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

[tinkersmell]

Hi there! Lurker logging in to say thank you to everyone! We just got back from a 2/29-3/5 stay at POR and we had a fabulous time. This thread was a big help with our planning. The resort was beautiful, the food court was superior indeed, and we loved the pontoon boats to DTD and FQ. We had so much fun. We went to MK on leap day for the fireworks, but didn't stay too late as we have a 6 year old DD. We had no crowds at all until Saturday at the Animal Kingdom. It was so amazing to just walk onto rides and not wait in those huge, long queue's at all! We were staying in Parterre Place so I walked by the Royal Room renovations and at night I could see right in the windows and they look FANTASTIC! I would love to do that next time. I'm going to do a trip report, but I just wanted to pop in and say a special thank you to the contributors on this thread, you really helped make our trip smooth and relaxed and special.

 

[Venomhatch]

Hi there! Lurker logging in to say thank you to everyone! We just got back from a 2/29-3/5 stay at POR and we had a fabulous time. This thread was a big help with our planning. The resort was beautiful, the food court was superior indeed, and we loved the pontoon boats to DTD and FQ. We had so much fun. We went to MK on leap day for the fireworks, but didn't stay too late as we have a 6 year old DD. We had no crowds at all until Saturday at the Animal Kingdom. It was so amazing to just walk onto rides and not wait in those huge, long queue's at all! We were staying in Parterre Place so I walked by the Royal Room renovations and at night I could see right in the windows and they look FANTASTIC! I would love to do that next time. I'm going to do a trip report, but I just wanted to pop in and say a special thank you to the contributors on this thread, you really helped make our trip smooth and relaxed and special.

Well your very welcome and of course welcome to post here from time to time. Speaking from the guy who 007ed those spy shots of the RGR rooms earlier that week, those rooms will look sweet when they are done and opened on the 9th.

 

[andrewilley]

Do not follow the "number signs". They take you far out of your way sometimes.

There's an "Ice Vending" sign just near the elevators in one building (Acadian House was it?) which points the wrong way - the sign points left, when the ice machine is in fact about 20 yards away on the right. I think it was the same on all three floors from memory.

Andre

 

[Missytara]

There's an "Ice Vending" sign just near the elevators in one building (Acadian House was it?) which points the wrong way - the sign points left, when the ice machine is in fact about 20 yards away on the right. I think it was the same on all three floors from memory.

Andre

My point was I was on the farther wing right on the river. I followed the numbered signs the first time and went all the way into the interior of Parterre Place facing the river. There I was not ten feet from the main path. Ugh.

 

[Venomhatch]

There's an "Ice Vending" sign just near the elevators in one building (Acadian House was it?) which points the wrong way - the sign points left, when the ice machine is in fact about 20 yards away on the right. I think it was the same on all three floors from memory.

Andre

Yeah well sometimes the rocket scientists get it wrong right. lol.

 

[Monorail Bob's dd]

Is there an updates to how AB renovations are coming along? I am a Disney TA and have clients traveling in April hoping to get a renovated room. They are a family of 5 so it will have to be an AB room. Hoping this will be possible!

 

[andrewilley]

Is there an updates to how AB renovations are coming along? I am a Disney TA and have clients traveling in April hoping to get a renovated room. They are a family of 5 so it will have to be an AB room. Hoping this will be possible!

See the first post in the thread, or the news pages at www.portorleans.org/rehab.php for the latest updates. Buildings 14, 36, 37 and 38 are complete at present.

At the moment they are working on Royal Rooms until mid April, then they'll be starting back on the rest of Alligator Bayou through until August(ish).

Andre

 

[Fºoºz]

Congratulations The Royal rooms are only located in Oak Manor or Parterre Place and they are right next to each other, and the bridge to the main building is right between them. so not much of a difference walking.

So if we have a Royal Guest Room with a River View, the room would be in either of these two buildings? Do any of these rooms have King beds or are they all Queen?

Thanks ...

 

[monami7]

I CANT WAIT TO SEE OUR ROOM IN 2 MONTHS! We booked 2 nights in a Royal River view as well!

 

[Venomhatch]

So if we have a Royal Guest Room with a River View, the room would be in either of these two buildings? Do any of these rooms have King beds or are they all Queen?

Thanks ...

They all have queen sized beds. And yes they would be in those two buildings only. If you have a river view then your be on the ends near the river.

 

[Venomhatch]

I CANT WAIT TO SEE OUR ROOM IN 2 MONTHS! We booked 2 nights in a Royal River view as well!

Did you see the progress pics I snapped earlier of them?

 

[MinnieMommy]

Arriving this weekend with a Royal Room booking. Do you think we would have heard by now if the rooms were delayed any further?

 

[sadossey]

We booked a RGR for May 6-12 with a garden view, requested Oak Manor bldg. Question: is it worth trying to get a free upgrade to river view at check in, will they even do that? Looks like it would be closer to the bridge to pool, food court, etc. or am I mistaken? Looking forward to seeing pics / reviews of the RR's. Aslo, this is my whole family's first WDW trip, me, dw, dd5, ds2, we havent told the kids yet. Any ideas for the big reveal the day we leave to make it memorable. Mainly for my daughter since my son doesnt know disney world from the county fair yet. I think I am more excited than the kids will be, is that stupid?

 

[bobbigrl27]

Arriving this weekend with a Royal Room booking. Do you think we would have heard by now if the rooms were delayed any further?

I think you would have. I can't imagine they would let you get there and then tell you it wasn't ready. When they didn't meet the original deadline, they moved all those guests to Deluxe resorts. I think they would have to do the same for you if they weren't ready.

P.S. take lots of pictures of the Royal Rooms!! We can't wait to see them!!!!

 

[lfeikert]

We got our Mickey Mail yesterday!

We are staying in a RGR waterview. I know for our dates that only Oak Manor will be completed. We have never stayed at POR before so I really know nothing about room locations. Should I make a more specific request or will this be enough? We aren't really picky and don't have any special needs. We'd just like it to be easy to get to our room without getting lost! Also, is the view better and it's quieter on the third floor?

For our only other trip, we were in a preferred location at ASMu so very close to pool and food court which was great.

Thanks for any advice--just not sure what to expect!

Anyone? I can't wait to hear from people who are staying in the RGRs this weekend!

 

[bobbigrl27]

We booked a RGR for May 6-12 with a garden view, requested Oak Manor bldg. Question: is it worth trying to get a free upgrade to river view at check in, will they even do that? Looks like it would be closer to the bridge to pool, food court, etc. or am I mistaken? Looking forward to seeing pics / reviews of the RR's. Aslo, this is my whole family's first WDW trip, me, dw, dd5, ds2, we havent told the kids yet. Any ideas for the big reveal the day we leave to make it memorable. Mainly for my daughter since my son doesnt know disney world from the county fair yet. I think I am more excited than the kids will be, is that stupid?

How exciting, your first trip to WDW!! I don't think I would ever be able to keep our trip a secret from my DD. But of course she is 10, so we have lots of fun planning the trip and looking at pictures of the resort and theme parks. That's half the fun of the trip for me.

 

[sadossey]

How exciting, your first trip to WDW!! I don't think I would ever be able to keep our trip a secret from my DD. But of course she is 10, so we have lots of fun planning the trip and looking at pictures of the resort and theme parks. That's half the fun of the trip for me.

We thought about telling her but she has yet to master the waiting game. Would have to hear "daddy when do we go to DW?" about 5000 times. Thought it would be good for them to wake up one day and find out that we are leaving that day!

 

[monami7]

I did see the pictures. Thanks for posting them.

 

[Venomhatch]

Yep no problem.

 

[bobbigrl27]

We thought about telling her but she has yet to master the waiting game. Would have to hear "daddy when do we go to DW?" about 5000 times. Thought it would be good for them to wake up one day and find out that we are leaving that day!

Good point, I didn't think of that! I think surprising her is a great idea. Are you flying or driving? I have read stories on the boards of parents who didn't tell their children where they were going until they were pulling onto Disney property. If you can find someone who is going before you and is willing to send a postcard to your daughter, you could do something like that and have it be an invitation from Mickey or her favorite character to join them at WDW. I think there is a thread on the Theme Parks board where you can ask someone who is going before you to be a "fairy Godmailer".