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

[hunmcbunny]

We micro plan the day the suitcases come out.

 

[DisneyFive]

Does anyone know if there is a height restriction for the slide at the Main pool?

We were on a cruise last week and had some extra time to kill before our flight home yesterday so we decided to go take a look at POR to see if we would like it for a fall stay at Disney this year. We definately liked the resort (loved it actually), but when I looked at the water slide at the main pool, I wondered if my youngest (5 year old this fall) would be limited from using the slide.

Thanks in advance.

Dan

 

[andrewilley]

Does anyone know if there is a height restriction for the slide at the Main pool?

Any age or height is fine. Floatation aids like arm bands or life vests are OK too. The only real restriction is that everyone must go down one at a time, you can't accompany a child for example. You can wait at the bottom to meet them though.

Andre

 

[FloridaKelly]

What an informative and entertaining thread! So happy I was directed here!

Hear you on the overwhelming research and I'm thinking I finally found a good thread with the information I've been looking for maybe. lol. We have a Garden View too, and Garden View is basically NOT a parking lot view. Possibly a fountain view. And I would think (it's been my thinking) that an upper floor vs. main floor would be quietest.

I also want to say I read somewhere that there are no Garden View rooms for Alligator Bayou. So Garden View is essentially one of the mansions.

I'm leaving in a week!!!! (2/4-2/9, 2012) Thinking my request might be:

Queen beds, Renovated room, second or third floor, Magnolia Terrace.

I was going to toss in "Or Oak Manor" but it sounds like Oak Manor is either completely closed for refurbishment or, if a section is open, it's not refurbed yet.

Hoping that helps you, OP, and hoping someone else can tell me if my thinking is misguided.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply! I'm a little relieved that I'm not the only one who is overwhelmed! Have a great trip!!!

Garden view was the lowest category I could book and we have to be in Alligator Bayou. I will let you know next week what our view was I'm more than ok with "anything that isn't a parking lot" so I'm just hoping for a refurb room. Although, after Andre told me that there is no under bed storage in the new rooms, I have decided just to make the best of it no matter what they give us. If we get a new room..Whoopie! If we get an old room, at least we have that extra suitcase storage and what the heck, we're still at Disney in a great resort!

I hear ya on the parking lot view!!!! Can't wait to hear about your view! Have a wonderful vacation!

We are a family of five so we have to stay in the Alligator Bayou and I just checked my confirmation I am paying for a Garden View room. So I'm thinking that you can't count on a Garden View room to be in the Mansions.

If you are light sleepers I would highly suggest a white noise machine and or ear plugs. Even in the quietest locations in the resort you never know "who" is going to be beside you so you're probably best to bring your own reinforcements. We always travel with our white noise machine.

Great idea about the white noise machine! I have earplugs - but the ones I take on vacation have a tendancy to fall out during the night. I'm cool with the people beside me making noise, hopefully I'll be able to go and bang on their doors and tell them to "KEEP IT DOWN!" I kid, hoping the occupants of the rooms surrounding mine belong to my family since this is a reunion trip

You got it, yes. The idea is you could get garden, courtyard, lawns, fountains, bayou, etc - but not a parking lot view. Can be in any buildings (Alligator Bayou or mansions) except for the Preferred Locations.

Andre

Thank you Andre! I definitely have it down now! But I'm sure I'll be coming back with a hundred more questions before our trip.

 

[blueeyesrnc]

Hello Everyone,
Coming out of lurkdom. I've read the entire thread. I too can be accused of microplanning. Will be staying here during the Thanksgiving holidays. I booked a royal river view room. My daughter and I are so excited. Andre, you have created a fabulous/informative thread. Thanks so much.

 

[andrewilley]

So, is anyone from here going to be at Port Orleans Riverside for its 20th Anniversary on Thursday (2nd February)?

Andre

 

[leadfootlevi]

So, is anyone from here going to be at Port Orleans Riverside for its 20th Anniversary on Thursday (2nd February)?

Andre

We will. That's the day we check in! Anything you want me to keep a look out for?

 

[JenLittle]

We check in on the 2nd as well!!! Can't wait
Any news on whether there will be any anniversary celebrations ?

 

[LONES]

Thanks, I know it'll be different there being 4 stops rather than only 1 and being used to first pick up and usually having a seat. I'm thinking of just renting a car instead. Have a great trip! Hope you enjoy POR.

We're back! We were at POR from 1/20-1/27. I did feel that pang of sadness when the ME dropped off at French Quarter first, and we didn't get off! The sadness soon lifted... and I honestly am now torn. I would be perfectly fine staying at either FQ or Riverside.

We had requested building 85, ground floor, and connecting with my parents. All 3 requests were met. We had booked "garden view", and were inside the courtyard facing the Gazebo on the River side. There was a bus depot right behind our building. The walk to the main lobby was worse than at French Quarter, but probably about equal to being in the far out rooms of building 7 at FQ. I did hear people complaining about the walk from some of the far out rooms of AB.

When we checked in, I started out fairly unimpressed. I'm pretty sure we were dealing with a new employee, and everything I asked was met with a
"deer in the headlights" stare, and a look around for help. Ray at the next window quickly stepped in... and he was absolutely awesome! He informed us that all of our requests had been met, and if there were any issues once we found the room, to come back and let him know and he would see what he could do. (We were traveling with my parents who have some mobility issues. Our big concern was distance of the room to the main lobby/bus). Ray was wonderful, and when we had to check out and check back in the next morning (free dining started the next day), we sought him out.

The grounds are beautiful, and I was very impressed with the amount of employees they had just working on the grounds. Every morning I would head to the food court for coffee between 6-6:30, and they were always power washing every chair in the pool area. The food court could get crazy busy at peak times, but the lines seemed to move well, and the cashiers were very helpful with dining plan questions. (This was our first time using the dining plan).

We had good luck with the busses. They did seem to fill up, and we did have to stand a few mornings. I would say the most we ever waited was maybe 15-20 minutes.

All in all, I really enjoyed Riverside. My parents still say they prefer French Quarter, but I'm pretty equally split. My husband would probably give a slight edge to FQ. Our daughters (ages 7 and 5) both said Riverside.... but they are at the age where the most recent thing is the best, so who knows!!! I say you really can't go wrong at either.

Wish I was back already!!!!!!

 

[DisneyFive]

Any age or height is fine. Floatation aids like arm bands or life vests are OK too. The only real restriction is that everyone must go down one at a time, you can't accompany a child for example. You can wait at the bottom to meet them though.

Andre

A very big thank you Andre. Much appreciated.

Dan

 

[andrewilley]

We check in on the 2nd as well!!! Can't wait
Any news on whether there will be any anniversary celebrations ?

I did email someone to ask last week, but have not had a reply yet.

Andre

 

[Samjan]

Hi there, first time i've posted here so feel free to redirect this if in the wrong place.

We finally booked our Holiday last night from the UK. Spent ages trying to decide between Riverside and FQ. Finally picked Riverside. Looked on forums and it now says that the Ol' Man River main pool is going to be closed from June 2nd to the beginning of August!

We are gutted - yes, i know there are other quiet pools and it says something about using the FQ pool - but it is going to be packed! We arrive 5th June for two weeks.

We have also booked a water view - can anyone give me any info on the refurb? I am now worried about what it will be like in June and if they are going to close anything else. Last week when i looked it said nothing about shutting pools on that particular thread.

My husband is not happy and wants to change.

I think it's unfair if we pay for a service that other people will get later in the year and we won't.

 

[Kanga1]

Looked on forums and it now says that the Ol' Man River main pool is going to be closed from June 2nd to the beginning of August!

WHAT???!!!!???? The main pool closed for the ENTIRE SUMMER????? Especially after an entire renovation and the addition of the Royal Rooms???? Where did you here this? I may have to rethink my entire vacation.

 

[Samjan]

Oh dear please forgive my ranting. It has just been pointed out to me elsewhere that Americans do the date differently so it's February maintenance!!

Feeling rather foolish

I'd still like to know how the refurb stands in June and where a water view may be if anyone can help.

Still, at least it's a first post i won't forget!

 

[Kanga1]

Oh dear please forgive my ranting. It has just been pointed out to me elsewhere that Americans do the date differently so it's February maintenance!!

Feeling rather foolish

I'd still like to know how the refurb stands in June and where a water view may be if anyone can help.

Still, at least it's a first post i won't forget!

Oh, be still my heart!! Thank you for the clarification!

 

[Samjan]

My apologies everyone!!

If i had a brain i'd be dangerous

I really should have questioned the wisdom of shutting an entire main feature pool for a couple of months during peak season, but i think i'm too excied about booking my holiday!

 

[andrewilley]

Oh dear please forgive my ranting. It has just been pointed out to me elsewhere that Americans do the date differently so it's February maintenance!!

Yes, that's one of the reasons why I try to remember to write dates with the month in words (e.g. 06-Feb-2012) rather than 06/02/12 which is open to transatlantic misunderstanding as the Americans write their dates the wrong... erm, cough.... a different way round. However my solution isn't perfect either, as it doesn't allow for language differences.

Actually, while many of the spelling and other differences make much more sense the USA way, I never quite understood dates; it seems so obvious to write smallest-middle-largest units, rather than middle-small-large, but hey ho it takes all sorts to make a world. I'm going to start quoting the time as hh:ss:mm I think.

Andre

 

[pinkle]

What!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????The main pool is closed! When will it reopen???

 

[DisneyFive]

What!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????The main pool is closed! When will it reopen???

If I can decypher the first mention of it, I'm guessing it will be closed only from February 6th - 8th.

Dan

 

[pinkle]

I cannot find any info on this on the Disney site......will someone please send me a link! We are in Disney In August (HOT) a pool is a necesssity!!!