Port Orleans Riverside Q&A Thread 2013, Part One [Thread now FULL and closed]

[WOODY13]

Or might I even suggest a quick glance at the FAQ in the first post of this very thread might help too? There is a clue in the subject header after all....


Got it, thanks

 

[germ539]

Our flight doesn't depart MCO till 6:30p, so I am assuming that we would be informed by ME that we would leave POR around 3p or so. So, my question is, do we check our check in bags at the airline desk and then don't have to worry about them, just our carry ons? Will Bell services hold our carry ons until we depart with ME? We might want to hit the parks or DTD after checkout and don't want to have to worry about the checked luggage or the carry ons.

TIA (Sorry if this has been answered previously, I didn't want to have to go back through all the pages to find it)

Waiting patiently for Mickey Mail and hoping I don't need to call ME to get more tags, (our TA said we can use the ME tags and cut them in half for each bag), or should I contact ME to get some more?

 

[allboyhouse]

Hi everybody! Today we are 30 days out! We can't wait to get backmto POR. My question is this....is there a listing anywhere of which royal rooms have a connecting door?

 

[siskaren]

Our flight doesn't depart MCO till 6:30p, so I am assuming that we would be informed by ME that we would leave POR around 3p or so. So, my question is, do we check our check in bags at the airline desk and then don't have to worry about them, just our carry ons? Will Bell services hold our carry ons until we depart with ME? We might want to hit the parks or DTD after checkout and don't want to have to worry about the checked luggage or the carry ons.

TIA (Sorry if this has been answered previously, I didn't want to have to go back through all the pages to find it)

Waiting patiently for Mickey Mail and hoping I don't need to call ME to get more tags, (our TA said we can use the ME tags and cut them in half for each bag), or should I contact ME to get some more?

Yep, you can check your bags at the airline desk and leave your carry-ons with Bell Services. Just make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to retrieve them before going to wait for the DME bus. The time the give you is the time it leaves, so you'll want to be out there waiting at least 15 minutes before.

You really shouldn't cut the DME tags in half because then they might not fit around the luggage handles, plus there's adhesive on each end of the tag - if you cut them in half, only one end of each one will have the adhesive. Just call DME for more.

 

[elfling8]

So, my question is, do we check our check in bags at the airline desk and then don't have to worry about them, just our carry ons?

I can't answer the holding carryons part of your question for sure, but there was a baggage check right next to the airline/baggage check in area. It is just outside the main doors to the left as you are heading out.

 

[bumbershoot]

Our flight doesn't depart MCO till 6:30p, so I am assuming that we would be informed by ME that we would leave POR around 3p or so. So, my question is, do we check our check in bags at the airline desk and then don't have to worry about them, just our carry ons? Will Bell services hold our carry ons until we depart with ME? We might want to hit the parks or DTD after checkout and don't want to have to worry about the checked luggage or the carry ons.

TIA (Sorry if this has been answered previously, I didn't want to have to go back through all the pages to find it)

Waiting patiently for Mickey Mail and hoping I don't need to call ME to get more tags, (our TA said we can use the ME tags and cut them in half for each bag), or should I contact ME to get some more?

Yes, you get your checked bags to the RAC desk and stash carryons with Bell Services. Note: the RAC desk closes at something like 1pm, so you must get the bags to them well before that. If you're going to be hitting a park, just do it on your way out in the morning.

They say to be ready to get on the bus 3 hours and 15 minutes before your flight. So get back to the resort with time to deal with a line at Bell Services plus time for them to get your carryons, so that you are 100% ready to get on that bus at 3:15. Or even before.


From the snazzy DME and luggage tags "sticky" thread in the Transportation forum...

If you don't have enough tags in time, you can still use the luggage service for those bags (assuming your flight arrives at MCO before 10pm of course) ..."you can have Disney claim them for you as if you did have those yellow tags. Bypass baggage claim, and go straight to the Welcome Center. From there, give the Cast Member your luggage claim tickets. They will create replacement tags for you, find your bags, tag them, and send them to your resort."

 

[sophia0121]

I'm considering staying here sometime this year, and I was wondering what kind of linens AB has. Is it just the quilt shown in pictures or is there a (preferably down) comforter underneath? Thanks so much!!

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

Ok..

So planning to send our fax out tomorrow.. For our request for a ground floor or elevator access room
due to a medical disability, ( which was already stated when making our ressie)

However I just read on another thread the POR was sold out (all but royal guest rooms) for part of our trip..
We are booked In a Garden view and kind had my heart set on AB..

Should I included that we would like to stay at AB, or just be happy we may get an upgrade?
I don't want to ask for too much.. Since having a ground floor or elevator access room is a MUST..
Thanks

 

[kathleen simpson]

First trip to WDW. Staying at POR. Just me and my DD11. Very nervous about it all. Hear is one of my questions , how early in the morning do we need to leave our room to catch a bus for rope drop at the parks?

 

[dansdad]

First trip to WDW. Staying at POR. Just me and my DD11. Very nervous about it all. Hear is one of my questions , how early in the morning do we need to leave our room to catch a bus for rope drop at the parks?

I would say 45 - 60 minutes prior to rope drop would be good.

In a perfect world, you would walk the ~5 minutes from your room to the bus stop just as the bus to the park you want pulls up, then 10-20 minute bus ride depending on the park, getting through bag check ~5-10 minutes and you are there a little early. (Total 20-35 minutes)

Worst case scenario walk the ~5 minutes to bus stop just as the bus to the park you want is pulling away, wait the ~20 minutes for another bus to pull up for the park you want, 10-20 minute bus ride depending on the park, getting through back check ~5-10 minutes and you are there right at rope drop. (Total 40-55 minutes)

 

[andrewilley]

Hi everybody! Today we are 30 days out! We can't wait to get backmto POR. My question is this....is there a listing anywhere of which royal rooms have a connecting door?

No, sorry. There's not really much point in one anyway to be honest, as you can't book specific room numbers - and what if one of the two that you asked for was occupied and the other wasn't? Better to just ask for connecting rooms and hope that they can match your request (about 50% of the rooms connect, so it shouldn't be too hard).

We are booked In a Garden view and kind had my heart set on AB..

Should I included that we would like to stay at AB, or just be happy we may get an upgrade?

AB is not an upgrade - in fact there are actually more Garden View rooms in AB than there are in the mansions, so it should be a pretty easy request for them to meet for you. Just word your fax so they know your priorities - i.e. you need ground floor for medical reasons, and would prefer an AB room (not too far from main buildings?) if at all possible.

Andre

 

[awfullybigadventure]

Okay, 3 days to go and so excited (and nervous) that I can barely stand it! I did online check in last week and sent my fax on Monday. We booked a garden view room and there are 5 of us so we will be in AB. In my fax I requested 1st floor, external view corner room, building 16 or as close to the main building as possible. My husband is severely visually impaired and the more light the better, the less walking the better...I know, hard to avoid walking in DW! Anyway, I know not to expect a reply but I used the free online site (got free fax) and I realized as I was tossing and turning last night, that I didn't get an email saying the fax had gone thru. Wasn't I supposed to get an email from the website? I just really, really am hoping to get the first floor because stairs are VERY difficult for him (part of his visual impairment is no depth perception) and the 2nd window should help a lot by providing more natural light. Should I risk seeming like a bother and resend the fax in case they didn't receive it or should I just assume it went thru? I've never used Got Free Fax before and am not sure about their reliability. It's only because of this thread that I even knew to send a fax in the first place! Thank you to all the experts, especially Andre and Venom!

 

[zabache]

Maybe even see you there! (30 July-14 Aug)

Yes maybe.

 

[firstwdw]

We are at POR during the split week. May 1 is a Weds. So, as far as the movie schedule goes and rec schedule in general, will that change on Weds May 1st or will they stick to the April schedule until the first full week of May?

If it changes then do we get two schedules(April and May) at check in?? Just wondering how this all works and if anyone knows. THANK YOU

 

[Missytara]

I'm considering staying here sometime this year, and I was wondering what kind of linens AB has. Is it just the quilt shown in pictures or is there a (preferably down) comforter underneath? Thanks so much!!

They are not down; too many people afflicted with allergies (myself included). They are all polyester.

 

[Missytara]

We are at POR during the split week. May 1 is a Weds. So, as far as the movie schedule goes and rec schedule in general, will that change on Weds May 1st or will they stick to the April schedule until the first full week of May?

If it changes then do we get two schedules(April and May) at check in?? Just wondering how this all works and if anyone knows. THANK YOU

If you arrive on a week (like I do) where the month changes over, you get both.

 

[Missytara]

Our flight doesn't depart MCO till 6:30p, so I am assuming that we would be informed by ME that we would leave POR around 3p or so. So, my question is, do we check our check in bags at the airline desk and then don't have to worry about them, just our carry ons? Will Bell services hold our carry ons until we depart with ME? We might want to hit the parks or DTD after checkout and don't want to have to worry about the checked luggage or the carry ons.

It should be added that your bus time will be right around check-in and guest services may be very busy. I would suggest getting back a bit early so they have time to help the other guests that have arrived, before they retrieve your bags.

 

[andrewilley]

I didn't get an email saying the fax had gone thru. Wasn't I supposed to get an email from the website? I just really, really am hoping to get the first floor because stairs are VERY difficult for him (part of his visual impairment is no depth perception)

I don't know how confirmations come through with the online fax services, but I'd have thought you'd get something back? Did you also have your request added to your original booking by the way, as that will be visible to the room assignment folks. Or contact the Special Assistance line?

As this is an important matter to you, it might be worth calling the resort and asking to speak directly with someone in the on-site room assignment team. Don't just discuss it with the first person who answers your call when you ring, as they will be based at a central call center handling calls for all of the Disney resorts. Explain your concerns and the reasons, and that you are not sure whether the fax worked, and I'm sure they'll do their best to help you.

Andre

 

[firstwdw]

Okay, 3 days to go and so excited (and nervous) that I can barely stand it! I did online check in last week and sent my fax on Monday. We booked a garden view room and there are 5 of us so we will be in AB. In my fax I requested 1st floor, external view corner room, building 16 or as close to the main building as possible. My husband is severely visually impaired and the more light the better, the less walking the better...I know, hard to avoid walking in DW! Anyway, I know not to expect a reply but I used the free online site (got free fax) and I realized as I was tossing and turning last night, that I didn't get an email saying the fax had gone thru. Wasn't I supposed to get an email from the website? I just really, really am hoping to get the first floor because stairs are VERY difficult for him (part of his visual impairment is no depth perception) and the 2nd window should help a lot by providing more natural light. Should I risk seeming like a bother and resend the fax in case they didn't receive it or should I just assume it went thru? I've never used Got Free Fax before and am not sure about their reliability. It's only because of this thread that I even knew to send a fax in the first place! Thank you to all the experts, especially Andre and Venom!

I used the same online fax. I am not 100% sure if it got there but I did get an e-mail that it was in process and then an additional e-mail saying it had been delivered. If I remember correctly, I had to click on a link in an e-mail the fax service sent me in order to activate the process. Again, we haven't arrived yet so not sure it got there

 

[brian95]

when we catch the ME back to the airport do we have to get our bags and put them on the bus ourselves