Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread --- 2012, Part One --- NOW CLOSED

[andrewilley]

We are a family of five, so definitely in AB. When we booked several months ago, our booking stated that we will have 2 queen beds, which would be a refurbed room.

Ah, right, in which case you have booked a Garden View, yes? That was a new category which for about six months had some incorrect wording stating that the rooms all had queen beds from the outside (which wasn't true). Sounds like you've already had the conversation with them anyway, but take your confirmation email with you and they should give you a queen bed (i.e. refurbished) room.

Andre

 

[huckabear]

Going to send my fax today. Hoping to get connecting rooms in Magnolia Bend.

 

[closetmickey]

Just booked a RGR at the POR this June- thanks for all the great advice this thread offered! One question- as view isn't important I booked standard. However, proximity to amenities is preferred so I requested Oak Manor, near the elevators so as not be too far back in the building. I was wondering, are there any standard rooms located on the front (river) side of the building? If so, I would like to request that instead. So excited!!!

BTW....on my reservation, standard was described as having a view of courtyard or hotel grounds. Does this translate into "parking lot views only"?

 

[Rorey]

I need to send my room request to my AAA TA, which wording is the better to go with? We booked a King bed category

a) Building 80 with a river view

b) River view in Building 80

I'd prefer not to call Building 80 Magnolia Terrace as I'm afraid the terrace/bend is going to be mixed up (is this a safe assumption or over thinking )

TIA for any help.

 

[MickeyEars]

Just booked a RGR at the POR this June- thanks for all the great advice this thread offered! One question- as view isn't important I booked standard. However, proximity to amenities is preferred so I requested Oak Manor, near the elevators so as not be too far back in the building. I was wondering, are there any standard rooms located on the front (river) side of the building? If so, I would like to request that instead. So excited!!!

BTW....on my reservation, standard was described as having a view of courtyard or hotel grounds. Does this translate into "parking lot views only"?

We also have a "standard view" RGR booked so I would like to know the answer to closetmickey's questions. Does ""standard view" mean we'll definitely be facing the parking lot?

Thanks!
Carla

 

[Fire14]

We also have a "standard view" RGR booked so I would like to know the answer to closetmickey's questions. Does ""standard view" mean we'll definitely be facing the parking lot?

Thanks!
Carla

WE have 2 rooms booke for 35 days more I can take pictures from our rooms for ya.

 

[lfeikert]

I just wanted to stop by and say thanks for all the help before our trip! I am currently sitting next to the quiet pool watching my kids swim! POR is beautiful. We love it. We are in a RGR in Oak Manor and our location is great. The room is amazing and still smells like fresh paint! As I sit here, I can see the workers working away on parterre place. Looks like upper level is about ready to go with a lot more to do on the ground level. My only complaint is that we don't have enough time to enjoy the parks AND spend a lot of time at POR!

 

[andrewilley]

I need to send my room request to my AAA TA, which wording is the better to go with? We booked a King bed category

a) Building 80 with a river view

b) River view in Building 80

I'd prefer not to call Building 80 Magnolia Terrace as I'm afraid the terrace/bend is going to be mixed up (is this a safe assumption or over thinking )

I'd suggest "River View, building 80 if possible".

Yes, it's a good idea to use the building number rather than the name for Magnolia...... however, building 80 is actually Acadian House. Which one did you want to ask for, Acadian House (80) or Magnolia Terrace (85)?

We also have a "standard view" RGR booked so I would like to know the answer to closetmickey's questions. Does ""standard view" mean we'll definitely be facing the parking lot?

Most Standard View rooms do look out over parking lots, yes. There are a few others which can fall into Standard category though, such as rooms which might otherwise have been Garden View/etc apart from some obstruction which blocks that view (maybe facing towards a stairway for example).

Andre

 

[4butlers]

BTW....on my reservation, standard was described as having a view of courtyard or hotel grounds. Does this translate into "parking lot views only"?

We also have a "standard view" RGR booked so I would like to know the answer to closetmickey's questions. Does ""standard view" mean we'll definitely be facing the parking lot?

Thanks!
Carla

We booked a standard because the view was not that important to us either, as we are hardly in the room, except to sleep. We actually had a great view of greenery and the trees. We faced the side of Magnolia Terrace, where the path is. No parking lot. HTH

 

[andrewilley]

We booked a standard because the view was not that important to us either, as we are hardly in the room, except to sleep. We actually had a great view of greenery and the trees. We faced the side of Magnolia Terrace, where the path is. No parking lot. HTH

Great, sounds like you got what is technically a Garden View room. I think there is a good amount of flexibility within these categories if more people have booked one type than another, allowing upgrades between categories to be commonplace. I guess it rather depends on how busy the resort is though.

Andre

 

[MickeyEars]

Thanks everyone for the replies!! Sounds like we might be lucky and not have to face the parking lot. This is very exciting to know!!!

Carla

 

[4butlers]

Great, sounds like you got what is technically a Garden View room. I think there is a good amount of flexibility within these categories if more people have booked one type than another, allowing upgrades between categories to be commonplace. I guess it rather depends on how busy the resort is though.

Andre

Oh really? I never even thought that we "might" have received an upgrade of sorts
Since it was our first stay at POR, we thought that was normal - or we just lucked out!
Regardless, we enjoyed our room and the resort so much, that it was unanimous that that is where we are staying again in October!

 

[4butlers]

This was standing in front of our door.

 

[sharon_wv]

I am hoping for some advice from you experts. I have a WDW vacation scheduled in June. We planned it to leave on the kids' last day of school. I worked in the possible snow days because we ALWAYS use all of our snow days and go to the very last possible day that the teachers' contracts allow. We planned to leave the evening of the last day of school (June 8th) and drive to arrive on June 9th. I was trying to get there before all of the major June crowds since a lot of schools go through mid-June. We're staying in one of the Royal Rooms.

Because of our spring-like winter, the kids did not even have ONE snow day all year so their last day of school is on May 29th now (the day after memorial day).

Do you think I should check to see if I can move it up? We'd get there on the 30th (a Wednesday) and stay 8 nights and then drive home? Or should I just leave it alone & not even attempt it. We have all of our ADRs and such planned already, such as dinner in the castle, etc.

What do you all think? Keep as is, or see if I can move it back? Will crowds be significantly better just a week and a half earlier? Or will there not be much difference? We're still outside the 45 days, so there wouldn't be any charge to make a change.

Thanks so much!

 

[closetmickey]

Just booked a RGR at the POR this June- thanks for all the great advice this thread offered! One question- as view isn't important I booked standard. However, proximity to amenities is preferred so I requested Oak Manor, near the elevators so as not be too far back in the building. I was wondering, are there any standard rooms located on the front (river) side of the building? If so, I would like to request that instead. So excited!!!

BTW....on my reservation, standard was described as having a view of courtyard or hotel grounds. Does this translate into "parking lot views only"?

Thanks for all the replies- good to know we may not be destined to view the parking lot! But might anyone know what we should request with regard to our RGR standard view room that might land us in Oak Manor, close to the front of the building (ie closer to the lobby/ food court)? Thanks again!!

 

[joannalh]

Great, sounds like you got what is technically a Garden View room. I think there is a good amount of flexibility within these categories if more people have booked one type than another, allowing upgrades between categories to be commonplace. I guess it rather depends on how busy the resort is though.

Andre

On the other hand I booked a Garden View RGR and got downgraded to a parking lot view!

 

[PixiePoppins]

What do you all think? Keep as is, or see if I can move it back? Will crowds be significantly better just a week and a half earlier? Or will there not be much difference? We're still outside the 45 days, so there wouldn't be any charge to make a change.

Thanks so much!

IMHO...I would move it up if it were me. I've stayed late May to early June before, and I could definitely see the difference in crowds. So whenever I have the option, I go as early as possible. This year we are lucking out with school ending May 18 (no snow days here either)! Now if your ADRs are very important to you, and IF you can't get them during an earlier stay (you know you probably won't get your ideal times, but you can probably get most of the restaurants)...then that may sway you. It wouldn't sway me much since there are so many good choices! I would absolutely play around on the ADR pages and see if it works for you.

Good luck!

 

[Rorey]

I'd suggest "River View, building 80 if possible".

Yes, it's a good idea to use the building number rather than the name for Magnolia...... however, building 80 is actually Acadian House. Which one did you want to ask for, Acadian House (80) or Magnolia Terrace (85)?

Sorry I meant 85, my eyes were deceiving me as I was trying to not have to get up to look at the printed out map I have. lol Being lazy means I messed up.

Ok so River View, Building 85.

Thanks so much!

 

[gris gris]

I just wanted to stop by and say thanks for all the help before our trip! I am currently sitting next to the quiet pool watching my kids swim! POR is beautiful. We love it. We are in a RGR in Oak Manor and our location is great. The room is amazing and still smells like fresh paint! As I sit here, I can see the workers working away on parterre place. Looks like upper level is about ready to go with a lot more to do on the ground level. My only complaint is that we don't have enough time to enjoy the parks AND spend a lot of time at POR!

Hi, we are booking a garden room in Oak Manor and I'm wondering how long does it take you to get to the bus, the dining hall and Ol Man Island? Thanks!

 

[tkodarkside321]

When we originally booked for our vacation this year, we tried to get a Royal Room, but they were completely booked for the dates we were going to be there. We then looked at the other moderate resorts (we have stayed at the value resorts the previous 2 years and we want to try something a little nicer ) and decided on CSR. A week later my wife decided to look online and see if any rooms had free'd up. To our surprise they had a standard view RR available!!! We were so excited!! We booked it and showed our girls the video previews of the room and they can't wait!!! We are all so excited to stay at a resort other than the value resorts!! Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with the value resorts, I'm just excited to stay at a different resort. I think it will be like having our first Disney World vacation all over again