Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[KAE2008]

Just got back from an amzaing 6 night stay at POR. It was supposed to be 3 nights but our flight on Sat. got cancelled due to the storm in the Northeast so I rebooked 3 more nights after checking out. We had boarded the plane when we found out it was cancelled. So....

we have a new favorite Moderate. We just loved POR!!! The first 3 nights I had requested Magnolia Bend but we were in Oak Manor (very close to main bldg) room # 9208. Great location.

The last 3 nights we were in AB Bldg 34, corner room, king bed. The best thing about this bldg is it is maybe a 1 minute walk to bus stop (west). It was great. It was maybe a 5 min. walk to main bldg. So quiet & lush.

I can tell you they are refurb. bldg 36 right now.

I took a TON of pics & when I get settled I will start posting.

Looking forward to your photos!
I'm going back to WDW in 24 days and can't wait to see POR again.
Hoping to pick up a new POR hat. I had to retire the old one - too worn out.
Did you notice any POR merchandise at Fulton’s?

 

[disneyfan61]

Looking forward to your photos!
I'm going back to WDW in 24 days and can't wait to see POR again.
Hoping to pick up a new POR hat. I had to retire the old one - too worn out.
Did you notice any POR merchandise at Fulton’s?

The only thing I noticed were pins that said POR. I didn't look at the hats in detail though so they may have some.

 

[KAE2008]

The only thing I noticed were pins that said POR. I didn't look at the hats in detail though so they may have some.

Well, if I can't find anything while I'm there I can always look online.
Thanks for your help!

 

[bethjones]

Does anyone know if any of the quiet pools are closed? I don't want to get blindsided when we check in on Friday-since we want to swim every day.
Beth

 

[andrewilley]

Does anyone know if any of the quiet pools are closed? I don't want to get blindsided when we check in on Friday-since we want to swim every day.
Beth

All open at the moment I think. There are six pools at POR though, so you should be OK even if one happens to be closed.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

All open at the moment I think. There are six pools at POR though, so you should be OK even if one happens to be closed.

Andre

Yeah your right I don't believe I have ever heard them closing all pools at one time.

 

[MAGGIED]

I just want to say I am sooooooo excited to go on this trip... I keep changes things.... now over to update the pre-trip report with the changes....

 

[Magalex]

We are looking forward to trip in June 2012 (8th-16th). I would love to stay at POR. How far will they be completed on the AB section of the resort in June? Of course I would hope for a renovated room. I wouldn't even mind if it was the farthest building out on the property. That has never bother us before.

 

[lady1023]

hey everyone!
i just returned last night from a 4 night stay at POR and it was great as always! We were in room 9287 in Oak Manor and even though it wasn't a refurbed room it was still nice since it was a corner room. I did request a refurbed room but i didn't want to complain and also after being up over 24 hours any room was fine! also i am returning to POR next year so it gives me something to look forward to!

the buses were great except for one night where we had to wait for half an hour for a bus to DTD but i didn't mind since i have experience far worse when staying at some of the values on past trips. the food court was delicious! i had pizza (which i did not find as greasy as the pizzas in the park) and my mom and sister had the make your own pasta station which they loved. i will stay at POR over any deluxe just for the food court alone!

mousekeeping was good we had the standard mickey head towel animal when we arrived and we also got a swan one night which was a nice surprise. all of the toiletries were always stocked and they even made the bed like they do for turndown service which i was a little surprised at.

if anyone has any questions feel free to ask!

 

[mommyof3princess27]

hey everyone!
i just returned last night from a 4 night stay at POR and it was great as always! We were in room 9287 in Oak Manor and even though it wasn't a refurbed room it was still nice since it was a corner room. I did request a refurbed room but i didn't want to complain and also after being up over 24 hours any room was fine! also i am returning to POR next year so it gives me something to look forward to!

the buses were great except for one night where we had to wait for half an hour for a bus to DTD but i didn't mind since i have experience far worse when staying at some of the values on past trips. the food court was delicious! i had pizza (which i did not find as greasy as the pizzas in the park) and my mom and sister had the make your own pasta station which they loved. i will stay at POR over any deluxe just for the food court alone!

mousekeeping was good we had the standard mickey head towel animal when we arrived and we also got a swan one night which was a nice surprise. all of the toiletries were always stocked and they even made the bed like they do for turndown service which i was a little surprised at.

if anyone has any questions feel free to ask!

YAY! SO glad you loved it! DH and I are headed down for 4 days in..........................29 DAYS!!!!!!

 

[kathylovesmatt]

We were at POR 2 weeks ago, I didn't notice any merchanise specific to the resort; except an ocasional magnet.

 

[KAE2008]

We were at POR 2 weeks ago, I didn't notice any merchanise specific to the resort; except an ocasional magnet.

That's a shame. When I was there in 2008 I saw hoodies and t-shirts with the resort name on them. Didn't have enough room in my suitcase, so I just got the hat. I remember thinking: "next time..."

 

[myladyisatramp]

We will be there Feb 13th for 4 days.. can't wait have never stayed here,looking forward to it..

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Andre or anyone, can you tell me aprox. how long it takes to ride on the boats to Downtown Disney? I'm thinking of heading to DTD to eat at Wolfgang Puck Express for breakfast on the day we are leaving for the Port, but I don't want to end up being too pushed for time. Also, does anyone know what times the boats run beginning in the am and ending in the pm? Thanks so much for an amazing source of information. I have to keep re-reading it to remember all of the details.

 

[Venomhatch]

Andre or anyone, can you tell me aprox. how long it takes to ride on the boats to Downtown Disney? I'm thinking of heading to DTD to eat at Wolfgang Puck Express for breakfast on the day we are leaving for the Port, but I don't want to end up being too pushed for time. Also, does anyone know what times the boats run beginning in the am and ending in the pm? Thanks so much for an amazing source of information. I have to keep re-reading it to remember all of the details.

If I remember my previous trips there about 15-20 minutes depending on the stop at POFQ.

 

[andrewilley]

20 mins or so from POR to DTD by boat (once you're on the boat that is, but remember you may not be able to catch the next one).

Boats run from 10am until 11pm; every 20 mins until around 4.30pm, then every 10 mins. If you miss the last boat back, there are buses until much later.

Andre

 

[happy_momma]

Has anybody used the jogging trails? I'm curious about what they are like? I've only ever been to CSR before and they have a gym there as well as the lake you can jog around but I remember reading somewhere that the jogging paths in POR are specific paths. Any help would be appreciated.

I used them a couple of times when we were there in August. It was a nice little run - twice around was about 6k. It's the same idea as the paths at CSR - goes over to POFQ and around Riverside, and it's just the path that runs around the resort, not a specific jogging path.

 

[sarahbug79]

I have been reading this thread for a few months. We are now a little over 3 weeks away. I have seen people mentioning calling to make their requests. We did select online to have connecting rooms but I know there is no guarantee. We fly in late not arriving to MCO until 9:45pm. The other family comes in the next day around 1pm. Will our odds of connecting rooms be possible? We both have 5 people so we will be in AB and we aren't preferred. They aren't expecting to have refurbished rooms done in AB by the end of November are they? Is it worth calling and if so when?

 

[bethjones]

We're getting in tomorrow night! Can't wait! I'll see if I can snag some stealth pix of building 36 refurbs, since it will be the first AB building.
Beth

 

[andrewilley]

The other family comes in the next day around 1pm. Will our odds of connecting rooms be possible? We both have 5 people so we will be in AB and we aren't preferred. They aren't expecting to have refurbished rooms done in AB by the end of November are they? Is it worth calling and if so when?

Call (or fax) the resort a few days before you arrive, when they may be able to block out the rooms for you. No guarantees, but it can't hurt to ask.

Several AB buildings should be refurbished by the end of November, 36 and 37 certainly. However requesting those would reduce the chances of two connecting rooms being available for you (as otherwise they could look for rooms across the whole resort).

Andre