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

[Koh1977]

How high off the ground is the murphy bed? It looks sort of precarious in pictures. My kids roll out of bed sometimes.

Hoping to get bed rails for it specifically for that reason. Has anyone used the bed rails on the Murphy bed? Did they work ok? Any pics of it set up that way?

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[Koh1977]

When I booked originally I got the garden view room for $183 a night. I checked yesterday and they had the pool view room for $179 a night, with the Florida resident and passholder discount. I switched to the pool view because I thought the kids would like it better. Our garden view room last year wasn't that great.

Too bad I'm not a FL resident anymore. :-(

Was planning to book garden view with the requests of being close to transportation and a quiet pool...

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[Koh1977]

Wow this ? again lol. No worries. Well this is a hard one to answer, actually. because usually they drop you off in the first available spot they can find. Pick ups however are different and usually fall to the Deluxes are closer and then the moderates and lastly the values. Id say if you don't need google map shots of all the stops then its not too far of a walk. Maybe a 2-3 minutes from pickup spot to security checkpoint where bags get inspected.

thanks for the response, Venom.

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[Koh1977]

What are your options for requests with online check-in?

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[Koh1977]

Ice on Monday and today it's 60 degrees...crazyness!

Historically speaking, are all POR rooms valid for a discount when they come out? Like the 25% off that's going on now...just wondering if the garden view rooms would be discounted then most likely or just pool/preferred...

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[MandiC]

The murphy bed isn't terribly far off the ground, it rests atop a bench and is lower to the ground than the normal beds in the room. I'm not sure how a bedrail would work on it, the mattress is a tight fit in the 'frame' but the 'frame' doesn't come up all the way on the mattress. I wish I would have taken a picture with the murphy bed down so I could explain it better.

 

[DJFan88]

Ice on Monday and today it's 60 degrees...crazyness!

Historically speaking, are all POR rooms valid for a discount when they come out? Like the 25% off that's going on now...just wondering if the garden view rooms would be discounted then most likely or just pool/preferred...

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IMO it's always been that you could get the garden or higher rooms with the discounts, but good luck getting the standard.

 

[TeachTink]

IMO it's always been that you could get the garden or higher rooms with the discounts, but good luck getting the standard.

I booked a Standard room at POR with the discount.

 

[DJFan88]

I booked a Standard room at POR with the discount.

Oh good,then there's hope. The last few times I've had to get garden's and I'm usually right on the reservation as soon as they come out! Same with pins for me.
In fact, right now I have a AAA RO discount for POR since no discount is out yet because of that whole early August before the 15th thing, and I had to get garden. It's okay though.

 

[ajwolfe]

Oh good,then there's hope. The last few times I've had to get garden's and I'm usually right on the reservation as soon as they come out! Same with pins for me.
In fact, right now I have a AAA RO discount for POR since no discount is out yet because of that whole early August before the 15th thing, and I had to get garden. It's okay though.

They didn't even offer me anything other than standard this time. So it's possible to use the discount on standard easy enough.

 

[csg]

What are your options for requests with online check-in?

Choose 2:
-connecting rooms
-ground floor
-highest floor
-corner room
-second floor

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

Hoping to get bed rails for it specifically for that reason. Has anyone used the bed rails on the Murphy bed? Did they work ok? Any pics of it set up that way?

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I just had to unexpectedly stay overnight in a hotel with a 2 year old. I just rolled up a bath towels and stuck them under the fitted sheet. She was fine. You can use a pool noodle too. Just 2 options if you can't get the bed rails or they don't work on the murphy bed.

 

[kansasdisneygal]

Does the time of day that you are arriving affect how well your requests are filled? The reason I ask is because we will be arriving around 11:30pm the night that we fly in. I will be requesting Magnolia Bend, close to the footbridge. Since we are getting there later than most guests checking in that day, will we just get what's left?? Thanks.

 

[Koh1977]

I just had to unexpectedly stay overnight in a hotel with a 2 year old. I just rolled up a bath towels and stuck them under the fitted sheet. She was fine. You can use a pool noodle too. Just 2 options if you can't get the bed rails or they don't work on the murphy bed.

True. Thanks.

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[kappyfamily]

Just an FYI! I checked in yesterday (did online check in) and we took the red eye from Oregon and arrived at 5:15am yesterday into MCO. We picked up our own luggage at baggage claim and made our way to the ME. Shocking I know, but it was empty! We waited on the bus for about 30 minutes, we only had about 10 people on the bus. Which was fine because we were exhausted from a long flight with no sleep. Arrived to POR at 6:45am, and our room was ready! I was shocked. I sent a fax in stating I was willing to pay extra for an early room because I knew we would be exhausted. Also asked for a top floor and corner. Everything was met!

We are in Alligator Bayou bldg 35 right by the west stop. We love it! Nice and quiet. Only had to wait for a bus for about 5 minutes yesterday. Loving it so far! Thank you for all the help!

 

[andrewilley]

Thinking of staying at POR in September for the first time. Any ideas how likely they are to offer free dining then? Thx!

There's a very good chance, as they have done this in previous years, but there's no guarantee of course. It's a good idea to go ahead and make a regular (cancellable) booking in the meantime, and then if an offer gets released switch to it as soon as you hear about it.

What are your options for requests with online check-in?

There are only a few tickbox options, and no free-text entry at all. Make sure that any requests you have are added to your original booking well in advance, and then do Online Checkin. If you want, you can send a fax 3-5 days before you arrive too (see http://www.portorleans.org/room-requests.php for lots more info).

Historically speaking, are all POR rooms valid for a discount when they come out?

It varies, but usually there are some restrictions. Also, sometimes only a very few rooms for some categories are released for discount, whereas others may have plenty of discounted rooms available. Keep looking, and book (or switch your existing non-discount booking) as soon as you see the discounts.

Does the time of day that you are arriving affect how well your requests are filled? The reason I ask is because we will be arriving around 11:30pm the night that we fly in.

If you arrive and just use the 'Ready Room' system, then yes your choices might be limited. This is an ideal case for faxing a few days before you arrive, letting them know that you will be getting to the resort very late in the day and would really appreciate if they could pre-assign you a room (see link above).

Just an FYI! I checked in yesterday (did online check in) and we took the red eye from Oregon and arrived at 5:15am yesterday into MCO. We picked up our own luggage at baggage claim and made our way to the ME. Shocking I know, but it was empty! We waited on the bus for about 30 minutes, we only had about 10 people on the bus. Which was fine because we were exhausted from a long flight with no sleep. Arrived to POR at 6:45am, and our room was ready! I was shocked. I sent a fax in stating I was willing to pay extra for an early room because I knew we would be exhausted. Also asked for a top floor and corner. Everything was met!

Great, glad it all worked out for you, especially during a busy week. Getting a room that early is not guaranteed, but they will always help if they can.

Andre

 

[lovelyvacations]

We are arriving tomorrow, and I am do excited! Question: With all the downtown Disney construction going on, how early should we be at the boat dock at the resort to make our 4:50 reservation at Fulton's tomorrow afternoon? We will have a car, so maybe that's a better option, but I've heard parking is difficult? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

We are arriving tomorrow, and I am do excited! Question: With all the downtown Disney construction going on, how early should we be at the boat dock at the resort to make our 4:50 reservation at Fulton's tomorrow afternoon? We will have a car, so maybe that's a better option, but I've heard parking is difficult? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

I haven't been there with the construction, but whenever I go anywhere by Disney transportation I always give myself an hour. I don't always need it, but I rather be early than panic about being late.Parking has always been a nightmare at DTD. I'm not sure how it will be at that time of day. If you can spare the time to take the boat I would, it is one of my favorite things about POR.

 

[andrewilley]

We are arriving tomorrow, and I am do excited! Question: With all the downtown Disney construction going on, how early should we be at the boat dock at the resort to make our 4:50 reservation at Fulton's tomorrow afternoon? We will have a car, so maybe that's a better option, but I've heard parking is difficult? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

You're right, don't drive as parking is a nightmare at the moment. Allow at least an hour from getting to the boat dock, in case you miss getting on the first boat. Fulton's is very close to the Pleasure Island boat dock though, which will help you as they start using that dock from tomorrow.

Andre

 

[Koh1977]

Just an FYI! I checked in yesterday (did online check in) and we took the red eye from Oregon and arrived at 5:15am yesterday into MCO. We picked up our own luggage at baggage claim and made our way to the ME. Shocking I know, but it was empty! We waited on the bus for about 30 minutes, we only had about 10 people on the bus. Which was fine because we were exhausted from a long flight with no sleep. Arrived to POR at 6:45am, and our room was ready! I was shocked. I sent a fax in stating I was willing to pay extra for an early room because I knew we would be exhausted. Also asked for a top floor and corner. Everything was met! We are in Alligator Bayou bldg 35 right by the west stop. We love it! Nice and quiet. Only had to wait for a bus for about 5 minutes yesterday. Loving it so far! Thank you for all the help!

Garden view room? Post pics when you can!

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