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

[mommycal]

Me too! I know the first day we are there (the 14th) is gonna be a low key day hanging around POR and taking a boat to DTD to eat at T-Rex's for dinner. I think the second day we will be at MK for the rope drop. Thats as far as I got with planning lol. We are just gonna go with the flow for the most part.

someone please explain what does the term rope drop mean? Please & thanks!!!

 

[Gorechick]

someone please explain what does the term rope drop mean? Please & thanks!!!

Rope drop is park opening. After you go through the turnstiles, they have an actual rope everyone waits at until the park officially opens and you can enter.

 

[Missytara]

If you can make it, definately do MK and AK. They both have shows at rope drop.

MK is the best; I cry everytime I go; from singing the song "Good Morning" to when all the characters ride in on the train and then the family of the day gets to sprinkler pixie dust over everyone before entering the park, it is a wonderful way to start the day.

AK is not quite as elaborate, but still a great way to begin.

 

[RMAMom]

We are considering a stay here in a Royal Guest Room but I would like to choose the option that will put us closest to the main building. Can anyone tell me the difference between standard view, garden view, water view, & river view and which of those options gives me a better chance of getting closer to the main building. Also am I correct that I want Oak Manor building.
Thank you.

 

[Missytara]

We are considering a stay here in a Royal Guest Room but I would like to choose the option that will put us closest to the main building. Can anyone tell me the difference between standard view, garden view, water view, & river view and which of those options gives me a better chance of getting closer to the main building. Also am I correct that I want Oak Manor building.
Thank you.

Standard view is parking lot view or slightly farther around the corner, not so close to the gardens.
Garden view is a view of the garden areas.
Water view can be a view of a water feature (fountain) or a pool.
Riverview is an actual view of the river; could be river front or view from an upper level.

Oak Manor is closer to the main building; Parterre Place does have more of the more remote rooms.

Riverview is going to get you the closest to the bridge, so you will be closer to the access to the main building.

You can see the map at the beginning of this thread for locations.

 

[hunmcbunny]

We are considering a stay here in a Royal Guest Room but I would like to choose the option that will put us closest to the main building. Can anyone tell me the difference between standard view, garden view, water view, & river view and which of those options gives me a better chance of getting closer to the main building. Also am I correct that I want Oak Manor building.
Thank you.

Book royal guest room river view and then request Oak Manor Ground Floor. That will put you closest to the bridge to the main building.

 

[EpcotBill]

I just watched a youtube video of POR. When they were recording across the river looking at Oak Manor I thought how can people see the river through all the trees. If I booked River View and ended up with Tree View With Glimpses of River I'd be disappointed. The video was just shot in May 2012. It was a long video, over 15 minutes. I don't have a link but if you go to youtube and type in Port Orleans Riverside Resort 2012 you'll find it.

 

[Phatoomch]

Welcome back old friend!



It can be, ask Venom about his experience at the Polly thread.

yes, how did that go Venomhatch .... when the whole upgrading malarkey was going on I had to step away because I was floored at how some reacted

 

[Phatoomch]

We are getting ready for our first stay at POR we will be in the Alligator Bayou section. We will be arriving on Sept 22, and staying for 2 weeks. My inlaws will be joining us for the first week of our trip and we are all soo excited to stay at this resort.

My In laws usually stay at All star movies (this is also their first trip with Free dinig), and we have been Carribean Beach people. POR looks amazing! If you could give us some insights, tips, and any info you wish you knew on your first stay, we would really appreciate it!

TIA

If you take a look at the first post in this thread you will find a link for portorleans.org it is SO informative.

 

[Phatoomch]

someone please explain what does the term rope drop mean? Please & thanks!!!

Ha! When I first joined here I kept seeing references to people who do the parks 'commando'



Where I'm from, doing things commando means you aren't wearing any underwear so I'm wondering 'what the heck ... is this some extreme Disney group?'. Even now I know what it means, whenever I see someone say it, I get a vision in my minds eye of that particular DISer enjoying some "freedom" in the parks. Seriously. Its quite disturbing for me.

 

[Kathy Z]

We were also a family of 5, and in the back. We did not pay the extra, my bad! You can get a preferred room for 5, just book that category.

Is is worth it, to us yes, to others no. My kids are older so for them to walk alone was no big deal but I would have never sent my young teen alone to the front from the area we were in. Disney is a very safe place, but at night the paths were pretty dark.

If you are a family of 5 you will be assigned AB section (unless one of the 5 is under 2 or 3, I forget which, and sleeps in a port-a-crib.) The preferred room is $25 more per night from a standard room in that section. As others have posted all refurbished rooms at POR have 2 queen beds (plus the murphy bed in AB rooms. When are you traveling? They are finishing the refurbishing soon.

 

[Kathy Z]

If you can make it, definately do MK and AK. They both have shows at rope drop.

MK is the best; I cry everytime I go; from singing the song "Good Morning" to when all the characters ride in on the train and then the family of the day gets to sprinkler pixie dust over everyone before entering the park, it is a wonderful way to start the day.

AK is not quite as elaborate, but still a great way to begin.

I've read recently in the theme parks threads that MK is the only park still featuring a special rope drop show. They, at least have the elevated train station to hold it so that a large crowd can enjoy seeing it. We've been at AK in time for 2 rope drops but unless you are among the lucky small number of early people through the turnstiles and in the comparatively narrow holding area you don't get a very good view of it. We did enjoy the music and seeing the few things happening in the distance at the Tree of Life.

 

[andrewilley]

yes, how did that go Venomhatch .... when the whole upgrading malarkey was going on I had to step away because I was floored at how some reacted

Ditto. I made a mild joke about something or other on the upgrade front, and got solidly flamed so I just unsubscribed. I'll pop along to visit the Poly at least once every trip still, just not that thread thanks very much.

Andre

 

[jenniferma]

Hey everyone-- I just priced out a trip for January 2013 (minus the dining expenses which haven't been released yet.)

So.. for the difference of $168 for six nights- January 15-21.. do you think a preferred room is worth the extra money?

We have three girls, ages 11, 9 and 5 on our trip. We will have a car, so we probably won't be taking the bus a lot during our stay. We'll be in the Alligator Bayou in a trundle room.

thanks for your opinions! jen

 

[hunmcbunny]

Hey everyone-- I just priced out a trip for January 2013 (minus the dining expenses which haven't been released yet.)

So.. for the difference of $168 for six nights- January 15-21.. do you think a preferred room is worth the extra money?

We have three girls, ages 11, 9 and 5 on our trip. We will have a car, so we probably won't be taking the bus a lot during our stay. We'll be in the Alligator Bayou in a trundle room.

thanks for your opinions! jen

preferred rooms are closest to the main building and main pool. So if thats important to you then its worth it. Check out the map of the resort on the 1st page of this thread.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

If you can make it, definately do MK and AK. They both have shows at rope drop.

MK is the best; I cry everytime I go; from singing the song "Good Morning" to when all the characters ride in on the train and then the family of the day gets to sprinkler pixie dust over everyone before entering the park, it is a wonderful way to start the day.

AK is not quite as elaborate, but still a great way to begin.

AK doesn't do a "rope drop" show anymore. They do let you through the gates early and hold everyone in the area where you see the Tree of Life.

Then they have one family open the park - I couldn't hear what they said - and then dropped the rope for everyone to go on their way about 8:50am when I was there the first week of May 2012.

So MK is the only park with a rope drop show now.

 

[EvilQueenT]

trying to decide between a preferred room vs a river view royal room. i'm traveling with just my gd and we plan to spend the 1st 2 days at the resort and i don't want to be hiking all over to get to the pool (mainly), a little less concerned over getting to/from food court area. our season passes don't kick back in until our 3rd day there so we're doing the pool, mini golf, she's going to do the kids cruise etc... any thoughts?

 

[hunmcbunny]

trying to decide between a preferred room vs a river view royal room. i'm traveling with just my gd and we plan to spend the 1st 2 days at the resort and i don't want to be hiking all over to get to the pool (mainly), a little less concerned over getting to/from food court area. our season passes don't kick back in until our 3rd day there so we're doing the pool, mini golf, she's going to do the kids cruise etc... any thoughts?

We were in Magnolia Terrace riverview...it took us 3 minutes to get to the main pool and even less to get to the quiet pool. If you want the royal guest rooms you will be a little bit further away. The map of the resort is on the first page of this thread...also check out www.portorleans.org for tons of info.

 

[monicajonathan]

My family and I to WDW on June 2 and stayed for the 1st time at Riverside and we loved it!! We stayed in the Preferred Building 15 and had a refurbished room with the murphy bed. We had plenty of space and were very comfortable in our room. I was super worried with the bus service to the parks with all our breakfast ARDs, but it all worked out perfectly. We were never late to any of the parks or other resorts. We are already planning our next trip next year and plan on staying at Riverside again. It is such a beautiful resort. We were so sad when we had to leave to come back home.

 

[hunmcbunny]

My family and I to WDW on June 2 and stayed for the 1st time at Riverside and we loved it!! We stayed in the Preferred Building 15 and had a refurbished room with the murphy bed. We had plenty of space and were very comfortable in our room. I was super worried with the bus service to the parks with all our breakfast ARDs, but it all worked out perfectly. We were never late to any of the parks or other resorts. We are already planning our next trip next year and plan on staying at Riverside again. It is such a beautiful resort. We were so sad when we had to leave to come back home.

Glad you had a great trip....we felt the same way. In fact we were planning our next trip before we even came home lol