Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[gigi1313]

We have a little less than 5 weeks.

We received our luggage tags from ME this weekend, so now it is starting to become a reality for my traveling companions.

Our little 5 year old companion that does not know we are going have been "in training" by watching all of the Disney movies with her mom, dad, and their roommates (my neighbors). She has been getting to know the characters. They also bought five pumpkins, one for each of them, and decorated them with Disney Characters. Skylar did Minnie Mouse.

One day last week, Skylar asked her mom if they could go to Disney World some day and Kelsie said, "Well, not this year, because we just bought a new car and we are trying to look for a house, but maybe some other time."

She just replied, "Okay, that's all right."

Boy is she in for a big surprise.

Let's just hope she's not disappointed and cries "But i want to go to Chattanooga!" (did you read the story/see the video on line? it's hysterical!)

 

[lorainfam]

You can have up to 5 people in a room in AB. Your party of 4 should be fine (assuming they have a room in AB at the time you check in...a very good possibility).

On the other hand, I'm not sure you'll be able to get connecting rooms with your in-laws arriving a day later. You can always request it, and your in-laws can re-request when they show up. Remember, requests are just that, not guarantees. I wish you the absolute best of luck.

Thanks so much for the response....

If it was up to us, my kids would prefer to be in the Mansions section! The only reason they requested connecting rooms was for the 3 kids that will be with the in laws. They will be spending most of the time with us and grandma and grandpa will be hanging out at the resort. They just figured that it would be easier. I was thinking that with them checking in the following day might hurt our chances of a connecting room. My niece has to pre-check us in 10 days prior to our arrival so we will see if she mentions again about a connecting room. Maybe we will get lucky and the In laws can stay in AB and we get a Mansion room!!!!!

 

[softballmom3]

Hi All!

I have a question to pose for you.

We have decided to travel down one day earlier to POR and thought about getting a room only reservation for one night before checking in with the package due to change of free dining dates.

We won't arrive until say 9pm. Will I have less of a chance to get a room request this late versus if I just check in the next day at around 9 or 10 am?

Also....anyone have any experience with keeping same room for 2 separate ressies or have you typically had to move?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[disneycrazy2004]

We just moved our reservation to POR - Royal Guest Room! So excited.....time to start reading this thread

 

[mikaza]

We are staying at POR from Nov. 2-Nov. 6

Our party of 10 includes 2 grandparents, myself (29 weeks pregnant)/hubby, my brother/his wife (12 weeks pregnant), and our collective children ages 5, 3, 2, and 1.

Per CM recommendation, we have 2 rooms at POR.
Room 1: me/hubby, bro/sil, and 1yo baby.
Room 2: grandparents, kids ages 5.3. and 2

Do you think we will be able to be comfortable in 2 rooms? Would you request trundle beds for the room with the 3 little kids? Can a trundle and a pack n play fit in the same room?

Any other tips?

Thanks!

 

[andrewilley]

I was thinking that with them checking in the following day might hurt our chances of a connecting room.

I'd call the resort about 2-3 days before the first checkin date and ask to speak to the room allocation or front desk teams (not just the switchboard operators who first answer the phone, they are based off-site and just take calls on behalf of all the resorts). Explain the situation and ask nicely if they might be able to pre-block two rooms for you under the circumstances. You could also try faxing them, which does go directly to the resort. It can't hurt anyway.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

I'd call the resort about 2-3 days before the first checkin date and ask to speak to the room allocation or front desk teams (not just the switchboard operators who first answer the phone, they are based off-site and just take calls on behalf of all the resorts). Explain the situation and ask nicely if they might be able to pre-block two rooms for you under the circumstances. You could also try faxing them, which does go directly to the resort. It can't hurt anyway.

Andre

Yeah doing the route you suggest I have never had an issue with them achieving my requests.

 

[Missytara]

A few CM's on the boards have noted faxes are no longer being looked at since the new system went into place late last year - the computer sorts the requests automatically now.

Also, there is no way they can "pre-allocate" rooms early because so many things could come up between the time you check-in.

People ask for late check-out on the last day or don't check out in time, people cannot leave because of inclement weather at home, maintenance issues, overbooking at other resorts, etc.

Unfortunately, it is not like a cruise line where people get on and get off all at the same time.

 

[MAGGIED]

Good morning.... my CM daughter recently moved us from POP to POR for our January 3-9 trip... we have two rooms... they said we have "Garden view" rooms... can you tell me where those might be... and my DMom who will be traveling with us has mobility issues as far as stairs... we did request a first floor room but want something close to food court and bus stop as walking can become troublesome for her... any suggestions on building requests... thanks

 

[Missytara]

Good morning.... my CM daughter recently moved us from POP to POR for our January 3-9 trip... we have two rooms... they said we have "Garden view" rooms... can you tell me where those might be... and my DMom who will be traveling with us has mobility issues as far as stairs... we did request a first floor room but want something close to food court and bus stop as walking can become troublesome for her... any suggestions on building requests... thanks

Garden view is a new category, so we aren't positive whether it is a view of the actual gardens, like around the mansions or includes any landscaped areas. We haven't had enough responses from people who have booked that category to get a fair assessment.

While the buildings closest to the food court are considered preferred, they are only in AB. I believe that Oak Manor is just as close to the main building and main bus stop - however that can be crowded at busy times of the day.

You can look at Andre's website and see the map for the layout that shows the outer bus stops relative to the buildings and the Main Building and its amentities.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

We just moved our reservation to POR - Royal Guest Room! So excited.....time to start reading this thread

We booked the Royal rooms as well! We booked 3 for our GG next year! I cant wait to see some pics over the winter! Itll give me something to look forward too when its snowing

 

[Venomhatch]

We booked the Royal rooms as well! We booked 3 for our GG next year! I cant wait to see some pics over the winter! Itll give me something to look forward too when its snowing

Yeah gotcha covered on the pics first week they are open!

 

[janiejake]

Good morning.... my CM daughter recently moved us from POP to POR for our January 3-9 trip... we have two rooms... they said we have "Garden view" rooms... can you tell me where those might be... and my DMom who will be traveling with us has mobility issues as far as stairs... we did request a first floor room but want something close to food court and bus stop as walking can become troublesome for her... any suggestions on building requests... thanks

If your Mom has trouble with stairs, the Mansions are probably your best bet, as ground level is just that...step out of your room and start walking. AND, if you get an upper level, there are elevators. Mansions, I've never been more than a 5 minute walk from the food court, or a bus stop. No elevators at AB, and from the buildings I've seen there(nope, have not seen them ALL), you have to walk up at least a couple of stairs to get to the walkway outside the rooms. And, there are no elevators. The closest rooms to the food court, however, are on the AB side, but you will have to pay extra for those-they're "preferred". And, then you'd be closer to the South bus stop.(by the main buildings). If walking is an issue-does she need an ECV-heck of a lot of walking in the Parks, let alone the resort.

 

[princessbride6205]

I've been following this thread for a week or two now, as we've just booked our first POR stay!
We'll be in a garden view Royal room Feb 27-March 4.

 

[Venomhatch]

I've been following this thread for a week or two now, as we've just booked our first POR stay!
We'll be in a garden view Royal room Feb 27-March 4.

You'll be there the same time we will but we will be in Royal River View Room. Feb 24th - Mar 3rd.

 

[disneycrazy2004]

Yeah gotcha covered on the pics first week they are open!

can't wait to see them

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

i feel like I am cheating on you all..I am going back in December and got a CM rate for AKL..but I think I am going to take my mom to see POR because it was just so well themed

 

[jenbear123]

I'll be arriving at POR in a few short days and I have one little question that maybe someone (hopefully) can answer. What kind of hair dryers are in the rooms? Are they those small pathetic white ones mounted on the wall or the larger ones in a bag? TIA!

 

[gigi1313]

last i was there i think it was the "small pathetic ones" although i have never used it... i remember having to unplug it because the light glowed and reflected off the mirror and annoyed me! (LOL?!)

 

[Venomhatch]

I'll be arriving at POR in a few short days and I have one little question that maybe someone (hopefully) can answer. What kind of hair dryers are in the rooms? Are they those small pathetic white ones mounted on the wall or the larger ones in a bag? TIA!

They are the tiny mounted ones, sorry.