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

[Stan Solo]

Hey Stan nice to see you around!!!

Hi Venom, I got back last week and have been busy getting back to real life.

We had the time of our lives at DW! This was our second trip in as many years but sadly will be our last for awhile as in years. I called my first trip "a dream come true" and this one "a recurring dream." Every night as we went to sleep I would say to my DD, "this day was perfect" and every night she would say, "yeah, it was"

One of our highlights on this trip was meeting our very own Andre!

 

[Venomhatch]

Hi Venom, I got back last week and have been busy getting back to real life.

We had the time of our lives at DW! This was our second trip in as many years but sadly will be our last for awhile as in years. I called my first trip "a dream come true" and this one "a recurring dream." Every night as we went to sleep I would say to my DD, "this day was perfect" and every night she would say, "yeah, it was"

One of our highlights on this trip was meeting our very own Andre!

Wish I could have met him. But maybe his next trip!!

That was too cute what DD said, getting back to real life afterwards is a good challenge. But its how the next trip gets paid for!!!

 

[appplel]

I found it. Copying and pasting it again in case anyone else is searching:

Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort
Attn: Room Assignment Manager (????? ???)
Thursday, February 04, 2011

Hello, and good day to you and your staff!

On February 11th, my Family and I will be spending our annual vacation in Walt Disney World at your Port Orleans Riverside resort. We are all looking forward to this trip from February 11th-19th with much excitement. We would be most grateful if you could possibly accommodate a room request for either “building 14 or 18” in the Alligator Bayou area? I have also paid extra for a “river view”. The reason I have this request is that one of us in our group has had heart surgery in the past year and they are under medical restriction to not have to walk long distances. I have a standing doctor order for them to follow this while on vacation.

We will be arriving at your resort in just a few days, and would greatly appreciate any assistance you can provide in making our wonderful vacation more enjoyable and magical.
I have already called the 1-407-934-6000, number and they said they put in a request for this building and room requests.

Sincerely,
John and Jane Doe
Home Address: 1234 Walton Avenue, Wally World, FL 32830
Home Phone: 407-936-5778 and Cell Phone: ???-???-????
Email: ?????????@yahoo.com

• Buildings requested 14 or 18 in the Alligator Bayou.
• Paid extra for river view.
• Near food court access to main building.

_______

Thanks!! Needed this too. 11 days!!

 

[andrewilley]

I found it. Copying and pasting it again in case anyone else is searching:

Hello, and good day to you and your staff!

....

Feel free to use a template if you like, just as long as you realise that the person reading it (for perhaps the 100th time by now) will also know that you've used a generic online template, and at the end of the day it looks pretty much the same as all the others.

Personally, I would suggest creating something a little more, well, personal - make it stand out a bit (but not too much, you don't want to give them a four page essay to wade through!).

Other things worth adding would be listing your arrival date and booking reference at the top of the body of the fax so it's easy for them to find.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

One of our highlights on this trip was meeting our very own Andre!

Oh dear, it must have been a very dull trip otherwise if meeting me was a highlight!

Nice to finally catch up with you anyway, even if our earlier attempts didn't quite work out.

Andre

 

[TandLMommy28]

Feel free to use a template if you like, just as long as you realise that the person reading it (for perhaps the 100th time by now) will also know that you've used a generic online template, and at the end of the day it looks pretty much the same as all the others.

Personally, I would suggest creating something a little more, well, personal - make it stand out a bit (but not too much, you don't want to give them a four page essay to wade through!).

Other things worth adding would be listing your arrival date and booking reference at the top of the body of the fax so it's easy for them to find.

Andre

I mostly wanted the format. I don't send many faxes so I wanted the heading, etc, to be correct. I deleted the entire body and wrote my own. A couple of sentences about why I love POR, a brief paragraph about our situation with one regular room and one royal room and then an explanation of what we are requesting (nothing fancy: one room in Magnolia on the side facing Oak, one room in Oak on the side facing Magnolia). I said that I understood that requests cant always be granted but we appreciated any time they could spend trying to get us close to each other. And I included our reservation number.

I'll post on Saturday (when we check in) and Sunday (when the rest of my family checks in) and share how it works out. I'm sure we won't be the last people to ever end up with one royal room and one regular room.

 

[People Mover]

The fax I sent to them:

Cullen Family Disney Vacation

• check in time: 9/14
• reservation #: 00000
• name: fake cullen

Hello amazing Port Orleans Disney Cast Members!!! My name is Fake Cullen. I will be checking into your amazing resort this friday september 14th. I was faxing to ask that you please please please try to sprinkle a little pixie dust on an already amazing vacation and try to fullfill our request for building 16 in the Aligator Buoyou section of the resort. We will have a 4 year old in a stroller and it will make things easier to be close to the main building for food, pool and arcade! We look forward to checking in and can't wait to see everyone there Friday!

See ya real soon,

Fake Cullen

----------------------------break

We will know how it goes friday!!!

 

[Venomhatch]

Interesting, they should be selling March by now, and Feb about a month ago, I wonder what's going on?

Andre

Just got back off the phone about Le Cellier and ADRs. Found something very interesting about them. No refurbs but it has to do with them renewing their stay there. I am not going to spread a fire so select people can find out by PM only.

Sorry.

 

[FigmentChick]

Thank you! That's exactly what I needed to know, I think. I'll just keep each one and scan them all as needed I get the first one that serves soley as my room key that first night.......and I get the last one that has my room, FD, and park passes.....but the middle KTTW.....but the KTTW I pick up at Guest Relations still have me confused I go to Guest Relations on my first day to add on an extra day (actually an early day so we can go to the park on the day that wasn't included in our package)...They will give me basically just a ONE day pass? That works for me if that's how it works. I thought maybe they could just add on a day to my package deal but maybe it doesn't work that way? I'm sorry to be so slow......I'm on a lot of cold meds right now

It's not the a one day pass you get from Guest Relations, it will, essentially, by your entire park tickets part of your package. However, when you check back in, those tickets will be put back on your new room keys so that everything is all together again.

Sorry for any confusion. You might want to check out post 15-I on the ticket sticky because Cheshire Figment can explain it soooo much better than I can.

I apologize if this info is hidden in this huge thread, but are their photos of the new rooms in Alligator Bayou.

Thanks, I found the Royal Rooms and the other Mansion rooms but not AB.

There are some photos on the POR photo thread (sorry....can't find my link right now) as well as portorleans.org. That website has everything you need and if you click on the "refurbished room" info part, Andrew has pics of the new Murphy beds.

 

[Venomhatch]

I used one like this and never had a problem getting some magic on it in the past.


Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort
Attn: Room Assignment Manager
Thursday, February 04, 2011


Hello, and good day to you and your staff!

On February 11th, my Family and I will be spending our annual vacation in Walt Disney World at your Port Orleans Riverside resort. We are all looking forward to this trip from February 11th-19th with much excitement. We would be most grateful if you could possibly accommodate a room request for either “building 14 or 18” in the Alligator Bayou area? I have also paid extra for a “water view”.

Ideally, we’d love a room with quick access to the walk way leading to the food court and main building and with the water view that I paid extra for.

We will be arriving at your resort in just a few days, and would greatly appreciate any assistance you can provide in making our wonderful vacation more enjoyable and magical.
I have already called the 1-407-934-6000, number and they said they put in a request for this building and room requests.

Sincerely,
John and Jane Doe
Home Address: 1234 Walton Avenue, Wally World, FL 32830
Home Phone: 407-936-5778 and Cell Phone: ???-???-????
Email: ?????????@yahoo.com

• Buildings requested 14 or 18 in the Alligator Bayou
• Paid extra for Water view
• Near food court access to main building

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

He also takes a picture of you with him on his camera then posts them on his website so you are able to go there and download your photo after you get home.

Hi Stan! It's Tasha from Team August! It was really nice meeting you and your daughter. I agree, meeting Andre was a real treat for me too! He was so nice and down to earth.

 

[Stan Solo]

Oh dear, it must have been a very dull trip otherwise if meeting me was a highlight!

Nice to finally catch up with you anyway, even if our earlier attempts didn't quite work out.

Andre

Now Andre don't sell yourself short, and you have to admit that was a fun get together the way it all came together in the end. Dole Whips at the Poly during Wishes would have Also been ending to an evening as well though.

Hi Stan! It's Tasha from Team August! It was really nice meeting you and your daughter. I agree, meeting Andre was a real treat for me too! He was so nice and down to earth.

Hi Tasha that was a fun meet! When I first asked Andre how would I find you he told me I'll be the guy in the Mickey Mouse T-shirt. Well that should be easy to find in Disney World eh? Your shirts stood out just a bit more and we saw you a couple of times during the day at Magic Kingdom once on the bridge as we were heading into Tomorrow Land and you were heading out then again while we were on the people mover later that night. On that same ride we also Elaine and her family from Team August.

The next day my DD even had a meet with a boy from her school that she had no idea was in DW during our Segway tour.

 

[TandLMommy28]

Here's my fax:

Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort
Attn: Room Assignment Manager
Tuesday, September 11, 2012


Hello!

On September 15th, my family will be checking in at Port Orleans Riverside. Riverside was my first Disney resort as a child—but it was Dixie Landings back then! I am so excited to return to the place where I first fell in love with Walt Disney World years ago!

My family of four has booked a standard room. My mom and her sister, who are joining us on our trip and will check in on September 16th, are booked in a royal room. We didn't really plan for this to happen but it just worked out that way during booking. I'm slightly concerned about just how far away we could possibly end up from each other given the size of Port Orleans Riverside. If it is at all possible, we would love to be in any standard room in the Magnolia building and my mom and aunt would love to be in Oak Manor. And if it would be at all possible for us to be on the side of Magnolia that faces Oak Manor, and for them to be on the side of Oak Manor that faces Magnolia, well... that would just be completely amazing!

I understand that room requests cannot always be granted but any help you can give us with this situation would be greatly appreciated.

Our reservation is under the names of ------. We checked in using the online service on September 6. Our reservation number is ------.

The second reservation is under the name of ------.

Sincerely,
TandLMommy
Home Address: Too Far From Disney
Phone:----
Email: ----

• Buildings requested: Magnolia
• Would like family members to be in Oak Manor
• A Magnolia room facing Oak Manor and an Oak Manor Room facing Magnolia would be ideal

------
No idea if it is worded correctly to work. We will find out on Saturday.

 

[Stan Solo]

------
No idea if it is worded correctly to work. We will find out on Saturday.

Please let us know how it works out for you.

 

[Venomhatch]

------
No idea if it is worded correctly to work. We will find out on Saturday.

Looks great to me, I believe I see my format in there, StanSolo do you see it lol.

TandLMommy, Do let us know how it pans out. PM me if you would like a lil extra help achieving this!

 

[Dawnywog]

We're arriving on Monday for a 10 night stay in the Royal guest rooms.

I just received the email from Disney Destinations that says:

"Since we want to help you get the most magic out of your upcoming Walt Disney World vacation, we're planning on staying in touch by emailing you special offers and more while you're here! For example:


SPECIAL OFFERS...
We'll share special offers available to you only while you're visiting. Some expire upon check-out, so be sure to check your email often so you don't miss out!"

I was just wondering what kind of special offers they send you? Are they like bounce back room vacation offers? Or something else?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Hi all!

I am considering a stay at POR for June 2013. We stayed there once in 2005 and were less than thrilled (but it was for CM issues and not resort issues) so we may give it another try.

A couple of quick questions

1) Are preferred rooms only in AB? We would prefer mansion side. Is there any advantage to Magnolia Terrace vs Acadian House? (Our previous stay was Oak Manor, which, of course is now the Royal Rooms building,which doesn't interest us)

2) Has POR been included in the discounts in the past year or so? Our trip will be a 2 week stay, so any discount will add up for us! (what about POFQ?) We are AP holders, so free dining is useless to us.

3) My biggest concern is the multiple bus stops within the resort. About how long does it really take to circle the resort with all the stops before heading out to a park?

Thank you in advance and I look forward to getting to know POR again after all these years!

Kristin

 

[Missytara]

Hi all!

I am considering a stay at POR for June 2013. We stayed there once in 2005 and were less than thrilled (but it was for CM issues and not resort issues) so we may give it another try.

A couple of quick questions

1) Are preferred rooms only in AB? We would prefer mansion side. Is there any advantage to Magnolia Terrace vs Acadian House? (Our previous stay was Oak Manor, which, of course is now the Royal Rooms building,which doesn't interest us)

2) Has POR been included in the discounts in the past year or so? Our trip will be a 2 week stay, so any discount will add up for us! (what about POFQ?) We are AP holders, so free dining is useless to us.

3) My biggest concern is the multiple bus stops within the resort. About how long does it really take to circle the resort with all the stops before heading out to a park?

Thank you in advance and I look forward to getting to know POR again after all these years!

Kristin

1. Yes, the four buildings for preferred are only located in AB only.

2. I have had both free dining and room discounts at POR; but it always depends on what time of year you are looking at. You can check the website mousesavers.com for the historical discounts by year back to 2009.

3. If you get on at the first stop and ride the entire loop, it probably takes no more than five to eight minutes at the most; depending on if they have a h.c. person who needs to be loaded first before the other patrons.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

1. Yes, the four buildings for preferred are only located in AB only.

2. I have had both free dining and room discounts at POR; but it always depends on what time of year you are looking at. You can check the website mousesavers.com for the historical discounts by year back to 2009.

3. If you get on at the first stop and ride the entire loop, it probably takes no more than five to eight minutes at the most; depending on if they have a h.c. person who needs to be loaded first before the other patrons.

Thank you!!

We are looking at the first 2 weeks of June (5-18). I know discounts are becoming few and far between in the summer months, and I know POFQ seems to almost always be excluded lately , but I would make the jump from Value to Mod if a 15-25% discount was offered at POR (but not CBR or CSR- no interest for us...)

 

[Highway in the Sky]

Just switched from AoA to Riverside for next week...can't wait, so much more excited now(which I didn't think was possible)
I have always stayed FQ, so this will be a nice little change, especially will the renovated rooms which look amazing. Alligator Bayou especially!!! Overall, Riverside's pluses just outweighed AoA.

If I requested Alligator Bayou, what are the chances of me getting that section? I do not really care where the location is. Though if possible, I would prefer 1st floor and NOT facing the parking lot.