Port Orleans Riverside Preferred Buildings

[disneymom1]

Can anyone tell me which buildings at Port Orleans Riverside are included in the "preferred room" category?

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I am curious about this too! And when did they make a preferred category?! I guess no more requesting building 14 without booking a preferred category. Would love to know what my other "standard" building options are!

 

[DebbieB]

Can anyone tell me which buildings at Port Orleans Riverside are included in the "preferred room" category?

I am curious about this too! And when did they make a preferred category?! I guess no more requesting building 14 without booking a preferred category. Would love to know what my other "standard" building options are!

The preferred category started on 1/1/11. WDW created new categories at several resorts for 2011. If you want the most requested, you are going to pay extra.

 

[SuzyQue]

Can anyone tell me which buildings at Port Orleans Riverside are included in the "preferred room" category?

Buildings 14, 15, 18, and 27 in AB, not sure they have decided on which mansions. ~~

 

[Avojeo]

Does this mean that you made a reservation requesting these buildings that you will be charged more?? Or just not get your request?

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

Does this mean that you made a reservation requesting these buildings that you will be charged more?? Or just not get your request?

I know! I requested exactly those 4 buildings! I just assumed that means we just won't get it. Don't think they can charge you unless you specifically book preferred.

Guess I'll be calling back with other building requests....wonder if any of the mansions will be considered preferred.

 

[DebbieB]

Does this mean that you made a reservation requesting these buildings that you will be charged more?? Or just not get your request?

They are a separate reservation category, not a request.

Looks like they are $25-$30 more per night.

http://www.mousesavers.com/portorleans2011.html#por

CSR also now has preferred category.

AKL has a separate category now for Arusha savannah.

 

[SuzyQue]

I know! I requested exactly those 4 buildings! I just assumed that means we just won't get it. Don't think they can charge you unless you specifically book preferred.

I agree, I wouldn't think they would automatically place you there without informing you of the price increase first. But are ALL the rooms in those buildings considered "preferred" or just a portion of them? Wish someone had experience with this already and could tell us. We're not going until the beginning of February.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I decided to take the bull by the horns and call Port Orleans Riverside directly!

I spoke to a lovely woman who took the time to look at all the room categories and see which buildings each category is part of. She said preferred locations are showing up in 14, 15, 18 and 27. Not in the mansions at all.

I asked her if that means the whole building is considered preferred or is there a chance you could get a standard in one of those buildings. She said, out of those 4 buildings, she is seeing river views in 14 and 18. She also said that they do reserve just a few rooms in each of those preferred buildings for families of 5 because of the trundle bed.

So what I got out of all of that is there is a very slim chance you will be put in those buildings unless you booked a preferred, river or MAYBE if you are a family of 5.

 

[skater]

I decided to take the bull by the horns and call Port Orleans Riverside directly!

I spoke to a lovely woman who took the time to look at all the room categories and see which buildings each category is part of. She said preferred locations are showing up in 14, 15, 18 and 27. Not in the mansions at all.

I asked her if that means the whole building is considered preferred or is there a chance you could get a standard in one of those buildings. She said, out of those 4 buildings, she is seeing river views in 14 and 18. She also said that they do reserve just a few rooms in each of those preferred buildings for families of 5 because of the trundle bed.

So what I got out of all of that is there is a very slim chance you will be put in those buildings unless you booked a preferred, river or MAYBE if you are a family of 5.

Thanks for the info.! I've decided that this is way too much money for the "privelege" of being in one of those buildings. I can slip away with my DH for one night at WL for less than it would cost us to book a preferred room. That's ridiculous and not worth it. It is VERY convenient to be close to the food court, but not that convenient .

 

[1hero2princesses]

I am really confused about this. When I did the play and stay free offer for kids online to price it out it had an upcharge for a water view, but said the prefered buildings category was included? It did not list an upcharge? I am very confused on why I am not seeing extra cost for this online? We are a family of 5. We are on a tight budget but his is a super tough decision for me cause we have stayed in the perferred room and a not perferred room and that 15 minute walk is tough in the dark with tired children!

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I am really confused about this. When I did the play and stay free offer for kids online to price it out it had an upcharge for a water view, but said the prefered buildings category was included? It did not list an upcharge? I am very confused on why I am not seeing extra cost for this online? We are a family of 5. We are on a tight budget but his is a super tough decision for me cause we have stayed in the perferred room and a not perferred room and that 15 minute walk is tough in the dark with tired children!

Hmm, I don't think you can book a water view AND a preferred location. If preferred is more important to you, maybe you should do that instead of water view. Or request one of those two buildings preferred buildings that have river view rooms.

 

[Missytara]

Here's the deal.

First, when you call "the resort" you are actually calling the Central Call Center. They just answer as if they are at the resort. The CM pulled up the information off the computer and gave you what she knew.

Second, the cost for the preferred room and the waterview room are the same; they are not the same category. What the CM meant was that there is no difference in the amount. You would book one and request the other if you wanted a preferred waterview room.

The mansions have yet to be included in the preferred rooms. However, no one knows if that will change. I am booked in Oak Manor requested and paid for a standard room, even though I feel that is closest to the main amentities as described on the Disney site.

Hope that is helpful.

 

[Missytara]

I am really confused about this. When I did the play and stay free offer for kids online to price it out it had an upcharge for a water view, but said the prefered buildings category was included? It did not list an upcharge? I am very confused on why I am not seeing extra cost for this online? We are a family of 5. We are on a tight budget but his is a super tough decision for me cause we have stayed in the perferred room and a not perferred room and that 15 minute walk is tough in the dark with tired children!

There was NO preferred room category prior to 1/1/11. You requested a room closest to the main building; now you are paying for it.

 

[Missytara]

I agree, I wouldn't think they would automatically place you there without informing you of the price increase first. But are ALL the rooms in those buildings considered "preferred" or just a portion of them? Wish someone had experience with this already and could tell us. We're not going until the beginning of February.

Not a whole lot of experience considering this just started 11 days ago.

 

[Missytara]

I decided to take the bull by the horns and call Port Orleans Riverside directly!

I spoke to a lovely woman who took the time to look at all the room categories and see which buildings each category is part of. She said preferred locations are showing up in 14, 15, 18 and 27. Not in the mansions at all.

I asked her if that means the whole building is considered preferred or is there a chance you could get a standard in one of those buildings. She said, out of those 4 buildings, she is seeing river views in 14 and 18. She also said that they do reserve just a few rooms in each of those preferred buildings for families of 5 because of the trundle bed.

So what I got out of all of that is there is a very slim chance you will be put in those buildings unless you booked a preferred, river or MAYBE if you are a family of 5.

You spoke to the person in the Central Call Center; not the resort.

I spoke to CRO when I made my ressies for this year and was given the same exact information by the CM that took my call. It is on the computer.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

You spoke to the person in the Central Call Center; not the resort.

I spoke to CRO when I made my ressies for this year and was given the same exact information by the CM that took my call. It is on the computer.

Are you sure? She answered the phone saying, "This is so-and-so at Port Orleans Riverside, how can I help you?"

My DSIL called CRO to ask about it and was told that there were no preferred rooms at POR, which I knew was incorrect. That's why I wanted to call the resort.

 

[chucksusanandgrace]

So is there a preferred in the Mansions or not????

Thank you?

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

So is there a preferred in the Mansions or not????

Thank you?

Not at this time. But that is subject to change at any time. They are currently refurbing POFQ and once complete, they are supposed to move onto POR. So, once that begins the changes are anyone's guess.

 

[Missytara]

Are you sure? She answered the phone saying, "This is so-and-so at Port Orleans Riverside, how can I help you?"

My DSIL called CRO to ask about it and was told that there were no preferred rooms at POR, which I knew was incorrect. That's why I wanted to call the resort.

Yep, the CM is sitting in a remote location in front of a console with multiple numbers. When the number XXX-XXX-XXXX lights up, she says Port Orleans Riverside. When number YYY-YYY-YYYY rings, they say Grand Floridian.

That particular CM probably didn't have the most up-to-date information.

The first time I called, the information had just shown up on the Disney website the day before. Since it was so early, not all the CM's knew of the changes right away - not the best training.

Next time, you check in, note that no one answers the phone at the front desk - even when you call from your room phone, you are calling to a Central Call Center and they are answering the phone as if they were actually at the resort. It allows the CM's at the front desk to totally focus on their customers and allows other behind the scenes to determine where the calls should be routed to...

Where I work, we have a similar set-up, so it made perfect sense to me when I had a rather long check-in one year and noticed not one time did the phone ring at the front desk.