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

[Venomhatch]

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

Yeah watch that first part! There is somethings I just don't get about the UK so that aside. There is no wrong way.

 

[DisneyFive]

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.

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!

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!!!

If you read Samjan's two replies, you will see that he was mistaken about the dates and that the maintenance is happening in Feb 2012, not over the summer.

Dan

 

[Samjan]

Yes don't panic everyone!

I'd read the dates the british way and i got it wrong. (Embarassed smilie)
Pool will not be shut!

I'm of the female variety

 

[Missytara]

Yes don't panic everyone!

I'd read the dates the british way and i got it wrong. (Embarassed smilie)
Pool will not be shut!

I'm of the female variety

All is forgiven; we are all friends here!

 

[summerlady]

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!!!!!!

Very glad to hear you had such a great trip! The only way to get over missing POR is to start planning your next stay.
I'm really happy and excited about our upcoming trip, just wish I didn't have to wait so long. Thanks for the info.

 

[crazy4wdw]

There's a cool story about the current general manager of POR at Disney Parks Blog:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...or-this-walt-disney-world-resort-cast-member/

 

[Venomhatch]

There's a cool story about the current general manager of POR at Disney Parks Blog:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...or-this-walt-disney-world-resort-cast-member/

Great, Thanks for sharing and what a great find!

 

[cantwaitforwdw]

Two years ago when we went to Disney we stayed at CBR and our room location couldn't have been better. We travel with another family and requested adjoining rooms, which was granted. But we could also open our door and one of the quiet pools was right there as well as tables and chairs. This worked out perfectly because we could put the kids into bed and had a place for the adults to sit right outside our door. This year we are staying at POR and I am wondering if there are any rooms with a similar set up that we could request. We really enjoyed being able to sit out for a bit in the evenings while just outside our door. We booked a garden view as there were no more preferred and requested adjoining rooms.

 

[andrewilley]

There's a cool story about the current general manager of POR at Disney Parks Blog:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...or-this-walt-disney-world-resort-cast-member/

Kyle in the blog is Guest Service Operations Manager (rather than General Manager - Val will think he's out for her job, LOL!). He's a really nice chap, and still every bit as enthusiastic about Disney as that 14-year-old kid was.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

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

There apparently won't be a very big guest event, but there will at least be some balloons & banners up in the lobby and free birthday cake too (while it lasts anyway - get there early!). There will also be some cast member stuff going on too of course.

Andre

 

[Stini228]

There's a cool story about the current general manager of POR at Disney Parks Blog:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...or-this-walt-disney-world-resort-cast-member/

So cool!! I want that shirt!

 

[g3pak]

I booked a Royal Suite last October as a bounceback. We just booked the basic Royal Suite (no garden view, etc) and when I said that the CM said something about those only being in one of the two buildings. I was glad to hear that because we are traveling with friends and they are also staying in the same type room, which should mean we are in the same building.

Anyway, I wish I could remember which one she said. Anyone know?

 

[g3pak]

And yes, I know no one will be staying in a Royal Suite until March (at least), but I thought I would ask just in case someone already knows.

 

[Venomhatch]

I booked a Royal Suite last October as a bounceback. We just booked the basic Royal Suite (no garden view, etc) and when I said that the CM said something about those only being in one of the two buildings. I was glad to hear that because we are traveling with friends and they are also staying in the same type room, which should mean we are in the same building.

Anyway, I wish I could remember which one she said. Anyone know?

Oak building... they wont be ready til march 9th 2011

 

[HeatherLassell]

I booked a Royal Suite last October as a bounceback. We just booked the basic Royal Suite (no garden view, etc) and when I said that the CM said something about those only being in one of the two buildings. I was glad to hear that because we are traveling with friends and they are also staying in the same type room, which should mean we are in the same building.

Anyway, I wish I could remember which one she said. Anyone know?

Royal Rooms will be in Oak Manor and in Parterre Place.

My dad called in to add more $ to their reservation and the CM on the phone told him he could link our ressies together so we could be in side by side rooms. Of course I had to explain to my dad that unless he upgrades to a royal room that won't be possible. lol Of course he had the "but the guy said he could" argument. I had to show him a map and we decided that I am trying to request a room in OAK MANOR and they will request to be in MAGNOLIA TERRACE so at least our buildings would be side by side. We can walk together to eat and to the bus. etc.

 

[andrewilley]

We just booked the basic Royal Suite (no garden view, etc) and when I said that the CM said something about those only being in one of the two buildings.

'Standard View' Royal Rooms could be located in either Oak Manor (opening 9th March) or Parterre Place (opening a little later, around 13th April).

Oh, and just so you're not disappointed, they will not actually be suites, just regular sized bedrooms with two queen beds, twin sinks, a separate bathroom/WC, etc.

Andre

 

[hunmcbunny]

Happy Feb. 1st! Now I officially can say we are going to Disney next month

 

[patclairesmom]

I want to make sure we get a refurbished room in AB. On my ressies I put the specific building numbers, but now that the refurbished one of the preferred buildings, I'm not sure what I should request for my best chance of getting a refurbished room. We are going Apl 5-13 in a stardard view room

 

[andrewilley]

I want to make sure we get a refurbished room in AB. On my ressies I put the specific building numbers, but now that the refurbished one of the preferred buildings, I'm not sure what I should request for my best chance of getting a refurbished room. We are going Apl 5-13 in a stardard view room

Just request a refurbished room, and let them work out the building numbers - otherwise they won't know why you've requested what you did.

For a standard view, the most likely buildings just now would be 36 or 37, but you never know you might even get a garden view or other upgrade.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

Happy Feb. 1st! Now I officially can say we are going to Disney next month

That's what we said last month too. Now we go this month!