Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[Cupcake Princess]

We are going with some friends who are desperately trying to get a refurbished room, but we don't care! I requested AB because we are a party of 5- even tho the twins don't really count since they are considered infants. In reality I don't care where we are- I am just happy to be at WDW!!

Yah, I am totally quoting myself. My BFF who is LURKING (Hi Mel! ) on these boards called me out on her being desperate. She said she isn't desperate for a refurbed room but is "wishing strongly" for one.

Phew glad I cleared that up.

 

[Stini228]

Yay for the pictures! Very nice,,REALLY hope we get a new room in Oct!!

 

[jennabcassell]

I'm here! I'm here! We got here at 8am and the lobby was vacant!! I went straight to the online check-in( that we always do) and they had everything ready for us including our room!!! Score!! I had paid for a water view room and when I got in the room we had a sliver Of a pool view and the laundry!! (room 9086) We headed to the pArks and the whole time I kept thinking that I didn't spend an extra $30 to look at the laundry. So when we came back now for a break I decided to ask the desk if they had :another room they could move me to. ( I never like to complain because I'm usually on the receiving end of those complaints!) the cm was very polite and got on the phone And found us another room. When I got to the new room (8272) I didn't think much of the new view but when I opened the door it was a refurbished room!!! Score ! The view is still bad even on the second floor but I'll take it!

 

[Missytara]

I'm here! I'm here! We got here at 8am and the lobby was vacant!! I went straight to the online check-in( that we always do) and they had everything ready for us including our room!!! Score!! I had paid for a water view room and when I got in the room we had a sliver Of a pool view and the laundry!! (room 9086) We headed to the pArks and the whole time I kept thinking that I didn't spend an extra $30 to look at the laundry. So when we came back now for a break I decided to ask the desk if they had another room they could move me to. ( I never like to complain because I'm usually on the receiving end of those complaints!) the cm was very polite and got on the phone And found us another room. When I got to the new room (8272) I didn't think much of the new view but when I opened the door it was a refurbished room!!! Score !

Congratulations! From Andre's site, it looks like you are on the second floor, facing either a wooded area or an open area looking towards AB????

 

[Smile4Me]

The queen bed sizes were fine. Mattresses were nice, but the pillows were awful - they really needed to be broken in.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow. I only had my iPhone, so don't expect the best quality.

Pictures as promised. We forgot the nice camera, so the quality isn't the best:

The bathroom sink & mirrors:

Bath:

Table and Chairs:

Bed with Murals in the headboard:

Mural closeups:

I forgot to get a picture of the Dresser and TV.

A few complaints, all minor:
- The TV was not working, the remote had no batteries and it would not turn on with the buttons on the TV. I called maintenance and they put in some batteries when we were at the park, but the TV still did not turn on. I traced the power cord to behind the mini-fridge. Removing the fridge, I could see the TV's power cord was under the dresser - I had to lift the dresser and pull out the smashed cord, reform it a bit, and plug it in myself. After that, all was good.

- It looked like there was mouse feces (how appropriate) on a part of the shower curtain. This is probably because they were in a storeroom previously.

All in all it was a nice stay that smelled like paint. I'll go again.

Thanks OrlandoUnited! Did you feel like the rooms were cramped at all cause of the queen beds?! I love the new bedspreads! And the details in the headboards are such a nice Disney surprise!!!

Thanks for the pics. I'm at Riverside (Alligator Bayou) now, so will see what else I can get too.

Andre

YAY! Thank you!!

Trust me, I work in construction management and something is overlooked every time. There is no such thing as a perfect project. Especially right now, with the economy, you have twice as many people bidding on jobs as you used to. They are undercutting their prices, just trying to get the job and make their payroll. Then they make the guys in the field make up for it. It has been running rampant like this for the past few years since the economy tanked.

Tara, you hit it right on! I work in event planning and fundraising and have this happen all the time. There is so much to do all the time that something is bound to be overlooked! You just hope its nothing major. It seems like the same amount of people (or less ) are being asked to do more,,,with less all the time!

I need a vacation just thinking about it!!

 

[jennabcassell]

Congratulations! From Andre's site, it looks like you are on the second floor, facing either a wooded area or an open area looking towards AB????

Yes 2nd floor. No I'm on the other side of the building facing the pool. I have a " water view". Or should I say a sliver of water! I would skip the water view category and go for river view if you want water!!

 

[OrlandoUnited]

Thanks OrlandoUnited! Did you feel like the rooms were cramped at all cause of the queen beds?! I love the new bedspreads! And the details in the headboards are such a nice Disney surprise!!!

I hadn't stayed at POR with the smaller beds, but now that I think about it, there is only two feet between the two beds, and maybe 8 inches between the bed on the right and the wall shared with the bathroom. Plenty of room between the beds and the dresser and the left bed and the door.

 

[Stan Solo]

We have been to Disney at least yearly and I have never used online check in. I usually am all over things like that, and always use car rental companies that let you do everything online and just go to your car or a kiosk instead of waiting in line. However, as we always have tons of requests I've hesitated to use it with Disney and as a result never have. I would be interested to hear others experiences with online check in and requests. I know that almost every time we've checked in I've had the cast member looking at the computer and offering different room options, and we have rarely just kept the room we were initially assigned. I put all of the requests on our reservation, but the initial room we are assigned still often doesn't fulfil them but they are able to fill all or at least most after changing the room. We've done this with AKL, WL, POR, POFQ, and PC and were able to get nearly all of our requests all but once. Only a couple of times did we get what I considered the "perfect" room, but as I'm pretty specific I consider that great. The other times we just couldn't get the exact building we wanted with an outside corner room on the second floor garden view at POR (which will become a new category with an additional price as of next year), or a direct lake view at WL, but we always got a room we loved that worked out great.

That ended up quite tangential, but long story short I don't use online check in as I was concerned that would interfere with requests and we would end up back at the front desk unhappy with our room location and changing. We try to check in early, and when they change our room assignment I assume if the resort is busy they must then also change someone who will be checking in later in the day. So I always presued checking in later in the day would limit the options, and I know people have moved the next morning but I like to get unpacked and settle in so avoid that if at all possible.

has anyone used online check in with a lot of requests? How did that go?


However it all works out, any night at any room POR or WL is better than a night in PA!

I think I going to do it your way and avoid the online check in. From what I've seen on this site it seams to work better with face to face check in.

 

[Stan Solo]

Hey OrlandoUnited

Thanks for posting the pictures! You just got me (if it's possible) even more excited about our upcoming trip! Here have a free Mickey bar...:

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Pictures as promised. We forgot the nice camera, so the quality isn't the best:

Thank you!

I really like them so far!

 

[KCmike]

Beautiful. I want to stay there all the time and never leave.

Thanks!!

 

[Rekenna]

Thanks for the pics. I'm at Riverside (Alligator Bayou) now, so will see what else I can get too.

Andre

Andre!! So jealous and excited for you at the same time. I hope you have a WONDERFUL TRIP! You deserve it-especially with all the hard work you put into the threads for both POR and POFQ and your website.

I just wanted to say-Thanks, have a fun, safe and relaxing trip, and I can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[Travel Mum]

We are checking on on 9/29 as well!

We actually paid for the preferred AB rooms, so we will be in the same part of the resort.

I see you are from Wellington, NZ! I work for a company that put in the computer system in the Wellington library (I'm in Denver, CO). I have been to your fair city on a number of occasions (most recently, June 2010). I have to say, your city and country very beautiful, and most of all, everybody's hospitable!

Oh wow, that is amazing that you have been to Wellington! Also, I have actually just got back from our local library getting some books out

Wish we could have booked preffered rooms but, as you can imagine coming from this far away, this trip is already costing us a fortune so just couldn't justify spending more on that

 

[Missytara]

Yes 2nd floor. No I'm on the other side of the building facing the pool. I have a " water view". Or should I say a sliver of water! I would skip the water view category and go for river view if you want water!!

I always booked water view and requested Oak Manor near the pool. I almost always got it.

This year, I was sort-of bummed when they told me I was in Parterre Place. Ugh. I pictured being in the farthest room next to the pool.

No way! I got riverview, right on the end of the farthest wing, and I wasn't 30 feet from the river bank. Corner room, king bed, etc. It was heavenly.

Quite frankly, I must admit I am one of the first ones that jumps on the "how do we get a free upgrade" question and break the news that it rarely happens.

But this trip I noted on our ressie that someone in our party is returning home from Afghanistan right before we are leaving for our trip. We booked standard, since it was what they could afford, and then I snagged free dining.

I am really hoping for a bit of pixie dust and getting one of the refurbed rooms; I stayed at Acadian House one year and really loved it.

 

[Drscholls]

The queen bed sizes were fine. Mattresses were nice, but the pillows were awful - they really needed to be broken in.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow. I only had my iPhone, so don't expect the best quality.

Are the trumble beds gone?

 

[Missytara]

Are the trumble (sic) beds gone?

The refurb work has only been done in the Mansions; there is no confirmation on how the trundle beds will be handled in AB. The only confirmation from Disney about the queen beds is in the royal rooms in two of the mansion buildings; that is it for concrete info.

Andre is working on getting some concrete info from the resort this week, so only time will tell if we can find out.

 

[Venomhatch]

Are the trumble beds gone?

Thats what I heard!

 

[Motherof3wifeof1]

I Love Love this Forum....
So excited about our stay at POR starting Oct 2nd!
We have a large party of 27! Yes 27!
7 Rooms & 27 people.....
Any advice from all you smart DISers?
I've been making all the ressies & am trying so hard to
make it a wonderful vaction for everyone

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I was booking a short trip at POP Dec 2nd-5th, DH looked at pop and shook his head...so he upgraded us to POR!!!! YAY! I get to stay there soon!!! Nothing bad about values...just dont think they are for us.

 

[Chicago Mo]

I Love Love this Forum....
So excited about our stay at POR starting Oct 2nd!
We have a large party of 27! Yes 27!
7 Rooms & 27 people.....
Any advice from all you smart DISers?
I've been making all the ressies & am trying so hard to
make it a wonderful vaction for everyone

Is there a TR? what are the ages of everyone involved?