Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[andrewilley]

So, the buildings have been wired for wifi and it will be activated sometime in late January.

A little dickie-bird has just whispered to me that we might even see free wi-fi a little earlier than that... Let's put it this way, if you're staying at the resort today you might be in for a surprise...

(I assume there will be a test-and-adjust phase, but I wonder who of our current DISers staying at the resort will be the first to check it out?)

Andre

 

[buckeev]

Lol...another dickie bird told me when bldg 14 is finished, it will "open live" for wifi (probably not as reliable as Andrew's birdies though)...there's also a lot of activity on 27...they are kickin' bootie down here!
Bonus "live coverage" ...we have already found two new "hidden Mickey's"!
The weather is fantastic...no Frostbite this year!

 

[Venomhatch]

Lol...another dickie bird told me when bldg 14 is finished, it will "open live" for wifi (probably not as reliable as Andrew's birdies though)...there's also a lot of activity on 27...they are kickin' bootie down here!
Bonus "live coverage" ...we have already found two new "hidden Mickey's"!
The weather is fantastic...no Frostbite this year!

Hints to where they are?

 

[andrewilley]

Lol...another dickie bird told me when bldg 14 is finished, it will "open live" for wifi

And 14 was scheduled to re-open tomorrow-ish, so that all ties in rather nicely. Let us know if you find a wi-fi signal as you wander around, and if it works of course.

If you have time, could you maybe have a stroll over to see if 39 is also done (or almost done)? I wonder if they just did 36, 37 and 38 and then moved on to 14 instead of 39?

Hope you are having a great time,

Andre

 

[canadianmom2three]

Wow, great news about the wi-fi!!!!
We're leaving tomorrow - just finishing up the last minute packing etc. today

 

[Missytara]

Hints to where they are?

I can tell you a series of them I found two weeks ago; the new large shower head - the water sprays out from a ring of mickeys.......

 

[andrewilley]

Wow, great news about the wi-fi!!!!

We don't know many details yet, such as how widespread or complete the service will be to start with, but it's pretty exciting news anyway!

Please let us know more when you arrive tomorrow - ideally via wi-fi of course!

Andre

 

[jen42002]

We are heading to WDW and staying at POR 1/7-1/15. This will be our first stay at POR and I've requested a mansion building - Magnolia Terrace. For all you experienced POR guests, what is the typical wait times for the buses to the four parks? Is there a bus stop that is better than another? I know that at some resorts, some stops are the last on the line and the buses fill up before they get to certain stops. I know we will be there in low crowd times, but it's free dining, so maybe the crowds will be more than we've had in the past.

We stayed in Magnolia Terrace in August during the first week of free dining which is normally very busy. Despite that fact, our wait times for the buses were never longer than 15 minutes. We mostly used the North Depot since it was nearer to our room.

 

[Missytara]

We stayed in Magnolia Terrace in August during the first week of free dining which is normally very busy. Despite that fact, our wait times for the buses were never longer than 15 minutes. We mostly used the North Depot since it was nearer to our room.

Whether I go solo or with a group, I always manage to eat breakfast in the main building and return in the early evening to the lounge, always via the South Depot.

This year, we were in the Acadian House and they preferred to eat light breakfasts and stop for CS for lunch and TS for dinner. We used the North depot in the morning and the group used it each night to return to go to the pool; while I used the North depot to go back to the lounge. A few times, I met them later in the parks, and used the North Depot to go to the parks.

I was very pleased with the service at the North Depot; it seemed you never waited more than 10 - 15 minutes at the most for a bus. And there wasn't the normal stampede that often occurs at the South depot in the morning hours.

 

[KCmike]

Finishing out the "Quiet Pool" shots...

Again one of several shots in this area.

 

[Disneymaddness]

Finishing out the "Quiet Pool" shots...

Again one of several shots in this area.

I am loving these shots. This was our quiet pool when we stayed there last summer. Thanks!

 

[masim]

Am considering a stay at POR, driving and not needing the bus. How close is the car parking to the buildings? Does each building have it's own parking lot?

 

[andrewilley]

Am considering a stay at POR, driving and not needing the bus. How close is the car parking to the buildings? Does each building have it's own parking lot?

Parking is very close to many of the buildings (the parking lots go all around the perimeter of the resort, so a number of the buildings actually back onto the parking lots):

A few of the Alligator buildings are closer to the center of the resort and so are a little further from the car parking, but not too far. See the map in the first post in this thread.

Andre

 

[Missytara]

Parking is very close to many of the buildings (the parking lots go all around the perimeter of the resort, so a number of the buildings actually back onto the parking lots):

A few of the Alligator buildings are closer to the center of the resort and so are a little further from the car parking, but not too far. See the map in the first post in this thread.

Andre

That is exactly where we were at Acadian House; we were in 8085 and 8086 right on the other corner.

We had two smokers, so they hung out in the parking lot and smoked away from the building. There were maybe five cars there all week.

 

[canadianmom2three]

We don't know many details yet, such as how widespread or complete the service will be to start with, but it's pretty exciting news anyway!

Please let us know more when you arrive tomorrow - ideally via wi-fi of course!

Andre

Unfortunately we're driving, so leaving tomorrow (after work) means we won't actually get there until really really late Saturday night....but I'm sure my oldest will be busy scoping out wi-fi areas as soon as he gets a chance!

 

[andrewilley]

Wow, great news about the wi-fi!!!!

A bit of info I picked up from another source indicates that the current wi-fi may only cover the lobby, entranceway, bus stops and main pool area (a service which is also launching at other WDW resorts) rather than full resort-wide in-room access just yet... We'll know soon enough anyway.

I do know it's definitely working in the main building now though. (Thanks! )

Andre

 

[Stan Solo]

Parking is very close to many of the buildings (the parking lots go all around the perimeter of the resort, so a number of the buildings actually back onto the parking lots):

Andre

Now that what I call keep an eye on your car view!

 

[poconopixie]

Maybe you could help me. Trying to decide on new camera. If you want to pm me. Choices nikon cool pix p500, or canno sx40hs. Of course want for Disney pics , kids sports, & kids stills. Researching online soooo confusing.

Me too, me too!

I need advice for my daughter. I have a tween who takes amazing photos with a cheap point and shoot and she is insisting on upgrading her camera. She is only 10, so I am pretty adamant that she is not ready for an SLR even though she really wants the Nikon 5100.

I am thinking a bridge camera would be appropriate and have looked at the panasonic models. Advice?

I know she sounds young, but her photography is shockingly mature.

 

[Venomhatch]

Me too, me too!

I need advice for my daughter. I have a tween who takes amazing photos with a cheap point and shoot and she is insisting on upgrading her camera. She is only 10, so I am pretty adamant that she is not ready for an SLR even though she really wants the Nikon 5100.

I am thinking a bridge camera would be appropriate and have looked at the panasonic models. Advice?

I know she sounds young, but her photography is shockingly mature.

Pmed you.

 

[Drscholls]

A little dickie-bird has just whispered to me that we might even see free wi-fi a little earlier than that... Let's put it this way, if you're staying at the resort today you might be in for a surprise...

(I assume there will be a test-and-adjust phase, but I wonder who of our current DISers staying at the resort will be the first to check it out?)

Andre

WDW News already has POR as having it.


http://wdwnewstoday.com/archives/8400