Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[Sue M]

Also another question as we are seriously considering POR. Has anyone had issues with the buses if you are on the last stop in POR? Are the buses normally full by the time they get around to picking up at the last stop or two or do some buses go directly to those stops at the peak times of day? Would you be better off to walk to the first bus stop?

No. We're usually the last stop at the bus depot behind Oak Manor. Busses have never been full. The Main stop always looks like chaos, perhaps those fill up and go directly to park? and they send another around tho the other stops? Don't know how it works, but we're never full. They seem to be changing up the order too, we always used to be last, but now with last trip in Jan, we sometimes stopped at main depot before leaving for park.

 

[Missytara]

Saturday early morning we'll be checking into POR

I am soooo jealous.... 14-1/2 weeks to go for me.

 

[Sue M]

My wait is almost over! I'll be checking in on Friday at around 11 a.m. with a bit of luck and organization....hopefully my room will be ready for me because I am sure ready for it! We're really looking forward to our first stay at POR.....it looks so beautiful.

KCMike, I have really enjoyed all of your pictures and they have really helped to build the excitement for our upcoming stay at POR. Thank you so much!

we'll be in Doubletree DTD Fri. then checking in at POR early Sat. woohoo

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

No. We're usually the last stop at the bus depot behind Oak Manor. Busses have never been full. The Main stop always looks like chaos, perhaps those fill up and go directly to park? and they send another around tho the other stops? Don't know how it works, but we're never full. They seem to be changing up the order too, we always used to be last, but now with last trip in Jan, we sometimes stopped at main depot before leaving for park.

Hi Sue!

So excited for you!! I hope you have a wonderful time!

Question regarding your location, I was wondering which bus depot you are speaking of? Is it the East Depot? From the map, that looks like the closest one from Oak Manor. We're trying to decide which bulding to request, and I'm thinking that Magnolia Terrace is the best choice.

 

[Sue M]

I am soooo jealous.... 14-1/2 weeks to go for me.

It will go fast. Now I'm wishing time would slow down, cause I don't want my vacay at WDW to end too fast!
That WDW Arch should have a time machine in it, and when you go under it, time magically slows

 

[Missytara]

It will go fast. Now I'm wishing time would slow down, cause I don't want my vacay at WDW to end too fast!
That WDW Arch should have a time machine in it, and when you go under it, time magically slows

Ah, so true; my neighbor and I were discussing how just a short time ago, we were discussing going "next year" and here it is.

But I like it to slow down too; there isn't anything worse then the "walk of shame" to the ME bus at the end of the trip.

 

[jenny105]

No I have never been to that!!!! Can or did you take pics? I have wanted to see that since they opened it. I wonder if they will open one at wdw? Did you pick up any interesting things there?

It's like one big dance party. It's themed really well, it really does look like you're on the Grid. All day long, they have clocks throughout the park counting down to it. I just sort of wandered around taking pictures here and there (I was with a tour group and we were going to the fireworks in DLP after this so I didn't get a lot of time to explore!) My camera isn't the greatest at night so these were the best pictures I got.

The Tron video game is in here and there was a HUGE line to play!

A little blurry but one of the dancers by the DJ dressed up on Tron gear.

Light Cycle

Gateway to the party

It was awesome! You need to go to Disneyland and check it out!

 

[Grendalynn]

Has any seen or stayed in the *NEW* Princess Tianna rooms? They are just showing up online and I would love to get a look at them... I'm wondering if they would be too "Princessy" for my 3 boys... I would enjoy them but not sure my 3 boys would.

 

[jenny105]

Has any seen or stayed in the *NEW* Princess Tianna rooms? They are just showing up online and I would love to get a look at them... I'm wondering if they would be too "Princessy" for my 3 boys... I would enjoy them but not sure my 3 boys would.

Those rooms won't be completed until Feb 2012. What you're seeing online is promotional pictures of them.

 

[Venomhatch]

Those rooms won't be completed until Feb 2012. What you're seeing online is promotional pictures of them.

Yeah I agree. They are concept pictures Disney released, which means they could differ a little bit in they complete the work. Which wont start on them til Jan.15th.

Thanks for the pics. Wish I could see that for myself. I wish I could buy the Sam Flynn Motorcycle Suit they have one but its like 900 for guys 800 for females. For riding motorcycles. I also have all the discs they came out with from the new movie.

 

[Shih-Tzu]

Ah, so true; my neighbor and I were discussing how just a short time ago, we were discussing going "next year" and here it is.

But I like it to slow down too; there isn't anything worse then the "walk of shame" to the ME bus at the end of the trip.

I know the "walk of shame" feeling all too well...and the day before going you get the DME tag on your door handle - I call it the "tag of doom". When I walk along the resort and see the tags on the different doors, I always saw "Awww, they're leaving tomorrow...".

 

[Venomhatch]

I know the "walk of shame" feeling all too well...and the day before going you get the DME tag on your door handle - I call it the "tag of doom". When I walk along the resort and see the tags on the different doors, I always saw "Awww, they're leaving tomorrow...".

Ohh. We feel the same seeing all them tags laughing, trying not to think of the one lurking for us, Dreading the day before we leave.

 

[snykymom]

Well I just would call and speak to someone directly in the hotel and mention this what you said youd like to stay in that area with river view room.

You cannot call and speak to someone directly in the hotel. The hotel phone number goes to a call center, several of which are located outside of Florida. The operators answer as if they were at the resort, but they're not. They will not connect you to the resort itself unless there is an emergency. This is why you don't see CMs at the front desks of resorts on the phones.

BTW, this is also true even if you're calling from your room. You don't get the "front desk." You get a call center, which then routes your call or message (like, "Need extra towels in Room 3471" or whatever) to the appropriate department at the hotel.

 

[Missytara]

You cannot call and speak to someone directly in the hotel. The hotel phone number goes to a call center, several of which are located outside of Florida. The operators answer as if they were at the resort, but they're not. They will not connect you to the resort itself unless there is an emergency. This is why you don't see CMs at the front desks of resorts on the phones.

BTW, this is also true even if you're calling from your room. You don't get the "front desk." You get a call center, which then routes your call or message (like, "Need extra towels in Room 3471" or whatever) to the appropriate department at the hotel.

I can attest to that.

I got really sick halfway through my trip. I called "the front desk" from my phone.

The first thing they wanted to know if I needed emergency help and said if I did, I needed to hang up and dial 911.

Then she walked me through the various options.

When I decided to opt for the option to go to CCC, she then said she was transferring me to the resort, so they could dispatch the transportation.

I asked her where she was located and she said she could really tell me, but she was not even in Florida.

It is much more efficient for them to use Central Call Centers'; they can dispatch calls much more quickly to the right places and they don't tie up CM's who are trying to help people at the front desk.

 

[jenny105]

I know the "walk of shame" feeling all too well...and the day before going you get the DME tag on your door handle - I call it the "tag of doom". When I walk along the resort and see the tags on the different doors, I always saw "Awww, they're leaving tomorrow...".

When I'm waiting for DME to take me back to the airport and I'm watching people get off those buses and check-in, it makes me so mad. I secretly hate them.


Off-topic but I just saw the promotional pictures for the Art of Animation suites. EYESORE!

 

[Missytara]

You cannot call and speak to someone directly in the hotel. The hotel phone number goes to a call center, several of which are located outside of Florida. The operators answer as if they were at the resort, but they're not. They will not connect you to the resort itself unless there is an emergency. This is why you don't see CMs at the front desks of resorts on the phones.

BTW, this is also true even if you're calling from your room. You don't get the "front desk." You get a call center, which then routes your call or message (like, "Need extra towels in Room 3471" or whatever) to the appropriate department at the hotel.

I have to laugh; last year, I had a phone that didn't work in my room. The next morning, on my way to the Main Bus Depot, I stopped at the Front desk to let them know my phone was inoperable. It was around 7:00 am or so.

The CM told me, "Oh my goodness, you didn't have to walk all the way up here from your room, you could have just called."

After I explained I couldn't call because the phone didn't work, she laughed.... and said, "Forgive me, it was a long, long, boring night."

 

[Venomhatch]

You cannot call and speak to someone directly in the hotel. The hotel phone number goes to a call center, several of which are located outside of Florida. The operators answer as if they were at the resort, but they're not. They will not connect you to the resort itself unless there is an emergency. This is why you don't see CMs at the front desks of resorts on the phones.

BTW, this is also true even if you're calling from your room. You don't get the "front desk." You get a call center, which then routes your call or message (like, "Need extra towels in Room 3471" or whatever) to the appropriate department at the hotel.

Wow tiger, I have called and spoke to the people actually at the desk. I even asked and they told me I was actually speaking with the front desk and not the call center because the call center forwarded me to them. So yeah it can be done.

 

[Missytara]

Wow tiger, I have called and spoke to the people actually at the desk. I even asked and they told me I was actually speaking with the front desk and not the call center because the call center forwarded me to them. So yeah it can be done.

Like I said, when I got sick, and was told I was being transferred to the resort, but only because I required immediate assistance from the resort for transportation to the CCC. I asked the original CM where she was sitting, and she said she was not supposed to tell, but she wasn't even in the state of Florida.

I was then transferred to the resort. However, since you will never see someone at the front desk answering a phone, most likely it was someone in an office right behind the front desk out of view of the public.

It is all about illusion; Disney does not want to tie up CM's at the front desk taking phone calls so they can work with customers standing in front of them, and they want you to think you are talking to someone at the front desk.

 

[Venomhatch]

Like I said, when I got sick, and was told I was being transferred to the resort, but only because I required immediate assistance from the resort for transportation to the CCC. I asked the original CM where she was sitting, and she said she was not supposed to tell, but she wasn't even in the state of Florida.

I was then transferred to the resort. However, since you will never see someone at the front desk answering a phone, most likely it was someone in an office right behind the front desk out of view of the public.

Ohh ok, missytara. Thanks. Ohh my lil one loves your avatar!

 

[anorman]

It will go fast. Now I'm wishing time would slow down, cause I don't want my vacay at WDW to end too fast!
That WDW Arch should have a time machine in it, and when you go under it, time magically slows

I like the way you think. We leave tomorrow flying into Tampa for two nights stay at the Doubletree in North Redington Beach and then we'll be checking in at POR for our 10 night stay!!!!!! I can't believe it is finally here!!!!