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

[keahgirl8]

Can I ask a silly question? Where are the garden view rooms?

 

[dansdad]

Can I ask a silly question? Where are the garden view rooms?

Check out the map here.

http://portorleans.org/room-requests.php

Click on any building and another map will pop up showing every room location and it's view category. The rooms shaded green are the garden view rooms.

 

[andrewilley]

(I might bolden the back walls of the rooms, so no one thinks that back-to-back rooms connect to each other)

OK, just a minor tweak here - to try to avoid the almost-inevitable questions of whether 'back to back' rooms connect or not, I've slightly boldened the lines behind the room rows. Does this work better?

Previous version:

Andre

 

[AmyKat]

Maybe it's just my monitor, but the back walls look lighter in the new version. They are thicker, but not as dark.

However, I don't think I would notice any difference in the back wall if I were looking at it for the first time.

 

[castledweller407]

Thank you. I can't stand sugar yogurt either - might as well drink a coke! I'll probably do an order, we are trying to get to WDW ASAP the first day, plus our room (and fridge) will most likely not be ready. Can I ask what the issue was you had with your fridge? We're cruising the week prior, and am trying to pack light for the whole trip partly for convenience and partly because 5 people in a cabin on the Fantasy plus extra stuff is just going to be a headache. I'll bring a collapsible cooler if necessary, but if I can avoid it I will too!

I think the issue with our fridge was more of a circumstantial one. As we all know (all being readers of this particular thread!), POR has just finished their refrigerator replacements. I think we may have had a brand new fridge because I found a strip of narrow tape still stuck across the top of the door - thinking it had held the door closed. Our room was ready when we checked in at noon, and we had requested a medical needs fridge. When I opened the fridge door, I noticed it didn't seem very cold and that it was set on the max cold setting. I didn't think much of it at the time, just loaded our food into it and made a mental note to check it later. It seemed fine -- cold but not freezing -- at bedtime and again the next morning before we hit 7:00am RD at MK!!

When we returned midday, we discovered that the power was out in part of our room -- the part controlling the tv, fridge and ceiling lamp over the table. Called maint., and they had it restored within 2 hours. In the meantime, not knowing how long it would be out, I loaded my insulated shopping bag with ice and transferred the perishables into it. Moved stuff back after the power was restored. Went back out that evening and didn't check the fridge again that night.

Next am, woke up to power out in the entire room at 6:30am. Called it in and was out for an hour or less. It was our rest day, and since DD wanted a Mickey waffled for breakfast, we went to the Mill and didn't touch the fridge until midday. At lunchtime, opened the fridge to find that most of our perishables had frozen solid. Hard boiled eggs appeared to be suspended in ice cubes!! Salads had a layer of ice around them. DD's chicken tenders were chick-sickles. My Greek yogurt was now frozen yogurt. You get the idea....

We tried to thaw as much food as we could, but had to toss most of it as the taste/consistency was ruined.

I think it was just a quirky set of circumstances, though. My guess it that the temp was set on the coldest setting upon install, and that it should have been adjusted after the first few hours. I might have realized that sooner, but the power outages over 2 days would have also affected the internal temperature stabilizing.

You'd probably be fine using the fridge, but I'd keep an eye on the temps. Also, Garden Grocer will add a foam cooler to your order at a nominal cost. The room fridge isn't very large, so you might want that depending on the size of your order.

Hope this helps -- I'm sure you will have a fantastic trip!!

 

[Venomhatch]

Andre,

Room Assignment will just love you! Even more specific requests that can't be met.

Love you, mean it!

Yes that is what I have been backing with guests is they are just requests and not to be too unreasonable. Everyone wants a little pixie dust and I have to remind them it is even more special when they are not expecting it.

Requests of course are just that. I hope everyone gets magic they deserve and this connecting room guide just helps planning and not make it more specific requesting.

 

[su_A_ve]

Posted the following on venomhatch thread by accident so posting again here...

coming in on 12/22. Garden view at POR - it is a party of 5 so it will be AB area. We want a room close to the bus stop and parking so I'm guessing bldg 24 or 34 for West depot or 37 for North.

But how would i go about asking for some pixie dust to get say building 15? Suggestions instead? Our first time at POR

TIA.

 

[andrewilley]

coming in on 12/22. Garden view at POR - it is a party of 5 so it will be AB area. We want a room close to the bus stop and parking so I'm guessing bldg 24 or 34 for West depot or 37 for North.

But how would i go about asking for some pixie dust to get say building 15? .

AB 16 or 17 would be good options for you - fairly close for the main buildings and the south bus stop too (talking the shortcut across the parking lot).

Let them know that you'd love a room a close as possible to the food court and main bus stop as possible, and you never know if there is any availability you might just get upgraded - but arriving just in time for the busiest week of the year, your chances might not be too good.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

Posted the following on venomhatch thread by accident so posting again here...

coming in on 12/22. Garden view at POR - it is a party of 5 so it will be AB area. We want a room close to the bus stop and parking so I'm guessing bldg 24 or 34 for West depot or 37 for North.

But how would i go about asking for some pixie dust to get say building 15? Suggestions instead? Our first time at POR

TIA.

Its ok I replied to it their because it does have something to do with room requests so I didn't mind.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

No posts since yesterday?

 

[Disneylover99]

No posts since yesterday?

Okay, I'll post.

I'm checking in tomorrow!!!!
I've never stayed at Riverside and I'm very excited!

 

[Venomhatch]

No posts since yesterday?

It almost made it to two days if we didn't here something til 7 am tomorrow.

 

[Sue M]

Posted the following on venomhatch thread by accident so posting again here...

coming in on 12/22. Garden view at POR - it is a party of 5 so it will be AB area. We want a room close to the bus stop and parking so I'm guessing bldg 24 or 34 for West depot or 37 for North.

But how would i go about asking for some pixie dust to get say building 15? Suggestions instead? Our first time at POR

TIA.

Andre & Venom gave good suggestions. I would never ask for a free upgrade when others are paying for that location. And that's prob. the best way not to get any pixie dust, asking for it.
Just simply state what your pref for a location is, close to bus stop and parking. If you want to be near main building, add that too. The room assignors at POR try hard to give you a location that you want.
I list my requests in order of importance. Most of the time I've gotten my requests.

I always book what I can live with, anything else is a bonus. For me it's garden view, because I don't want to be near the parking lot.

 

[ksboyd20]

Hello

So we are set to arrive in exactly 20 days! (SO excited!!!)
We have a Royal Garden Room booked and paid for.
I called my travel agent a few weeks ago and asked if I could upgrade to the
Pool View room so we could have a more central location. She told me she would call Disney and call me back. The next day I still hadn't heard anything so I called her back and she told me their was nothing available.

I just happened to look at the dates on Disney.com and it's telling me their ARE rooms available. I was not asking for a free upgrade and she knew this. Did she lie to me or am I not allowed to upgrade? What should I do?

 

[andrewilley]

I just happened to look at the dates on Disney.com and it's telling me their ARE rooms available. I was not asking for a free upgrade and she knew this. Did she lie to me or am I not allowed to upgrade? What should I do?

Is your TA booking you directly with Disney, or via a package or travel company? Sometimes different companies have different options and availabilities that they can sell. Also, do you have any discount on the booking (e.g. dining plan offers, etc) as it may not have been possible to book the new room type without losing the discount.

Otherwise, if your TA does book directly with Disney and there is no price difference, let them know that if they really can't do it you would like to make the booking directly with Disney yourself and cancel the booking via the TA.

Andre

 

[Disneylover99]

I just happened to look at the dates on Disney.com and it's telling me their ARE rooms available. I was not asking for a free upgrade and she knew this. Did she lie to me or am I not allowed to upgrade? What should I do?

Call her back.

Maybe there was nothing available at the moment when she checked. From my experience stalking the wdw website daily for free dining, I discovered that room availability changes constantly.

 

[maxiesmom]

Here now and the resort is as lovely as I remember. But I am hoping for a little help: we are in building 28 , which seems to be smack in the middle of the south and west depots. Is one truly closer than the other? And is walking along the parking lots the best way to get to them?

 

[andrewilley]

Here now and the resort is as lovely as I remember. But I am hoping for a little help: we are in building 28 , which seems to be smack in the middle of the south and west depots. Is one truly closer than the other? And is walking along the parking lots the best way to get to them?

From 28, the West Depot would most likely be quickest (a bit depending on where in 28 you are though). From the northwest corner of building 28, going past the nearby quiet pool (or maybe via building 25?) to the West Depot is about 250 yards. From the same point, via the parking lot sidewalk, to the South Depot is about 470 yards (there isn't a very convenient route directly southwards from 28 towards the 'teen' buildings without cutting across the grass/woods).

But have an explore (maybe with a Google satellite image open in your phone?) and see what other ideas you come up with.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

Good morning POR Fans! Hope you all have a very magical Friday the 13th!!! Be safe with all the crazies out there!

 

[kittyab]

I would call POR directly and see what they can do. I found my travel agent not so knowledgeable about the new Disney stuff either.