Please tell me about PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE...

[traveladdiction]

We have only stayed at DVC resorts- the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge and just this month, the Saratoga Springs resort - both one bedroom villas. We got those weeks through our timeshare, so we could never afford to pay $$$ to stay there, and we booked POR for the free dining in 2008 promotion. We are a family of 4- next year they'll be 4 and 2, one in a crib. So, do you think it will be a big difference from the DVC room we stayed in this year? I've really loved having the washer and dryer and full kitchen.... what are the differences other than that?

We just booked POR based on price alone, and I guess I only have a week or so to change the resort (by Sept 28 I think) so tell me about Port Orleans Riverside... is it the nicest of the moderates? What would you do if you were me?

 

[Mickiethepooh]

POR is the nicest of the moderates, though CS is good as well. But POR is maximum of 5 people which I believe includes one in crib. though someone can pipe in about that part for sure.
It is a hotel room like many hotel rooms. Also you need to be in Alligator bayou that is the only section with Trundel beds which you would need.

 

[Minniemouse07]

We are hoping for a trundle for our December trip. Ds will be turning 2yo during our trip and he'll be using the trundle. I don't want to bother w/ a crib or pack n play.

We are really looking forward to our stay at POR!

 

[SuzieN]

traveladdiction:
You DO NOT have to be in the Alligator Bayou section with a family of 4 or use a trundle bed! Only families of 5 have to stay there. That being said, I LOVE the Alligator Bayou section! I've stayed there twice [many years apart] and was completely charmed by it both times! It is just your basic hotel room - no kitchen or laundry area - but it does have a mini-fridge. The grounds are fabulous! I hope you will love POR as much as I do!

 

[pixdust]

Can not WAIT to be back in POR.

 

[GinnyFavers]

Hmmm... two double beds, a very small room, one bathroom, no privacy.

OK for a short trip, maybe, but for a long one? I dunno how comfortable you and hubby are in a double bed, I know it makes me and Joe miserable, we just can't do it.

There's more room in any of the deluxes and at least they have queens.

I would suggest the All Star Family Suites or a deluxe resort. Wilderness Lodge and AKL have the most reasonable deluxe rates, though sometimes the Epcot area deluxes run good discounts, if you have AAA, an annual pass, or respond to a current marketing offer.

Don't get me wrong I LOVE Port Orleans Riverside, but I can't imagine enjoying a vacation with a whole family in one of those tiny rooms. If there's any way you can afford one of the above instead, do it.

 

[Kelmag]

POR is great!!! The Alligator Bayou is terrific if you decide to stay there. The rooms are somewhat small in comparison to other comparable off-site hotels. But the property itself makes up for it.

 

[walted]

It's WDW how much are you in your room ? POR is great,we have stayed in both sides many times but AB is our favorite.If you stay there you will love the boat ride to DTD. POR has some of the nicest landscaping you'll see on property. you just can't go wrong with POR.Have a nice trip!!!!!!!!

 

[nklooz]

We LOVED POR. The AB section is great. The theme is so well done. The pool is relaxing, hot tub nice, slide fun, always chairs to relax in, nice pool side bar. Comfy beds, clean rooms, great decor. Gorgeous surroundings and landscaping. SO peaceful and relaxing after a day at the parks! Food court had a great variety, lines were never too long. Bus service was efficient. Boat to DTD was fun! I highly highly recommend POR. We really enjoyed it. I went back and forth over whether we should upgrade to a deluxe and am happy we didn't spend the extra money. Though the monorail and a balcony would have been convenient. POR is AMAZING for what you get for your money at Disney. We so enjoyed it & will be back for sure.

 

[Cindy B]

Disagree about POR being the nicest.

I had a horrible POR stay a few weeks ago (late August). In fact POR was so bad, we switched it to CSR mid trip.

It was just an awful stay--not enough help at the resort, full busses, not enough busses (Riverside and French Quarter were both at capacity), crowds everywhere...

 

[Siouxstone]

We returned from POR last Sat 9/15. We had a wonderful experience. The busses were full at times, but during peak times, they ran multiple busses to each park. For MNSSHP, the MK bus filled up, then another came before it left the curb and another was pulling up before that bus left. I thought it was well done. We never had any issues with understaffing, but the food court did get slammed one night around 10pm with everyone coming back at the same time. The only time I felt any frustration was dragging my feet on checkout day and getting caught in the airline check in line at exactly 11am. I knew better, I really did. However, I still felt like the line moved much faster than the airport line would have. The staff was very quick.
The rooms are smaller than DVC studios, but still roomy. Our DS is two and they had a pack and play in the room when we got there. We just kind of pushed it aside and never even bothered taking it down. If you are worried about the full size beds, you could put one adult in each bed and share with the kids. We were in AB and though we never used the trundle, we pulled it out to have a look. The extra pillows and blanket were very nice. There is a curtain you can use to pull across the sink area when everyone is changing at once.
The quiet pools are fabulous and we often had the one by us to ourselves or shared with just 2 or 3 people. I loved the seclusion. I never once felt like the resort was full, but it was totally booked. We tried to add a night for my sister and it wasn't possible for any night on our trip. This seemed odd to us because it never seemed crowded!
We loved POR!

 

[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. I don't think I'll return. I'd like to try other resorts first.

 

[SeaSpray]

I usually stay at the Polynesian but last May I stayed at POR for the first time and I was extremely impressed. The grounds are beautiful, the rooms are very nice, and the CMs that I encountered were very nice. I'm not a food court person AT ALL (I very rarely use food courts or counter service restaurants) but I found the food court at POR to be very nice, very spacious, and the food I purchased there was fresh and delicious.

I have a web page on my site with my pictures and comments from my POR trip. Here's a link to it: http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/html/POR2007.htm Enjoy!

P.S. The only time we had a long wait for a bus was when we were leaving EMH from the MK one night. But then again, my trip was the middle of May and it wasn't overly crowded.

 

[callaghan0416]

SeaSpray,
Loved your pictures and I am so happy that you liked this resort. DH and I LOVE the POLY, but we are going to POR for the first time this year and are getting a little nervous. But you have mde me feel better. This seems to be the "closest" thing to the POLY, meandering walks, beautiful landscaping and can sleep a family of five.
Thank you

callie

 

[wideeyes]

I got back from POR this week and it is a lovely resort, it is really beautiful and we found the rooms fine.

 

[mrsnj91]

We are a family of 4- next year they'll be 4 and 2, one in a crib.

So you are saying there is 4 of you plus two children will be in a crib...each? Totaling 6? Or there is 4 of you, with two in a crib....each? Totaling 4. Just want to make sure I got that right.
If you are needing two cribs...there will not be enough room.

I have only stayed at POR so I can't compare but I can say that we loved the stay there and we were there the end of Aug too. It was clean and everyone was nice. The grounds are lovely and the pools are AWESOME! The FC is really nice. We never had a bad bus ride. I can't say we have a complaint. BUT we are a family of 5 with one in a p&p and the rooms are crowded. Add in a stroller and suitcases, etc and I was always picking up and moving things to make room. It is the size of an average, tight hotel room. And note that the mansions have elevators. Nice with a stroller. We asked for AB but got the mansion and I still can't complain! In front of us was the main pool and lobby. To the right of us was a quiet pool and laundry. And right out back was the bus depot. What more could we ask for?

 

[RustManFan]

My family and I LOVE POR !! I have stayed there at least 6 times. My sister and I were just on vacation together in New Hampshire and she commented on how her favorite ride is the boat from POR to Downtown Disney (or whatever Village Marketplace is called these days....) I can't agree more!

We love the food court even on mornings when we have to hunt around for an empty table. Just enough variety.

Never had any trouble or long waits at check-in like some folks indicate. Timing is everything, I guess!

I can live with the waits for buses. It can be annoying when leaving a park if you don't stop to remember.....hey, I'm at WDW! How bad can life be?

Always will reserve at POR and always will request building 24 at Alligator Bayou. Assigned there everytime and have only made that request 2 of 6 times! Furthest from central building so I guess requests for it are not plentiful!

Wish I was relaxing at POR right this minute!!

 

[DRRluvsWDW]

RustManFan-
Why building 24?
Looking for recommendations for Dec 2008!

 

[TXgal]

SeaSpray, your pictures were great -- thanks for posting them! I forwarded the link to my daughter. We will be going next summer. I booked two rooms because there are seven of us now with our married chldren. (I warned them we could be rather cramped but they agreed it would be worth the sacrifice to stay onsite.) We'll see what they say at the end of the week, lol!

 

[Stinkerbelle_628]

I have a question about the beds. I understand that they are double beds, and alligator bayou has a trundle bed. My question is, are the beds in the Mansions elevated enough so you can store your luggage underneath? I think the beds in AB are, due to the trundle bed being under one bed, but I'm not sure about the beds in the Mansions section. Thanks!