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

[DisneyDreamer04]

Can I ask a quick question? I am about to call and switch resorts from CBR, to POR I am wanting to get a royal room. Which will be a MAJOR big splurge and and treat for our family. Is there either building that has an advantage over the other and why?

I am just trying to make it sooo memorable cause this will be our only trip for a loooong time.. And only 1 of our littles even have been

 

[3sweetpeas]

Just caught up on this thread - well said
Thanks.
We have around 4 months to go, not long now

The last few months before a trip are so fun aren't they? I love the planning and getting ready. The waiting can be awful though!

 

[3sweetpeas]

New specially commissioned carpet. Mind you, the existing one was only about five years old, and was actually not in that bad shape for something that must get a LOT of daily use. But I guess that's one of the things that's so great about Disney, and keeps us all coming back - to keep everything looking as fabulous as we all want it to, they tend to swap stuff out well before it wears out. I've heard there will be a new chandelier too. I do hope the large paddle-fans are staying, as they always gave a lovely authentic feel to the location.

Current carpet:

Pre-2007/2008 carpet:

And yes, I reckon all of the tiles in the recent pics are definitely new.

Andre

Thanks for these pictures! I love to see the changes through time. The current carpet is lovely. I can't wait to see the direction they're taking.

 

[Gravydeen]

So are the Murphy beds the same size as the trundle beds? I know my 9 year old will fit on the trundle but I was not sure if the new ones were any smaller.

 

[Mickeygolf]

I've been following this for awhile and I haven't seen this asked, so if it is a duplicate question I apologize in advance. Many discussions regarding the new murphy bed and what I was wondering is it somehow attached so you would not be able to remove the mattress and place it on the floor? This would work well for our family and would probably be pretty good option for those families who have actice sleepers. I know from reading through the thread there is enough room for an air mattress so I'm sure there would be plenty of room to move the mattress to the floor. Won't make or break our decision to stay at POR, but would be good to know ahead of time to save car space from bringing the air mattress.

Thanks.

 

[3sweetpeas]

Lobby is looking sweet!!!

So, if you have done both....which would you recommend, the Alligator Bayou rooms or Royal Rooms. I am torn.

So I'm gonna try to help with your question. We are a family of 5 so we always stay in AB and honestly, I love it. I really love the rustic tranquility and the walking paths in AB.

When we were there in March, I got brave and with my 11 yr old telling me to "Hurry Mom! They're gonna catch you!", we walked past the "pardon our dust" signs and looked in the royal windows. The rooms were finished and set to open in 2 days. I asked my daughter what she thought and she said she'd love to stay there even if it was just her and I for one night. (Remember, we're a fam of 5 so can't all stay there. Bummer!)

The mansions are dressier, more manicured, less foliage and I thought the new rooms Royal and not were very lovely. I'd love to stay there. Sooo, I'd ask myself, how important will the royal room be to your daughter? (They're in that growing up stage but mine liked what she saw when we were there) Then I'd ask myself where I usually feel best....casual, rustic comfort, think log cabin or elegant, pretty, feminine, think southern plantation. Honestly for myself, I would want to experience both, but I too like both. Are your guys woodsy types or they don't care? Hope this helps! Maybe I've just confused you more!

 

[3sweetpeas]

I've been following this for awhile and I haven't seen this asked, so if it is a duplicate question I apologize in advance. Many discussions regarding the new murphy bed and what I was wondering is it somehow attached so you would not be able to remove the mattress and place it on the floor? This would work well for our family and would probably be pretty good option for those families who have actice sleepers. I know from reading through the thread there is enough room for an air mattress so I'm sure there would be plenty of room to move the mattress to the floor. Won't make or break our decision to stay at POR, but would be good to know ahead of time to save car space from bringing the air mattress.

Thanks.

I think this sounds like an excellent idea. I can't imagine the mattresses are attached because they have to be able to change the sheets. We take an air mattress and there would be plenty of room for the mattress on the floor.

 

[3sweetpeas]

So are the Murphy beds the same size as the trundle beds? I know my 9 year old will fit on the trundle but I was not sure if the new ones were any smaller.

My very tall 11 and 12 year olds slept on the murphy bed with no problem at all.

 

[andrewilley]

If I have reservations as early as 7:55am, how early should I get my family to catch the bus to the parks?

I'd suggest getting to the bus stop an hour or so before your ADR time to be safe, to allow for waiting for a bus, delay if they are dropping off for other character meals too, and time to get to the restaurant (including a bit of photography in the otherwise-empty park). If you are going to a resort-based breakfast that early then you should still be able to do it (and at the front desk about special buses for character meals) but it might be worth thinking about a taxi to save the hassle.

Is there either building that has an advantage over the other and why?

Oak Manor is closer for access to the main buildings, the main Ol' Man Island pool, and also for the East Depot bus stop. It also has the evening movie screenings on the lawn. Parterre Place is a bit more remote, but it is the closest building to POFQ if you want to walk over there during your stay.

So are the Murphy beds the same size as the trundle beds? I know my 9 year old will fit on the trundle but I was not sure if the new ones were any smaller.

It's my understanding that they are slightly smaller. I roughly measured a trundle bed a while back, and the mattress was 70"x30", but the new murphy beds are more like 63" long.

We really need someone staying in one of the original AB rooms (or asking a kindly-looking room maid) to do a proper tape-measure measurement of an old trundle bed mattresses before they are all gone at the end of June, just for the historical records!

Many discussions regarding the new murphy bed and what I was wondering is it somehow attached so you would not be able to remove the mattress and place it on the floor?

A few people have asked, but no one seems to have tried it yet. They must be secured in some way though, to stop them falling out of place when you raise/lower the bed.

My very tall 11 and 12 year olds slept on the murphy bed with no problem at all.

That's great to know - how tall are they by the way?

Andre

 

[MickeyEars]

Thanks Andre for the lobby updates, can't wait to see them for myself in just a few short days!!!

Carla

 

[3sweetpeas]

That's great to know - how tall are they by the way?

Andre

I honestly don't know. I'll measure them. I took pics of my 11 year old daughter but I don't know how to put pics on.

 

[FancyNancy]

Not going til 2013? You will probably change your resort several times before them

While there is always the possibility of that happening I highly doubt it. My DD8 and I have our hearts set on the Royal Guest rooms

 

[3sweetpeas]

I honestly don't know. I'll measure them. I took pics of my 11 year old daughter but I don't know how to put pics on.

My daughter just came home. She is 5'3. She's 11 and my son is 11 months older and just half an inch taller to his horror: His ego is taking a real beating no matter how much we tell him that this just happens at this age. They both slept easily on the murphy.

 

[Mickeygolf]

That's great to know, my 11 yr old daughter should have no problem. Her twin brother on the other hand is about 6 inches taller and he may be a bit of a stretch. I'd still like to know if you can take them out and put them on the ground. I could always add a couple pillows to the end of it to extend it for my boys.

 

[Carlyzmom]

So I'm gonna try to help with your question. We are a family of 5 so we always stay in AB and honestly, I love it. I really love the rustic tranquility and the walking paths in AB.

When we were there in March, I got brave and with my 11 yr old telling me to "Hurry Mom! They're gonna catch you!", we walked past the "pardon our dust" signs and looked in the royal windows. The rooms were finished and set to open in 2 days. I asked my daughter what she thought and she said she'd love to stay there even if it was just her and I for one night. (Remember, we're a fam of 5 so can't all stay there. Bummer!)

The mansions are dressier, more manicured, less foliage and I thought the new rooms Royal and not were very lovely. I'd love to stay there. Sooo, I'd ask myself, how important will the royal room be to your daughter? (They're in that growing up stage but mine liked what she saw when we were there) Then I'd ask myself where I usually feel best....casual, rustic comfort, think log cabin or elegant, pretty, feminine, think southern plantation. Honestly for myself, I would want to experience both, but I too like both. Are your guys woodsy types or they don't care? Hope this helps! Maybe I've just confused you more!

No, you have helped a lot! Thank you! My daughter will be 12 at the time of our visit. She is WAY past the Princess stage And I, myself love rustic, so I guess it will be AB. I like the woodsy feel and grounds of that area. I think that will work for us. I think the idea of the Royal Rooms may be lost on my kids. And I do like the fact that the AB rooms are refurbished. I appreciate your input!!

 

[EeyoreJen]

The last few months before a trip are so fun aren't they? I love the planning and getting ready. The waiting can be awful though!

I LOVE to plan but I am not a good "waiter". Plus, I have to keep it a secret from my daughter until the day we go...UUGGGHHHH!!!

So excited though lol

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

We will be checking in 12 days and my whole family is super excited. We always do the dxdp because I love to try different restaurants when we go go disney. So my question is in regards to the bus transportation and breakfast reservations. I have read alot of posts regarding the buses and I'm getting concerned about not getting to the ADRs in time. We will be staying in a preferred room hopefully with the new murphy bed. If I have reservations as early as 7:55am, how early should I get my family to catch the bus to the parks? By the way, I love all the information in this thread.

We had 3 early am reservations on our trip earlier this month. We planned to be AT the bus stop 1 hour before each reservation. 2 of them (Epcot & Animal Kingdom) we barely made it to the reservation on time. But our last day going to MK we made it about 25 minutes early. Go figure! I still say leave at least an hour!

 

[GlendaO]

I'm considering POR as I can have five people. I've seen photos of the murphy beds and it would be fine for my youngest.
I'm wondering if the standard beds in those rooms are double or queen?
For those that have stayed and used the murphy bed, how crowded is the room?
Any help appreciated!

 

[Mickeygolf]

By the time you get there they will all be queen size beds in the Mansions or AB. You should check out the first page FAQ. Andre has an incredible site with tons of information and photos. You can check it out at: http://www.portorleans.org His site and this thread made our decision easy staying at POR with our family of 5.

Good luck!!!

 

[ARAITHEL]

No, you have helped a lot! Thank you! My daughter will be 12 at the time of our visit. She is WAY past the Princess stage And I, myself love rustic, so I guess it will be AB. I like the woodsy feel and grounds of that area. I think that will work for us. I think the idea of the Royal Rooms may be lost on my kids. And I do like the fact that the AB rooms are refurbished. I appreciate your input!!

My DD (12) is the outdoor "don't-call-me-a-princess" type. I thought she wouldnt like the theme of the "princess" rooms. Boy, was I wrong. I booked ours right after I showed her the fiber optic headboards. She reminds me often that they aren't Princess rooms they are ROYAL ROOMS.

So, why don't you show your kids the room and let them pick? They may surprise you, just like mine did!