Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[Sue M]

We are coming in for our first POR trip on December 9th on FD. Have not requested river or water views or a preferred room. Family of 5, so we are AB bound.

So - I guess the decision that we are wrestling with.

Request Building 36 - be near a bus stop, but a long way away from everything else - but have a refurbished room!

Request someplace closer to the food court, main pool - but have an older room.

Pro's and cons?

Thanks!

I'd prob. go for the new room Some locations are more convenient then others, but unless you have mobility issues, no place is really that far from anything, IMO. One day we got off at the furthest bus stop so I could explore AB section- I've never looked around it, because we've only stayed in The Mansions. POR is such a beautiful resort, I never mind walking around it.

Always something new to explore. Last trip I went to the Fishing Hole! Not to fish, Beautiful spot, and had a fun, and informative talk with the CM there.

Maybe the new AB rooms will entice me to stay in that section. Wasn't a fan of the twig furniture.

 

[ellie&mattys mom]

A friend just came back a few days ago and stayed in Building 36!! She did not like her location and said it was far from everything! She suggested that we stay at POFQ as it looked more compact!!

We are in a preferred location for our stay in March/April and if I remember correctly isn't POR's slide a little longer than POFQ and my kids are older thinking they can get refill's for themselves!

thanks for listening lol!!

 

[GetGlowing]

Our King HA room #1601 had a single large bathroom with sliding door separating it from the bedroom.

Here are more photos of the room: link

I'm quoting my own post? Is that bad?

I added some more exterior photos to the link above. We did a circle around the resort in our car and I snapped pix of each section. They're all quite different.

The resort is VERY large, with four bus stops. We were South bus stop at the lobby, which was the final stop most times. One night when we hardly dropped off or picked up any passengers at the other stops, I watched the clock in the front of the bus and it took about ten minutes for the bus to circle back around to South. (We were so tired and it was a little tough to watch my room slip by outside the window on our way to the resort's first stop!)

 

[andrewilley]

A friend just came back a few days ago and stayed in Building 36!! She did not like her location and said it was far from everything! She suggested that we stay at POFQ as it looked more compact!!

We are in a preferred location for our stay in March/April and if I remember correctly isn't POR's slide a little longer than POFQ and my kids are older thinking they can get refill's for themselves!!

Yes, the POR slide is almost twice as long as the POFQ one.

You'll be fine in Preferred Rooms, but I'd agree that some of the other buildings are quite a walk - after all, how would they get away with charging extra for Preferred otherwise? I've turned down building 36 in the past when I was offered it at check-in. A general rule of thumb is that anything in the twenties or thirties is a fair old walk from the main building, except for 27 and 38.

Andre

 

[Travel Mum]

So, off your website Andre, is this the phone number to call?: 1-407-934-6000

We arrive next Thursday and it's so surreal because this trip-of-a-lifetime of ours, that has been two years in the planning, is nearly here! I did the online check in yesterday which was exciting but I was surprised that the "special requests" section was just a choice of 3 and no free format! I ticked ground floor(not that it really bothers me but, since it was there I ticked it as I presumed it was popular ) and a trundle bed (though, as we are a family of five, presume we will have one anyway) but I would really like to request Building 16.

Bump!

 

[andrewilley]

So, off your website Andre, is this the phone number to call?: 1-407-934-6000

Yes. Also listed in the first post of this thread too.

Andre

 

[DJT]

I'm quoting my own post? Is that bad?

I added some more exterior photos to the link above. We did a circle around the resort in our car and I snapped pix of each section. They're all quite different.

The resort is VERY large, with four bus stops. We were South bus stop at the lobby, which was the final stop most times. One night when we hardly dropped off or picked up any passengers at the other stops, I watched the clock in the front of the bus and it took about ten minutes for the bus to circle back around to South. (We were so tired and it was a little tough to watch my room slip by outside the window on our way to the resort's first stop!)

Your pictures are beautiful. I absolutely love the looks of AB but I requested Magnolia hoping for a refurbished room in about a month.

Donna

 

[CajunMomof3]

I added some more exterior photos to the link above. We did a circle around the resort in our car and I snapped pix of each section. They're all quite different.

On our last trip to POR we stayed in Magnolia Bend. I told DH just yesterday that I really hope we don't get Alligator Bayou this time. Your pics have made me change my mind! It looks beautiful! I guess I will leave it up to luck and not make a room request...

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Sorry, must interrupt.

I just went over to the unofficial thread and saw the 360 panoramic of the new rooms and OMG! I love them! I was not looking forward to seeing all of that purple, but the soft french blue color and the new curtains - they look lovely!

I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread and I thank you for your indulgence

Karen, I LOVE the new POR rooms too! Was also concerned it would be the purple and yellow like the FQ refurb, but River is so much nicer! Never wanted to stay in the Mansions, but the refurb changed my mind for sure!

 

[webstah]

Which one? lol!

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's
a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SExsuRIGAlg

 

[Venomhatch]

Karen, I LOVE the new POR rooms too! Was also concerned it would be the purple and yellow like the FQ refurb, but River is so much nicer! Never wanted to stay in the Mansions, but the refurb changed my mind for sure!

Yeah my first stay in POR was in the mansions, also the first time I stayed at POR, previously POFQ. Well that experience was a learning one, because I wasnt specific with them about my request so partially my fault. But after that I had my stuff together as to locations and placement. This time the only reason we are staying in Mansions is because of this coming trip we have reservations for Royal Themed - River View Rooms, so kinda have to stay in the mansions then. But looking forward to it.

Wish I knew if my new DSLR or even the Miss's P&S Camera can shoot something like what Andre did with the Virtual Room Tour he did on a refurbished room.

 

[Venomhatch]

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's
a sunny day, oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don't take my Kodachrome away

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SExsuRIGAlg

Ohhh wow, I love this. That's Nice. I don't know how many pics ill get to today. It is raining its but off here and into this weekend. But I will do some inside then.

 

[nkereina]

Checking into POR tomorrow!!!! I am arriving around 10:30am and have booked a king room and requested a corner refurb room. Against my own advice, I did do online check-in because I read some reports that last Saturday morning check-in at POR was crazy. I didn't want to be waiting in line for an hour. I'll let you know how it goes! See ya in a week

 

[Nefferz]

One more thing I remember from the trip.
On Tuesday, Sept 6th, they closed the pool between Magnolia Terrace and Acadian House for refurb. Apparently they are looking at making all the quiet pools at least, a maximum 4 ft depth.

Really? That stinks! My kids and I just got back from POR and my youngest LOVED the quiet pool because it had a 6' section (he's about 6'1") Does anyone know if this is a rumor or if it's been confirmed?

Subject change: I was told by two different CMs while there that the new AB rooms (at least some of them) would have queen beds as well as Murphy beds. That would take care of the loss of trundle bed thing. (My 17 year old son slept on one of those all week and loved it! He's about 5'10". His feet hung over the edge, but he was so tired he didn't care!)

Some of the AB refurbs were going as we were there- some of those lovely streams had been drained and workmen were painting and moving things in and out. We're going back in 2 years and hope to stay in 27. We were in 15 this time- it was lovely, but too close to the parking lot for me.

 

[Yarna]

Checking into POR tomorrow!!!! I am arriving around 10:30am and have booked a king room and requested a corner refurb room. Against my own advice, I did do online check-in because I read some reports that last Saturday morning check-in at POR was crazy. I didn't want to be waiting in line for an hour. I'll let you know how it goes! See ya in a week

Have a great time!!!

 

[Venomhatch]

Checking into POR tomorrow!!!! I am arriving around 10:30am and have booked a king room and requested a corner refurb room. Against my own advice, I did do online check-in because I read some reports that last Saturday morning check-in at POR was crazy. I didn't want to be waiting in line for an hour. I'll let you know how it goes! See ya in a week

Have a safe trip and a magical time! Hope you get your room that you want!

 

[KCmike]

 

[Rekenna]

Checking into POR tomorrow!!!! I am arriving around 10:30am and have booked a king room and requested a corner refurb room. Against my own advice, I did do online check-in because I read some reports that last Saturday morning check-in at POR was crazy. I didn't want to be waiting in line for an hour. I'll let you know how it goes! See ya in a week

YAY!!!

Travel safe and have fun!

 

[andrewilley]

Really? That stinks! My kids and I just got back from POR and my youngest LOVED the quiet pool because it had a 6' section (he's about 6'1") Does anyone know if this is a rumor or if it's been confirmed?

I rather doubt they are reducing the depth (certainly no one has told me that's the case) but I guess we'll see in a few weeks. The MB quiet pools are only 5ft anyway (the AB ones are 6ft) so it would seem a strange move... The refurb is only scheduled for a month, and I do know they're redoing some of the edging tiles/etc, but that sounds kinda short for major work like that.

And yes, the trundles in AB are apparently going to be replaced with a pull-down murphy style bed, which will be wall-mounted underneath the TV.

Andre

 

[cherylsmike]

I am devastated. I am finally in a position to upgrade to Riverside from Pop and there is no availability with the free dining discount. I checked online and called to verify. I will keep checking, but I am so sad . I have been checking almost daily and there has always been a couple of room types available. POFQ is booked up too. I hope somebody upgrades and makes room for us.