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

[nannye]

I was wondering about the buses for POR. We have a BBB appointment at 8:30 am on sat july 7. I'd love to bump it back (or is it Bump up? lol) to 8:05 so that she can be done, photos done and pictures before the park opens or just about then so we can head to Rapunzel first, then probably the fairies since I assume those two are the longest meet n greet lines.

Just wondering what the Bus schedule is, if anyone has any idea what time approximately we should catch the bus. Im guessing we should be at the stop at 7 at the latest? although I may just consider calling a cab? anyone know the price of the cab (probably not since I'm betting it is $$ and may not save us much time anyways...)

Thanks

 

[stinkerbellsmommy]

although I may just consider calling a cab? anyone know the price of the cab (probably not since I'm betting it is $$ and may not save us much time anyways...)

Thanks

I didn't get a chance to plug in your to/from, but this is a Mears estimator I used. I didn't actually take the cab, so I'm not sure how accurate it is, but I found it on a transportation sticky here, so I'd imagine it's not too far off?

http://www.mearstransportation.com/services/taxi-fare-estimator.asp

 

[andrewilley]

...but in the meantime they will be 50% down on the expected Royal Room capacity. Crucially, perhaps, over the busy Easter week. Let's hope they caught this situation early enough for there not to be too many advanced bookings to create any further guest issues.

To put everyone's mind at rest, I've just been told that they will have sufficient capacity to cover all of the Royal Room bookings that have already been made for the Easter break. Any future bookings will be taking the capacity limitations into account until Parterre in complete too. So hopefully there will be no further Royal Room issues after 9 March.

Andre

 

[dimndgal1]

I was wondering about the buses for POR. We have a BBB appointment at 8:30 am on sat july 7. I'd love to bump it back (or is it Bump up? lol) to 8:05 so that she can be done, photos done and pictures before the park opens or just about then so we can head to Rapunzel first, then probably the fairies since I assume those two are the longest meet n greet lines.

Just wondering what the Bus schedule is, if anyone has any idea what time approximately we should catch the bus. Im guessing we should be at the stop at 7 at the latest? although I may just consider calling a cab? anyone know the price of the cab (probably not since I'm betting it is $$ and may not save us much time anyways...)

Thanks

Just an FYI that if MK does the soft opening some people are seeing the parks will open around 830 for the public, and I am not sure an 805 BBB rezzie will be completed by then - DD did hair only and it was 45 min from sit to pay.

This possibility is messing up my Dine n Dash from CRT to Rapunzel so I would hate for it to surprise you... would be frustrating to see people rolling in as DD is mid appointment

 

[nannye]

I was kinda tempted to reply that the elevators have doors on all the floors, that's the whole point.

But yes, the elevators are accessible from the ground level; as you walk into the central open 'lobby' (for want of a better word) of each mansion buliding there are several elevators side-by-side which serve the whole building. There are no extra elevators in the outer two-story sections, you have to walk round along the external corridors (there are plenty of stairway accesses, but only one location per mansion building for the elevators).

(good grief, I do take the strangest vacation photos, don't I?)


By the way, when you are sitting outside your room you actually don't tend to get too much foot traffic going past you, because all the stairwells allow people to take varied different routes to their rooms. Obviously that might vary if your room happens to be right next to the elevators though.

Andre

Hi,
Well I assumed they would, lol. I figured the elevators were probably behind the big staircase, but hey, my only disney experience is POP! I got a lot of strange looks sitting outside of my room at POP every night (and nap!)

 

[nannye]

I didn't get a chance to plug in your to/from, but this is a Mears estimator I used. I didn't actually take the cab, so I'm not sure how accurate it is, but I found it on a transportation sticky here, so I'd imagine it's not too far off?

http://www.mearstransportation.com/services/taxi-fare-estimator.asp

Thanks Stinkerbell!
I'lm thinking the free bus lol. about $20, isn't bad.

Off topic, I was reading an old thread about Mary Poppins Costumes, did you get yours done? (kinda think the thread was 2008)

 

[nannye]

Just an FYI that if MK does the soft opening some people are seeing the parks will open around 830 for the public, and I am not sure an 805 BBB rezzie will be completed by then - DD did hair only and it was 45 min from sit to pay.

This possibility is messing up my Dine n Dash from CRT to Rapunzel so I would hate for it to surprise you... would be frustrating to see people rolling in as DD is mid appointment

Thanks!!
Yes I thought about that, I hope not, but even so at least we will get pics of the castle (before BBB) of just her. We'll see what we can do! I'm sure that even with a soft opening we'll have a better shot of seeing Rapunzel going right after rather than waiting. We may just skip the photoshoot and go straight to rapunzel, then do the photos, that's probably better idea. It's our Princess Meet n greet day.

 

[Fire14]

We are planning to go May 5-12th so maybe they are all sold out already.

WE have 2 room booked for this time frame. they have been booked for awhile though.

 

[postesf]

From what I am reading, Alligator Bayou is mostly preferred location right? I can call, but wanted to try to get some info here first...

I have a client that is leaving next weekend for a week's stay at POR. They have 3 kids, almost 3 yrs, 5, and 6. We are really hoping for a room with a pull-down bed. They have paid to be in the preferred location. Is there a way to guarantee that they will have a fold-down bed or a trundle? I thought I read that the preferred location is Alligator Bayou and that they have the fold down beds? I would hope that when Disney sees there are 5 people in the room, they would automatically get this, but since one of the children is 2, I'm not sure. She will not sleep in a pack'n play...

Thanks for your help!

 

[summerlady]

I just booked POR for October with a PIN code I received via email this morning. We've never stayed at POR before, but POFQ was unavailable with the PIN and it was too good to pass up. We have a Royal Room, garden view, and I requested Oak Manor. Was this a good building choice? I have a lot of research to do! I'm a bit (actually a whole lot) apprehensive about the bus situation at POR, I hope someone can reassure me that it'll all be ok as far as the buses go. Oh please, oh please. Just so used to the compact size of POFQ and intimidated by the hugeness that is POR.

 

[xceebeex]

WE have 2 room booked for this time frame. they have been booked for awhile though.

Did you book under the Spring Room Only Offer? I think the problem might be that it may not work with that offer. I guess I could try calling too.

 

[andrewilley]

From what I am reading, Alligator Bayou is mostly preferred location right? I can call, but wanted to try to get some info here first...

I have a client that is leaving next weekend for a week's stay at POR. They have 3 kids, almost 3 yrs, 5, and 6. We are really hoping for a room with a pull-down bed. They have paid to be in the preferred location. Is there a way to guarantee that they will have a fold-down bed or a trundle? I thought I read that the preferred location is Alligator Bayou and that they have the fold down beds? I would hope that when Disney sees there are 5 people in the room, they would automatically get this, but since one of the children is 2, I'm not sure. She will not sleep in a pack'n play...

Firstly, yes, all of the Preferred Location rooms are within the Alligator Bayou section - so they will get a room in buildings 14, 15, 18 or 27.

All of the AB rooms (except for the King Bed ones) can sleep five, the original style rooms via a floor-level pull-out trundle bed, and the refurbished style via a wall mounted pull-down Murphy bed. So far in the Alligator Bayou section, only buildings 14, 36, 37 and 38 have been refurbished.

So: the Preferred Location booking will definitely get them a room that sleeps five in Alligator Bayou, but the random chance of getting a refurbished room too is currently only 1-in-4. If you put in a request for a refurbished room then hopefully they will be assigned one. If not, the trundle beds are perfectly OK anyway - maybe even better for a two-year-old to be honest, as there's less far to fall when they roll out.

Andre

 

[postesf]

Thanks Andre! Just what I needed to know! The disboards always has answers!!!

 

[LONES]

I just booked POR for October with a PIN code I received via email this morning. We've never stayed at POR before, but POFQ was unavailable with the PIN and it was too good to pass up. We have a Royal Room, garden view, and I requested Oak Manor. Was this a good building choice? I have a lot of research to do! I'm a bit (actually a whole lot) apprehensive about the bus situation at POR, I hope someone can reassure me that it'll all be ok as far as the buses go. Oh please, oh please. Just so used to the compact size of POFQ and intimidated by the hugeness that is POR.

We check into POR this friday for the first time! We are also used to POFQ, and have the same concerns about the size and bus situation at Riverside. I'll let you know how it was when we get back!

 

[HiHoOffWeGo]

In June when it was crazzy bizzy we saw little trouble with buses. People! It is all luck of the draw a all resorts! If you get to a stop when the bus is to arrive then you luck out but if it pulled away a minute before you arrived then it will be about 20 min. for the next one. No different at any resort.

POR is so large it needs 4 stops and during peek times you may have to wait but if you stay anywhere else it may be no different. The day is long and the attractions are going nowhere so sit down and relax. Enjoying the whole experience is what WDW is all about. The longest wait we had was 5 min.. I can handle 5 min. I could even handle 20. LOL

As for leaving the parks to return to POR. Once we had to wait for the third bus at closing time. But the staff keep them coming one after the other.

It all is what you make it and if you want to go now then there is always a $20 cab ride! LOL

I almost forgot! There is no better time then at POR!

 

[stinkerbellsmommy]

Thanks Stinkerbell!
I'lm thinking the free bus lol. about $20, isn't bad.

Off topic, I was reading an old thread about Mary Poppins Costumes, did you get yours done? (kinda think the thread was 2008)

Not me, I think another version of the "stinkerbellsmommy" name. Apparently, there are quite a few of us who refer to our daughters as "Stinkerbell"

As per the bus vs cab, the free almost usually trumps everything for us. The mild inconvenience of timing is something we just try to work around. Of course, if it came down to a major inconvenience, we would pay, but so far the bus service has worked out just fine for us

 

[LONES]

In June when it was crazzy bizzy we saw little trouble with buses. People! It is all luck of the draw a all resorts! If you get to a stop when the bus is to arrive then you luck out but if it pulled away a minute before you arrived then it will be about 20 min. for the next one. No different at any resort.

POR is so large it needs 4 stops and during peek times you may have to wait but if you stay anywhere else it may be no different. The day is long and the attractions are going nowhere so sit down and relax. Enjoying the whole experience is what WDW is all about. The longest wait we had was 5 min.. I can handle 5 min. I could even handle 20. LOL

As for leaving the parks to return to POR. Once we had to wait for the third bus at closing time. But the staff keep them coming one after the other.

It all is what you make it and if you want to go now then there is always a $20 cab ride! LOL

I almost forgot! There is no better time then at POR!

I almost think it might be better at peak times. We always travel in January, and we've always stayed at POFQ. With the bus situation, I've always been glad we've been at FQ. My experience has been that we get on the bus at FQ, and immediately head to Riverside. At the main bus stop, it fills to capacity including standing room only. We then just breeze by the 3 other stops because the bus is already full. Of course, I have no way to know how soon another bus comes along for those waiting at the 3 outlying depots... so maybe it's not a big deal.

 

[Fire14]

Did you book under the Spring Room Only Offer? I think the problem might be that it may not work with that offer. I guess I could try calling too.

No we are booked under Ap with Dining and Whgen TA called there was NO Ap rate for those dates in RR could have preferred location but not Royal.

 

[JohnO]

Recently returned from a stay in room #9038 at Oak Manor in POR. We were there 1/9/12 - 1/15/2012. The room was not yet refurbed but sure is in need of it. Great location.

 

[Venomhatch]

Recently returned from a stay in room #9038 at Oak Manor in POR. We were there 1/9/12 - 1/15/2012. The room was not yet refurbed but sure is in need of it. Great location.

Very cool... About the refurb, that building should be closed now. They were scheduled to close it on the 15th of Jan I believe and reopen March 9th as the new Royal Guest Rooms. I cant check the dates exactly since our only source is on strike with this whole government thing. But I am pretty sure they are beginning date is close, the opening date is right on.