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

[Sue M]

49 DAYS!!!!!! I can't wait. I'm giddy with excitement! I've spent months planning this trip and I'm so excited to stay at POR!
We are traveling with our girls who are 4 and 8. We have a Royal Room reserved, standard view. My sister and her husband and 2 children are also coming. My only request is going to be for connecting, or at least close rooms. I don't care which floor, view, etc...

Thanks to everyone who has participated on this threat. I enjoy reading through everything.

I do have one question. We will have a car, but may take the bus some mornings. If we want to make rope drop, what time should we leave if we drive and if we opt for the bus?

I take wdw transportation, and leave about an hour before park opening.

We checked in on Thursday and are having a wonderful time enjoying the resort. Ran the marathon today so we've just been relaxing instead of going to parks.
Spent the first two nights in a royal guest room. Absolutely beautiful theming, but I wish the fireworks would stay on . Our room was in oak manor facing the pool. We had a corner room and it was a very short walk to the lobby and buses since we were almost even with the bridge.

We are currently in the AB section. I paid for a garden view but we were upgraded to preferred river view. We are pretty much the closest room to the food court! Probably like 50 steps! We really lucked out with room assignments.

My only complaint is with the hot tub. I've been dying to soak some sore muscles, but it's always packed! Why aren't there more??

.

Congrats on the run!! Couldn't agree more. That hot tub is tiny. Would be nice if they made it larger, or had more!

Question...just discussing with DH and the kids about room requests.

We know there are no balconies on the second floor rooms in Alligator Bayou. If you request main floor (we are in a preferred room booking)....is there space outside the door for each room? Like a ground floor balcony type idea? Or just a straight walkout?

DH wondered if there would be chairs or something with a main floor room.

Thanks!

No chairs, sorry.

 

[Sue M]

I love it...but yes, it's all Royal Guest Rooms. The two closest mansions are all Royal.

Funny how perception is I always found Magnolia Terrace or Acadian House to be closer to food court, main pool & mansion bus stop, than Parterre. Our last stay we were put in Parterre at the very end, was almost in POFQ! And far from main pool and food court.

 

[andrewilley]

While we are talking about it, does anyone happen to know how many outlets there are? Also, is thee an HDMI plugin on the TV?

See my post #2780 just above for both of these.

What section/building (standard room) is the most quietest at night?

It's actually a pretty quiet resort generally (as there are very few "main route" pathways, so people quickly spread out heading to their buildings) but I guess any of the embedded woodsy areas would be the best - e.g. buildings 26, 28, 39.

My question is, do any of the accessible rooms room have a connecting door to a regular room beside the?

Not really, the fully Accessible rooms need to have the two queen beds spaced further apart for access by wheelchair, so that would block the location of a connecting door. There are some Florida Special rooms (just with extra handgrips, etc) which might have connecting doors though.

Funny how perception is I always found Magnolia Terrace or Acadian House to be closer to food court, main pool & mansion bus stop, than Parterre.

Correct. Parterre is generally the most remote - although it has some really nicely located rooms at the end of the northern wing. Oak and Magnolia are the most central. Acadian isn't bad, but some of its further rooms can still be a bit of a trek. But the mansion buildings are so big that there can be a big difference in distance/view/convenience/etc from one end to the other.

Andre

 

[Skjhjb]

I take wdw transportation, and leave about an hour before park opening. Congrats on the run!! Couldn't agree more. That hot tub is tiny. Would be nice if they made it larger, or had more! No chairs, sorry.

Thanks Sue!

 

[sea3668rn]

Hi! Barring some miraculous discount- I am pretty sure we will be staying at POR for our November 15-22 2014 trip. I am so excited! There will be 6 of us, my parents (in their sixties), my DH and myself, and our 2 kiddos, my daughter will be 5 and my son just about to turn 3. I am was thinking of two Royal Rooms (hopefully adjoining), so I was considering booking a standard view because I am afraid if I book something more specific it will be hard to find adjoining rooms. Is that silly logic?

I am also looking at the preferred rooms for convienence. Which would you recommend? I think my kids would both love the decor of the Royal Rooms, but if the preferred rooms are a much better location I would be OK with going that route. I checked the map but I'd love to hear opinions of people who actually have stayed there.

 

[Dittz]

Sorry was a duplicate....

 

[andrewilley]

I am was thinking of two Royal Rooms (hopefully adjoining), so I was considering booking a standard view because I am afraid if I book something more specific it will be hard to find adjoining rooms. Is that silly logic?

I am also looking at the preferred rooms for convienence. Which would you recommend?.

First, there are connecting rooms in all areas of the resort, so Standard won't get you a better chance than any other category. About 50% of rooms connect, so put in a request and keep your fingers crossed.

Second, if you don't mind the extra cost and you want Royal Rooms that are in a very convenient location, book Royal Room Pool View. These are all clustered very close to the footbridge that leads over from the royal rooms area to the main buildings & main bus stop, so you can't really go wrong there. You are also overlooking a quiet pool too, so great for the kids and swimming.

Andre

 

[sea3668rn]

First, there are connecting rooms in all areas of the resort, so Standard won't get you a better chance than any other category. About 50% of rooms connect, so put in a request and keep your fingers crossed.

Second, if you don't mind the extra cost and you want Royal Rooms that are in a very convenient location, book Royal Room Pool View. These are all clustered very close to the footbridge that leads over from the royal rooms area to the main buildings & main bus stop, so you can't really go wrong there. You are also overlooking a quiet pool too, so great for the kids and swimming.

Andre

Thanks so much! That sounds like a perfect plan. I read somewhere that all of the Mansion buildings have elevators too- is that true? We will likely have a double stroller and my dad may have issues with steps at the end of the day.

 

[msmizchief]

14 days!!

 

[Alicatt]

Can anyone tell me what the toiletries are like at POR? What do you get exactly?
Thanks!

 

[Katelly]

Can anyone tell me what the toiletries are like at POR? What do you get exactly?
Thanks!

The products are H20 brand and you will have shampoo, conditioner, hand soap and bath soap in the "blushing orange" fragrance.

Oh, and the shampoo and conditioner each have a cute Mickey cap on them.

 

[SteviesDaddy]

Excited for our first trip with our son, who will be close to 3 in August. I like to be prepared for my trips, and this thread has been great. Thanks to Andre and Venom especially, but also all you others too. We originally have booked an AB room intending to share the room with my In-Laws, but now it looks like my SIL will be tagging along. This means we will be needing another room, but not necessarily in AB now. What should we do? It will just be my wife, son, and I in one room, and the In-Laws and SIL in another. We are on the counter service dining plan, do you think it will be offered for free. I like food, and wanna maximize my counter service dining experience. Any help Would be appreciated. I've been to Disney a few times before and have stayed at All Star Sports and Pop Century.

Steve

 

[staticgirl50]

Did you get your Mickey Mail? The gift card usually comes with the TA package along with Magical Express info, Coupons if any, and your gift card.

Nope nothing yet I am a bit nervous...

 

[staticgirl50]

Make sure you come back and tell us when you get your gift card. If agents gave gift cards too far in advance of the trip we would have lots of people canceling after they got their gift card.

I leave in a bit over a week Still nothing.

 

[Emilyswish]

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.

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

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.

Thank you everyone. I ended up getting a super deal at Beach Club for our dates, so we'll be staying there instead, but I do really think they would love POR and if anything changes, POR is my next choice!

 

[Alicatt]

The products are H20 brand and you will have shampoo, conditioner, hand soap and bath soap in the "blushing orange" fragrance.

Oh, and the shampoo and conditioner each have a cute Mickey cap on them.

Thank you! It's good to know what I do and don't have to bring.

 

[jimmiej]

Got a question for you POR experts. I believe I saw that the boat to/from Downtown Disney runs until 11:00, but DD stays open until 1:00 am.

If we leave DD after the boat transportation stops, will there be a bus to POR?

 

[siskaren]

Got a question for you POR experts. I believe I saw that the boat to/from Downtown Disney runs until 11:00, but DD stays open until 1:00 am.

If we leave DD after the boat transportation stops, will there be a bus to POR?

Yes, the buses run until 2:00 am.

 

[alan_renfroe]

Staying at POR for the 1st time May 30-June 5, and I really don't care WHERE we are located! All areas seem great to me! I think we will love this place!

 

[Surfinpiratee]

Staying at POR for the 1st time May 30-June 5, and I really don't care WHERE we are located! All areas seem great to me! I think we will love this place!

So exciting!!! I stayed in the Alligator Bayou section and loveddddd it! So peaceful