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

[andrewilley]

1) I would really like to stay in one of the Royal Rooms (they look amazing!!) but I have 3 children plus my husband. My question is: My youngest dd who just turned 2 still sleeps with me. Will I need 2 rooms or will she be able to bunk with me since she is under 3?

2) Which building/area should I request to have the movie in the lawn outside my door? I think that would be nice for big sis to take little sis out there for a movie while we get baby wound down.

3) I know the pools are heated but do people actually use them in early January? Does it get hot enough for swimming?

1) You're fine, under 3's don't count towards room occupancy (you might need to select "Infant" in the booking form though, as choosing 2-year-old seems to confuse the system sometimes). You could request a pack'n'play crib, or just bring an air mattress (or as you say, she could share with you and your husband if that's not a problem).

2) Book a Garden View Royal Room and request the Oak Manor movie-courtyard area (mention you'd like to be near the movies so you can watch out for the kids from the room).

3) Florida winter temperatures can be unpredictable, it might be warm enough to swim in January, or it might not. The pool itself is always warm enough for swimming by the way, it's just the walk back to the room dripping-wet that you have to worry about! You'll always find a few hardy Brits or Canadians in there too, laughing in the face of the balmy "cold" Florida weather.

Early morning in Feb 2010, and definitely heated:

If I faxed room preferences in, but nothing was noted on our initial reservation, will it be ok? Should I call and have it added to our reservation?

Sure, what have you got to lose? Have your requests noted on your original reservation first, then do Online Checkin (which has some preference options, but not many; if they don't fit for you, leave them blank). Finally you can fax 3-5 days before arrival if you wish.

FYI for any questioning Murphy bed size....last might my 5'7 daughter slept on it, tonight my 6'3 son traded with her, he loves it!

That's great to know, and goes along with what I've said about the murphy beds being fine for taller than 63" as long as you tend to sleep curled up a bit rather than stretched fully out.

Thank you. I believe one of the CM's was the General Manager-but not positive --but they all need to be commended. It is so reassuring knowing that help is so quick to respond.

The GM's name is Val in case that helps. She is a really nice person and even if it wasn't her who came out to you, I know she would pass messages on to those involved and see that they were given appropriate commendation in their records too.

Andre

 

[ksboyd20]

1) You're fine, under 3's don't count towards room occupancy (you might need to select "Infant" in the booking form though, as choosing 2-year-old seems to confuse the system sometimes). You could request a pack'n'play crib, or just bring an air mattress (or as you say, she could share with you and your husband if that's not a problem).

2) Book a Garden View Royal Room and request the Oak Manor movie-courtyard area (mention you'd like to be near the movies so you can watch out for the kids from the room).

She is a stage 5 clinger and I cannot get her out of my bed, so a pack n play would be pointless. An air mattress for hubby might be a good idea though. LOL

Is the movie court yard area far from busses/restraunt?

One more question: How old do kids have to be without constant adult supervision? My oldest daughter is 15 and middle daughter is 8, would my older daughter be able to take my 8 year old to the main areas without me? (say to fill a mug or grab a snack) And what is the swim alone age limit?

Thank you again for taking time to answer my questions!

 

[Skjhjb]

FYI for any questioning Murphy bed size....last might my 5'7 daughter slept on it, tonight my 6'3 son traded with her, he loves it! Moved the chair to the head of it so the pillow would not slip off since no headboard, could not find a weight limit, he is 180 and no creaky sounds...we will see if he falls off in the night! He slept on the ground for 11 nights at Philmont, so this is heaven to him!
Another great day! Loving POR!

Thanks for this! DS (12) will be sleeping on it....he's currently 5'6", not quite sure of weight.....so by May we could be a tad taller!

 

[andrewilley]

Is the movie court yard area far from busses/restraunt?

One more question: How old do kids have to be without constant adult supervision?

The movie courtyard is in the centre of the river-facing part of Oak Manor (see map on page one, or maybe even better a Google satellite image). There is a bridge very close by that takes you over to the main building & the main bus stop, and another taking you across to the island where the feature swimming pool is located. There is another bus stop on the far side of the building from you (just across the car park) which is also very easy to get to. In short, it's a great location. See also the Oak Manor panorama half-way down this page www.portorleans.org/panoramas-POR-grounds.php which includes the lawn where the movies are shown.

IMHO, there would be no problem with a 15 year old going to the food court or even the swimming pool on her own once you're sure she knows her way around. My 13-year-old will happily go to the shop or food court on her own for example (we insist she has her phone with her though). It would be your call whether it'd be OK for an 8-year-old too, but I would say unless she's a real tearaway, there should not be an issue going with her big sister. A lot of Disney limits (e.g. driving one of the Sea Raycer boats) are set at 12 years.

Andre

 

[Venomhatch]

The movie courtyard is in the centre of the river-facing part of Oak Manor (see map on page one, or maybe even better a Google satellite image). There is a bridge very close by that takes you over to the main building & the main bus stop, and another taking you across to the island where the feature swimming pool is located. There is another bus stop on the far side of the building from you (just across the car park) which is also very easy to get to. In short, it's a great location. See also the Oak Manor panorama half-way down this page www.portorleans.org/panoramas-POR-grounds.php which includes the lawn where the movies are shown.

IMHO, there would be no problem with a 15 year old going to the food court or even the swimming pool on her own once you're sure she knows her way around. My 13-year-old will happily go to the shop or food court on her own for example (we insist she has her phone with her though). It would be your call whether it'd be OK for an 8-year-old too, but I would say unless she's a real tearaway, there should not be an issue going with her big sister. A lot of Disney limits (e.g. driving one of the Sea Raycer boats) are set at 12 years.

Andre

Yeah the Satelite image i have shown here below, Shows the inflatable screen they play the movies on in red, the area where people sit to watch the movie in blue dots, and the path ways to the main bus depot across the bridge in the green path. You can also take the path to get to the food court, giftshop, etc.

 

[OneBadApple]

If they are arriving late evening, why not book a room off property for the night -- something on International Drive perhaps just for the night's sleep and then head off to the World and hit the magic early?

Tom

Thanks again for the suggestion, my sister loves this idea. Do you have any recommendations for an off-site hotel that is pretty close to POR?

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I stayed here last year -- right across the street from DTD ( I was at a conference for 3 days here, switched to GF when conference was over). I walked right across to DTD and took the real Disney buses to the parks, and on transfer day -- I just hoped in a cab for a ten minute/$15 cab ride and went to the GF.

This hotel is really close to POR, and really nice too. I know they run $99 special rates a lot. Otherwise, there are lots of "namebrand" chains on International Drive. It was a long time ago, so I don't remember if I stayed at a Sheraton or what, but if she googles International Drive Orlando Hotels, or looks in Orbitz, I bet she could find something for $75 or so that is clean and safe.

Tom

http://www.buenavistapalace.com/

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

Yeah the Satelite image i have shown here below, Shows the inflatable screen they play the movies on in red, the area where people sit to watch the movie in blue dots, and the path ways to the main bus depot across the bridge in the green path. You can also take the path to get to the food court, giftshop, etc.

Very, very cool, thanks! Getting really excited, the Magic Bands just showed up yesterday!!!!

 

[ksboyd20]

Got it! I booked today so I only have 111 days!! I plan on requesting the movie courtyard. Thank you also to the person who posted the google image! Very helpful!

 

[DonaldDuck77]

60 days!

Online check in done

Hi!

Just poppin' in after a really looooooooong day at work to see whats new.
Just checked MDE again Still no luck on MBs or FP+ ;-(

Sure was hoping ............

What is the difference between the look of a MDE website that has access to magic bands and the one we currently have for November checkins?

 

[alomba11]

Just returned from my first ever 12 day POR royal room super vacation! Loved every minute of it, the staff was wonderful, the grounds were spectacular, every fax request was met! And received pixie dust too! I made my DH who was not happy about going to Disney now wants to go back again next year

Thanks Andre and Venomhatch

Now for the past 2 days I've been singing "here at the riverside" lol

 

[OneBadApple]

I stayed here last year -- right across the street from DTD ( I was at a conference for 3 days here, switched to GF when conference was over). I walked right across to DTD and took the real Disney buses to the parks, and on transfer day -- I just hoped in a cab for a ten minute/$15 cab ride and went to the GF.

This hotel is really close to POR, and really nice too. I know they run $99 special rates a lot. Otherwise, there are lots of "namebrand" chains on International Drive. It was a long time ago, so I don't remember if I stayed at a Sheraton or what, but if she googles International Drive Orlando Hotels, or looks in Orbitz, I bet she could find something for $75 or so that is clean and safe.

Tom

http://www.buenavistapalace.com/

Thank you, Tom. That hotel looks great.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

You are welcome. I debated staying there again on my October trip, but they didn't have a rate deal then and it would have cost me more than CBR, so when you throw in the convenience of Real Disney (get dropped off at park entrance)
buses, as well as $50 per night, Caribbean Beach Resort it is!

Note that Buena Vista Palace does not have an airport shuttle, so if they are flying in, they need to get Mears Transportation, or other, to bring them to the hotel.

Tom

 

[KonaKaiTom]

You can see on the map that they would have a very short distance between Hotel 25 (BVP) and Hotel 15 (POR)

 

[ksboyd20]

And received pixie dust too!

What does pixie dust mean?

 

[Disney Diva Mom]

What does pixie dust mean?

A little Disney Magic. (Unexpected surprises)

 

[rosie49ers80]

Thanks again for the suggestion, my sister loves this idea. Do you have any recommendations for an off-site hotel that is pretty close to POR?

We did this in August. We stayed at the Hampton Inn Orlando/Lake Buena Vista. It was only $80 a night, which worried me at first being from the north east you don't find decent hotels that cheap very often. lol I travel often and am a bit of a hotel snob and I really enjoyed it. It was clean, comfortable and very close to restaurants and a mile or 2 from Walmart. There was an outdoor pool and it was in use but we went to Walmart & dinner. Then to bed nice an early to check in first thing at POR. The complimentary breakfast was good too with Mickey Waffles. Actually now that I think about it, our room keys were Monster Ink Univ ID cards. Nice touch.

 

[emsmommy323]

Ohhh, that satellite picture is great! There are alot more trees around the mansions than I had previously thought! Are the rooms quiet?

 

[OneBadApple]

We did this in August. We stayed at the Hampton Inn Orlando/Lake Buena Vista. It was only $80 a night, which worried me at first being from the north east you don't find decent hotels that cheap very often. lol I travel often and am a bit of a hotel snob and I really enjoyed it. It was clean, comfortable and very close to restaurants and a mile or 2 from Walmart. There was an outdoor pool and it was in use but we went to Walmart & dinner. Then to bed nice an early to check in first thing at POR. The complimentary breakfast was good too with Mickey Waffles. Actually now that I think about it, our room keys were Monster Ink Univ ID cards. Nice touch.

Thanks, for the suggestion. I will pass it along.

 

[justakrazymom]

Here! Can't believe we are back. We are wayyyy back in building 36 but got a great ground floor corner room. Close to the North bus stop. We've already seen a nice black racer snake lol. Oh we have a working fridge ( did not request one)