Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[rockin2it]

Don't forget 27 is a Preferred Location, 38 is not - but as you have paid for River View that might override the Preferred status for the directly river-facing rooms. See what they say at check-in.

Andre

Ok thanks! Last year we stayed at CBR and paid for water view. We ended up getting a preferred room so maybe that applies at POR too.

 

[skater]

Oh, thanks for the pool picture. Had somewhat of a rough day and I needed to see that ! Hopefully we'll be swimming in that pool by Wednesday night .

 

[Venomhatch]

Building 14 is AWESOME! We stayed in building 14 in Jan (BTW - half of the building was undegoing refurb at the time)

It's the closest to the Resturants and lobby.

I don't think they were under going the same refurb they are doing now. They mentioned to me they had just put in new carpets and shampooed them the day before we got in there.

 

[Venomhatch]

Ok thanks! Last year we stayed at CBR and paid for water view. We ended up getting a preferred room so maybe that applies at POR too.

Yeah that is what they did to me also. That's how I ended up in building 14.

 

[3sweetpeas]

So fun! Great pics! My 10 year old daughter looked over my shoulder at this pic and said Ohhhh!!! I wish we were going now!

We have 6 more months Thanks for the fun reminders!

 

[ShhhQ]

There seem to be several 'levels' of Accessible rooms now, some have the roll-in shower and some have a tub/shower, but in all cases they seem to have one solid door into the whole vanity/bath/WC area, and only a single sink. Most now seem to have two queen beds (rather than the one King before).

They also all seem to have some extra space around the main entrance door area which has been created by removing the angled/recessed section of wall by the door. This creates a bit more space to store an ECV/etc. I spoke to one of the resort managers about this who said they would have loved to have been able to do this for all rooms, but cost-wise (and presumably time-wise) it would have been prohibitive as that work is structural rather than just decor.

Andre

We always stay in an accessible room (for DM, she uses an electric w/c... while I rent an ecv), but have never been to POR. Some just have raised toilets, others railings, and then the roll-ins. At POP they only have them with kings, at other resorts it may be different. Last year we stayed at ASSp, we originally got a room with just railings and a king size bed. However, after DM complained, we were moved to a roll-in room with double beds... in the preferred section too! This room had what you described with the recessed area removed. I really can't say if it made a difference in the room, not noticable anyway (however, values are smaller rooms anyway). The biggest drawback to it was that it was harder to manuever the ecv in the doorway... very awkward and ended up getting frustrated until I got the hang of it. Had to be very careful not to run it off the edge of the sidewalk while turning as well.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

You can also fit a Pack'Play very nicely into the vanity area, which is great as you can close the curtain when you want to get the little one to sleep and still use the rest of the room.



My DD loves the Ol' Man Island main pool (and while the POFQ slide very pretty to look at, the POR one is actually twice as long and more fun to ride) but as you say, if the six pools around POR are not quite what you want you are also able to use the POFQ one too. It's about a ten minute walk, or take the boat. There is a changing area there if you don't want to ride back in wet swimwear.



Yup, it's quite common. The slight recess by each doorway makes a lovely place to sit out. Because there are lots of access pathways and stairwells into each building, you don't get many people walking past you along the walkway either, it's actually very pleasant.

Andre

Thanks for the responses, Andre. Sounds like POR will suit us well!

I second everything Andre said above and thought I would add that my kids really enjoy the pool. They have been to the Kidani pool, the CBR pool and they like the POR pool best. We haven't used the French Quarter pool yet, maybe this year. Olivia just walked in and said she really like the tunnel slide? at CBR pool. Our goal is SAB pool soon but the kids like all the other pools almost the same. Hope this helps

That makes me feel better. Thank you!

Well, yes they will. We just returned and we stayed in Magnolia Terrace while they were refurbing the building, they had 1/2 of it complete, and we stayed in one of those rooms, while they gated off the other 1/2 and worked on it. I've got firsthand experience of them doing this. Construction noise wasn't too bad but we did hear some.

We stayed at AKL Jambo when they were just finishing up the refurbs there a few years back. We got a newly refurbed room. The girl at check in told me that they had just opened up some of them that day but they were not all ready to be open. I think if they need some, and they will open the ones that are ready. So, she might get lucky if she asks.

 

[mamathompson]

Which building would you request in AB? I have not paid for a preferred but really dont' want to be looking at a parking lot if at all possible and I would like to be as close as I can to the main buildings. Thanks for the input!

 

[Toy Story]

Hi, We have booked for April 2012, in a Royal Room - Garden View. I was told the rooms would be in Parterre Place or Oak Manor.

I did not request a specific building at the time when I booked. We stayed in Magnolia Building last time, and thought it was a great location.

Should I be requesting a specific building or garden view room? I don't want to be looking at the car-park - is there a chance this will happen?

 

[andrewilley]

Very neat idea, Andre! I can guess where some of them are, but I can't say for sure. It is a good reminder to stop and take the time to really look at all the details.

I've just added some more photo quiz pics, there are 20 now which seems like a good number. If everyone thinks the balance is right now, I'll create a printable PDF version which might be fun for people to take with them to the resort for the kids to play.

Latest version at http://www.portorleans.org/scavenger-hunt.php (only first pic shows answer at present).

Andre

 

[Linda67]

Hi everyone
What a great thread!
I really want to try and catch Bob Jackson on our next trip
Does he do more than one show a night?
I noticed in the first post that he plays at 8.30 Weds - Sat
Is that the only show each night or is there a later one?
Thanks all

 

[MomofMy2Princesses]

Just booked our first stay at POR - I am so excited!!! Only 371 more days to go - how am I ever going to make it that long????

I booked a preferred room and requested building 14. Is there really a 'bad room' in 14? I'm not sure by looking at the pictures of the resort, but do any of the rooms face a parking lot?

I've never requested any type of room, except the last time at POR, I requested the mansion section. I have always gotten something great! We don't spend much time in our room, so the view isn't that important to us. The last 2 times in WDW, we were literally steps from a quiet pool, with a standard view.

 

[rubysparkles]

Just booked an 11 night solo trip! In a King room. From 31st October, so excited!!!

 

[Venomhatch]

Just booked an 11 night solo trip! In a King room. From 31st October, so excited!!!

Cool, hope you have fun.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

Just booked an 11 night solo trip! In a King room. From 31st October, so excited!!!

WOW! An 11 night solo trip? Sounds soooo fun!

 

[andrewilley]

I really want to try and catch Bob Jackson on our next trip
Does he do more than one show a night?
I noticed in the first post that he plays at 8.30 Weds - Sat
Is that the only show each night or is there a later one?

His show lasts all night until midnight, with a half-hour break around 10pm. I have no idea where the man gets all his energy from, but he could run rings around even the most hyperactive kids!

If you arrive well before the show starts you'll get a good seat/table (it's casual lounge/bar seating) but even if you turn up later you'll still be able to join in at the back, or take up a table as families start to take the little ones to bed.

Andre

 

[mommyi55]

I am a first time poster and long time lurker leaving for our vacation in 12 days. We have a king room reserved for my DH and myself. I would love a refurbed room but don't want a parking lot view. Does anyone know of a good building to request? We don't mind walking far and would prefer a water view if possible. I love the boards and look forward to your responses!

 

[andrewilley]

I am a first time poster and long time lurker leaving for our vacation in 12 days. We have a king room reserved for my DH and myself. I would love a refurbed room but don't want a parking lot view. Does anyone know of a good building to request? We don't mind walking far and would prefer a water view if possible. I love the boards and look forward to your responses!

You need to ask for Acadian House (80) or Magnolia Terrace (85) as these are now fully refurbished. River view is a bookable category, so you'll have to ask if they can add that to a King Room for you.

Andre

 

[nkereina]

Hi, We have booked for April 2012, in a Royal Room - Garden View. I was told the rooms would be in Parterre Place or Oak Manor.

I did not request a specific building at the time when I booked. We stayed in Magnolia Building last time, and thought it was a great location.

Should I be requesting a specific building or garden view room? I don't want to be looking at the car-park - is there a chance this will happen?

Oak Manor is adjacent to Magnolia Terrace, so not much further of a walk in either direction. You can put in a request for garden view or river view, but there's no way to guarantee it with booking a royal room, to my knowledge. You could be in a room at the back of the building, depending on how full those buildings are.

 

[3sweetpeas]

I've just added some more photo quiz pics, there are 20 now which seems like a good number. If everyone thinks the balance is right now, I'll create a printable PDF version which might be fun for people to take with them to the resort for the kids to play.

Latest version at http://www.portorleans.org/scavenger-hunt.php (only first pic shows answer at present).

Andre

If you're interested in a kind of newbie who mostly lurks input on this....my family loves scavenger hunts and will really enjoy this game when we go. I could only guess at 2 or 3 so it's challenging which is good. Thanks for doing the work on this. It was a very clever idea.