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

[ttcl516]

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.

Yeah I was thinking the week after Easter too...but it does start to get a little to HOT for my blood. I don't do well with heat . I am thinking it is going to have to be sometime in Feb or the first week in March. The fall and winter months are very hard for us to take a vacation as that is my husbands busy time at work. So I guess we will have to play it by ear and see what they predict after all the spring break vacations are made public. I know next year is going to be a little weird with Easter being sooo early.

 

[andrewilley]

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

If you really do want the very quietest rooms, I'd suggest asking for a top floor room in as remote a Garden View location that you can get. Given the amount of people who seem to request rooms close to the main buildings, a remote request is quite likely to get noticed. Upper floor will avoid noise from people in the room above. Personally though I'd just request a top floor fairly quiet location and leave it to them to find you something.

Andre

 

[jonofrio]

So does anyone have the latest FYI on the RGR? Are they going to open today?

 

[pirategirl34]

The pics of the new royal rooms look great! We stayed at POFQ the last time we visited, and loved it but due to cost we are book at AoA in a LM for November. IF FD comes out for our dates, it would cost roughly the same for us to stay in one of the royal rooms, so if we get the discount, we will be heading to the Riverside!!!

 

[andrewilley]

So does anyone have the latest FYI on the RGR? Are they going to open today?

Please see:

yes, the second bldg or RGR's will open tomorrow.

And:

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

 

[charcoal]

We are booked for a river view at POR in June. Since the hallways are outside, does this mean the door will face the river? So if we were to site outside the room, there would be a little grass right in front?

We have 3 boys and have stayed in other towns where being on the lower level and having a little space in front has been great for our family. I wanted to try to determine if requesting a lower level room would be good for our family.

TIA!!

 

[tyzzle]

Yeah I was thinking the week after Easter too...but it does start to get a little to HOT for my blood. I don't do well with heat . I am thinking it is going to have to be sometime in Feb or the first week in March. The fall and winter months are very hard for us to take a vacation as that is my husbands busy time at work. So I guess we will have to play it by ear and see what they predict after all the spring break vacations are made public. I know next year is going to be a little weird with Easter being sooo early.

The thing to remember is the week after Easter is still spring break for a lot of schools. We went around this this in 2010 and it was pretty crowded. We had voluntEAR FPs from the promotion that year, four per person on four days, w/o those we wouldn't have gotten nearly as much done.

 

[WINTER]

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!!!!!

just remember that Florida thunderstorms don't usually last long!

 

[Bluebonnet]

If you really do want the very quietest rooms, I'd suggest asking for a top floor room in as remote a Garden View location that you can get. Given the amount of people who seem to request rooms close to the main buildings, a remote request is quite likely to get noticed. Upper floor will avoid noise from people in the room above. Personally though I'd just request a top floor fairly quiet location and leave it to them to find you something.

Andre

Thanks! Our request now is for connecting rooms, quiet location but when I have some time, I'll add the upper floor and see if we can switch back to a garden view. Hard to see paying for a view that is opposite of what we want (pool=people=noise) if it doesn't actually improve our chances for connecting rooms.
Bluebonnet

 

[andrewilley]

Well the remaining 256 Royal Guest Rooms in Parterre Place are now open, so the Magnolia Bend mansion buildings reburb is complete!

Next comes the rest of Alligator Bayou, starting with building 24 which commences work on Sunday. They'll be starting work on one new building each week, taking about two-three weeks for each (so there will be some overlap). For full details see www.portorleans.org/rehab.php. All details subject to possible change of course!

Andre

 

[elaw]

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!!!!!

We will be there in 6 days as well .... the weather forecasts seem to change several times a day so I wouldn't count on it's accuracy. currently the weather channel.com only shows rain on Thursday April 19 and Sunday April 22
Luckily it's usually a "warm rain" in Florida and doesnt usually stop us from doing anything unless it's thunder and lightning

 

[WC*123]

We will be there in 6 days as well .... the weather forecasts seem to change several times a day so I wouldn't count on it's accuracy. currently the weather channel.com only shows rain on Thursday April 19 and Sunday April 22
Luckily it's usually a "warm rain" in Florida and doesnt usually stop us from doing anything unless it's thunder and lightning

Don't fret the reports. This time of year, its normal that every day shows possible thunderstorms. The storms typically move in and move out quickly. We had similar reports two weeks ago and it only rained once for an hour. But, boy did it rain!

 

[andrewilley]

(pool=people=noise)

However in Magnolia Bend, QuietPool=LessPeople=LessNoise ...

Andre

 

[pamkat1820]

AnyOne there right now? What are the crowd levels like? I keep getting mixed reports.

Can not wait we r finially down to the single digits.

 

[Rorey]

AnyOne there right now? What are the crowd levels like? I keep getting mixed reports.

Can not wait we r finially down to the single digits.

How exciting!! Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Sue M]

Well the remaining 256 Royal Guest Rooms in Parterre Place are now open, so the Magnolia Bend mansion buildings reburb is complete!

Next comes the rest of Alligator Bayou, starting with building 24 which commences work on Sunday. They'll be starting work on one new building each week, taking about two-three weeks for each (so there will be some overlap). For full details see www.portorleans.org/rehab.php. All details subject to possible change of course!

Andre

Last Aug we had a room in Acadian House facing the quiet pool and we never heard any noise from the pool

 

[lady1023]

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to share the news that my DH and I just booked POR for Oct 9 to the 16th!! We are so excited to go back to our favourite resort!!

Happy Planning Everyone

 

[Sue M]

We are booked for a river view at POR in June. Since the hallways are outside, does this mean the door will face the river? So if we were to site outside the room, there would be a little grass right in front?

We have 3 boys and have stayed in other towns where being on the lower level and having a little space in front has been great for our family. I wanted to try to determine if requesting a lower level room would be good for our family.

TIA!!

http://allears.net/acc/g_dxl.htm You can have a look at the pics here, lots of pics of exteriors of buildings.
If you're looking for places for the kids to play, there's a great playground on Old Man Island near the main pool.
There are walkways- your door will face the river. sometimes there's hedges along the walkways, some spots are open, just depends on your location. POR has lots of green spaces and lawn areas along the river. I think you'll find plenty of space.

I wouldn't say the walkways are great places for the kids to play, because they will also be in front of others windows.

 

[Sue M]

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to share the news that my DH and I just booked POR for Oct 9 to the 16th!! We are so excited to go back to our favourite resort!!

Happy Planning Everyone

Comgrats

 

[Sue M]

Thank you very much. So about twice the price we would pay around here. Could be worse. Just need to determine if we want to save a few $ and transport in luggage, or just buy down there. In the grand scheme of things, the extra cost is minimal though compared to the overall vacation cost.

Thanks again.

Dan

I packed a bottle of Vodka in my luggage in a zip lock bag, and packed clothes around it. No problem.