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

[4butlers]

I totally do the cute envelope thing!

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Just got back this afternoon from an amazing 3 day stay at POR & DH & I are hooked. We hadn't been there in about 10+ years and decided to try it once more.

We got a preferred room in AB, Building 18, First floor. Everything was great, room clean & ready when we arrived at 11:30am & online check in had made everything a breeze. The room was actually bigger than we remembered. Met with concierge and scheduled a carriage ride for that same night and it was magical. We were lucky enough to get Lori and her horse, Tom. Lori had been highlighted in an article in allears.net & we talked about that. We opted to go through the FQ since we'd never stayed there. Glad we did it because we decided it wasn't for us & we're glad we chose Riverside.

The resort wasn't very full at all. The only crowds we saw was on Monday morning trying to catch the bus to the MK so we could take the boat to WL for breakfast reservations. Guess everyone decided they wanted to be there for rope drop, although with the size of the crowd when we arrived at the MK I don't think they could have made it through bag check in time for rope drop & we got there at 8:15 to wait for a bus.

Did the boat ride to DTD twice this trip, and it was relaxing. Spent last night just wandering around the resort and relaxing. Only thing we didn't wander over to was the mansions to take in the movies. It was Alice in Wonderland last night & we weren't interested in that. We didn't find the quiet pool behind our building until later last night, but now know what we'll enjoy next time. I'm already trying to talk him into another 3 day trip in September as soon as the AP rates are released.

Thank you to everyone for all their help & input on our trip. You guys made it very "magical and stress free".

 

[stephyarcouette]

Cost wise, Garden Grocer would be your best bet (a cab wouldn't pay for itself for just a few groceries). The hotel shop is very convenient, but a little pricey and only a limited range.

All that said, a trip out to a local WalMart by cab would more than pay for itself if you also buy some Disney tee-shirts/souvenirs/etc there too. They have a massive range, which OK are a bit different to the in-park items, but are the kids really going to be worried? (they'll probably still be too drunk from all the beer to notice anyway )


Andre

Baaahhhhaaaa!!!! Good call on the Disney souvenirs!!! Thanks! So do you know which wal mart would be closest if we go from DTD?

 

[katiereeve]

OK POR experts...what's your fave meal at Boatwright's...or do you just prefer the food court? Thanks!

 

[SRUAlmn]

I totally do the cute envelope thing!

Me too! We don't make a lot of ADRs, so it's one of the few things I can do to plan leading up to the trip

 

[CalicoSky]

OK POR experts...what's your fave meal at Boatwright's...or do you just prefer the food court? Thanks!

I really enjoyed the jambalaya with a pecan pie chaser! I want my fairy godmother to take me there for some right now.



*looks around* Well, darn. Still in the cold and rainy Midwest.

The food court's great too, though...favorite thing there by far is the create-your-own-pasta bar, but have also had selections from the carving station which was a nice and tasty comfort-food sort of dinner.

 

[Shaden]

I really enjoyed the jambalaya with a pecan pie chaser! I want my fairy godmother to take me there for some right now.



*looks around* Well, darn. Still in the cold and rainy Midwest.

The food court's great too, though...favorite thing there by far is the create-your-own-pasta bar, but have also had selections from the carving station which was a nice and tasty comfort-food sort of dinner.

Now having an even harder time waiting !!! Pecan Pie every night for 2 weeks ?

going to require a lot of running ...

 

[zabache]

I've never been but I already have ADR for Boatwright's and would love your feedback once you get back. Someone mentioned the beet and goat cheese salad was good, unless it's at another restaurant.

 

[DanInMN]

Our kids are grown-up, sort-of. So we are considering a no-kids visit to POR this fall for a week sometime in Aug/Sept/Oct. We have been to DW many times. We are thinking about a no-parks trip. Just hang out at POR, swim, boat ride to DTD, peek at some of the fancy resorts, eat, etc. My wife loves to just lay around and get sun burned, however I get bored quickly. Has anyone done this? How did it go?

 

[andrewilley]

Don't think we will be doing it this trip my younger DD is the one who really wanted to do it but unfortunately she won't turn 4 until 4 or 5 days after we are at HS.

And you plan to tell them that??? They won't check her birth certificate.

So do you know which wal mart would be closest if we go from DTD?

From Downtown Disney, definitely the one on SR535. Just drive down Hotel Plaza Boulevard, and at the Crossroads traffic lights junction at the end turn right and drive for 3 miles to WalMart.

Andre

 

[lhk617]

Just changed from AoA to POR July 12-19 can't wait first time taking my dd3 1/2 and dd 15 months!!!

 

[zabache]

Just changed from AoA to POR July 12-19 can't wait first time taking my dd3 1/2 and dd 15 months!!!

So exciting. My baby is 19 months but during our trip he will be 23 months. What made you change from AoA? I looked at possibly staying there but they didn't have a sale on their mermaid rooms, they only had the suites which were more expensive than staying at POR. I'm glad I picked POR. I think it will be a calmer, quieter place.

 

[chptrk]

OK POR experts...what's your fave meal at Boatwright's...or do you just prefer the food court? Thanks!

Breakfast! When they used to serve it. I don't understand why they don't have breakfast there anymore. It made a great alternative to the food court and I'm typically more inclined to eat breakfast at the resort than any other meal.

 

[cburek]

Just wanted to say thanks for the tips on faxing POR a few days prior to arrival. I went and checked in at 730a and even though the room was not ready they were able to accomodate us is the same room for all nights. I had booked 1 night in a riverview room and 2 nights in a preferred room. It was the only way would could get in for all 3 nights. I really lucked out. The location was perfect. AB corner room with a riverview in building 18. I had requested 14 or 27 but this was actually better.POR is great. Never felt too crowded. Food Court I think is the best on property. Room was exceptionally clean. Never made it to the main pool area since the smaller quieter pools were so relaxing we ended up hanging there. Kids really enjoyed themselves. I like this property as much as Wilderness Lodge maybe even a little better. Dont let my husband know I said that though

 

[firstwdw]

Just wanted to say thanks for the tips on faxing POR a few days prior to arrival. I went and checked in at 730a and even though the room was not ready they were able to accomodate us is the same room for all nights. I had booked 1 night in a riverview room and 2 nights in a preferred room. It was the only way would could get in for all 3 nights. I really lucked out. The location was perfect. AB corner room with a riverview in building 18. I had requested 14 or 27 but this was actually better.POR is great. Never felt too crowded. Food Court I think is the best on property. Room was exceptionally clean. Never made it to the main pool area since the smaller quieter pools were so relaxing we ended up hanging there. Kids really enjoyed themselves. I like this property as much as Wilderness Lodge maybe even a little better. Dont let my husband know I said that though

Oh this is great!!! We stayed WL last year for our first trip and loved it (but not the price) and we are arriving at POR in a few weeks. I hope we love it too!!!

 

[Disneylvr]

Breakfast! When they used to serve it. I don't understand why they don't have breakfast there anymore. It made a great alternative to the food court and I'm typically more inclined to eat breakfast at the resort than any other meal.

I agree! It was right up there with Kona Cafe IMHO.

 

[kelleigh1]

I really enjoyed the jambalaya with a pecan pie chaser! I want my fairy godmother to take me there for some right now.



*looks around* Well, darn. Still in the cold and rainy Midwest.

The food court's great too, though...favorite thing there by far is the create-your-own-pasta bar, but have also had selections from the carving station which was a nice and tasty comfort-food sort of dinner.

PECAN PIE!!! I'm in trouble!

 

[cburek]

Oh this is great!!! We stayed WL last year for our first trip and loved it (but not the price) and we are arriving at POR in a few weeks. I hope we love it too!!!

We had visited all the moderates in the past and never really thought much about them. We had ALWAYS stayed/preferred the Wilderness Lodge until last year. Dont get me wrong I love love love the WL but something about POR just has me hooked. Could be the pricing? Maybe but the overall size of the rooms, food court,pools and arcade for my boys are certainly all a + for us.Have a great time

 

[Fivemuggles]

Silly question, and has probably been asked in this thread but I can't find it haha - how long does it take to get to each park from POR? This is our first time staying and we were planning on getting there for rope drop most days... hopefully haha. Just need to plan what time to leave the hotel each morning!

 

[Shaden]

Silly question, and has probably been asked in this thread but I can't find it haha - how long does it take to get to each park from POR? This is our first time staying and we were planning on getting there for rope drop most days... hopefully haha. Just need to plan what time to leave the hotel each morning!

Oh Andre posted the time estimates a while back ... hrm ...

You should be at the Magic Kingdom within about 15-20 minutes, Epcot or Disney Hollywood Studios will take about 10-15 minutes, while Animal Kingdom is the furthest away at about 20 minutes.

For everything Bus and Port Orleans related, check this site:
http://www.portorleans.org/buses.php