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

[Marsheliz]

They do! They're in the courtyard of Oak Manor. Andre normally posts the activity schedule for each month right at the end of the previous month You can go to his site www.portorleans.org if you want to look at the ones from previous months just to get a general idea

Thank you... I thought I saw where they were only at FQ- has this changed? This will be exciting! Where at in SC are you? I am in Prosperity.

 

[wysteria]

Our family is considering a moderate hotel instead of a value hotel. Since we started staying onsite we have only done the value resorts.

I had a question about how you get back to your room from the bus. I see multiple bus stops on the property. Does the bus that picks you up at the themepark go around the property dropping you off? Or is there another bus you gotta swap to once you get to the property? I know this is probably a silly question, but I would like to know how the transport to and from the parks work if you are not next to the lobby

Also is it a long walk from the Riverside Pool to the French Quarter pool? Just wondering how convenient it is to use both pools on the property

 

[Marsheliz]

Officially the schedules are available from the first day of the month as Disney don't pre-advertise this sort of thing. I am usually able to get a copy to post a few days earlier though, thanks to a bit of pixie dust from the resort CMs.

Andre

Thanks Andre.... I thought I read somewhere that it was only at FQ but maybe that was in the past. I am looking forward to doing this on our first night.

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

We're 65 days from POR. My family has never stayed there and we are SO excited!! My problem is....all my planning is over! I have booked, rebooked and tweaked all of my ADR's, I was able to secure a ressie for the Wishes desert party...so now what? I sit at my computer and think all I can do is wait! LOL! I will at least get to pre register at 60 days out!

So, you can start obsessing about whether the lovely FP+ will be in place by your trip, and how you can uber plan your 3 FPs a day!

Just a bit of advice from a fellow uber planner with 82 days to go...

 

[Blessedwith3boys]

So, you can start obsessing about whether the lovely FP+ will be in place by your trip, and how you can uber plan your 3 FPs a day!

Just a bit of advice from a fellow uber planner with 82 days to go...

HMMMMM.....so what's the deal? Are you subscribed to a thread that will let you know if the FP+ will be in place???? You know this would be great fun to obsess over!!!

 

[Yellowstonetim]

Our family is considering a moderate hotel instead of a value hotel. Since we started staying onsite we have only done the value resorts.

I had a question about how you get back to your room from the bus. I see multiple bus stops on the property. Does the bus that picks you up at the themepark go around the property dropping you off? Or is there another bus you gotta swap to once you get to the property? I know this is probably a silly question, but I would like to know how the transport to and from the parks work if you are not next to the lobby

Also is it a long walk from the Riverside Pool to the French Quarter pool? Just wondering how convenient it is to use both pools on the property

The buses to and from the parks make a circuit of all bus stops. Sometimes they will do both the one stop at POFQ and all POR stops, sometimes,when busy, there will be separate buses for POR and POFQ.

We did value and then tried CBR and now POR which we visited earlier in the year. You will like it. The value's are great, but here at PO you have hot tubs, which I like after a long day walking, very nice pools with water slides, gorgeous grounds, and nice rooms. Note that although you book POR separately from POFQ, you may use all the facilities at both, including the pools. Make sure you check out the first post in this thread and Andre's website http://www.portorleans.org/ for every bit of information you could possibly need. If you don't find it there, someone can answer your questions here.

There has been much discussion about the bus service. It depends on when you go, how crowded it is, etc. Some people report no problems, others report having to wait at some bus stops because the buses are full from the prior stop. I don't think it is terrible, just give yourself enough time, and if you want to be close to the main building and bus stop reserve a preferred room.

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

HMMMMM.....so what's the deal? Are you subscribed to a thread that will let you know if the FP+ will be in place???? You know this would be great fun to obsess over!!!

Right now, I'm following one that's talking about the ongoing testing of Magic bands, FP+, and construction of new entry gates, try this one:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3120253

 

[SRUAlmn]

Thank you... I thought I saw where they were only at FQ- has this changed? This will be exciting! Where at in SC are you? I am in Prosperity.

We were there in early June and they were doing them. One night it was canceled due to lightning/rain and another night it was all set up, wasn't storming (that we could tell,) and then we looked out the window a little while later and they were taking it all down. Maybe there was distant lightning, but we couldn't see a cloud in sight

We're in Charleston

 

[wysteria]

The buses to and from the parks make a circuit of all bus stops. Sometimes they will do both the one stop at POFQ and all POR stops, sometimes,when busy, there will be separate buses for POR and POFQ.

We did value and then tried CBR and now POR which we visited earlier in the year. You will like it. The value's are great, but here at PO you have hot tubs, which I like after a long day walking, very nice pools with water slides, gorgeous grounds, and nice rooms. Note that although you book POR separately from POFQ, you may use all the facilities at both, including the pools. Make sure you check out the first post in this thread and Andre's website http://www.portorleans.org/ for every bit of information you could possibly need. If you don't find it there, someone can answer your questions here.

There has been much discussion about the bus service. It depends on when you go, how crowded it is, etc. Some people report no problems, others report having to wait at some bus stops because the buses are full from the prior stop. I don't think it is terrible, just give yourself enough time, and if you want to be close to the main building and bus stop reserve a preferred room.

Thanks a lot. We are seriously considering going to Mod over Value for this trip. The only two mods I really like the look of are the POR or CBR and from what i read in the CBR thread its going to start renovations there next year and my parents would have a cow if there was any sort of that going on near their hotel rooms lol.

We will be there Mardi Gras week. (Yes i know, we are escaping new orleans to go stay at the new orleans hotel at disney).

Anyone have any experience there Mardi Gras week? Is it packed at that hotel because of the special holiday or are all the vacationing New Orleanians staying at hotels that don't remind them of home?

That was my only reservation about staying at POR, because it won't be as Disney-ish to us since it looks like home, but i guess without the urine smells in the side alleys or people passed out in doorways?

 

[ekendall2]

We are booking our trip through AAA right now for June 2014. We like the rooms in Magnolia Bend the best. In the requests, is it best just to ask for Magnolia Bend?

When we stay at CBR, we just request a country.

 

[delgrec]

We will be heading to POR on August 13th. Due to the timing and discounts, we have a split reservation. 13th to 15th package at POR and then 15th to 21st room only at POR. Both garden view because that was the only available on the discount. We did online check in for the first part of our stay and I called and asked them to link the two reservations together in the hopes that we won't have to change rooms. When i called, the CM acted like i was crazy for making the request as she implied it was a given. I asked that she please note it as a request anyway and she begrudgingly did (i hope!). Here are my questions...

Should I do online check in for the second stay or would that complicate things?

Should I send a fax prior stating that we have the two reservations and hope to stay in the same room? I would do this without asking except that we will be without a fax for two weeks prior so I will have to make a pretty decent effort to do this. No big deal. Just want to be sure it is important enough.

Thanks for any help! I can't wait!

Heidi

Posted this a few pages back. Just reposting in case anyone has any thoughts! Thanks.

 

[Blessedwith3boys]

right now, i'm following one that's talking about the ongoing testing of magic bands, fp+, and construction of new entry gates, try this one: Popcorn::

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3120253

thanks!

 

[Yellowstonetim]

Thanks a lot. We are seriously considering going to Mod over Value for this trip. The only two mods I really like the look of are the POR or CBR and from what i read in the CBR thread its going to start renovations there next year and my parents would have a cow if there was any sort of that going on near their hotel rooms lol.

We will be there Mardi Gras week. (Yes i know, we are escaping new orleans to go stay at the new orleans hotel at disney).

Anyone have any experience there Mardi Gras week? Is it packed at that hotel because of the special holiday or are all the vacationing New Orleanians staying at hotels that don't remind them of home?

That was my only reservation about staying at POR, because it won't be as Disney-ish to us since it looks like home, but i guess without the urine smells in the side alleys or people passed out in doorways?

In many little ways it will have the "flavor" of New Orleans, but in reality, if you are from New Orleans, it probably isn't much like home. Look at the pics at the website and see what you think. It certainly is beautiful and peaceful. I like POR because of the beauty and nature that I can enjoy when not in the theme parks. CBR is great, too, that is where we stayed last time. I liked the beauty of the lake and how spread out and roomy things seemed. I don't know the timing of renovations, but they are expert at it and I doubt they disturb guests.

POR, POFQ, and several other resorts are not overly 'Disneyfied' compared to the value's, but it all depends on what you call Disney. I love the 30ft tall Disney characters at AoA, but I don't need them to feel Disney. At POR, the store, restaurant, and especially the waterfront seem VERY Disney to me. I just love it there. Again, look at the pictures and see what you think. Watch some Youtube videos, too, there are plenty. Andre's site has video's too. I bet you'll like POR.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I was worried that it would feel like home since we live in Charleston, SC, and we stayed in the mansion section. We've actually avoided POR for years for that reason. I was so pleased, upon staying there, that it actually made the experience better. It was the comfort of home and the joy of Disney coming together!!

 

[goingtowdwwithkiddos]

tomorrow at this time I will be checked in..................That is ALL

 

[bdink921]

tomorrow at this time I will be checked in..................That is ALL

Enjoy!!!

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

Posted this a few pages back. Just reposting in case anyone has any thoughts! Thanks.

Hi, I think your situation is unique and maybe no one has experience with it - I would say it certainly doesn't hurt to send a fax if you can get to one. Not sure I would check in online for #2, but would rather negotiate staying put when you get your keys for #1. Hope that helps!

 

[zabache]

When will the August recreational activities template be released?
So excited.

 

[ncc1701]

Thanks a lot. We are seriously considering going to Mod over Value for this trip. The only two mods I really like the look of are the POR or CBR and from what i read in the CBR thread its going to start renovations there next year and my parents would have a cow if there was any sort of that going on near their hotel rooms lol.

For what it's worth we were at POFQ 2 years ago when they were doing their renovations . It did not effect us at all. They seemed to be doing blocks of rooms at a time so it was not near us or anyone else from what we observed walking around the resort..
For what it is worth I believe POR has queen beds (just like POFQ since their rehab ) and you can use POFQ's pool.
Not to mention the boat to DTD rather than a bus.If we don't have dinner ADRs or game to watch at ESPN, DTD is our go to location for dinner

 

[brios86]

How far away is the DTD boat drop off from earl of sandwich or whatever?