Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread --- 2012, Part Three --- NOW FULL / CLOSED

[andrewilley]

ETA: also any suggestions post dinner? Yeehaw bob sounds great - just not sure if the kids are too young?

Pool sounds like a plan. The main pool can be a bit noisy in the afternoon - but it's great for the kids though! How about a boat or cycle rental if it's not too chilly?

Don't forget Bob only plays Weds-Sat, if you're planning on going to see him.

Andre

 

[Lizzybean]

2 more sleeps
Forecast for here tomorrow is 3-5cm of snow, followed by freezing rain & ice pellets followed by rain. Forecast for Orlando on our arrival day: 82 & sunny

Yes! It's beautiful here!!! You're going to have a blast!

 

[cheer25mom]

The more I read from Andre and Venom, the more excited I get for our first trip to POR. We have stayed at the French Quarter in the past, but the Riverside will be a new experience for us. June cannot get here fast enough. Thank you guys for the wealth of informantion presented here!

 

[Lizzybean]

Assuming no flight delays, we should be @ POR tomorrow around noon-ish?? So what should we do on our 1st day there? We have dinner rez @ Chef Mickey for 5:15 (we are driving ourselves) so for the afternoon?? Assume hit the pool?

Also have to figure out a way to get to the rooms before DH & the kids so i can put some little gift bags in there for everyone

ETA: also any suggestions post dinner? Yeehaw bob sounds great - just not sure if the kids are too young?

Our first night (Friday) we hit DTD and walked around, shopped a bit and it was fun! Nice way to start the vacay.

 

[JStiffler]

We are staying in a Royal Room for the first time for our anniv. Does the resort offer anything I could have delivered to the room for husband? In the past I have done the chocolate monorail at the Contemp, a box of chocolates at Wilderness. Something along those lines. The whole cake thing is too crazy for me and Disney Florist doesn't seem to have manly options.

Thanks for any suggestions.

One of my g/f's sent me a box of chocolate covered fruit from Edible Arrangements when we stayed at POR this past Oct. It had chocolate covered bananas, apples, and strawberries in the box. Fit perfectly in the fridge.

 

[ShesAPirate]

So, this isn't a POR-specific question, but... any ideas about places to AVOID while the Super Bowl is on (we arrive this Sunday). We have no interest in watching it and don't want to get caught up in a football crowd. Would DTD be somewhere to avoid, or do you think most people would be at ESPN Club on the Boardwalk?

Thanks!

 

[tinkerbell1984]

Staying at POR mid May for my sons birthday, celebrating my daughters from April as well. We will most likely exclusively use our big double stroller. Both my kids are small in size, my daughter will be 4, and even though my son is 7 he gets worn out easily due to a blood thing he has (his body stays busy destroying blood cells and remaking them to keep up). I wasn't going to make a request, hoping for birthday magic I guess! LoL but one thing i think we'll find difficult is top floor in AB (large stroller+stairs+2 tired kids=camping out in the bayou! Lol) So should I wait and see if we get top floor at check in and then request bottom or mansions or make a pre fax request of just no top floor in AB? There are only 4 of us (my moms traveling to help me) so I assume we might be in mansions anyway? 1 reason I didn't want to request (other than hoping for magic) was during our last trip I requested things at "Sports" and didn't get that but got upgraded to preferred instead and had a wonderful so very convenient location! Better than my request ever dreamed of being! LoL

 

[SRUAlmn]

To the PP who asked about Anniversary surprises...

go to www.disneyflorist.com

They have GREAT gifts they can deliver to your room for you. Often, you have to call and give them your room number once you check in (I always try to in secret so it's still a surprise.) I LOVE to order Mickey's Kool Snack when we go. It's a surprisingly large amount of snacks + the cute cooler, and it's not that pricey! (At least for Disney standards ) I think you can only place your order online if you're 30 days out from your delivery date.


On this same note......
In the past when we've stayed for our Anniversary I've ordered Disney cakes to be sent to our room. We had a Disney wedding, so I always try to get the same cake (mini version, of course ) that we had at our wedding The times I've done this, however, we've stayed at The Grand or the Boardwalk (both which have their own bakeries.) Is this something that can be done at POR, or not since they don't have a bakery? Thanks!!

 

[FigmentChick]

Just got through all 210 pages of this thread! Thank you so much to all who post comments and replies, I've had a ton of questions answered just by reading! we leave in 9 days and I'm starting to get really nervous, not about the hotel at all, but just making sure we do a ton of fun stuff without making everyone cranky. My mother, mil, fil, dh, dd2, ds5 are all going to be there so a huge age range. I'm planning a midday break everyday as well as a stroller for the littles. My husband is questioning the stroller for ds, what do you experts think? He's a trooper, but not used to crazy mileage. Thanks!:

As others have said, bring or rent a stroller!!! I actually just purchased one for my son (who will be 5 on our trip). When we got home in 2011, we put his stroller out on the curb. Knowing I would need one for this trip, I just went on Craiglist one day and scored one for $40!!!! And it originally cost the lady abut $300. I couldn't believe my luck. So....it's sitting in the boys' closet until we leave.

I never post, but read the forums almost every day, and just wanted to pop in to say hi and thank you to everyone who has posted their tips and advice here, especially andre and venom.

I leave on Saturday for my first trip to Disney in almost 15 years. I'm traveling with my 2 and 5 year old kids, my mom and dad, and my sister is meeting us there. We can't wait!

Thanks again to everyone for all the great information. We can't wait to stay at POR!

Congrats and have a safe trip!!!! Oh....and

 

[Venomhatch]

On the clock and PMs returned.

 

[Lizzybean]

Quick question! Here now and noticed the quiet pool by building 17 did not have a hot tub. Do any of the POR quiet pools have one?

 

[Venomhatch]

Quick question! Here now and noticed the quiet pool by building 17 did not have a hot tub. Do any of the POR quiet pools have one?

No the only hot tub is by the Big Pool. Sorry.

 

[Lizzybean]

No the only hot tub is by the Big Pool. Sorry.

Thanks! Everybody has sore feet and I was hoping there might be another one hiding somewhere; this family isn't used to rope drop and staying in parks all day.

We did do the big pool today and it was GREAT. Everyone loved it, especially the slide!

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

Coming out of lurkdom...I'll be at POR in May! It's been over 10 years since I've stayed there and I fondly remember it. I can't wait!!

 

[Missytara]

So, this isn't a POR-specific question, but... any ideas about places to AVOID while the Super Bowl is on (we arrive this Sunday). We have no interest in watching it and don't want to get caught up in a football crowd. Would DTD be somewhere to avoid, or do you think most people would be at ESPN Club on the Boardwalk?

Thanks!

The resort lounges will be playing the Super Bowl; there will be crowds trying to get into the ESPN Club at BW and most likely the bars at DTD will be playing it as well.

 

[Teddie]

My best friend got back 3 weeks ago and she said her only mistake was not bringing a stroller for her ds5. He is normally a trooper but he was whining and complaining non stop because his feet hurt. I have a 5 and a 2 year old and I will be renting a double stroller because I know my son and he will not make it. Good luck!

Thanks canooknic and Andre and jmw33! We are bringing down another stroller!

And we leave in exactly one week! Right now we will be on an airplane! Yay!

 

[ThreeKMom]

4 more sleeps!
Checking into a royal guest room on Super Sunday!!!

 

[DisneyEhCA]

We made it! We arrived at POR last night around 9:30pm, and I can already tell this is my favourite resort by far. It is gorgeously themed, and so very...peaceful compared to the value resorts.

We walked around the grounds while waiting for our luggage to magically appear, and I was struck by the sheer quietness of this place. Love! Love! Love!

We'll see if it's still peaceful by the light of day...

For those of you arriving soon, I wish you a wonderful journey.

 

[RubySlippers]

We just got back and had a FANTASTIC time at POR-AB! We booked a preferred room and at check in we were told that we could have a room in building 18 now or wait and have a room in building 15. We had been up since 3am so we took the room that was ready!

The room was VERY clean! I even checked the tops of the mirrors... no dust! LOL!

The main pool heater was broken during our stay so it was COLD....but the quiet pools were perfect.

Bus service was GREAT!! We never waited more than 10 mins going to and from places.

The boat service was another story It took us more than a hour to get back from DTD because there was an issue with boat captains and shift changes We missed our ADR at Boatwrights because of the delay.

They were able to take us late but our DD melted half way through dinner and I took her back to the room. My DH and son stayed and finished dinner. It was DELISH! They brought my dessert back to the room for me!

We have stayed at POR many times and we have always loved it. This time was no different and we will be back! We booked a bounceback offer for OCT.

GREAT Staff, GREAT Atmosphere, GREAT Vacation....can't ask for more!

 

[justakrazymom]

We just got back and had a FANTASTIC time at POR-AB! We booked a preferred room and at check in we were told that we could have a room in building 18 now or wait and have a room in building 15. We had been up since 3am so we took the room that was ready!

The room was VERY clean! I even checked the tops of the mirrors... no dust! LOL!

The main pool heater was broken during our stay so it was COLD....but the quiet pools were perfect.

Bus service was GREAT!! We never waited more than 10 mins going to and from places.

The boat service was another story It took us more than a hour to get back from DTD because there was an issue with boat captains and shift changes We missed our ADR at Boatwrights because of the delay.

They were able to take us late but our DD melted half way through dinner and I took her back to the room. My DH and son stayed and finished dinner. It was DELISH! They brought my dessert back to the room for me!

We have stayed at POR many times and we have always loved it. This time was no different and we will be back! We booked a bounceback offer for OCT.

GREAT Staff, GREAT Atmosphere, GREAT Vacation....can't ask for more!

awesome to hear! What was the bounceback??