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

[disneymania0711]

Oh forgot to add..... Four more days!!! Whoo hoo!

 

[bumbershoot]

The cleaning lady wouldn't leave any more coffee supplies in the room after we used them up, I had to call the front desk for more. She would take our used towels but not replace them, etc.

Just so you know, calling the "front desk" at any WDW resort (even the DVC ones) doesn't get you to the front desk. It routes you to a call center that might not even be in the state.

With your issues, calling Housekeeping immediately and directly could have helped quicker. And if it didn't, going to the actual front desk would have worked quicker than calling and having the info routed along to the people actually at the hotel.

Not saying the issues were your fault. But I am trying to help you for the future (and anyone else reading who doesn't know this yet), because the "front desk" button doesn't ever get you to anyone on property, and this delays getting things changed.

(please head on over to the DVC forums and read read read and read some more! it's very important to know exactly what DVC is and what it gets you before buying. so read and read and read then ask questions then read again!)


Just goes to show you that housekeeping people are different! I left a note asking for more coffee cups and our housekeeper gave me a HUGE supply of cups. And I don't know if it was the same housekeeper at the end of our stay, but we were leaving just at checkout time, hurrying, and I left my Kindle there. Well, not mine; the one I'm using that belongs to DH's work (he works for the Kindle dept). His boss knows I'm using it, no worries, but it wouldn't be good for me to lose it. Realized later that day that I was missing it, went over to POR at something like 10pm, talked to a few people, and it turned out the housekeeper had found it and turned it in! Yay for her!!!! (I saw her as we were leaving the room, that's how I know she was a she)

But, you know, my housekeeper might move over to Old Key West tomorrow, and your housekeeper might, too. Booking, or not booking, POR to get or not get that level of service probably wouldn't make any sense. What matters is how issues are dealt with, and it *sounds* like POR did help out ultimately, with both of us. I've had issues at AKL and at SSR; I'd stay at SSR again because of the way they handled things. With AKL, they weren't, and I'm done with that resort. Too many other resorts to risk that again!

 

[andrewilley]

If there will be fridges in all the rooms by this week. Then I really have no other request than my room being ready early. Possibly about 10am. Should I do a fax request for that or just go back to online check in to modify?

I wouldn't send a fax if you are just asking for a room that will be ready early, just modify your Online Checkin to state your expected arrival time and they will do their best to find you a Ready Room for when you get there - and without any other requests, your chances are probably pretty good.

Andre

 

[kittyab]

Just so you know, calling the "front desk" at any WDW resort (even the DVC ones) doesn't get you to the front desk. It routes you to a call center that might not even be in the state.

With your issues, calling Housekeeping immediately and directly could have helped quicker. And if it didn't, going to the actual front desk would have worked quicker than calling and having the info routed along to the people actually at the hotel.

Not saying the issues were your fault. But I am trying to help you for the future (and anyone else reading who doesn't know this yet), because the "front desk" button doesn't ever get you to anyone on property, and this delays getting things changed.

(please head on over to the DVC forums and read read read and read some more! it's very important to know exactly what DVC is and what it gets you before buying. so read and read and read then ask questions then read again!)


Just goes to show you that housekeeping people are different! I left a note asking for more coffee cups and our housekeeper gave me a HUGE supply of cups. And I don't know if it was the same housekeeper at the end of our stay, but we were leaving just at checkout time, hurrying, and I left my Kindle there. Well, not mine; the one I'm using that belongs to DH's work (he works for the Kindle dept). His boss knows I'm using it, no worries, but it wouldn't be good for me to lose it. Realized later that day that I was missing it, went over to POR at something like 10pm, talked to a few people, and it turned out the housekeeper had found it and turned it in! Yay for her!!!! (I saw her as we were leaving the room, that's how I know she was a she)

But, you know, my housekeeper might move over to Old Key West tomorrow, and your housekeeper might, too. Booking, or not booking, POR to get or not get that level of service probably wouldn't make any sense. What matters is how issues are dealt with, and it *sounds* like POR did help out ultimately, with both of us. I've had issues at AKL and at SSR; I'd stay at SSR again because of the way they handled things. With AKL, they weren't, and I'm done with that resort. Too many other resorts to risk that again!

When the staffer came by with our coffee supplies I showed her the bathroom and she said she would have a manager call me right away.

 

[aristocat65]

Hi there,
We are here now and although I don't often post, this thread was super helpful as I planned this trip, so I thought I'd share our experience so far.

We arrived at 6:45 in the morning Sunday after a red eye and luckily our room was ready. I had booked a garden view, only because standard was not available. I have always booked a standard view at Disney and never actually received one so i just book the cheapest room. I did fax a request about 4 days before arrival requesting a building somewhat close to the main building and a preference for Alligator Bayou. At check in she said they got our fax and that we had been upgraded. We are in building 14 in a corner room, so I was very happy. Our view is of the parking lot obstructed by trees. I don't care about the view because in the mods we don't like the exterior corridors and DH is paranoid about people seeing in and insists on keeping the drapes closed. We used magical express for our luggage and it took 4.5 hours to get to our room! I think we should have just collected our bags ourselves, so we could relax and sleep. We were so tired, but napped with one ear open listing for the luggage to arrive.

We really loved the Wilderness Lodge and didn't like Coronado Springs, so I was nervous about staying here, but this resort is beautiful! We are really pleased. Our first day yesterday, we took it easy and walked down to French Quarter along the river. Then we took the boat to DTD to get our rental car. I was looking forward to the boat ride, but holy cow, is that thing noisy! Not enjoyable at all! We were sitting the back, so that may have made it worse.
We love all the walkways and paths around the resort.

Our room is very cute, and I really like the theming. It is also very clean. After all the fridge issues, I laughed when we got here and saw that we had 2 fridges in our room! We also had only 6 hangers, so I called down to request 10 more and to have the extra fridge taken out.

The magic bands work just fine. Today was our first park day, and as we slept in I was easily able to change our fastpass times with the app. Funnily enough we ended up not using them because there were no lines. The standby wait for EE was 5 minutes, and I was also able to use my KTTW that we received at checkin to get a fastpass with a better time than the one I had reserved.

It is really hot here. I had expected cooler weather in November. I checked the weather reports before coming so I was kind of prepared, but forgot about the effect of the humidity. DH didn't listen to me and brought jeans only one pair of shorts. He may be doing some laundry.

The size of this resort has not been an issue at all. Even though we are close to the lobby, etc, we have walked all around the resort a few times and it is so pleasant walking here, that I would not have minded if we were farther away.

Thank you for reading, and I hope this helps others like I was helped reading this thread

 

[CanadianPaco]

Thanks for posting! Enjoy your trip!!!!

 

[reader562]

Thanks for great report aristocat! Can't wait for my first time at POR; sounds beautiful!

 

[tazmanrmv]

Checking in on the 1st, staying in a standard royal guest room. In my online check in, the only request I made was for the highest floor. Crossing my fingers!

 

[Tarheel Mom]

Enjoyed the report aristocat65! We leave tomorrow and check in on Wednesday (never mind my ticker, it's off, lol). We've been counting down for 2 years and I can't believe it's finally time to leave. Finishing up some packing tonight and we leave when my son gets out of school tomorrow. Hoping for safe travels and beautiful weather when we arrive

 

[PrincessKyleigh]

Enjoyed the report aristocat65! We leave tomorrow and check in on Wednesday (never mind my ticker, it's off, lol). We've been counting down for 2 years and I can't believe it's finally time to leave. Finishing up some packing tonight and we leave when my son gets out of school tomorrow. Hoping for safe travels and beautiful weather when we arrive

How exciting!! We've been waiting almost as long as you, still have one more month to go.

Have a wonderful vacation. Safe travels.

 

[Surr]

We are at PRO now. A refrigerator was installed in our room today!

 

[Venomhatch]

We are at PRO now. A refrigerator was installed in our room today!

I'm going to chalk that up to auto correct on a phone lol. Andre said they should be close to finishing soon.

 

[bethy82]

I'm here now, no fridge in my room yet! I didn't request one though! Love my room in Acadia! We are right next door to the North bus stop!

 

[louisianab]

Only a few more days until online check in and fastpass+. Getting so excited.

 

[andrewilley]

I'm here now, no fridge in my room yet! I didn't request one though! Love my room in Acadia! We are right next door to the North bus stop!

Hopefully by the end of the week all of the rooms should have fridges.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

I'm here now, no fridge in my room yet! I didn't request one though! Love my room in Acadia! We are right next door to the North bus stop!

Well I wish you much luck with the North Depot. I tend to lean to the South Depot for better chances at getting on to a bus and getting there sitting down on a bus and not standing on one.

 

[carmelhp]

Well I wish you much luck with the North Depot. I tend to lean to the South Depot for better chances at getting on to a bus and getting there sitting down on a bus and not standing on one.

Except for Magic Kingdom. South was always a zoo for MK but great for everything else.

 

[Peaseblossom]

When we stepped out of our room in Acadia this morning, there were fridges outside many room doors waiting to be installed and many more still in the truck.

Also, a quick bus sit rep - we're on day 5 and have done 2 parks on most days - we only ended up standing on a bus once in all out trips (we're at the North Depot). It's very quiet right now.

 

[castledweller407]

Great news about all the fridges!!! We arrive in one week! Reading everyone's trip reports is getting me excited about our trip. Thanks, everyone, especially Andre and Venomhatch!

 

[tpoo]

Hi all, I'm mostly a lurker garnering all the advice I can
I do however have a question. I unknowingly made our reservations, for marathon weekend. We are checking out on Sunday morning. Should I anticipate a much earlier then normal call time for ME, because of the marathon? I don't know the route, so I am not sure if we will be detoured. Thanks.