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

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

The lobby pictures are so lovely

 

[Mariep26]

Yes, it's automatic. If you have a party which includes 5 people aged 3 or over, you can only be allocated to Alligator Bayou. In fact, if you check the room types which pop up if the online booking systems, you'll notice that of all the Royal Guest Rooms vanish from the list when you select five people instead of four. You can still choose what type of Alligator Bayou room you would like though, from Standard, Garden View, Preferred Location, Water or River View.

See www.portorleans.org/room-requests.php for more discussion on room options and how they work.

Oh, and don't worry, Bren hasn't asked this before.

Andre

Darn iPad always thinks it is smarter than me when it comes to spelling!! At least you figured out what I meant to write!!
Thanks for the answer, makes perfect sense. I figured that was the case, just wanted to be sure before I made the decision for sure. Thanks again!!

 

[Carlyzmom]

Lobby is looking sweet!!!

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

 

[andrewilley]

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

That depends on whether you'd prefer to stay in a Royal themed room or a secluded rustic woodsy themed room really. Only you can answer that.

Andre

 

[imama]

There was a question a while back about bed rails and whether they would fit on the newly refurbished trundle beds. Since I had the same question, I finally decided to call POR to see if they knew the answer. Everyone I talked to thought they would fit fine until I spoke with someone in housekeeping who told me, that since the matress is set down in a box, the bed rails will not fit. We have a three year old who we planned on putting on the trundle (if we even get a refurbed room) so I am thinking we will probably have to rearrange the sleeping and let the 8 year old have the trundle. BUT, I may be able to rig something up...will have to wait and see when we get there in 13 days! I'll report back when I know more.

 

[Stan Solo]

BUT, I may be able to rig something up...will have to wait and see when we get there in 13 days! I'll report back when I know more.

Someone did suggest that maybe you could put the chairs that are in the room up against the side of the trundle bed and use the backs of the chairs like a rail. I think it may be hard to walk around the room with the chairs there but you would not have to set tem up until you are ready to go to bed.

Please do let us know what works for you because this question has been asked a few times and I don't think we got a good answer yet.

 

[Carlyzmom]

That depends on whether you'd prefer to stay in a Royal themed room or a secluded rustic woodsy themed room really. Only you can answer that.

Andre

Well, what if I like the idea of both? LOL We stayed in Alligator Bayou 20 years ago (at Dixie Landings) on our honeymoon and loved them. But Royal rooms look intriguing.

 

[imama]

Someone did suggest that maybe you could put the chairs that are in the room up against the side of the trundle bed and use the backs of the chairs like a rail. I think it may be hard to walk around the room with the chairs there but you would not have to set tem up until you are ready to go to bed
Please do let us know what works for you because this question has been asked a few times and I don't think we got a good answer yet.

Yes, I thought about the chair thing. I was hoping to do that if the bed wasn't too high. I bet I can find a way because I have a three year old dying to sleep in the "teeny tiny alligator bed!!"
What do you want to bet that we will get a non refurbed room and I still won't be able to answer this question? Lol! This question has plagued me for months and I haven't found the answer anywhere.

 

[andrewilley]

What do you want to bet that we will get a non refurbed room and I still won't be able to answer this question?

By June there won't be many old-style rooms left. The very last ones are due to close on 1st July.

Andre

 

[qtmissy19]

So we have one child. He will be 10 when we are there. My question is this.. does PO have a kids club thing for him to go to if say the hubby and I wanted to do a date night? I am not looking for a babysitter. He does fine alone at home. I am just looking for something fun for him to do for one night so hubby and I could squeeze in a date night. If not at PO are there other hotels where I could use the service while staying at PO?

If there isn't then no big deal we just skip date night, cuz I would never want my son to be lonely, but especially not at Disney

 

[Colls1023]

Hello Everyone!!

Well, we are 25 days away from our girls only trip. Myself, Sister, Daughter 7, Friend and Friend's Daughter 5. We thankfully had a Free Dining pin code and saved a ton. So we are booked at POR in a Garden room. This is not our first time to WDW, but is our first time staying at POR. (We usually travel with Grandma and Grandpa and thus stay on the monorail) We are very excited to try a new resort. So after further research I have realized that I should have booked a Preferred location room.

Here's my questions: should i call Disney Reservations and see if we can switch room types? But will they charge a $50 change fee? Or should I phone in a request 5 days out for a preferred location building and then upon arrival ask again? We are willing to pay the room difference, just not the change fee. Luckily, we arrive very early in the morning and are willing to wait for a good room. Which way will we be more likely to receive what we want. Thanks so much for all your help in this small planning problem.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

So we have one child. He will be 10 when we are there. My question is this.. does PO have a kids club thing for him to go to if say the hubby and I wanted to do a date night? I am not looking for a babysitter. He does fine alone at home. I am just looking for something fun for him to do for one night so hubby and I could squeeze in a date night. If not at PO are there other hotels where I could use the service while staying at PO?

If there isn't then no big deal we just skip date night, cuz I would never want my son to be lonely, but especially not at Disney

They don't offer these at the moderates, but they are at some of the deluxe resorts. You don't have to be staying at that resort to use the clubs. I know they have them at the Poly, WL, GF, AKL, and BC. I would just choose one close to where you want to go that night. I think you can make reservations in advance.

 

[asa disney]

Does anyone know if we can request a roll away bed in an Alligator Bayou Room? I realize that the trundle bed provides a third sleeping surface but with three little ones, it would be great to have a seperate sleeping surface for each of them.

 

[tjbjrjaj]

Yes, I thought about the chair thing. I was hoping to do that if the bed wasn't too high. I bet I can find a way because I have a three year old dying to sleep in the "teeny tiny alligator bed!!"
What do you want to bet that we will get a non refurbed room and I still won't be able to answer this question? Lol! This question has plagued me for months and I haven't found the answer anywhere.

I would like an answer to this as well. I was happy with the trundle for my 3 year old because it was so close to the floor. My older two (10 & 7) sleep fine together but the 3 year old just tosses and turns. Maybe I will bring a air mattress just in case. We can let him go to sleep on the Alligator bed then move him to the floor once he is asleep. so that we don't have a unhappy kid

 

[andrewilley]

does PO have a kids club thing for him to go to if say the hubby and I wanted to do a date night?

No, but you could book him into one of the clubs at the deluxes (maybe choose one near to wherever you plan to visit for the evening?) We used the very nicely themed Neverland Club at the Poly a few times when my DD was young and it was wonderful, she had a great time and wanted to go back in fact. We nearly didn't get her back at all in fact as I had lost our 'receipt paperwork', so had to prove who I was before they'd let me collect her.

So after further research I have realized that I should have booked a Preferred location room.

Here's my questions: should i call Disney Reservations and see if we can switch room types? But will they charge a $50 change fee?

Even within the 45-day window for package bookings (or 6 days for room-only) they don't normally charge you for any changes or upgrades, only for outright cancellations where you would lose your deposit. Disney rarely discourages people asking to spend more money with them! So if you find an available deal which suits you better, go for it - what have you got to lose by asking anyway?

Does anyone know if we can request a roll away bed in an Alligator Bayou Room?

No, sorry, the old roll-away beds were officially withdrawn from general service at POR back in March of this year due to the more limited space in the rooms now that queen beds have been installed. As someone else has said though, you could always take a single air mattress with you (or buy one locally) and ask mousekeeping if you could have some extra bed linen for it.

Andre

 

[FancyNancy]

Subbing! I am staying at POR Sept of 2013. Very excited because this will be my first Mod Resort. I have always stayed at AsSports in the past but the cheerleaders and dance groups have finally run me off!

 

[MandyTG]

Subbing! We are staying at POR for the first time for our trip in December. It will also be our first split stay, first half at POR in a Royal Room and the second half at Wilderness Lodge.

Any opinions for room/view suggestions for the Royal Rooms? I was thinking I would like a garden view, but would love to hear from you all who have stayed there!

 

[TinkerbelleMom]

Subbing! We are staying at POR for the first time for our trip in December. It will also be our first split stay, first half at POR in a Royal Room and the second half at Wilderness Lodge.

Any opinions for room/view suggestions for the Royal Rooms? I was thinking I would like a garden view, but would love to hear from you all who have stayed there!

We've got two booked in a few weeks, I'll check in when I get home and let you know!

I've got a trip planned with my sister and our kids, 3 boys and one girl. We're hoping for connecting rooms (it's on the reservation) so we can sleep the kids in one room, and have he other for us. And no, I'm not worried about the kids being next door, they're 19, 15, 11 & 7, though we probably won't do it if they're not connecting.

We're excited, POR is a fav resort, we've been staying there for years, even before becoming a family of 5. My middle DD is impossible to share a bed with, she sleeps like a starfish. the trundle worked well for us. Now she's 5'7", so I pack a twin airbed whenever we travel. This will be our first time on the mansions side, and the Royal rooms of course. I had asked for AB, but it wasn't available. We've been on that side so many times I know my way around pretty well, and since we have a car, the location of the building we end up in doesn't really matter to us. I'm excited to see the new decor!

 

[WINTER]

Subbing! I am staying at POR Sept of 2013. Very excited because this will be my first Mod Resort. I have always stayed at AsSports in the past but the cheerleaders and dance groups have finally run me off!

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

 

[monicajonathan]

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.