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

[MaceysMom]

Only 10 days to go! I can't wait to stay at this beautiful resort!

We have booked a Royal Room and I was going to fax a request for the Parterre building closest to the second bridge so we can be by the South Depot bus stop.

I read another post that said that the mansion bus stop was quicker and less busy than the South Depot for their stay and has me reconsidering my request. Any thoughts?

We are staying 9/13-9/17 so I'm hoping the crowds are going to be low anyway.

 

[germ539]

You do quite enough with all your patience with us asking the same questions over and over again

 

[carmelhp]

I still cannot get to wrist band nor card. Could it be that we have a third ticket for MVMCP because my husband is going to join us on the last night only and then, board on the Fantasy with us? (He could not get the full 19 days of vacations, so he joins us later on.)

It keeps telling me that I have to link all my family and friends, but since my husband will be seen as a "guest" for the very last night, I cannot link him any way. He is not, on our reservation. This is how our T.A. worded it.

So, it shows that I have 2 tickects linked to my name for the MVMCP. Could the computer not "like" that?

Hopefully, we can get the band at some point.


Poussière de fée!

We have me, my wife and DD9, same package reservation made all at the same time, and after 3 calls with Disney IT support still cannot link everyone in MDE. It has to be designed by the worst software team on the planet. Considering the amount of money that flows through the site you would expect it would be top notch, but nooooo.

 

[SFunaro]

Hey guys,

This will be my first trip to POR and also my first disney trip for our 3 year old boy (almost 4). We are booked for a standard room and i am curious if there any tips for check in requests or things he would like. We also have a 9 year old girl with us but she is far easier to please

Thanks for any help

 

[TooBoyz4us]

You do quite enough with all your patience with us asking the same questions over and over again lol, why just 2 weeks from now I will be asking about the faxes again! Don't tell me where to find the template now cuz I will 4get!

Agreed!

I am 2 months out and I personalized my fax last night! Nothing like obsessive planning huh?
By the way, the link to the fax template is located in Venom's signature

 

[Venomhatch]

Agreed!

I am 2 months out and I personalized my fax last night! Nothing like obsessive planning huh?
By the way, the link to the fax template is located in Venom's signature

Thank you I am just not feeling to up to par today. Little run down, I guess. But Thank you all for everything. We really appreciate the comments!

 

[TooBoyz4us]

I still cannot get to wrist band nor card. Could it be that we have a third ticket for MVMCP because my husband is going to join us on the last night only and then, board on the Fantasy with us? (He could not get the full 19 days of vacations, so he joins us later on.)

It keeps telling me that I have to link all my family and friends, but since my husband will be seen as a "guest" for the very last night, I cannot link him any way. He is not, on our reservation. This is how our T.A. worded it.

So, it shows that I have 2 tickects linked to my name for the MVMCP. Could the computer not "like" that?

Hopefully, we can get the band at some point.

Poussière de fée!

I am 60 days out TODAY, checking in Nov 2nd. I do not have the option for magic bands either. I was so excited to be able to wake up and do this today too

Could it be that they are not going to extend POR's testing beyond Oct 31st ?

 

[andrewilley]

Good luck to anyone checking in for the next 4 weeks. at least. CM's new to the system and Guests with no clue will result in long lines. Pack plenty of patience, please.

It could be a little manic I'm sure! Hopefully the MM+ support team have sent lots of people over to help for the next few weeks.

If the more technically savvy DIS folks are having the problems that they are, heaven help the one-time retiree visitors and their families who don't even have a computer, let alone a smart phone (reminds me of "car phone? We didn't even have a house phone..."). They are going to need so much hand-holding it is going to take forever.

Personally, I have felt for a while that they are trying to run before they can walk. The RFID-based KttW cards for door-locks, charging, park admission, etc. are really only just about stable enough to be considered as being out of their testing period. In a sensible world, that process should have been fully completed (including all park entrances converted to RFID readers) before even thinking about starting to issue Magic Bands. Then, once the Magic Band system was fully stable (and only then) would have been the right time to start testing FP+.

Piling three new technologies on top of each other is just asking for trouble IMHO. And I speak from an IT support background, having been involved in large roll-out programs.

Andre

 

[BDL]

Piling three new technologies on top of each other is just asking for trouble IMHO. And I speak from an IT support background, having been involved in large roll-out programs.

Andre

Ditto. I have a similar background. And the more I read about these "advances", the more I could just see all of the logistical dilemmas being left at the feet of the point of contact CM's. I believe things work better compartmentalized with good communication between groups.

 

[DonaldDuck77]

I am 60 days out TODAY, checking in Nov 2nd. I do not have the option for magic bands either. I was so excited to be able to wake up and do this today too

Could it be that they are not going to extend POR's testing beyond Oct 31st ?

What about FP+?

 

[DisneyAndrew]

I just wanted to throw in my two cents on the MyMagic+ monstrosity. I agree with Andre and some others that the rollout seemed to be too fast for its own good. On the business side, I can certainly imagine that Disney saw far too many dollar signs to slow it down.

Anyway, here is my limited experience. I waited with great anticipation to see if POR would be part of the FastPass+ and MagicBand testing during our stay (which is coming up in 4 days ). As soon as I read Andre's post that we were going to be included, I customized my MagicBands and made my FastPass+ selections. All seemed well until I never received my MagicBands. I got a shipping e-mail from Disney stating that they had been shipped. However, for over a week I kept checking the tracking and UPS kept reporting that the package had not been received by them yet. So, it appears that my package was lost. I ended up having to call on Saturday to have them cancel them and place the order again. Now, they are supposed to be at the resort when I check in.

One other thing I wish they would do is provide more information to their certified travel agents. My TA has been excellent in assisting me with everything, but she is learning much of this through myself and her other clients. In fact, there have been several things I have learned from you guys on here that she had not heard before.

Sorry to ramble, but I wanted to share. Thanks again for all the great contributions!

 

[Teri1]

We just checked in no wait, tested our Magic Bands and were upgraded from a standard room to a Royal Room garden view in Parterre Place. We are happy and ready to enjoy our visit. The CM's have been very nice and helpful.

 

[emilyhuff]

So i am obsessed with breakfast foods and I saw Andre updated the menu on the portorleans.org website to include a "breakfast flatbread" WHAT IS THIS!!!!!! does anyone know what is on it?

 

[SFunaro]

Well no check in tips coming but...

I set up some fast pass+ reservations but i could not find any parades or fireworks which was disappointing. I called and they said since the time we were going was not very busy they may not be available. I was hoping to reserve for fantasmic so I could eat somewhere besides momma rosa

 

[Tikicristi]

Hello,
We just booked a last-minute trip to WDW for Oct. 18-22 to take advantage of free dining. This will only be our 2nd time at Disney (went 2 years ago and it rained for 48 hours and our dog died while we were gone, so needless to say, it wasn't the best trip. Hoping for better luck this time!) and this will be our 1st time staying at POR (stayed at POP last time and liked it a lot except for the torrential downpours).

It's me and DH and DD age 7 - she doesn't know we booked it, going to try and surprise her this time.

A couple of questions about POR:

1. My Disney travel agent got us a Princess Room with pool view at POR - I am not sure what that means. I am not seeing that listed on the diagrams. Are these rooms far from the main area with food court, etc.?

2. She requested a fridge for our room - I have medical needs (type 1 diabetes, use insulin that needs to be refrigerated). What are the chances I'll get a fridge? Not sure what we'll do if we can't as my meds do need to stay cold.

3. Is there a slide in the main pool? I don't see it in photos, only the slide for POFQ. How far is it to walk to POFQ to use that pool?

Thanks for the help.
Cristi

 

[andrewilley]

1. My Disney travel agent got us a Princess Room with pool view at POR - I am not sure what that means. I am not seeing that listed on the diagrams. Are these rooms far from the main area with food court, etc.?

2. She requested a fridge for our room - I have medical needs (type 1 diabetes, use insulin that needs to be refrigerated). What are the chances I'll get a fridge? Not sure what we'll do if we can't as my meds do need to stay cold.

3. Is there a slide in the main pool? I don't see it in photos, only the slide for POFQ. How far is it to walk to POFQ to use that pool?

How refreshing to get some questions which don't include Magic Bands or FastPass+ ! I hope your next trip is better than your last one turned out.

1) That would be a Pool View Royal Guest Room. If you look on the map in the first post, they are almost all located on the southern side of Oak Manor and are very conveniently located for getting to the main buildings via a footbridge, and also for the East Depot bus stop. In short, a very nice location indeed, and your daughter should love all the royal/princess details.

2) Currently about 50% of POR rooms have working fridges, but if your request is for medical needs then you should definitely get one. By then, the situation will hopefully have got a lot better anyway.

3) Yes there's a slide at the main pool at POR, and it's twice as long and a bit faster/twistier than the one at French Quarter. There isn't a slide at the quiet pool right next to your room though (understandably enough, as it's meant to be a quiet pool).

Andre

 

[KELLY]

We were put of the testing group just came back we had only one issue with our MB. Basically one day it wouldn't allow us to change our times. Had something to do with the Wp&f option on our tickets. They system was using our WP days against our tickets. But we never had issues getting in it was just with the dme sight. We used them for everything including ME. So one problem over 12 days isn't bad. The manger fixed it for us.

Just make sure you print everything off the concierge gives you. Whatever he did didn't work at the park but I had the printed paper so the let me on. I will say the cm kept saying I was late. UM no the paper said That he changed it. LIke I'm really trying to scam you out of a FP for Peter Pan lady.

 

[merentha]

We just checked in no wait, tested our Magic Bands and were upgraded from a standard room to a Royal Room garden view in Parterre Place. We are happy and ready to enjoy our visit. The CM's have been very nice and helpful.

You had a standard normal room and got upgraded to a Royal Room?!?

 

[Venomhatch]

How refreshing to get some questions which don't include Magic Bands or FastPass+ ! I hope your next trip is better than your last one turned out.

Andre

Well you knew once they came out it was going to be a big deal, even by the traffic of questions before they even came out there was ton of questions and MB Stalkers. I was a MB detective even for a while trying to track down everything there was to know about them from the point Mr Skaggs announced them.

 

[Mom2six]

It could be a little manic I'm sure! Hopefully the MM+ support team have sent lots of people over to help for the next few weeks.

If the more technically savvy DIS folks are having the problems that they are, heaven help the one-time retiree visitors and their families who don't even have a computer, let alone a smart phone (reminds me of "car phone? We didn't even have a house phone..."). They are going to need so much hand-holding it is going to take forever.

Personally, I have felt for a while that they are trying to run before they can walk. The RFID-based KttW cards for door-locks, charging, park admission, etc. are really only just about stable enough to be considered as being out of their testing period. In a sensible world, that process should have been fully completed (including all park entrances converted to RFID readers) before even thinking about starting to issue Magic Bands. Then, once the Magic Band system was fully stable (and only then) would have been the right time to start testing FP+.

Piling three new technologies on top of each other is just asking for trouble IMHO. And I speak from an IT support background, having been involved in large roll-out programs.

Andre

I completely agree - magic bands should have been tested first, and then after all the kinks were worked out, the CMs were used to magic bands, the repeat guests were used to magic bands, and they had become standard, then start testing FP+. Less troubles, smoother change over, happier guests and workers.