Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[andrewilley]

I recall hearing a "story" about the Bayou section of POR once. That if you take a walk around the AB section you will notice subtle differences among the buildings and it tells a "story." Anyone know what the story is, or did I just dream this?

The original Port Orleans backstory is quite elaborate, and can be found here: http://www.portorleans.org/backstory.php.

The Bayou part of it is a little vague, but I believe it goes like this:

If you look closely, there are three styles of architecture in the Alligator Bayou Lodges. Apparently, as legend has it, when the settlers first moved out from the town of Port Orleans, their earliest constructions were the four comfortable and opulent mansion buildings. However, the further upstream along the Sassagoula River they got, the harder it became to transport the necessary building supplies and so the constructions became smaller and more rudimentary. That’s why the closest group of buildings to the mansions (Lodges 34-39) have brick-built columns and neatly tiled roofs, while another group (Lodges 14-18) have much plainer wooden columns, and the final section (Lodges 24-28) features plain wood columns and simple sheet-metal roofing.

Oh, and that ’gator infested swampland along the Bayou was so prone to flooding during heavy rains that the ingenious settlers built their lodgings upraised about a foot-and-a-half above ground level, which is why the Alligator Bayou Lodges we see today are still upraised — even though the ’gators have (mostly) gone...

Andre

 

[3sweetpeas]

So folks, it is all starting to sink in..... this time next week, I will be at my home away from home.

Friday, I was thinking this time next week, we will be telling Skylar she is going to Disney World. She has been told that she has been doing so good in school (she is in kindergarten), that there is a big surprise coming up for her and Miss Dawn (me) is in on it too. She was thrilled - she thinks she is going to stay at her nana's house in GA for the holidays.

Saturday, I walked out and Holly was sitting outside smoking and she said, I cannot believe this time next week, I will be on a plane for the first time.

Last night, I came home and Holly and Kelsey (the roommate and Skylar's mom) were outside smoking and we just looked at each other and cried. We have been planning this trip for almost a year and just cannot believe it is going to be here in a matter of days.

So much to celebrate - Alex, Holly's husband and my neighbor came home safe from Afghanistan. First timers for everyone except for me and Kelsey's boyfriend, Dustin. He went once for HS band and didn't stay on-site, so they are all so looking forward to staying at POR.

I'm so excited for you and can't wait to hear how it went when you come back. It's kind of you to help your friends have a memorable vacation. WDW can be so overwhelming for people the first time. Have a wonderful time!

 

[Chicago Mo]

i'm back... very sad to be back!
the resort was beautiful, so much to do!!! We stayed in building 14!!!! SO happy!!!
I was in shock when i saw the horse and carriage. the horse was immense! very upset we didn't catch the smore night but we were really busy. the boat rides are awesome! just to see the sights, the captains were great too. only had one problem with the bus but this has nothing to do with the resort. Fulton's Store is one of the biggest stores on a resort i've been to!!
Not a fan of the trundle, but what are ya going to do! DD didn't complain!!
Everyday we had some new towel animal one i can't for the life of me figure out. Stitch (the stuffy my son bought) was naughty! everyday he was hiding or causing some mischief with the other toys..
i have very nice shots i will be posting soon!!!

 

[lovestigger]

My last stay at POR was 13 years ago and I remember nothing!!

My husband and I are planning a late January trip and taking our 11 year old nephew. We have all been to Disney many times. The last several years we have stayed at the POP. Because we want the free Table Service Dining, the price to stay at POR is basically the same as staying at the POP and upgrading to the Table Service Dining Plan.

Originally I thought we wanted to stay at the FQ but after reading about and seeing the pictures of the refurbished Alligator building #36, 37, 38, 39 == I am so confused!! I don't think an 11 year old wants to stay in a room with roses!

Convince me of one of these choices:

1) French Quarter (because it is smaller and easier to negotiate with better bus service.)

2) Refurished AB buildings #36, #37, #38, #39 -- no preferred rooms correct?

3) Preferred AB buildings (non-refurbished) because they are more convenient

HELP ME!!!

 

[Kanga1]

The original Port Orleans backstory is quite elaborate, and can be found here: http://www.portorleans.org/backstory.php.

The Bayou part of it is a little vague, but I believe it goes like this:

If you look closely, there are three styles of architecture in the Alligator Bayou Lodges. Apparently, as legend has it, when the settlers first moved out from the town of Port Orleans, their earliest constructions were the four comfortable and opulent mansion buildings. However, the further upstream along the Sassagoula River they got, the harder it became to transport the necessary building supplies and so the constructions became smaller and more rudimentary. That’s why the closest group of buildings to the mansions (Lodges 34-39) have brick-built columns and neatly tiled roofs, while another group (Lodges 14-18) have much plainer wooden columns, and the final section (Lodges 24-28) features plain wood columns and simple sheet-metal roofing.

Oh, and that ’gator infested swampland along the Bayou was so prone to flooding during heavy rains that the ingenious settlers built their lodgings upraised about a foot-and-a-half above ground level, which is why the Alligator Bayou Lodges we see today are still upraised — even though the ’gators have (mostly) gone...

Andre

Thank you Andre! I thought there was a backstory to it, but wasn't sure. I love all the back issues of the newspapers and the full story on your website. I need to sit down and spend some time reading all of it. Your site is awesome!

 

[4butlers]

We just got back from our stay at POR. We loved it there!!! The only request I had was for a refurbished room. We got a room in Magnolia and it was perfect. We had absolutely no complaints about anything. We had a rental car, so I can't comment on the bus service. If we go again, we would definitely stay at POR again. It was so beautiful and peaceful.

 

[sarahbug79]

we are one week away from our trip to POR. I had only put in one request which was connecting rooms to my cousin who arrives the next day. I know that chances would be slim but she I put a request in for AB 36 or 37? If we don't get connecting rooms we could at least get the newer rooms? Who would I call at this point?

Last time we stayed at POFQ (3 years ago) and my dh and dd have such bad allergies. I thought maybe the newer rooms might have less mold.

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

I've read the opening posts and want to make sure I have the information correct.

Is this right?

• Alligator Bayou buildings do NOT have elevators.
  
• Magnolia Bend building DO have elevators in the 3-story buildings.
  
• ALL buildings have elevators at the sister resort, Port Orleans French Quarter.

 

[KCmike]

More Quiet Pool Love

 

[Venomhatch]

More Quiet Pool Love

Where was this one at? Building 18?

 

[momofmikey]

Where was this one at? Building 18?

Pretty sure it's by Building 39 - that's where we were in August...

 

[andrewilley]

I've read the opening posts and want to make sure I have the information correct.

Is this right?

• Alligator Bayou buildings do NOT have elevators.
  
• Magnolia Bend building DO have elevators in the 3-story buildings.
  
• ALL buildings have elevators at the sister resort, Port Orleans French Quarter.

Correct. All of the AB buildings are only two-story and so have no elevators. The POR mansions and also POFQ are all three-story and they do all have elevators. Do remember that they are quite large buildings though, and there is only one location for all the elevators, so there could still be some distance to walk once you get to the floor you require. The elevators are centrally located within the middle three-story portion of the POR mansion buildings which helps, but in some of the POFQ buildings they can be nearer to one end.

Andre

 

[Hooked On The Mouse]

My friend and her two children will be joining us at WDW right after New Years'. She didn't book her trip till this week, so was told by her travel agent that her original resort choice was booked. They told her that "practically the last room in Disneyworld" was at Port Orleans, and she had to grab it right away. She doesn't know what exactly they've booked for her, only she was told it was "preferred" and "she would be able to see water from her room". Is it possible that it is a preferred AND a water view? Any idea what buildings they might be in? We will be picking them up every morning, so I also wonder about the parking, is it close to the buildings like at Coronado Springs? How many of the buildings are refurbed? It's their first trip and I really want them to have a good time. I know Marathon Weekend can be busy, but I can book rooms online right now that she was told were full. She's really bummed out about the whole trip now because the travel agent has her convinced that all of WDW will be wall-to-wall people.

 

[GreenCntryGirl]

Correct. All of the AB buildings are only two-story and so have no elevators. The POR mansions and also POFQ are all three-story and they do all have elevators. Do remember that they are quite large buildings though, and there is only one location for all the elevators, so there could still be some distance to walk once you get to the floor you require. The elevators are centrally located within the middle three-story portion of the POR mansion buildings which helps, but in some of the POFQ buildings they can be nearer to one end.

Andre

I'm not worried about distance...it's the up and down stairs that gets me.

Thank you...this helped.

 

[Chicago Mo]

More Quiet Pool Love

beautiful yet again!!!

My kids called it the S pool...

 

[Missytara]

My friend and her two children will be joining us at WDW right after New Years'. She didn't book her trip till this week, so was told by her travel agent that her original resort choice was booked. They told her that "practically the last room in Disneyworld" was at Port Orleans, and she had to grab it right away. She doesn't know what exactly they've booked for her, only she was told it was "preferred" and "she would be able to see water from her room". Is it possible that it is a preferred AND a water view? Any idea what buildings they might be in? We will be picking them up every morning, so I also wonder about the parking, is it close to the buildings like at Coronado Springs? How many of the buildings are refurbed? It's their first trip and I really want them to have a good time. I know Marathon Weekend can be busy, but I can book rooms online right now that she was told were full. She's really bummed out about the whole trip now because the travel agent has her convinced that all of WDW will be wall-to-wall people.

Here is a link to the resort map:

http://allears.net/acc/portorleansmap.jpg

Preferred buildings are in AB only; 14, 15, 18, and 27.

Waterview used to be anything from a fountain to a view of the pool to a view of the river. Now there is a riverview category.

You can see where the parking is located around the buildings. They can also eat breakfast in the food court, which is very close (the advantage of preferred) and you can pick them up out front of the main building.

 

[Hooked On The Mouse]

Thanks for the quick response.

 

[andrewilley]

My friend and her two children will be joining us at WDW right after New Years'. She didn't book her trip till this week, so was told by her travel agent that her original resort choice was booked. They told her that "practically the last room in Disneyworld" was at Port Orleans, and she had to grab it right away

Don't forget that travel agents may be talking about 'their' allocation of rooms, through the companies they deal with who may have a limited reserved allocation of rooms, but that doesn't necessarily mean WDW are sold out.

Preferred Location and Water View are two different categories, I suspect they will have booked Water View, and the travel agent are just confusing matters by describing Water View as a preference, rather than meaning "Preferred" in the specific POR category sense.

Water View rooms are scattered around a bit, and they can face any of the swimming pools or even (if they are lucky) the river.

As has been said, maybe arrange to meet outside the main lobby for the first time (which is near to the restaurants for breakfast) and then work out if there are better places later.

About a third of the resort has been renovated so far.

WDW will be wall-to-wall people over the days of New Year (especially 31 Dec!!!) but about two or three days after then it will be more like a ghost-town. Just enjoy the atmosphere for New Year, and do rides a day or two later.

Andre

 

[Missytara]

I think time will tell on the with the new booking categories. I know I booked standard the first time and got a view of the woods. Next time, it was the parking lot, but it was Pop Warner week.

Then started booking waterview; first time by a fountain, last two times barely see the pool. Last year, it was right on the river.

Now that there is for instance, the riverview category, I know maybe they want to classify more rooms with waterview - slight view of the pool; fountain; maybe a long far off glimpse of the river, maybe a puddle or two....

 

[andrewilley]

slight view of the pool; fountain; maybe a long far off glimpse of the river, maybe a puddle or two....

Heck, if you can see that half-full drinking cup left by a previous guest, that'll count!

Andre