosh, I think I missed the safe! Anyhow, the buses....The Riverside buses stop at three places, the main building, then two outer depots (maybe three?). There were no problems with the magic kingdom buses because they ran every ten minutes or so. We waited for MGM for about 30 minutes once. The busses are crowded, especially once we got to the outer depots and everyone was aboard. People were really nice about it, offering seats to pregnant ladies, elderly or people with little kids. So polite that several people commented about how unusual it was for disney buses????

I don't like the busses, because I hate to wait. My husband brought up our car on day 2 so it was much more convienent then. A previous poster is correct about giving yourself an hour, to be safe. On our bus to MGM there were several people (including me) who were freaking out about late dining reservations. Stress!

The drivers were nice and the busses were clean.

 

[AllSaints]

We just returned from a stay there as well (9/9-9/14). First time at this resort (stayed at POFQ last year) and we absolutely loved it! It appeared that the buses were picking up at Riverside first this year and then going to FQ, so that was nice. Some did take a while to get there, but it didn't really interfere with our plans at all.

The food court area was very nice and we ate there for breakfast on a number of mornings. Really liked their "build-your-own-pasta" bar there. Very good.

We stayed in the Acadian House (Mansions) and were very close to the North Depot bus stop, so that was convenient. Even walking to the bus stop in front of the resort wasn't far at all either. Used the boat service to DD a number of times.

Pool was very nice, used it one night as we had a multi-day pass to Typhoon Lagoon. Water was awesome.

Mousekeeping was very kind. We'd leave her little thank-you notes and a tip, she'd write a note back to us. Kinda cute.

All in all, this was an awesome resort to stay at. We went resort-hopping our last day there and I can honestly say that I'd rather stay here than BC or CR. It's a very pretty resort and we'll probably end up staying there on our next trip.

 

[klwdisney]

Room: In great shape. Clean, and convienent. No safe, though. I loved the theming, too.

NO Safe?! Did they get rid of them when they rennovated the rooms? Where do they expect us to put our important things?!

 

[Mickiethepooh]

NO Safe?! Did they get rid of them when they rennovated the rooms? Where do they expect us to put our important things?!

It seems the OP missed the safe. they are still there.

If the busses are now picking up at POR first that is going to be a rude shock to those who booked POFQ isn't it.
They really need separate or more busses.

 

[lilyv]

No worries. ALL the POR rooms have safes. Sometimes you have to move the curtain divider a little, and voila- the safe is on the wall behind it.

 

[nklooz]

We just returned also, and, yes, there defn. is a safe, easy to miss though.

A note on the busses. We never had any trouble.

The MK busses ran very regularly, as did Epcot. We never waited for those. Sometimes we waited a few mins. for MGM & AK, but, not long.

We used the main bus depot every time. I am not sure if this plays into it or not, but, I was nervous about the bus situation as well, and we had literally no issues.

The longest we ever waited for a bus was about 15 mins., and, that was from MGM back to the resort, I honeslty think the only reason for that is the weird time we were leaving, right before F! started, we just got too tired to stay.

We really had a great experience overall at POR and specifically with the busses.

 

[binky]

We just got back from a three night stay. This was my first time in a moderate, after staying at both value and deluxe. The hotel is beautiful and the setting is really lovely. Here are our thoughts:

Check-In: Not so great. Waited until almost 5 pm for room to be ready. We requested 14, 15, etc. but were given 38 in Alligator Bayou. This was a wonderful location, actually.

Room: In great shape. Clean, and convienent. No safe, though. I loved the theming, too.

Ammenities: We dined at Boatwrights (longggggggggggg wait for food, good quality, though) and the food court. Both served up expensive but decent fare. Breakfast at Boatwrights was really nice (banana french toast).

Pool: Great! Lots of lifeguards, lounge chairs and fun. One note of concern: Toddlers in the hot tub, kids unattended. Scary!

Fishing Hole: Fun for little kids, live worms and tiny fish, but fun!

This hotel is really relaxed and charming. Very much like a deluxe in many ways. I would stay there again. Any questions, let me know.

FYI: Bus service is crowded, but easy to navigate.

Great review! Thanks for sharing!

 

[lookingforward]

The buses I was on did not share with Port Orleans-French Quarter. The Riverside busses stopped at the outer depots that were behind buildings 24, 25, etc in Aligator Bayou, etc. The busses are cumbersome because of the crowds ,strollers, kids (including mine!), etc. but they ran as promised. It was easier, as someone else mentioned, to get on at the hotel lobby depot.

 

[disneygirl725]

Glad to hear. We love POR. One of our favs. The only problem we had was at check in there was a huge line!!!

Mousekeeping also didn't leave us any special items but that was okay. We love POR and can't wait to go back.

 

[emersonsmom]

I too just got back last night from POR and also in 38

My main concern with the busses were those LEAVING the MK. The POR line was past the bus depot entrence to leave the MK. It was so long that people were not happy. And this was each night we were at the MK.

Other then that, loved the resort. Was disappointed with the so called "trundle" bed as it was so small that an adult would be hanging off of it.

 

[lilyv]

I too just got back last night from POR and also in 38

My main concern with the busses were those LEAVING the MK. The POR line was past the bus depot entrence to leave the MK. It was so long that people were not happy. And this was each night we were at the MK.

Other then that, loved the resort. Was disappointed with the so called "trundle" bed as it was so small that an adult would be hanging off of it.

The "trundle" bed is specifically for young children under the age of 9. It in no way is meant for a full sized adult.

Glad you loved the resort. We love it too!

 

[iluvradcliffe]

We just returned from our first stay at POR and WDW. While the resort was nice, the POR buses left alot to be desired. They were always crowded, and it seemed as if we had to wait forever for more to come, especially leaving the parks. The buses seem to favor POFQ resort since they got the first stop in both directions. With the size of POR (huge), you think they would get the priorty transportation.

 

[disneygirl29]

Thanks for the reviews. we are staying there in mid dec . Stayed at FQ last year and enjoyed it... this put my mind at ease.

Trundle beds- do you need to request it? We ahve 5 in the room- so it would be great to have!