Port Orleans Riverside Q&A Thread 2013, Part Three (NOW CLOSED, see 2014 thread)

[sunset7132]

Thanks for the info. I was hoping they still had the little packets in the food court.

You can even call the resort to triple check that's what I did. 48 days and counting here

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

I would use the suction cups; tape could leave residue or be difficult to remove.

Check the first post for updates on the fridge situation.

Thanks! If I can't find suction cups that work for me, is there something else that they prefer? I think I saw an actual policy or something somewhere.

we plan on doing that time frame in 3 years--it will be a girls only trip No kids and no hubbies but I was wanting to decorate too

It is a blast! This is our 3rd year doing that time. We have done summer, Christmas, early December, President's week, Springtime, September...and this is our favorite hands down! Bonus: you get two holidays in one! Fall and Halloween are our family's favorites so that helps! And, food and wine does not hurt the situation! We never decorate but my daughter asked to this time, so I let her pick some stuff out at the Target dollar section. They had some really cute stuff for cheap and we will probably just toss it instead of bringing it back. We have not purchased anything for Christmas decorating yet as that is not out (thankfully). I am thinking lights for sure and maybe just a garland and some little ornaments? The year we were there on Christmas, we did a little table top tree so the kids still had something to decorate.

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

On another note...has anyone on here ordered any of the celebrations from Disney Florist? I was looking and I loved the Halloween one from last year, but did not order. This year's one I don't like as much. Was thinking about maybe the build your own? I have one that loves rice krispy treats and one that likes the stuffed animals, one that is a pin collector etc. I actually thought about maybe it just being in the cute bag (cooler bag maybe?) with our last name embroidered and putting a little something for everyone in? Anyone have experience with this?

 

[LisaTC]

We are staying at Port Orleans in early February 2014. Excited but nervous. We stayed at WL last year and while it was nice, we weren't blown away. Lobby was beautiful as were the grounds, rooms were not $350 a night room.... Just your standard hotel room. Just didn't feel the price was worth it. If you have stayed at both, which did you like better? Hoping we love POR!!

I think you will like POR. It has a different ambiance and overall feeling than WL...which, don't misconstrue, I find beautiful and convenient to MK & Monorail. POR is just serene and lovely.

We have stayed at both ...POR Oct. 2004, POR Oct. 2010, WL Dec. 2011...I definitely prefer POR, as does my family....We are going back to POR in 14 days...woohoo! The only exception would be maybe Christmastime. I enjoyed being at WL for Christmas decorations / seemed more Christmassy, if that makes sense . Otherwise, I would definitely chose POR. I totally agree about the expense of the rooms at WL. I suppose the advantage to staying at WL over POR would be the convenience of the boat to MK, or Contemporary to hop on monorail. You don't have that at POR. However, the grounds and peacefulness of POR is just fabulous, plus you can take their boat to Downtown Disney.

I fought with this very thing last Dec when we went because I knew WL would look so lodgy and Christmas-y...but we still went back to POR. I just can't say no to the place. It beckons me!

Royal rooms are in Oak and Parterre. **in response to Abigailsmommy*

Have you checked out the maps of the resort linked to in the first post on this thread? From my understanding of the maps and what I noticed during our quick first stay, apart from the bus stop outside the lobby, the bus stops are all on the *other* side of the buildings than the pool and lobby/restaurant areas. So unless you are put right in the middle, that's a hard one to do, to be close to *both*. That's my understanding, at least.

I'd send a fax request (which you can find out to do at the beginning of the thread) for a Parterre or Oak Manor room closest to the footbridge. You are a very quick jaunt then to the Main building, reception and dining and the main bus stop through the gift shop. You won't be as close to the pool, but don't know how much you'll be going back and forth from the pool. Once we are at the pool, we stay at the pool until we're done. I think that will give you a good option. We were Riverfront in Oak Manor last Dec and it was a primo spot if you ask me.

Is there an advantage/disadvantage to online check-in? We fly out of Jersey really early (in a week!) and land about 9am. I'm guessing that by the time we grab our luggage and get on ME, we will arrive to POR by 11am...

Also do you think a room will be ready? It would be nice to relax a little with the any before heading to Epcot.

It may be ready, but that's a crapshoot. You can relax by the pool. They will store your luggage. Online checkin will have your room assigned ahead and your packet ready. To me it's a 50/50 proposition. I've done it both ways and found no benefit one over the other. 11am will be the end of check out, so hopefully that portion of the crowds will have died down. You can stowe your luggage if your room isn't ready, take the boat to DTD for a bit, then the bus to Epcot when you are ready!

 

[Patience]

Here now and though I would post a quick note before the kidos wake up. First, as always POR is beautiful!!! Loving every minute.

Side note: the food court was complete chaos last night. So much so that the CM fouls charged me for most of our order. But the food was still good.

We thought POR was beautiful too. One night in the busy food court, my husband went through the line with our daughter. The CM charged him two TABLE service credits instead of two counter service credits. Luckily, we keep our receipts and I noticed it. The front desk took care of it right away but I highly recommend keeping your receipts or at least looking at them carefully each time you use your meal credits.

 

[Disneymaddness]

For anyone who is there now, is the resort decorated for fall? Any pictures?

 

[isabelle25]

Anytime is fine we just happen to be going then. But, you can do it for whatever...even just to say that you are happy to be there!

Oh thats fantastic, one more thing to prepare for this trip and make it even more magical. Thanks a lotxxx

 

[jwill]

I just left P.O.R. yesterday and didn't notice any fall decorations there yet. The parks however were beautifully decorated.

The food court was definitely a madhouse at times. Other than that small glitch, we had a fantastic time.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I have a fused spine and some nerve damage so I tend to have a lot of trouble with my hip & thigh with too much walking. So I'd like to be near a bus depot, but we'd also like to be close to the water hole & pool. Any suggestions??

We stayed in Oak. The walk was long to us since my wife had foot problems, but there is a bridge nearby. If walking may be an issue consider renting a scooter. We did for the first time due to my wifes foot problems. It was great and all the CM's were helpful and accomodating and never ever made us feel like it was an imposition to help us! There is a sticky thread in Disabilities forum with info on scooter rentals. We used Walker Mobility. We were unsure whether or not we needed one but were very glad we decided to get it! Either way have a great trip!

 

[klmrph]

Joining this thread, we are booked for 4 nights checking in on 10/19. We are driving from NW Indiana. This will be our second stay at Riverside. I am still debating on which room to request, but as of now I am leaning towards Magnolia Terrace again. We booked on the last day of the free dining promo.

 

[siskaren]

For anyone who is there now, is the resort decorated for fall? Any pictures?

I'm pretty sure the resorts only decorate for Christmas.

 

[PrincessCooper's Mom]

Just returned yesterday from trip from September 13 - 21 at POR.

Is there a direct number to the resort to address some issues that happened while at resort.

Also we had a stuffed Rapunzel go missing from our room while there, I went to front desk but never heard anything before we left. I am hoping it got mixed up with linens when room was cleaned. I was told I would get phone call but did not. The Rapunzel is in her wedding dress with long veil. She was purchased at Disney Store in Gulf Port, Mississippi and I have not seen one like her anywhere else. We also have Flynn that matches her.

First time staying moderate and I was at conceirge desk several times and have never had to go while staying at a value. The worst part is the problems I went to desk were never fixed.

Thanks

 

[ALD85]

Just returned yesterday from trip from September 13 - 21 at POR.

Is there a direct number to the resort to address some issues that happened while at resort.

Also we had a stuffed Rapunzel go missing from our room while there, I went to front desk but never heard anything before we left. I am hoping it got mixed up with linens when room was cleaned. I was told I would get phone call but did not. The Rapunzel is in her wedding dress with long veil. She was purchased at Disney Store in Gulf Port, Mississippi and I have not seen one like her anywhere else. We also have Flynn that matches her.

First time staying moderate and I was at conceirge desk several times and have never had to go while staying at a value. The worst part is the problems I went to desk were never fixed.

Thanks

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

 

[hildarumpole]

Just returned yesterday from trip from September 13 - 21 at POR.

Is there a direct number to the resort to address some issues that happened while at resort.

Also we had a stuffed Rapunzel go missing from our room while there, I went to front desk but never heard anything before we left. I am hoping it got mixed up with linens when room was cleaned. I was told I would get phone call but did not. The Rapunzel is in her wedding dress with long veil. She was purchased at Disney Store in Gulf Port, Mississippi and I have not seen one like her anywhere else. We also have Flynn that matches her.

First time staying moderate and I was at conceirge desk several times and have never had to go while staying at a value. The worst part is the problems I went to desk were never fixed.

Thanks

Port Orleans Direct: 407-934-6000


I'm sorry to hear of your daughter's lost Rapunzel. Be prepared to be persistant and get frustrated in pursuit of a resolution We had a similar experience last year at the Beach Club when my son's 3 stuffed animals got "lost." We discovered it in the early evening of our last night. I called housekeeping and was told they probably got scooped up in the linen. The housekeeper who answered the phone couldn't help, but I was promised a phone call from a housekeeping supervisor the next day. It seemed odd, because we were checking out the next day and they hadn't changed the bed linens the whole time we were there, citing energy conservation. If energy conservation was the issue, why not wait until we checked out, since they were going to have to swap out all the linens anyway? When that call didn't happen before we had to check out, I called and was connected to a woman who handles Lost & Found for the resort. She told me linen is sent to a 3rd party laundry facility, so they couldn't look for anything, but the laundry usually finds the items and sends them back to Disney. She took my name, phone and address and promised to send them when she got them or call if they didn't turn up, which she estimated to be about 2 weeks. A month later, no animals and no phone call, so I called the Beach Club, spoke to a manager, then was transferred to the same Lost & Found person I spoke to previously, but this time the manager gave me the direct number before transferring. I left 3 messages over 2 weeks before I got a call back. She apologized, claimed she couldn't understand what happened and offered to send my son a stuffed animal of his choice and a credit to our charge card to cover the cost of replacing the lost animals. The animal arrived 2 weeks later, but no credit was issued, so I emailed Guest Services, detailing the whole problem. A wonderful CM called back within an hour, apologized profusely and issued the credit. This was followed up by an email, repeating the apology and confirming the credit. Two months and half-a-dozen phone calls to rectify the problem was not sterling customer service, but the last CM I spoke to was a prince.

 

[awalker1015]

Here is the letter I plan to fax a few days before we arrive - anything I should add/delete?
Thx!!

October 8, 2013
Port Orleans-Riverside Resort
Confirmation #xXX_XX_XXX

Dates of stay: 10/12/13-10/16/13 in Garden View Room

Good Morning!

We will be arriving at your lovely resort this Saturday and I cannot even say how excited we are! This is a very special trip for us  it is a first visit to WDW for my daughter Cate (8) and son Ben (6), as well as a surprise! They have been asking to go for years and believe we are going to Raleigh, NC this weekend, but will find out when we change plans they are finally headed to Disney World! And secondly, I will celebrate my 40th birthday while we are there
In preparation of our trip, I would like to make two requests. My mother, who is traveling with us, had unexpected knee surgery a few weeks ago. I would like to request a room that is centrally located to transportation and amenities and that does not require stairs to access. Secondly, I am bringing some orthopedic ice packs for her and would like to request
an in-room refrigerator to keep them cold. I understand the situation with the refrigerators and acknowledge this is merely a request, but I greatly appreciate any accommodation you can provide.

Thank you for your consideration and we look very forward to seeing you around 3:00pm this Saturday!

Kindest regards,

 

[erynsmom]

thanks, erynsmom!

You're welcome

 

[andrewilley]

For anyone who is there now, is the resort decorated for fall? Any pictures?

As a Brit, I'm not quite sure how you decorate a resort for the fall generally? Leave lots of golden brown autumnal leaves all over the place maybe?

Port Orleans Direct: 407-934-6000

Remember that this number is answered by a central switchboard which handles calls for all WDW resorts. You'll need to request (politely but firmly) that they put you through to someone actually on-site at Port Orleans, and then escalate it to a manager there if necessary.

You could try faxing the resort number (1-407-934-5777) as that goes directly to the admin offices at POR.

It will, as previously posted, but I don't know that I would try for a bus at 8:00 for an 8:30 res.

For an 8:30am MK dining reservation I would be at the Port Orleans South Depot bus stop no later than 7:30am, and maybe a little earlier to be absolutely safe. And if you find you're a bit early, just spend some time taking photos on a deserted Main Street USA - you don't often get the chance!

Thanks! If I can't find suction cups that work for me, is there something else that they prefer? I think I saw an actual policy or something somewhere.

They basically don't want you doing anything that will leave permanent marks, or anything that the CMs would have to spend time cleaning away after you've left. Vinyl clings are fine, as is that sticky putty stuff (called blu-tack in the UK), but not pins or sticky tape which could leave holes or damage/leave marks on the paintwork.

If you are designing larger images, remember that although all the windows are about 5 ft wide, they are divided up into smaller panes which vary by location. FQ has four panes across by three high, AB downstairs just has four large square panes, while AB upstairs has the same, but each one is divided again into 4 (so 16 panes in all). The mansion buildings vary between the four large panes and the 16 small ones.

You can do this all year round if you wish by the way, I've seen some nice window decorations in the past:

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

Here is the letter I plan to fax a few days before we arrive - anything I should add/delete?

Looks good to me (for what that's worth anyway! ).

By the way, did you mean to write 'plans' or 'planes'?

Hope you all have a wonderful time!

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

As a Brit, I'm not quite sure how you decorate a resort for the fall generally? Leave lots of golden brown autumnal leaves all over the place maybe?




Remember that this number is answered by a central switchboard which handles calls for all WDW resorts. You'll need to request (politely but firmly) that they put you through to someone actually on-site at Port Orleans, and then escalate it to a manager there if necessary.

You could try faxing the resort number (1-407-934-5777) as that goes directly to the admin offices at POR.




For an 8:30am MK dining reservation I would be at the Port Orleans South Depot bus stop no later than 7:30am, and maybe a little earlier to be absolutely safe. And if you find you're a bit early, just spend some time taking photos on a deserted Main Street USA - you don't often get the chance!




They basically don't want you doing anything that will leave permanent marks, or anything that the CMs would have to spend time cleaning away after you've left. Vinyl clings are fine, as is that sticky putty stuff (called blu-tack in the UK), but not pins or sticky tape which could leave holes or damage/leave marks on the paintwork.

If you are designing larger images, remember that although all the windows are about 5 ft wide, they are divided up into smaller panes which vary by location. FQ has four panes across by three high, AB downstairs just has four large square panes, while AB upstairs has the same, but each one is divided again into 4 (so 16 panes in all). The mansion buildings vary between the four large panes and the 16 small ones.

You can do this all year round if you wish by the way, I've seen some nice window decorations in the past:

Andre

I always have LGMH with me all the time. Just so Disboard Members can pull me aside if they see me and say hello.

 

[TDDisney]

Just returned yesterday from trip from September 13 - 21 at POR.

Is there a direct number to the resort to address some issues that happened while at resort.

Also we had a stuffed Rapunzel go missing from our room while there, I went to front desk but never heard anything before we left. I am hoping it got mixed up with linens when room was cleaned. I was told I would get phone call but did not. The Rapunzel is in her wedding dress with long veil. She was purchased at Disney Store in Gulf Port, Mississippi and I have not seen one like her anywhere else. We also have Flynn that matches her.

First time staying moderate and I was at conceirge desk several times and have never had to go while staying at a value. The worst part is the problems I went to desk were never fixed.

Thanks

Just curious (since we're coming in 13 days , besides the Rapunzel, what other problems did you encounter? (Sorry if I missed it somewhere, but am pretty faithful about reading each post to this thread and I didn't notice it.)