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

[Gorechick]

Thanks!!!! Can't believe its 2 more days (my ticker is off.) In the process of cleaning my house and doing laundry before we go so I don't have to do much when we get back. I may do some posting here on the board in the evenings after we come back for the day. Not sure about a meet yet, need to email Andre my itinerary.

 

[3sweetpeas]

Thanks!!!! Can't believe its 2 more days (my ticker is off.) In the process of cleaning my house and doing laundry before we go so I don't have to do much when we get back. I may do some posting here on the board in the evenings after we come back for the day. Not sure about a meet yet, need to email Andre my itinerary.

It'll be fun getting your posts at night if you're up to it. We can live vicariously through you! Hope it works for you to meet up with Andre and the others!

LOVE coming home to a clean house....makes you appreciate home when you're bummed because it's the end of vacation!

 

[kath2me]

Yes, they are by H2O. There is body wash and combo shampoo/conditioner.

Thanks so much, am going for 5 nites, and am determined to just go light on packing, just a carry on bag, so not having to worry about this things are a plus, it is myself ( mom ) and DD ( 21 ) we both have long hair, so might have to get a couple of little conditioner,, but this helps alot, we are doing the MNNSHP for the 1st time, we have done MVMCP , a few times, but this is our first halloween party .

Have a great trip yourself, look forward to your review

 

[Gorechick]

It'll be fun getting your posts at night if you're up to it. We can live vicariously through you! Hope it works for you to meet up with Andre and the others!

LOVE coming home to a clean house....makes you appreciate home when you're bummed because it's the end of vacation!

Yeah, plus I get the added bonus of going back to work on Monday morning after being on summer vacation (I'm a teacher).

 

[ksromack]

Yeah, plus I get the added bonus of going back to work on Monday morning after being on summer vacation (I'm a teacher).

Double bummer. Returning home to the "real world" is sad enough....but to have to go back to work after being off for the summer....... I hope you are able to post while you are there too (maybe just one or two posts). We all want you to enjoy your vacation and take it all in!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Thanks so much, am going for 5 nites, and am determined to just go light on packing, just a carry on bag, so not having to worry about this things are a plus, it is myself ( mom ) and DD ( 21 ) we both have long hair, so might have to get a couple of little conditioner,, but this helps alot, we are doing the MNNSHP for the 1st time, we have done MVMCP , a few times, but this is our first halloween party .

Have a great trip yourself, look forward to your review

They now have separate shampoos and conditioners

 

[kath2me]

They now have separate shampoos and conditioners

this is even better,, thanks again

 

[Stan Solo]

Anyone know if the resorts have an internal mail service?

A friend of mine wants to send me some tickets from POP to POR. Can they just drop them off at the front desk at POP with my name and reservation number on an envelope and have it magically appear at the front desk waiting for me at POR? OK not magically but you know what I mean. If this is possible how long would it take if they drop it off at POP first thing in the AM?

I won't have time to go to POP to pick them up and they will also be pressed for time. They are planning to take a taxi to and from POP to drop them off I would hate for them to have to go out of pocket for this. Any other options you can come up with?

 

[TandLMommy28]

I completely agree with Mickeygolf! If you want to stay in the "Disney bubble" and you have everything you're gonna need and aren't traveling off site, I would definitely not rent a car.

We usually drive down and then we park our car while at POR and don't drive again til we leave the resort. For us, it's part of the experience. My kids are a bit older but we've been doing this for years. If you're kids are fussy or particularly tired and you are standing, very often someone will figure out a way for the young child to sit.

I also think it depends on your mindset. If you are someone who worries about that extra 10 or 15 minutes that may happen at times, then a car may be best for you. When you relax and just go with it, it is so much more enjoyable.

With young kids, if you are not on the dining plan and want to be able to run through McDonalds or the store, you may want a car but it isn't necessary at all if you plan.

I agree one hundred percent. We drove last time and never used our car after arriving. The buses are fun. Some of my best memories are of the bus rides! We made it to our 8am ADRs four different times without issue. I think attitude is important. If you go into thinking the buses are like a prison and you are trapped, you will hate them. If you go into it thinking the bus is a part of tge adventure, it's so fun! We are flying this year and didn't even consider renting a car.

 

[3sweetpeas]

Yeah, plus I get the added bonus of going back to work on Monday morning after being on summer vacation (I'm a teacher).

Oh bummer. Hope you like your job?

 

[Melissabo]

I agree one hundred percent. We drove last time and never used our car after arriving. The buses are fun. Some of my best memories are of the bus rides! We made it to our 8am ADRs four different times without issue. I think attitude is important. If you go into thinking the buses are like a prison and you are trapped, you will hate them. If you go into it thinking the bus is a part of tge adventure, it's so fun! We are flying this year and didn't even consider renting a car.

Thank you for all of the replies. We took buses back in 2009 at ASM and I didn't mind them at all. I'm leaning towards not renting a car since we are on the dining plan and ME will take us and pick us up. It just feels more like vacation I think.

 

[Spassvogel]

Okay, returning to WDW for the first time since 1997 (Our Honeymoon). We stayed in POFQ then...has it changed much in 15 years?

Flying out in 10 hours. Weeee. If any other Disboarders are there this week, and you see a 6'7" 350lb behemoth, that's me.

 

[DisneyMom5]

I agree one hundred percent. We drove last time and never used our car after arriving. The buses are fun. Some of my best memories are of the bus rides! We made it to our 8am ADRs four different times without issue. I think attitude is important. If you go into thinking the buses are like a prison and you are trapped, you will hate them. If you go into it thinking the bus is a part of tge adventure, it's so fun! We are flying this year and didn't even consider renting a car.

My kids, especially my youngest son, consider the busses one of the rides at WDW. When he was younger, he said his favorite rides were the busses and the monorail. Made me wonder why I bothered getting him park tickets.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

They now have separate shampoos and conditioners

They didn't when I was there in July. I prefer separate. A few times I was about to buy the H2O stuff in the gift shop. (I wanted it anyway!)

 

[Shannon84]

If Yeha Bob is out on a Saturday (the day we get in) is there any other entertainment or is that it? This is our first time staying there and we are getting in Sept 29th

 

[LovingDisny]

I agree one hundred percent. We drove last time and never used our car after arriving. The buses are fun. Some of my best memories are of the bus rides! We made it to our 8am ADRs four different times without issue. I think attitude is important. If you go into thinking the buses are like a prison and you are trapped, you will hate them. If you go into it thinking the bus is a part of tge adventure, it's so fun! We are flying this year and didn't even consider renting a car.

Ditto for us, we don't even consider renting a car. We love not having to drive at all while we are there. it is part of the vacation adventure for us. You are so right TandLMommy28, attitude makes a big difference. Also, if you have had a particularly long day at a park, and your resort bus line is really long (this happened to us once right after fantasmic at HS) you can always get a cab. If you just don't want to wait that one time, it is an option and won't cost you very much. We only paid $15.00 to get from HS back to POR, but that was the only time we didn't use Disney transportation. I think some of the cabs were asking $20.00.

 

[LovingDisny]

Thanks!!!! Can't believe its 2 more days (my ticker is off.) In the process of cleaning my house and doing laundry before we go so I don't have to do much when we get back. I may do some posting here on the board in the evenings after we come back for the day. Not sure about a meet yet, need to email Andre my itinerary.

Have a great trip!!

 

[rosie49ers80]

How is the bus service? How are the waits for buses and are they standing room only often? I've read a few reviews recently and it seems people were unhappy with the bus service.

We are considering renting a car but I'd rather save the cash and leave the car seats home unless it's really going to be crowded on the buses. We will have two small boys with us so I'm hoping they will be able to sit down on the buses most of the time.

We are here now and the only bus issue we had was a very long wait today at MK for the bus to arrive but other than that its been smooth sailing.

On another note, we are staying in Oak Manor, garden view but almost riverview and the parking lot I am using behind our bldg (9000-9040 section) has construction going on in front of the rooms that butt up to the parking lot. I believe they are making it handicap accessible both the parking and the side walk.

 

[scanne]

We stayed in Parterre Place room ??? - corner room, 2nd floor, facing the quiet pool.

The resort is beautiful and I felt our location was excellent. Quick walk over the bridge to the main building, food court, shops and we swam in both the quiet pool and the themed pool. The rooms are beautiful and magical, but the biggest "complaint" (and I use that lightly) is the lack of storage space for suitcases. We stacked them in between the bed and the wall closest to the door.

We stayed 6 nights and were on the deluxe dining plan. I really liked the Riverside Mill food court, especially the make your own pasta and make your own salads. In fact, my DD and I were able to share the make your own pasta for lunch on two occasions which allowed more flexible use of our dining credits.

Transportation to the theme parks was great. We rarely waited more than 10 minutes in either direction and the buses were not very crowded. The only transportation I wasn't thrilled with was the boat to DD. They only allow 20 people on because they have to stop at POFQ. Well, when we were on the boat, only 4 people got on at FQ and there were plenty of seats for others that were left waiting for the next boat at Riverside. I just feel that this system can be revamped and made more proficient.

I will definitely stay at POR again. It's lovely.

 

[Phatoomch]

We stayed in Parterre Place room ??? - corner room, 2nd floor, facing the quiet pool.

The resort is beautiful and I felt our location was excellent. Quick walk over the bridge to the main building, food court, shops and we swam in both the quiet pool and the themed pool. The rooms are beautiful and magical, but the biggest "complaint" (and I use that lightly) is the lack of storage space for suitcases. We stacked them in between the bed and the wall closest to the door.

We stayed 6 nights and were on the deluxe dining plan. I really liked the Riverside Mill food court, especially the make your own pasta and make your own salads. In fact, my DD and I were able to share the make your own pasta for lunch on two occasions which allowed more flexible use of our dining credits.

Transportation to the theme parks was great. We rarely waited more than 10 minutes in either direction and the buses were not very crowded. The only transportation I wasn't thrilled with was the boat to DD. They only allow 20 people on because they have to stop at POFQ. Well, when we were on the boat, only 4 people got on at FQ and there were plenty of seats for others that were left waiting for the next boat at Riverside. I just feel that this system can be revamped and made more proficient.

I will definitely stay at POR again. It's lovely.

Thanks for the great review!

Someone else is just back too who loved POR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=45833758&posted=1#post45833758