Port Orleans French Quarter FAQ thread - Refurbished for 2011 - Now CLOSED

[jeanylaser]

do you love the flat Screen tv in your room at POFQ!

 

[Tink0812]

I will be heading back to POFQ in a little over a week! Can't wait to see the changes in person!

 

[jeanylaser]

yeah me too! I can't wait to see the change in person!

 

[alicia080979]

Does anyone know if POR is one of the resorts used for Pop Warner week? We are having to change our trip all around and now looking at being there the first few days of Pop Warner. I wanted to stay at PORFQ but want to use the pool at Riverside as well but really don't want to deal with the masses of Pop Warner.

 

[Missytara]

Does anyone know if POR is one of the resorts used for Pop Warner week? We are having to change our trip all around and now looking at being there the first few days of Pop Warner. I wanted to stay at PORFQ but want to use the pool at Riverside as well but really don't want to deal with the masses of Pop Warner.

POR has been the moderate the last few years, with POFQ as the overflow.

I am leaving POR as the masses are arriving on Saturday; but some do start arriving on Thursday/Friday, so might have more of an overlap then you think.

 

[alicia080979]

POR has been the moderate the last few years, with POFQ as the overflow.

I am leaving POR as the masses are arriving on Saturday; but some do start arriving on Thursday/Friday, so might have more of an overlap then you think.

That's what I was afraid of. We have already stayed at CSR and I really want to stay at PORFQ but now I'm not sure what to do.

 

[aubriee]

That's what I was afraid of. We have already stayed at CSR and I really want to stay at PORFQ but now I'm not sure what to do.

I wouldn't! We were at POFQ one year when they were there. They were at POR with the overflow at POFQ. I didn't really notice any footballers, but the cheerleaders and their so called chaperones were horrible, as were their drunk parents.

I swore we'd never go back again during Pop Warner. However, this past Dec, due to several people at my job requesting Dec vacations, I didn't have a choice. I did a split stay at CSR and YC and was pleasantly surprised that I never noticed any of the Pop Warner folks anywhere. You'd have never known they were even at WDW. It was totally different from our previous stay at POFQ.

The end of my upcoming late Nov/Dec trip will overlap with the first few days of Pop Warner. I currently have a reservation at CSR and am hoping Pop Warner stays at PORS as usual. There may be a few scattered families at the other resorts, but the masses stay at the All Stars and PORS usually.

 

[snykymom]

Correct, if you specifically book a King Bed room category (i.e. you pay an extra fee for it) then you are entitled to what you have paid for.

However, there seem to have been a few cases recently where Disney have oversold their available capacity and then had to change people when they checked in - either by refunding the fee or by offering a move or free upgrade to another hotel which has a King room available.

Andre

This happens at every hotel. Hotels expect a certain amount of "bleed" - people who cancel at the last minute (remember, room only reservations can be cancelled up to 5 days before arrival with no penalty) or who just don't show up. So they overbook the rooms if they can, to the extent of the "bleed," say, 5 percent or so. If fewer people than expected bleed off, say only 3%, then someone's not going to get what he or she expects or paid for.

There's little that any hotel, restaurant, or even college, can do about it except try to make it right as best they can. But they can't manufacture rooms that aren't there.

 

[DCDisney]

King beds are a constant issue at WDW especially with the overlap with handicapped rooms. We've booked them and paid extra but don't expect a refund if you don't get the king room if you got a discount of any kind. They oversell kings everywhere so it's not like it's easy to switch resorts too. We try and we pay but we've gotten no king beds and no refunds. In one case we could have gotten one but only with a roll in shower room but we don't like those.

 

[cherylg85]

King beds are a constant issue at WDW especially with the overlap with handicapped rooms. We've booked them and paid extra but don't expect a refund if you don't get the king room if you got a discount of any kind. They oversell kings everywhere so it's not like it's easy to switch resorts too. We try and we pay but we've gotten no king beds and no refunds. In one case we could have gotten one but only with a roll in shower room but we don't like those.

I'm kind of confused when people say the "no refund on King bed if you got a discount" thing. If I didn't get any kind of room discount, but I am going during the free Dining period, does that count against me as having received a "discount" if they are oversold on the Kings when I arrive? I bought the entire package that included summer room rates, free dining, park tickets and airline tickets, too.

I just want to mentally prepare myself if I am stuck with Queen beds and out the $120 extra it cost to get a King. have a feeling the manager will be getting to know me well if that is the case. IDeep breaths, lol. Thanks!

 

[DCDisney]

Free dining is technically a type of discount but I think you'd maybe get the refund. We had a percentage off the room both times we didn't get a refund. It's very odd to me and I definitely argued each time but they really acted very sincere that they couldn't do anything. A number of resorts have stopped offering the option to book king rooms probably because of these issues. It usually happens when we travel with relatives that we keep telling how great WDW is and then boom at check in no king and no money. I try to not let stuff like that ruin my trip though and just move on though my Dad is very tall and I think he was very uncomfortable though he tried to be nice about it and he didn't really understand that he paid more to that room anyway since I handled everyone's plans.

 

[cherylg85]

Free dining is technically a type of discount but I think you'd maybe get the refund. We had a percentage off the room both times we didn't get a refund. It's very odd to me and I definitely argued each time but they really acted very sincere that they couldn't do anything. A number of resorts have stopped offering the option to book king rooms probably because of these issues. It usually happens when we travel with relatives that we keep telling how great WDW is and then boom at check in no king and no money. I try to not let stuff like that ruin my trip though and just move on though my Dad is very tall and I think he was very uncomfortable though he tried to be nice about it and he didn't really understand that he paid more to that room anyway since I handled everyone's plans.

Okay, thank you for your advice. I realize I should not let it ruin my trip and it definitely won't if it happens. Having a king bed is not then end of the world, but I don't believe in letting extra money spent on something go down the drain either. That $120 is not chump change to our very modest household income.

I have found at other hotels that being polite, but insistent with the manager gets me what is fair and right in the end. I never expect any extra accomodations, but I plant myself at that front desk until I get back what is fair. Even with discounts, if you paid extra for something and don't receive it, you should get it back. I am really surprised to hear of people not getting a refund for something they didn't receive. That doesn't seem very magical to me, LOL.

 

[jimy3000]

just wondering if anyone has stayed late at magic Kingdom for the EMH evenings...to avoid the mad rush to buses after the fireworks....

how were the buses back to POFQ? long wait?
are the rides busy?

thanx

 

[mana_liz]

just wondering if anyone has stayed late at magic Kingdom for the EMH evenings...to avoid the mad rush to buses after the fireworks....

how were the buses back to POFQ? long wait?
are the rides busy?

thanx

We haven't done it at POFQ, yet. We did stay until about 1:30 am at MK when we stayed at POP a couple years ago. The lines then weren't that long...I think most people had left by that point. Since the park was pretty empty even for EMH hours.

 

[stlkeeler]

We're staying at FQ after our cruise in about 9 days! When we get off the cruise we are planning to go to DTD. We have lunch reservations at The Rainforest Cafe. Please tell me exactly how things work as we've never been anyplace on Disney property or the parks.

I assume our room won't be ready when we get there. I don't really know what time we'll get there but everyone has to be off the ship by 9:00 (we could be off as early as 7:00 or 8:00). I don't know how long the ride is from port to the resort but it's 45-60 min to the airport. Will they keep our luggage while we go off to shop? We are planning to take the ferry/boat downtown. Will it be running then? Will the shops be open that early?

We are planning to meet friends at the restaurant. Can they come back to the resort with us? We would probably take the ferry back to the resort and they will be driving. Can they go swimming with us for a couple hours or is that not allowed?

What time is check-out? If we go off property for breakfast, can we still come back to swim? If we can't get back into our room, can we leave our luggage? Do we have to keep a day bag with us or would we be able to get to it after returning? Our flight doesn't leave until 5:30 so we have time to waste. What time do you recommend we leave for the airport? Three-ish?

Should I check in online before we leave or will it not be that big of a deal to do it when we get there? Anything else I need to know that I don't even know to ask? Sorry for all the questions but I am a complete newbie with regards to WDW.

TIA for all your help!!

 

[andrewilley]

Lotta questions there!

The bus can take 60 mins or so, but may have other stops too, so can be a bit variable.

Your room MAY be ready early (some people do check out very early, or the resort may not be full) but obviously there is no guarantee of that. You will be able to leave all your luggage with POFQ bell services until your room is ready though, and they will then bring them over to your room later if you want.

The boats to DTD start running at 10am and take about 15 mins, so no problems for you there. If you're VERY early, the buses start earlier than that. The Rainforest Cafe is right next to the boat dock, so really easy for you.

Your friends are very welcome to come back to the resort to visit you. They will be asked for a photo ID at the security gatehouse, but all they need to say is that they are visiting some resort guests; security are used to visitors. If you want to take them to see your room, get some food or go shopping, and generally explore around the resort that's perfectly fine (as long as they don't stay with you overnight!).

Pool use is officially reserved for resort guests. Officially, as in that's what it says in the rules. However, would they be challenged if they came from out of your room and then went back into your room to get changed again? I very much doubt it. It's not a subject open for debate on the DIS anyway, and is up to your conscience (and how busy is it).

Andre

 

[cassie]

What time is check-out? If we go off property for breakfast, can we still come back to swim? If we can't get back into our room, can we leave our luggage? Do we have to keep a day bag with us or would we be able to get to it after returning? Our flight doesn't leave until 5:30 so we have time to waste. What time do you recommend we leave for the airport? Three-ish?

Should I check in online before we leave or will it not be that big of a deal to do it when we get there? Anything else I need to know that I don't even know to ask? Sorry for all the questions but I am a complete newbie with regards to WDW.

TIA for all your help!![/QUOTE]



Check out is at 11. You can hang out on the property until midnight. Are you taking ME to the airport? If so, airline check-in at the resort kiosk is easy, and they will send your luggage to the airport so you don't have to carry it.
If not taking ME, bell services will hold your luggage for you.

 

[stlkeeler]

Thanks Andre and Cassie! I am very much a rule follower so thanks for the official word on the pool.

So, they will send all our luggage to the airport and we won't have to be bothered with it again until we get home? That's awesome! They do that on the ship, too. It's well worth the price of transfers to get that service.

Thanks!!

 

[cassie]

Thanks Andre and Cassie! I am very much a rule follower so thanks for the official word on the pool.

So, they will send all our luggage to the airport and we won't have to be bothered with it again until we get home? That's awesome! They do that on the ship, too. It's well worth the price of transfers to get that service.

Thanks!!

Only if you are taking Magical Express to the airport will they send the luggage ahead.

 

[disneyfan61]

Just back last night. POFQ was wonderful as usual. I was worried about the beds being too hard but they were fine. We got building 5 third floor just as I had requested.. It was overlooking the hot tub.

The only issue we had was on Wed. night when we took the boat to DTD. We waited half an hour (and the third boat) before we got on. It's not like it was a Sat. night. They don't fill the boats like they should. There is lots of space that does not get filled.

We got a towel animal on check in & another a few days later. I will post pics when I get them loaded. I asked about updating our tickets to AP's at the resort but you still have to do it in the parks.

Will post pics later.