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

[HeatherLassell]

I'll be there in 14 days!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG I can't wait!!!

 

[Dommiekazommie]

We're here! Just got in this morning. There were only 2 other families on magical express and we were the only ones who got off here! Checked in nice an easy (thanks to catie from Brisbane Australia. Another Aussie!!). Out room was ready right away which is awesome as we were dying or a shower after more than 24hrs of traveling.
We're in room 3956. Aligator bailou (as requested) king room (as booked) a garden view corner room which is super cool! .

 

[ksromack]

I'm so sad that we won't be taking ME from the airport to POR. We have to take a shuttle-type to Pacific Royal Resort for one night first and will be doing "that other park" for two days first. I've stayed on-site three times and for the life of me do not remember taking the ME before. Have they always had this? Of course, our last on-site visit was 1999!

 

[Gorechick]

I haven't had a chance to read every post in this thread, but I do have a question (hopefully it hasn't been asked/answered already).

We are heading to Disney in January with another family. We'll be a group of 8 and are staying in Royal Guest Rooms. Are there connecting rooms there? When I called to add dining to our reservation, the CM I was speaking with told me there probably weren't connecting rooms but she wasn't sure. She thought we'd likely get placed across the hall from each other. Does anyone know for sure if there are actually connecting rooms??

There are connecting rooms because the room we were in had a door. The room was unoccupied during our stay.

 

[People Mover]

Checked in last night to the GORGEOUS port Orleans. Our awesome cm pulled up our reservation and said and I quote: "whoa you made a lot of requests annnnnddd got every single one of them!!"

We got first floor, alligator bayou and building 16. We even have a garden view and our close to the quiet pool. We are in heaven!!!!! Hitting up ole man island pool today with the inlaws and kiddos. Magic kingdom tomorrow. The boat to dtd was fantastic. My son really enjoyed it. As did us adults. So relaxing and breezy.

We have 8 days ahead of us of bliss. We can't wait!!!!

 

[hokie98]

We have 2 Royal Rooms booked for our arrival in exactly 5 weeks. It may be a bit premature, but I was reading a bunch of room request post last night and that got me thinking. Again, we have 2 rooms under 2 different reservations (one for us, one for inlaws), and they are 'linked' in the system so that we may be placed close to, or hopefully next to, each other. We are only paying for the standard room (to be candid, I don't plan on being in the room too much to justify paying a premium for a view). With that in mind, I haven't made any special location request on the reservation, and it'll be about 25 days before I can do online check-in. I'm wondering where I should request, or even if I should make a request at all. Here's what we've got:

- DH, me, DD(7) & DS(1): With DS, we'll have a stroller. I'm wondering about requesting a ground floor for easy access with the stroller, but is there alot of foot traffic going past the ground floor rooms? Inlaws are 66 & 62 - they're in pretty good shape. Are there elevators in the Mansions? If not, even though they're in good shape, inlaws (or myself!) may not want to climb stairs after walking the parks all day.
- We plan on taking the buses as much as possible, but we are driving and will have our car. I figure we'll probably be taking that to a couple of ADRs at other resorts and we could end up driving to some of the more parking-friendly parks (i.e. AK), so being close to the parking lot may not be a bad thing entirely, but close to the buses are a plus too. To be candid, I'm not so sure the inlaws are going to like the bus system, so we may end up driving a bit more while they are there (they're staying only 4 nights vs our 7 nights).
- I don't foresee that we'll be eating in the food court much, and being close to a refill station is not very important to us, but DD will likely want to utilize the pool a bit, plus we plan to pack fairly light and do some laundry while there.

As I'm thinking all of this through, it occurs to me that perhaps we don't really care where we are....it would be nice to be close the pool. But it'll also not be so bad to be close to the parking lot, and most of all, I think we'd like to be close to a bus stop. I'm guess there isn't one location is would be close to the pool, bus stop & parking lot, so we have to just hope for 1 out of 3. From what I gather, I think we may have the best chance of being in Oak Manor since I understand that has less "views" and we only have a standard room?

So what do you think? Would you make any sort of room request? Maybe only ground floor, or is that not a good idea? I've never been to POR, so I don't know what to expect and beyond buses, pools, and food, what else we may utilize at the resort. If I don't make any specific request, do you think there may be a chance we get bumped to a room with a view (which I don't want to pay for, but will take for free!)? I just read where GoreChick said they are rooms with connecting doors (interior doors we can open to the other room)...that would be ideal for us (since MIL was hoping for a 2 bdrm suite so we "can all be together"...).

Also, while I think we may do online check-in, I'm not so sure about the inlaws. Does it make any difference if one does online and one does not? We aren't traveling together, but we'd probably both get to POR about the same time - late AM, before lunch. We plan on checking in so that we can get our tickets and head to DTD for our first CS meal courtesy of FD. So while we will be there early, we'd be willing to wait a couple of hours for better room location, if available.

TIA!!

 

[siskaren]

I've stayed on-site three times and for the life of me do not remember taking the ME before. Have they always had this? Of course, our last on-site visit was 1999!

No, ME started in 2005.

 

[wdwmaw]

We're here! Just got in this morning. There were only 2 other families on magical express and we were the only ones who got off here! Checked in nice an easy (thanks to catie from Brisbane Australia. Another Aussie!!). Out room was ready right away which is awesome as we were dying or a shower after more than 24hrs of traveling.
We're in room 3956. Aligator bailou (as requested) king room (as booked) a garden view corner room which is super cool! .

So happy for you How long does it take to get to the bus stop or food court from bldg 39?

Just had to add I can't imagine traveling 24 hours

 

[bartleyosu]

headed to the airport in 2 hours.

Wahoo!!!!!

 

[PrincessAlways]

Checked in last night to the GORGEOUS port Orleans. Our awesome cm pulled up our reservation and said and I quote: "whoa you made a lot of requests annnnnddd got every single one of them!!"

We got first floor, alligator bayou and building 16. We even have a garden view and our close to the quiet pool. We are in heaven!!!!! Hitting up ole man island pool today with the inlaws and kiddos. Magic kingdom tomorrow. The boat to dtd was fantastic. My son really enjoyed it. As did us adults. So relaxing and breezy.

We have 8 days ahead of us of bliss. We can't wait!!!!

have a wonderful vacation!!

 

[Bingham2]

I am so excited! I just got the fast pass + invitation in the mail. I am even more excited about this trip. I may pass out from excitement when I get there!

Well there wont be a bus for you.... Just kidding.

LOL!!!

 

[andrewilley]

We are heading to Disney in January with another family. We'll be a group of 8 and are staying in Royal Guest Rooms. Are there connecting rooms there? When I called to add dining to our reservation, the CM I was speaking with told me there probably weren't connecting rooms but she wasn't sure. She thought we'd likely get placed across the hall from each other.

Yes, there are connecting Royal Rooms (lots of them). And you won't be placed "across the hall" from them anyway as there aren't any halls, just a covered outdoor walkway.

it would be nice to be close the pool. But it'll also not be so bad to be close to the parking lot, and most of all, I think we'd like to be close to a bus stop.

I'd suggest just asking for somewhere near the center of Oak Manor, which puts you roughly half-way between the best access for the buses and the quiet pool, but also quite close to the elevators. If you are close to the elevators any of the three floors would be fine for you, and the top floor might be a bit quieter.

Andre

Andre

 

[Disney before Sally]

Are the coffee machine pods the round filter paper top and bottom or are they attached to disposable plastic trays?

 

[ksromack]

Are the coffee machine pods the round filter paper top and bottom or are they attached to disposable plastic trays?

I'll need confirmation here but I believe they are the round filter paper top and bottom.....I have a similar machine at home and that's what my pods look like.

 

[hokie98]

I'd suggest just asking for somewhere near the center of Oak Manor, which puts you roughly half-way between the best access for the buses and the quiet pool, but also quite close to the elevators. If you are close to the elevators any of the three floors would be fine for you, and the top floor might be a bit quieter.

Andre

Andre

Thanks Andre!

 

[TandLMommy28]

I'm HERE!!!!!!

I think I forgot just how beautiful this place is. I'm so happy to be back.

I also forgot how BIG this resort is! Even just the mansion area is enormous! We are still figuring out the best ways to get where we are going.

We have a garden view on the back side of Oak Manor. It's wonderful. My seven year old is beside herself with all the details of the room. My kids spent an hour just doing the slide at the pool. And I guess the boat ride to DTD is truly relaxing because hubby fell asleep!!!!

 

[TandLMommy28]

Also from the Oak Manor courtyard (where they play the movie), we could see fireworks. Just the high ones, over the trees when looking across the river towards the food court. Was it Wishes?

 

[kath2me]

I'm HERE!!!!!!

I think I forgot just how beautiful this place is. I'm so happy to be back.

I also forgot how BIG this resort is! Even just the mansion area is enormous! We are still figuring out the best ways to get where we are going.

We have a garden view on the back side of Oak Manor. It's wonderful. My seven year old is beside herself with all the details of the room. My kids spent an hour just doing the slide at the pool. And I guess the boat ride to DTD is truly relaxing because hubby fell asleep!!!!

I asume you are in the royal rooms, I also have room on my Oct visit in a Royal room - Garden,, but would really prefer in be right close to the parking lot, as i have walking issues and use a scooter,, Is the parking lot far ?

 

[Venomhatch]

Also from the Oak Manor courtyard (where they play the movie), we could see fireworks. Just the high ones, over the trees when looking across the river towards the food court. Was it Wishes?

It was EPCOT's Fireworks. Glad to hear your having a great time.

 

[andrewilley]

I also have room on my Oct visit in a Royal room - Garden,, but would really prefer in be right close to the parking lot, as i have walking issues and use a scooter,, Is the parking lot far ?

It can be as close as you want, the parking lot is right behind to the building (on the other side from the river). For example, from the car parked in the Disabled space below, the nearest room is about 15 yards:

(That's Magnolia Terrace by the way, but the basic layout is the same for Oak Manor)

Andre