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

[WDWaddictt]

We have booked mid/late Oct 2014 at POP. But if they offer free dining then we are looking to change it to POR or CSR. In your opinion what makes POR the one to stay at? We have stayed at POFQ before and loved it, had a couple of CM attitude issues, but nothing too bad (off day, maybe). We like going to different resorts every time we go. Thanks for your advise!

 

[podgirl]

We have booked mid/late Oct 2014 at POP. But if they offer free dining then we are looking to change it to POR or CSR. In your opinion what makes POR the one to stay at? We have stayed at POFQ before and loved it, had a couple of CM attitude issues, but nothing too bad (off day, maybe). We like going to different resorts every time we go. Thanks for your advise!

I think there are four things that make POR a standout:

-the landscaping is so lush and green that walking around the resort is very relaxing and calming

-the pool has a water slide that your kids would enjoy

-the food court is awesome. The made to order pasta and salad stations taste like a table service kind of meal for just a quick service credit.

-the boat ride to Downtown Disney and the walking path along the river

We are not fussy about lodging when traveling by any stretch (we stayed in hostels in China this past summer), but my husband never wants to stay value again, after having stayed for a few nights at POP. They way he puts it is that POR has such a charming feel to the buildings that you don't feel like you're in a hotel.

 

[emsmommy323]

Arrrghhh! Two weeks out and I am still trying to decide what requests to make on our fax requests! I keep going back and forth between Magnolia Terrace and AB. I wish I could go walk the grounds and THEN request, but not having been there I'm so torn! #firstworldproblems!!!

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Were here !!!

This could not have been a more magical day!!

Checked in at 10:30ish and ALL of our requests were met, and then some.
We are in Alligator Bayou, building 37 , and first floor!!!
(This is one of 3 buildings I requested to be in close proximity to a bus stop and the parking lot)
As a bonus, we also got a CORNER ROOM, that I did not request
No fridge.......but we honestly did not expect one, and planned to use our cooler anyway, so big deal at all.

I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE this resort!!!

The only downer of the day has been that it rained all morning until about 2pm. We went ahead and followed the plan for Epcot anyway and had a great time.
Traveling as grown-ups only is allowing for a nice slow and easy pace.

Oh---one goof was that I insisted we got off at the wrong bus stop when returning from Epcot! It was my fault.............and a mistake I won't make again

Dinner is in a couple hours at Cape May Cafe. Yummmo!!

 

[andrewilley]

Two weeks out and I am still trying to decide what requests to make on our fax requests! I keep going back and forth between Magnolia Terrace and AB.

Then don't request either and let it be a surprise. If you don't have a firm desire for either area, why bother requesting one?

Andre

 

[emsmommy323]

I was sure that I wanted AB until you posted one panoramic of the Old Man Island and you could see Magnolia Terrace from the pool. And we want to be and not far from the pool and from the main building. Should I just request those two and wing it?

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Quick question.....

Later this week we are planning another Epcot day, but this time just World Showcase.

I was telling DH that we could find a way to enter through the international gateway to cut down on some walking all the way through Future World.

What are our options to do this? We have our car.....but I know we can't park at another resort for 6-7 hours in order to take a boat to the gateway.

Suggestions?

 

[Music City Mama]

Were here !!!

This could not have been a more magical day!!

Checked in at 10:30ish and ALL of our requests were met, and then some.
We are in Alligator Bayou, building 37 , and first floor!!!
(This is one of 3 buildings I requested to be in close proximity to a bus stop and the parking lot)
As a bonus, we also got a CORNER ROOM, that I did not request
No fridge.......but we honestly did not expect one, and planned to use our cooler anyway, so big deal at all.

I LOVE,LOVE,LOVE this resort!!!

The only downer of the day has been that it rained all morning until about 2pm. We went ahead and followed the plan for Epcot anyway and had a great time.
Traveling as grown-ups only is allowing for a nice slow and easy pace.

Oh---one goof was that I insisted we got off at the wrong bus stop when returning from Epcot! It was my fault.............and a mistake I won't make again

Dinner is in a couple hours at Cape May Cafe. Yummmo!!

Sounds great! Enjoy!

Quick question.....

Later this week we are planning another Epcot day, but this time just World Showcase.

I was telling DH that we could find a way to enter through the international gateway to cut down on some walking all the way through Future World.

What are our options to do this? We have our car.....but I know we can't park at another resort for 6-7 hours in order to take a boat to the gateway.

Suggestions?

Drive to Hollywood Studios and take the boat to the International Gateway. It will stop at the Swan/Dolphin first, then the Yacht/Beach Club, then the Boardwalk, then the IG. You could also walk the pathway from HS to the IG (which would take a little less time than all of those stops on the boat), but if you do that, it would be just as long as going in the front entrance of Epcot. A taxi to the Beach Club probably would be around $10 and you could just walk to the IG (5 minute walk).

 

[andrewilley]

A taxi to the Beach Club probably would be around $10 and you could just walk to the IG (5 minute walk).

Or drive to the Beach Club and valet park there, that's a legit way to do it (and cheaper than getting a taxi both ways, if that's what you wanted to do).

Andre

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Or drive to the Beach Club and valet park there, that's a legit way to do it (and cheaper than getting a taxi both ways, if that's what you wanted to do).

Andre

Andre when we just stayed at BC they weren't allowing any non hotel guests to park there. They were checking hotel & dining reservations before allowing parking. Might have changed in the 2 weeks we've been back home though.....

 

[harmon54]

It's not a regular thing I'm afraid, characters make appearances on special activity days such as Halloween, Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve/Day, etc. It will be listed in the Activities Schedule in advance.

Andre

Yes it was during the Halloween event but it was still very special and I was glad they stuck with the theme rather than just have Mickey visit- I love the Mouse and all but seeing Tiana here and the Gator was priceless.

 

[Pt0872]

Got home last night....not happy our vacation is over. My daughter woke up this morning and asked what fun thing we doing today...they miss POR already.

It was a great trip and my family loved the resort. Breakfast was crowded if you tried to eat after 9am, we also didn't take the busses to the park...didn't want to fight the crowds.

Parks were great...5-10 minute waits on most rides. My 6yo daughter ride Everest 3 straight times and loved it.

Myself...I was impressed with the free dinning plan, we ate like royalty at restaurants we normally wouldn't eat at because of cost. The plan saved me nealy $1000 dollars.

Already thinking about our 2015 trip.

 

[baloo's girl]

We checked in today. We had quite a few problems with our magic bands but the cast members were fantastic and finally fixed the problem. We were booked for a garden view, requested 1st floor in mansions. We were upgraded to a royal garden view, 1st floor. We love Port Orleans!

 

[castledweller407]

I am having so much anxiety about the refrigerator situation!

We will be arriving on 11/27 for our first stay at POR and have a Royal Room booked. I am assuming for the sake of planning that we will NOT have a refrigerator in our room.

We will be flying and I was going to try Garden Grocer on this trip. DD9 is a picky eater and I have digestive issues, so bring able to have her favorite foods and my GI safe foods in our room will make our trip so much smoother. All of the wonderful restaurants, snacks and treats at WDW are not a part of our plans.

What I can't figure out is whether to purchase and pack a soft sided cooler (looking at one from LL Bean) or to add a foam cooler to my order from Garden Grocer? The soft sided cooler is about $50, but I can reuse it. The foam cooler is $8, but I would leave it in the room when we check out.

I have never used either type of cooler and am not sure how well they work? We'll be keeping yogurt, milk, cheese and deli turkey in the cooler, so it needs to stay COLD. (Another facet of my anxiety here!! What if it doesn't stay cold enough?!?)

What have you all found that works best?

Thanks!!

 

[sunset7132]

Got home last night....not happy our vacation is over. My daughter woke up this morning and asked what fun thing we doing today...they miss POR already.

It was a great trip and my family loved the resort. Breakfast was crowded if you tried to eat after 9am, we also didn't take the busses to the park...didn't want to fight the crowds.

Parks were great...5-10 minute waits on most rides. My 6yo daughter ride Everest 3 straight times and loved it.

Myself...I was impressed with the free dinning plan, we ate like royalty at restaurants we normally wouldn't eat at because of cost. The plan saved me nealy $1000 dollars.

Already thinking about our 2015 trip.

We are using a car this time . Usually use the buses but have n ecv this time . How was the experience driving instead of buses

 

[andrewilley]

we ate like royalty at restaurants we normally wouldn't eat at because of cost. The plan saved me nealy $1000 dollars.

Those two statements sum up where my nagging concerns about the value of the regular dining plan come in. If the plan is free, then yes you win - especially with enough people in the room to offset any room discounts that you might otherwise have got on the room alone. However if you pay for the plan, then you only really 'save' if you would otherwise have eaten at least that amount/value of food anyway, which we never would.

So in my view, the free plan is great as long as there are at least 2/3 people in the room to bump up the food value, but the paid plan just doesn't seem a saving to us.

Andre when we just stayed at BC they weren't allowing any non hotel guests to park there.

Even for valet parking? That's unusual, apart from at busy times (when they want to stop people abusing the hotel's self-parking spaces just to save a few bucks). I've normally found that as long as you're an on-site guest (i.e. parking permit in window) and show you KttW card, then they are usually OK with casual visits to (say) eat at Beaches and Cream. But I would not plan to outstay the allowed 2-3 hours, other than by using valet parking, as it's not fair to guests staying at the hotel.

I am having so much anxiety about the refrigerator situation!

Personally, I would just fax ahead of your arrival explaining your medical need for a fridge. Then you don't need to worry.

If room changes mean there isn't one in there when you arrive, just remind them about your fax/medical needs and they will arrange a fridge for you from another room that is between guests. Thankfully this should all have gone away by the end of the year anyway.

Andre

 

[Topazure]

The CMs have given us nothing but pixie dust. It's our honeymoon and the pins have helped make our stay fantastic plus our room was upgraded. What an amazing resort!

 

[andrewilley]

The CMs have given us nothing but pixie dust. It's our honeymoon and the pins have helped make our stay fantastic plus our room was upgraded. What an amazing resort!

Fabulous! Congratulations to you both, and have a great time.

Andre

 

[Disneylover99]

I need some advice/opinions, maybe Andre or Venomhatch can weigh in on this.

We have a standard royal room booked next month. We will be checking in at about 5pm. We would like to request Oak, first floor. The request has been added to our reservation and I will also fax in my request.

Here is my question. Is it better to do online checkin? or regular checkin? to get requests met. Maybe it doesn't matter? I know they are just requests.

What do you think?

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Even for valet parking? That's unusual, apart from at busy times (when they want to stop people abusing the hotel's self-parking spaces just to save a few bucks). I've normally found that as long as you're an on-site guest (i.e. parking permit in window) and show you KttW card, then they are usually OK with casual visits to (say) eat at Beaches and Cream. But I would not plan to outstay the allowed 2-3 hours, other than by using valet parking, as it's not fair to guests staying at the hotel.

So, how can we find out for sure, outside of showing up that morning in our car and then being turned away?
Does Yacht Club have valet parking?

And any idea of the cost? Is it per hour or ??/