Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[kwoo]

Thank you!

 

[andrewilley]

I'm sure you've gotten many, but KUDOS on your wonderful Port Orleans site!

I'm a DVC member who hasn't spent much time on non-DVC resort sites in a few years. Now that we planned a relatively-last-minute stay at POR to enjoy XMas, I've had the chance to see what's new there. Your site, is (by a mile) the BEST, most up-to-date site dedicated to a Disney resort I've ever seen. Incredible work, truly appreciated!

Thanks so much everyone for all the lovely comments. I'm so glad that folks find my site useful, and it's really wonderful when I hear people say that they made their vacation decision based on my site, and then they had a great time!

I really do appreciate all the kind words, thank you.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

This year's Halloween Recreation Activities Schedule is now up on the news page at my Port Orleans site (www.portorleans.org/news.php#281011)

Now that I'm back home (I was away for a few days in London when I posted the news item) here's an image file for you. Click for higher quality:



Andre

 

[goofyredraider]

Thanks so much everyone for all the lovely comments. I'm so glad that folks find my site useful, and it's really wonderful when I hear people say that they made their vacation decision based on my site, and then they had a great time!

I really do appreciate all the kind words, thank you.

Andre

I totally agree with everyone, Andre! When I planned our first trip in July, it was your site that I used in helping me navigate POR/planning and feeling comfortable with where we were staying. It was a blessing, for sure!
Thank you!

 

[chirurgeon]

What are the odds of me getting a rehabbed room when I check in after 4 p on a Friday? My flight doesn't get in until 3:45. I really do prefer a room in Magnolia Bend.

This is my first stay at POR. I normally stay at POFQ, but they didn't have an AP rate this while I was going to be there.

Kim

 

[bethjones]

I'm also checking in Friday night-getting in about 10pm probably. I hope I get a refurb-I put it as my #1 request, but so late at night...who knows.
Beth

 

[patclairesmom]

What building #s are considered Preferred rooms in AB? And will there be Garden View rooms in AB after the renovations are complete? We will be a family of 4, but 1 of them is my father and no one wants to share a bed with him. Really looking for a renovated room in AB with the trundle.

 

[bwolfe]

Just booked our summer stay! Very excited...this will be our first stay at POR.

 

[Yarna]

We just returned from our October 2011 trip to POR. Our request for a renovated room was denied., and we were placed in Oak Manor, adjacent to the closed swimming pool which made for a long walk to the closest pool. Thankfully, the room had a flat screen television (I spend a lot of time relaxing in bed while on vaca). However, the resort was as lovely as ever. The nighly movies at Oak Manor were fun, I'm sure, for anyone who participated. The ferries to DTD were always packed, so the resort must have been at capacity. The pools were clean and inviting, and the daily pool parties and games seemed to be a treat for the kids. In the morning, the food court was chaos as usual, but of course I had to make room for the turkey dinner and make-your-own pasta YUM!! Already looking forward to our next trip, but we might try POFQ.

 

[andrewilley]

What building #s are considered Preferred rooms in AB? And will there be Garden View rooms in AB after the renovations are complete? We will be a family of 4, but 1 of them is my father and no one wants to share a bed with him. Really looking for a renovated room in AB with the trundle.

Buildings 14, 15, 18 and 27 are considered Preferred locations.

As far as we understand it at present, Garden View will include "bayou" views within Alligator Bayou, not just "lawn" gardens in the mansion buildings - i.e. any view other than a parking lot.

The newly renovated rooms in AB will no longer feature the old trundle beds, but will instead have a pull-down murphy-style bed on the wall under the TV.

Andre

 

[patclairesmom]

Buildings 14, 15, 18 and 27 are considered Preferred locations.

As far as we understand it at present, Garden View will include "bayou" views within Alligator Bayou, not just "lawn" gardens in the mansion buildings - i.e. any view other than a parking lot.

The newly renovated rooms in AB will no longer feature the old trundle beds, but will instead have a pull-down murphy-style bed on the wall under the TV.

Andre

So my best bet would be to book a standard room and request building 36-39. Our trip is April 6-13th

 

[3sweetpeas]

So my best bet would be to book a standard room and request building 36-39. Our trip is April 6-13th

That depends on what you are wanting. Those buildings will be renovated by then but are further away from the pool and food court. My favorite building that is not preferred is building 16 because it is very near the food and pool. I'm not sure, but I don't think that building will be renovated by then. It will still have a trundle though. So....which is more important to you....renovated room further out or room not yet renovated yet very convenient. Andre will know when building 16 will be renovated. You might also want to look at the resort map on Andre's website to get a better feel of the layout of the buildings. Hope this helps.

 

[andrewilley]

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.

Could one of our more recent visitors confirm whether the Acadian House quiet pool is still 5ft in depth after the maintenance work? Just curious.

Andre

 

[patclairesmom]

That depends on what you are wanting. Those buildings will be renovated by then but are further away from the pool and food court. My favorite building that is not preferred is building 16 because it is very near the food and pool. I'm not sure, but I don't think that building will be renovated by then. It will still have a trundle though. So....which is more important to you....renovated room further out or room not yet renovated yet very convenient. Andre will know when building 16 will be renovated. You might also want to look at the resort map on Andre's website to get a better feel of the layout of the buildings. Hope this helps.

I would rather have a renovated room. We've stayed in building 24 (I don't think you can get anymore further away from things, but it was convenient to the bus stop)

 

[Stan Solo]

Did anybody check out WDW Today the podcast episode 949?

They did a show about Port Orleans. I'm not sure how much research they did before the show, they had to go to portorleans.org to find a simple answer to the pools at Riverside. It's only 21 minutes long and is still a good listen plus they give high praise to Andre's sight.

 

[3sweetpeas]

I would rather have a renovated room. We've stayed in building 24 (I don't think you can get anymore further away from things, but it was convenient to the bus stop)

I want a renovated room for our trip also. As much as we liked building 16, I'd rather have a renovated room. I'm so excited to see them!

 

[3sweetpeas]

Did anybody check out WDW Today the podcast episode 949?

They did a show about Port Orleans. I'm not sure how much research they did before the show, they had to go to portorleans.org to find a simple answer to the pools at Riverside. It's only 21 minutes long and is still a good listen plus they give high praise to Andre's sight.

That's interesting. I'm not sure how to find it, but I'm gonna try.

 

[3sweetpeas]

Did anybody check out WDW Today the podcast episode 949?

They did a show about Port Orleans. I'm not sure how much research they did before the show, they had to go to portorleans.org to find a simple answer to the pools at Riverside. It's only 21 minutes long and is still a good listen plus they give high praise to Andre's sight.

Ok, I have to say it annoyed me a bit. They are acting like they know a lot about Port Orleans, yet they don't even know that there are quiet pools all over Riverside? One of the things that I read all over the boards ALL the time is that Riverside has one of the best counter service areas in WDW. They said it was sub par to almost everything else. Everyone is definitely entitled to their opinions but except for one of those guys, their take on Port Orleans seemed to ring so differently from what I read regularly on the boards. I don't know, JMO.

 

[andrewilley]

I know what you mean, sometimes I find myself shouting at my MP3 player when podcasts don't quite get their facts straight. However you need to remember that although a few are run by travel companies and/or as businesses, most are spare-time non-profit fan productions - and it's hard to know EVERYTHING about something as diverse as WDW. That's why my own site is so deliberately specific by the way; it's much easier to remain accurate and authoritative that way.

Overall though, WDW Today is by far my favourite Disney podcast. In fact, it's the only podcast that I listen to automatically as soon as it downloads. The hosts are genuinely enthusiastic about their subject matter, but never in a sycophantic way. They each have their own opinions which lends a nice balance to the show. OK, so I suspect that after nearly 1,000 episodes and close to 100 years of combined experience of visiting WDW they do tend to 'wing it' a bit rather than spending a lot of time pre-researching each topic (no quiet swimming pools Matt?) but that lends a great deal of spontaneity to the show. They are all very nice people too, which helps a lot.

The link to the recent Port Orleans episode is: http://www.studioscentralradio.com/shows/Episode_949_-_10-31-11.mp3. It may not come over fully in this episode as they are trying to present a balanced view, but Port Orleans is all of the hosts' favourite moderate resort. Perhaps they should have asked me on to help them out with the background facts though...

Andre

 

[pixistix]

I just listened to the WDW Today podcast on the review of Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter....that was disappointing and inaccurate review of those resorts! One said they didn't even think the French Quarter had a slide! It has the dragon slide....kids just love that!
It was also said that the am bus never makes it from French Quarter to Riverside. That's because the resorts don't share bus service during the busy morning hours (unless the French Quarter bus would be empty for some odd reason!). And I like both food courts and thought there was plenty of selection in both! They didn't even know Riverside has quiet pools!
More "homework" should be done before doing a review like that!