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

[goddesserika18]

i hear good things and bad things about the bus transportation to the parks from this resort, so is it really overcrowded and long waits or is it ok?

 

[goddesserika18]

i hope its not too bad....... anyone?



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[Venomhatch]

i hear good things and bad things about the bus transportation to the parks from this resort, so is it really overcrowded and long waits or is it ok?

Its not too bad. I never had to wait too long. I always seem to mess up my days with their schedule of buses. Well it just seems like it to me. I pick a day to hit MK and all these AK buses show up one behind the other. Or the next we go to Epcot and there are all these Hollywood buses lol. It is most likely my fault. LOL.

 

[stinkerbellsmommy]

Its not too bad. I never had to wait too long. I always seem to mess up my days with their schedule of buses. Well it just seems like it to me. I pick a day to hit MK and all these AK buses show up one behind the other. Or the next we go to Epcot and there are all these Hollywood buses lol. It is most likely my fault. LOL.

Venom you're not the only one, I've done that before (and I've never stayed at POR previously, so it's not just that resort).


Cassiopia, I PM'd you...

 

[Venomhatch]

Venom you're not the only one, I've done that before (and I've never stayed at POR previously, so it's not just that resort).


Cassiopia, I PM'd you...

Thanks I though it was all my fault.

 

[MickeyMaz]

We will only be there three nights and are planning to do the Yeehaw Bob show on Saturday after a day at AK. I figure with their early closing and us not hopping this trip that is the night for Bob. Any tips for making sure we do this right. We were thinking dinner at the food court and go to the lounge at 7:30. Is that too early or late? The lounge looks great. Is there any bad areas to sit in?

Thanks

 

[goddesserika18]

thanks its my 1st time staying at this resort and i get very nervous over late or overcrowded buses, but i hope it wont be too bad

 

[stinkerbellsmommy]

Thanks I though it was all my fault.

And it almost always seems to happen when we have early morning ADRs at a park before rope drop

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

i hear good things and bad things about the bus transportation to the parks from this resort, so is it really overcrowded and long waits or is it ok?

I have stayed at POR and POFQ a few times, and for the sake of conversation about bus service will lump them together. My experience has been that Disney does a good job sending frequent buses to POR/FQ at high volume times (park opening, closing). If you get used to that you may become frustrated when trying to catch an afternoon bus, when buses come much less frequently.

One notably good anecdotal thing for has been that never have I had to wait too long when leaving a park to return to Port Orleans. While staying other places it has been a mob scene at times, but the flow has always been pretty good going back to PO.

If you hear horror stories about long waits at PO just remember that all bus service is about average times. Sometimes you are on the short end of average; other times on the long end. It is true at every single bus stop in WDW.

 

[MsDeVil]

Well, we got our phone call and they moved us to the Poly- although they did remind me that we can stay in one of the AB rooms if we want to come on our next trip and still experience POR (we'll count as a family of 5 in a few months). Plus, the guy I talked to said it's really sad that they're moving people who've never been before as it's one of the best resorts on property and one of his two favorites.

 

[andrewilley]

Okay, I just got an email back and the TA said that anyone who hasn't gotten a call is guaranteed a royal room. She said she even called again this morning and was told the same thing- that our reservation was fine and we would be in a royal room.

Well, we got our phone call and they moved us to the Poly-

Glad you finally got sorted, but it does show the difficulty of dealing with Disney when different people are giving out different stories. Makes it hard to know what to believe.

Is anyone still waiting for their call now, or not sure if they will need to change resorts?

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

Well, we got our phone call and they moved us to the Poly- although they did remind me that we can stay in one of the AB rooms if we want to come on our next trip and still experience POR (we'll count as a family of 5 in a few months). Plus, the guy I talked to said it's really sad that they're moving people who've never been before as it's one of the best resorts on property and one of his two favorites.

Congrats for your family! See they are still working on transplanting.

 

[cassiopia419]

Is anyone still waiting for their call now, or not sure if they will need to change resorts?

Andre

I am still waiting. I haven't tried some of the "tricks" to get a call yet (various numbers to try, etc), as I'm trying to just be patient and let Disney do their job in the order they had planned. I knew as a March 8th person I would probably be the last to hear.

Now if I'm still waiting in another couple of days, I might be less patient and try some of the prompting options

 

[vamassey1]

We'll be there at the same time - Feb 19 to 26. I know it's president's week and predicted to be a high attendance week, but hoping that we still are able to do lots of stuff. We're a party of 5, so not affected by the upgrade drama at all. This is my first time at this resort, so I have no idea about the layout or any idea how busy it will be, but crossing my fingers!!!!

So glad to hear someone else will be there too!

For us it's Mardi Gras week. This will be the 3rd time we've done it at the same time as Pres week. It will be crowded but managable. Get to the park early. I've never stayed at POR, but we stayed at POFQ in 2010. Be on the lookout for us. I'm hoping we get a refurbed room in the mansions.

 

[shoney]

So glad to hear someone else will be there too!

For us it's Mardi Gras week. This will be the 3rd time we've done it at the same time as Pres week. It will be crowded but managable. Get to the park early. I've never stayed at POR, but we stayed at POFQ in 2010. Be on the lookout for us. I'm hoping we get a refurbed room in the mansions.

We'll be there the 15th to the 22nd. Hoping for a queen room in the AB section. The new rooms are soooo cute!

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

Remember you are not the last as there are probably 100's who have not checked the forums and don't even know of the problem with construction. A little dust your way!

 

[pmaurer74]

I am booked to arrive March 4th and I just got my call this morning. I ended up with Grand Floridian Lagoon View so I am satisfied. I really wasn't keen on GF, but my kids saw the pictures of it and fell in love, so that's what I chose. Now that I am booked there, I am sort of getting super excited about it.

We have GF lagoon view too maybe we will see you March 2-8!

 

[3sweetpeas]

We will only be there three nights and are planning to do the Yeehaw Bob show on Saturday after a day at AK. I figure with their early closing and us not hopping this trip that is the night for Bob. Any tips for making sure we do this right. We were thinking dinner at the food court and go to the lounge at 7:30. Is that too early or late? The lounge looks great. Is there any bad areas to sit in?

Thanks

The lounge area is pretty open to the rest of the resort. People come and stay for a little while and then move on, so there are usually seats available eventually. There really aren't any bad seats in my opinion. Getting there a few minutes early is a good idea if you'd like seats up close. Obviously this all depends on time of year and crowd levels. We go at the end of Feb, early March and that has been our experience. He is great fun though!!

 

[andrewilley]

We're going to need some "Port Orleans Exile" LGMHs made so everyone can spot each other.

Andre

 

[lillykat]

So we are booked but are hoping for free dining this year. We are going the week before Labor Day. We have never stayed at POR so I'm hoping for a lot of photos and lots of tips. We reserved a RGR Standard view. The CM we booked with was totally clueless. We tried to request Oak Manor OR the closest location to the lobby/dining. She insisted Oak manor wasn't a building Magnolia bend was. So she just put in closest to lobby and dining. Should I call back and request a better location. I understand the RGR are only in the 2 buildings in that section. Which one would be better for a standard view. Should I request a 2 or 3rd floor room?

We are going 2 girls who will be 3 and 5 by the time we go. I saw in the unofficial guide that they are saying that the rooms will be Tiana, Belle or Jasmine themed? Is this true? Because I know my girls would prefer one over the other IF we can make the request (yes I know they are only requests not guarantees).

Can you all tell me about the buses? We have been spoiled our last two trips have been at the Poly but now that the girls are much more mobile, and diaper free the buses should be easier this trip. Are they bad in late August? Which stop would be better to go to if we are in the RGRs?

To those who were moved to the Poly you will Love it!! It was a gorgeous resort and it was so nice to be able to watch the fireworks from the beach, and the Cast Members bent over backwards to make both trips special. We were in Rarotonga and it was quiet and so easy to get around - so if anyone has a garden view it was a nice place to request - 3-4 mins walk to TTC, 30 sec walk to the GCH, 1 mins to the volcano pool.