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

[andrewilley]

Andre - you have the general placement correct of the stairs, vending, and sidewalks.

However, the room numbers are incorrect. I.E., you have our room as 8511, and it is actually 8611. Funny, I was looking for our room number and it was not on the map. I almost went back to check in to see if they made a mistake, but we plodded along and found it.

Oops, I'll have to check that. It's all based on calculated and lookup fields, so it SHOULD be right, maybe I messed up a calculation somewhere?

[Odd, 8511 looks correct on the map. The Magnolia Terrace ground floor rooms should be numbered 8501-8612, with 8501 and 8612 being either side of the elevator passageway, facing toward the parking-lot). 8611 should be the next one along from 5612. I'll check more against other sources when I get home]

Andre

 

[ohnowewontgo]

We returned from POR on Thursday and today I received an email survey from the resort. Is this a common thing, or do you think we received it due to the housekeeping concerns we had? It was very detailed and allowed for feedback regarding the check in process, rooms, food court, shops, transportation, housekeeping, and recreation. I felt glad that I was given the opportunity to provide detailed and honest feedback. It makes me feel like they care about making changes to reflect the needs of their guests

We got a survey about POR after our last vacation. It asked a lot of questions, and I was able to specify each tiny problem we had with our visit. We got feedback afterwards, and they apologized about a few things. It was kinda awesome. It made me feel better.

When we stayed at All Star Movies two years ago, we had several annoyances. We never got a survey, so I contacted Disney direct about it and explained what we experienced. They apologized profusely and wanted more specifics so corrective action could be taken.


And don't take it the wrong way....we're not the "Negative Nancy" complaining type. There were just several things at ASM that ruined Disney Magic for us for a few minutes.

 

[ohnowewontgo]

(I must have the early morning sillies. I literally laughed out loud.)

I did too....lol.

 

[Missytara]

Oops, I'll have to check that. It's all based on calculated and lookup fields, so it SHOULD be right, maybe I messed up a calculation somewhere?

[Odd, 8511 looks correct on the map. The Magnolia Terrace ground floor rooms should be numbered 8501-8612, with 8501 and 8612 being either side of the elevator passageway, facing toward the parking-lot). 8611 should be the next one along from 5612. I'll check more against other sources when I get home]

Andre

I should add we are facing the parking lot; I am looking on the wrong side.

 

[Dittz]

New question. For Preplanning purposes what is considered a weekend and what is considered a weekday at Disney. Do they count Friday as a weekend as I know some hotels do.

 

[mamattorney]

We just got back from a 6 night stay and had a great time.

We are a family of 5, so knew we would be in AB. We had a pool view reservation. I sent a fax requesting a first floor room close to the main building, with building 18 as our first choice and 16 as our second choice. We received room 1624, a first floor corner (so nice because we didn't even ask!) room.

The room was a good size for our family and our 10 year old (probably about 4ft 7in or 8in) slept fine on the alligator bed. Her only complaint was that the bed was in direct line with the air conditioner so that she was often really cold when she woke up.

The bus service was generally great. We never waited long at Riverside for a bus, but leaving the parks at peak times often resulted in a long enough line that we would have to wait for a second or third bus to come because there were just so many people. We ate dinner at Downtown Disney three times: we were able to take the boat to Downtown Disney once and back all three times. The other two times the boats weren't running due to lightning in the area. I loved the boat rides.

Food court was crowded, but the food was tasty. When my kids were given the choice of eating lunch at the park before our afternoon break or leaving a little earlier and eating at the Riverside food court, they chose eating at the food court. The lines at certain stations could get really long - especially the grill.

I called the front desk twice: once they were very helpful and the other time it was as if the call was outsourced to someone completely unfamiliar with the resort. I couldn't find a map in the room that labeled where the ice machine was or if we had to get ice from mousekeeping, so I called and said - I'm in room 1624, can you tell me where I can find the closest ice machine - and she just said - "they are at the junction of two buildings". Since I had just arrived, this made no sense to me, so I tried to ask more specific questions and this is all they kept repeating -the ice machines are located at the junction of two buildings. It was as if the person was reading off of a card or something. I finally just went outside and picked a direction and found a sign that directed me to the ice machine. The other time it seemed like a regular hotel - they called me by name and answered my question, etc.

One thing that I don't like (and this is not the fault of the resort) is that you cannot look at your current charges on the TV. That seems pretty normal these days. I know you can walk to the registration desk and get a print out, but not only is that a hassle, it is not very environmentally friendly.

We barely took advantage of all the resort had to offer - we swam in the pool, but that's about it. We were never around for the campfires, fishing, carriage rides or anything else which is too bad because the resort has a lot to offer. We would stay again in a heartbeat.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

I have stayed at gf and the pool was open 24 hours is this the same for por?

 

[freckles04]

Just did it this morning was offered corner room, ground floor, top floor, and there was one other option I can't remember. You could choose two of the four options

Thank you. Does anyone know what that fourth option is? Thanks

 

[Venomhatch]

I have stayed at gf and the pool was open 24 hours is this the same for por?

I believe the POR pool is open 24hrs but after the lifeguards get off it is at your own risk.

 

[nikkyluvsmickey]

I believe the POR pool is open 24hrs but after the lifeguards get off it is at your own risk.

Ok great thanks

 

[Missytara]

I believe the POR pool is open 24hrs but after the lifeguards get off it is at your own risk.

I have gone to the quiet pools many times in the middle of the night. When I go solo, I refrain from swimming for obvious reasons and prefer just to dangle my legs over the side. It is the best.

 

[dansdad]

I called the front desk twice: once they were very helpful and the other time it was as if the call was outsourced to someone completely unfamiliar with the resort.

That's because you weren't talking to the front desk. You were talking to someone at a call center most likely not even in Orlando. The only way to speak to the front desk is to go down there. This is just how it is at all WDW resorts. I understand why you called but just wanted to explain why the one CM sounded unfamiliar with PORs layout.

 

[rms123]

A couple of questions:
1. We are coming in July 3 and have booked a RR. My only request is a connecting room to the grandparents. The travel agent put that on the reservation - is it still advisable to fax?

2. I know s'more kits aren't available at the campfire, but can you buy the makings at the resort store?

3. Can you tell me more about fishing? Hours? Easy to catch something? DD4 is super excited about this.

4. From the pictures it looks like POFQ pool is a lot more fun with the dragon and all. Is it just the pictures? How long is the walk there if we want to check it out?

Thanks!

 

[Yellowstonetim]

A couple of questions:
1. We are coming in July 3 and have booked a RR. My only request is a connecting room to the grandparents. The travel agent put that on the reservation - is it still advisable to fax?

2. I know s'more kits aren't available at the campfire, but can you buy the makings at the resort store?

3. Can you tell me more about fishing? Hours? Easy to catch something? DD4 is super excited about this.

4. From the pictures it looks like POFQ pool is a lot more fun with the dragon and all. Is it just the pictures? How long is the walk there if we want to check it out?

Thanks!

I can address 1 and 4:

Yes, faxing 4 or 5 days before you arrive is a good idea just to remind them and let them know what you would like. Remember it is a request, not a given.

I visited both pools earlier this year and while the POFQ pool is much cooler looking from a distance, with the colorful dragon, I liked the POR pool better. It is on an island with shade trees and the slide is really cool, but somewhat hidden, so it is not as impressive looking. Both pools are cool and unlike other resorts, because they are considered one resort you can use both pools no matter where you stay.

 

[andrewilley]

I should add we are facing the parking lot; I am looking on the wrong side.

Ah, so are you saying that the map was right but you'd got the plan (or the resort! ) upside-down, or is my plan still wrong about the location of your room number? (If the former, I wonder if some extra annotation for the direction of the river and/or parking lot might help?)

New question. For Preplanning purposes what is considered a weekend and what is considered a weekday at Disney. Do they count Friday as a weekend as I know some hotels do.

Friday and Saturday nights are considered as weekend rates.

I couldn't find a map in the room that labeled where the ice machine was or if we had to get ice from mousekeeping.

I must admit that I thought that the ice machine locations were listed on the building plan on the back of the doors, but I guess not. The call center was technically correct in that all of the AB lodges have their ice machines located in the facilities block right in middle of the two building segments - but when you're actually on the ground it's hard to see quite how those two blocks are laid out:

Thank you. Does anyone know what that fourth option is? Thanks

There are three floor options listed - so Corner, Ground Floor, Second Floor and Upper Floor.

I have stayed at gf and the pool was open 24 hours is this the same for por?

The main pool is meant to close at midnight and re-open at 7am, but I've seen people swimming a lot later than that (and never seen anyone swimming at 7am, staff are usually cleaning the pool around then). As has been said, lifeguard/slide hours are 10am-8pm/10pm. The quiet pools are effectively 24 hours, even if the signs say 7am-midnight.

1. We are coming in July 3 and have booked a RR. My only request is a connecting room to the grandparents. The travel agent put that on the reservation - is it still advisable to fax? Never does any harm, what have you got to lose?

2. I know s'more kits aren't available at the campfire, but can you buy the makings at the resort store? No, I don't think so any more. You get free marshmallows to roast though.

3. Can you tell me more about fishing? Hours? Easy to catch something? DD4 is super excited about this. See www.portorleans.org/recreation.php#Fishing

4. From the pictures it looks like POFQ pool is a lot more fun with the dragon and all. Is it just the pictures? How long is the walk there if we want to check it out? The POFQ pool is about 10 minutes walk away - but don't be fooled by the POR slide, it's twice as long as the POFQ one (although no serpent theming) and it's faster too.

Andre

 

[lillykat]

A couple of questions:
1. We are coming in July 3 and have booked a RR. My only request is a connecting room to the grandparents. The travel agent put that on the reservation - is it still advisable to fax?

2. I know s'more kits aren't available at the campfire, but can you buy the makings at the resort store?

3. Can you tell me more about fishing? Hours? Easy to catch something? DD4 is super excited about this.

4. From the pictures it looks like POFQ pool is a lot more fun with the dragon and all. Is it just the pictures? How long is the walk there if we want to check it out?

Thanks!

We traveled with grandparents as well. We faxed requesting connecting rooms, close to the main building and 2nd floor. We were extremely happy. We booked RR garden view.

My 4 and almost 6 year olds loved the POR slide.

 

[kdaniels16]

I need help on my request. We are in a RR but want to shorten our walk to the lobby, food, etc..as much as possible. So, would it make sense if I requested a room that is close to the bridge? Or does this not work with the lay out of the building? I am assuming I would need to request ground floor also? Is this kind of request going to make any difference in our walking amount? I think we have garden view, how might this effect my request?

 

[andrewilley]

We are in a RR but want to shorten our walk to the lobby, food, etc..as much as possible. So, would it make sense if I requested a room that is close to the bridge?

Keep it simple, just request a room "as close as possible to the main building" if that's what you want. Ground floor probably won't make too much difference to walking times to be honest (there are stairways at the end of the buildings anyway) and might limit some otherwise good rooms.

Andre

 

[kdaniels16]

Keep it simple, just request a room "as close as possible to the main building" if that's what you want. Ground floor probably won't make too much difference to walking times to be honest (there are stairways at the end of the buildings anyway) and might limit some otherwise good rooms.

Andre

This helps me a lot, thank you!

 

[Dittz]

I wonder if some extra annotation for the direction of the river and/or parking lot might help?

Yes this would help (speaking from experience) as I had printed out your maps before and was trying to figure out rooms between 2 buildings when I finally realized I was looking at the buildings upside down....

Friday and Saturday nights are considered as weekend rates.

Thank you this is helpful. Thinking of adding another night, now I can decide if I want it at the start or end of our vacation