DMRick
I prefer to be tagless!
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2001
- Messages
- 12,819
Just back, late last night from Riverside. We got room 1434, which was great...near parking, and the foodcourt, and just a walk over the bridge to the main pool. Not far from a "quiet" (although hardly that) pool. We had faxed in requests, although upon check in was told they never get them upfront. We couldn't get building 18, although she said they had rooms in 14, even though it is usually for handicapped. I said we would take another, but she said this was fine, since people needing the handicapped were all taken care of. Our room was a regular room. We got second floor, but she said unless I knew of a specific corner room, she couldn't help, since she didn't know what they were. We were very happy with the location of our room.The room size, IMO (no tape measure with me), was just not that much different than the Allstars. We had five in the room (and have had the same with a small child, at AS). The bathroom was downright tiny, impossible to get a child dressed by an adult, unless on stood in the tub. Two sinks were nice. The sink area was bigger than AS, but would have been more useful with a curtain across it. I would never stay in POR, just to get a larger room..since after several stays in AS, we didn't see but a hairs difference. The building is a non smoking building, but they had some ashtrays in the "balcony" corridor. I wish smokers would not pick that builing, as we often walked through clouds of smoke..especially in the mornings as the smokers sat on the steps, or leaned on the bacony to have that cigarrette. Butts were often tossed over and some were still burning. The smoke was "held" in on the "porches" so we got to walk through the smell/smoke to our stairs. I would not get a second floor there again..I would rather be able to just step off the porch area, rather than go past the smokers. Not a good way for someone with asthma to start the day.
A lot is said on these boards about the Dis magic. Although we loved the shade at POR (it was hot last week), I just didn't see anything Disney about it compared to AS theming. We got some cute wash cloth ducks, etc from our maid (who did a great job all week), but other than tiny Mickey's on our bedspread, and a Disney character on our shower curtain and Disney soap, there was no theming. I would hate to drive in each morning, so POR is a big plus for being close...but if money was a concern, then I would stay off site, or AS.
The large pool was a diappointment...you can no longer go under the bridge..they have this awful white lattice covering both sides as well as boards covering the stairs (looks terrible in pictures), so you can't go up above on that bridge, or cross over in that spot). The pools were as full of screaming kids as the AS pools..one of the things we had hoped would be a little different (we thought less kids since so many head for AS with kids). Not that I blame the kids, and it was hot..and we brought two of own screaming kids to add to the noise. Just had read on these boards about how much less "kid" bustle at POR..not true...at least not last week. I really wish smoking would have designated areas at the pool, as it was very muggy, and the smoke just hung in the area. We moved several times, but seemed to always land next to smokers. Butts were often on the ground..you had to watch your bare feet. It was often hard to find a lounge close to the pool, so we could watch kids..so often we had 2 lounges for five people.
The food court was the biggest surprise. The food is just about the same as AS! We had heard so much abotu the food, we were surprised that it was the same stuff. We liked the food at both places. I was surprised at the constant mess at POR. The drink counter seems harder to keep clean (and they hope to change that soon, I was told by some work people looking it over..one said they learned some things since they built other hotels). There is no mug sink (but one coming in about 6 months, when they refurbish the area), no room for napkins on the long lengths, and no great little disposal area's by the refill staion for your garbage. So many people just use the cold water spigot to clean mugs, getting hot chocolate and sticky soda all over, and leave garbage on the counter. The floor around it was always sticky (gosh, with so many young kids helping themselves with no parents, I don't see how they could keep up with it), and the food court itself, although hugh, was always packed at mealtimes. Often the smell of burnt toast was in the air....people seem to not be able to read the toasters signs..you are not suppose to put large foods in the toaters..and we got to see why. One persons muffin caught on fire. She thought it was rather funny. It did finally put itself out. Disney must go through a lot of those large toasters.
I can't comment on the restaraunt, since we didn't use it. It looked nice. Lobby was big, and very nice looking.
We are staying in French Quarter (they wouldn't let us visit it) in August..just hubby and I. Theming won't mean as much to us, at it did to our grands this trip...and hubby really loves the shade (which I hope is as abundant at FQ as at Riverside). After a visit to AS movies, we did agree with our daughter and grands, that the next rip with them will be at an AS or Pop Century, for some cute theming (and we couldn't believe how much construction is done over there compared to our trip in January..wow..4 floors each building!). Although is was nice to try something new, for them, it was no different from staying at any hotel....it was not noticeably a "Disney" experience. We didn't do the caravan in the mornings, so nothing much Dis popped out at us.
A lot is said on these boards about the Dis magic. Although we loved the shade at POR (it was hot last week), I just didn't see anything Disney about it compared to AS theming. We got some cute wash cloth ducks, etc from our maid (who did a great job all week), but other than tiny Mickey's on our bedspread, and a Disney character on our shower curtain and Disney soap, there was no theming. I would hate to drive in each morning, so POR is a big plus for being close...but if money was a concern, then I would stay off site, or AS.
The large pool was a diappointment...you can no longer go under the bridge..they have this awful white lattice covering both sides as well as boards covering the stairs (looks terrible in pictures), so you can't go up above on that bridge, or cross over in that spot). The pools were as full of screaming kids as the AS pools..one of the things we had hoped would be a little different (we thought less kids since so many head for AS with kids). Not that I blame the kids, and it was hot..and we brought two of own screaming kids to add to the noise. Just had read on these boards about how much less "kid" bustle at POR..not true...at least not last week. I really wish smoking would have designated areas at the pool, as it was very muggy, and the smoke just hung in the area. We moved several times, but seemed to always land next to smokers. Butts were often on the ground..you had to watch your bare feet. It was often hard to find a lounge close to the pool, so we could watch kids..so often we had 2 lounges for five people.
The food court was the biggest surprise. The food is just about the same as AS! We had heard so much abotu the food, we were surprised that it was the same stuff. We liked the food at both places. I was surprised at the constant mess at POR. The drink counter seems harder to keep clean (and they hope to change that soon, I was told by some work people looking it over..one said they learned some things since they built other hotels). There is no mug sink (but one coming in about 6 months, when they refurbish the area), no room for napkins on the long lengths, and no great little disposal area's by the refill staion for your garbage. So many people just use the cold water spigot to clean mugs, getting hot chocolate and sticky soda all over, and leave garbage on the counter. The floor around it was always sticky (gosh, with so many young kids helping themselves with no parents, I don't see how they could keep up with it), and the food court itself, although hugh, was always packed at mealtimes. Often the smell of burnt toast was in the air....people seem to not be able to read the toasters signs..you are not suppose to put large foods in the toaters..and we got to see why. One persons muffin caught on fire. She thought it was rather funny. It did finally put itself out. Disney must go through a lot of those large toasters.
I can't comment on the restaraunt, since we didn't use it. It looked nice. Lobby was big, and very nice looking.
We are staying in French Quarter (they wouldn't let us visit it) in August..just hubby and I. Theming won't mean as much to us, at it did to our grands this trip...and hubby really loves the shade (which I hope is as abundant at FQ as at Riverside). After a visit to AS movies, we did agree with our daughter and grands, that the next rip with them will be at an AS or Pop Century, for some cute theming (and we couldn't believe how much construction is done over there compared to our trip in January..wow..4 floors each building!). Although is was nice to try something new, for them, it was no different from staying at any hotel....it was not noticeably a "Disney" experience. We didn't do the caravan in the mornings, so nothing much Dis popped out at us.
