Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[Venomhatch]

If you already have reserved it, then I wouldn't worry about it. As Andre said, Oak Manor will be done by then and there will be river view rooms in Oak Manor. If they didn't anticipate this, they wouldn't allow booking for it. Currently, the refurbs have remained true to the tentative schedule.

It would be ever so nice if anyone that visits there can happen to look over in the direction of oak manor and see if they see anything being done as it gets closer.

 

[jen42002]

Posting this on the POR thread so I get opinions specific to POR

We are arriving in 15 days and have requested to be in Acadian House (like a few other DISers here!). We will be arriving at POR around 12:30 pm. Should I check in online or not? Seems to be a mixed bag of opinions on other threads. Wondering about everyone else's experience at POR. Did online checkin save you any time? Did it affect the requests you made or not?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Stan Solo]

Posting this on the POR thread so I get opinions specific to POR

We are arriving in 15 days and have requested to be in Acadian House (like a few other DISers here!). We will be arriving at POR around 12:30 pm. Should I check in online or not? Seems to be a mixed bag of opinions on other threads. Wondering about everyone else's experience at POR. Did online checkin save you any time? Did it affect the requests you made or not?

Thanks everyone!

I have the exact same question only we arive in 23 days. (jen42002 would you mind leaving me a towel animal in my room before you leave? ) I would much rather wait in line for a bit and get Acadian House. When you check in on line is their a spot where you can type in your preferred building?

 

[jen42002]

There is no spot online to put room requests, you need to call WDTC and have them note it. We have done that already so I'm not sure what the best route to go is? Hopefully someone has experience with this.

Not sure any towel animals left in our room would be in good shape after my 4 get a hold of them. I'll make sure to put in a good word, though

 

[nkereina]

It would be ever so nice if anyone that visits there can happen to look over in the direction of oak manor and see if they see anything being done as it gets closer.

Work is supposed to start in January. Keep checking this thread starting in January and I'm sure people will have updates. The royal rooms will be pretty popular.

To the above posters inquiring about online checkin, it makes no difference for your request if you check in online or not. It just depends on the time you arrive, occupancy rates, and exactly what your request is. The earlier you check in, the more likely you are to get your request if its available. A lot of people have reported not getting their requests with online check in, but it could be just a coincidence. To me, if your request is most important, you might as well just do regular check in because if the CM at the online check in counter needs to re-do your packet and folio to change your room, you just doubled your wait time.

 

[Stan Solo]

To the above posters inquiring about online checkin, it makes no difference for your request if you check in online or not. It just depends on the time you arrive, occupancy rates, and exactly what your request is. The earlier you check in, the more likely you are to get your request if its available. A lot of people have reported not getting their requests with online check in, but it could be just a coincidence. To me, if your request is most important, you might as well just do regular check in because if the CM at the online check in counter needs to re-do your packet and folio to change your room, you just doubled your wait time.

Thanks nkereina that is what I figured. I think I just try the regular check in. Hey standing in line will give us good practice for the rest of the week.

 

[pas130]

I am enjoying this thread, have to say it's my first visit to POR. Seemed like a nice place for DH and I to enjoy a long weeknd. We booked a King room. It's gonna be great

KCMike nice to see your pics here! I always enjoy them on the GF thread, so I have to tell you I am pleasantly surprised to see you here as well

Thank you all for this great info on POR

 

[Smile4Me]

Can't wait to see pictures of the refurbed rooms!!

 

[andrewilley]

It would be ever so nice if anyone that visits there can happen to look over in the direction of oak manor and see if they see anything being done as it gets closer.

Nothing will be done at Oak Manor until the New Year. Then it will be closed until 17 February, when it will re-open with Royal Rooms. Magic!

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

Yeah agree about me checking back as it gets closer.


About the online check in. I dont do it. But if i have a specific room request I fax it to their fax at the begining of this thread and make sure you word it kinda like this. Every time I send this letter I get what I want no problem. I call afterwards and confirm that they recieved it. I dont usually do this until maybe 2 weeks to a month a head.

Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort
Attn: Management
Thursday, February 04, 2011


Hello, and good day to you and your staff!

On February 13th, my Family and I will be spending our annual vacation in Walt Disney World at your beautiful resort. We are all looking forward to this trip from February 13th-20th with much excitement. We would be most grateful if you could possibly accommodate a few room requests.

Ideally, we’d love a room with a view of the riverboat docking areas and on the second floor, in either the magnolia or oak buildings. Room numbers in order of importance are at the bottom of the page.

What we would prefer, if it would be possible, is the following:

• Second or third floor room w/ balcony close to the water since we do have a reservation for a riverside water view room, with a view of the docks for the river boats. (Room 9274 would be exactly what we had in mind, however if it is unavailable more possibilities are listed at bottom of page.)

We will be arriving at your resort in just a few days, and would greatly appreciate any assistance you can provide in making our wonderful vacation more enjoyable and magical.

Sincerely,
?????????????????????????????
Reservation #: ???????????????
Home Address: ????????????????
Home Phone: ???-???-????
Email: ??????????@?????.com

ROOM NUMBERS REQUESTED:
List is highest desire first. All should be second floor rooms, Please!
1- 9274
2- 9271
3- 9242
4- 9239
5- 8774

• All should be a second floor room.

 

[nkereina]

About the online check in. I dont do it. But if i have a specific room request I fax it to their fax at the begining of this thread and make sure you word it kinda like this. Every time I send this letter I get what I want no problem. I call afterwards and confirm that they recieved it. I dont usually do this until maybe 2 weeks to a month a head.

It's been reported that since they switched to computer automated room assignments, they now disregard faxed room requests. You have to call and place your request through the phone so it can be notated on your reservation. I don't have any experience with faxing requests so not sure if there's anymore to this, but I suppose if you do both, the fax doesn't hurt anything.

 

[Venomhatch]

It's been reported that since they switched to computer automated room assignments, they now disregard faxed room requests. You have to call and place your request through the phone so it can be notated on your reservation. I don't have any experience with faxing requests so not sure if there's anymore to this, but I suppose if you do both, the fax doesn't hurt anything.

Yeah I didnt know about that. But I agree with you a little doubling up on your efforts never hurt anything.

 

[EeyoreFan19]

How far in advance would you call in with a room request? And, if you go through a TA, can you still call in yourself, or do you have to have the TA do it for you?

 

[Venomhatch]

How far in advance would you call in with a room request? And, if you go through a TA, can you still call in yourself, or do you have to have the TA do it for you?

I call in myself and I go through AAA travel Agent to set all my plans up at the beginning.

 

[jennabcassell]

I have never stayed here before and am dying to switch our Aug 22 stay here!!!!!! I keep checking ap rates and fl res and only POFQ is coming up! I even called and they said that everything is full including full rack rates!! How can 2000+ rooms be full?? We are currently at POP which we love but I wanted to check out a new resort. Let me know if anyone sees POR opening up for the week of Aug 22 Mon-Fri. We are flexible!! Thanks!!

I don't know why but I dont have the desire to stay at POFQ, maybe its the creepy mardi gras masks on the walls!! I guess there not in the rooms, right??

 

[vamassey1]

We'll be staying at Riverside for the first time in Feb. We stayed at French Quareter in 2010 and really enjoyed it. My youngest will be going to Disney with her school Disney club to do the educational classes so we'll be crashing her trip. We'll get the best of both worlds. We'll be able to spend some time with her but also have some adult time too.

 

[Venomhatch]

I have never stayed here before and am dying to switch our Aug 22 stay here!!!!!! I keep checking ap rates and fl res and only POFQ is coming up! I even called and they said that everything is full including full rack rates!! How can 2000+ rooms be full?? We are currently at POP which we love but I wanted to check out a new resort. Let me know if anyone sees POR opening up for the week of Aug 22 Mon-Fri. We are flexible!! Thanks!!

I don't know why but I dont have the desire to stay at POFQ, maybe its the creepy mardi gras masks on the walls!! I guess there not in the rooms, right??

Ahhhh good old pop century.....magnet for energetic cheer leaders and no sleep!

 

[jen42002]

I have never stayed here before and am dying to switch our Aug 22 stay here!!!!!! I keep checking ap rates and fl res and only POFQ is coming up! I even called and they said that everything is full including full rack rates!! How can 2000+ rooms be full??

The current rehab is taking one mansion building out of circulation at a time (512 rooms or 25% of the total). It is also the first week of free dining which tends to fill POR since it is a great deal for families of 5.

 

[andrewilley]

How can 2000+ rooms be full??

I think the problem is the refurbs, they are taking a lot of room inventory out of the system at once.

Andre

 

[rammh]

they could move me to CR if they need rooms