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

[bfamily5]

on another thread there is news of the pools having an open and a close time and of pools being fenced in. Does anyone know if the quiet pools at POR will be effected? Just over 4 months for us! CAN.NOT.WAIT!!!!! TIA

 

[maxiesmom]

on another thread there is news of the pools having an open and a close time and of pools being fenced in. Does anyone know if the quiet pools at POR will be effected? Just over 4 months for us! CAN.NOT.WAIT!!!!! TIA

Reports are the quiet pools will not be affected.

 

[Venomhatch]

Hopefully things with your family are ok. Health worries are so challenging, riding the roller coaster here too.
Wish you well and appreciate your comments on my draft fax and the guidance here as well!
Sydnerella's Mama

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Yeah never thought it would be this stressful. No problem with the help. I try to be there when guests need me to be.

 

[bookgirl]

So...

Thursday was our last day to edit our MB. In Thursdays mail I got two Disney letters, the large one that invited us to MB/FP+. Um thanks guys but I did that over a month ago.

Plus the smaller "we've detected a flaw in our fridges, blah blah blah".

Then Friday morning at 4 am I got the "Your MBs are on the way" email, and at 10am UPS showed up at the door with....you got it, my MBs.

I think Disney's timing is just a tad wonky.

We have our MickeyMail, our MBs, our ADR's and our countdown APP which is at 28 this morning.

Really all that is left to do is send a fax with a few requests. (fridge for cooling packs for mom's knee, and if we're on a upper floor then to be near the elevator).

My only real dilemma is whether or not to ask for Parterre or Oak (RGR Garden View). If we're on a first floor I want to be near the bridge, if we're on a upper floor then by an elevator (mom only does stairs in emergency), I figure it's about the same distance from either elevator area to the food court, but if we are in Oak we might be closer to the east (?) depot than the main south depot, and we're probably going to ride buses more than eating at the food court. (even with the lure of free Diet Coke, my mom is going to really wear out her knee going to the food court for refills so we'll probably just buy her a two liter and refill in the room, I am not a soda drinker so unless we decide to eat breakfast there we are more than likely going to go to whichever bus stop is closer more often than the foodcourt).

I know it's so nit picky at this stage. Honestly I wouldn't care where they put me, but my mom's knee cap will pop sideways at will and stairs just exacerbate the problem and as with any senior who has a mobility problem any walking we can eliminate is better, so I'm a lot more narrow with my requests this go around.

 

[LolaMouse]

So I'm wondering if I have any reason to be concerned--we check in on 10/10. We do have our MBs and secured our FP+. BUT I've never received a letter inviting us to the participate, a refrigerator letter, or any emails. I don't understand why we are off the grid with communication from Disney/POR

 

[awalker1015]

So... Thursday was our last day to edit our MB. In Thursdays mail I got two Disney letters, the large one that invited us to MB/FP+. Um thanks guys but I did that over a month ago. Plus the smaller "we've detected a flaw in our fridges, blah blah blah". Then Friday morning at 4 am I got the "Your MBs are on the way" email, and at 10am UPS showed up at the door with....you got it, my MBs. I think Disney's timing is just a tad wonky. We have our MickeyMail, our MBs, our ADR's and our countdown APP which is at 28 this morning. Really all that is left to do is send a fax with a few requests. (fridge for cooling packs for mom's knee, and if we're on a upper floor then to be near the elevator). My only real dilemma is whether or not to ask for Parterre or Oak (RGR Garden View). If we're on a first floor I want to be near the bridge, if we're on a upper floor then by an elevator (mom only does stairs in emergency), I figure it's about the same distance from either elevator area to the food court, but if we are in Oak we might be closer to the east (?) depot than the main south depot, and we're probably going to ride buses more than eating at the food court. (even with the lure of free Diet Coke, my mom is going to really wear out her knee going to the food court for refills so we'll probably just buy her a two liter and refill in the room, I am not a soda drinker so unless we decide to eat breakfast there we are more than likely going to go to whichever bus stop is closer more often than the foodcourt). I know it's so nit picky at this stage. Honestly I wouldn't care where they put me, but my mom's knee cap will pop sideways at will and stairs just exacerbate the problem and as with any senior who has a mobility problem any walking we can eliminate is better, so I'm a lot more narrow with my requests this go around.

I'm in the same boat as you. We arrive 10/12. My mom had unexpected knee surgery and while she is doing great, really hoping for a fridge for ice packs as well as a ground floor room.

Hope you all have a fabulous time and that your mom does ok!

 

[bookgirl]

I'm in the same boat as you. We arrive 10/12. My mom had unexpected knee surgery and while she is doing great, really hoping for a fridge for ice packs as well as a ground floor room.

Hope you all have a fabulous time and that your mom does ok!

Thanks, You as well.

 

[kittyab]

I think the fridges are suppose to be in place by November?

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

So I'm wondering if I have any reason to be concerned--we check in on 10/10. We do have our MBs and secured our FP+. BUT I've never received a letter inviting us to the participate, a refrigerator letter, or any emails. I don't understand why we are off the grid with communication from Disney/POR

Us too, we get there 10/8 and never got any communications.

 

[WyoMickey]

So, I have booked all my FP+ and my BOG lunch for my November trip to POR. Six Days, 2MK w/MVMCP on one, 2 Epcot, 1 HS, 1AK.

Here are my observations:

1) The worst thing about FP+ is that you have to spend a couple hours on Disney's website which is slow, tends to time out, kicks you out to main page, and generally makes the whole experience frustrating. What will it be like when 100 guests per day are messing with it.

2) BOG FP+ is awesome once you have your 12 digit reservation number. However, we are a party of ten in two rooms and each room must be booked separately, which means one room got their reservation for 12:05-12:20pm and the other from 12:45-1:05pm We are hoping to show up together at 12:20pm and see if we can enter together. If not, then we still got in. Yeah! We did not get the invite, but just used the backdoor and trusting that we will be admitted.

3) We first did our entire tour plan. It's different because early morning FP grabs from Josh's tour plans give me an idea of what I should grab FP+ for, but I can totally twist the times. So for example, in AK we will start in KS, but then enjoy Pangani Forest Trail since it is right there, after which we will go to EE for our 9:35-10:35am FP+, catching EE around 10:15-10:35am. We then will circle all the Dino stuff before a Kali FP+ for KRR from 12:05-1:05pm, do FOW and eat our ADR at Y&Y at 2:30pm. Anyway, my plan of attack was to follow a more contiguous path through the park so there is not so much running back and forth to rides.

4) You don't always get the exact time you want. For example, we want to go to the last FOTLK at 4:30pm, but FP+ was only available for 3:30pm and earlier shows (we will just walk-in for 4:30 show, don't think it will be an issue), I wanted to ride Buzz in MK twice, first in standby by Josh's plan, then FP+ later with several things in between, the only return time was closer than I wanted so we will only do one attraction in between, ride Buzz again, and then do the others. The lesson is be flexible with you tour plan and adjust for minor time changes like these.

5) I love afternoon FP+. Epcot and MK were excellent for this as we could just follow Josh's two day tour plans in the AM and throw all our favorites in for a second go around in the afternoon.

6) One of the suggested options was always pretty close to a great plan. I think they did pretty well at this. It almost seems that they understand walking times and movement around the park. Almost

7) I'm glad it's done. Egad. A Pirate's Life For Me!

 

[delilah18]

Anyone have any idea when the October even schedule will be available?
Thanks

 

[andrewilley]

My only real dilemma is whether or not to ask for Parterre or Oak (RGR Garden View).

As I so often say, don't ask for a particular building (they are quite big, and so both have some great rooms and some not-so-convenient ones). Ask instead for what you want from the room - e.g. something like "first floor close to the food court due to medical issues, or if that's not possible near to an elevator please." Flesh that out a bit to explain your reasons (without making it an essay), then they've got something to go on.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

I think the fridges are suppose to be in place by November?

Yes, they are pretty much there now for POFQ to be honest, and Riverside should be done over the coming month.

Anyone have any idea when the October even schedule will be available?

By the 1st of October, sooner if I get a copy earlier than that. [Edit: should be up in the morning]

Andre

 

[MickeyFan19]

So I'm wondering if I have any reason to be concerned--we check in on 10/10. We do have our MBs and secured our FP+. BUT I've never received a letter inviting us to the participate, a refrigerator letter, or any emails. I don't understand why we are off the grid with communication from Disney/POR

Im not a Disney expert but I wouldn't be concerned. I check-in tomorrow (yay!! ) and I never received a letter either. Maybe because I booked sort of last minute, in August? About 48 days out. Nor did I receive a letter inviting me for the MB but I would log on to MDE everyday and the link for the MB became active the last week of August so I customized them and got them on Sept. 2. Just this week I did all my FP+ and was even able to make a reservation for lunch at BOG.

I faxed a request for room assignment on Thursday so let's see tomorrow when we arrive what we get. Now I'm wondering if I should check in online.

 

[andrewilley]

I'm really surprised that no-one has commented on this new addition at the South Depot bus stop...

At present it is only at the Riverside South Depot (with no immediate plans for the outer stops or at FQ) but it's still a very nice start! The TV itself has been in place for several months by the way (I noticed it last trip) but it has only recently gone live. (Thanks for the photo D!)

Andre

 

[mum2four]

I'm really surprised that no-one has commented on this new addition at the South Depot bus stop...

At present it is only at the Riverside South Depot (with no immediate plans for the outer stops or at FQ) but it's still a very nice start! The TV itself has been in place for several months by the way (I noticed it last trip) but it has only recently gone live. (Thanks for the photo D!)

Andre

Very cool. So, does that sign show the approximate time that the next bus will arrive at POR for each park?

 

[wdwagain518]

I'm really surprised that no-one has commented on this new addition at the South Depot bus stop...

At present it is only at the Riverside South Depot (with no immediate plans for the outer stops or at FQ) but it's still a very nice start! The TV itself has been in place for several months by the way (I noticed it last trip) but it has only recently gone live. (Thanks for the photo D!)

Andre

love this!!! can't wait to see it in person

 

[Shaden]

I'm really surprised that no-one has commented on this new addition at the South Depot bus stop...

At present it is only at the Riverside South Depot (with no immediate plans for the outer stops or at FQ) but it's still a very nice start! The TV itself has been in place for several months by the way (I noticed it last trip) but it has only recently gone live. (Thanks for the photo D!)

Andre

This is AWESOME, we aren't back at POR for our next stay, but I know we will be returning and this will be a VERY welcome change.

 

[Sydnerella]

What is the best way to get to a Sat eve dinner at Flying Fish fromPOR without a car? If cab, how much approx?

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

I'm really surprised that no-one has commented on this new addition at the South Depot bus stop...

At present it is only at the Riverside South Depot (with no immediate plans for the outer stops or at FQ) but it's still a very nice start! The TV itself has been in place for several months by the way (I noticed it last trip) but it has only recently gone live. (Thanks for the photo D!)

Andre

Wow, it tells you when the bus will arrive?!? Too awesome!!