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

[Venomhatch]

That is an amazing upgrade...did you request that or did they offer that to you? What was your room view before with the RGR? Just trying to ascertain if they are trying to match room category or not because I have nothing better to do until I get my own phone call!

I want to say I remember mmlooney saying river view, but now that I type it I am a little unsure.

 

[shoney]

Darn. As I've said a number of times over the past few months I was rather afraid this was going to happen but we had to wait until 1st January to be sure.

It does seem that the online booking website description referring specifically to Queen Beds in Garden View rooms was indeed written with the fully refurbished resort in mind. It'll be accurate after August of course, but for now it looks like you might get refurbed (queens) or old-style (double) rooms.

Have you raised the question with the front desk, as I rather doubt you'll be the only person to query this and the booking site is quite specific.

Andre

Wow! Truly upsetting! I can guarantee that is not how we were sold on POR!!! It wasn't on my radar at all, until the CM sold us on it. My faith in their customer service is not so good now!

Congrats to all that are getting those deluxe upgrades!!!! Maybe that will mean POR will be less crowded during our stay in Feb LOL

 

[princessbride6205]

I was given Arusha view with bunkbeds for my upgrade

Nice! We love Animal Kingdom Lodge.

I got my call back this morning. The woman asked if I would like to move resorts at no charge. She did say there was no availability at the Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower. I asked for the Poly and she said yes. She said they only had garden view left for my dates, but I didn't have a view preference so I didn't ask for anything else (I suppose she could have meant they could only OFFER garden view, but again, wasn't a big deal to me).

So I was disappointed when we first learned the rooms wouldnt be ready. My daughter loves Tiana and got her dress for Christmas. But I think the upgrade to a Deluxe was very fair and I'm happy. I'm really looking forward to the convenience of a monorail resort and our first stay at the Poly!

 

[Venomhatch]

Nice! We love Animal Kingdom Lodge.

I got my call back this morning. The woman asked if I would like to move resorts at no charge. She did say there was no availability at the Contemporary or Bay Lake Tower. I asked for the Poly and she said yes. She said they only had garden view left for my dates, but I didn't have a view preference so I didn't ask for anything else (I suppose she could have meant they could only OFFER garden view, but again, wasn't a big deal to me).

So I was disappointed when we first learned the rooms wouldnt be ready. My daughter loves Tiana and got her dress for Christmas. But I think the upgrade to a Deluxe was very fair and I'm happy. I'm really looking forward to the convenience of a monorail resort and our first stay at the Poly!

I think if I did the math correctly you'll be there at the same time as us. You can still try to call the resort line and ask for the room assignment manager. They can put more items onto your request, but it is no promises.

 

[poconopixie]

You can still stay at POR, just not in the royal rooms. They might give you a considerable discount on the next tier category for your inconvenience if switching resorts doesn't interest you. Never hurts to ask.

That would be nice. But so would AKL. Either would make me happy.

 

[poconopixie]

Well AKL is one offered so rest assured. But we said the same about the GF.

AKL would be great. I would even upgrade to club level.

 

[mom2daisy]

Wow, this is certainly a surprising development. I know most of us are still speculating about when we might get a call. We are reserved with a RGR - Garden View checking in on March 7. I don't want to jinx myself, but BC has always been a dream for us, so that would be amazing

Is there a way for me to initiate the call and ask somebody or do I have to wait for someone to call me?

 

[pmaurer74]

AKL would be great. I would even upgrade to club level.

So would I. In fact that is a question I plan to ask. It depends upon the cost difference.

 

[pmaurer74]

Wow, this is certainly a surprising development. I know most of us are still speculating about when we might get a call. We are reserved with a RGR - Garden View checking in on March 7. I don't want to jinx myself, but BC has always been a dream for us, so that would be amazing

Is there a way for me to initiate the call and ask somebody or do I have to wait for someone to call me?

We are all supposed to wait. With a March 7 checkin it may be several days before they get to you. Speculation is they are at the end of February with call backs right now. There are several of us with March 3-4 check in dates on here so you will be seeing many posts on that in the next few days to give you an idea.

 

[andrewilley]

It does seem that the online booking website description referring specifically to Queen Beds in Garden View rooms was indeed written with the fully refurbished resort in mind. It'll be accurate after August of course, but for now it looks like you might get refurbed (queens) or old-style (double) rooms.

I've just heard back from one of the resort managers about this (and from another DISer) and sadly for some, the above is confirmed as correct. The new definition of Garden View as an extra category had to take place resort-wide on 1 January ready for the new booking year, and it would have been too complex to repeatedly tweak it as the refurbishments went go along. So at the moment a good number of the available Garden View rooms will be from the non-refurbished sections of the resort - i.e. they will still have double beds not queens.

They are trying to get the wording changed on the website as soon as possible, but in the meantime he is aware that some guests with existing bookings may be a little disappointed when they don't get queen beds, and his team will be trying their best to help out where they can - but obviously there are limits to what they can do, especially when the resort is near capacity. The situation will remedy itself naturally over the next eight months as the refurbishment program nears its completion.


Also, he confirmed how the distinction between Standard and Garden works, which is pretty much as I thought it would:


Standard: euphemism for lovely views over the parking lot
Garden: mansion gardens, bayou landscape, courtyards (including the fountains, ponds, streams, etc) - but NOT parking lots
Water: swimming pool views
River: erm, well, river!

Andre

 

[mmlooney]

That is an amazing upgrade...did you request that or did they offer that to you? What was your room view before with the RGR? Just trying to ascertain if they are trying to match room category or not because I have nothing better to do until I get my own phone call!

They offered it to me. Honestly I have no idea what view we had. I want to say it was standard maybe? We typically never upgrade views since we rarely are in our room so I am willing to bet I chose the cheapest view for the royal room. Who knows maybe they looked at our visit history and can see that we have stayed on resort property 5 times in the past year and a half

 

[mmlooney]

So would I. In fact that is a question I plan to ask. It depends upon the cost difference.

I just asked. They left a message with that department of guest relations and someone is supposed to call me back. Fingers crossed it is available and not too expensive! Worst case at check in i can ask, right?

 

[mmlooney]

I just asked. They left a message with that department of guest relations and someone is supposed to call me back. Fingers crossed it is available and not too expensive! Worst case at check in i can ask, right?

Quoting myself b/c they just called back. It would be $150 a night extra to upgrade to club. No thanks!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Here now...thought we were getting rooms with queens according to garden view description...it said queen rooms in the description. Ours are doubles. I am disappointed because if they were not completely done with refurbishment they should not put that in their description. Every other category has doubles listed. Other than that it is a nice relaxing resort. We stayed here in 92 when it was Dixie Landings. We are in 9424 and 9423 right by a pool.

Are your rooms AB or Mansion rooms? Hope you have a wonderful stay and keep us posted! Is the wifi working well?

 

[Is131ny]

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.

 

[leadfootlevi]

Regarding the main pool refurb happening 2/6-2/8: 1)does the closure include the hot tub? 2) POR guests can swim at POFQ, right?

 

[Stan Solo]

Are your rooms AB or Mansion rooms? Hope you have a wonderful stay and keep us posted! Is the wifi working well?

Rooms 9424 & 9423 would put them in Oak Manor 3rd floor. I am also wondering about the wifi.

 

[bellerunner]

Regarding the main pool refurb happening 2/6-2/8: 1)does the closure include the hot tub? 2) POR guests can swim at POFQ, right?

I don't know the answer to your first question, but yes, guests of either POR or POFQ can use the other pool.

 

[Stan Solo]

Standard: euphemism for lovely views over the parking lot
Garden: mansion gardens, bayou landscape, courtyards (including the fountains, ponds, streams, etc) - but NOT parking lots
Water: swimming pool views
River: erm, well, river!

Andre

I am very glad to read this. While I'm not fussy about my view I did not want a "keep an eye on your car view" when I don't have my car with me. This makes me feel like the extra cash I have to put out is not for nothing. When I booked with the free dining all they had was garden view.

 

[Gorechick]

Do you think water view includes courtyard fountains not just pools? I was going to book water view and request Parterre Place, upper floor, fountain view.