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

[andrewilley]

I'm getting pretty concerned and bummed out about the long bus wait times that have been mentioned on here recently.

I second this concern

As with any other reports you read on the internet, it's often best to ignore the top 10% and the worst 10% as these are not likely to be typical, and the truth for most people will lie somewhere in between.

Disney run probably one of the best "free" bus services in the world, transferring millions of people a month, but that doesn't mean there aren't occasional glitches and hiccoughs.

So just go prepared for the quoted "up to 20 minute" waits for buses, and then be pleasantly surprised when the majority of the time they are a lot quicker than that.

Andre

 

[Just Love Disney]

As with any other reports you read on the internet, it's often best to ignore the top 10% and the worst 10% as these are not likely to be typical, and the truth for most people will lie somewhere in between.

Disney run probably one of the best "free" bus services in the world, transferring millions of people a month, but that doesn't mean there aren't occasional glitches and hiccoughs.

So just go prepared for the quoted "up to 20 minute" waits for buses, and then be pleasantly surprised when the majority of the time they are a lot quicker than that.

Andre

Thank you for putting my mind, and probably others, at ease. I really wasn't looking forward to the additional costs of a rental car and/or cab fares. I'll be sure to update with my experience upon return

 

[MISSYLEXI]

I don't know the answers to your questions but . Have a great trip!

Thank You.

I will be there in 2 days also..... Cant wait!!!

Have a great time!!

 

[Venomhatch]

Thank you for putting my mind, and probably others, at ease. I really wasn't looking forward to the additional costs of a rental car and/or cab fares. I'll be sure to update with my experience upon return

I second with Andre.

 

[maxiesmom]

Is this normal? I just did on line check in, and the only request it would let me make was what floor my room was on. There was nothing to check to be near the front, or near a bus stop. Nada.

I didn't pick anything as I don't care what floor I end up on. I only wanted a shot at being close to A bus stop. Don't care what depot it is, just near a bus stop. Bummed that that wasn't even an option.

 

[Venomhatch]

Is this normal? I just did on line check in, and the only request it would let me make was what floor my room was on. There was nothing to check to be near the front, or near a bus stop. Nada.

I didn't pick anything as I don't care what floor I end up on. I only wanted a shot at being close to A bus stop. Don't care what depot it is, just near a bus stop. Bummed that that wasn't even an option.

That's what the fax is for. The online system wont get specific for check in.

 

[ny3boys]

That's what the fax is for. The online system wont get specific for check in.

So, my TA put in our requests when she reserved the room. Do I do online checkin and the fax also? Do I put any requests during online checkin if the TA did it already?

I hope you guys are right about the buses, we have an 8:05am breakfast reservation one of our first days! Hubby and FIL will NOT be happy if they have to be at the bus stop at 6:30am for that!

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Have to say its POR or nothing for us anymore. We're at BC and really don't like it but we were spending 2 days doing Epcot F&W so thought it best. Nothing but problems since we checked in on Monday starting with furniture missing in our room to the "adjoining rooms" for my sis & her family being totally on the other sude of the resort in standard & not the garden view I paid for. So our December & January trips will be POR! Can't wait. Everything goes smooth there & I love all the info that Andre & Venom give us.

 

[Venomhatch]

So, my TA put in our requests when she reserved the room. Do I do online checkin and the fax also? Do I put any requests during online checkin if the TA did it already?

I hope you guys are right about the buses, we have an 8:05am breakfast reservation one of our first days! Hubby and FIL will NOT be happy if they have to be at the bus stop at 6:30am for that!

I would let my fax reflect my requests as a back up to the TA. They often don't word everything through to Disney. We originally used AAA for ours in the past. I tell guests to just do online check in not filling any requests out on it. Let over the phone and faxes handle your request portion. It works better that way.

Have to say its POR or nothing for us anymore. We're at BC and really don't like it but we were spending 2 days doing Epcot F&W so thought it best. Nothing but problems since we checked in on Monday starting with furniture missing in our room to the "adjoining rooms" for my sis & her family being totally on the other sude of the resort in standard & not the garden view I paid for. So our December & January trips will be POR! Can't wait. Everything goes smooth there & I love all the info that Andre & Venom give us.

Your very welcome! Do I need to come whoop some BC tail, lol.

 

[stickeymouse]

I second with Andre.

I would hope Disney has a means of "tracking" their buses to know to send them if one hasn't been around for a while. It seems the posting of wait times at the bus stop is a step in the right direction and an indicator that they do indeed know where the buses are at all times.

Something I am not sure about though: is there an employee at the main bus depot to assist with wait times or call for another bus?

Also, I understand that bus lines can be heavy after the park closes. Are there typically a number of buses lined up and ready to go to get as many patrons back to their resort as possible?

 

[awalker1015]

Just back from a fabulous trip! Thanks to all, especially Andre and VenomHatch for all the great info. Surprise for the kids was a huge success and turning 40 in MK wasn't so bad either!

We ended up in Lodge 26, which was a little bit of a distance to the lobby, etc for my mom, but it ended up not mattering because we rarely used the amenities. We were pretty close to the west depot, which in my opinion was the best. It picked up first so we always had a seat and the stop was never crowded. We never spent more than 30 min in transport while we were there. Room was great - was ready when we arrived and was clean with a working fridge - yay! I did fax a request a few days before arrival and was very pleased with the results.

Kids enjoyed Ol' Man Island on arrival day, while I enjoyed the pool bar Went jogging one morning and the jogging path was very nice, even in the dark. I had grand plans to jog daily but I didn't anticipate how tired my legs would feel after a full day touring the parks.

Garden Grocer was efficient - items were waiting on us when we arrived. Although in the future I don't know if I will even go to that expense. With delivery fee and tip it was almost $70 for a 12-pk of water, 6 pk of ginger ale, box of granola bars, bag of powdered donuts, box of PB and cracker, box of muffins and 6 yogurts. We left a lot of it there on checkout. I would pare that down considerably next time or skip it maybe. The only thing I really used was the water and a couple of yogurts. Kids were to excited to eat in the mornings and we ended up not using all our meal credits.

Dining was very nice. Had ADRs for all dinners, though in the future I may wing it a few nights. What I did not anticipate was how our late afternoon schedule might change and how our dinner location might not be convenient. We had Kona booked last night, but mid morning both my kids said they wanted to stay at the park until Wishes. I canceled Kona and lucked out on a BOG for dinner, which was an awesome way to celebrate my bday.

Here is where we ate:

B'fast - in the room, except checkout day when we ate at the POR food court
Lunch
Pecos Bill's (good burgers, quick, convenient)
Flame Tree (loved this!!! great food and seating by the water)
Cosmic Ray's - also good. Kids loved the musical entertainment
Dinner
Raglan Road - very fun, but this was arrival night and we were almost too tired to enjoy it.
Garden Grill - huge hit with kids and great character interaction
San Angel Inn - I know this gets mixed reviews but we loved it. We were exhausted and the atmosphere and margaritas hit the spot. Really enjoyed the food, too. Kids loved the little water ride.
BOG - great experience. DD is a Beauty and the Beast fanatic and we ate here right after Enchanted Tales with Belle so it was the perfect day for her.

All in all a wonderful trip. Hit all 4 parks in 3 days and the only thing we didn't do that we wanted to was to ride Kali River Rapids. Next time!

Thanks again!

Amanda

 

[BebopBaloo]

Just back from a fabulous trip! Thanks to all, especially Andre and VenomHatch for all the great info. Surprise for the kids was a huge success and turning 40 in MK wasn't so bad either!

We ended up in Lodge 26, which was a little bit of a distance to the lobby, etc for my mom, but it ended up not mattering because we rarely used the amenities. We were pretty close to the west depot, which in my opinion was the best. It picked up first so we always had a seat and the stop was never crowded. We never spent more than 30 min in transport while we were there. Room was great - was ready when we arrived and was clean with a working fridge - yay! I did fax a request a few days before arrival and was very pleased with the results.

Sounds like you had a fantastic trip!! Thanks for sharing. I'm drooling for some San Angel Inn now. When you say that you never spent more than 30 minutes in transport, do you mean from the time you got on the bus till you got to the parks - or - is that time spent making the rounds to each bus stop before leaving the resort?

 

[megdreamer1]

I was at POR Oct.2-9th. We waited less than 5 minutes all but 1 time and that one time was less than 10 minutes. I was very impressed. And usually we saw 3 different theme park buses in that 5 minutes. We were in building 25 and used the West depot. No refrigerator but did get upgraded garden view to pool view which my 9 year old daughter loved.

 

[awalker1015]

It was never more than 30 min from the time we arrived at the stop for pickup until we arrived at our destination park. We were first stop but many times on more crowded days we wouldn't make the full loop before the bus was full and went on to the park. I don't think this is typical from what I have read so we felt very lucky!!!

 

[BebopBaloo]

I was at POR Oct.2-9th. We waited less than 5 minutes all but 1 time and that one time was less than 10 minutes. I was very impressed. And usually we saw 3 different theme park buses in that 5 minutes. We were in building 25 and used the West depot. No refrigerator but did get upgraded garden view to pool view which my 9 year old daughter loved.

It was never more than 30 min from the time we arrived at the stop for pickup until we arrived at our destination park. We were first stop but many times on more crowded days we wouldn't make the full loop before the bus was full and went on to the park. I don't think this is typical from what I have read so we felt very lucky!!!

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Your very welcome! Do I need to come whoop some BC tail, lol.

Yep need some tail kicking here. Really don't like BC & neither does any of the others in the family. Guess I should have known it wasn't going to be good when furniture was missing!! Took 5 hrs to get furniture & get toilet fixed! But I will say that all CMs have been great!

 

[Venomhatch]

I would hope Disney has a means of "tracking" their buses to know to send them if one hasn't been around for a while. It seems the posting of wait times at the bus stop is a step in the right direction and an indicator that they do indeed know where the buses are at all times.

Something I am not sure about though: is there an employee at the main bus depot to assist with wait times or call for another bus?

Also, I understand that bus lines can be heavy after the park closes. Are there typically a number of buses lined up and ready to go to get as many patrons back to their resort as possible?

I was at POR Oct.2-9th. We waited less than 5 minutes all but 1 time and that one time was less than 10 minutes. I was very impressed. And usually we saw 3 different theme park buses in that 5 minutes. We were in building 25 and used the West depot. No refrigerator but did get upgraded garden view to pool view which my 9 year old daughter loved.

To both the comments. It is hit and miss with them. Yes there is a tracking system along with the radio/PA system they know where you are and when you'll be arriving. But as previously mentioned they are subject to tourists not knowing where to go, car accidents, traffic, and more can participate in a bus being delayed. I know at DVC Resorts and Deluxes we have Bus Attendants at the main bus stops only. They have a times sheet and can accurately guess the next bust arrival. I do not know if they are adding this to POR other than the screens I have seen popping up at moderates for trial purposes.

 

[Venomhatch]

Yep need some tail kicking here. Really don't like BC & neither does any of the others in the family. Guess I should have known it wasn't going to be good when furniture was missing!! Took 5 hrs to get furniture & get toilet fixed! But I will say that all CMs have been great!

That is highly odd about the furniture being missing. That would have been the first red flag right there also with me.

Well if you have further issues and cant get that resolved PM me directly and I will see what I can do to relay some needed help.

 

[delilah18]

Quick question will be at Riverside in 9 days
I want to order something from the Disney store to arrive there while we are there
What address do I put as well do I just put the name on the package my husbands name?
He is the one the reservations in
Will they know to hold it for him?
Do we just ask if there is a package for us?


Thanks

 

[LisaTC]

Quick question will be at Riverside in 9 days
I want to order something from the Disney store to arrive there while we are there
What address do I put as well do I just put the name on the package my husbands name?
He is the one the reservations in
Will they know to hold it for him?
Do we just ask if there is a package for us?


Thanks

If you check this link, it will give the information for sending packages/mail to the resort! HAVE FUN!!!

http://www.portorleans.org/services.php