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

[3sweetpeas]

Thanks! I'm doing just what you said.
Btw, when I called this morning to reiterate my location request, the CM said that my room was already assigned. Not sure I believe it, but she said that they assign rooms 5 days ahead. So at this point she couldn't make any changes to my requests, but it was mostly there in the system already (just not the building number I requested.) I'm still going to fax the resort directly tomorrow. I did the online check-in. Now I'm super curious to see if it pays off time-wise. I'm not sure what to expect on the Saturday after Easter at 5pm.

Thanks again for the quick advice. This board rocks!

We were there the first week of March and I did everything I needed to make my request for a refurbished room preferably in Building 38. We did not do online check in and I am very glad we didn't. We were assigned a twenty something room that was not refurbished. I very kindly asked if we could be moved to building 38 or something refurbished and with a little work they told us they could get what we wanted but the room would not be ready for a little while. That was fine with me. To me, it's worth the wait in line to get what we requested.

 

[Mickeygolf]

We were there at the beginning of March in building 38 in a refurbished room.
Our kids don't like sharing either. My 12 year old son slept in a bed; my 11 year old 5'2 daughter slept on the murphy bed and my 15 year old son slept on a twin air mattress. We moved the table next to the bed in front of the connecting door kind of like an end table and put the air mattress along the wall where the table goes. It fit just fine. We then stood it up against the wall in the morning, closed the murphy bed, and it worked out just fine. Hope this helps!

Thank you so much 3sweetpeas!!! This is what I was hoping to hear. Sounds like your family is about the same size as mine, we'll make sure to bring the air mattress.

Thanks!

 

[mommykds]

We were there at the beginning of March in building 38 in a refurbished room.
Our kids don't like sharing either. My 12 year old son slept in a bed; my 11 year old 5'2 daughter slept on the murphy bed and my 15 year old son slept on a twin air mattress. We moved the table next to the bed in front of the connecting door kind of like an end table and put the air mattress along the wall where the table goes. It fit just fine. We then stood it up against the wall in the morning, closed the murphy bed, and it worked out just fine.
My boys each had a small suitcase on the radiator; my daughter put her clothes in the murphy bed drawers, and my husband and I had our large suitcase on the floor under the hanging rack in the sink area. Last year we paid for 2 rooms but could not do that this year and honestly, we were fine. We knew what we were in for before we left and it was actually kind of fun. It shocked me how well it went.
Hope this helps!

Thank you! Glad to hear it is possible! 2 Rooms would be great for us as well just for the 2 bathrooms but thats not in the cards this year.

Thanks again for your response.

 

[ttcl516]

So I have asked around on the boards about my dates I would like to go next year. I keep getting mixed responses, so I thought I would ask here. You guys always help me out. This will be our familes first visit to disney. I was looking at March 8-16. I don't want to go when it is so crowded that we will regret it, but I don't want to go when its getting too hot either. I'm a Maine girl all the way . My DH's busy time at work is through the winter so January is out. Any help would be greatly appreciated...thanks

 

[3sweetpeas]

So I have asked around on the boards about my dates I would like to go next year. I keep getting mixed responses, so I thought I would ask here. You guys always help me out. This will be our familes first visit to disney. I was looking at March 8-16. I don't want to go when it is so crowded that we will regret it, but I don't want to go when its getting too hot either. I'm a Maine girl all the way . My DH's busy time at work is through the winter so January is out. Any help would be greatly appreciated...thanks

We always go the last week of Feb into the first week of March. This year we were there Feb 25th - Mar 11th. It is my favorite time to go. We used to go at the end of Jan into Feb because of low cost and low crowds but the weather was too iffy. For the last 2 years we've gone the first of March. There is a small window between Presidents week and spring break starting that has lower crowds and cost. Your dates in my experience may be the first week that crowds start to grow for spring break but should still be low. If you went the week before there would be a noticeable difference I think.
That being said, the weather is generally very nice during the day and gets a little chilly sometimes at night. We are able to swim but not cook at the parks. I really love it then. Hope this helps!

 

[MommytoCaitlyn]

Does anyone know if all the preferred rooms at POR have been refurbished yet to get queen beds? We are a family of 3 coming down May 29th-June 4th and I REALLY want queen beds instead of doubles.

 

[3sweetpeas]

Does anyone know if all the preferred rooms at POR have been refurbished yet to get queen beds? We are a family of 3 coming down May 29th-June 4th and I REALLY want queen beds instead of doubles.

Preferred rooms are all in Alligator Bayou and building 14 is the only preferred building to date that has been refurbished. Right now they are working on Royal rooms. Maybe by your dates another preferred building will be done. Andre can answer this better. I believe he has info posted on the first page of this thread.

 

[andrewilley]

Andre can answer this better. I believe he has info posted on the first page of this thread.

Exactly, I'm trying to keep the latest info in the FAQ in the first post (hence the updated thread title). By those May/June dates I think building 14 will probably still be the only Preferred one with refurbished rooms, but an updated refurb schedule is urgently needed all round now that the Royals are complete.

Andre

 

[MickeyEars]

Just curious, are the RGR in Parterre Place still on schedule to open tomorrow?

Carla

 

[ttcl516]

We always go the last week of Feb into the first week of March. This year we were there Feb 25th - Mar 11th. It is my favorite time to go. We used to go at the end of Jan into Feb because of low cost and low crowds but the weather was too iffy. For the last 2 years we've gone the first of March. There is a small window between Presidents week and spring break starting that has lower crowds and cost. Your dates in my experience may be the first week that crowds start to grow for spring break but should still be low. If you went the week before there would be a noticeable difference I think.
That being said, the weather is generally very nice during the day and gets a little chilly sometimes at night. We are able to swim but not cook at the parks. I really love it then. Hope this helps!

This does really help. I may now be thinking about the week before . I am definitely hoping for some free dining. So that might change everything too. But I really do hope they have it around the time I want to go. I think not having to worry about paying everywhere would be great. I am one of those people that is always worried about prices and how much . This is our first ever family vacation so I want to completely enjoy it

Thanks for all your help

 

[3sweetpeas]

This does really help. I may now be thinking about the week before . I am definitely hoping for some free dining. So that might change everything too. But I really do hope they have it around the time I want to go. I think not having to worry about paying everywhere would be great. I am one of those people that is always worried about prices and how much . This is our first ever family vacation so I want to completely enjoy it

Thanks for all your help

I am exactly the same way about money and we love free dining! The last 2 years they have offered it then. This year, we stayed off site for the first week and on for the next 10 days. Free dining wasn't offered the last week of Feb so we couldn't get it til the 3rd. They typically have "off weeks" and there always seems to be one right in there but the first week of March has been good. Good luck and if you have any more questions, I'd be happy to help!

 

[Bluebonnet]

We just made a reservation for two Royal Rooms next month.
The CM helping me on the phone said they only way to have connecting rooms was to book a water view. Anyone with advice or experience on this?
We're looking for quiet and I don't know if having the movies by Oak Manor makes it loud. We have little kids who are in bed early.
Thx
Bluebonnet

 

[Backstage_Gal]

We just made a reservation for two Royal Rooms next month.
The CM helping me on the phone said they only way to have connecting rooms was to book a water view. Anyone with advice or experience on this?
We're looking for quiet and I don't know if having the movies by Oak Manor makes it loud. We have little kids who are in bed early.
Thx
Bluebonnet

Not true, almost half the rooms are connecting and are within all views.


Also, to a PP, yes, the second bldg or RGR's will open tomorrow.

 

[Sue M]

Not trying to scare anyone, but here is a look at the POR pool during a Spring Break week (leading up to Easter)...





The park crowd levels were a 9 or 10 most days we were there. So, if you are there at a peak time, this is what your pool will look like. It was a little tricky finding seats each day, but we always found some. People seemed to leave chairs without removing their towels.

The pool activities were great for the kids mid-day. It is a little loud, but my kids were always playing bingo, limbo, trivia, etc. According to them, it was one of the highlights of their vacation. The main pool has activities from noon to 5PM. It wasn't posted, but the lifeguard said the slide closed at 9PM.

One final note...it was 90 degrees everyday! So, lots of people looking to cool off.

Yikes. This is why I go in low season!

 

[andrewilley]

Just curious, are the RGR in Parterre Place still on schedule to open tomorrow?

Yup. There probably won't be quite such a fuss made as on 9 March, but I'd expect a small cast member ceremony to formally hand the building back over from the construction team to housekeeping. Nothing guest-oriented though.

Andre

 

[aubriee]

So I have asked around on the boards about my dates I would like to go next year. I keep getting mixed responses, so I thought I would ask here. You guys always help me out. This will be our familes first visit to disney. I was looking at March 8-16. I don't want to go when it is so crowded that we will regret it, but I don't want to go when its getting too hot either. I'm a Maine girl all the way . My DH's busy time at work is through the winter so January is out. Any help would be greatly appreciated...thanks

I go to WDW several times a year, but no way would I go during spring break or summer. I have found Sept, early Dec, and early May are the best times to go. Although we took our 3 y/o GS down there Feb 4th-11th and found it perfect also. Weather was wonderful (wore shorts all week and swam almost every day) and crowds were minimal. In fact, crowds were less than they were just a few months before when I was there in Sept and Nov/Dec. I'd never go in March, April, June, July, early-midAugust, or Christmas week though.

 

[Doylemom22]

I am getting so excited for our trip... 6 days to arrival at POR!! Yesterday I checked the Orlando weather and was saddened by the sight of thunderstorms for 5 days straight... Just checked and they seem to have magically shifted to sunny days!!!

Had to share... Thank you weather fairies!!!!!

 

[lfeikert]

We just made a reservation for two Royal Rooms next month.
The CM helping me on the phone said they only way to have connecting rooms was to book a water view. Anyone with advice or experience on this?
We're looking for quiet and I don't know if having the movies by Oak Manor makes it loud. We have little kids who are in bed early.
Thx
Bluebonnet

Not sure about whether or not the connecting rooms are only waterview. I do know that we were in a waterview RGR and it was a connecting room. The waterview rooms are on the total opposite side of the building from the rooms that would face the courtyard where the movies took place so noise from that wouldn't be a problem. Honestly, though, I doubt you would hear much anyway. Our room was so quiet. We faced the pool and we never heard a thing. I never even heard voices of people walking past or anything.

 

[andrewilley]

Not sure about whether or not the connecting rooms are only waterview.

No, they are not. Connecting rooms are scattered throughout the resort, within all room categories, and can include both King and Queen bed rooms. About 50% of all the rooms connect. The only option you cannot get is to have two King Bed rooms connecting with each other.

Andre

 

[Bluebonnet]

Not true, almost half the rooms are connecting and are within all views.


Also, to a PP, yes, the second bldg or RGR's will open tomorrow.

Hmm, maybe I should call back again. So there isn't a view with more available rooms that connect? Any advice on what view would give us the best chance for quiet connecting rooms?
Thanks!
Bluebonnet