Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[rammh]

I really like the rooms but have never stayed at POR-this will be our first time. But I dont want to get my hopes up that we will get one of the few refurb rooms..... Kepping my fingers crossed!

 

[anorman]

I know, right!! I am going to call and request a top floor room if we dont move resorts.I have a pref room right now. I need to do some research on the POP threads to see the best room to request. I was thinking over looking the hippity dippity pool!

We've stayed at Pop and really enjoyed it. We were there 2 years ago and stayed the end of August. The crowds weren't too bad and not a cheerleader in sight! We actually went with a standard view rm since most of the preferred ones overlooked the pool and yes the noise was louder. We just requested 60s lakeview which got us quite close to the main building and the hippy dippy pool but away from the noise. Every evening we sat by the lake on a bench with perfect peace and quiet while the kids settled for sleep.....wonderful!

 

[gigi1313]

can someone give me a timeline/building/section outline for the refurb? we are staying (two rooms connecting, i hope) in a trundle room in november... we have not paid for preferred (i don't recall it being offered?) but gladly would if it means refurbed rooms w/queen beds! LOL!

 

[Stan Solo]

can someone give me a timeline/building/section outline for the refurb? we are staying (two rooms connecting, i hope) in a trundle room in november... we have not paid for preferred (i don't recall it being offered?) but gladly would if it means refurbed rooms w/queen beds! LOL!

Here is a cut and paste from portorleans.org hope it helps. It's a great site and if you are staying at Port Orleans it's well worth checking out.

The following dates include some overlap between buildings, and are obviously always going to be SUBJECT TO CHANGE, so please don't make your wedding plans based on them! I have deliberately not quoted the planned completion dates to avoid anyone getting disappointed.

Magnolia Bend, Acadian House: starts 26 June 2011, for approx. six weeks
Magnolia Bend, Magnolia Terrace: starts 31 July 2011, for approx. six weeks
Alligator Bayou, Lodges 36, 37, 38, 39: starts 25 October 2011, for approx. eight weeks
Magnolia Bend, Oak Manor: starts 15 January 2012, for approx. five weeks [Royal Themed Rooms]
Magnolia Bend, Parterre Place: starts 19 February 2012, for approx. five weeks [Royal Themed Rooms]
Alligator Bayou, Lodges 24, 16, 17, 28: starts 3 April 2012, for approx. eight weeks
Alligator Bayou, Lodges 14, 27, 18, 15: starts 8 May 2012, for approx. seven weeks
Alligator Bayou, Lodges 25, 35, 26, 34: starts 5 June 2012, for approx. eight weeks
The construction work will happen one building at a time, however especially in Alligator Bayou it looks as though work on the next lodge may well commence before the previous one has been fully completed, giving some overlap where two buildings could be out of use at the same time.

I have no idea why the schedule for the two mansion buildings which are due for the 'Royal' treatment (Oak Manor and Parterre Place) is slightly shorter than the other two buildings - you'd have thought they would actually take longer to complete. Time will tell I guess.

 

[ANiceNurse]

What's more important to you? Closer to the main building or getting a refurbed room farther away? I requested "close to main building" but now thinking IF Acadian house is done when we get there that I will request that.

I was just there for the weekend. We were in Acadian House and it was a new room. I can't say whether the whole section was finished but I didn't see any construction in that area. Magnolia Terrace was closed off.

 

[gigi1313]

Here is a cut and paste from portorleans.org hope it helps. It's a great site and if you are staying at Port Orleans it's well worth checking out.

The following dates include some overlap between buildings, and are obviously always going to be SUBJECT TO CHANGE, so please don't make your wedding plans based on them! I have deliberately not quoted the planned completion dates to avoid anyone getting disappointed.

Magnolia Bend, Acadian House: starts 26 June 2011, for approx. six weeks
Magnolia Bend, Magnolia Terrace: starts 31 July 2011, for approx. six weeks
Alligator Bayou, Lodges 36, 37, 38, 39: starts 25 October 2011, for approx. eight weeks
Magnolia Bend, Oak Manor: starts 15 January 2012, for approx. five weeks [Royal Themed Rooms]
Magnolia Bend, Parterre Place: starts 19 February 2012, for approx. five weeks [Royal Themed Rooms]
Alligator Bayou, Lodges 24, 16, 17, 28: starts 3 April 2012, for approx. eight weeks
Alligator Bayou, Lodges 14, 27, 18, 15: starts 8 May 2012, for approx. seven weeks
Alligator Bayou, Lodges 25, 35, 26, 34: starts 5 June 2012, for approx. eight weeks
The construction work will happen one building at a time, however especially in Alligator Bayou it looks as though work on the next lodge may well commence before the previous one has been fully completed, giving some overlap where two buildings could be out of use at the same time.

I have no idea why the schedule for the two mansion buildings which are due for the 'Royal' treatment (Oak Manor and Parterre Place) is slightly shorter than the other two buildings - you'd have thought they would actually take longer to complete. Time will tell I guess.

Thanks for sharing... looks like there will be no AB rooms refurbed when we arrive... oh, well, there's always next year (and w/a family of five, i'm sure we'll be back!0

 

[DisneyGuess]

Upgraded to preferred & requested building 14.

Quick question, I know where the boat drops you at DTD but wherfe do you hop the boat to DTD at POR? Planning on eating at DTD & doing a bit of shopping on our arrival night instead of a park.

 

[andrewilley]

I was just there for the weekend. We were in Acadian House and it was a new room.

And where are the pictures then?!?!?!?!?

Glad you had a good time. The whole of Acadian House should be re-opened now, as far as the plans went anyway.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

Upgraded to preferred & requested building 14.

Quick question, I know where the boat drops you at DTD but wherfe do you hop the boat to DTD at POR? Planning on eating at DTD & doing a bit of shopping on our arrival night instead of a park.

Here you go a brief google earth map of how far to walk from building 14 to boat docks.

 

[Chicago Mo]

Anyone else a little underwhelmed by the look of the new rooms? I'm just kind of "eh" about them.

They look like haunted!!! Just like New Orleans..

 

[nkereina]

I am pretty sure you are right. The 'dark' room is standard layout, the 'light' one looks much more like an Accessible Room as it follows the POFQ differences exactly. The 'dark' photos look like two different rooms too - the first few photos have two queen beds, while the latter one looks to have a single King bed.

Just from these limited views, I so far tend to agree that the POFQ rooms do seem to look rather more elegant and sophisticated, but we'll need to see some more detailed pics to know for sure.

And it looks like they may have removed the rotary dimmer switches from the panels over the bedside table too. I do hope not, but from this angle they look like standard on/off switches to me... Any chance you could examine one of the pics in more detail?

Andre

I agree with this. And in the "light" room pics, if that ISN'T an accessible room, then it looks like they would have had to extend the wall since the opening is only standard door width, and not the big opening that was in normal rooms previously and in the "dark" room pics. I don't think they got into that extensive of a refurb so this makes me feel better about the door thing

And to Beth who posted the refurb pics... did you notice anything on the elevators at Acadian House if you used them? Supposedly they were doing rehab work on the elevators at POR too, so curious if they are new or were just maintenanced.

 

[Missytara]

And to Beth who posted the refurb pics... did you notice anything on the elevators at Acadian House if you used them? Supposedly they were doing rehab work on the elevators at POR too, so curious if they are new or were just maintenanced.

The building permit stated refurbishment. For elevators, that is most likely doing a "tune-up" on the equipment, which you do not see visibly from the elevator itself. We do it about once every five years or so on our buildings.

 

[crostorfer]

Thanks for sharing... looks like there will be no AB rooms refurbed when we arrive... oh, well, there's always next year (and w/a family of five, i'm sure we'll be back!0

I think once the AB refurb is done POR will no longer accept families of 5 because they are taking away the trundle beds and making them queens? There is a whole separate thread about that with people voicing mass displeasure. Families of 5 will either have to do deluxe, 1 br villas, or the family suites at AoA or ASMu.

 

[Missytara]

I think once the AB refurb is done POR will no longer accept families of 5 because they are taking away the trundle beds and making them queens? There is a whole separate thread about that with people voicing mass displeasure. Families of 5 will either have to do deluxe, 1 br villas, or the family suites at AoA or ASMu.

If you read through the thread, it is all conjecture on most of the posters part. There was very little valid information in it.

The OP posted that the CM they talked to insisted that they aren't allowed to book after 2012, but we know CM's don't always have the best information.

Disney has not officially released any information officially stating that POR is no longer going to be a moderate for a family of 5, we should just wait and see.... before starting yet another rumor on another thread such as this.

 

[crostorfer]

If you read through the thread, it is all conjecture on most of the posters part. There was very little valid information in it.

The OP posted that the CM they talked to insisted that they aren't allowed to book after 2012, but we know CM's don't always have the best information.

Disney has not officially released any information officially stating that POR is no longer going to be a moderate for a family of 5, we should just wait and see.... before starting yet another rumor on another thread such as this.

Well, it may be unconfirmed, but if you think about it, it makes sense. If they are putting in queen beds, that sleep 2 people, and removing the trundles, that makes the room a 4 person occupancy. I understand that there is no official statement from Disney, but with 2 queen beds and no daybed or room for a pullout sofa, it makes complete sense.

 

[Kanga1]

Not refurbishment related but...

Does anyone know if there were AP rates at POR this past summer for Preferred rooms? I am booked next June/July preferred and really hoping to get an AP rate later on for this category.

Love this thread!

 

[Missytara]

Not refurbishment related but...

Does anyone know if there were AP rates at POR this past summer for Preferred rooms? I am booked next June/July preferred and really hoping to get an AP rate later on for this category.

Love this thread!

You may want to check over on the discount rates and codes board.

 

[Kanga1]

You may want to check over on the discount rates and codes board.

Ok, thanks!

 

[nkereina]

The building permit stated refurbishment. For elevators, that is most likely doing a "tune-up" on the equipment, which you do not see visibly from the elevator itself. We do it about once every five years or so on our buildings.

Thanks for this info!

 

[Missytara]

Okay, so I have been on vacation and haven't had time to post.

There is bad news and good news; bad news is that my neighbors's roommates and two children don't seem to be going with us - they haven't even mentioned it in two weeks, so Holly told me most likely they cannot scrape up the funds to go. I am disappointed that their 5 year old daughter isn't going, I would have loved to seen her face when they planned on telling her over Thanksgiving. But it is what it is. So it will be myself, Holly and Alex, which we had planned all along anyway. And Alex will be home from Afghanistan by November 5th, so we will have plenty of time to celebrate before we leave.

And the good news is that I got..... free dining for all three of us, so it saves us a good chunk of change. I am happy for them! Good thing I already made my ADR's weeks ago, so we are set with ressies.

I cannot wait to share my home-away-from-home with them - and at a discount!