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

[PoohBearFriends]

Where is the pasta bar? Food court?

Yes.

 

[gydell]

Yes.

Thanks! Sounds like where we will eat when we get there.

 

[staticgirl50]

Excited! So Close now!!!!

 

[Venomhatch]

Excited! So Close now!!!!

Did you get that business sorted out with the TA and Mickey Mail and everything else you needed?

Hope so!!! Hope you have a Magical Trip and Visit!

 

[SteviesDaddy]

Excited! So Close now!!!!

Please share your experience with us. Have a good time.

 

[staticgirl50]

Did you get that business sorted out with the TA and Mickey Mail and everything else you needed?

Hope so!!! Hope you have a Magical Trip and Visit!

The Travel agent who was fired kept her word she mailed the gift card but the agency never sent the Mickey Mail, or sent it WAY late as we still don't have it. I have decided to forget it and move forward Hey I am headed to Disney! Nothing is THAT bad! Thank you for asking!

 

[TeachTink]

My husband and I are heading to WDW in May and staying at POR. We are both 30. I've been to Disney several times (last in 2010) but he has only been once when he was younger. We almost booked at a value resort because of their vibrant themes, but POR seemed to be highly recommended on the boards here, so we are going to stay there.

I originally thought I wanted a Royal Room because of the decor and because I still want that "Disney feel" in our room. We couldn't justify paying nearly 40 dollars more a night just for decor in the room though.

I booked a Standard View room. I have read about both AB and the mansion rooms. Everyone seems to love AB, but the pictures scream "cabin" to me and I just can't get over the fish shower curtain. The mansion rooms seem a little more old ladyish (haha) and "classy" I guess. I feel drawn to them!

I am torn between requesting a mansion room or just seeing where the cards fall. We don't need the murphy bed in the AB rooms since it is just the 2 of us.

I want something that still feels Disney. Distance isn't an issue for us because we have no physical limitations.

Would you recommend the AB rooms or the mansion rooms? I guess I'm just asking which ones you all like better.

Thanks!

 

[RejoyceoverDisney]

My husband and I are heading to WDW in May and staying at POR. We are both 30. I've been to Disney several times (last in 2010) but he has only been once when he was younger. We almost booked at a value resort because of their vibrant themes, but POR seemed to be highly recommended on the boards here, so we are going to stay there.

I originally thought I wanted a Royal Room because of the decor and because I still want that "Disney feel" in our room. We couldn't justify paying nearly 40 dollars more a night just for decor in the room though.

I booked a Standard View room. I have read about both AB and the mansion rooms. Everyone seems to love AB, but the pictures scream "cabin" to me and I just can't get over the fish shower curtain. The mansion rooms seem a little more old ladyish (haha) and "classy" I guess. I feel drawn to them!

I am torn between requesting a mansion room or just seeing where the cards fall. We don't need the murphy bed in the AB rooms since it is just the 2 of us.

I want something that still feels Disney. Distance isn't an issue for us because we have no physical limitations.

Would you recommend the AB rooms or the mansion rooms? I guess I'm just asking which ones you all like better.

Thanks!

I requested Mansion because I wanted to feel more grown up special/southern belle kind of feel. Wasn't up for a cabin feel, which was my impression too.

I understand the wanting what the value resort, pop color, Disney feel offers, but I also understand that it tends to be more kid friendly than adult and since you are doing an adult trip, you might like the carriage ride and the feel or POR more. Nothing stops you from visiting other resorts.

I"m very much looking forward to staying at POR.
I love FQ when I was there but mouth dropped over the mansions. So happy to try that.
Wish I could dress up in one of those big dresses with the hoop slip and big floppy hat.. LOL

 

[princess@heart]

A few questions...

I am going to have my car with me for the first time while staying on property this coming trip. I have always used buses and monorails on previous trips. How well do GPS systems work at Disney (I ask because one time in Chicago, my GPS was horrible!!)?

How long should I plan on it taking to get from POR to the parks? Is there a lot of traffic before rope drop? How long for parking?

Is it just easier to leave the car at POR and take the bus?? I ask that because I love the freedom of not having to wait for a crowded bus.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[bigmac5]

I was just sitting here thinking. (I know that can be dangerous) Just before our trip to Disney in Sept. there was a trial airport pick up in DTD for those staying at POR. I was wondering if anything came of that study. Are they looking at having a permanent pick up spot in Disney springs? This curious minds wants to know lol

 

[mad hatter fan]

We are staying for the 3rd time at POR this March. We are trying to decide if we want to rent a car for the whole trip or just for our arrival day when we are planning to do a couple of things offsite.

If we wanted to be fairly near the front of the lines at rope drop, how early would we want to be at the bus stop vs. what time to get going with a rental car? Would we end up with a tiny bit more sleeping time with a car vs. a bus? (for everywhere except the MK that is)

Thanks

Anybody have any thoughts on this?

 

[princess@heart]

Anybody have any thoughts on this?

I guess I have the same question... Lol

 

[Sue M]

I would plan on getting to the park at least 30 min before opening, but if it's high season, an hour.
Plan on being at the bus stop 30 min before anticipated park arrival.

I wouldn't drive to MK. It's faster to take wdw transportation, because you have to park, then take tram, then boat or monorail.

We fly into Ft Lauderdale to visit family, thrn drive up to wdw, I stop before checking in to pick up some groceries, then after resort check in, I return car. I'd rather spend my $ on something else then keeping rental car. I don't mind wdw transportation at all.

 

[patclairesmom]

My husband and I are heading to WDW in May and staying at POR. We are both 30. I've been to Disney several times (last in 2010) but he has only been once when he was younger. We almost booked at a value resort because of their vibrant themes, but POR seemed to be highly recommended on the boards here, so we are going to stay there.

I originally thought I wanted a Royal Room because of the decor and because I still want that "Disney feel" in our room. We couldn't justify paying nearly 40 dollars more a night just for decor in the room though.

I booked a Standard View room. I have read about both AB and the mansion rooms. Everyone seems to love AB, but the pictures scream "cabin" to me and I just can't get over the fish shower curtain. The mansion rooms seem a little more old ladyish (haha) and "classy" I guess. I feel drawn to them!

I am torn between requesting a mansion room or just seeing where the cards fall. We don't need the murphy bed in the AB rooms since it is just the 2 of us.

I want something that still feels Disney. Distance isn't an issue for us because we have no physical limitations.

Would you recommend the AB rooms or the mansion rooms? I guess I'm just asking which ones you all like better.

Thanks!

Although I have never stayed in the Mansions, I like AB because of the scenery around it. I do like the theming of rooms at AB, but if I was assigned a mansion room, I wouldn't mind since the resort itself is great.

 

[Fommt2]

9 days until we arrive!! We have 3 vet excited girls all fighting over who sleeps on the Murphy bed

 

[SteviesDaddy]

I know this isn't POR specific, but I wanna surprise the fam with a Disney gift basket upon arrival. Anybody have any experience with this service? How is the food treated? If I order a bag of chips n salsa in the basket, will I be left with broken chips? I'm sooo excited, we will be there Aug 17-24. Any pics of gift baskets? When in August will you be there Andre?

 

[deserrai]

Not much to be honest. At last check it was just a choice of floor levels (ground, upper) and asking for a corner room.

Andre

Thank you! I don't really have any requests except not to be on the ground floor, so that will work for me.

 

[gydell]

A few questions...

I am going to have my car with me for the first time while staying on property this coming trip. I have always used buses and monorails on previous trips. How well do GPS systems work at Disney (I ask because one time in Chicago, my GPS was horrible!!)?

How long should I plan on it taking to get from POR to the parks? Is there a lot of traffic before rope drop? How long for parking?

Is it just easier to leave the car at POR and take the bus?? I ask that because I love the freedom of not having to wait for a crowded bus.

Thanks in advance for any help.

We love having our car! We leave early because we want to be early. Disney has everything marked well. We have never needed a GPS there. We just follow the signs.

 

[Canooknic]

9 days until we arrive!! We have 3 vet excited girls all fighting over who sleeps on the Murphy bed

 

[KathleenlovesMickey]

We love having our car! We leave early because we want to be early. Disney has everything marked well. We have never needed a GPS there. We just follow the signs.

We always have a rental car when we visit. The transportation system is great but I feel like it takes to much time away from doing what we really want to be doing. Having a car gives us so much freedom! As far as the cost goes I book way in advance and keep checking to make sure I get the best rate and for these trips the car doesn't have to be fancy.
As far as getting to parks early we always want to be there an hour before park opens. Parking is no problem at that point. I do have to say we never go in the middle of summer and try not to go during spring breaks. I still say getting there early AM is the best way.
Also the area is really marked well. We have used both GPS and just the signs and have had no problem (unless hubby doesn't listen to me then sometimes we have to make a u turn ) but even that isn't a big problem. We did take the bus to DTD it really did take forever but...there is so much construction going on there that parking can be a pain.