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

[susanc]

The second half of the show usually wraps up around 11.45 or so, so photos/autographs/etc are all done by midnight. First half is 8:30-10, then a short break (if you can call it that - Bob spends it chatting to people, doing photos, etc) and then 10:15-11:45ish for the second half.

Andre

Thank you Andre! Just switched 2 nights of my stay to POR!

 

[asa disney]

Very excited --we did our online check-in today. Ten more days until our first stay at PORS. We're not telling our three little ones until they wake up on the morning we're leaving. My question, though, is about placement of an air mattress. I know people use them, but do they only fit on the wall where the table and chairs are? We're bringing our air mattress, but I'm wondering if the air mattress, or rearranging the table and chairs to accomodate the air mattress, blocks the door from opening. I like to sneak out for my coffee in the morning but I don't want to wake the air mattress-dweller. Anyone have a picture of an air mattress laid out in the refurbed AB rooms?

 

[andrewilley]

My question, though, is about placement of an air mattress. I know people use them, but do they only fit on the wall where the table and chairs are? We're bringing our air mattress, but I'm wondering if the air mattress, or rearranging the table and chairs to accomodate the air mattress, blocks the door from opening.

I believe (although I have not tried it myself) that a single air mattress will still fit in the space between one of the queen beds and the wall next to the door (i.e. where the connecting doorway is sometimes located). However as you say, a picture would be very handy.

Andre

 

[appplel]

Holy bus issues, Batman!

Last night at 10:30, the line for Riverside at MK was at least five to six times longer than to ANY other resort. I have no idea what happened. After a good twenty minutes no buses for POR had come and the line was insane.

Thankfully I remembered someone here had said of POR is bad, take the POFQ bus. So we did. It was about ten more minutes to board POFQ and still not a single POR bus had come. Other resorts had seen three, four and even five buses come in that time. There were easily enough people to fill four buses for por! So we took POFQ and walked back. It was definitely the right decision! Whoever said that, thank you! The walk is so peaceful and it helped me calm down from the bus craziness!!!

This morning we waited over an hour at 9:30 for a bus to Epcot. One came after 50 minutes but it was full and it was at least 15 minutes until another came. There was a CM at the stop entertaining the kids and he wrote us all fast passes to apologize. No one was really complaining and no one asked for the FP so it was a cool gesture. He kept calling for an Epcot bus and it just didn't come!

Thankfully leaving Epcot tonight was better. Two PO buses pulled up at the same time. Our party of six ended up on two different buses but we got back at about the same time.

The funny thing is, as much as the bus lines are crazy for POR, the resort doesn't feel crowded at all. We feel kind of isolated back here in Oak Manor, it's very quiet!

Overall, so far we are sorta thinking next time we will go back to POFQ. We miss the smallness and the one bus stop! But we are loving all that there is to do at POR. We still have five more days we will see how the rest of the weeks goes!

And other than those bus issues, everything is absolutely wonderful. Lots of towel animals! My kids love all the poolside games. My daughter won bingo yesterday.

Ugh - scary! We are arriving Friday. Which bus stop were you using at POR?

Thanks,
Apple

 

[mommycal]

do the rooms have a safe? somewhere to store or ipad/ipod? and if so does the IPad fit insid? TIA if it makes an difference we paid to stayed in a 'preferred' room. I think that just pertains to location though.

also dec is RIGHT around the corner, LOL should I call/fax a special request of where we'd like to stay?

 

[3sweetpeas]

If I stayed in Parterre Place, is AB building 16 just as convenient to get to south depot, main/quiet pool and main buildings? I enjoyed the the walk from PP and didn't think it was far at all.

I would say yes it is. Maybe even closer to the bus depot and food court.

 

[3sweetpeas]

Very excited --we did our online check-in today. Ten more days until our first stay at PORS. We're not telling our three little ones until they wake up on the morning we're leaving. My question, though, is about placement of an air mattress. I know people use them, but do they only fit on the wall where the table and chairs are? We're bringing our air mattress, but I'm wondering if the air mattress, or rearranging the table and chairs to accomodate the air mattress, blocks the door from opening. I like to sneak out for my coffee in the morning but I don't want to wake the air mattress-dweller. Anyone have a picture of an air mattress laid out in the refurbed AB rooms?

We did not put our air mattress between the door and the bed for the same reason. We didn't like not being able to get in and out of the room. It is kind of tight. We thought the better option was to put the air mattress where the table and chairs are. We moved the table next to the bed and it acted as a night stand. During the day, we stood the air mattress up along the wall. It worked well for us and didn't hinder walking which was important to us.

 

[LisaTC]

We had such a good time at POR on our August trip that I'd like to stay again on our next trip. We were really spoiled with a fabulous Royal Room in Parterre. We really loved the view and room location. For the next trip we probably won't be able to afford a Royal Room again. Which other mansion would you recommend? Also, how are the preferred buildings in AB? Building 14 looks pretty darn convenient. We may consider a garden room there.

We stayed in Acadian House last October. We had a room overlooking the quiet pool, first floor next to the corner room. It was very convenient, quiet.

I realized this weekend that we are going to be in Disney for the OSU-Michigan on Nov 24. It will be on ABC, but probably not in FLA. Anyone know where we could watch it? Or is it telecast down there? Seriously haven't missed one in 20 yrs.

WHAT? Perish the thought! ESPN definitely. Fellow Buckeye was there for that game last year and watched it at ESPN! Good luck. Hope they have it!
OH...IO!

Finally...we booked kinda last minute for December. Not the customary more than 180 days. Booked 9/1 for 12/15 and staying again at POR. Royal rooms only thing avail on FD plan, so booked standard royal. Kinda wondering if we'll be stuck facing the parking lot...really rather not...should I upgrade to gardenview and request Oak Manor..what to do? Can't find external photos or Parterre and Oak Manor from the rear! THANKS!

 

[LisaTC]

So, we checked in last night. Just haven't had time to post. Ended up in Parterre Place. Our room is beautiful!!!!! We ate at Paradisio 37 last night. My brother in law, who lives in Lakeland, came to visit, and we were able to walk right in. I was able to eat their enchilada because the tortilla was corn rather than flour. It was delicious. They also had a flour less chocolate cake that made my night!!!! Now we are on our way to sea world.

Did you book riverview or make a request...just curious. Thanks!

 

[LisaTC]

I preferred the garden and fountain of Parterre Place over Oak Manor. The distance from the center of the building to the bridge is about the same for both. We were located in the center of Parterre and had a quick and easy walk to the main buildings, pools, and south depot. Since most people request Oak thinking it is so much closer, you might have a better chance for a better location by requesting Parterre. That was my logic and I received an awesome upgrade.

This is good/interesting information. I didn't quite know what to request, if anything and didn't know if I should upgrade to at least garden from the standard we booked, since it was a Royal room. What do you think?

 

[Missytara]

I realized this weekend that we are going to be in Disney for the OSU-Michigan on Nov 24. It will be on ABC, but probably not in FLA. Anyone know where we could watch it? Or is it telecast down there? Seriously haven't missed one in 20 yrs.

I have watched many a college football game on my first Saturday there; I have always gone the week after Thanksgiving.

Take the water taxi down to RFC; they play college football games at the bar. It is a lot of fun, because there is always a turnover at the bar, with people waiting for tables and it is never overly crowded in the afternoon.

ESPN club will be a lot more crowded, because there is a resort nearby. But it would be a good second choice.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Holy bus issues, Batman!

Last night at 10:30, the line for Riverside at MK was at least five to six times longer than to ANY other resort. I have no idea what happened. After a good twenty minutes no buses for POR had come and the line was insane.

Thankfully I remembered someone here had said of POR is bad, take the POFQ bus. So we did. It was about ten more minutes to board POFQ and still not a single POR bus had come. Other resorts had seen three, four and even five buses come in that time. There were easily enough people to fill four buses for por! So we took POFQ and walked back. It was definitely the right decision! Whoever said that, thank you! The walk is so peaceful and it helped me calm down from the bus craziness!!!

This morning we waited over an hour at 9:30 for a bus to Epcot. One came after 50 minutes but it was full and it was at least 15 minutes until another came. There was a CM at the stop entertaining the kids and he wrote us all fast passes to apologize. No one was really complaining and no one asked for the FP so it was a cool gesture. He kept calling for an Epcot bus and it just didn't come!

This is what scares me! I usually stay at FQ but decided to try POR for this trip. I hope I don't regret it. I have about four weeks left until my trip.

 

[Muddypaws]

I did a quick search and didn't find an answer to my question. If I missed it, my apologies.

I am looking at booking another stay at POR next January/February. On the nights of Jan. 25 and 26, though, all the standard rooms are booked which seems strange. Does anyone know if there is some sort of large group staying there that week end? It would be nice to know in advance if that is the case. Fore warned, and all that.

 

[Hitchhiking Ghost]

do the rooms have a safe? somewhere to store or ipad/ipod? and if so does the IPad fit insid? TIA if it makes an difference we paid to stayed in a 'preferred' room. I think that just pertains to location though.

also dec is RIGHT around the corner, LOL should I call/fax a special request of where we'd like to stay?

All of our visits to moderates thru 2010, including two stays at POR-AB section, all had small wall safes. Unless they removed them during the recent remodel, I would assume they are still there.

They are old style, using a key (again, unless it was upgraded during the remodel). They are not very big. I can't remember the exact dimensions, but maybe 3 inches deep, 8 - 10 inches high?? You can definitely fit a cell phone, ipod/touch in there, probably a kindle and not sure about an Ipad.

As to your second question, yes, I would fax a request with your preferences, but I wouldn't do it until a week or so prior to your arrival. I would think that still 60+ days out that the request wouldn't garner much attention. Just remember, its only a request. We've had good luck doing it, but that was before so many of the buildings got reclassed as royal, preferred, waterview etc., so getting a request honored may be a bit more difficult, especially if the resort is at or near capacity, which with free dining or room discounts could be more likely. Since you've already booked a preferred room, I would think your chances of getting a request honored would be much greater.

Good luck

 

[Muddypaws]

do the rooms have a safe? somewhere to store or ipad/ipod? and if so does the IPad fit insid? TIA if it makes an difference we paid to stayed in a 'preferred' room. I think that just pertains to location though.

also dec is RIGHT around the corner, LOL should I call/fax a special request of where we'd like to stay?

Yes, an iPad will fit inside. Just. You will have a little extra width (just under an inch, maybe) left over to also store some small items.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Holy bus issues, Batman!

Last night at 10:30, the line for Riverside at MK was at least five to six times longer than to ANY other resort. I have no idea what happened. After a good twenty minutes no buses for POR had come and the line was insane.

Thankfully I remembered someone here had said of POR is bad, take the POFQ bus. So we did. It was about ten more minutes to board POFQ and still not a single POR bus had come. Other resorts had seen three, four and even five buses come in that time. There were easily enough people to fill four buses for por! So we took POFQ and walked back. It was definitely the right decision! Whoever said that, thank you! The walk is so peaceful and it helped me calm down from the bus craziness!!!

This morning we waited over an hour at 9:30 for a bus to Epcot. One came after 50 minutes but it was full and it was at least 15 minutes until another came. There was a CM at the stop entertaining the kids and he wrote us all fast passes to apologize. No one was really complaining and no one asked for the FP so it was a cool gesture. He kept calling for an Epcot bus and it just didn't come!

Thankfully leaving Epcot tonight was better. Two PO buses pulled up at the same time. Our party of six ended up on two different buses but we got back at about the same time.

The funny thing is, as much as the bus lines are crazy for POR, the resort doesn't feel crowded at all. We feel kind of isolated back here in Oak Manor, it's very quiet!

Overall, so far we are sorta thinking next time we will go back to POFQ. We miss the smallness and the one bus stop! But we are loving all that there is to do at POR. We still have five more days we will see how the rest of the weeks goes!

And other than those bus issues, everything is absolutely wonderful. Lots of towel animals! My kids love all the poolside games. My daughter won bingo yesterday.

We had the same experience in March. We had some days it was OK, and some that were TERRIBLE. We said we would never stay again....but like you said, it was so quiet and nice. We just rebooked for April because I cant choose the resort based on just busing, the rest of the resort got an A+. We had booked POLY for the monorail- but then realized we could stay twice as long at POR- so we did that and just realized that we have 11 days, so theres no hurry

 

[ksromack]

I looked at the wonderful POR website but did not see the answer to a specific question I have. What time does the first bus to DTD leave POR? I see that the ferry starts operation to DTD at 10 am but I was hoping to go a little earlier on our one of our last days of vacation (and grabbing a breakfast pizza at WPExpress doesn't sound too bad either)

 

[zoe999pink]

Finishing up packing for our departure to POR on Wednesday. I think I came up with a pretty good idea to build excitement for the Royal Rooms we booked when we get to the resort.

I researched how many "hidden mickeys" that are in the Royal Rooms on the internet. It says around 10. I then made little cards that say "The first one to find 10 hidden mickeys in our Royal Room gets a prize." They have to write down the location of the hidden mickey. I have kids traveling with me ages 15, 12, 11, and 9.

See you all at POR on the 19th!

Great Idea!!!

 

[Melissabo]

All of this bus talk has me nervous. I just reserved a car rental from Dollar for $124 with all of the taxes. I'm still conflicted because we took ME to and from the airport last time we were in Disney and I really liked it. However, with two young kids I'm thinking having a car may be easier than worrying about getting a seat for the kids on the bus or waiting at the end of the night. I was hoping to see some reports of good bus service so I could cancel the reservation.

 

[kendo43]

We called Disney to confirm a few things reservation wise, and ended up getting a room discount and upgrade!!! Went from a standard room at Port Orleans Riverside to a Royal Guest Room at Port Orleans Riverside and got back $127!!! Heck yea