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

[Stan Solo]

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

Yes Ye Haa Bob is amazing, the ferry ride is relaxing, and the sights are great but, what we realy want from all you "transplants" is some good ol spy photos of the Royal rooms work in progress.

 

[dimndgal1]

First, lots of pixie dust to the POR transplants... hope you all enjoy the upgrades!

We are headed to POR for the first part of our split stay this summer and I was wondering about the DTD ferry. Does it go at specific intervals? Also, how long is the ride?

We have an appt for DD at BBB the evening we check in and I though a liesurely float would be a great way to start out trip.

Thanks and I can't wait to see the pics when the Royal Rooms do finally open!!!

 

[modegard]

Well we just upgrade our Royal Room standard views to Water views and received a nice little refund at the same time. I was thinking we would not get one at all. Our dates did not fall within the free dining and the first room only discount that came out did not cover the Royal Rooms for us. Thankfully they changed that! We are arriving March 17th, so just missed those deluxe upgrades, but very excited for our first trip to WDW!

 

[nannye]

I booked a Royal room for July (standard room), and I just wanted to make a room request. I really know nothing about POR. I have a 5 year old, so just looking for a room as close to the bus stop as possible, or just whatever the best place would be for us. Any suggestions? I will have a stroller, but I wouldn't mind not being on a ground floor, stroller is not very heavy and I can easily carry it up some stairs. (we were at pop and used the elevator last time) it would have been impossible to carry it up to our room on the top floor, but stairs at POR look relatively minimal from the picture i saw.
Any suggestions would be appreciated,
Thanks
Erin

Just an update I requested oak manor and was told that standard Royal rooms are only in Magnolia. which as I see now doesn't make sense since the royal rooms are in Parterre and Oak Manor (shakes head) sigh next time I call, I'll ask again.

Edited again to add: Just ignore me. The booking agents don't even have access to what buildings the royal rooms are in apparently. The first agent said standard rooms were only in magnolia Bend. (well I hope so!!) The second explained that they dont know what buildings the royal rooms are in. We know more then them! I'll just ask at a later time or at check in.

 

[stinkerbellsmommy]

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 was out & about all day today, so I'm just catching up now...Congrats on the call back! I'm happy the situation seems to be resolved, is there anyone else that we're still waiting on? I'm too lazy to go back & check a few pages ago to see who was still waiting with me.

Here's to wonderful vacations for all of us!

 

[stinkerbellsmommy]

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

Hey Andre,

We're trying to make a visit to POR to try & do the carraige rides. We won't be staying on property on Fri & Sat nights, so we can't take advantage of resort transportation, and will have to drive. I know they're cracking down on parking if you're not staying in the resort. Is it possible for us to park there without having dining reservations, just to explore everything? Or would it be easier for us to save it for when we're checked into Poly & can take Disney trans?

Thanks!

 

[Phatoomch]

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!

Of course I'm still here - I never left If it wasn't for the fact we had a bad flood in the house today I would have checked sooner.

So glad you finally got your call - now you can chill and look forward to the Poly. I really hope you enjoy your stay. Also look at it this way - you still have the RGRs to look forward to We will have to start an "RGRs go Poly" trip report board as I would love to hear how all your vacays went.

 

[Phatoomch]

You will all still be very welcome here

I came here originally as we are planning RGRs for December and are very excited about them - can't wait to see pictures when they finally open!

 

[Venomhatch]

I came here originally as we are planning RGRs for December and are very excited about them - can't wait to see pictures when they finally open!

Yeah me either, I was supposed to do a 360 panorama shot of the RGR. But I guess I cant now.

 

[Phatoomch]

Yeah me either, I was supposed to do a 360 panorama shot of the RGR. But I guess I cant now.

Awww thats shame - imagine the beautiful shots you will be able to get at the Poly though

 

[Venomhatch]

Awww thats shame - imagine the beautiful shots you will be able to get at the Poly though

I know, I even went and bought a 360 tripod mount so I could have done a 360 in RGR, ohh well.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

I know, I even went and bought a 360 tripod mount so I could have done a 360 in RGR, ohh well.

DARN, I was really looking forward to your report and beautiful pictures.

For anyone who has transplanted and is thinking of going to POR to "visit" be sure to have a meal at the food court. That is what made us book to stay at POR...we visited the food court and fell in love a couple of years ago. It is the best QS meal around, especially that pasta bar. So we are looking forward to our stay, and now our RGR will be even newer when we check in May 1!

 

[Venomhatch]

DARN, I was really looking forward to your report and beautiful pictures.

For anyone who has transplanted and is thinking of going to POR to "visit" be sure to have a meal at the food court. That is what made us book to stay at POR...we visited the food court and fell in love a couple of years ago. It is the best QS meal around, especially that pasta bar. So we are looking forward to our stay, and now our RGR will be even newer when we check in May 1!

Yeah i might even stop by and see if they can show me a rgr room to do a brief photo shoot.

 

[nannye]

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 must have been talking to the same CM. She argued with me that Royal rooms were not in Parterre Place or Oak Manor, and standard rooms were ONLY in Magnolia Bend

LOL.
I called back and spoke to someone else after reaffirming that I was right and he was clueless too. I figure I'll call back closer to the date.

 

[andrewilley]

we must have been talking to the same CM. She argued with me that Royal rooms were not in Parterre Place or Oak Manor, and standard rooms were ONLY in Magnolia Bend

It really does amaze me just how bad the misinformation provided by some of the DRC cast members is getting these days. And yet if you mention that you read something different online, they'll most likely tell you not to believe what you see on the internet!

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

Is it possible for us to park there without having dining reservations, just to explore everything?

Absolutely, no problem at all. Just tell the security staff at the gate that you are booked for a carriage ride, or you want to visit the lounge - or even just to look around and scope out a future trip, that'll be fine. We do it all the time with various Disney resorts.

They will probably ask for photo ID, but there will be no difficulty at all with you parking there as a visitor.

You could even park at Downtown Disney, and then take the free ferry boat over to Port Orleans if you wish. There is no charge, and no need to show any resort ID, and it's a really relaxing way to spend a couple of hours exploring.

Andre

 

[goddesserika18]

im staying in the new royal guest rooms in april 18 to 23, I heard they will be in either oak manor or parterre place, was wondering which are is closer the south depot bus stop and the food court and main pool?

 

[Venomhatch]

im staying in the new royal guest rooms in april 18 to 23, I heard they will be in either oak manor or parterre place, was wondering which are is closer the south depot bus stop and the food court and main pool?

Oak will be closer. Also not sure on the completion date, of the Parterre Building because they fell behind on the Oak. But Oak will be done by March 9th. So win win for you.

 

[andrewilley]

Now there's a thought.

The original plans had Parterre Place being completed just before Easter, and then there were no further scheduled closures during the two weeks surrounding Easter... but at present Parterre Place is now listed as being closed from 11 March until 13 April, which directly hits the very busy Easter week (when I assume 100% occupancy would be the norm). Having 256 rooms suddenly unavailable might cause some further issues, depending on how many Royal Rooms vs. normal rooms have been sold.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

Now there's a thought.

The original plans had Parterre Place being completed just before Easter, and then there were no further scheduled closures during the two weeks surrounding Easter... but at present Parterre Place is now listed as being closed from 11 March until 13 April, which directly hits the very busy Easter week (when I assume 100% occupancy would be the norm). Having 256 rooms suddenly unavailable might cause some further issues, depending on how many Royal Rooms vs. normal rooms have been sold.

Andre

I agree. Who knows at this point.