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

[Mrs Grumpy]

If you have purchases sent back to the resort from the parks where do you pick them up? Do you go to the resort gift shop? We will be away from the resort a lot during the hours that the gift shop is opened.

 

[4butlers]

If you have purchases sent back to the resort from the parks where do you pick them up? Do you go to the resort gift shop? We will be away from the resort a lot during the hours that the gift shop is opened.

Yes, the gift shop is where I've picked up purchases.

 

[j2thomason]

I got three different Mickey mails today!! The first was just the vacation planning DVD. Then I got two envelopes from my travel agent. One for my Disneyland trip with my daughter for her graduation gift leaving in 18 days. The second one was for my POR trip with my mom and my daughter in 31 days. I just got back Sunday from my daughters band trip to WDW. Three Disney trips in 6 weeks.....wahoo!!!

WDW preview center 1971, WDW 20 times, DL 3 times, Disney Cruise 1 time, DL Paris 1 time, Upcoming: MK, AK & DHS May 1-5, DL & DCA May 27-31, MK June 12

 

[zabache]

Hi everyone. My daughter and I will be arriving to Disney World for the first time on June 10th. We are stayimg at POR for 7 nights and cannot wait.

Has anyone booked the Pirate Adventure for their children? If so, did they enjoy it? Would you recommend it for a nine year old girl?

My DD is also 9 and she's looking forward to the Pirate Cruise.

 

[zabache]

Just returned from our 7 night vacation to Port Orleans. Thanks to everyone especially Andre and Venom for all of the help.

Had a fantastic time. Kids loved the pool-especially the water slide. We were in a royal room standard view. I requested a corner room and top floor and received both. The kids loved the fireworks on the bed. The details in the Royal Room is amazing.

We did have a car since I got such a great deal. We did the busses once on our last day to MK and it took awhile to get there since there was a line for the bus when we got there that am. Coming back there was a huge line and we were super tired so we decided to get on French Quarters bus and we walked it. Not sure if it was quicker or not but the walk wasn't far and there weren't too many people on that bus compared to the riversides busses. It is a very large resort so they do have a lot of people to get to the parks and back so I'm glad we had the car this past week.

Everything at the resort was great-mousekeeping, check in, etc. Never ate at Boatwrights but did eat at the food court a few times and the food was good.

You will definitely have a great time at this resort. We primarily have stayed at value resorts so it was nice to stay at a moderate for once. Definitely like the fact that the beds are bigger and more comfortable compared to the values.

Happy Disney Vacations!!

We have also booked a standard RR. I'm glad you liked your location. Can you tell me where you actually were? I've been debating what request I will make once I go in August.

Ok, so is it true that if we are staying at a Disney resort the parking is free at the parks?

Glad you had a nice trip!

 

[RandomLindsay]

First Post - First stay at POR for us this fall with free dining. Yay! Had a hard time choosing a resort. We stayed at POFQ last year and loved it. Couldn't decide between trying something new or going back to what we knew. Excited about POR now!!!!

 

[magicalmoments4]

Just called my TA today and after much deliberation, I am making the switch to POR for our December stay from BC. Going Royal River View!! I've never been but absolutely love the New Orleans feel and love The Princess and The Frog and I know my DD (7) will love it and well, my DS (11) will have to grin and bear it!! But, he is excited for the pasta bar at Riverside Mill!! Count me in y'all!!

 

[andrewilley]

Ok, so is it true that if we are staying at a Disney resort the parking is free at the parks?

Yup, one of the perks of staying on-site. You'll get a parking pass to place on your dash, and then at the parking lot payment kiosks they'll just wave you on through.... it's a great feeling!

Andre

 

[EpcotBill]

Ok, so is it true that if we are staying at a Disney resort the parking is free at the parks?

This is true.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

I don't think it's always deliberate - those doors & springs are heavy, and if you just left them shut on their own (or even worse if you let them slam onto that hinged metal locking-plate device) then they tend to shut pretty heavily.




Well there are a few rooms that you can see the water wheel from, but at something of a distance and at a rather oblique angle:


You could always ask though, but don't get your hopes up for a good view of it. There are some rooms in Alligator Bayou wish views from the other side, but again very much sideways on.

Andre

Beautiful picture, thanks! I figured by the map that weren't too many rooms with a view, but I thought I ask anyway. I guess as you said, I'll ask at check in, you never know. I'll probably upgrade my room to a Preferred just in case...that and with 3 kids 7 and under, that will come in handy anyway!

 

[LisaTC]

We pretty much had this view from Oak Manor Royal Riverfront. It's zoom and we were just a touch more left and square on, but I loved it.

My DD9 was ecstatic with the royal rooms. It's definitely a girl thing. They aren't huge, but they are very pretty! If you go to Youtube there are lots of PortOrleans Royal Riverfront videos. They are dark, but you appreciate that at night time.

 

[ohnowewontgo]

Beautiful picture LisaTC!

I'm so excited to be going back and getting to see that beautiful resort again!

71 days!

 

[lillykat]

Just faxed my room request in . 4 more days!!!!

Have a safe trip! We will be there the same time. We arrive Monday!

 

[Kalea]

Hi, guys!

So months ago, I'd booked a POR preferred room. I was lucky enough to get a FD PIN yesterday. But when my TA applied the PIN, Disney told him it couldn't be used with the preferred room. The only option I was given is a Royal Room w/ Garden View.

Is that normal? I'm not complaining... exactly. But I was looking forward to the murphy bed in AB. The TA said he was told that the room was still in a 'preferred location,' but I'm not sure what that means?

 

[germ539]

Our TA just contacted me and we have officially got our extra set of ME tags, now to do the basic photopass pre purchase tonight and then 16 days and counting to POR Riverside. I am so Happy counting the days down until we arrive in DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just have to pack, send the fax, etc (so much to do, so little time)

 

[Cobern]

Have a safe trip! We will be there the same time. We arrive Monday!

Us too! Monday arrival here

 

[andrewilley]

So months ago, I'd booked a POR preferred room. I was lucky enough to get a FD PIN yesterday. But when my TA applied the PIN, Disney told him it couldn't be used with the preferred room. The only option I was given is a Royal Room w/ Garden View.

Is that normal? I'm not complaining... exactly. But I was looking forward to the murphy bed in AB. The TA said he was told that the room was still in a 'preferred location,' but I'm not sure what that means?

It's perfectly normal for PINs or other discount offers to only be available for certain room types (generally the ones for which Disney has the most inventory left).

Your TA saying that Royal/Garden View is a 'preferred location' merely means that your TA doesn't know what they are talking about. "Preferred Location" rooms are in Alligator Bayou 14, 15, 18 or 27 only - which are on the opposite side of the resort from the Royal Rooms (see map in first post).

You need to decide whether a convenient location and the murphy bed outweigh whatever PIN discount you might otherwise get for the pricier Royal Room decor, but with a room further away from the main areas.

Andre

 

[Chuckers]

Got in yesterday at about 9 am. My reservation was totally broken. None of my faxed requests were granted. The CM checking me in, made one phone call, and got me one of my requested rooms.

After about 30 minutes, she finally got me my room key card. I went to the gift shop to buy something and my KTTK card was rejected. Back to the front desk. 40 minutes later, my original reservation had to be deleted and a new on entered. The CMs were great.

Well, POR is a beautiful resort and my room is very nice. But it's very confusing, the pathing is horrible and in just two days, I already hate the bus service. This morning, at 6:50 am it took me 45 minutes to get a bus to AK. I made it to my Tusker house ADR with 5 minutes to spare.

I ate lunch in the food court.. Make your own pasta. It was pretty gross. One does not boil Alfredo sauce. I shouldn't have watched her put together my meal. Not that it would have tastes better. The brownie was really good tho.

I'll see how the rest of the trip goes before I give final judgement on POR.

 

[Shaden]

Got in yesterday at about 9 am. My reservation was totally broken. None of my faxed requests were granted. The CM checking me in, made one phone call, and got me one of my requested rooms.

After about 30 minutes, she finally got me my room key card. I went to the gift shop to buy something and my KTTK card was rejected. Back to the front desk. 40 minutes later, my original reservation had to be deleted and a new on entered. The CMs were great.

Well, POR is a beautiful resort and my room is very nice. But it's very confusing, the pathing is horrible and in just two days, I already hate the bus service. This morning, at 6:50 am it took me 45 minutes to get a bus to AK. I made it to my Tusker house ADR with 5 minutes to spare.

I ate lunch in the food court.. Make your own pasta. It was pretty gross. One does not boil Alfredo sauce. I shouldn't have watched her put together my meal. Not that it would have tastes better. The brownie was really good tho.

I'll see how the rest of the trip goes before I give final judgement on POR.

Hey Chuckers, this morning was an absolute CRAP show with the busses, I agree. But it was the first bad day, all the rest have been great for us since Sunday.

As for the food, we had the make your own pasta, and it was great. Marinara sauce though. I can understand the alfredo might not have been awesome, especially since the load the pan with a ton of oil first, I wonder if you can ask for it with no oil ?

The pizza is pretty great, the cakes are awesome, we had a salad, also very good.


As for Boatwrights, HUGE disappointment. The Filet Medallions are no longer available, but there is a New York Strip with a pepper corn reduction, it was pretty great. The Jambalaya was TERRIBLE, it tasted like a bowl of peppers, that was the only flavour to it. And I have been dying to eat the crawfish bites for months, SO excited for them, and they were the worst thing I have eaten (well, not eaten) all week. Instead of Crispy, light and firm, they were heavy, very very oily, and rubber-ish in texture. At first I thought I just ate a bad one, tried a couple more and they were all like that.

The Pecan pie though, ... awesome.

Hope your trip is great !!!

 

[Minnie404]

We have also booked a standard RR. I'm glad you liked your location. Can you tell me where you actually were? I've been debating what request I will make once I go in August.

Ok, so is it true that if we are staying at a Disney resort the parking is free at the parks?

Glad you had a nice trip!

We were in Room 9295 which I think is Oak Manor. Great location-close to the bridge to head over to food court and lobby. Parking is free at the parks if you are staying on site. They give you a permit (piece of paper) and the people at the parks just wave you through. Have fun-we had a great time.