Just back from Port Orleans Riverside !!!

[Ron from Michigan]

We just returned last week from our first stay at POR, and we loved this resort. We only have a few complaints that I will tell you about later. There were 6 adults in our party, and we all loved this resort. We were in the Magnolia Terrace building on the first floor rooms 8559 - 8561. Our rooms were very clean and housekeeping was excellent during our entire stay. I loved the location of our rooms, we were only a 5 minute walk from the front of the resort. We had requested this building so it was nice to know that WDW will give you the location you want if possible.

The food court and full service restaurant Boatwright's were very good. The bus stops are located very good at this resort we had one right behind our building so that was very nice. The landscaping here was fantastic, they really take care of there resorts. It was a beautiful place to spend a 13 day stay. We just loved the boats that you were able to ride from POR to Downtown Disney, but it would be nice if they were inclosed for those chilly winter month nights.

O.K. now to the complaints. We were about a week into our stay when we noticed a lot more teenagers in our resort, most of them from what I later found out were staying here and going to Disney's Wide World of Sports for football playoffs. These teenagers were not watched very good by the adults who came with them. On more than one occassion, we had to call the fron desk and ask that they send security down to our building to make these kids quit running up and down the upstairs hallway above our rooms, slamming doors, yelling, pounding on doors and playing loud music at 1 and 2 am. Where were the adults who were supposed to be watching these kids, out partying themselves ? After raising two teenagers ourselves we know what time of night kids should be quite and let the rest of those folks staying at you resort get some sleep. How come security did not take care of this problem without the many calls they recieved ? We talked to other folks who were there at the same time and they could not believe that Disney was letting this go on. Well enough venting for now, i sent a letter to Disney already so hope to hear back from them.

Let me finish by saying that we just loved staying at this resort and will be back here again in the future.

 

[DisneyObsessed]

Thanks for the post. I can't wait to go there. We've never stayed there before. I was thinking of requesting Magnolia Terrace. Do you know if MT has a waterview? That's the only kind of room could get. I would definitely not be happy if we have that kind of noise. My biggest concern is the fact that we are there Presidents week. It could be crazy.

 

[colleen costello]

DawnF, there are some Magnolia Terrace buildings with water views. We were down for Thanksgiving and had a MT room. Ours was NOT a water view -- we were just there for a night before meeting Mom and Dad at Old Key West -- but we walked all over the grounds that night. The Bayou and MT buildings are separated by a lovely canal. Footbridges cross this canal in a few places. I believe some of the Magnolia rooms will look out at this canal. (Bayou buildings are all only 2 stories tall and "water view" probably means "pool view."

The whole resort is beautiful; the landscaping rivals that at the Deluxe Resorts. We often "add on" a night at Riverside before using our DVC points and it's a longtime favorite of mine. Magnolia Terrace buildings look like old plantation mansions with columns and fountains. The bayou rooms are rustic and the furniture looks like it's made of logs (my kids love the Bayou!) Enjoy your stay!

 

[jann1033]

could you tell me which food court is open right now? I thought the French quarter was closed and the riverside says it's seasonal but we would like to take the boat from dtd and have lunch at the food court one day. Thanks

 

[colleen costello]

The whole French Quarter area is closed, but it's sort of "next door" and you don't see it unless you look. The whole Riverside food court was open when we were there. There was pizza and pasta, rotisserie chicken and salads, sandwiches, bakery and ice cream. Lots to choose from! There is also a sit-down restaurant called Boatwright's which is quite nice. You can buy a $12 souvenir mug and refill it free while you stay.

 

[lassdm]

fgfgfgfgfg bvbvb HI! I will be staying at Port Orleans in May. This will be my first time to Disney World in 10 years. Once I found out that there were two types of places to stay at POR (Plantation or Bayou) I asked my travel agent for something in one of the Plantations and she told me that you can't request and that I would find out which I would be staying in once I arrived there. Is this true? I would rather stay in one of the Plantations, although it all sounds SO neat!!

 

[vacationwoman]

Actually your usually better off without a travel agent for WDW unless you don't like doing any of the planning.

They don't know what their talking about when they say you can't request a specific building. You can always "request" something (but that doesn't mean you'll get it.)

You should also fax your request about 2 days before you go directly to the resort.

WDW is very good about granting requests if they can. When you check in if you haven't gotten your request you can ask again and many times it will be granted if it's possible.
Just be especially polite (and look sad

My favorite is the bayou side, I like the outside entrance to each room as opposed to indoor hallways in the mansions

.

 

[sue1013]

There are no inside hallways in the mansions. Outside entrance just like the bayou.

 

[stacy6552]

Im not sure what you want Disney to do about the teens.

I find it far more effective to confront the adults when you see them. On our last trip we were waiting for a table at Whispering Canyon with a bunch of unspuervised kids throwing the Lincoln Logs around and ingnoring the nearby adults telling them to settle down. When one of the parents finally showed up, I pointed out to her what had been going on and said that they clearly weren't old enough or well behaved enough to be left unspervised. She immediately repremanded her kids.

 

[BadgerBruce]

We've stayed 4x at Dixie Landings/POR, & always requested Magnolia Terrace & upper floor. We always got MT, but had to take a ground floor room during one stay. There was some noise from upstairs that trip, but nothing like Ron had to put up with. Glad you enjoyed the resort, it sure is beautiful there!

 

[dmonroe]

We just stayed at POR in Magnolia Terrace December 6-12. It was our first time in a moderate in about 10 years; and I was really impressed. The grounds were sooooo beautiful!

There were quite a few of the Pop Warner kids around; but they weren't that bad. There was some noise; but it was mostly just kids being excited kids. However, some of the adults that were traveling with them were HORRIBLE! Late one afternoon we left our room to walk over to the food court; and we had quite a shock. It seemed to be a coach and maybe one of the other adult chaperones were yelling obscenities at the kids to get out of the rooms and on the buses. I am talking about some really foul language here. I'm no prude; but this was not the place for it! When we got over to the lobby dh went and complained at the front desk, and they said they would look into it. I don't know if they did, but we didn't hear anything else like it during our stay.

Other than that one incident, we really enjoyed or stay!

 

[gypsy]

we just got back from POR this afternoon...
all stations at food court were open - food was pretty good!
go get a burger and fries from Mary and the 'boys' (all three are probably at least 65 yrs or older...)! we had burgers two different times, just because the staff at that particular food station were so delightful! the two gals working at the bakery station were terrific, also. some stations close earlier than others, but the pizza place stays open later...
Boatrights Restaurant was good also, with large portions - but OH!, those poor women, having to wear those atrocious uniforms!
Have Fun!

 

[Schmeck]

We loved the food court at POR when we went there last year, very efficient, friendly staff, very clean tables etc.

We never noticed the noise for upstairs when we stayed on 1st floor of Magnolia Terrace, but that was because our room was right outside of a big condenser unit - all we heard when we opened our door was the loud electric/mechanical hum...

I'd stay there again in a heartbeat (love the boat to DD) but I'd pick the Bayou next time.

Schmeck, who would have gone up to confront the teenagers - I work at a High School, and have "The Stare, The Voice" down pat now

 

[BethC1952]

We just returned from POR also. I prefer the Alligator Bayou section to the Mansions. I like the landscaping much better, and the buildings have a much more open, rambling feel to them. There are lots of little waterways and gardens, and it's just much more my style.

I have to agree about the teenagers. While we were there, we went to the luau (bad experience which I will detail in my trip report). In the section next to us were about 30 cheerleaders with their "adult chaperones". They really behaved very badly (not the cause of the bad experience). If they didn't like the food and the show, they should simply have left, rather than shouting and yelling through the entire event. As we were walking back to the Great Ceremonial House, the "adult chaperone" in front of us was teaching her group of about five girls to smoke! She showed them how to light the cigarette and what to do with it, and told them how cool and grown up it was. If I was the mother of one of those girls, I would be outraged. I took note of which group it was (they were wearing their team jackets) and have sent a note to the school district expressing my displeasure.

Other than that one evening, however, we had no problems with noisy kids. On the whole, we thought that most of them were very well behaved!

Beth

 

[dsneygirl]

My parents were at POR Dec 8-13th in the Bayous and they said they found the place seemed to be deserted. They were in a corner room facing the parking lot so I think it was quieter than an inside room. Also they were just a few steps away from the Quiet Pool.

 

[mal0808]

I made ressies just today for POR. The lady I talked to told me that the beds have a trundle that will pull out for extra room. Please tell me this is true, as I will need the space for the kids.
Anyone not have a trundle?

 

[gypsy]

dh and i stayed in Mansion - no trundle beds in mansions
dd and ds stayed in Bayou - i noticed the trundle under bed...
you'll love POR!

d

 

[mal0808]

Is the Magnolia building in the Bayou? The lady said that all rooms had trundle beds. Maybe I should call back? She put us there because of closeness to the pool. Also, is $85/nt a good rate? I used the CTH code for this rate.

 

[DisneyObsessed]

Considering I'm paying $132/night, you got an excellent rate. I couldn't use that code. They had no rooms left for the code rate.

 

[jann1033]

Originally posted by DawnF316
Considering I'm paying $132/night, you got an excellent rate. I couldn't use that code. They had no rooms left for the code rate.

depending on how long you are staying we just got AP rates this morning for Feb 6& 7 for $99 for a king including tax so that is 30 a night cheaper. it may be worth buying an Ap if you ar going before Feb 11( cut off day for Ap rates)