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

[joannalh]

I am posting from a RGR right now. We're in Oak Manor. I love the room, and so do the kids, especially the "fireworks" on the beds. Lots of little details. I took a lot of pictures but andre has posted a lot already. I will take some more pics tomorrow of some of the little details, and the TV thing. Sadly, we're going home tomorrow. This was my first time in POR and we were only here two days (post-cruise), but I really like it and hope to stay here again some time. So pretty and the kids love the pool and have been participating in a lot of the kids' activities (campfire, movies). I wanted to go to Yee-Haa Bob tonight but couldn't talk the kids into it as they wanted to watch the movie. I walked up to POFQ to check it out today and it's nice but I like POR a lot more. I did try those beignets everyone talks about though, yum. We had dinner at Boatwright's tonight and I really enjoyed it-the blackened fish is delicious.

We did have a bunch of hitches with our reservation/check-in. I realize this is the fault of central Disney booking, not POR, but I didn't think they handled them all that well. First thing was that I did online check-in about a week before. I received an e-mail confirmation of this and printed it out but when I went to the online check-in line they said they had no record of my online check-in. I showed them my printout and they checked me in there anyway-but into a standard view room, not the garden view that I had booked. They didn't make any mention of this, just gave me my kttw cards and paperwork, but I noticed the discrepancy. Then the CM spent a long time on the phone and finally told me that there weren't any garden view rooms, so they'd refund me the difference. I didn't feel like fighting it; I just wanted to get all set, but my husband was annoyed and went back to ask how this happened, and they said that sometimes Disney overbooks and has to bump people, just like airlines do. I wasn't super-impressed by this explanation. Then we got to the room and there was no crib, which I'd requested at the time of reservation. We called and they said they had no record of this request-but they did bring one over right away. Finally, tonight during dinner it occurred to me that, given the other glitches, we should confirm that we were booked onto the Magical Express for tomorrow. My husband went to the front desk-and nope! No record of this either. He was able to tell them the airline and time of our flight but didn't know the flight number off hand. He asked the CM to just look it up online but she wasn't willing/able, and he had to go back to our room to get the flight number. Anyway, none of this was the end of the world, but it was kind of disappointing, especially coming from the cruise where we'd been so spoiled (our server cut up my food for me because I was always holding the baby during dinner and eating with one hand, lol!), and we'd just been talking about how efficient and organized Disney is.

 

[mdrob214]

Any details in the room that you think are fun - lights, curtains, bedspeads, etc. would be great.

Also, could you maybe get a few snaps of TV-Channel #17, showing the new TV Station line-up in detail, so I can update the site with all the new numbers?

And depending on your camera, some shots of the new outside details at night? I can't wait til I'm back in August, and I'll try to get some low-light time exposures.

What else... well I wouldn't mind some pics of the evening food-court menu boards if you happen to be over there between 5pm and 10pm any day?

Hope you are having a great time now the initial issues are behind you.

Andre

Depending on what shots you get before I go I'd be glad to get you photos, just give me a list. I'll be there and I have a full day and evening at the resort with my dslr. I don't have a Royal Room but will be glad to get what I can for your site!!

Same here--only 8 more days! Actually, since today is almost over--a little over 7! But who's counting?

I am not doing online check-in as I'm hoping to reiterate my request of a top floor. Perhaps even a refurbed room!

 

[cajunbaby1]

We did online check-in for March 3 arrival and got just what we requested which ended up being not what we wanted...

Requested king-bed; got king-bed but the room did not have a bath tub and the wife wants a bath tub. We called front desk when we found this out and got a different room but it was not a king...but it had a tub. I'll know next time to list priorities in my requests with a tub being number 1.[

Question--Do the King Bed rooms HAVE bathtubs? or are they showers only? I never thought they Wouldn't have a tub. Just wondering.

I'm jealous of you guys going to wdw soon. I gotta wait til October

 

[andrewilley]

Question--Do the King Bed rooms HAVE bathtubs? or are they showers only? I never thought they Wouldn't have a tub. Just wondering.

Yes, most have bathtubs. However some King Bed rooms are also Accessible Rooms (which thus have roll-in showers) and I'm guessing that is what the OP was allocated if the resort was especially full and they were running short of other King Bed rooms.

This will be less common in future, as after the refits most Accessbile Rooms will now have two queen beds, with just a small handful of King Accessible rooms remaining across both POR and POFQ.

Andre

 

[aubriee]

I go to WDW several times a year and usually stay in a moderate, so have stayed at all four moderates in the last couple of years, but for the most part usually wind up at CSR or POFQ. I've always said I'd rank the moderates as #1. and #2. a close tie between CSR and POFQ, #3. PORS, and #4. CBR. However, I have stayed at CSR or POFQ for six out of my last seven trips and am thinking about trying something different just for a change. I currently have bounceback deals booked for CSR in May and POFQ in Sept and Oct/Nov. Because CSR normally costs just a tad more than the other moderates and because of the current AP discount, I can get a Royal Guest Garden View room at PORS May 5th-12th, for just $82.00 more than I'm paying now for a standard room at CSR, using my current bounceback deal. I would rather have a preferred room in the Bayous, but they are not available for my dates under the bounceback deal or the AP discount. I've stayed at PORS before, but only in the Bayou section (never had an interest in the Mansions, so just haven't paid much attention to them and have only seen them from a distance). How would the Royal Guest rooms be for a solo traveler? For some reason I'm picturing them as being overrun by squealing little girls. For that matter, since garden view is all that's available under the AP discount, where exactly would those rooms be (not a parking lot, not a pool view, and not a river view obviously), so where in those two buildings would they be? Also how far are those rooms from the main building and bus stops? As a solo traveler would you switch to a RGR or keep what I have at CSR?

 

[Stan Solo]

Question about the outdoor movies:

Is it acceptabe to bring food? We are planning a laid back arrival day.. Landing around lunch time, may grab lunch at the airport, then check in, go to DTD, go swimming, etc. I was thinking a late dinner, perhaps ordering pizza from offsite (POR pizza is not my thing). Would it be OK to eat our pizza as a picnic at the outdoor movie? Or do we need to eat in our room before heading out to the movie?

I love this pizza and a movie idea! Anyone know of a good a good local pizza place that delivers to POR? Can you have pizza delivered to POR?

 

[Missytara]

I love this pizza and a movie idea! Anyone know of a good a good local pizza place that delivers to POR? Can you have pizza delivered to POR?

Hands down; Giordano's in Orlando. They have to deliver to the check-in area, but well worth. Only ordering pizza on-site can be delivered to your room.

I have had real deep dish Chicago pizza in Chicago and they are about as close as you are going to get anywhere in Orlando.

Just thinking about it makes me hungry. Here is the link to their menu.

http://www.giordanos.com/menu.html

 

[kristie73]

Getting excited! Only 6 more sleeps in my bed. I saw the forecast though, with scattered thunderstorms. I hope it's not bad. I don't want overcast, wet hair/clothes pictures, and no fun at the pool. I hope that forecast changes.

I have chosen not to check in online and just chance it when we arrive Wed afternoon. I hope our Garden View room is in Magnolia Terrace as I requested.

 

[Stan Solo]

Hands down; Giordano's in Orlando. They have to deliver to the check-in area, but well worth. Only ordering pizza on-site can be delivered to your room.

I have had real deep dish Chicago pizza in Chicago and they are about as close as you are going to get anywhere in Orlando.

Just thinking about it makes me hungry. Here is the link to their menu.

http://www.giordanos.com/menu.html

Thanks Tara I added the link you gave to my bookmarks on my iPad.

 

[pamkat1820]

33 more days...... now its crunch time!!! start checking the kids clothes, start digging out the summer clothes for me and my husband....time to make a list.
get my nerves in check for the plane ride with the kids.

love all the talk about the Royal Rooms!!!!

 

[andrewilley]

I saw the forecast though, with scattered thunderstorms.

Don't worry, the forecast for Orlando is regularly for scattered thunderstorms!

That tends to mean a short downpour sometime mid-afternoon in scattered places, but otherwise the weather is often fine. We've even been inside an attraction and then come out to find puddles everywhere, when it had been fine before we went in. Then it is fine for the rest of the day, indeed an hour later you'd never know it had even rained.

Of course with the weather there are never any actual guarantees, but you'll most likely be fine.

Andre

 

[tyzzle]

For pizza people Giordanos is a Chicago pizza place (born raised and live on the southside of Chicago) This is the only pizza I will eat in Orlando

 

[Fire14]

For pizza people Giordanos is a Chicago pizza place (born raised and live on the southside of Chicago) This is the only pizza I will eat in Orlando

Any idea on appox cost for 3 topping pizza ( pepperroni, mushroom, bacon) to feed 3 adults 2 of which are ladies and might eat 2 slices and 1 guy who isn't super eater. delievered to POR. Dh has never had REAL Chicago Pizza us girls have.

 

[hunmcbunny]

I'm a new york pizza girl...although I would eat chicago pizza I'm not a huge fan. Sooooo any New York style pizza places?

 

[HappyGal]

33 more days...... now its crunch time!!! start checking the kids clothes, start digging out the summer clothes for me and my husband....time to make a list.
get my nerves in check for the plane ride with the kids.

love all the talk about the Royal Rooms!!!!

17 more days for me and I just unpacked my summer clothes. And ugh none of my shorts fit me! So do I consider dieting? Nope, heading to Old Navy for new comfy shorts!

 

[ashleyrm]

I see in the refurb section that it lists the following for POR - Lobby and Atrium refurbishment 4/9/2012-5/25/2012.

Anyone have any idea what that might entail?

 

[MyMagicKingdom]

Just wondering...what are some thoughts on Riverside vs. French Quarter? I don't have an immediate trip planned at the moment (although if DH would let me, we'd have a trip to plan for every other month but alas I must find a way to subdue my WDW obsession) but I've never been to either resort, as you can see from my sig. Lately I've fallen more and more in love with pictures and info of both places and keep going back and forth on which one I'd like to stay at next. Any thoughts? Fingers crossed...we'll be going to WDW next summer!! Thanks!

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Any idea on appox cost for 3 topping pizza ( pepperroni, mushroom, bacon) to feed 3 adults 2 of which are ladies and might eat 2 slices and 1 guy who isn't super eater. delievered to POR. Dh has never had REAL Chicago Pizza us girls have.

Don't know about delivery charges, but the pizza will run you about $25-$28 for a large deep dish with 3 toppings. Giordano's usually comes up on restaurant.com and though the certificates specify dine-in only they allow you to use them for pick-up (not sure about delivery) but they do add in the 15% gratuity to the order. It was worth it to us because our kids were tired and we preferred taking the pizza back to the room anyway.

 

[bama-mom]

We check in next Saturday!!

How late do the boats run to DTD??

 

[Missytara]

I see in the refurb section that it lists the following for POR - Lobby and Atrium refurbishment 4/9/2012-5/25/2012.

Anyone have any idea what that might entail?

Could be anything; they are very vague in all their building permits for a reason.

If I had to guess; it could be painting/caulking windows and doors. General overall painting. Could be work to the floors.

If it was something like HVAC or electrical work, they would have specified. Most likely cosmetic/general preventative maintenance.