Port Orleans Riverside FAQ thread - Royally Refurbished for 2011

[kellicb]

For those of you that got a refurbed room, did you check in online? Or did you wait til you got to the resort and check in early? We can do either one and just want the best strategy for it. Thank you in advance.

I checked in online and didn't request anything special.

 

[kellicb]

We never have used on line check in. But we did have the request noted on our reservation, that we wanted a refurbed room either Acadian House or magnolia Terrace. We love the mansion section. So I think it's more important to have your request noted on your reservation rather then how you check in.
Also more important might be what time you check in. The earlier the better probably.

I don't think any of it matters. I checked in online, didn't request anything special (we had 3 adults and 2 kids, so I figured we'd end up in AB) and didn't get to the resort until after 10pm. LOL

Oh and I ended up in brand new refurb room in building 36. From what I understand, it was the first day they let people stay in the refurbs. In fact, when the bell hop delivered our bags wayyyyyy early in the morning he made a comment (I was half asleep but I remember it) about it being a nice redone room. I just smiled and nodded. LOL

 

[Distopia]

Hi everyone!

With just over 8 months until our next trip, we're starting to scope out the resort a little. It's our first stay at POR , although we have walked around it before. I'm sure it's been answered many times, but is there a height requirement on the waterslide at the Old Man Island pool? Thanks for any info you may have!

 

[DisneyGuess]

4 more days!!! So excited!!!

Does anyone whose been recently notice if they had a POR 2011 Christmas ornament in the gift shop?

I have a 2007 one form our honeymoon & was hoping to get another one on this trip but wasn't sure they still carry the resort specific ones.

 

[andrewilley]

is there a height requirement on the waterslide at the Old Man Island pool?

Not officially no, but kids must be old enough to ride alone as they don't allow two people to go down the slide together. You can have a catcher at the bottom though.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

Hey Andre, best guess, what's the completition looking like for oak building princess refurb? I realize it's best guess, but was wondering what you thought based on the ahead schedule progress.

Not a guess, 17 February is a definite date as they have been selling Royal Rooms from that date, so at least part of it (but I think all) will be open by then.

Are you kiddin' me?! It was right in front of my nose the whole time?? That's my blonde coming through.

I could leave you in blissful blonde ignorance but honesty compels me to say that I actually added those pictures as a result of your suggestion.

Andre

 

[KAE2008]

I forgot about it, but I recorded some video from one of the buses while I was there.
I was actually able to sit down and have a view out the front! My plan was to get some video of the bus pulling into the south depot.
It figures - on this ride we went to the west depot first. I turned the camera off once I realized it. I never did get the footage I wanted.
I did get the recorded voice return spiel and in the background you can almost hear the banjo music playing. I miss it already.
Does anyone know what the name of that music is? I would love to get that on my iPod!

It's not near as good as PizzaMan's video of the water wheel, but I uploaded the video anyway:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkC3kXOkM3s

I figured someone here might like it.

 

[andrewilley]

IDoes anyone know what the name of that music is? I would love to get that on my iPod!

I can't hear it on the video, but the most likely track would be Please Baby by Reverend Gary Davis.

Andre

 

[KAE2008]

I can't hear it on the video, but the most likely track would be Please Baby by Reverend Gary Davis.

Andre

YES!!!!!!!
Thank you, thank you, oh thank you!!! You amaze me.
I found it on iTunes and purchased it. It's on my iPod now.
I found it on YouTube as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f_dcGAMwfU

In return, here are a couple more refurb photos I found:

 

[andrewilley]

YES!!!!!!!
Thank you, thank you, oh thank you!!! You amaze me.

Glad I could help. You just need to superimpose some cricket sounds in the background and you could be right back on that bus.

Thanks for the pic, the dates are even on the worksheet!

You've got some great POR shots there - if you've got more they'd make a great Guest Gallery at my site, would you mind me hosting them for you?

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

Ok, trying to post pics, hope it works...
http://m416.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/Surly-Mermaid/a3be3fcf.jpg.html?o=1
http://m416.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/Surly-Mermaid/a4b4694c.jpg.html?o=2
http://m416.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/Surly-Mermaid/81b454aa.jpg.html?o=3
http://m416.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/Surly-Mermaid/31ec234d.jpg.html?o=4
http://m416.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/Surly-Mermaid/c07942e5.jpg.html?o=5
http://m416.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/Surly-Mermaid/86ae9e1e.jpg.html?o=6
http://m416.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/Surly-Mermaid/c4d1805f.jpg.html?o=7
http://m416.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/Surly-Mermaid/26a6429f.jpg.html?o=8

Ah, those were mobile-page links. PhotoBucket does have larger copies of the photos are all - I thought the page looked odd!

Here you are everyone:

Oops, looks like too many views have overloaded your PhotoBucket account monthly allowance. Yikes!

Andre

 

[princessmorgan]

Hi,

Has anyone ever stayed in POR with 5 and an infant? Is that even allowed anymore? DH and I stayed at POR years ago when we only had one child and really enjoyed our time there. We are thinking about taking the family again, but I don't know if we would hate cramming everyone in! Thanks for any advice

 

[andrewilley]

Has anyone ever stayed in POR with 5 and an infant? Is that even allowed anymore?

Well it's allowed, yes - I hope you all get on well though! Also consider whether one person may want to watch TV while another wants to sleep, etc.

Andre

 

[princessmorgan]

Well it's allowed, yes - I hope you all get on well though! Also consider whether one person may want to watch TV while another wants to sleep, etc.

Andre

LOL! My kids are all very small, so they are usually very tired by the end of the day, and so are mom and dad!

 

[Muddypaws]

LOL! My kids are all very small, so they are usually very tired by the end of the day, and so are mom and dad!

We can certainly relate to that!! There were a couple of days that the kids (11 and 12) fell asleep with their clothes on as soon as we got back to the room. And this was in February with early park closings. My DH and I were too tired to make them change!

 

[princessmorgan]

We can certainly relate to that!! There were a couple of days that the kids (11 and 12) fell asleep with their clothes on as soon as we got back to the room. And this was in February with early park closings. My DH and I were too tired to make them change!

I know, usually at least 2 are asleep on the bus ride home. Then DH and I fall asleep on the bed while the oldest turns on the TV and eventually wakes one of us up to tell us she's going to bed.

 

[DatMouse]

Arggggg. I need a vacation! Last time i was there was Jan 2008. Which was also the last time my company paid a bonus. But then again, things ARE looking up.

 

[KAE2008]

Glad I could help. You just need to superimpose some cricket sounds in the background and you could be right back on that bus.

Thanks for the pic, the dates are even on the worksheet!

You've got some great POR shots there - if you've got more they'd make a great Guest Gallery at my site, would you mind me hosting them for you?

Andre

That would be an honor.
I took a lot of POR photos. I had my tripod along and took many 1 to 4 second exposures early in the morning. I haven't even looked at that SD card yet.

There was definitely a cloak and dagger feeling when taking some of the refurb pictures. I was waiting for security to tap me on the shoulder at any moment and confiscate my camera!

 

[3sweetpeas]

Hi,

Has anyone ever stayed in POR with 5 and an infant? Is that even allowed anymore? DH and I stayed at POR years ago when we only had one child and really enjoyed our time there. We are thinking about taking the family again, but I don't know if we would hate cramming everyone in! Thanks for any advice

My kids are 14, 12, and 11. They are also spoiled because our house is large and they all have full or queen beds. We were hesitant to start staying on site because we were used to getting 2 bedroom condos in Orlando (you can get them very inexpensively) and we all really liked it. Then we stayed at POR for 2 nights a few years ago and really loved it. Last year we got 2 rooms and that was wonderful. This year that is just not in the budget for us sooo... we are all staying in one room.

At your kids ages, I honestly think you'll be fine. If my kids weren't so ridiculous about sharing beds, especially my 14 year old son, I think we would be fine. My husband snores.....LOUD...so that is an issue for us also. I think the hardest thing is the lights out problem. I tend to wind down slower than the rest (so I spend a lot of time on the DIS) but that doesn't seem to be a problem for you so I think you'll be ok. The curtain that pulls across the bathroom area is nice for morning.

I actually like that we are all on top of each other. Family togetherness. :

 

[mrsheppo]

We just got back last night from a stay in one of the new refurbished rooms in Alligator Bayou.

Here are some pictures from room 3653