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

[Venomhatch]

Sorry! I'm not sure why my post decided to post again.

Its ok I was just bored and messing around.

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Okay, checking in at POR one month from TODAY!!!!!!

But I read something last night that has me a bit nervous. Somewhere on one of the other boards, I read about 2 situations recently where someone who checked into POFQ was actually downgraded upon check-in because they had no availability in the category in which the guest originally booked. The resort did refund the guest the category downgrade difference however.

Does this happen often?
I have heard of UPgrades because of unforeseen circumstances, or pixie dust, or maybe even overbooking(Does Disney even over book?), but never the opposite.

I would be devastated to be downgraded. We booked a King room category.

 

[Venomhatch]

Okay, checking in at POR one month from TODAY!!!!!!

But I read something last night that has me a bit nervous. Somewhere on one of the other boards, I read about 2 situations recently where someone who checked into POFQ was actually downgraded upon check-in because they had no availability in the category in which the guest originally booked. The resort did refund the guest the category downgrade difference however.

Does this happen often?
I have heard of UPgrades because of unforeseen circumstances, or pixie dust, or maybe even overbooking(Does Disney even over book?), but never the opposite.

I would be devastated to be downgraded. We booked a King room category.

I am PMing you now. I have only heard of a handful of these circumstances ever happening since I have started with WDW.

 

[DonaldDuck77]

downgraded upon check-in because they had no availability in the category in which the guest originally booked. The resort did refund the guest the category downgrade difference however.

Does this happen often?
I have heard of UPgrades because of unforeseen circumstances, or pixie dust, or maybe even overbooking(Does Disney even over book?), but never the opposite.

I would be devastated to be downgraded. We booked a King room category.

I would want more than a "refund of the difference" if we got bumped out of our royal room into a regular room. Especially after reading all these posts about people being upgraded into a royal room when they that didn't pay for this category.

 

[Venomhatch]

I would want more than a "refund of the difference" if we got bumped out of our royal room into a regular room. Especially after reading all these posts about people being upgraded into a royal room when they that didn't pay for this category.

I work at a deluxe and have seen guests get bumped up to here. I have only heard of "through the grape vine" stories of guests bumped down. But never heard the reasons or full stories.

 

[TooBoyz4us]

I am PMing you now. I have only heard of a handful of these circumstances ever happening since I have started with WDW.

Thankyou Venom!!!!

 

[Venomhatch]

Thankyou Venom!!!!

No Problem. Hope you don't have to go through that. I know how nerve wrecking to think of that happening could be. But I have faith we can handle it. If it even happens. but I doubt it will with all these recent upgrades happening.

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Andre.......does your website have an Android App by chance?

Or, in order to access your site on my phone while at Disney will I need to just web search for it?
I am new to the "smartphone" world, and still feel "dump phoned" most days

 

[Venomhatch]

Andre.......does your website have an Android App by chance?

Or, in order to access your site on my phone while at Disney will I need to just web search for it?
I am new to the "smartphone" world, and still feel "dump phoned" most days

If you want book mark www.portorleans.org on you phone.

 

[dansamy]

I would start off very nice, but I'd be requesting a comped upgrade if they sold "my" room. And I'd get less nice & more vocal if they were trying to downgrade me.

Isn't it more likely to happen if you check in later?

 

[Venomhatch]

I would start off very nice, but I'd be requesting a comped upgrade if they sold "my" room. And I'd get less nice & more vocal if they were trying to downgrade me.

Isn't it more likely to happen if you check in later?

Your more likely to go upgrade than downgrade. Even if that means Deluxe or DVC Studio Rooms.

 

[dansamy]

Your more likely to go upgrade than downgrade. Even if that means Deluxe or DVC Studio Rooms.

I know that statistically you're more likely to get upgraded, even if that means walking you up a resort class. Aren't you more likely to have something like this happen at a high volume time of year with a late on check-in day arrival?

(We're DVC now, so we will likely NEVER have this happen to us. It's my understanding that points reservations come before cash reservations at DVC resorts. As far as getting the room category that you booked.)

 

[mickey1968]

Buses..."separate but equal" ...There's just no perfect solution.

Exactly, there IS no perfect solution. I agree. And your answers were very respectful and I appreciate that too.

As of right now I have a car rented for my upcoming trip Halloween week. I am waffling a bit though but will make my final decision on the car a few days before the trip. I already have Magical Express reserved too so I would be good to go either way. And if I decide not to rent, I can always decide to grab a cab back to POR when it is crazy after closing for less than the rental.

I'm gonna pipe down now about the buses because I truly am not trying to stir the pot

TWENTY-FOUR DAYS AND COUNTING!

 

[Venomhatch]

I know that statistically you're more likely to get upgraded, even if that means walking you up a resort class. Aren't you more likely to have something like this happen at a high volume time of year with a late on check-in day arrival?

(We're DVC now, so we will likely NEVER have this happen to us. It's my understanding that points reservations come before cash reservations at DVC resorts. As far as getting the room category that you booked.)

Yes it is most likely to happen in peak season, and with a lot of guests booking all at the same time. I mean the availability system sometimes can glitch but every time it has been in the guests favor that I ave witnessed.

 

[Just Love Disney]

What is the quickest/most efficient method of getting to Downtown Disney from POR? If I remember correctly, you have to go to a park first, then catch the bus to DD, right? Does the riverboat go to DD? If so, how long would that take? We have to pick up a car at Avis across from DD around 8:00 a.m. on our last day and we're wondering what's the best way to get there to pick it up.

Thanks

 

[EpcotBill]

What is the quickest/most efficient method of getting to Downtown Disney from POR? If I remember correctly, you have to go to a park first, then catch the bus to DD, right? Does the riverboat go to DD? If so, how long would that take? We have to pick up a car at Avis across from DD around 8:00 a.m. on our last day and we're wondering what's the best way to get there to pick it up.

Thanks

No, you can take a bus directly from POR to DtD. But the quickest/most efficient way is to drive yourself.

 

[Venomhatch]

What is the quickest/most efficient method of getting to Downtown Disney from POR? If I remember correctly, you have to go to a park first, then catch the bus to DD, right? Does the riverboat go to DD? If so, how long would that take? We have to pick up a car at Avis across from DD around 8:00 a.m. on our last day and we're wondering what's the best way to get there to pick it up.

Thanks

No, you can take a bus directly from POR to DtD. But the quickest/most efficient way is to drive yourself.

You have bus strait from Resort to DTD, boat- not really the quickest, or taxi definitely quick- plus they can drop you off closer to anywhere you want.

 

[andrewilley]

How dark will it be to navigate to the Royal Rooms bldg?

Since its on a weeknight I also figure everything will be closed or closing for the night so we are ordering GG for some sodas and few snacks before crashing. Will the microwaves be available even if the the Mill is closed?

Walking at night is fine, the paths and buildings are well-lit. It's very pretty actually.

You should be fine for microwaving I'd have thought, the pizza section is open until midnight anyway, and I would think you'd be OK past then too - staff are still there pretty much all night for cleaning/etc.

Andre.......does your website have an Android App by chance?

No, but if you just Google "Port Orleans" from your browser then my site is usually the first one in the results list, in case you forget the name. Even higher than Disney's website in fact. [Which amuses me when I get Search Engine Optimisation companies spamming me and offering to boost my site's rankings... how much higher than the top place are they going to get me??? ]

What is the quickest/most efficient method of getting to Downtown Disney from POR?

I'd suggest the ferry boat to be honest, it takes about 20 mins and is a lovely ride. Bus is also a good option, but at the moment driving is a bit crazy in terms of parking at DTD any time other than early in the morning. Taxi via the back route (turn down past Old Key West and Saratoga Springs) would also be pretty quick.

Andre

 

[carmelhp]

What is the quickest/most efficient method of getting to Downtown Disney from POR? If I remember correctly, you have to go to a park first, then catch the bus to DD, right? Does the riverboat go to DD? If so, how long would that take? We have to pick up a car at Avis across from DD around 8:00 a.m. on our last day and we're wondering what's the best way to get there to pick it up.

Thanks

We got back from POR yesterday, and took the boat every time we went to DTD, it's quoted as a 20 minute cruise but always seemed shorter, and they come often through the day.

 

[Sydnerella]

For the Food and Wine Festival, we would much prefer to snack around the world than have table service meal - is there a mechanism in place at the resorts to convert a table service meal to snack credits that we may then use for the F&WF?

Does one have to be in the process of purchasing food to do any conversion of credits or may the credits be converted by concierge?

Or is there a way at the resort food court to convert a TS credit to snacks? If so how many?

Wondering what the best strategy is to do what we prefer for F&WF...
Do we need to use a TS credit for one of our CS meals, then a CS credit to get 3 snacks at resort and then use other snack credits at F&WF?

Thanks,
Sydnerella's Mama