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

[jesusluvsu2005]

Thanks Andre! 14 would probably be closest to the main pool and the main building as well right? Which areas of AB are the pool view rooms? Same buildings you mentioned? Thanks!

 

[andrewilley]

Thanks Andre! 14 would probably be closest to the main pool and the main building as well right? Which areas of AB are the pool view rooms? Same buildings you mentioned? Thanks!

Building 14 would be closest to the main building, yes. None of the areas I mentioned are Pool View category as that option refers to rooms with views of the quiet pools; you can't see the main feature pool from any of the rooms as it's on an island of its own with the river surrounding it. See the map in the first post, and the floorplans at www.portorleans.org/images/buildingmaps/Floorplan-POR-AlligatorBayou.pdf.

Andre

 

[phoebec]

As guaranteed as you ever can be, yes, that's where you should be.

I just remembered, I uploaded a test video to YouTube ages ago which includes a walk from the end of the path between buildings 14 and 18 over to the food court: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lv1_F8Jzqw.

Andre

That was a really helpful video Andre, you don't happen to have one of those from bldg 38 to the foodcourt do you?

 

[Wendy31]

And...

Just got an email back from our AAA agent, & there are no more "free dining" or "resort discount" rooms available at Port Orleans for our trip dates.

I was kinda getting excited about Port Orleans Riverside too!

When I price it out, the price is about the same (a little bit less actually) for us to stay at the Beach Club or less inexpensive at a FW cabin. (We can still get free dining or a resort discount at both places).

But I'm worried about the lack of a real quick-service at either of these places.

To anyone who's stayed at both the Beach Club & POR - Do you actually prefer POR?

 

[pmaurer74]

And...

Just got an email back from our AAA agent, & there are no more "free dining" or "resort discount" rooms available at Port Orleans for our trip dates.

I was kinda getting excited about Port Orleans Riverside too!

When I price it out, the price is about the same (a little bit less actually) for us to stay at the Beach Club or less inexpensive at a FW cabin. (We can still get free dining or a resort discount at both places).

But I'm worried about the lack of a real quick-service at either of these places.

To anyone who's stayed at both the Beach Club & POR - Do you actually prefer POR?

I will let you know...I am staying at both next week. I do wish they had more counter service options at BC but there is EPCOT and HS really close

 

[Missytara]

And...

Just got an email back from our AAA agent, & there are no more "free dining" or "resort discount" rooms available at Port Orleans for our trip dates.

I was kinda getting excited about Port Orleans Riverside too!

When I price it out, the price is about the same (a little bit less actually) for us to stay at the Beach Club or less inexpensive at a FW cabin. (We can still get free dining or a resort discount at both places).

But I'm worried about the lack of a real quick-service at either of these places.

To anyone who's stayed at both the Beach Club & POR - Do you actually prefer POR?

Beach Club has the best pool on-site; so if you have a chance, I would go for it. You have access to Epcot and DHS via the boats, which have counter service options.

Believe me, I love POR, but if I had a chance to go to BC, I would do it.

 

[andrewilley]

That was a really helpful video Andre, you don't happen to have one of those from bldg 38 to the foodcourt do you?

Sorry, no. But just play that walk section three times in a row and that's about the distance (3-4 minutes walk).

To anyone who's stayed at both the Beach Club & POR - Do you actually prefer POR?

I've stayed at both, and even though I do love POR I'll certainly admit that the BC is a fabulous hotel, especially for its location right next to Epcot and its pool, and the slightly bigger rooms. We did all say that we missed the laid-back relaxed homey feel of POR and its theming though. The bus service is more long-winded at the BC too, and there's no proper counter service option for a quick bite.

Also, at normal prices, I can stay twice as long at POR as I can at the Beach Club for the same money, and that's a big factor; however remove the price difference from the equation and I'm sure you'll love it there.

Andre

 

[Napria]

I wonder if she spent any time sitting out on the grass anywhere? My DW tends to get bitten by some sort of insects on the lawns (the worst time was in Titusville, when we were waiting for a shuttle launch) but they don't seem to go for me for some reason.

Andre

You must not be as sweet
(sorry, couldn't resist!)

 

[Wendy31]

I will let you know...I am staying at both next week. I do wish they had more counter service options at BC but there is EPCOT and HS really close

Beach Club has the best pool on-site; so if you have a chance, I would go for it. You have access to Epcot and DHS via the boats, which have counter service options.

Believe me, I love POR, but if I had a chance to go to BC, I would do it.

Sorry, no. But just play that walk section three times in a row and that's about the distance (3-4 minutes walk).

I've stayed at both, and even though I do love POR I'll certainly admit that the BC is a fabulous hotel, especially for its location right next to Epcot and its pool, and the slightly bigger rooms. We did all say that we missed the laid-back relaxed homey feel of POR and its theming though. The bus service is more long-winded at the BC too, and there's no proper counter service option for a quick bite.

Also, at normal prices, I can stay twice as long at POR as I can at the Beach Club for the same money, and that's a big factor; however remove the price difference from the equation and I'm sure you'll love it there.

Andre

Thank you, all, for the replies & advice!

I asked our agent for just a regular quote from POR (w/o free dining or the resort discount), & she emailed me back to say that it didn't matter... NOTHING is available at POR for our dates w/ or w/o any of the discounts.

So, now we're trying to decide - Beach Club, garden view at CR, or FW cabin. We've never stayed at the Beach Club. We stayed in a FW cabin in 2005 & 2006, & we stayed at the Contemporary last year.

Anyway, I guess that's another thread! LOL!

Thanks again for the help, & maybe next year we'll decide on POR in time!

 

[brios86]

Thank you, all, for the replies & advice!

I asked our agent for just a regular quote from POR (w/o free dining or the resort discount), & she emailed me back to say that it didn't matter... NOTHING is available at POR for our dates w/ or w/o any of the discounts.

So, now we're trying to decide - Beach Club, garden view at CR, or FW cabin. We've never stayed at the Beach Club. We stayed in a FW cabin in 2005 & 2006, & we stayed at the Contemporary last year.

Anyway, I guess that's another thread! LOL!

Thanks again for the help, & maybe next year we'll decide on POR in time!

I find it very hard to believe that nothing is available at rack rates at POR. Have you checked yourself? What are your dates?

 

[dansdad]

Thank you, all, for the replies & advice!

I asked our agent for just a regular quote from POR (w/o free dining or the resort discount), & she emailed me back to say that it didn't matter... NOTHING is available at POR for our dates w/ or w/o any of the discounts.

I agree with brios86. What are your dates? From looking at your ticker, it looks like you'll be going the second week of September. I just did a couple quick looks on WDW website and there is availability for every room category with check in dates of September 13th, 14th and 15th.

 

[Wendy31]

I find it very hard to believe that nothing is available at rack rates at POR. Have you checked yourself? What are your dates?

I agree with brios86. What are your dates? From looking at your ticker, it looks like you'll be going the second week of September. I just did a couple quick looks on WDW website and there is availability for every room category with check in dates of September 13th, 14th and 15th.

Our original dates were 9/14 through 9/24. However, since we can't go to the beach this month (like we normally do), we've decided to combine a beach trip w/ our WDW trip in Sept.

So, now we're planning on arriving in WDW on 9/18 instead of 9/14. However, since our vacation still is beginning on 9/14 (just at the beach instead of at WDW), I kept my ticker the same!

We were staying at the CR, but we've decided to try to make it more of a budget trip. (And, as an aside, it's hard to do a budget trip w/ a family of 5, especially when 2 of the 3 kids are "Disney adults".)

When I look online at the official Disney site, I do get availability at POR - just not w/ a resort discount or free dining.

W/o the free dining or a resort discount, the price at POR is little bit more than the Beach Club w/ free dining & quite a bit more than a FW cabin. SO DH is saying we might as well stay at the Beach Club, but I'm worried about the lack of a quick-service. Plus, at POR, I could get a preferred building, but, at Beach Club, we'll just have a standard view & probably be far away from everything anyway.

The WDW site is giving me availability for 9/18 through 9/24 at POR, Beach Club, CR (gardenview or tower), & a FW Cabin.

However, our AAA agent told me that POR is not available - maybe there are only a certain number of AAA rooms per resort?

I hate to get off-topic, but I'm a little bit frustrated.

I asked our AAA agent to give me the following quotes:

Beach Club w/ free dining
Beach Club w/ resort discount
CR (gardenview) w/ free dining
CR w/ resort discount
FW w/ free dining
FW w/ resort discount
POR w/ free dining
POR w/ resort discount

I wanted to compare the prices & weigh all our options & the various advantages/disadvantages of each resort.

She just gave me quotes w/ free dining because she said that the free dining discount is better than the resort discount. But I'm thinking that a 30% discount at Beach Club might be significant.

She also told me that POR is not available.

I don't know... we had everything set, &, now, nothing's set. I have no clue where to stay, & I'm gonna lose our CRT & 'Ohana ADRs.

#firstworldproblems

 

[dansdad]

I asked our AAA agent to give me the following quotes:

Beach Club w/ free dining - $4009.90 Garden View 7-Day Magic Your Way
Base Ticket (no hopper or water park)

Beach Club w/ resort discount - $3630.43 For room (Lagoon or pool view)
and 7-Day Magic Your Way Base Tickets

CR (gardenview) w/ free dining - $4684.91 for Tower Bay Lake View with 7-
Day Magic Your Way Base Tickets - No
Garden View available

CR w/ resort discount - $4853.75 For Tower Bay Lake View with 7-Day Magic
Your Way Base Tickets - Again, no Garden View
Available

FW w/ free dining - $3505.91 With 7-Day Magic Your Way Base Tickets

FW w/ resort discount - $3009.87 with 7-Day Magic Your Way Base Tickets

POR w/ free dining - None available

POR w/ resort discount - None available

Hope this helps.

 

[disneyismypassion]

I was so excited to find out I had the dining pin code yesterday. However, as everyone has been saying POR is not available. We had to switch to Coronado Springs. A little sad that I will not be staying at POR. Has anyone stayed at CS?

 

[Missytara]

Free dining works out well for larger groups; while room discount works better for someone like me who likes to go solo and doesn't do the dining plan.

POR does tend to sell out quickly, because it is the least expensive alternative for a family of 5, and if you get FD for five people, you are getting the best bang for your buck.

 

[andrewilley]

Free dining works out well for larger groups; while room discount works better for someone like me who likes to go solo and doesn't do the dining plan.

Exactly. Free food for four (or even five) people is worth a considerable amount of money at Disney. However for one or two people, especially in deluxe locations, a 30% discount may be a better deal.

In fact, I've often wondered how many 'phantom' room occupants occur when free dining offers are on, especially before you needed to get passes for the whole length of stay. Consider a childless couple who add a couple of non-existent 15-year-old children onto their room occupancy list. They'd get double the amount of free dining credits (giving them three meals a day plus some signature two-credit meals, and a ton of snacks) and could even hold the extra (still unused) Magic Your Way park tickets back for a future visit... I'm not advocating trying it of course, but I can't see why it wouldn't work.

Andre

 

[deerez]

So excited leaving in 16 days and squishing a family of five into the room with a Murphy bed, stayed a few years ago when my youngest was a baby so we stayed at French Quarter and LOVED it.

Anyways, the two older kids and hubby may go to Universal the last day and I am hoping to get a late checkout(I thinks its one and free?) if I stay behind with my youngest. Does anyone know if I can get a luggage rack and store my stuff in the hotel some where, seems like a pain, but you have to do what you have to do, I think we are allowed to stay at the hotel the whole day? Not sure how long.

Also does anyone know if there are any buses from the hotel to places besides the parks? probably too pricey, like the nick hotel, I wanted to do the character breakfast there, but I assume its for guests only?

 

[Missytara]

So excited leaving in 16 days and squishing a family of five into the room with a Murphy bed, stayed a few years ago when my youngest was a baby so we stayed at French Quarter and LOVED it.

Anyways, the two older kids and hubby may go to Universal the last day and I am hoping to get a late checkout(I thinks its one and free?) if I stay behind with my youngest. Does anyone know if I can get a luggage rack and store my stuff in the hotel some where, seems like a pain, but you have to do what you have to do, I think we are allowed to stay at the hotel the whole day? Not sure how long.

Also does anyone know if there are any buses from the hotel to places besides the parks? probably too pricey, like the nick hotel, I wanted to do the character breakfast there, but I assume its for guests only?

Housekeeping will have to approve late check-out and you won't know until that morning; you have to keep your fingers crossed. There is a small charge for late check-out.

You can reserve guest services to come pick you up at your room a few days before your check-out day. However, you won't know the time; you may still have to stick with the normal 11:00 am time for them to take your luggage to guest services for storage. You can only use the luggage cart if you are loading/unloading a car at guest services and they assist you.

You can go over to the Transportation board; there is a sticky at the top of the page noting other forms of transportation, including Universal, with the cost associated with each form of transportation.

 

[germ539]

We were told when we were there last week that they couldn't give luggage carts to guests unless bell services was with the luggage cart.

 

[Missytara]

We were told when we were there last week that they couldn't give luggage carts to guests unless bell services was with the luggage cart.

That's probably true.....I overlooked that point.

I always have guest services come pick me up, because I am usually by myself.