Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[mgdisney]

Great shots! Maybe I need to turn in my slr for an iphone

The thought crossed my mind for a moment that maybe on the next trip I won't take my slr...like I said it was only for a moment! Disney without an slr, now that's just talking silly! hahaha

 

[mgdisney]

Very nice camera on those iPhones huh? Very good shots!

Not to bad for a camera phone I'd say, I was quite surprized! Thanks for the comment!!

 

[ecozoid]

Overdue for some serious Disney therapy!! This time it will be POR - from the reviews I think we've made a good pick. This will be our 3rd fall break trip with our dd's, and finally we'll be at Disney for oldest's birthday - should be pretty magical!! Any advice on "must do/see" at POR? Each resort so far has been really cool - so I know there's some special times/sights to be had at POR. Love that Disney Magic...

 

[DrDoofenshmirtz]

I'd love to stay in mansion buildings. What's the closest to the food court?

It seems the Aligator Bayou section may be more convenient to the food court. In the mansion section, I would guess that Oak Manor is the closest to the food court and stores, judging by the maps on portorleans.org.

 

[pianoronni37]

I can't stop counting down the days to POR! We first stayed there in January of 2010, and we stayed there once again in February of 2011... now, January 2012, bring it ON! My husband refuses to stay anywhere else - it's so gorgeous, lush, breathtaking on its own - there's nothing like coming "home" from a long day at the parks to walk down the winding paths, hand in hand, in the AB section, and go grab a coffee or hot chocolate at the food court, and watch the boats take off as you walk back to the room..

Ohhh I cannot wait to see the refurbishment in action! I don't care if I get a refurbed room or not, I'm just glad to see so many happy POR goers!

 

[Venomhatch]

Well I don't know why but my email wasn't getting alerts for a little bit to this thread.

 

[Sue M]

There is nothing worse than that last walk to the ME bus; I almost cry every time.

It helps having your next trip or 2 booked, In Aug, I had my Jan and Aug trips booked Sorta took some of the sting out of sitting at the DME bus stop!

 

[Stan Solo]

Hey all. We just got home Oct 8th from an absolutely wonderful stay at POR! We were first put in AB 38 and I asked nicely if there was anything in Acadian House (I had requested this but had not got it) and the wonderful CM got us into a beautiful room 8255 with a free upgrade to riverview!

ENJOY!

Hey calngavinsmom I'm curious did you use the on line check in?

 

[Venomhatch]

Hey calngavinsmom I'm curious did you use the on line check in?

Hey Stan when we're you last there in wdw? Was it after star tours refurb? If so is it true three different videos? And is it truly better?

 

[chip 'n dale rule]

Is anyone else dying to see pics of refurbed rooms in AB??? My fingers are crossed that the new murphy bed is loads better than the old trundles. I'm not going to complain about queen beds either. Fingers crossed that we get a refurbed room when we get there in Jan!

 

[buckeev]

Thank you Thank you Thank you. I personally like the photo for the reflection in the water.

Hope she's having a great time here in KC. The weather is perfect right now and its suppose to continue into the weekend. She should stop by the Country Club Plaza if she gets a chance. Great place to stroll, shop, and dine. Which part of the city is she staying in?

She's at Midwestern Baptist, Gladstone area....says the weather has been awesome!

 

[buckeev]

PSSST-not to highjack but what is butterbeer?

What Andrew said!...it's a sweet, non-alcoholic brain freeze waiting to happen!

 

[THERESA522]

I finally booked for end of May/beginning of June. I booked the Princess suite, but I'm questioning it now (I have a ds 9). Either way, 7 months can't come quick enough!

 

[DisneyFamily123]

The Disney site is letting me book 4 adults and 2 children (age 2 and 6) in one room at Port Orleans Riverside. It says 2 queen beds but I'm wondering if there is still a trundle bed or if we can get a cot or something. Or do the renovated rooms have a day bed?

The other resorts with 2 queen beds like Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge will not allow booking that many people in 1 room. But it will allow it at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian which I know have a day bed in addition to 2 queen beds.

Thanks for the quick response andrewilley!

 

[andrewilley]

The Disney site is letting me book 4 adults and 2 children (age 2 and 6) in one room at Port Orleans Riverside. It says 2 queen beds but I'm wondering if there is still a trundle bed or if we can get a cot or something.

As I currently understand it, when the renovations to queen beds happen in the Alligator Bayou section (which is where the trundles currently are) they will be refitting the rooms to include a pull down murphy-style bed in a wall-unit under the TV.

We'll have more details in about a month, which is when the first AB building is due to be completed.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

The POR is one of WDWs best kept secret.

Darn it, now you've gone and let the cat out of the bag!

Glad you had such a good time. I've stayed at several of the deluxe resorts too, and yet we keep coming back to POR every time.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

I finally booked for end of May/beginning of June. I booked the Princess suite, but I'm questioning it now (I have a ds 9). Either way, 7 months can't come quick enough!

Ohh very cool. I am getting the idea that these rooms would be fun for boys and girls, so I would not worry too much.

 

[Stan Solo]

Hey Stan when we're you last there in wdw? Was it after star tours refurb? If so is it true three different videos? And is it truly better?

Hi Venom, I was their this past Aug but this was my first trip so I never got to experience the original to compare it too.

First of all I am not a ride guy, the last time I went on a ride of any type it was about 13 years ago at the West Edmonton Mall and it was a ride similar to the Star Tours ride. Where you sit in a "space shuttle" look at the screen and they move the shuttle around a bit. I got ssssoooo sick I could not do a thing for a day and a half after that.

So here is my dilemma I'm a huge Star Wars fan and really really wanted to ride Star Tours so before I got on I told the CM that I get sick easily and asked if they had any tips. They put me in the front row first seat next to the exit (great if I throw up everyone has to step over it).

I did great for about the first half we did the death star scene escaped Vader's force grab then we were off to Kashyyyk Chewbacca's home planet. After that I started to sweat my DD had bought a fan in China at EPCOT so I grabbed that and started to fan myself screaming inside my head "Jane get me off this crazy thing".

After we left Kashyyyk I have no idea where we went not that I wouldn't have recognized it but because I was in survival mode.

After the ride ended I was ok just very sweaty I quickly unbuckled grabbed my backpack and got out of there. Once in the gift shop I was fine until the rest of the people from our ride came out and started to fill Tatooine Traders I started to freak out and had to get out of there. We went outside found some shade and I drank both of our bottles of water that I had in my bag then I took the ice from the bottles and keep melting it on my neck and forehead until it was all gone. After a few minutes maybe 15-20 I was back to normal and went back into TT and bought more souvenirs them would fit in my suitcase.

So to answer your question yes there are three scenes and several different planets that you visit these are picked randomly. Utilizing random story combinations there are over 50 different experiences you can have. In my case I think the experince will always end the same way

The que was great and could have spent a good part of my day just in there looking around. When we went there was no line at all but I still spent plenty of time looking at all of the details. To much according to my DD not enough according to me but she knew that this was important to me so not once did she complain or say a word.

 

[Venomhatch]

Well I am sorry to hear that Stan, glad to hear you didn't have to step over that. Yeah I wish I could maybe see one of these star wars events they have.

 

[calngavinsmom]

Hey calngavinsmom I'm curious did you use the on line check in?

Yes I did use online check in. Funny thing, I did last year too and all of my requests were granted, but not this year They were able to revise it pretty quickly though, and both the rooms were ready for us at 11 am as well!

Take care,
Tara