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

[lillykat]

Very curious about this as well. Any updates n the roof work? Any pictures?

 

[ToyStory3]

Hi - new to this thread. We are booked for BCR CL for September. We are a family of four. We are thinking of switching to POR especially if free dining comes out we will save a lot of money and looks like a gorgeous resort. The only part we are struggling with is giving up the 5 minute walk into Epcot.

Just wondering which rooms are your favorite and why. The royal rooms look beautiful. Are they relatively close to the buses and food court? I see them on the map but the maps at WDW can be very deceiving. Things that look close can be quite a hike. Just trying to get a feel for everything.

Thanks!!!

 

[zabache]

It is me and my 2 sons. I looked at the photos and didn't feel that it was for girls only. I know my first grader will love the fireworks on the headboard. We did have a LM room booked at AOA at one point and that was shot down really quickly for our trip last August. Any other thoughts? I don't want to have them be disappointed.

Don't get me wrong. I didn't mean my comment in a bad way. I myself am staying in a RR with my DS that is 2 1/2 and my DD that is 10 along with my DH. Never seen the room in person but it looks gorgeous. My DH also didn't like the mermaid room but did like the RR theme. I'm pretty sure that if they're Disney fans they will like it. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Sue M]

Hi - new to this thread. We are booked for BCR CL for September. We are a family of four. We are thinking of switching to POR especially if free dining comes out we will save a lot of money and looks like a gorgeous resort. The only part we are struggling with is giving up the 5 minute walk into Epcot.

Just wondering which rooms are your favorite and why. The royal rooms look beautiful. Are they relatively close to the buses and food court? I see them on the map but the maps at WDW can be very deceiving. Things that look close can be quite a hike. Just trying to get a feel for everything.

Thanks!!!

If you want the Royal rooms, I'd request a location close to the foot bridge. We stay in the other non Royal mansion buildings, and I always request a location close to the foot bridge there, the Old Man Island bridge. That is very central, and closest to main pool as well.

 

[Gonzofam]

We stayed in POR-AB back in late Jan./early Feb. 2012, and we LOVED it! I don't have a single negative thing to say about it. And we're from the New Orleans area.

I thought the rooms were adorable, and my 3 young boys loved it. My older two still talk about the fold-down bed! They loved sleeping on it! They were 5 & 3 at the time (my other was just under 2, and he doesn't remember anything LOL).

What I enjoyed, in addition to the food, was how you could "escape" the hubbub of the parks into the quiet and serenity of the POR grounds, especially since my oldest son is special needs.

We had a ground-floor room, and we never heard any noise from those above us. So that wasn't ever a problem. And we even had CMs come by and check on how my son was doing. Oh, and they accommodated us needing adjoining rooms, and never once made it seem like it was a big deal or just couldn't be done.

We're just now planning our next trip, which will be in early Feb. 2015, and we will most likely be staying in a villa at AK (us + in-laws is just easier that way than having 2 separate rooms). However, we will indeed stay at the POR again in the future. It just felt like our home away from home.

 

[Skjhjb]

I haven't read back through the whole thread to see if this had been asked, so forgive me if it has!

About how long is the boat ride from POR to DTD?

And a second part....how often does the boat leave POR?

Just trying to sort out the best way to get to all our ADRs that are out at other resorts! For the most part we will probably leave from a park to dinner, but one day we are booking a photo session with event photography, so we will want to change and pretty up a bit back at POR. We will be doing it at BC, a few hours before our Cape May dinner, so we want to get there in good time

Thanks!

 

[mrsparker13]

Do they also do the opening show when EMH starts or only at the regular park opening time?

There will be a brief opening ceremony for the EMH opening but not the "full" show. Still worth getting there early for though.

 

[keahgirl8]

I haven't read back through the whole thread to see if this had been asked, so forgive me if it has! About how long is the boat ride from POR to DTD? And a second part....how often does the boat leave POR? Just trying to sort out the best way to get to all our ADRs that are out at other resorts! For the most part we will probably leave from a park to dinner, but one day we are booking a photo session with event photography, so we will want to change and pretty up a bit back at POR. We will be doing it at BC, a few hours before our Cape May dinner, so we want to get there in good time Thanks!

I'm about to get on it, so I will let you know! I did have to wait in a pretty long line though, so you will need to be prepared for that possibility.

 

[UpstateMick]

How is the new roof on the Oak Mansion progressing? We have a pool view room reserved for 5/27-6/3 was wondering if we would be impacted

Just returned from a 10 day stay in a RR in Oak Manor. There is an abundance of work going on at the resort around Oak Manor. We had a pool view, second floor, and there was a large canopy over the side entrance by the pool with a worker with a stop sign who stood there all day. Around the back there was a LOT of construction going on. Canopies, workers, noise. Our pool view, RR was VERY expensive during Presidents week, and although we had a great trip, the construction was DEFINITELY noticeable whenever we were around during the day. They are also doing some noisy cement work around the building as well. This was our first stay at POR.

 

[UpstateMick]

Hi - new to this thread. We are booked for BCR CL for September. We are a family of four. We are thinking of switching to POR especially if free dining comes out we will save a lot of money and looks like a gorgeous resort. The only part we are struggling with is giving up the 5 minute walk into Epcot.

Just wondering which rooms are your favorite and why. The royal rooms look beautiful. Are they relatively close to the buses and food court? I see them on the map but the maps at WDW can be very deceiving. Things that look close can be quite a hike. Just trying to get a feel for everything.

Thanks!!!

Just returned from a 10 day stay in a RR. DD (9) really liked it, but it is definitely a one-time stay. Not overly impressed. Oak Manor is a little bit of a walk to main area and busses. We had a very average experience with the busses at POR. The staff and people were great, but the busses definitely were standing room only 2/3 of the time. It was the WORST bus service of any moderate we have stayed at, hands down. Also, do NOT rely on the bus to DT Disney for anything. It is hit or miss, and they main dock downtown is being closed, for good, any day now (thats what one of the boat drivers said) so I don't think this is going to be something you can rely on in the near future.

 

[SammiL]

Hi there! My next trip to WDW will be in early October to checkout the Food and Wine festival. I'm super excited and really want to stay at POR but am waiting for AP discounts to come out for Oct. Should i be concerned about rooms being all booked up before discounts are announced? Is it best to book now and then rebook later with a promotion. Any advice is much appreciated!

 

[CanadianPaco]

Also, do NOT rely on the bus to DT Disney for anything. It is hit or miss, and they main dock downtown is being closed, for good, any day now (thats what one of the boat drivers said) so I don't think this is going to be something you can rely on in the near future.

Does this mean there won't be a boat to DTD? There is more than one dock, isn't there? We were planning on taking the boat to DTD because of the reported craziness for parking there.....

 

[dansdad]

Does this mean there won't be a boat to DTD?

No.

There is more than one dock, isn't there?

Yes.

 

[UpstateMick]

Does this mean there won't be a boat to DTD? There is more than one dock, isn't there? We were planning on taking the boat to DTD because of the reported craziness for parking there.....

No, they are still running, but the dock in downtown at the Rainforest Cafe is going to be closed during the Disney Springs construction.

 

[keahgirl8]

I forgot to look at the time! Dang it! I will try to remember next time. I will guess 15-20 minutes by the time you wait for it to load. Just keep in mind that there could be a line.

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

Hi - new to this thread. We are booked for BCR CL for September. We are a family of four. We are thinking of switching to POR especially if free dining comes out we will save a lot of money and looks like a gorgeous resort. The only part we are struggling with is giving up the 5 minute walk into Epcot.

Just wondering which rooms are your favorite and why. The royal rooms look beautiful. Are they relatively close to the buses and food court? I see them on the map but the maps at WDW can be very deceiving. Things that look close can be quite a hike. Just trying to get a feel for everything.

Thanks!!!

I love POR. I will be staying here for the fourth time. Just like at any of the resorts some rooms are closer to certain things and further from others. If you decide to stay here you and want to be close to the lobby you should request a room close to the foot bridge to the main lobby. If you want to be closer to the main pool than the RR aren't going to be possible. They are the 2 mansions farthest from the main pool. Last time I stayed here I was in Magnolia Terrace and it was a 5 minute walk to the food court and about 2 minutes to the pool. I stayed at the YC last year and it took me at least that long to walk over to the BC to grab breakfast.

 

[zabache]

Just returned from a 10 day stay in a RR in Oak Manor. There is an abundance of work going on at the resort around Oak Manor. We had a pool view, second floor, and there was a large canopy over the side entrance by the pool with a worker with a stop sign who stood there all day. Around the back there was a LOT of construction going on. Canopies, workers, noise. Our pool view, RR was VERY expensive during Presidents week, and although we had a great trip, the construction was DEFINITELY noticeable whenever we were around during the day. They are also doing some noisy cement work around the building as well. This was our first stay at POR.

Did cm mention when the construction should be over?

 

[andrewilley]

The only part we are struggling with is giving up the 5 minute walk into Epcot.

The royal rooms look beautiful. Are they relatively close to the buses and food court? I see them on the map but the maps at WDW can be very deceiving. Things that look close can be quite a hike.

The two 'Royal' buildings are generally the most remote of any of the mansion buildings. However that said, as these buildings are pretty big (256 rooms in each) they each have some rooms that are actually very conveniently located too - ask for rooms situated close to the footbridge that leads directly over to the main building.

I know what you mean about that five-minute walk to Epcot. The couple of times I’ve stayed there I found that was the biggest benefit of the BC (even more so than Stormalong Bay).

About how long is the boat ride from POR to DTD?
And a second part....how often does the boat leave POR?

The boat ride takes about 20 mins (with a stop at POFQ on the way). The boats run every 20 minutes from 10am, and then every 10 minutes after 4pm up until 11pm.

Is it best to book now and then rebook later with a promotion.

Generally, yes - you've really got nothing to lose that way, and at least you know you've got the room type that you wanted. You can always cancel your initial booking if the later offers don't seem good enough (or don’t include the room category that you want), or keep it if you still want to go anyway.

Did cm mention when the construction should be over?

Construction work on the roof at POR's Oak Manor is expected to last until June/July (in phases, so only one part of the building will be closed at any given time). Work is only taking place during the day.

The work on the Downtown Disney ferry boat dock (near to the Rainforest Cafe) is expected to be completed in the fall, and the Port Orleans boats will be using the Pleasure Island dock in the meantime.

Andre

 

[DJFan88]

Just returned from a 10 day stay in a RR. DD (9) really liked it, but it is definitely a one-time stay. Not overly impressed. Oak Manor is a little bit of a walk to main area and busses. We had a very average experience with the busses at POR. The staff and people were great, but the busses definitely were standing room only 2/3 of the time. It was the WORST bus service of any moderate we have stayed at, hands down. Also, do NOT rely on the bus to DT Disney for anything. It is hit or miss, and they main dock downtown is being closed, for good, any day now (thats what one of the boat drivers said) so I don't think this is going to be something you can rely on in the near future.

I just want to mention that staying in the RR if you did not walk over to the main bus stop you probably were at the last bus stop where the busses are usually pretty full. At least that is also what I found when I was in Magnolia and close to what I think was the last bus stop. Some times the busses were even full when they got to us and went by.
I feel like being at a closer bus stop will be beneficial which is why I'm requesting a bayou room this time closer to the 2nd stop maybe. I know it is a little walk, but I think others are more likely to request close to main bldg., and I actually enjoy the walk, its' part of what I love about the resort, just being out there in all that beauty. Plus, we were on the other side of Magnolia anyway, toward the back lot, so that was just a winding building walk.

 

[dworldlovers]

Checking in Saturday for our fifth visit to POR and can't wait!!! Sent fax for room request this morning and we're looking forward to getting out of this snow and cold for awhile!!