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

[goingtowdwwithkiddos]

Life jackets are provided free of charge. Noodles are allowed. Not sure about the arm bands and rings/tubes though.

ETA - From Andre's awesome site portorleans.org. Arm bands and swim rings are allowed.

Awesome thank you for the fast response

 

[ah10is]

27 more days until we are at Port Orleans Riverside! We have a preferred room booked and wondering what people think about building 18? We like the fact that is looks so close to the quiet pool in that area and thinking of sending in a request to be in this building. Has anyone had any experience with this building? How long is the walk to the bus stop, food court and so on?

Also, on a side note....our flight number changed for our departing flight. I called and had it changed on our reservation, but now when I check our reservation online it says that we need to call and give Disney our Flight numbers for the Magical Express! I've called twice & they have the flight change...but why doesn't it show up online on our reservation?

Thanks for all your help peeps! Love this forum!!!

 

[Missytara]

27 more days until we are at Port Orleans Riverside! We have a preferred room booked and wondering what people think about building 18? We like the fact that is looks so close to the quiet pool in that area and thinking of sending in a request to be in this building. Has anyone had any experience with this building? How long is the walk to the bus stop, food court and so on?

Also, on a side note....our flight number changed for our departing flight. I called and had it changed on our reservation, but now when I check our reservation online it says that we need to call and give Disney our Flight numbers for the Magical Express! I've called twice & they have the flight change...but why doesn't it show up online on our reservation?

Thanks for all your help peeps! Love this forum!!!

Building 18 is no more than a 3 - 5 minute walk to the main building.

There has always been some kind of glitch from time to time on ME. Sometimes the information shows up with nothing or like 12:00 am and you call and they have the correct information.

I would definitely take the booklet with you; call a few days before and double check to make sure it is there - then check your paperwork that is left on your door the night before your flight leaves to ensure they have you on a bus at least three hours before your departure time.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

27 more days until we are at Port Orleans Riverside! We have a preferred room booked and wondering what people think about building 18? We like the fact that is looks so close to the quiet pool in that area and thinking of sending in a request to be in this building. Has anyone had any experience with this building? How long is the walk to the bus stop, food court and so on?

Thanks for all your help peeps! Love this forum!!!

We stayed in building 18 in April & absolutely lived it. We were first floor in the middle & it was a quick walk to everything. Loved having the quiet pool right there too.

 

[gmedolphin]

Do any of the room's at POR have DVD players in them?

 

[dansdad]

Do any of the room's at POR have DVD players in them?

No.

 

[Venomhatch]

Do any of the room's at POR have DVD players in them?

No.

dansdad, is right. That is definitely a bring your own. The new TVs have the inputs for that or Laptops to plug in and display on the TV but no DVD in room. You don't get that til DVC or Deluxe.

*Some Moderates have added them in, example; some rooms at CSR now have them.

 

[Dittz]

I have read all he posts on this newly created 2013 thread. We are planning our DD 5th birthday trip for the end of sept 2014. Looking at a royal room since it is "her" trip. We went in 2010 for DS 5th birthday and stayed at ASMov Toy Story. This trip my parents are going as well getting their own room but not a royal room. Do you think it is possible to request us to be on the right side of oak manor and them on the left side of magnolia terrace. Would we even be able to see across to each other? Would this be good if we are on ground floor an the kids could run back and forth between the rooms? Or would second floor and try for corner rooms be better? What I the suggestion out there?? Just waiting for next years rates to be released and will be booking ASAP. Should the above type of request be mentioned when booking? TIA!!!

 

[zabache]

My plans might be changing. We currently have a RR reservation but our nieces might be coming with us on our trip so we might have to change to a room with a murphy bed to accommodate us all. They are all in Alligator Bayou right? Nothing is certain yet but I already made ADR's for party of 6 which took 1 hr with a CM over the phone yesterday. Luckily all were available, even the dessert party. I guess I will stay in a RR next time unless there's a lot of Pixie Dust thrown our way when we go.

 

[andrewilley]

Do you think it is possible to request us to be on the right side of oak manor and them on the left side of magnolia terrace. Would we even be able to see across to each other? Would this be good if we are on ground floor an the kids could run back and forth between the rooms? Or would second floor and try for corner rooms be better?

There's a fair bit of landscaping/tress between the two buildings, so while you might be able to see across it wouldn't be certain. It's not very far though, and especially if both rooms were on the ground floor and on the same sides it'd only take a minute or two to walk.

Just put in a request for rooms as nearby as they can get you - and you never know, if there is spare space then your parents might even get pixie-dust upgraded to the same building as you.

Andre

 

[Missytara]

I have read all he posts on this newly created 2013 thread. We are planning our DD 5th birthday trip for the end of sept 2014. Looking at a royal room since it is "her" trip. We went in 2010 for DS 5th birthday and stayed at ASMov Toy Story. This trip my parents are going as well getting their own room but not a royal room. Do you think it is possible to request us to be on the right side of oak manor and them on the left side of magnolia terrace. Would we even be able to see across to each other? Would this be good if we are on ground floor an the kids could run back and forth between the rooms? Or would second floor and try for corner rooms be better? What I the suggestion out there?? Just waiting for next years rates to be released and will be booking ASAP. Should the above type of request be mentioned when booking? TIA!!!

You can request it, but there is no guarantee that you will be located near each other. All you can do is link your reservations and request to be as close to each other as possible, if that is most important to you.

Once you add more requests like corner room, first floor, etc., you could end up being far apart.

 

[TarrahA]

For anyone that has gotten the PIN but were told there was no availability @ POR - I just made my reservation for 9/28-10/05 w/ free dining at POR using the PIN. I had to get garden view or RR, the CM did say there was no standard view available, so I'd suggest calling again & confirming that the CM is looking at all booking categories for you, not just standard. I know it may be a long shot, but worth trying seeing as how inconsistent the CM's are. Hope you all get in one way or another!

 

[TinkerBelleGirl]

Hello! I am totally new here (1st post!) although I have been reading and following along with the Port Orleans Riverside thread for days. We have reservations for a Royal Guest Room(garden view) the 1st week in December and are super excited to stay at POR for the very 1st time. Previous stays have all been at the value resorts. My question is: Should we request either Oak Manor or Parterre Place? We will be using a stroller for our daughter and are requesting a ground floor room but other than that we are so excited to just get to stay at this resort I think we will be happy just about anywhere! I had read previously about the noise level of the nightly movies played in the courtyard at Oak Manor but Parterre Place seems to have several rooms that could be a good bit farther away from things. Any suggestions?

Thank you so much in advance!

 

[jewelsb]

After booking our trip 7 months ago, we are scheduled to leave in just 19 days and sadly, my FIL's health is rapidly deteriorating, therefore we may have to postpone our trip at the last minute. I've read a lot of talk about the resort being at capacity this summer. What are the odds that we will still be able to get a room at POR if we reschedule to a date later this summer? And I'm guessing that we will also lose our 20% summer discount when we postpone? Anything else I should/need to think about in this situation? We're praying for the best, but he obviously comes first. This will be our first Disney trip and my head was spinning trying to get all the details together already, but with this thrown in the mix, I'm really frazzled!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[CareHeartsDisney]

After booking our trip 7 months ago, we are scheduled to leave in just 19 days and sadly, my FIL's health is rapidly deteriorating, therefore we may have to postpone our trip at the last minute. I've read a lot of talk about the resort being at capacity this summer. What are the odds that we will still be able to get a room at POR if we reschedule to a date later this summer? And I'm guessing that we will also lose our 20% summer discount when we postpone? Anything else I should/need to think about in this situation? We're praying for the best, but he obviously comes first. This will be our first Disney trip and my head was spinning trying to get all the details together already, but with this thrown in the mix, I'm really frazzled!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

I'm sorry to hear about your FIL. Disney has an offer for Aug 15 - Sep 28 for up to 25% off POR.

 

[CareHeartsDisney]

Hello! I am totally new here (1st post!) although I have been reading and following along with the Port Orleans Riverside thread for days. We have reservations for a Royal Guest Room(garden view) the 1st week in December and are super excited to stay at POR for the very 1st time. Previous stays have all been at the value resorts. My question is: Should we request either Oak Manor or Parterre Place? We will be using a stroller for our daughter and are requesting a ground floor room but other than that we are so excited to just get to stay at this resort I think we will be happy just about anywhere! I had read previously about the noise level of the nightly movies played in the courtyard at Oak Manor but Parterre Place seems to have several rooms that could be a good bit farther away from things. Any suggestions?

Thank you so much in advance!

I would suggest that you word your request in order of preference such as ground floor in a quiet room close to the bridge. This would most likely place you on the side of Parterre closest to the bridge or in Oak Manor hopefully away from the movie screen. Although, I have heard that the movies are not heard in the actual rooms on that side of the building so you might be alright even if you are placed in a room near the movie screen.

 

[mcever4]

Surprised in a good way to hear that you were happy with building 36 - that looks so far on the map! Did you find it fastest to go through the pool area to the main building from your room or around the river? Also, did you use both the North and South depot or mainly the north? Curious if one was better than the other. Nice to hear a positive review of the "outer" buildings. Sounds like a great trip!

It does look like a long way on the map, but it isn't. We even had a parking lot view, so that made it a little farther. We always walked to the river and over the bridge around the pool area. It is a very nice walk and our 4 year old even walked it without the stroller after being in the parks all day! We always used the North Depot, never South since we weren't over there in the mornings before heading out. Our room didn't feel rustic either like I expected it to. The only thing rustic about it was the log head boards and the wood paneling in the shower. It was a very nice room!!! I can't wait to get back there!

Robin

 

[Missytara]

Hello! I am totally new here (1st post!) although I have been reading and following along with the Port Orleans Riverside thread for days. We have reservations for a Royal Guest Room(garden view) the 1st week in December and are super excited to stay at POR for the very 1st time. Previous stays have all been at the value resorts. My question is: Should we request either Oak Manor or Parterre Place? We will be using a stroller for our daughter and are requesting a ground floor room but other than that we are so excited to just get to stay at this resort I think we will be happy just about anywhere! I had read previously about the noise level of the nightly movies played in the courtyard at Oak Manor but Parterre Place seems to have several rooms that could be a good bit farther away from things. Any suggestions?

Thank you so much in advance!

Parterre Place can have some of the most remote rooms of the resort, but they are mostly standard. Garden view will get you a little closer.

I have enjoyed Parterre Place on a solo trip; I had riverview before they were RR's. It was ideal for me, because I preferred to be closer to the footbridge that was closest to the marina side because I spent a lot of time at DTD using the resort bus hub.

Before that, Oak Manor was my favorite location and I found most of my rooms to be a very nice location facing the woods and one year I was facing the pool. That was a somewhat noisy location, but still very desirable on a solo trip.

My new fav is now Acadian House.

 

[Dittz]

Thank you for the responses. Another question. Planning on DD birthday morning breakfast at 1900 park fare and then an appt at the MK BBB. Even though we will have access to a vehicle, what would be the best way to get to these locations from POR and approximately how long would the travel time be.

 

[Missytara]

Thank you for the responses. Another question. Planning on DD birthday morning breakfast at 1900 park fare and then an appt at the MK BBB. Even though we will have access to a vehicle, what would be the best way to get to these locations from POR and approximately how long would the travel time be.

Car would be best. Buses do start running at 6:30 am for early morning ADR's, but they don't run as frequently, because the parks aren't open yet. Then you would have to transfer to a bus over to GF from MK.

If you do take the bus, allow at least one hour.

Driving would take about 20 minutes to drive and park at GF for breakfast - they will give you a three hour pass, and then move to the MK lot when done.