Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[rockin2it]

Checking into POR tomorrow!!! This is my very first stay at this resort. The refurbed rooms are beautiful but my first choice is AB. I just love the smaller buildings and the lush landscaping from all the pictures I have seen. Even though those rooms aren't refurbed, I hope it will still be nice.

I have a question though...how come there is such a break between refurbing the Mansion rooms and the AB rooms? I'm not complaining, just curious. I want river view building 27 or 38 so I'm not upset that they aren't starting AB until end of October.

 

[klacey1]

This is what I thought you meant, which is why I posted that question (now several pages back)... was yours a handicap accessible room? Even if you don't need it/request it, you can still be placed in one in a pinch. I would assume there would have been a railing in the bathroom, step in shower rather than a bath tub (I'm assuming), light switches in the middle of the wall, etc.

Our room didn't seem like it was handicapped accessible. The shower was not roll-in, it was a regular tub that one had to step up and into-- no rail in the tub either.

 

[andrewilley]

I have a question though...how come there is such a break between refurbing the Mansion rooms and the AB rooms?

I wasn't sure on that one myself, maybe some details still need finishing, or delivery dates for the new fittings? As otherwise now is a relatively quiet time at WDW, so you'd have thought it would be an ideal period to take buildings out of availability.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

Checking into POR tomorrow!!! This is my very first stay at this resort. The refurbed rooms are beautiful but my first choice is AB. I just love the smaller buildings and the lush landscaping from all the pictures I have seen. Even though those rooms aren't refurbed, I hope it will still be nice.

I have a question though...how come there is such a break between refurbing the Mansion rooms and the AB rooms? I'm not complaining, just curious. I want river view building 27 or 38 so I'm not upset that they aren't starting AB until end of October.

I'd probably go with building 27 just because the proximity to the main building. Trying for river view at the same time, water view might get you a view of the laundry room/pool. If thats what you want cool.

 

[rockin2it]

I'd probably go with building 27 just because the proximity to the main building. Trying for river view at the same time, water view might get you a view of the laundry room/pool. If thats what you want cool.

We paid for river view though so we are guranteed that, right?

 

[3sweetpeas]

Thanks so much! I guess we should try for MB since it will prob be the last visit where we are a "family of 4." I will request a rollaway and if we don't get one we can make our own bed on the floor as you suggested. It just seems like the AB section has too much furniture to fit the PnP as well as pulling out the trundle. Thanks so much for your help!
Do the kiddos seem to like the pool area at POR? I think I read that we can go to the POFQ pool as well.
Does anyone ever pull a chair outside their door and sit to read or something during nap times? We usually have a balcony so it has never been a problem.

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

 

[andrewilley]

I'd probably go with building 27 just because the proximity to the main building.

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

 

[Venomhatch]

We paid for river view though so we are guranteed that, right?

Andre was right you may want to do 38 instead. Its definitly not preferred, but if you have selected and reserved "river view" then there you go.

 

[noahlilymama]

Disney novice here planning our 2nd trip. We are looking at 2/16-2/21 to coincide with winter break and the free dining offer that is valid until the 16th. Of course the royal rooms debut on the 17th which is complicating things. Initially I thought we could do a separate reservation for the 16th in a different room at Riverside and then move to the royal room on the 17th. However, the 1 night stay disqualifies us for the free dining package because the rest of our nights there in the royal room are on a separate reservations. Does anyone know of any other ideas to make this work?

 

[cherylsmike]

Disney novice here planning our 2nd trip. We are looking at 2/16-2/21 to coincide with winter break and the free dining offer that is valid until the 16th. Of course the royal rooms debut on the 17th which is complicating things. Initially I thought we could do a separate reservation for the 16th in a different room at Riverside and then move to the royal room on the 17th. However, the 1 night stay disqualifies us for the free dining package because the rest of our nights there in the royal room are on a separate reservations. Does anyone know of any other ideas to make this work?

You could let them know at check-in you would like to upgrade to a royal room. They may open some the day before. If they are not letting anybody stay in one until the next day than maybe they can move you then. Just give a big smile and say please and thank you and hopefully you will get some pixie dust. Good luck!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Sorry, but they will not open some room when there is still construction going on in other rooms.

 

[Venomhatch]

Sorry, but they will not open some room when there is still construction going on in other rooms.

Yeah I don't think they will do that.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Sorry, but they will not open some room when there is still construction going on in other rooms.

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.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

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.

That's because it was planned that way, not because someone said, oh, let's just open some rooms early.

 

[tjknitz]

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?

 

[Venomhatch]

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?

Well I had 1436 and loved it. Decent location and a great view. It was on a second floor and at the time of our stay not a lot of foot traffic. As for the wait, you will make it. We started our plans at 250 days out.

 

[yayasue]

Well there are some of the buildings in the AB section that aren't preferred categories. So you should be able to get one of them. Yeah we were in the AB section last year but got moved to building 14 for no extra charge. Had a room right there facing food court, loved it. But the four buildings getting refurb first in the AB section are towards the top of the resort map (farthest from the main building) not sure if that also works with your time frame. But I believe they don't start that until later this year.

I don't think the refurb is schedule for then but we don't mind really, we will be happy beeing there! lol

I agree! You will find there is something special about strolling through the lush pathways. It is so peaceful and relaxing and laid back! And did I say beautiful?

We were in building 16 earlier this year and thought it was perfect. The closest non preferred room to everything I thought. This building will not be refurbished soon though.

I agree, to us that section was just so much more appealing! Can't wait to get there!!!

 

[KCmike]

Very nice picture as always.

Thanks so much!

 

[Caretames1]

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.

 

[KCmike]