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

[MDChris]

Yes there has been some March dates already upgraded. Before you ask we have no idea how there system of calling people works. We suspected pay of dates, but that wasn't it. Then we suspected dates they would show up, nope. I believe it may be a combination of a few things, and perhaps the names of the guests.

Thank you! I understand you don't know how the system is working. (I've been reading these posts religiously since the news broke) I hadn't seen anyone with a March date post yet, so I was assuming they were going by check-in date.

 

[cjchamp]

We got our phone call this morning. We had dates of March 5th thru the 11th. We got the GF Garden View. Hope it's nice.

 

[Venomhatch]

We got our phone call this morning. We had dates of March 5th thru the 11th. We got the GF Garden View. Hope it's nice.

Congrats!!! I am sure any view at the GF is nice!

 

[scdufek]

Hi, I just booked POR with a river view for Oct. There are 2 adults and 3 children in my party. Can anyone tell me which building numbers would be included in this, and which would be closest to foodcourt. Thank you in advance.

 

[pmaurer74]

I would take it higher. If you have proof you paid the same, you need to tell them that. Tell them if you need to you can fax it to them, email whatever. I would not take just a move to another moderate if everyone else got Deluxes. I wish I could help. I would call resort reservations and ask for a supervisor explain this. Show proof etc. But I wouldn't take that. That is just me.

I agree. I would talk to someone higher up about it. I do not think it is fair and it would be tough for me to have a really great time even though I would still try.

 

[pmaurer74]

Thank you! I understand you don't know how the system is working. (I've been reading these posts religiously since the news broke) I hadn't seen anyone with a March date post yet, so I was assuming they were going by check-in date.

I was true but see another poster with a March 5 check in date got called this morning. We are March 3 so they must not be going in order?

 

[pmaurer74]

We got our phone call this morning. We had dates of March 5th thru the 11th. We got the GF Garden View. Hope it's nice.

Ack! This is what we want too! Congrats and I am glad that they are upgrading to GF. Was that what you asked for? The only problem is I would feel bad for my parents unless they upgrade them to. Maybe we'll see you there we are March 2 (3)-8. with 2 reservations.

 

[cjchamp]

Yes, I asked for GF, but wanted a theme park view. Said they only had garden view at GF, Poly and AKL. So just took the garden view. Hope you get your call soon. We actually got it yesterday but wasn't home. They left a message to call them back. Told them what time we would be home.

 

[pmaurer74]

Yes, I asked for GF, but wanted a theme park view. Said they only had garden view at GF, Poly and AKL. So just took the garden view. Hope you get your call soon. We actually got it yesterday but wasn't home. They left a message to call them back. Told them what time we would be home.

I hope that does not mean they are running out of deluxes if they only have GF, Poly and AKL left! Someone else started a thread on the resorts page that they got the call and has a Feb. 18 checkin date so guess my theory is not correct in them going in order of checkin dates.

 

[i_heart_the_mouse]

Hi POR experts, I am in need of your expertise!

My family is planning our 1st stay at POR in June and there will be 6 of us (5 + infant). We are very big on resort time, but actual time spent in the room is pretty low.

We are Poly freaks and love the space, but our budget cannot handle 9 nights at June rates there, especially since it will be our 3rd trip in 10 months We stayed at BC in Sept and did feel a noticeable difference in the room size, but managed just fine and used the Club lounge to spread out when we needed to.

Will we be able to handle going even smaller at POR??? Give it to me straight!

Also, we reserved a GV room that said 2 queen beds in the description. Will we be guaranteed to get a refurbed AB room since we have 5 + 1 and only the refurbed rooms have queens?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sue M]

I booked my royal guest room river view for 2/18 for a night before my cruise. I did not booked it directly from disney but from expedia. BIG MISTAKE. I got a call today from expedia and told that my royal guest room is not ready until march 9 and they offer me a regular river view room. Unlike others who booked directly and offer to upgrade to deluxe resort, I stuck in the same resort. I called disney guest relation and a nice cr told me that because i booked thought a wholesaler, they cannot upgrade me and they can only offer me to stay in the same level. In other words, disney only take care those only deal directly with them. If you booked it thought other way, you are on your own. Do I save any money booked thought from expedia? No. The reason I book it thought expedia because I also booked my flight from expedia. BIG MISTAKE FOR ME. Not only my 6 years old daughter disappointed that she cannot stay in a princess room, I was treated like a second class guest because I did not book directly. Lesson learned- DO NOT use any travel website. They should all out of business. You should only booked directly.

Another reason not to book with Expedia & those type sites is that WDW puts out promos during the year, either free dining or room discount. If you booked with Expedia you can't switch your res if a WDW discount is released. You are locked into the price you paid.
If you book with WDW or a TA who booked with WDW on your behalf, you can get any new discounts applied to your res.

 

[Sue M]

We got our phone call this morning. We had dates of March 5th thru the 11th. We got the GF Garden View. Hope it's nice.

Wow! Congrats. And GF has some great restaurants too. We loved dinners at GF Cafe, 1900 & Narccoossee's. The CS - Gasperillas Grille has a great Lobster mac & cheese or Lob. salad. If you want to go check out or eat at Poly, there is a pretty walking path along the lake. We stayed at Poly, and would take the monorail to GF, then after dinner take the walking path back.

 

[andrewilley]

Hi, I just booked POR with a river view for Oct. There are 2 adults and 3 children in my party. Can anyone tell me which building numbers would be included in this, and which would be closest to foodcourt. Thank you in advance.

It depends on how old the youngest child is. If under 3, you could be given either Alligator Bayou or Magnolia Bend (the mansion buildings) as the child could sleep in a pack'n'play. If 3 or over, and thus needing a full bed, you'd have to be in the Alligator Bayou section.

All of the POR River View rooms are pretty well located to be honest, just a short walk along the river bank to the food court. 14 is closest, then 18, 27 and 38 (not sure if River View allows you buildings 14,18,27 though, as these are also 'preferred' locations and I don't know how the overlap works). See the map in the first post of this thread for details.

The river view rooms in Acadian House and Magnolia Terrace in the mansions are also pretty close, just a short stroll over a bridge across Ol Man Island and you're there.

My family is planning our 1st stay at POR in June and there will be 6 of us (5 + infant). We are very big on resort time, but actual time spent in the room is pretty low.

We are Poly freaks and love the space, but our budget cannot handle 9 nights at June rates there, especially since it will be our 3rd trip in 10 months We stayed at BC in Sept and did feel a noticeable difference in the room size, but managed just fine and used the Club lounge to spread out when we needed to.

Will we be able to handle going even smaller at POR??? Give it to me straight!

Also, we reserved a GV room that said 2 queen beds in the description. Will we be guaranteed to get a refurbed AB room since we have 5 + 1 and only the refurbed rooms have queens?

First, we've found that Garden Views rooms DO NOT guarantee you queen beds just yet (no matter what the original description said). They will do by August, once the whole resort is refurbished, but for now there is a mixture of refurbished and original rooms in the Garden View category. By June the odds will be much more in your favour though, as there should only be around half a dozen Alligator Bayou lodges left to complete.

You'll certainly notice the room size is a bit smaller, but to be honest it's OK as long as you all get on! Storage space will probably be the biggest issue.

Andre

 

[dkmulder]

For those of you who have been wracking your brains trying to come up with the method being used regarding the calls coming out for the upgrades, my theory is they took the lists and split them up. It was stated that there are several people on the team making the calls, wouldn't it also make sense if each person was given a list? If that is the case, then it also makes sense to me that some people who have reservations in March may get called before some people who have reservations in February, the same as some people might get called with the last name beginning with N before someone with the last name beginning with M. Again, just my thoughts.

 

[aoffhaus]

For those of you who have been wracking your brains trying to come up with the method being used regarding the calls coming out for the upgrades, my theory is they took the lists and split them up. It was stated that there are several people on the team making the calls, wouldn't it also make sense if each person was given a list? If that is the case, then it also makes sense to me that some people who have reservations in March may get called before some people who have reservations in February, the same as some people might get called with the last name beginning with N before someone with the last name beginning with M. Again, just my thoughts.

Makes complete sense to me.....I think everyone is just anxious for their calls....lol!

 

[MDChris]

For those of you who have been wracking your brains trying to come up with the method being used regarding the calls coming out for the upgrades, my theory is they took the lists and split them up. It was stated that there are several people on the team making the calls, wouldn't it also make sense if each person was given a list? If that is the case, then it also makes sense to me that some people who have reservations in March may get called before some people who have reservations in February, the same as some people might get called with the last name beginning with N before someone with the last name beginning with M. Again, just my thoughts.

It is definitely a good theory. I keep telling myself to be patient, but it is really getting hard.

 

[pmaurer74]

It is definitely a good theory. I keep telling myself to be patient, but it is really getting hard.

I agree that they must have lists and some people may not be home when they call, etc. But it is getting really bad.... it really is torture and an exercise in patience. I just hope they do not run out of upgrades! I would assume to be fair to everyone they would know ahead of time that they could accommodate everyone on the list otherwise it would not be very fair... would it?

The person I mentioned before with a Feb. 18 date actually got their call last Wed. not today.

 

[germ539]

I know this is probably in the thread somewhere but I can't find it. What is the size of the refrigerators at POR, how much can they hold, how cold do they get, etc?

Any info you can give me on this would be appreciated

TIA!!

 

[MDChris]

I agree that they must have lists and some people may not be home when they call, etc. But it is getting really bad.... it really is torture and an exercise in patience. I just hope they do not run out of upgrades! I would assume to be fair to everyone they would know ahead of time that they could accommodate everyone on the list otherwise it would not be very fair... would it?

The person I mentioned before with a Feb. 18 date actually got their call last Wed. not today.

I keep looking at the reservations website and see availability at a majority of the deluxe resorts. The only one that was completely booked during my week was the CR, which we have been told is unavailable for an upgrade already. I have to believe you are going to get your first or second choice on this. I just hate not knowing!

 

[stinkerbellsmommy]

Makes complete sense to me.....I think everyone is just anxious for their calls....lol!

It is definitely a good theory. I keep telling myself to be patient, but it is really getting hard.

Well, at least I know I'm not the only anxious one! I'm really trying to be patient & wait for the phone call, but it's so hard! Every time the phone rings, or an email pops up on my phone, I jump on it, thinking it's the TA. Then I get disappointed each time, you'd think I'd learn, haha. I think I'd feel better if I knew what method they were using, then I could at least guesstimate when a call would come. It's so exciting hearing about what everyone else is getting though! I've been on this thread non-stop just looking for any updates, so I appreciate everyone posting!