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

[Gorechick]

That sounds great.... based on this, I probably won't worry about which room. I don't always request anything in particular, but I was unsure about this type of room. I've looked at the maps and info about POR a little more and I feel more comfortable about the location.

Another question.... from either of those buildings, is it convenient to get to the East Depot or is the South Depot the best way to get on the bus? Also, which depot picks up first?

Thanks!!

I thought South was more convenient from Parterre and some of Oak closer to the bridge. Parking lot side of Oak and side near the other mansions seemed closer to East. We were in the center of Parterre and always used South.

 

[Dittz]

I am so excited...I just changed our reservation from POP to POR from Sept 23-Oct 7!! Yahoo! So excited! Preferred room for 14 nights, now hopefully FD comes out or we will have to shrink the nights there. Fingers crossed!

We'll be there the same time. Check in on the 27th and leave the 4th. We have a royal room booked for our little princess who is turning 5 during our trip.

 

[lolobug]

We'll be there the same time. Check in on the 27th and leave the 4th. We have a royal room booked for our little princess who is turning 5 during our trip.

We were booked at the WL for our 8 day trip but I convinced DH to do 4 nights in the "Tiana rooms" for our princess who is also turning 5 during our stay. Hope your little princess enjoys her stay and that it's extra magical for your family

 

[andrewilley]

I also appreciate your sense of humor.

Phew, sometimes my sense of humour gets me into trouble... It's a Transatlantic funny-bone incompatibility issue I think.

So we are adding a day to our trip so we can take our dd to Universal for the day. It says that transportation (for a fee) can be offered from a Disney resort. Does anyone...hint hint...know if it's available from POR? Also, can Universal and Islands of adventure both be done in the same day?

You can do Universal and Islands of Adventure on the same day, in the same way that you can do Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom in the same day - i.e. it's possible, but don't expect to do even half of the attractions.

Mears run a request bus service which costs about $18 per person round-trip - you book with them and arrange a pickup time, and then later a return time. If there are 3 or 4 people going though, getting taxis there and back might be cheaper and more convenient.

Another question.... from either of those buildings, is it convenient to get to the East Depot or is the South Depot the best way to get on the bus? Also, which depot picks up first?

It's pretty much even to be honest, it rather depends on which side of the building you are located (nearer the parking lot or the river). The stopping order varies by park, I'd suggest the East Depot for the MK and South for the other parks, and on the return journey get off at whichever the bus gets to first. But there really isn't much in it from your location, see what works best for you.

Not to be picky but for the preferred buildings is there a better one to request or room location to request?

14 is the closest to the main building, 18 is closest to the nearby quiet pool, 14 and 15 are closest for the parking lot and the South bus depot.

Andre

 

[jimmiej]

I have a King room reserved. Would it be appropriate to request a "preferred" building?

 

[andrewilley]

I have a King room reserved. Would it be appropriate to request a "preferred" building?

Sure, King Bed rooms are located everywhere. You can ask for a specific preferred building, or a River View, etc. Not guaranteed of course, but it's a valid request.

Andre

 

[Canooknic]

One month until I am on the plane!!!!!! Hubby going back to work today hasn't been so bad when he knows this time next month we'll be on our way to POR!!

Happy new year everyone!

 

[mollyseven]

We have stayed twice and both times we requested and received Magnolia Terrace rooms.
We are going again and this time it's still 2 beds cause it's us and our son.
Are there any corner rooms with the double windows that have 2 beds or are they all king bed rooms.
I would like Magnolia Terrace again I think as it's right across from the bridge across to the main area and it's got the bus depot right behind it.
I would like a room facing the quiet pool but don't know the room numbers over there.
Any suggestions....
We have never stayed in the alligator bayou section is it worth it to look at building 18 possibly or is it busier over there?

 

[siskaren]

Not all corner rooms are Kings. If you want a room facing the quiet pool, just request that. If you request a specific room number and it's not available, they're not going to know why you requested it, and therefore won't know what a suitable substitute would be.

 

[Emilyswish]

Hi everyone, thanks for all of the great info on this thread!!

I am sooooo close to booking a trip for August 2014!

This will be our first trip back to Disney since our daughter's MAW trip in Dec 2010. Our other kids (and I) have been dying to come back since we left three years ago!!! In fact, we left Disney on this very day, 3 years ago.

Our daughter, Emily, will not be coming with us on this trip, for various reasons. For anyone who remembers us, or reads our old trip report, she is doing okay. But, even though Disney is the most accessible place we've ever taken her, it is still extremely difficult for her to handle, and limits what we can do with our other children. Please, no judging, it's been VERY difficult for us to decide to go without her. She will be staying at home with family members and her nurses.

Sooooooo, we are looking to stay at POR 8/25-8/30. Last time we came during Christmas break, so I'm hoping for lower crowds this time. And, it was actually cold while we were there in 2010 so we never even got to swim!! We stayed at GKTW, which was wonderful but I'm really super excited about staying on site as we have NEVER done it!!

Our party is me, my DH, our oldest son, 10, and our other two triplets (one boy, one girl), who will have just turned 7. DH and I will have just celebrated our 15th anniversary as well!

It's possible we will be able to come the first week in September and maybe get Free Dining?? (fingers crossed!!) Our school might have a delayed opening due to some construction but we can't be sure of that yet. If we get definite word on that, we will most likely change to the September dates.

Sorry if this is not the thread to tell our whole story, but I just got excited!!!!

If anyone has any specific tips for us, I'd appreciate it!

I do have one question, how do your younger ones like the resort? I feel like it will be relaxing and they will love the pool, slide, and the Murphy bed. But, otherwise, they might think it's not "Disney" enough? (Relaxing and calm is probably a plus for us because our triplet son is autistic and can get overstimulated)
I have looked at family suites at AoA because they'd give us more room, an extra bathroom, and be more "Disneyish", but the price at POR just keeps bringing me back.
Thoughts??

Thanks!

 

[jimmiej]

Sure, King Bed rooms are located everywhere. You can ask for a specific preferred building, or a River View, etc. Not guaranteed of course, but it's a valid request.

Andre

Thank you, Andre!

 

[jennyjinx3]

Hi everyone, thanks for all of the great info on this thread!!

I am sooooo close to booking a trip for August 2014!

This will be our first trip back to Disney since our daughter's MAW trip in Dec 2010. Our other kids (and I) have been dying to come back since we left three years ago!!! In fact, we left Disney on this very day, 3 years ago.

Our daughter, Emily, will not be coming with us on this trip, for various reasons. For anyone who remembers us, or reads our old trip report, she is doing okay. But, even though Disney is the most accessible place we've ever taken her, it is still extremely difficult for her to handle, and limits what we can do with our other children. Please, no judging, it's been VERY difficult for us to decide to go without her. She will be staying at home with family members and her nurses.

Sooooooo, we are looking to stay at POR 8/25-8/30. Last time we came during Christmas break, so I'm hoping for lower crowds this time. And, it was actually cold while we were there in 2010 so we never even got to swim!! We stayed at GKTW, which was wonderful but I'm really super excited about staying on site as we have NEVER done it!!

Our party is me, my DH, our oldest son, 10, and our other two triplets (one boy, one girl), who will have just turned 7. DH and I will have just celebrated our 15th anniversary as well!

It's possible we will be able to come the first week in September and maybe get Free Dining?? (fingers crossed!!) Our school might have a delayed opening due to some construction but we can't be sure of that yet. If we get definite word on that, we will most likely change to the September dates.

Sorry if this is not the thread to tell our whole story, but I just got excited!!!!

If anyone has any specific tips for us, I'd appreciate it!

I do have one question, how do your younger ones like the resort? I feel like it will be relaxing and they will love the pool, slide, and the Murphy bed. But, otherwise, they might think it's not "Disney" enough? (Relaxing and calm is probably a plus for us because our triplet son is autistic and can get overstimulated)
I have looked at family suites at AoA because they'd give us more room, an extra bathroom, and be more "Disneyish", but the price at POR just keeps bringing me back.
Thoughts??

Thanks!

No judging here, only hugs for what your family has gone through. How wonderful you are coming to disney again! We too are trying POR for the first time and have no doubt the kids will love it. I think it looks like the perfect mix of disney and relaxation. Good luck with your planning, there are lots of others who will give you more info but just wanted to wish you the best.

 

[Canooknic]

I totally agree with jennyjinx3 - lots of hugs from me too!

Our boys loved POR (they were 4 on our first trip) - I showed them the other resorts but they said if we ever go back they want to go back to POR (I can't wait to wake them up next month and surprise them with our trip!!)
I actually liked the fact that its not 'too Disney', it is nice to get a break from it but still find little things that remind you that you're still at Disney (does that make sense?!?)

Have an amazing trip and a very happy 2014 xx

 

[firstwdw]

Hi everyone, thanks for all of the great info on this thread!!

I am sooooo close to booking a trip for August 2014!

This will be our first trip back to Disney since our daughter's MAW trip in Dec 2010. Our other kids (and I) have been dying to come back since we left three years ago!!! In fact, we left Disney on this very day, 3 years ago.

Our daughter, Emily, will not be coming with us on this trip, for various reasons. For anyone who remembers us, or reads our old trip report, she is doing okay. But, even though Disney is the most accessible place we've ever taken her, it is still extremely difficult for her to handle, and limits what we can do with our other children. Please, no judging, it's been VERY difficult for us to decide to go without her. She will be staying at home with family members and her nurses.

Sooooooo, we are looking to stay at POR 8/25-8/30. Last time we came during Christmas break, so I'm hoping for lower crowds this time. And, it was actually cold while we were there in 2010 so we never even got to swim!! We stayed at GKTW, which was wonderful but I'm really super excited about staying on site as we have NEVER done it!!

Our party is me, my DH, our oldest son, 10, and our other two triplets (one boy, one girl), who will have just turned 7. DH and I will have just celebrated our 15th anniversary as well!

It's possible we will be able to come the first week in September and maybe get Free Dining?? (fingers crossed!!) Our school might have a delayed opening due to some construction but we can't be sure of that yet. If we get definite word on that, we will most likely change to the September dates.

Sorry if this is not the thread to tell our whole story, but I just got excited!!!!

If anyone has any specific tips for us, I'd appreciate it!

I do have one question, how do your younger ones like the resort? I feel like it will be relaxing and they will love the pool, slide, and the Murphy bed. But, otherwise, they might think it's not "Disney" enough? (Relaxing and calm is probably a plus for us because our triplet son is autistic and can get overstimulated)
I have looked at family suites at AoA because they'd give us more room, an extra bathroom, and be more "Disneyish", but the price at POR just keeps bringing me back.
Thoughts??

Thanks!

Hi! We stayed at POR last spring and my son was almost 8 so right in between your kiddo's ages. And he LOVED it there! There is plenty for kids to do! A big playground~ roasting marshmallows, huge arcade for rainy days, fishing hole, pool games, movies outside, bike and boat rentals. The Cast members even played wii with the kiddos on rainy days in the lobby. The big water wheel outside the food court is neat and all the gears inside that move the wheel-my son loved that! We stayed in the bayou and he absolutely loved the room-it's well themed and all the pathways! And the pool and pool slide were so much fun-he especially liked the water features at the pool! I think you made a great choice.

Sounds as though you could all really use a Disney trip-hugs from me as well for all you are going through.

 

[alan_renfroe]

I'm so excited! I just booked our first stay at Port Orleans Riverside and got the 25% discount offered to Disney Visa cardholders! May 30-June 5!

 

[DL55]

Hello! I've been lurking for the past year when we first started thinking of going back to Disney. Thanks to Venom and Andre for all their information.
We are now booked May 11-19 POR Garden view using the Disney VISA discount. It will just be the two of us and we don't need anything special although I did ask for a top floor.
Now onto ADRs and FP+...

 

[lindap1]

Two things I did today...1. Changed are departure date for the Auto train ( one day earlier) and saved us $423.90! 2. Changed from AKL-Savannah view to POR RR-Garden view...saved us $520.86!..
Total savings of $944.76!!! Now I need to work on park days so I can plan our meals

 

[kbuck]

Thinking of changing my reservation from POFQ to Riverside due to the Disney Visa deal that came out. NEVER stayed here before. Will have a Garden View room.

Which section should I request? Like to be near bus stop and close to main lodge.

How is bus transportation? Which stop gets picked up first?

Any suggestions appreciated!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[mollyseven]

We ask for Magnolia terrace because it's in the mansion section which we love, it's directly at the footbridge to the main pool and main building and there is a bus stop right behind the building.
The campfires are right by the main pool also and the nightly movies are next door at Oak Manor so you are close to everything.
We have stayed 2 times here and once at FQ and we definitely like Riverside better. It's very lush whereas FQ isn't as much. Our room at FQ was right overlooking the water by the boat to downtown but still not as nice as Riverside.
You'll love it.

 

[KELLY]

We ask for Magnolia terrace because it's in the mansion section which we love, it's directly at the footbridge to the main pool and main building and there is a bus stop right behind the building.
The campfires are right by the main pool also and the nightly movies are next door at Oak Manor so you are close to everything.
We have stayed 2 times here and once at FQ and we definitely like Riverside better. It's very lush whereas FQ isn't as much. Our room at FQ was right overlooking the water by the boat to downtown but still not as nice as Riverside.
You'll love it.

LoL this is the info I was coming to look for. We have stayed at POFQ quite a bit but I assume since we are a party of 4. We most likely will be in the mansion section. I would rather be in the Ab section but either would be good.