Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[bama-mom]

Since we have not stayed at POR before, I get so confused about the buildings, refurbs, etc.

We will be in a Royal Room in 95 days! What buildings will the RR's be located? I don't plan on doing any requests, we are okay if we have to walk some and will drive our car to the parks. Just wondering what buildings to look at on the resort map. It's fun trying to guess where we will be

 

[Venomhatch]

Since we have not stayed at POR before, I get so confused about the buildings, refurbs, etc.

We will be in a Royal Room in 95 days! What buildings will the RR's be located? I don't plan on doing any requests, we are okay if we have to walk some and will drive our car to the parks. Just wondering what buildings to look at on the resort map. It's fun trying to guess where we will be

These are the two buildings with red arrows. The whole buildings will be royal rooms.

Map belongs to PortOrleans.org, modified by myself with red arrows.

 

[shoney]

We check in on Feb 15th for 7 nights.

The first available night for Royal's is the 17th.


If they run ahead of schedule, would Disney adjust this date?

I'm assuming that some of the rooms might be completed by the 15th, however I also "assume" that if they are not officially booked (and have mousekeeping staffed, etc) that they will not put anyone in them until the official date.

Experts...what are your thoughts?

Do you think I have a chance of a royal (with paying for the upgrade) on the 15th?

 

[Missytara]

We check in on Feb 15th for 7 nights.

The first available night for Royal's is the 17th.

If they run ahead of schedule, would Disney adjust this date?

I'm assuming that some of the rooms might be completed by the 15th, however I also "assume" that if they are not officially booked (and have mousekeeping staffed, etc) that they will not put anyone in them until the official date.

Experts...what are your thoughts?

Do you think I have a chance of a royal (with paying for the upgrade) on the 15th?

Did all their materials get delivered on time? Is the contractor proceeding on schedule? Have they been impeded at all by the weather? Did Reedy Creek schedule a final walk-through for the certificate of occupancy on time? Do they have enough staff to do a final cleaning to get the rooms ready.

They plan on opening them on the 17th, because right now their construction schedule shows them being able to open them on the 17th. No one knows for sure except the experts that are running the construction projects and the CM's who ultimately accept the project as completed and open for business.

They accept reservations on the 17th because that is when they feel comfortable about opening the buildings back up for business; only they can determine when that will be.

We, as posters on the disboards, have no control over that. All I can say, if you wish a room before the royal rooms are open for business on the 17th, be prepared that no other rooms could be available before the 17th due to rooms being out of inventory, or if there is, you would potentially have to move on the 17th to the royal room.

They cannot open them to the public until Reedy Creek issues a final certificate of occupancy.

 

[Venomhatch]

Did all their materials get delivered on time? Is the contractor proceeding on schedule? Have they been impeded at all by the weather? Did Reedy Creek schedule a final walk-through for the certificate of occupancy on time? Do they have enough staff to do a final cleaning to get the rooms ready.

They plan on opening them on the 17th, because right now their construction schedule shows them being able to open them on the 17th. No one knows for sure except the experts that are running the construction projects and the CM's who ultimately accept the project as completed and open for business.

They accept reservations on the 17th because that is when they feel comfortable about opening the buildings back up for business; only they can determine when that will be.

We, as posters on the disboards, have no control over that. All I can say, if you wish a room before the royal rooms are open for business on the 17th, be prepared that no other rooms could be available before the 17th due to rooms being out of inventory, or if there is, you would potentially have to move on the 17th to the royal room.

They cannot open them to the public until Reedy Creek issues a final certificate of occupancy.

Also if the rooms are all booked for the 17th on and have no availability for the days after the 17th for them then that could be an issue also.

 

[Missytara]

Also if the rooms are all booked for the 17th on and have no availability for the days after the 17th for them then that could be an issue also.

Another good point.

I would say people, especially with the room discounts, are going to be scarfing up those rooms big time.

 

[shoney]

Did all their materials get delivered on time? Is the contractor proceeding on schedule? Have they been impeded at all by the weather? Did Reedy Creek schedule a final walk-through for the certificate of occupancy on time? Do they have enough staff to do a final cleaning to get the rooms ready.

They plan on opening them on the 17th, because right now their construction schedule shows them being able to open them on the 17th. No one knows for sure except the experts that are running the construction projects and the CM's who ultimately accept the project as completed and open for business.

They accept reservations on the 17th because that is when they feel comfortable about opening the buildings back up for business; only they can determine when that will be.

We, as posters on the disboards, have no control over that. All I can say, if you wish a room before the royal rooms are open for business on the 17th, be prepared that no other rooms could be available before the 17th due to rooms being out of inventory, or if there is, you would potentially have to move on the 17th to the royal room.

They cannot open them to the public until Reedy Creek issues a final certificate of occupancy.

I understand the construction industry..my husband works in the field.

Since Disney is taking reservations starting on the 17th, I would think they expect to fill these rooms and not disappoint their customers.

My question is has disney historically, changed checkin dates in the system for a new room category IF they were done ahead of schedule? Or are they set in stone?

This is a bit different than just a rehab of existing rooms....will I get a standard refurbed AB vs. not? scenerio. People have booked a standard room...so they can't or shouldn't be upset if it were a non-refurbed room...as long as they got there standard room disney has upheld their requirement.

I realize that no one but Disney knows the exact answers...just wondering if anyone has had experience with this type of situation at another propery.

 

[Missytara]

I realize that no one but Disney knows the exact answers...just wondering if anyone has had experience with this type of situation at another propery (sic).

Since you are posting on a thread regarding POR, you will only get responses from those who have stayed at POR. So far, on the guesstimated schedule, they have kept pretty much to schedule and make rooms available on a weekend, when most people check in.

If the rooms are available ahead of schedule (and that is a big IF), then they might make them available. It is a big might......then you will have to change your reservation, and you will pay full rack rate for the room. If you have booked with any discounts, then you will lose your discount, because it is a new reservation.

All you can do is ask at check-in, to see if there are rooms available, ask how much to pay for the upgrade and decide if it is worth it to you.

 

[Venomhatch]

I understand the construction industry..my husband works in the field.

Since Disney is taking reservations starting on the 17th, I would think they expect to fill these rooms and not disappoint their customers.

My question is has disney historically, changed checkin dates in the system for a new room category IF they were done ahead of schedule? Or are they set in stone?

This is a bit different than just a rehab of existing rooms....will I get a standard refurbed AB vs. not? scenerio. People have booked a standard room...so they can't or shouldn't be upset if it were a non-refurbed room...as long as they got there standard room disney has upheld their requirement.

I realize that no one but Disney knows the exact answers...just wondering if anyone has had experience with this type of situation at another propery.

Between the already reserved guests checking in on the 17th or so, and you wanting to switch to a room with royal theme they may not have the availability. For instance if you are staying til the 21st and there are people checking in from the 17th on to fill these rooms up they wont check you into a room that someone will turn around be checking into forcing you back out of those rooms. I know rooms like the river view theme will only have 8 of them. I have one reserved on the 24th. So I have a good bet those are all reserved already.

 

[Venomhatch]

I just checked and there is no availability except for Preferred and standard rooms during the dates of 17th through the 1st.

 

[Missytara]

I just checked and there is no availability except for Preferred and standard rooms during the dates of 17th through the 1st.

There you go; I think that totally answers the question; if there is no availability, then there is no option to upgrade at check-in.

I figured those rooms would go really, really fast; especially with all the events (cheerleading competitions, etc.) and the holiday in February; things are filled to capacity as it is.....

 

[Venomhatch]

There you go; I think that totally answers the question; if there is no availability, then there is no option to upgrade at check-in.

I figured those rooms would go really, really fast; especially with all the events (cheerleading competitions, etc.) and the holiday in February; things are filled to capacity as it is.....

Yeah I just read about the events in Feb. also. Sure hope my room isnt in danger of being sold from under us. I may have to do some clever negotiating then.

 

[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

sorry,just finally got a chance to sit down but there is free wi fi here and the new rooms are FANTASTIC. At epcot today for RD and got on test track and soarin twice each before leaving but the lines were pretty long after noon-thank goodness foe fp!Off to the pool,then to MK for EMH tonite.

 

[Muddypaws]

My question is has disney historically, changed checkin dates in the system for a new room category IF they were done ahead of schedule? Or are they set in stone?

I have wondered the same thing as we will be there shortly before the scheduled open. If Disney has booked reservations on those rooms starting on the 17th, then Disney is pretty darn sure that the rooms will be all finished by then. There is also the very distinct probability (even certainty, perhaps) that some of those Royal Rooms will be ready much earlier than that.

So the question really then comes down to....
Will Disney leave a finished and ready to occupy, and therefore able to generate revenue, hotel room sitting empty until Feb. 17th?

My guess (and I have no inside information of any kind so it really is a guess) is that I will be seeing people staying in the Royal Rooms before the 17th either through paying for the upgrade or being the recipient of pixie dust.

 

[Magalex]

Will all the AB buildings/rooms be renovated by June?

 

[Venomhatch]

I have wondered the same thing as we will be there shortly before the scheduled open. If Disney has booked reservations on those rooms starting on the 17th, then Disney is pretty darn sure that the rooms will be all finished by then. There is also the very distinct probability (even certainty, perhaps) that some of those Royal Rooms will be ready much earlier than that.

So the question really then comes down to....
Will Disney leave a finished and ready to occupy, and therefore able to generate revenue, hotel room sitting empty until Feb. 17th?

My guess (and I have no inside information of any kind so it really is a guess) is that I will be seeing people staying in the Royal Rooms before the 17th either through paying for the upgrade or being the recipient of pixie dust.

Well I said this about a few hrs ago. I checked and called to confirmed this.

I just checked and there is no availability except for Preferred and standard rooms during the dates of 17th through the 1st of March.

 

[pocahontasgal87]

we just book for next sept at the riverside resort this will be our second time at this resort(last time was 2005) sooooooooo excited to explore the resort once again

 

[Venomhatch]

we just book for next sept at the riverside resort this will be our second time at this resort(last time was 2005) sooooooooo excited to explore the resort once again

I am glad for ya. Congrats! I know you will love the new changes they have made to the resort recently.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

we just book for next sept at the riverside resort this will be our second time at this resort(last time was 2005) sooooooooo excited to explore the resort once again

What week? We are going Sept 2012 as well!

 

[Muddypaws]

Well I said this about a few hrs ago. I checked and called to confirmed this.

This only holds as valid if you make the assumption that everyone who stays at POR in the time period shortly before Feb. 17 is actually staying until a date after the 17th.