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

[rascooby]

Hi POR People,

We're planning a trip in early December. There will be 5 of us, me, DH, 3 DDs (9, 5, 4). I think we will probably stay at POR. We debated it last trip, but ended up at CBR. This time that's not an option, since we don't have an under 3. Have any of you stayed at CBR and POR? I'm wondering what the difference is in terms of size. We had a really long walk to the food court, which was mostly just DH since he wanted to use his refillable mug a lot, but he mentioned that it would be nice not to have to walk quite so far.

I'm going back and forth between POR and a deluxe, but I really don't think I can justify the cost. We're going for the parks, not the room and I think we'll probalby love POR anyway. I'm sure I'll obsess about it from now until then. That's what DIS boards are for, right?

Anyway, thanks for all the info. I've enjoyed the info, the pictures, the drama... LOL.

 

[ellie&mattys mom]

We stayed at CBR a few years & paid for the preferred location & it still was a very long walk nothing like if you pay for it at POR. that was a huge factor for us!!
missed the boat to Downtown Disney!!

CBR & Coronodo springs are a little too spread out for us!!
layout at POR works better for us!

 

[bunkkinsmom]

Ok experts! I need some info....

Is there a gym at POR? The website says fitness facilities (fee)
Do any of you have clarification??

 

[rascooby]

Thanks! That's good to know. My DH didn't complain much, but I think he froze walking back and forth to get coffee.

 

[Missytara]

Ok experts! I need some info....

Is there a gym at POR? The website says fitness facilities (fee)
Do any of you have clarification??

I am not sure what website you are referring to, but they have no fitness facilities at POR.

There is one at SSR, which is a water taxi away and there are a few more; WL comes to mind. There is a daily fee; if you use the spa services at SSR, you can use the gym for free.

 

[Drscholls]

Ok experts! I need some info....

Is there a gym at POR? The website says fitness facilities (fee)
Do any of you have clarification??

Basically all the deluxe resorts and CSR have facilities.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/fitness-centers/

 

[THERESA522]

I am not sure what website you are referring to, but they have no fitness facilities at POR.

There is one at SSR, which is a water taxi away and there are a few more; WL comes to mind. There is a daily fee; if you use the spa services at SSR, you can use the gym for free.

Is the water taxi the same boat that goes to DTD? I thought there was ONLY a boat to DTD? Oh, I have to brush up on things before we go!

 

[cassiopia419]

Not sure if some of the "transplants" are still following this thread, but I thought I'd let everyone know after making a few calls this morning, I finally got my call back!

Took about 2 minutes total and we're now at Poly for our stay.

I'm so relieved to have the situation resolved, although a part of me is a little sad not to be experiencing POR (or POFQ which I was going to transfer to if the upgrade wasn't available - to guarantee queen beds). They both look like such beautiful places, especially the royal rooms.

So after our family watched the Princess and the Frog for the first time literally 3 days before the RGR delay news came out, I guess it's time to rent Lilo and Stitch and get excited for our new location.

Thanks to everyone for the support over the last 10 days. Hope everyone has a wonderful time at Disney whenever and wherever you go!

 

[Venomhatch]

Not sure if some of the "transplants" are still following this thread, but I thought I'd let everyone know after making a few calls this morning, I finally got my call back!

Took about 2 minutes total and we're now at Poly for our stay.

I'm so relieved to have the situation resolved, although a part of me is a little sad not to be experiencing POR (or POFQ which I was going to transfer to if the upgrade wasn't available - to guarantee queen beds). They both look like such beautiful places, especially the royal rooms.

So after our family watched the Princess and the Frog for the first time literally 3 days before the RGR delay news came out, I guess it's time to rent Lilo and Stitch and get excited for our new location.

Thanks to everyone for the support over the last 10 days. Hope everyone has a wonderful time at Disney whenever and wherever you go!

Yeah I watch this thread religiously. Congrats. Don't for get to add your ticker or change it. Dont go into the poly thread talking about your a transplant or anything over there, they are still calming down from all these por guests coming to Poly.

 

[Missytara]

Is the water taxi the same boat that goes to DTD? I thought there was ONLY a boat to DTD? Oh, I have to brush up on things before we go!

The boat is officially called a water taxi; there are many different modes of water transportation at Disney which have different names to distinguish them.

Here is how they run.

POR/POFQ/DTD - drops off at Marketplace
DTD/SSR/THV - leaves from Marketplace
Marketplace/Westside - transfer between the two
Westside/OKW - leaves from Westside

Here are some suggestions:

There is a fabulous resturant with an outdoor patio at SSR called the Turf Club.
There is also a fabulous restaurant at OKW called Olivia's.

Both are a walk-up from the boat dock. You have several transfer from POR/POFQ to OKW, but if you have the time it is a wonderful leisurely ride.

Two of the best well-kept secrets at Disney.

I also love going over to DTD and going to EOS for dinner and then grab a sundae at Ghiradelli's.

 

[pmaurer74]

Yeah I watch this thread religiously. Congrats. Don't for get to add your ticker or change it. Dont go into the poly thread talking about your a transplant or anything over there, they are still calming down from a outburst over all these por guests coming to Poly. So be careful.

Ya I have been keeping my mouth shut over on the GF thread... not as friendly over there. I think I have seen one transplant but if others are over there they are not saying anything either...

 

[mesaboy2]

Not sure if some of the "transplants" are still following this thread, but I thought I'd let everyone know after making a few calls this morning, I finally got my call back!

I am, and congratulations to you! Sorry you had to wait so long.

 

[MsDeVil]

Not sure if some of the "transplants" are still following this thread, but I thought I'd let everyone know after making a few calls this morning, I finally got my call back!

Took about 2 minutes total and we're now at Poly for our stay.

I'm so relieved to have the situation resolved, although a part of me is a little sad not to be experiencing POR (or POFQ which I was going to transfer to if the upgrade wasn't available - to guarantee queen beds). They both look like such beautiful places, especially the royal rooms.

So after our family watched the Princess and the Frog for the first time literally 3 days before the RGR delay news came out, I guess it's time to rent Lilo and Stitch and get excited for our new location.

Thanks to everyone for the support over the last 10 days. Hope everyone has a wonderful time at Disney whenever and wherever you go!

Glad you got it all straightened out- that's how ours went down too! Oh, and Lilo & Stitch is one of our favorites!

 

[andrewilley]

Ya I have been keeping my mouth shut over on the GF thread... not as friendly over there. I think I have seen one transplant but if others are over there they are not saying anything either...

You will all still be very welcome here anyway - even if you might have to wear dark glasses when in the other threads (as I found out too!)

And of course there's nothing to stop you visiting POR during your stay. Take a trip to Downtown Disney, and then get on one of the free water taxi ferry boats which run from the dock right next to the Rainforest Cafe. It's a lovely 20 minute boat ride to POFQ (first stop) and POR (second stop). Have a wander around and see the sights and get a snack, etc. Maybe even pop along to the River Roost lounge one evening (Weds-Sat) and see "Ye Haa" Bob's show?

Afterwards, just get the ferry back - or catch a bus from the front of either of the Port Orleans resorts back to the Magic Kingdom, and then monorail or boat back to the Poly/GF.

I hope everyone has a great time wherever they are staying anyway.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

You will all still be very welcome here anyway - even if you might have to wear dark glasses when in the other threads (as I found out too!)

And of course there's nothing to stop you visiting POR during your stay. Take a trip to Downtown Disney, and then get on one of the free water taxi ferry boats which run from the dock right next to the Rainforest Cafe. It's a lovely 20 minute boat ride to POFQ (first stop) and POR (second stop). Have a wander around and see the sights and get a snack, etc. Maybe even pop along to the River Roost lounge one evening (Weds-Sat) and see "Ye Haa" Bob's show?

Afterwards, just get the ferry back - or catch a bus from the front of either of the Port Orleans resorts back to the Magic Kingdom, and then monorail or boat back to the Poly/GF.

I hope everyone has a great time wherever they are staying anyway.

Andre

Yeah we have reservations at Trex our first night there. So we may take the mono to MK then a bus to POR, then boat to DTD. Weather permitting of course.

 

[pmaurer74]

You will all still be very welcome here anyway - even if you might have to wear dark glasses when in the other threads (as I found out too!)

And of course there's nothing to stop you visiting POR during your stay. Take a trip to Downtown Disney, and then get on one of the free water taxi ferry boats which run from the dock right next to the Rainforest Cafe. It's a lovely 20 minute boat ride to POFQ (first stop) and POR (second stop). Have a wander around and see the sights and get a snack, etc. Maybe even pop along to the River Roost lounge one evening (Weds-Sat) and see "Ye Haa" Bob's show?

Afterwards, just get the ferry back - or catch a bus from the front of either of the Port Orleans resorts back to the Magic Kingdom, and then monorail or boat back to the Poly/GF.

I hope everyone has a great time wherever they are staying anyway.

Andre

Thanks Andre. You know it is strange. This is the third POR vacation that has changed in the past 10 years due to one reason or another. Sometimes we got a pin code and changed to deluxe another time DH lost his job and another time I could not travel due to a complicated pregnancy. I am beginning to wonder if we will ever get to stay there... maybe next year. We actually only booked it this year because of free dining and DH saw the RGR and thought DD would love it...hopefully she will not have outgrown the princess thing by this time next year.

 

[litlpixie]

Hey Port Orleaners! Ive been away for several months, finally back on ,whew! What have I missed, besides the construction of the Royal Rooms?! Guess I'll go read some of these pages. Hope everyone is playing nicely

 

[buzznina]

Hi POR People,

We're planning a trip in early December. There will be 5 of us, me, DH, 3 DDs (9, 5, 4). I think we will probably stay at POR. We debated it last trip, but ended up at CBR. This time that's not an option, since we don't have an under 3. Have any of you stayed at CBR and POR? I'm wondering what the difference is in terms of size. We had a really long walk to the food court, which was mostly just DH since he wanted to use his refillable mug a lot, but he mentioned that it would be nice not to have to walk quite so far.

I'm going back and forth between POR and a deluxe, but I really don't think I can justify the cost. We're going for the parks, not the room and I think we'll probalby love POR anyway. I'm sure I'll obsess about it from now until then. That's what DIS boards are for, right?

Anyway, thanks for all the info. I've enjoyed the info, the pictures, the drama... LOL.

From the back of the resort to the FC will be a 10 minute walk, our family had no issues with it because of the theme and scenary. I really liked the walk 1st thing in the AM So for some people that is to far to walk and they do not like it. Even after a long day at the parks a lot of times we would get off in the front of the resort and just enjoy the walk to our room. But going to a deluxe does not automatically mean you will be closer, we have stayed at AKL and on one stay the walk to the FC was 10 minutes long.

BTW; just booked our spring vacation to POR and we will be in the new Royal room Finally back to our favorite resort, man it will be great to have queen beds

 

[nellyru]

Subbing!! Hoping to stay at POR in October!!!

 

[rascooby]

We have 5 people, so we'll be in AB. If we book River View rooms then we should be in 14, 18, 27 or 38, right? That looks like it would be a fairly short walk and a river view would be nice.

Also, are the AB rooms 2 story or more? I never know whether to request upstairs or down. On the one hand, I like quiet. On the other hand, I don't like to have to worry about my kids stomping around and bothering other people if we're upstairs. We were downstairs at CBR and we never heard a thing from upstairs.