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

[Dommiekazommie]

Sorry for the bad spelling and typing. I'm
On my iPhone

 

[andrewilley]

Will a gallon of milk fit in the fridge's at POR? Would I better off to pay more and get 2 1/2 gallons?

A gallon carton would fit, but two half-gallons might be easier as they would fit into the door compartment and thus leave more space in the main fridge.

Yeah I'm sure we'll figure it all out! DH is cranky this am - oh dear! He says he didn't sleep well at all. I slept like a log!

Hope the next night was a bit better after you tired him out (in the parks I mean!). Have you got your bearings yet - it can take a day or two with some of the outlying areas in AB, but at least it's a pretty walk. From 34 you could even try walking via building 27, not sure if that would be quicker than the main paths or not though. At least you're nice and close for the West bus depot anyway.

What are they doing and when is it scheduled to be completed? Going in June. Thanks!

The whole of the main checkin lobby area is being refurbished - new carpet, refreshed paintwork, etc. The work starts today and is scheduled to run until the first week in June. During this period part of the River Roost Lounge will be temporarily used for front desk services, and I've been advised that online checkin may help reduce people's waiting time.

I would prefer 16 or 17...do we think those will be complete by then? I do plan on doing online check in on May 15 and faxing the request to the resort as well. (How far in advance should I do this? 10 days? )

Buildings 16 and 17 should both be complete by the middle of May, so go ahead and put a request in for them if you want. I would not fax any earlier than 5 days, it'll just be filed away until closer to the time and thus runs the risk of being missed. About 3-4 days would be best.

(1) Do all the AB rooms have the Murphy beds or just some of them?

(2) We are booked in a garden view room. How do I know which buildings have these, or do they all? I'd like a renovated room (shocker, right?) and have requested building 38, but I'm still nervous. Advice?

(3) With the new Murphy beds, would a bed rail fit or are there other suggestions for keeping our 3 yo from falling off?

(4) on the Murphy bed, do those stars light up?

Murphy beds are in all of the refurbished Alligator Bayou rooms (even the King Bed ones actually). The older rooms still have trundle beds. The picture does not light up, that's just in the Royal Rooms. Don't know about bed rails, but it would seem a very sensible idea indeed and I would hope they've thought of that.

Garden View rooms are located in all buildings EXCEPT for the Preferred Location buildings (which still have nice gardeny views of course, but you only get that area by booking Preferred).

... set to arrive MCO au like midnight on the 14th. I know we can't check into POR until the 15th. Does anyone know what time we can check in from.

First, if you're using ME, bring your hold bagage with you on the coach if you arrive late at night. Officially checkin starts at 6am I think, however anecdotally I've heard of a few cases where people who have been travelling for a long time overnight and arrive in the very early hours of the morning have been able to be checked in earlier, and even been given rooms - I guess it stops the lobby getting filled up with exhausted sleeping familes! That is entirely up to the night staff though, and whether they have any spare room capacity available, so please do not rely on this being possible. You could always just book an extra night at the hotel if you want to be certain of having a room though, if I was arriving at that sort of time I think that's what I might do.

Andre

 

[goofyredraider]

Thank you again, Andre. I truly appreciate all the help you give!

 

[hunmcbunny]

Does POR do anything for Valentines Day? We will be arriving late morning on 2/14/13 and plan on just having a low key day at the resort.

 

[Rorey]

whoohooo finally in the 200's yes I'm being Miss Smartypants!

LOL I'm like this too, when I go down a "decade" Like oohh I'm in the 130's. Though I also have my Feb 2013 and Dec. 2013 countdowns on my phone and was excited when the Feb one went into the 200's and the Dec one went into the 500's.

 

[ARAITHEL]

Jut looking to booking our flight at the moment (from aus they're ridiculed) its looking like it will be cheaper for us to fly out on the 14th set to arrive MCO au like midnight on the 14th. I know we can't check into POR until the 15th. Does anyone know what time we can check in from. Of we get magical can we check in and drop our stuff off then? I know we won't get a room but could we grab a seat ready? Maybe we're better staying offsite at the airport hotel that firš night and getting ME the next morning. Hmmm. Has anyone ever done this?

We stayed at the airport in the hotel there...it was nice. I'd probably opt for that and get a good nights sleep, wake up early and enjoy my day at the parks!

 

[ARAITHEL]

Jut looking to booking our flight at the moment (from aus they're ridiculed) its looking like it will be cheaper for us to fly out on the 14th set to arrive MCO au like midnight on the 14th. I know we can't check into POR until the 15th. Does anyone know what time we can check in from. Of we get magical can we check in and drop our stuff off then? I know we won't get a room but could we grab a seat ready? Maybe we're better staying offsite at the airport hotel that firš night and getting ME the next morning. Hmmm. Has anyone ever done this?

We stayed at the airport in the hotel there...it was nice. I'd probably opt for that and get a good nights sleep, wake up early and enjoy my day at the parks!

 

[Mickdeb]

Here now at YC was hoping to see Bob Jackson this week, will the River Roost be open during the refurbishment.

 

[crazyboutdisny]

We stayed at the airport in the hotel there...it was nice. I'd probably opt for that and get a good nights sleep, wake up early and enjoy my day at the parks!

We priced staying at the hotel airport and it was about the same to book a night at POR for just the room, no park tickets so thats what we did.

 

[crazyboutdisny]

Phewwwwph. I just rea through all 250 pages of the original 2012yhread and all 28 pages of this one! (I wanted to have read it all before I posted, yes on a bit of a nerd!).

Staying at POR from sept 15 to 27 with free dining. Can't wait! Have a king room booked (just me and DF, our engagement trip) and like the AB rooms more than the mansions, but not going to make any requests? Jut see where the Disney room assigning fairies put us!
We originally had POFQ Booked but could t get our dates woth free dining so we moved to POR. I'm super excited. I stayed at POR for my first Disney trip and loved it (stayed at CBR for my second trip and was totally underwhelmed.

Less than 6 months to go!!! Wpohoooo!

Jut looking to booking our flight at the moment (from aus they're ridiculed) its looking like it will be cheaper for us to fly out on the 14th set to arrive MCO au like midnight on the 14th. I know we can't check into POR until the 15th. Does anyone know what time we can check in from. Of we get magical express and get in at 2am can we check in and drop our stuff off then? I know we won't get a room but could we grab a seat somewhere and nap until our room is ready? Maybe we're better staying offsite at the airport hotel that firš night and getting ME the next morning. Hmmm. Has anyone ever done this?

We arrived late also and we ended up just booking an additional night at POR for just the room...no park tickets and the big bonus was that by doing this we received an additional day of free dining! So we were able to book a meal that required 2 tables services(we did Mickeys Backyard BBQ) and not lose a night of dining plus we had a quick service to use on the day we flew out and an extra snack! We were really glad we did that!!
Also, they are so helpful when you arrive that late! Not only did they deliver our luggage to our room but they gave us exhausted travelers a ride to our building! It was much appreciated!!!

 

[Dommiekazommie]

Thanks for your help guys. I'm going to see how much adding an extra night at POR is compared to the airport hotel.

 

[andrewilley]

Here now at YC was hoping to see Bob Jackson this week, will the River Roost be open during the refurbishment.

Yes, Bob Jackson will still be performing on his normal days. His shows may finish a little earlier than usual though during the works (11pm). See his website at www.yehaabob.com for updates.

Thanks for your help guys. I'm going to see how much adding an extra night at POR is compared to the airport hotel.

I'm guessing POR might be a little bit more expensive, but well worth it to save the hassle of another move in the morning. It would get you into your own room after a long journey rather than still being in 'limbo' until the next day.

Make sure they quote you for a one night room-only rate though, not add it to a package (which would include an extra days worth of park passes for everyone, etc). You could even make a separate room-only booking for that one night directly with Disney, and as long as that booking is set as 'linked' to your main stay the resort will try to keep you in the same room rather than moving you the next day. If you're on a free dining plan though, it might still be worth doing it as a package add-on to get you the extra meal credits.

Andre

 

[es45]

Has anyone gone to the campfire at POR? I've found a few reviews, all negative, but they were from a few years ago.

 

[andrewilley]

Has anyone gone to the campfire at POR? I've found a few reviews, all negative, but they were from a few years ago.

I popped along a year or two back. It's a little campfire in the woods on Ol' Man Island; you sit around it for a while and roast smores. Nothing much more than that, so not sure what people want it to be? If you're expecting Fantasmic you might be disappointed...

Andre

 

[hunmcbunny]

I popped along a year or two back. It's a little campfire in the woods on Ol' Man Island; you sit around it for a while and roast smores. Nothing much more than that, so not sure what people want it to be? If you're expecting Fantasmic you might be disappointed...

Andre

 

[es45]

I popped along a year or two back. It's a little campfire in the woods on Ol' Man Island; you sit around it for a while and roast smores. Nothing much more than that, so not sure what people want it to be? If you're expecting Fantasmic you might be disappointed...

Andre

Not expecting Fantasmic, just confused as to how someone could mess up a campfire so much that others would take the time to post how awful it was. Short of us arriving and finding no fire, it sounds like something fun for our family. I think we'll check it out when we are next there. Thanks.

 

[ohnowewontgo]

129 days!!!!!!

 

[Tulles]

Heading to POR in 199 days for our first visit to that resort. Little concerned about the new "wall" bed they have instead of the trundle bed. Does anyone know if they have rails available? Was going to put DD (4) in it but looks like it's going to have to be DS (7) instead. She'd fall out for sure!

 

[michsig]

Anyone who has been to both Coronado Springs AND POR that can recommend which they like best? We are staying at Coronado again this July, but I am planning a short trip for January as well and I am considering trying something different with POR.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Anyone who has been to both Coronado Springs AND POR that can recommend which they like best? We are staying at Coronado again this July, but I am planning a short trip for January as well and I am considering trying something different with POR.

I've been to both and they are both really nice. With Disney, it really comes down to the the theme and look you want. With so may wonderful photographers on the Dis, you can see great photos of both Resorts to get a better feel of what you like. As far as "extras" I think they are pretty equal. From POR the ferry to DTD is great and relaxing.

I felt CSR had a little more deluxe feel to it, just because of the decor but the AB refurbished rooms are wonderful a t POR.

The one sink in the room at CSR makes me wonder why they would ever have one sink at a moderate resort??? And several people don't like the "tipping" policy at a counter they have at CSR, but we always took our food "to go" and ate outside. It was too beautiful to be inside!!

While your at Disney for your CSR trip, hop on over to POR and see what you think!!

I have SEVERAL photos on my trip report. Feel free to follow the link below and see a room, the grounds and common areas at POR from my trip a few weeks ago.


Here is the ferry heading to DTD...