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

[andrewilley]

Water view could be a far away view of the river; a view of a pool or a view of the fountain.

Not any more. Since the room reclassifications in January 2012, Water View should now mean a SWIMMING POOL view, not the long-standing option of a view of a fountain or indeed puddle.... That's the theory, anyway.

So Royal Guest Room Water View rooms should be quite nicely located (especially in Oak Manor) in terms of access to the footbridge.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

I called Port Orleans and the lady at the desk made it seem like it's not very far to the main building from Oak Manor and Parterre Place.

Be aware that when you call the resort's phone number, the "lady at the desk" could actually be located in Miami. They use central call centers for all of the WDW reort phone lines.

But 10-12 minutes is more than enough time to walk from anywhere at all in POR to the food court, and probably a good deal shorter to be honest. From the Royal Rooms, you could even walk to French Quarter in around 12 minues!

If we have a king room with a Bayou View where would we be located?

There is technically no booking category of 'Bayou View', you could be located in either of the two regular mansion buildings or anywhere in Alligator Bayou. King Bed is a category on its own, so that means you could in any buliding from #14 to #39, plus #80 and #85 - however you can put in a request for the Alligator Bayou section if you wish. You might even luck out at get a river view room, still staying within your King Bed category. See http://www.portorleans.org/room-requests.php for more details on all the categories and how they work.

Andre

 

[Teri1]

Andre, when I booked our room I asked for a king and asked could I specify Alligator Bayou and she told me what you said it could be anywhere, but she would indicate in the computer that we would prefer a bayou view and hope that would help.

 

[andrewilley]

Andre, when I booked our room I asked for a king and asked could I specify Alligator Bayou and she told me what you said it could be anywhere, but she would indicate in the computer that we would prefer a bayou view and hope that would help.

Ah, that makes sense. So you have a King Room booked and a request for Alligator Bayou if possible. You could also add a request for "close to main building" if you wish, you might even get building 14 if you are lucky. See that link I posted for details of how to do that, and how to followup a bit closer to your visit if you wish.

Andre

 

[Teri1]

Thank you Andre! Your website helped us decide to choose POR for the first time. We are very excited about getting to stay there.

 

[Phatoomch]

Thanks for everyone's comments. I called Port Orleans and the lady at the desk made it seem like it's not very far to the main building from Oak Manor and Parterre Place. A river view is over budget, so I'm still debating. Assuming I'm in the most remote Royal room, can you still make the walk to the main building in 10-12 minutes?
Thank you.

I have requested Oak Manor for our trip - from all the research I have done, questions I have asked here and random posts of others I have read I would say definitely. I would put Oak Manor at around a 5min walk, 7min max if you were in the farthest point.

That said, the grounds look so beautiful, it may not seem that long because its an enjoyable walk

 

[scottishgirl87]

Getting ahead of myself as we don't go for a long time but can anyone tell me the closest supermarket to POR? I know obviously there is bits and pieces at the resort but I know there's a Goodings, Publix and Walmart in the vicinity of WDW so just wondering which is closest to POR?

Debating between doing a supermarket run or getting an order from Garden Grocer or the likes, but again, it's a long time away, curiosity just getting the better of me!

 

[mommycal]

we've paid for preferred room. hoping that the fact that they'd hopefuly put us in a room that there is less walking to pools/bus stop/food court & main building is worth the money.

Now what/where do we request for a room location w/a double stroller? kind of want to be on the main floor, was it 18 in alligator bayou? Correct me if I'm wrong. Granted we're a family of 5 so i think that's the only place they'd put us.

With that said I'm a bit worried about the constant lobby/traffic in the halls. Appreciate the suggestions/feedback So where is the ideal room/area to request. And when & with who do we put that request in?

 

[dvcwannabetoo]

Be aware that when you call the resort's phone number, the "lady at the desk" could actually be located in Miami. They use central call centers for all of the WDW reort phone lines.

But 10-12 minutes is more than enough time to walk from anywhere at all in POR to the food court, and probably a good deal shorter to be honest. From the Royal Rooms, you could even walk to French Quarter in around 12 minues!



There is technically no booking category of 'Bayou View', you could be located in either of the two regular mansion buildings or anywhere in Alligator Bayou. King Bed is a category on its own, so that means you could in any buliding from #14 to #39, plus #80 and #85 - however you can put in a request for the Alligator Bayou section if you wish. You might even luck out at get a river view room, still staying within your King Bed category. See http://www.portorleans.org/room-requests.php for more details on all the categories and how they work.

Andre

Thanks Andre!!

 

[netnurse31]

I don't know the ages of your children but one tip I found here on the Disboards a few years back is....to put each childs daily outfit into a gallon -sized zip lock bag. That way in the morning all they have to do is pull out a big baggie. I put socks/shorts/shirt and undies in 1 bag...hair bows too for my dd. It made it so much easier to be organized and stay co-ordinated. If your kids are still young ...under10 ,or so this works perfectly.

Also ...only pack 1/2 of what you need....use the washer onsite while swimming in the afternoon or evening.

Hope this helps with the lack of drawer space !

I think that's a great idea for everyone, never mind just the kids! My 17 and 23 year old "kids" want me to do it for them. LoL

 

[netnurse31]

I am disabled and require a motorized scooter to get around the parks/resort. I don't require a true handicap room as I am able to walk very short distances. We are staying in a Royal Guest Room. I have already requested a ground floor room due to this and stated the reason for the request. I booked the trip thru my airline, in order to use my miles toward payment and to take advantage of bonus miles awarded, so they put the request on my reservation. If for some reason my request isn't honored, are there elevators to get me to and from my room in the area where the RGR is? Also, should I put any other requests on my ressie to aid in mobility ease?

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions!

 

[Gorechick]

There is an elevator in a central location in each mansion building. You will have to go a distance down the walkway from your room to get to it unless you request a room near the elevator.

 

[Gorechick]

Getting ahead of myself as we don't go for a long time but can anyone tell me the closest supermarket to POR? I know obviously there is bits and pieces at the resort but I know there's a Goodings, Publix and Walmart in the vicinity of WDW so just wondering which is closest to POR?

Debating between doing a supermarket run or getting an order from Garden Grocer or the likes, but again, it's a long time away, curiosity just getting the better of me!

We usually go to Winn Dixie on Apopka-Vineland, it's just down the road from Gooding's.

 

[scottishgirl87]

We usually go to Winn Dixie on Apopka-Vineland, it's just down the road from Gooding's.

Thank you

 

[Phatoomch]

I am disabled and require a motorized scooter to get around the parks/resort. I don't require a true handicap room as I am able to walk very short distances. We are staying in a Royal Guest Room. I have already requested a ground floor room due to this and stated the reason for the request. I booked the trip thru my airline, in order to use my miles toward payment and to take advantage of bonus miles awarded, so they put the request on my reservation. If for some reason my request isn't honored, are there elevators to get me to and from my room in the area where the RGR is? Also, should I put any other requests on my ressie to aid in mobility ease?

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions!

We are going in December and my Mom has a motorised chair, but is also able to take a few steps to get around her room.

I have requested Oak Manor building (as it is near to the foot bridge over to the food court etc) and a ground floor disabled room with a roll-in shower (my Mum has trouble lifting her leg over a tub). If you read back a few pages you will see my posts between myself & Andre who knows EVERYTHING (lol) about POR and he advised me on the mobility situation.

However, if you are not on the ground, yes there are elevators

have a great trip!!

 

[lisam427]

does anyone know where in riverside the accessible rooms with roll in showers are located?

 

[Bingham2]

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.

I'm glad to near that! The bus service to breakfast ADRs has been a worry of mine.

 

[Phatoomch]

does anyone know where in riverside the accessible rooms with roll in showers are located?

Andre informs me that there are 6 grd flr with roll-in showers in the Royal Room buildings (Oak Manor & Partierre Place). He will be able to advise you of the other locations if you don't want a Royal Room

 

[andrewilley]

does anyone know where in riverside the accessible rooms with roll in showers are located?

They are located all around the resort, but with a higher concentration closer to the main buildings, e.g. buildings 14 and 18 (and accessible rooms are always near to elevators if they are not on the ground floor).

Andre who knows EVERYTHING (lol) about POR

LOL, not exactly everything. For example I still don't know exactly where the old butterfly garden was located. That bugs me (no pun intended ).

Andre

 

[hollygolitely93]

we are going late November. Woo hoo! I have three rooms for my party of 10...and have two questions.

Where to park a double stroller? For one of the Royal Rooms (we requested Magnolia) the parents will have a double stroller. Last year at GF they told us to park in the hallway and they guaranteed it (would buy you a new one if stolen.) Is the same policy true for PO?

Where to park a scooter? One of the non-Royal Rooms (we requested new Magnolia, like Oak) has my mom in it who will have a scooter. Where would she park this? She has enough mobility that she is not in a handi-accessible room and can walk short distances.

Thank you and sorry if answered before. I saw similar questions but did not find the answers.