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

[SYLVESTER7577]

Please folks, don't worry too much if you don't hear back about requests!!! They might not have time to reply to every request, and after all it is only a REQUEST. Many WDW resorts apparently just throw routine faxed requests away, so please be grateful that we have the excellent Mr Elg who is so happy to go the extra mile to help everyone out but he's allowed days off, and time to get on with the rest of his work too! If you do get an email response then that's lovely, but please don't EXPECT one, or worry if you don't get one.

I guess it's like towel animals, they used to be a lovely little touch of extra magical pixie dust when they happened... but now, with the power of the internet and forum posts, people seem to end up almost complaining to the management if the room maid is so lazy as to actually only clean their room.

Andre

Maybe, just maybe they like to keep the pixie dust a surprise as in my case. I faxed a second time after they said they did not receive the first and still I did not hear back. So I left it alone and low and behold the had granted my request plus gave us an upgrade to RR. It was our aniversary so maybe the hidden dust?

 

[lelei]

I was shocked to get a call from Mr. Eld yesterday shortly after faxing in our room requests. He was absolutely fantastic and really went out of his way to ease my worries and make sure our needs were met. My daughter has medical needs and he went above and beyond to make sure everything would be easy for our arrival.

Thank you for posting the room request info, being able to talk to the resort took a load of stress and worry away!

 

[Jacqui]

I must say this thread is getting me excited about our upcoming trip.

When we last stayed at POR, we were all severely disappointed. The front desk was a bit rude, the room was filthy and we were not feeling the Disney spirit. I even walked over to POFQ, my all-time favorite resort, to see if we could switch resorts but they were all booked. Now, I must say that this was quite some time ago, approximately 6 years, so before the refurbs.

From the pictures I've seen, I don't believe for one second that we will be disappointed again. We have to wait until June for our trip and I can't seem to stop myself from checking out this thread every day!!

 

[rsleleux]

We leave in one more week! I've read every post on this thread and I am looking forward to 7 nights at POR! I will start picking this weekend, the weather sounds awesome but I'm not sure if I should pack shorts or athletic pants for my son or just bring a jacket for morning and evening?

Ok I guess I didn't word this right?
Could you please tell me what kind of weather you are experiencing at WDW right now, I know it can change but I just need a generalized feel so I can start packing for our upcoming trip? Should I pack shorts a jacket for mornings and evenings? Is it cool at night? Or should I skip shorts and just go w pants all day/all night? Thank you for any input!

 

[DanInMN]

Just got home from a stay at POR. The resort was wonderful. Our room was in a "preferred" building, and a corner room that overlooked the river and two bridges.

My only complaint was the "Down by the Riverside" song that gets played every hour or so in the food court. It is loud and most annoying. The employees dance around the food court to it, but they have clearly lost their enthusiasm for this. It feels too much like Chuck-E-Cheese, and has to go!

 

[Megsmachine]

I am so excited!! I booked 1 week for dh and I in April. We are going for our 15th anniversary. We booked with the Spring discount but there was no prefered available to book. I was a little bummed but requested certain buildings. I checked last night and they had prefered, it was to late to call last night but I called first thing this morning and got it!! Stoked.

 

[klwdisney]

This will be my fourth stay at POR! 107 More Days! I can't wait!

I have put the deposit down for 2 rooms. My Mother will be paying the balance when we arrive. My mom and I are staying in one room and my friend and her son are staying in the other room. We would each like our own credit cards linked for charging privileges. Can I still do Online Checkin when the time comes? Or would the charging privileges make it a more complicated check in process that would cause me to wait until we arrive to check in??

On our last trip my mom and I had our own credit cards linked to our own room cards. When we got home and saw our bill we were VERY confused by it first of all, but then it seemed as if my mother's credit card was charged for all our charges. The bill showed a line item every day that was the room cost and taxes. The whole bill was very confusing to follow to see what was charged or credited on any given day!! So obviously with another person coming with us we'll really want to make sure this is done correctly!!

I know I have plenty of time, but since I'm posting... How many days before your trip should Faxed Requests be sent in?

THANKS!!

 

[Missytara]

The new computer system now allows multiple credit cards in one room so you are good.

If you opt to do online check-in, you can indicate the one card and add any additional cards when you check-in.

 

[klwdisney]

ok good to know! i will just be sure to double check on Day 2 to make sure everything is getting charged to the correct cards.

Also, did I hear correctly that we can do the Online Check In up to 60 days ahead of arrival? And if so, if I put in room requests there, would be it ok to still send a Fax Request a few days ahead of our arrival?

I can't believe I have so many questions! haha This is my 11th WDW trip, and my 4th POR stay, but I have never done online check in or faxed requests or anything. But this is a big bday trip for me and my friend (the big, scary, 4-0!... and my mom's bday too) and it's my friend and her son's first trip ever so I want to make it special! Thanks for your patience with me!!!!

 

[Venomhatch]

Ok spoke to Room Assignment team just now. They do welcome faxed in room requests but you may not get a confirmation call or email. But he or one of the fellow CMs will try to reach back. But if they can they will try requests are just that. But POR tries to spread all the magic they can with possibilities of a little magic from time to time.

 

[mc-hokie]

We are looking forward to our first stay at POR, and we arrive on Easter Sunday. I just completed the online check in on Wed.. We reserved a Royal Room with river view. I selected the request for both corner room and ground floor. Having not stayed here before, I am not sure if that was a good request. Can anyone comment on the view from this room type? Thinking that we may want to step outside the room for a drink while the kids fall asleep. I am not familiar with this resort. Can we just stroll to the lawn from the first floor room, or is there a rail or walkway leading to steps?

 

[Crazypredgirl]

Awesome place!

 

[siskaren]

Hi all,
I was also wondering when to ask about late checkout (flight leaves at 6 and we wanted to hit the pool and DTD before leaving), should I have put it in our room request fax? I sent that off yesterday.
Thanks so much for all the help!

It's actually not necessary to have a later check-out to be able to use the pool and go to DTD on your last day. When you check out, just drop your luggage off with Bell Services (or better yet, take advantage of RAC (assuming that you're using a participating airline.)) You can also drop off your carry-ons with Bell Services.

On average, you are more likely to be placed in Alligator Bayou as there are twice as many rooms there as there are in the mansions. Just because the AB rooms can sleep five doesn't meant that they leave most them empty if there aren't 1,024 families of 5 staying at the time!

Yep. I've stayed at POR twice (once way back when it was Dixie Landings) and got placed in Alligator Bayou both times as a solo.

 

[hobbs6799]

This thread makes me so so sooooooo excited for our trip in October. I know you shouldn't wish your life away, but this is going to be the longestttttttttttt year!!!!

 

[Missytara]

We are looking forward to our first stay at POR, and we arrive on Easter Sunday. I just completed the online check in on Wed.. We reserved a Royal Room with river view. I selected the request for both corner room and ground floor. Having not stayed here before, I am not sure if that was a good request. Can anyone comment on the view from this room type? Thinking that we may want to step outside the room for a drink while the kids fall asleep. I am not familiar with this resort. Can we just stroll to the lawn from the first floor room, or is there a rail or walkway leading to steps?

Yes, but generally in riverview rooms, you will still have some traffic coming by.

I was in Parterre Place (before RR's) and was lucky enough to be in a corner room on the second end farther from the main building - hardly anyone walked by my room, since there were so many other ways to go. However, I was able to actually pull my chair out into the alcove and watch the water taxi go by without anyone really needing to get by.

The lawn abuts right to the sidewalk. But trust me, when you see how immaculate the landscaping is, you hesitate stepping onto the lawn - you will want to stay to the sidewalks.

 

[zy144622]

Ill PM you in 30 mins.

I'm in the same boat. Emailed on Tuesday and check in Sunday and haven't heard back. Have no problem being surprised when I arrive but wondering if it was received at all?

 

[zy144622]

Thanks!

 

[zy144622]

I'm in the same boat. Emailed on Tuesday and check in Sunday and haven't heard back. Have no problem being surprised when I arrive but wondering if it was received at all?

I should have kept reading, I understand thanks!

 

[KittyKat1978]

I got approval from my manager and finally booked!! May 4-11th RR Standard veiw.

I have some crazy flights booked (Red eye there and 13+ hours to get home) but I saved myself and extra $380 by doing this. I save on flight cost (flying out of Bellingham instead of Vancouver) and not having to stay the night on May 3rd.

I just hope I can make it through the day with very little sleep.

 

[pigletto]

Quick question.
Does the lead person on the reservation need to be the one to check in?
When we arrive at MCO my husband is picking up the rental car and we are taking Magical Express (the kids really like M.E).

I was thinking he could stop on the way and pick up any grocery items we need. If we beat him there can we check in or does he need to be the one to do it since he booked the trip? We are all listed on the reservation. Just curious.