Port Orleans Riverside Q&A Thread 2013, Part Two [Thread now FULL and closed]

[andrewilley]

Sorry, been out for a few hours and I find there's about six more pages here!!!

I was able to choose my bands today but still cant book any FP+ after 9/28. Is that the cut off date for POR?

I am having the same issue I can not get fast passes for 9/29 to 10/5

I got an email this afternoon. Apparently stays are being added into the new systems gradually, starting from 3rd Sept arrivals, so not everyone may be able to customise bands from day one. Officially guests should be waiting until they get their invitation email, and if the customise or FastPass+ options still don't work after that, contact the Reservations Center for advice. This may explain the 28th September cut-off issue reported here (and also by guests on my own site).

By the way, technically the current "test" window for POR runs until 31st October - however the expectation is that unless anything major goes wrong, it will simply continue normally after then.

I am currently booked in a FD RGR but am still trying for a preferred room. I can switch to a FD GV and save $400. Location is more important than view but $400 is a lot of money!

Some RGRs are close to a bridge over to the main building, but in general terms they are amongst the further away parts of the resort (see the map in post #1). Whichever room type (other than Preferred) you are in, possible distances vary wildly - the next best overall choices for location being RGR Pool View and then regular River View.

So unless you particularly want the RGR décor, I would definitely switch and save the money and just put in a request to be as close as possible to the main building (mentioning that you were unable to book Preferred at the time as the system would not let you).

you want to know why I'm excited????

Because I check into POR tomorrow for our first ever WDW trip!!!!

Now THAT is the right attitude.

Question: Where should I expect to be with a pool view? I'd really like to be as close to the main building and main pool as possible, but not sure where a pool view booking category will have me.

RGR Pool View rooms are almost all in Oak Manor (with just two in Parterre Place) and are all very nicely located for access to the main building via a footbridge. Some of them are about as close as some of the Preferred rooms in fact. See the map in the first post, and also my building floorplans via the links on www.portorleans.org/maps-and-directions.php.

I have shipped things back home from a resort before but had my own box that I used to ship things there.
This time I won't have a box but will want to ship some things home before we go on a cruise after our stay.
Can I get a box to pack up from the resort?

I'm sure the resort can help you with packaging materials if you ask them nicely. Either ask the front desk, or at the store which gets regular deliveries of stock which must come in outer cardboard boxes.

I wanted to say thanks again to Andre, venomhatch, and all of the others who put so much time into helping people like me. Maybe someday we'll all run into each other.

You never know! I'm glad the info I can provide is helpful, and thanks everyone for the understanding that I can't always post everything I know immediately.

I just spoke to someone at disney about the magicbands. She is telling me that when I arrive, Oct 18, that it will still be in the testing phase. Now I am really confused.

See info at the start of this post.

We have setup our fastpass+ and magicbands and my husband and I were wondering if since the magicbands get mailed to us and they are our park tickets can we just go from the airport to Hollywood studios and use it without first going to the resort?

Now that's an interesting question! I'm guessing currently not until the resort has validated your arrival, but I don't know for sure.

But I can't see where to order customized bands.
I called and a cast member said I will get an email if we are in the magic band test. I'm confused!!!

Try doing online checkin again (just skip through any entries that you've already made) and see if the option becomes available.

I guess if I have to I have to but can we NOT do online check in and still get Magic Bands?

You will still get Magic Bands (I think everyone will after 3rd Sept) but you will only get generic grey ones. The option to customise colours and add your names is only available for those who have done online checkin.

Personally I'd suggest doing online checkin anyway - you can always select the option to prefer to try to have you room requests met instead of just getting the first room available when you arrive.

We have paid for a Garden view. I would like to be close to the parking lot, close to the main building for drinks and in the mansions. Which building and room section would you suggest?

I wouldn't really suggest asking for a specific room or section, just ask for what you actually want - i.e. "close to a parking lot, close to the main building, mansion building". Put those requests in your order of preference, so they know which part is more important for you. See www.portorleans.org/room-requests.php for more info.

Andre

 

[sibesx2]

We haven't made any sort of room request yet bc we just switched from POFQ yesterday. I didn't want to do online check in because we typically arrive around 6am, go check in, ask them if we can wait for a room in whatever section we want, get our tickets and wait for our room. We have had much better luck getting rooms in the sections we want vs doing online check in. I guess if I have to I have to but can we NOT do online check in and still get Magic Bands?

I was able to customize my Magic Bands last night without doing online check in. We arrive Sept. 7.

 

[emilyhuff]

So theres a shot starting Sept 28th it will be INVITE ONLY on the MB and FP+??

 

[andrewilley]

So theres a shot starting Sept 28th it will be INVITE ONLY on the MB and FP+??

Please read what I wrote, everyone will be emailed (or some other attempt to contact). However ALL guests arriving after 3rd Sept should get the new bands, but they may only be added into the system in batches, so please just be a little patient.

I was able to customize my Magic Bands last night without doing online check in. We arrive Sept. 7.

Excellent, sounds like good news, I wasn't expecting that to happen.

Andre

 

[lmhall2000]

I was not able to customize Magic Bands until I went in and edited my online check in process...once I did that, there was magically a new section that said "Customize Magic Bands"...I went in, we all chose different colors and then we had fun with the names on the bands Dh will be known as Grumpy, my daughter will be known as Patient 0, my son wanted something to do with rowing, so I just put his rowing team name on it...I used my favorite bible verse..and my other daughter was original with her name and favorite number..than I began to fret that maybe we should not have had so much fun personalizing! Surely, they did not mean for us to put our names on them!

 

[ldoogie]

I know you're all excited to talk about FP+ and Magic Bands, but you want to know why I'm excited????

Because I check into POR tomorrow for our first ever WDW trip!!!! Yahooo!!!!

Woohoo!!!! That is so exciting! Nothing like the first trip there!!! Have SO much fun!

 

[ALD85]

Are plain colors the only option? I thought it was rumored you could pay for designed ones?

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Are plain colors the only option? I thought it was rumored you could pay for designed ones?

ll

You will be able to get overlays and "Bandits" at the Merchandise stores

 

[ALD85]

ll

You will be able to get overlays and "Bandits" at the Merchandise stores

I've seen those, in referring to these:

 

[Mobley5]

Checking in Sept 19. I was able to customize bands within minutes of doing online check-in.

 

[rspencer38]

If I'm staying at POR Sept 11-18 should I be getting MB? I have yet to hear anything from Disney about this. Should I check-in?

 

[Gorechick]

I have shipped things back home from a resort before but had my own box that I used to ship things there.
This time I won't have a box but will want to ship some things home before we go on a cruise after our stay.
Can I get a box to pack up from the resort?
Tell me how that works

Thanks

You can ask for a box and packing materials at Fulton's gift shop however, ask well before you need the box. They are harder to get as the weekend approaches with many people checking out. If it is all Disney merchandise that you have bought on property, they can ship it from the gift shop. If you have personal items (including Ponchos, drink mugs, etc...) then you can ship it from concierge. For a medium size, medium weight box it was about $20 via UPS last summer.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

I've seen those, in referring to these:

Yes, and you can also get little pins like for crocs to add to the bands

 

[lmhall2000]

If I'm staying at POR Sept 11-18 should I be getting MB? I have yet to hear anything from Disney about this. Should I check-in?

As long as you have tickets with your package, you should be able to do all the Magic Bands/Fast Passes online..it only worked for me after I went in and edited my check in..I had checked in about a week ago, but no MB symbol popped up until I went in and edited it..

 

[rspencer38]

When I click on MB it keeps asking me to link. However, my account shows my entire package (resort, dining, tickets, reservations )

 

[mom_of_3_mousketeers]

When I click on MB it keeps asking me to link. However, my account shows my entire package (resort, dining, tickets, reservations )

If you checked in, redo check in. If you haven't, check in. The option to customize will show up. I had to redo check in. I leave on the 14th.

 

[merentha]

So if I do online check in now to get MB now. Can I put in the "Mansion Building, First floor, close to pool" request?

If I online check in can I still fax a room request 10 days before arrival and have it possibly acted on?

Its my families first trip to WDW so we are just a tad excited.

 

[STITCH826]

We are checking in on Sept 6th. I had to call guest services today because my MDE is VERY messed up. The CM I spoke with in their IT department said she has to go to someone higher than her because it is that messed up. She also said that POR was selected as part of the MB testing. She also stated that people will be notified 17 days before check in, and that people SHOULD NOT do anything until you hear from them. Then she guaranteed me that someone will contact me via email as far as my MDE issues. So now, I wait.
Thank you, to everyone, for ALL the info on this site! It's wonderful.

 

[ALD85]

We are checking in on Sept 6th. I had to call guest services today because my MDE is VERY messed up. The CM I spoke with in their IT department said she has to go to someone higher than her because it is that messed up. She also said that POR was selected as part of the MB testing. She also stated that people will be notified 17 days before check in, and that people SHOULD NOT do anything until you hear from them. Then she guaranteed me that someone will contact me via email as far as my MDE issues. So now, I wait.
Thank you, to everyone, for ALL the info on this site! It's wonderful.

Mine is too, has been from the start. I talked to IT months ago and someone "higher up" was supposed to fix it. It never happened. They said it was all cosmetics anyway, so I hope it doesn't effect my MB.

 

[STITCH826]

Mine is too, has been from the start. I talked to IT months ago and someone "higher up" was supposed to fix it. It never happened. They said it was all cosmetics anyway, so I hope it doesn't effect my MB.

Oh don't tell me that!! I can't check in online because we are all not showing up. Plus, my DH doesn't have park tickets listed, BUT my DD11 has 2 listed in her name!! Ughhhh.