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

[summerlady]

Currently booked at Pofq but not really feeling the rooms under the free dining pin only the royal rooms are left
Has anyone stayed at both and can compare the rooms are they worth paying about 300 dollars more for or should i just stay put?

I've stayed at both, POR last year in a RR because I had a FD PIN in Jan. 2012 and POFQ wasn't available for our week in October and only RRs were. In my opinion, it's not worth it. Unless you have a little kid who's loving princess stuff, the novelty of the RR wears off quickly. I'm not saying the rooms aren't lovely, they are, but not worth the extra bucks. Luckily, I was able to book a room at POFQ with FD for this September.

 

[monicajonathan]

Yes POR decorates. They had a choir at POR singing carols in lobby area. Also check into reserving seats at the Christmas story being told at Epcot. Different movie stars and singers come and read the Christmas story and choirs from high schools across the country sing at the event. Be sure to see the Osbourne's Christmas lights at HS. Amazing! One of the resorts has a life size Gingerbread house. You are going to have such a great time!

Oh my gosh. Now I'm really going to be counting down till I go back. Can't wait to see POR all decorated.

 

[BDL]

Oh my gosh. Now I'm really going to be counting down till I go back. Can't wait to see POR all decorated.

Here is POR with decorations from 2010





Here is the EPCOT Candlelight Processional with Blair Underwood narrating, last yr. A must see for us.

 

[Inklight]

Woohoo. I'll see ya there. Checking in on Monday as well

I will be sure to say HI! to all I meet ... can't wait! Hope you have a great time!

 

[monicajonathan]

Here is POR with decorations from 2010

http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/bdlsgal/media/6d5f4508.jpg.html

http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/bdlsgal/media/f63cd2e9.jpg.html

Here is the EPCOT Candlelight Processional with Blair Underwood narrating, last yr. A must see for us.

http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/bdlsgal/media/Disney 2012/IMG_0100_zps6499dbf3.jpg.html

http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/bdlsgal/media/Disney 2012/IMG_01512_zps67ea7dc9.jpg.html

http://s1070.photobucket.com/user/bdlsgal/media/Disney 2012/IMG_01482_zps9227aa4d.jpg.html

Thanks for the pics. I will show my family what to look forward to.

 

[bigmac5]

We will be @ POR Sept. 2-7 (yay) I am traveling with my parents, ages 80 & 78. My mother has hip problems & uses her wheelchair when she has long distances to walk. We would like to have ground floor to avoid too many stairs but thought it might be inappropriate to ask for a wheelchair accessible room since she is not bound to chair and is able to use typical bathroom facilities. We booked a prefered room to cut down on distance to main building. Should we ask for ground floor at check-in, fax a room request, or will online check cover that? Thank You

We will be there Sept 2-8. My hubby is in the same boat with artificial knee and hip. We have gardenview but i phoned in a request for no stairs and as close as possible to bus and main building. Fingers crossed

 

[Nana Julie]

We will be there Sept 2-8. My hubby is in the same boat with artificial knee and hip. We have gardenview but i phoned in a request for no stairs and as close as possible to bus and main building. Fingers crossed

I don't usually think summer moves slowly but I can hardly wait until Sept. I talked to TA today she said she will call for me. I am not going to sweat it since getting to room is small part of Disney experience, but definitely hoping. Hope you get pixie dusted & have a wonderful anniversary celebration

 

[Shaden]

I don't usually think summer moves slowly but I can hardly wait until Sept. I talked to TA today she said she will call for me. I am not going to sweat it since getting to room is small part of Disney experience, but definitely hoping. Hope you get pixie dusted & have a wonderful anniversary celebration

Yea, I never thought about that. Summer is usually gone in a flash, I can only imagine how it would drag if you had a trip planned in Sept !!!

I am worried this whole year is going to be like that, we booked in Jan for May, and that took forever, my wife has already booked vacation for Next May .... this is going to take forever !!!

Hope you still get to enjoy the summer, I know you will enjoy sept

 

[bumbershoot]

We will be @ POR Sept. 2-7 (yay) I am traveling with my parents, ages 80 & 78. My mother has hip problems & uses her wheelchair when she has long distances to walk. We would like to have ground floor to avoid too many stairs but thought it might be inappropriate to ask for a wheelchair accessible room since she is not bound to chair and is able to use typical bathroom facilities. We booked a prefered room to cut down on distance to main building. Should we ask for ground floor at check-in, fax a room request, or will online check cover that? Thank You

The HA rooms in the various resorts are very different, so yep, if she doesn't need all the bells and whistles of the room, don't request it. What you really want is ground floor, and that's part of the online checkin requests, and of course something you can mention in a fax.

Glad she has the wheelchair, that will keep exhaustion at bay!

 

[bigmac5]

I don't usually think summer moves slowly but I can hardly wait until Sept. I talked to TA today she said she will call for me. I am not going to sweat it since getting to room is small part of Disney experience, but definitely hoping. Hope you get pixie dusted & have a wonderful anniversary celebration

UGH it is still June! Sept. seems so far away. And thanks for the wishes

 

[andrewilley]

What you really want is ground floor, and that's part of the online checkin requests, and of course something you can mention in a fax.

Even though a fully Accessible room is not required, as it would still be a necessity to have a room on the ground floor - or at least without stairs - I would suggest faxing a few days before arrival to confirm (see first post) or contacting the Special Assistance line in advance.

Just leaving it to the routine requests system seems a bit risky - although I'm sure it could be sorted out at the front desk upon arrival anyway.

Andre

 

[Goofy22]

We are staying here in August in a Royal Guest Room Garden View Room can anyone tell me what area these rooms are in ? If we should request a specific one if we want to be near main building or bus atop or main pool ? I have never stayed here before and have no idea where they are located . And lastly any suggestions for first timers at POR also our first moderate stay ! We have always done Values or DVC My son is amazed by this resort and the trip is for his 8th grade graduation and DD's Graduation from Cosmetology School

 

[andrewilley]

We are staying here in August in a Royal Guest Room Garden View Room can anyone tell me what area these rooms are in ?

The Garden View rooms are located all around the two Royal buildings (Oak Manor and Parterre Place) and basically give you an assurance that you won't get a parking lot view. See the FAQ and map in the first post for more details, or for lots more background on room locations and requests, try www.portorleans.org/room-requests.php.

The Royal buildings do contain some of the more remote rooms at the resort, but they also have some very nicely located ones too, next to a footbridge just across the river. If you want to try for a room "fairly close to the main buildings and main bus stop" just put in a request in those terms - it's better to let them know what you'd like from your room rather than just asking for a particular building, etc as they won't know your criteria.

Andre

 

[Goofy22]

Thank you so much for your suggestions

 

[shoes99]

Even though a fully Accessible room is not required, as it would still be a necessity to have a room on the ground floor - or at least without stairs - I would suggest faxing a few days before arrival to confirm (see first post) or contacting the Special Assistance line in advance.

Just leaving it to the routine requests system seems a bit risky - although I'm sure it could be sorted out at the front desk upon arrival anyway.

Andre

Call back and tell them to add "ground floor required for medical reason", to your reservation. We are staying at Riverside also and do not need a handicapp room but need a ground floor for medical reasons close to handicap parking. It is noted on our reservations, and then when you do online check-in it will be hardcoded in your requests section. This had worked well for us on multiple trips.

 

[MeeskaMooskaMousektr]

Im sorry if this is rambling, and out of order... lots of questions my mind is swimming.

my last time at port Orleans riverside they were just updating to these new rooms. this year we are going for the free dining plan in September, we made the reservation for a Royal Room with pool view. We have stayed in the mansions once before, specifically The Magnolia building, and we have stayed in Alligator Bayou 3 times since then. We really enjoyed The alligator bayou rooms and we always seemed to be put close to the food court and lobby. I see now looking at the map that the royal rooms are only in Paterre and Oak, with only one pool between them. We really like having the smaller quiet pools and the ones in Alligator Bayou were never that crowded, we also prefer getting on the bus at the main stop at the lobby.

1) How far away do you think we will be from the food court? My father is getting up there in age and won't want to walk that far in the morning to get his coffee.

2) Do you think this area of the resort will be busy (especially because of the dining plan offer)? We are more used to being around the quieter pools at alligator bayou... it also seems more private over there...

We may just switch the rooms to regular pool views in alligator bayou and drop the royal room.

Opinion please!

 

[andrewilley]

Im sorry if this is rambling, and out of order... lots of questions my mind is swimming.

The Pool View Royal Rooms are the best located of any of the Royal Rooms in terms of their access to the main building and main bus stop, as they are all on the pool-facing side of Oak Manor (with a couple on the end of Partere Place) and so are some of the closest rooms to the bridge over to the main building. The walk from those rooms would be shorter than many of the regular Pool View rooms, and pretty much on a par with the AB Preferred Locations.

The quiet pools in Alligator Bayou (assuming you were placed there; don't forget regular rooms include the other two mansion buildings also) are a bit more secluded, but more commonly those rooms have longer walks back to the main areas (apart from the Pool View rooms in buildings 16 and 18 which are very nicely located if you can get them).

Also, you might not even be able to switch and still keep your Free Dining offer, you'd need to check to see what the availability is like. If you want to change, do it soon though before the categories sell out.

Personally, I think if you fancy the idea of the Royal Rooms and money is not an issue, I'd stick with what you've got booked.

Andre

 

[LisaTC]

my last time at port Orleans riverside they were just updating to these new rooms. this year we are going for the free dining plan in September, we made the reservation for a Royal Room with pool view. We have stayed in the mansions once before, specifically The Magnolia building

We stayed in Acadian, Magnolia and this last time we were in Royal Riverfront, Oak. I thought the walk was the same, maybe even closer. We took the 2nd foot bridge (the one that comes out next to the boat launch/reception) and I didn't think ti was any farther than when we stayed near the other bridge. I think you will be fine. The resort is beautiful. There is also a laundry right next to that quiet pool, so if you need to you can do some and swim! very convenient!

 

[Patience]

Do the food court drink stations have any soda that is both diet and caffeine free? Caffeine free diet coke or sprite zero maybe?

 

[andrewilley]

Do the food court drink stations have any soda that is both diet and caffeine free? Caffeine free diet coke or sprite zero maybe?

They currently have:

• Coca Cola
• Diet Coke
• Diet Coke, Caffine Free
• Sprite
• Fanta Orange
• Coca Cola Cherry
• Barq’s Root Beer
• Hi-C Flashin’ Fruit Punch (still)
• Minute Maid Light Lemonade (still)
• Coca Cola Zero
• Chilled Water

Andre