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

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andrewilley said:
Ouch, not exactly what you want when you check in!!! I'm sorry about your bad experience.

I know this won't help you now as the damage is already done, but in case anyone else has the same sort of issues: CSR were wrong when they said your bags would be delivered to your room automatically. The only way that happens is with Magical Express bags, otherwise Bell Services staff are not allowed to enter a guest's room unless the guest is present.

What should have happened (and it sounds like everything was a bit chaotic at the time so you were not told this, but CSR should have said it too) is that you simply call and let Bell Services know your room number once you've checked-in, and then they will bring your bags directly up to your room once you are in there. But you do need to ask them to do this, otherwise if you just go and collect your bags then they can't know what you want (for example someone might be picking up their bags ready to put in their car to leave).

The power problem really does sound like the icing on the cake though; if a whole building (or was it wider than that?) was without power I'm sure the staff were urgently doing their best to resolve the problem, but with anything like this I guess it can take time. By the way, you do know that calls to the front desks of all Disney resorts go to one central call center, not even located on property, so no doubt they have received a number of calls about this problem which they had passed on to the resort maintenance teams, but there's not a lot else they can do from where they are.

It might be worth raising these points (in person) with someone from guest services at the front desk while you are there, as it does sound like the biggest problem was mis-information and no-one letting you know what could be done to help. Ask to speak to a guest services manager and let them know how your arrival went (aside from the power issue which was beyond their control) as I know that is NOT how they would want a guest to first experience the resort.

[Edit: I see you have left now anyway, glad it picked up a bit anyway. I do know that WDW not only has generators, but they even run two full POWER STATIONS on property which supplement the grid power. However if a local/building substation had blown due to the weather, no amount of generators would help as the problem is getting the power to where its needed, rather than actually generating the power in the first place]

Andre

Thanks for the info Andre! As always, a wealth of knowledge! Never got an answer as to what happened with power but it took over 3.5 hrs to fix it.

Great info about the transfer- I would have loved them to just bring then to me if someone had mentioned that as an option! Now I know- thanks to Disboards. Y'all rock

I did talk to concierge in person last night and they ended up giving me about 1/3 off my room. I had already been upgraded to a water view- or assumed it was a water view as it overlooked the quiet pool. Concierge was great. The only issue I had about that was the 10:45 phone call later to check on me. Ummm... Thanks manager but that seems a little late to be calling!
 
Wow! I'm busy for a week or two and we've got a new thread and 33 pages. :lmao: I'll have to read up while "working" today.

longhorns2, I am so sorry for your experience. I am sure that is not normal. I don't use bell services because, well, I'm OCD and I have to do everything myself.

I hope you have a safe trip home and I do hope that besides the issues you had a great vacation.
 
Thank you! I did have a great vacation. Ride big girl roller coasters! So proud of me. Lol
 
Well, we are down to three sleeps to POR and the most magical place on earth. I placed my Garden Grocer order yesterday, have all our Disney mail in one spot and am cleaning and doing laundry all day. Have rides to the airport arranged. Gotta get quarters and pennies, cash for mousekeeping and a few more gift cards. I work tonight, but when I get home tomorow morning there won't be anything to hold me back from gettibg ready.

Thanks everyone for all of the help and information along the way.
 

We are also down to three sleeps!!! We're surprising the kids - well really my 5 year old. The one year old won't understand the surprise ;) And I told him just two days ago because I was dying to tell someone how excited I was!!!! ;)

I just started freaking out a little this morning about all the stuff I have to do!!!

Does anyone know if we (especially the kids) will need sunscreen?
 
Only one sleep left!!! Although I don't know if that will actually happen. I am already too excited. Few more last minute things to pack, and tidy up the house a bit. This time tomorrow we will be in the air. Watch out Disney....here we come!!!
 
Only one sleep left!!! Although I don't know if that will actually happen. I am already too excited. Few more last minute things to pack, and tidy up the house a bit. This time tomorrow we will be in the air. Watch out Disney....here we come!!!

We are right behind you!!!
 
andrewilley said:
If it's anything like it was a few days ago, then yes. Even if the air is cooler, the sun can still be very strong.

Andre

I just realized that I always wore sunscreen back in the day when I went skiing so duh of course we will need it! Momentary lapse of thinking due to disneyitis I suppose!! Haha!!
 
WOW! Longhorn, I am so sorry that happened to you! We had some front desk challenges at POR (as it related to room keys, dining plan, park tickets etc) and it has taken me a long time to let go of that experience and be willing to try again.

Does POR have traditional bell services? I know on our last stay WAY back in 2005 we kept calling to help with luggage on check out day and no one ever answered to the phone :confused: We will be 2 people with probably 5 suitcases (including carry-ons) and there is no way I will be able to get it from the room to the RAC desk on my own. If there aren't bell services, can I at least get a cart from somewhere?

To everyone about to leave- safe travels and don't forget the live posts if you can!! :goodvibes
(And feel better quickly Venomhatch!!)
 
There's bell service- and they will help you. But you have to ask for it. Was told it is a gratuity service (? Not sure how that's different from any other bell service at hotels as I've always tipped!) so that's why it's not automatic.

Simply ask bell services at the front to help with bags and it will be done

I just didn't know I had to ask- thought it was part of staying at a mod or deluxe hotel. Didn't expect it at a value.

As I'm flying home I'm letting it go- and focusing in how pretty it was. Of course, I was so tired and annoyed and distressed I didn't take a single picture! Ugh!
 
To everyone about to leave- safe travels and don't forget the live posts if you can!! :goodvibes
(And feel better quickly Venomhatch!!)

Wow, thanks for the reminder to post while there. I don't leave until april but never thought to keep posting when I am there. I will diff do that now :)
 
So my company tried to screw with my vacation. I was supposed to be tacking this trip on the tail end of a conference for work in Orlando. I was going to drive down and have the company reimburse me for mileage. This would allow me to have my car with me at the resort.

Well yesterday, I get notified that the company is NOT sending us to the conference this year. I was ticked. My boss told me to make sure I still took my vacation (which I was going to anyway, as I've already paid for over half of it.) But it meant I couldn't drive without taking an extra vacation day.

So, I looked up airfare and got a r/t flight for $138!!! WAHOO!!! So now I get to enjoy DME and while I won't have a car, I'll still have my vacation!!

I can't wait to visit POR!!!!!!!
 
I have a question about ME....they say they get your luggage. But what if you want to take the ME and get your own luggage? The whole idea of them getting it for me makes me so nervous.
 
ALD85 said:
I have a question about ME....they say they get your luggage. But what if you want to take the ME and get your own luggage? The whole idea of them getting it for me makes me so nervous.

No problem. Just don't put the yellow luggage stickers they provide on it, and it'll be sent to the baggage carousel like normal. You can pick it up then go to ME and stow it on the bus.
 
Wow, thanks for the reminder to post while there. I don't leave until april but never thought to keep posting when I am there. I will diff do that now :)

To everyone about to leave- safe travels and don't forget the live posts if you can!! :goodvibes
(And feel better quickly Venomhatch!!)

Thanks, Yeah if anyone needs detailed photos of certain areas let me know through PM I will try my best to cover the grounds since we will be there a lot in the next few days.
 
So my company tried to screw with my vacation. I was supposed to be tacking this trip on the tail end of a conference for work in Orlando. I was going to drive down and have the company reimburse me for mileage. This would allow me to have my car with me at the resort.

Well yesterday, I get notified that the company is NOT sending us to the conference this year. I was ticked. My boss told me to make sure I still took my vacation (which I was going to anyway, as I've already paid for over half of it.) But it meant I couldn't drive without taking an extra vacation day.

So, I looked up airfare and got a r/t flight for $138!!! WAHOO!!! So now I get to enjoy DME and while I won't have a car, I'll still have my vacation!!

I can't wait to visit POR!!!!!!!

Congrats that is awesome I am so happy for u! So u going alone?
 
No problem. Just don't put the yellow luggage stickers they provide on it, and it'll be sent to the baggage carousel like normal. You can pick it up then go to ME and stow it on the bus.

I have never had an issue with them in the past getting our luggage. Ever.
 
Sorry about so many questions-just trying to figure it all out. We booked preferred. Are all 4 of the preferred buildings close to the main building/pool and bus stop?? I have spent a lot of time looking at Andre's amazing map and I am just wondering if there really is a big difference between building 14 and the other preferred buildings in terms of distances? Should I request a certain building?? Or does top floor, non-parking lot view good enough and leave it up to the room assignment team knowing we are in preferred and will be close to everything anyways (assuming all preferred are close)
 
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