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

[pmaurer74]

I'm assuming you have a RGR booked while your parents are in a standard room? Definitely bring that up when you talk to whoever is upgrading you. That's probably a big problem some other families will be facing too. Maybe it's the attorney in me, but it's definitely something I'd be taking to management if given a hard time. I would hope they would give your parents at least a discounted upgrade, if not a free one. If you exhaust all options and they aren't willing to accommodate your parents, then I would see if they could switch you to another mod so they could stay with you for a comparable price. If that's not a choice, then make sure the deluxe they put you in has availability for other people. With them switching all these people to Poly, I wonder how much open availability it has now for the general public during this time.

Yes, everyone is correct my parents have their first Disney trip planned for a few of the same days as us they do not think they can handle Disney more than a few days! We could not get them a RGR so you are correct they have a waterview room at POR booked for March 3-6 and I already tied the reservations together. I do plan to ask if they can be upgraded with us knowing that Disney does not have to but this is the first Disney trip with their grandchildren and I know if means a lot for them to be near us. Like you say it does not hurt to ask.

I am hoping to get something other than Poly because we were there last year and may want to try something different but I know what you mean if 500-1000 reservations are displaced over 3 weeks they will be taking up a lot of free rooms that were available for booking during their new promotional time period.

 

[kappyfamily]

By the way, forgot to mention that when they called she said "you dont have to make up your mind now, you can call me back when you decide which resort you want to stay at". I responded with "I'm afraid if I call you back you guys will say you have changed your mind!"

Her response was "Smart choice because when the deluxe rooms are gone they are gone".

So my only advice is when you get the call be prepared for what resort you will want just in the off chance that if you call back they may have moved on to moderates for relocation.

Just a thought!

 

[pmaurer74]

By the way, forgot to mention that when they called she said "you dont have to make up your mind now, you can call me back when you decide which resort you want to stay at". I responded with "I'm afraid if I call you back you guys will say you have changed your mind!"

Her response was "Smart choice because when the deluxe rooms are gone they are gone".

So my only advice is when you get the call be prepared for what resort you will want just in the off chance that if you call back they may have moved on to moderates for relocation.

Just a thought!

Now I feel more stressed... I would not be happy at another moderate. Right now I would be happy with just about any deluxe!

 

[Venomhatch]

Now I feel more stressed... I would not be happy at another moderate. Right now I would be happy with just about any deluxe!

I feel ya on that. My fiance said, "they better give us the poly TPV," when I told her they would not make the deadline of opening the RGR.

 

[archdandy]

I'm really disappointed right now. I booked a garden view and just did online check in a couple days ago. My DH called Disney the other day for a reason that doesn't have anything to do with this but decided to make a room request while he had them on the phone. I really wanted to be in the mansion section in one of the renovated rooms. I had hoped for Magnolia Terrace but as of right now it doesn't matter to me anymore as long as it's in the mansion section with a renovated room. The lady on the phone told my DH that we likely wouldn't get our request because they had already assigned us a room and that they didn't have garden view rooms in the mansion section I thought I had read on here that they did. She told him that they had put us in the Alligator Bayou section because thats the only spot that has garden views I know that many of you love that section but for me I absolutely hate it. I think it will really impact our trip if we have to stay in those rooms because the decor is just not appealing to me (it might be silly I know but I can't help it). So what do you guys think we should do? I really dont want to pay like $3000 to be put in a room I hate. Anybody have any advice?

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

KCMike's pic at the top of this page reminds me...
Tell me a bit about the carriage rides at POR. Would it be enjoyable for a family of four (parents + 2 teens)? Where does the carriage go on its trip? Do you make a ressie in advance or just show up and hire the carriage? Is it evenings only, or are rides available in the afternoon?

 

[katdemar]

The lady on the phone told my DH that we likely wouldn't get our request because they had already assigned us a room and that they didn't have garden view rooms in the mansion section I thought I had read on here that they did. Anybody have any advice?

They must have garden view rooms in the Mansion section because I have a Royal Guest Room booked in the Garden View category for March 3.

Maybe the people in reservations are unaware of which rooms are garden view because it is a new booking category?

 

[archdandy]

They must have garden view rooms in the Mansion section because I have a Royal Guest Room booked in the Garden View category for March 3.

Maybe the people in reservations are unaware of which rooms are garden view because it is a new booking category?

Maybe. I'm going to call back today and see if I can speak with somebody else about the request.

 

[pmaurer74]

They must have garden view rooms in the Mansion section because I have a Royal Guest Room booked in the Garden View category for March 3.

Maybe the people in reservations are unaware of which rooms are garden view because it is a new booking category?

this is true I have a RGR garden view as well... from the layouts I saw it looked like most rooms are garden view for the mansions

 

[Venomhatch]

this is true I have a RGR garden view as well... from the layouts I saw it looked like most rooms are garden view for the mansions

If your worried then call them at the resort at 1-407-934-6000 (yes this actually gets through to the resort itself), ask to speak to management, tell them it is in reference to room reservation issues. When you get transferred over, state what has happened and what your worried about. Then if they don't mention the team of reservation experts working on it, do so ask to leave a message for them aka email. Either way get them to email the team about your reservation and they will call you back that day I am sure. At least they did for me.

Do this if your really stressing it. All I can offer is this. This post might be removed, so get this info copied down quickly.

Your friend,
Venomhatch

 

[Stini228]

The lady on the phone told my DH that we likely wouldn't get our request because they had already assigned us a room and that they didn't have garden view rooms in the mansion section

There are definitely garden view rooms in the mansions. Geez, we could start an entirely new thread about misinformation given by CMs. If you don't like where you are, you can always ask to be moved. We asked to be moved in Oct, and it was no problem.

 

[gr8tdame]

I'm really disappointed right now. I booked a garden view and just did online check in a couple days ago. My DH called Disney the other day for a reason that doesn't have anything to do with this but decided to make a room request while he had them on the phone. I really wanted to be in the mansion section in one of the renovated rooms. I had hoped for Magnolia Terrace but as of right now it doesn't matter to me anymore as long as it's in the mansion section with a renovated room. The lady on the phone told my DH that we likely wouldn't get our request because they had already assigned us a room and that they didn't have garden view rooms in the mansion section ). So what do you guys think we should do? I really dont want to pay like $3000 to be put in a room I hate. Anybody have any advice?

We will be checking into POR tomorrow. I also booked a garden view.( It was the only category available)
I spoke to POR directly.. not reservations..... They told me my requests were noted but could not tell me which section I was in. We really want a renovated room in AB. We always request AB but Last October we paid for a preferred room but when we checked in we had been assigned a room in the Mansions. However, when I spoke to the manager and said I had paid for a preferred room. They were happy to switch us to AB. It would have been nice to have a refurbished room but I hate the Mansions.
I wouldn't worry. The cm's at POR are the best and will try to make your stay perfect.
I think that some of the CM's at the CRO are not well informed.

I can hardly wait. We will be at POR this time tomorrow.

 

[pinkle]

Hi, this has probably been answered.....but what building should I request...I want to be close to the cafeteria and bus depot????

 

[Missytara]

We will be checking into POR tomorrow. I also booked a garden view.( It was the only category available)
I spoke to POR directly.. not reservations..... They told me my requests were noted but could not tell me which section I was in.

I think that some of the CM's at the CRO are not well informed.

You were not speaking directly to the resort nor were you speaking to a manager. You may have had the impression you were, but you were speaking to a CM in a Central Call Center that pulled up your reservation and reiterated back to you what was already on your reservation. That is why they couldn't tell you what section you were staying in because you were NOT talking to anyone in the resort(neither the POR manager nor the POR room assigner).

Next time, you check-in, stop and watch for a few minutes and see how many times someone at the front desk answers a phone; the answer is none.... Disney wants their resort CM's to focus totally on their guests.

Disney is all about the illusion that you are actually talking to someone in the resort. It even works that way when you are in your room and you press one of the buttons; you are not talking to anyone specific in that department. You are talking to a CCC that diverts the call as needed.

This is the way it works; if the number comes up XXX-XXX-XXXX, the CM at the CCC will answer "Port Orleans - Riverside". The next call will come up as YYY-YYY-YYYY and the same exact person will answer "Coronado Springs Resort." Some of the time they are not even on property; and late night calls are answered from the midwest, because of the time difference.

I am telling you this so that when you check-in and you find you have been placed in the mansions, you will not be caught off-guard. Requests are just that; requests, and they cannot be guaranteed. You can always ask if there is another room available and that you are willing to wait for it. Then they can change your room assignment when you check-in.

 

[Venomhatch]

Reposted this because it got buried on the last thread.

If your worried about the RGR rooms, then call them at the resort at 1-407-934-6000 (yes this actually gets through to the resort itself), ask to speak to management, tell them it is in reference to room reservation issues. When you get transferred over, state what has happened and what your worried about. Then if they don't mention the team of reservation experts working on it, do so ask to leave a message for them aka email. Either way get them to email the team about your reservation and they will call you back that day I am sure. At least they did for me.

Do this if your really stressing it. All I can offer is this. This post might be removed, so get this info copied down quickly.

Your friend,
Venomhatch

*** Missytara this is actually a real number for them. I call it strait from the house and they pick up POR, no talking to someone first the welcoming message says, "Welcome to POR A Guest Services Member will be right with you." Not calling call center first!

 

[mesaboy2]

I feel ya on that. My fiance said, "they better give us the poly TPV," when I told her they would not make the deadline of opening the RGR.

Now I understand how you got TPV--you were motivated.

 

[Missytara]

Hi, this has probably been answered.....but what building should I request...I want to be close to the cafeteria and bus depot????

You can go to andre's website, portorleans.org and pull up the resort map.

You indicated you wanted to be close to the food court and bus depot; I am assuming you mean the main bus depot. There are actually four depots.

There are four buildings that are considered preferred because they are close to the main building, but they are a booking category. If you haven't booked that category, then the next options would be to look at the buildings that are surrounding those particular buildings.

You didn't say whether you are a party of 5 and need to be in AB, so that narrows it down a bit.

Also, I am not sure what week you are going, so it is hard to indicate, because buildings will be out of commission due to the refurbishment.

My suggestion is to go to Andre's website, with the dates of your trip. Look at the refurbishment schedule and then pull up the resort map, and find something close to the preferred buildings, or the bridges over to the main building.

 

[Venomhatch]

Now I understand how you got TPV--you were motivated.

Yes indeed, don't want to let them down!

 

[shoney]

We will be checking into POR tomorrow. I also booked a garden view.( It was the only category available)
I spoke to POR directly.. not reservations..... They told me my requests were noted but could not tell me which section I was in. We really want a renovated room in AB. We always request AB but Last October we paid for a preferred room but when we checked in we had been assigned a room in the Mansions. However, when I spoke to the manager and said I had paid for a preferred room. They were happy to switch us to AB. It would have been nice to have a refurbished room but I hate the Mansions.
I wouldn't worry. The cm's at POR are the best and will try to make your stay perfect.
I think that some of the CM's at the CRO are not well informed.

I can hardly wait. We will be at POR this time tomorrow.

Just wondering why you do not like the mansions?

We are going to POR for the first time in Feb. I requested the mansions...mostly because of the outside. Now, that I see the pics of the refurbed rooms, I have to say, I am really liking the inside of the AB's....so cute!!!

 

[Missytara]

If your worried about the RGR rooms, then call them at the resort at 1-407-934-6000 (yes this actually gets through to the resort itself), ask to speak to management, tell them it is in reference to room reservation issues. When you get transferred over, state what has happened and what your worried about. Then if they don't mention the team of reservation experts working on it, do so ask to leave a message for them aka email. Either way get them to email the team about your reservation and they will call you back that day I am sure. At least they did for me.

Do this if your really stressing it. All I can offer is this. This post might be removed, so get this info copied down quickly.

Your friend,
Venomhatch

*** Missytara this is actually a real number for them. I call it strait from the house and they pick up POR, no talking to someone first the welcoming message says, "Welcome to POR A Guest Services Member will be right with you." Not calling call center first!

Not true; you are talking to the Central Call Center; not POR. You just have the "illusion" that you are talking to the resort. Believe, CM's have been on the boards and verified that those "published" numbers go to the CCC.

Case in point. A few years ago, I got sick while at SSR. I pressed the "front desk" button on the phone from my room. The person picked up the phone and answered "Saratoga Springs Resort." She had a midwestern accent. We talked a few minutes about my options to get to Central Care Center and then I asked her where she was from. She said we are really not supposed to discuss it, but I am in Indiana. She determined it was not an emergency and then transferred me to Guest Services on-site, who called me a cab.