POR question/ POFQ closing

[khawk]

I have a ressie at POR for may 7-13th. Now with POFQ closing and the 2 resorts being "sister" resorts, does anyone know if this will effect people staying at riverside? I dont know how close the 2 resorts are. Do they share any of the same facilities that I wont be able to use with POFQ closing. I thought I read on another post or board that POFQ is the only one that sells the beignets. Can I get these at riverside too? I was really looking forward to those, havent had one since I moved out of louisiana in 1984. thanks.
Kim

 

[seashoreCM]

POFQ and POR are not exactly within walking distance, and each operates separately from the other. Amenities other than bus transportation are not officially shared between them.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[RescueRanger]

Seashore, now I am really confused . I was told by CRO they were considered one resort and you could use both amenities. They said the only dfference at this resort is that it has two front desks, on at each section.

 

[jcemom]

Yeah, I was told the same thing. (That all amenities are shared between the two, and essentially they are one resort.)

 

[eeyore0062]

PO-FQ and PO-R are considered "sister" resorts, just like the Yacht Club and the Beach Club. The are separate resorts, but do share amenities. The check in system is separate, as is the bus transportation. The resorts are about a 10 minute walk from each other, and they do provide a water taxi between them every 15 minutes between the hours of 9 am to 9:30 pm. Many of the castmembers also rotate through both resorts, but largely are assigned to one or the other.

You are permitted to use any of the pools, boats, bicycles, fishing hole, spas, playgrounds, foodcourts, restaurants, lounges, gift shops, etc of either of the "sister" resorts, just as you can at the Yacht or Beach Clubs.

Really, the only difference is before they both went under the name Port Orleans in 2000, guests of one of the resorts (say Dixie Landing-- now PO-R) couldn't use the amenities, such as the pool, etc of the other.

Hope this helps!

 

[RescueRanger]

Thanks Eeyore, I was beginning to think I had been given bad info. I guess it really doesn't matter though since FQ is going to be closed.

 

[tar heel]

One little correction eeeyore: They've always been sister resorts with the guests being able to use the amenities at either one. This did not change when Dixie Landings' name changed.

 

[eeyore0062]

One of my good friends works at PO-FQ, and she has said nothing about that resort closing. It was at 87% capacity last week. Yes, it was closed for awhile after 9/11, but unless they are refurbishing it, I think you have gotten some wrong information. I will check with my friend and get back to you.

 

[jcemom]

Moderator Cris says even resort employees didn't know until today!

Some people have already been in touch with Disney and either changed their ressies or were told to wait for a phone call.

Closing is scheduled for sometime early May, I think.

 

[eeyore0062]

One of my good friends works at PO-FQ, and she has said nothing about that resort closing. It was at 87% capacity last week when we were down there. Yes, it was closed for awhile after 9/11, but unless they are refurbishing it, I think you have gotten some wrong information. I will check with my friend and get back to you.

I did a search on Port Orleans French Quarter closing, and these are the results I received.


Check these websites... they all state the same thing:

FourWorlds-Onepark - ... think about Walt Disney World! What's New graphic. Port Orleans French Quarter Closing Temporarily. Our inside sources are telling ...
http://www.fourparksoneworld.b3.nu/

Intercot: Walt Disney World Information Guide - Home Page ... - ... October 22, 2001 Port Orleans French Quarter Closing Temporarily Our inside sources are telling us that the French Quarter side of Port Orleans will be closing ...
http://www.intercot.com/features/2001/october.asp

WDW Resort & Entertainment Changes - ... not specified. The closures are in addition to the Port Orleans French Quarter closing entirely in October. November 2001. Its confirmed ...
http://members.aol.com/DisneyCrew3/changes3.html

Planning a Trip to WDW - ... Generally, mid to late December is a very busy time of year. The closures are in addition to the Port Orleans French Quarter closing entirely in October. ...
http://www.wdwig.com/impact.htm

I hope this helps straighten out the misunderstanding.

Tar Heel, when we were staying at DXL in both 1993 and 1998 we were told that we could not use the pool at PO-FQ...that is how I came by my information, but perhaps what I was told by the CM's was false. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[eeyore0062]

Wow, that is horrible. I have to get in touch with my friend and find out where she is going to be working. I don't know why they always pick that resort to close, because it seems to be so popular! Maybe they are just renovating the rooms... I know it was due for renovation!

 

[jcemom]

From what I could see, those links were all from the 2001 closing...I think?

http://wdwig.com/hnews.htm


Port Orleans to undergo extensive renovations!

Port Orleans Resort will undergo an extensive room renovation that will take approximately 2 years to complete. The French Quarter rooms will be done first and the entire resort will be closed during this time. The rooms will get all new furniture, carpet, bathrooms and wall coverings.

Effective today (April 4) no reservations will be taken for the resort.

Disney will be contacting guests who currently have reservations at the French Quarter to move them to another moderate resort. More details as they become available.

wig.com/hnews.htm

 

[magicmouse]

Are Disney also contacting people with ressies for Riverside later in the year ????

 

[off2disney]

I just got home from work and had a message to call my travel agent - my ressies were for December 15-19th and she said we needed to switch to another resort because it would still be closed during that time.

 

[jaysue]

This might be an early indication that things are not going so well at WDW with other examples such as no Spectro in May. Maybe they are not getting the they expected on bookings in the mods category with their extensive code promotions.

Another idea is that maybe due to the smaller size, POFQ costs the most to run of the moderates and thus gives Dis the least margin or profit of all the mods - just an idea.....?

I am now rethinking my POR stay in May since it was predicated in part on having access to POFQ

Thanks
Jason

 

[n2mm]

My guess would be when they get to Dixie landing, they will probably close the Mansions and do that side, then close AB and do that side. I can't imagine them closing all of Dixie Landing, since the French Quarters would be open and use the amendities (water craft and restraurants) at Dixie. I too have a very best friend that works at dixie and will double check with her too! I imagine when AB is closed, they will have to find accommodations for families of 5--maybe they will be put up in the contemporary...like the SOG folks were during their renovations. (OK, don't want to spread rumors, just a thought).

 

[jaysue]

This may be a silly question but I do not want to assume - with POFQ closed would the buses and boats run less often?

Also, would the pool etc. be closed at POFQ? I assume so but did not want to make a bad assumption without checking

Thanks
Jason

 

[Nathan's Grandma]

I called this morning to change from PORS to POFQ for our July 12-19 trip and was told it was closing in May for renovations.

Kathy

 

[daannzzz]

The Orlando Sentinal says that POFQ will close for refurbishing along with section of POR but portions of POR will remain open during the duration of the remo9del. The sections of POR will rotate as parts are completed.
If you look at the history of when Disney remodels their resorts you will see that the Deluxes are remodeled every 8-10 years and the moderates after 10-11 years. CBR was just done and I was expecting they might start on PO resorts even if business was good. Next on the list should be WL and All Star Sports.
I am booked into POR may 10-14 and will wait to see if I am called.

 

[eeyore0062]

If the money wasn't there, Disney would have put off the renovations of those resorts until later. I am sorry that PO-FQ is closing for a period of time, as it is our favorite mod, and I am worried about my friend's job.

If the resort is closed, then the pools, etc will be as well. It shouldn't affect the schedule of transportation, however... as when we were there last week, there were separate busses for PO-R and PO-FQ anyway. Also, the boat will just leave from PO-R and not have to make the stop at PO-FQ on its way to and from PO-FQ.

We stayed in PO-FQ last October, and to be honest, you could tell that the rooms were in need of a face lift... they were clean, but definitely worn. This has been coming. CBR was opened in 1989 and the rooms were renovated in 2001... 12 years later. PO-FQ was built in 1991 and now the rooms are being renovated in 2003, 12 years later. PO-R (then DXL) was opened in 1992, and from what I am seeing the renovations of the rooms there should start in 2004. Seems like they are keeping everything on that 12 year schedule. In that case, CSR shouldn't be due for a face lift until 2009, so maybe we won't have to worry about it closing for renovations any time soon.

I am truly sorry for those who are having to change their plans. We were some of those guests when PO-FQ and parts of PO-R closed after 9/11. We were upset at 1st, but really enjoyed staying at the Contemporary, which we wouldn't have considered had the others not been closed. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!