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

[klmrph]

speaking of soda...is it "safe" to put cans of pepsi in your luggage? We HATE coke and we heard they dont sell pepsi stuff at Hess.

Staples has cases for $11.99 delivered and right now they have free shipping, not sure how long it will last, not the best price, but not bad either - 50 cents a can. I just ordered a case of water from them for $5.99 shipped and my water shows delivered, so it should be there waiting for me at check-in on Monday.

 

[3sweetpeas]

Hey everybody, we leave in 14 days!!! I can't think about anything else.

So...speaking of reservation cm's not knowing of what they speak....I was taking a day off of the end of our reservation because of ISTEPs for my daughter (bummer) and the CM kept suggesting that I reduce my park ticket days from 9 to 7. I explained to her that we are coming to Orlando several days before we check in to POR and staying off site. I explained that we can pick up our park tickets at the parks, 3 days before check in. I researched this thoroughly here on the DIS. She told me I couldn't do this and so I said it was ok, I would worry about that later. Somehow during the call she asked her superiors and was told that I could NOT pick up my park tickets early. She was not happy that I kept changing the subject and kind of blowing it off. Now I am nervous. Can someone confirm for me that I CAN pick up our park tickets 3 days prior to check in with a package? I'm 99% sure but need reassurance!

 

[klmrph]

Hey everybody, we leave in 14 days!!! I can't think about anything else.

So...speaking of reservation cm's not knowing of what they speak....I was taking a day off of the end of our reservation because of ISTEPs for my daughter (bummer) and the CM kept suggesting that I reduce my park ticket days from 9 to 7. I explained to her that we are coming to Orlando several days before we check in to POR and staying off site. I explained that we can pick up our park tickets at the parks, 3 days before check in. I researched this thoroughly here on the DIS. She told me I couldn't do this and so I said it was ok, I would worry about that later. Somehow during the call she asked her superiors and was told that I could NOT pick up my park tickets early. She was not happy that I kept changing the subject and kind of blowing it off. Now I am nervous. Can someone confirm for me that I CAN pick up our park tickets 3 days prior to check in with a package? I'm 99% sure but need reassurance!

According to Cheshire, it can be done.....I would print this and take it with you.

I. Picking up Package Tickets Prior To Start Of Package

In cases where Walt Disney World Resort Guests would like to begin using their Package Tickets prior to the day of check-in (up to three days in advance), the Guests will be directed to visit any Theme Park or DTD Guest Relations location and request Early Ticket Pick-Up. (Note this cannot be done at a water park.)

It is only valid for people with packages at a Walt Disney World owned and operated Resort. You can be staying off-property at the time you pick up the tickets. Note that if you have a package which includes Dining, although you can pick up your tickets early you cannot get access to the Dining until you have actually checked in to your Resort.

Note that since August 2011 the Call Centers have been telling Guests this cannot be done. However it is still a valid procedure and can be done with no problem at Park Guest Relations Windows.

There is a possibility that if your package and the stay prior to the package are at the same Resort that you will be able to get the tickets at the Resort and not have to go to a Park Guest Relations Office.

And the tickets issued will be valid for the entire stay; they will not receive valid tickets when they actually check-in to their resort. There is a strong possibility that the tickets you have received prior to check-in cannot be added to your KTTW on or after check-in.

I would suggest you copy down the following information if you are planning to upgrade promotional tickets. If the person in the window is hesitant to upgrade these promotional tickets, ask them go go into The Hub >> WDW >> Work >> Ticketing >> Processes & Business Rules >> Early Ticket Pickup For Resort Packages where they will see the procedure.

 

[jonofrio]

yes it is sad that people can be so rude. this guy and his wife were asked to move out of the seats so the bus driver could put my daughter there in her wheelchair. well, he had a fit! he was just nasty about it making nasty comments out loud, it really made my daughter feel uncomfortable. honestly, the driver should have threw him off the bus!! i really felt like letting my Jersey girl attitude loose on him, but i kept my mouth shut. karma... it will get him one day

If I was there I certainly would of let my CT attitude loose on him for you...
How would he feel if it was HIS child. People have no compassion these days.

 

[hunmcbunny]

how do you post a pic? Hubster made a countdown calendar on a big poster board and we are planning on telling our dd today when she gets home from school. I would like to share a pic if I can.

 

[Venomhatch]

how do you post a pic? Hubster made a countdown calendar on a big poster board and we are planning on telling our dd today when she gets home from school. I would like to share a pic if I can.

Do you have a photobucket account or Imageshack account? I use photobucket. Make sure the pic you are uploading is decent size 800 x 640 or smaller and upload it to the below sites. Then take and copy the link usually has at both ends of it. Then paste here in a post. If it is confusing you can PM me and Ill host the pic for you. The inageshack one should not need you to sign up but everyone can see your pic the bonus with image shack is that it has a built in resize function if the pic is too big, and that is right below the upload area.

[url]www.photobucket.com[/url]
[url]http://imageshack.us/[/url]

 

[hunmcbunny]

Do you have a photobucket account or Imageshack account? I use photobucket. Make sure the pic you are uploading is decent size 800 x 640 or smaller and upload it to the below sites. Then take and copy the link usually has at both ends of it. Then paste here in a post. If it is confusing you can PM me and Ill host the pic for you. The inageshack one should not need you to sign up but everyone can see your pic the bonus with image shack is that it has a built in resize function if the pic is too big, and that is right below the upload area.

[url]www.photobucket.com[/url]
[url]http://imageshack.us/[/url][/QUOTE]

What about shutterfly?

 

[Venomhatch]

What about shutterfly?

I have never used them so if you like them use them.

Do they have a resizer or have you already brought it down to size? If so then once you have uploaded to them, you just have to copy the link and if it doesnt have img tags then apply them by first clicking on the little yellow box with the mountain in the pic at the top of the reply post window. Then a pop up shows up asking for a link paste the link into it and then ok your done.

 

[hunmcbunny]

I have never used them so if you like them use them.

Do they have a resizer or have you already brought it down to size? If so then once you have uploaded to them, you just have to copy the link and if it doesnt have img tags then apply them by first clicking on the little yellow box with the mountain in the pic at the top of the reply post window. Then a pop up shows up asking for a link paste the link into it and then ok your done.

Thanks soooo much! I havent taken the pics yet

 

[Venomhatch]

Thanks soooo much! I havent taken the pics yet

Yep good luck, hope they turn out right. We went a few nights ago, yeah late in the countdown. But we grabbed some Disney paint samples from home depot and will be making one for next countdown.

 

[Missytara]

Hey everybody, we leave in 14 days!!! I can't think about anything else.

So...speaking of reservation cm's not knowing of what they speak....I was taking a day off of the end of our reservation because of ISTEPs for my daughter (bummer) and the CM kept suggesting that I reduce my park ticket days from 9 to 7. I explained to her that we are coming to Orlando several days before we check in to POR and staying off site. I explained that we can pick up our park tickets at the parks, 3 days before check in. I researched this thoroughly here on the DIS. She told me I couldn't do this and so I said it was ok, I would worry about that later. Somehow during the call she asked her superiors and was told that I could NOT pick up my park tickets early. She was not happy that I kept changing the subject and kind of blowing it off. Now I am nervous. Can someone confirm for me that I CAN pick up our park tickets 3 days prior to check in with a package? I'm 99% sure but need reassurance!

My last three trips have been with discounts where my first day has been blocked out.

All three trips, I got the 8 days ticket, room only the first night and package rest of the week.

I went to Guest Relations at DTD (it is the easiest), got my park ticket, grabbed some lunch, walked over to SSR to pick up the parks bus there (rather than going all the way back to POR) and went on my way.

The next day, when I checked in with my package, after I received my KTTW card at the check-in desk, I proceeded to the Concierge desk and they transferred my paper ticket onto my KTTW card.

 

[3sweetpeas]

According to Cheshire, it can be done.....I would print this and take it with you.

I. Picking up Package Tickets Prior To Start Of Package

In cases where Walt Disney World Resort Guests would like to begin using their Package Tickets prior to the day of check-in (up to three days in advance), the Guests will be directed to visit any Theme Park or DTD Guest Relations location and request Early Ticket Pick-Up. (Note this cannot be done at a water park.)

It is only valid for people with packages at a Walt Disney World owned and operated Resort. You can be staying off-property at the time you pick up the tickets. Note that if you have a package which includes Dining, although you can pick up your tickets early you cannot get access to the Dining until you have actually checked in to your Resort.

Note that since August 2011 the Call Centers have been telling Guests this cannot be done. However it is still a valid procedure and can be done with no problem at Park Guest Relations Windows.

There is a possibility that if your package and the stay prior to the package are at the same Resort that you will be able to get the tickets at the Resort and not have to go to a Park Guest Relations Office.

And the tickets issued will be valid for the entire stay; they will not receive valid tickets when they actually check-in to their resort. There is a strong possibility that the tickets you have received prior to check-in cannot be added to your KTTW on or after check-in.

I would suggest you copy down the following information if you are planning to upgrade promotional tickets. If the person in the window is hesitant to upgrade these promotional tickets, ask them go go into The Hub >> WDW >> Work >> Ticketing >> Processes & Business Rules >> Early Ticket Pickup For Resort Packages where they will see the procedure.

Thank you so much klmrph! This is just what I needed. I had seen it somewhere at one point but couldn't for the life of me remember where!

 

[tink68]

Yep good luck, hope they turn out right. We went a few nights ago, yeah late in the countdown. But we grabbed some Disney paint samples from home depot and will be making one for next countdown.

We did the Disney Paint Samples for our countdown too. Worked great!

 

[Missytara]

Thank you so much klmrph! This is just what I needed. I had seen it somewhere at one point but couldn't for the life of me remember where!

That is from a sticky at the top of the Theme Parks and Strategies Board, regarding tickets.

 

[3sweetpeas]

My last three trips have been with discounts where my first day has been blocked out.

All three trips, I got the 8 days ticket, room only the first night and package rest of the week.

I went to Guest Relations at DTD (it is the easiest), got my park ticket, grabbed some lunch, walked over to SSR to pick up the parks bus there (rather than going all the way back to POR) and went on my way.

The next day, when I checked in with my package, after I received my KTTW card at the check-in desk, I proceeded to the Concierge desk and they transferred my paper ticket onto my KTTW card.

This is great Missytara! I like the DTD idea. Thanks for the info about going to the concierge desk. I would really rather have them on our KTTW cards. So helpful! I'm getting so excited!

 

[mskermit]

If I was there I certainly would of let my CT attitude loose on him for you...
How would he feel if it was HIS child. People have no compassion these days.

its nice to see that there is so much support for our handicap friends on here. It so hard to be 16 and in a wheelchair as it is, my DD has spina bifida, and she is a great kid! Its even harder being in a wheelchair in Disney, somthings she just cant do. I will never forget in 2010 we were the last in line to have pics taken with Marie ( the cat), she saw us at the end, stopped the CM from bringing the next person in line for a pic came over and got us herself for a picture... I cried... I have given my seat up for a mom holding a baby, an older person, or a child that is sooo tired from a day in the park that just cant stand anymore . it makes me feel good. so next time on a croweded bus, just remember how that person in the wheelchair feels.

sorry didnt mean to change the subject on here

 

[mskermit]

If I was there I certainly would of let my CT attitude loose on him for you...
How would he feel if it was HIS child. People have no compassion these days.

oh and sad part was.. he had his child with him , she was about 7 or 8. Nice to act like that in front of her, what does that teach your child .....sad

 

[3sweetpeas]

its nice to see that there is so much support for our handicap friends on here. It so hard to be 16 and in a wheelchair as it is, my DD has spina bifida, and she is a great kid! Its even harder being in a wheelchair in Disney, somthings she just cant do. I will never forget in 2010 we were the last in line to have pics taken with Marie ( the cat), she saw us at the end, stopped the CM from bringing the next person in line for a pic came over and got us herself for a picture... I cried... I have given my seat up for a mom holding a baby, an older person, or a child that is sooo tired from a day in the park that just cant stand anymore . it makes me feel good. so next time on a croweded bus, just remember how that person in the wheelchair feels.

sorry didnt mean to change the subject on here

I'm coming into this late and didn't go back and read what happened but this is a lesson for everyone. People at the bus stops see someone in a wheelchair and know that this means a few more minutes loading time and get frustrated because they are so anxious to get to the parks and I think people forget their sanity. It always amazes me that when we are on buses, almost always, my husband is the only person offering the elderly his seat. Strong 12 year old kids sitting while an elderly person stands. I can say this because I have strong 11, 12 and 14 year olds and you can bet they would be standing if it helped someone in need. It is wonderful to hear that Marie was so kind to your daughter. People need to slow down and THINK! I hate to believe that people are normally this hard hearted.

 

[Rayvn]

My 4yo son is Autistic and I am having a hard choosing what room I might want to ask for. I have thought about a room close to a bus stop or near lobby and food, but I am not sure if the noise will bother him. He seems to only be bothered by sudden loud noises. If we get a room and my son doesn't like it, can we change rooms? If my son has a meltdown, we will have to spend time in the room and eat our meals there. I also have a 17 month old son who is full of energy. Any suggestions?

Leslie

 

[Missytara]

My 4yo son is Autistic and I am having a hard choosing what room I might want to ask for. I have thought about a room close to a bus stop or near lobby and food, but I am not sure if the noise will bother him. He seems to only be bothered by sudden loud noises. If we get a room and my son doesn't like it, can we change rooms? If my son has a meltdown, we will have to spend time in the room and eat our meals there. I also have a 17 month old son who is full of energy. Any suggestions?

Leslie

I would say the closer you are to the main buildings and the pools, the more foot traffic you are going to see. I mostly stay riverview or pool view and in the mansions.

We were in Acadian House last year, facing the parking lot. My traveling companions could not afford any other view. But we were on the end of the building closest to the perimeter bus stop. We had a short walk to the quiet pool and short walk to the bus stop. It was very convenient and no more than a 10 minute walk to the food court in the morning.

Honestly, I don't think we saw five people walk past our room all week.

Since you are most likely going to be staying in AB, I would suggest requesting a view similar to that in one of the back buildings and close to the bus stop.

I would also suggest going to the food court during times where it would not be so crowded. Or request a microwave in your room (they have to be requested and not guaranteed you will get one), so you can bring food back to the room and eat leisurely. There is a table with two chairs.

The food court area (speaking as an architect) has very high ceilings and hard surfaces where sounds travel and sound much louder than they are - especially at peak times.

Good luck!