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

[ILoveMMouse]

I read that for fishing you are supplied bait and that the fishing is catch and release..

Stupid quesiton: are there CMs there to help??
I will be traveling without DH and I know my son will want to try this..Never been fishing. And I am too chicken to bait a worm ( I read they have hotdogs as bait, true?)..

And what happens if we catch a fish. I have no idea how to release a fish...
Soo are there people to help?

I read that they used hot dogs for bait there too, not sure where but I did read it. It's not true, we did the fishing in November and they use worms for bait. There is a CM behind the rental counter, not sure if they'd be able leave and help you bait the worms though.

 

[EeyoreJMH]

We just checked in yesterday and have a great AB corner room. Our fridge was unplugged with a note, so we inquired at front desk later in the day to see if it would be possible to get one. They found one for us, but it hasn't arrived as of this morning. Ah we'll! It's vacation

It looks like they've started installing the RFID machines -- 3 of the 4 have the screens, but only 1 has the little platforms for the cups. They are still selling the non-RFID cups as of this morning and the machines are still in non-RFID mode.

 

[SplashMountainMama]

I started a thread with the same questions on the resorts board, but then realized I should've just asked here. So here goes...


We are leaving for POR in a few weeks and I have searched the boards, but can't seem to locate answers to these questions. In previous trips I didn't do online check-in, but was thinking of trying it this trip. Because I have 6 kids, we are in 2 rooms at POR. 2 of my kids are in a room with my parents and I'm in the other room with the other 4 kids. Our reservations are linked and I have access to both through the Disney website. When I tried to do online check-in and got to the part where it asks for special requests the only option given is to check off for a pack n play (which we do not need). Am I missing something? I thought I would be able to put in other requests like ground floor or specific buildings. We are staying in a river view room and since we have 1 room with 5, I'm assuming we will be in AB. So here are my questions:

1) Should I do online check-in without putting in special requests? Should I call the resort?
2) Are there still rooms POR without a fridge? My son has Type 1 diabetes and we will require one for his insulin. I didn't mention it at the time of reservation because I assumed all rooms would have one.
3) Since our reservations are linked, will I be able to check in for both rooms? I want to check in early the first day, but I'm not sure my parents want to be up at the crack of dawn. I would like to make sure I can access the tickets for the 2 kids on my parents reservation.

Thanks!

 

[momofboyz3]

I read that for fishing you are supplied bait and that the fishing is catch and release..

Stupid quesiton: are there CMs there to help??
I will be traveling without DH and I know my son will want to try this..Never been fishing. And I am too chicken to bait a worm ( I read they have hotdogs as bait, true?)..

And what happens if we catch a fish. I have no idea how to release a fish...
Soo are there people to help?

Hi~ my ds13 fell in love with this!!! My boys have never fished before or expressed interest. We happen to walk by it & all 3 of my sons were interested In trying. It was my basketball player son who continued to want to do this every morning (with RD he was only able to do it twice more on our vaca) he did it for a few hours.
So you go up to the CM & he will explain what to do & also give u a dish of worms (not my thing). Then my boys asked a million questions. The CM was great & ended up just walking us over & helped out for a few minutes. They did not catch anything. The day of checkout I just gave my twins13 my room key (it's a few buck) to charge it for a few hours. One of them caught a fish, took a pic and then unhooked it and put it back in.
It was very relaxing I'm sure your family will enjoy

 

[andrewilley]

Anyway, we have a preferred room booked, do I need to worry about a parking lot view with this?

Also, my IL's will be coming with us as well (connecting room)...

There are not very many Preferred rooms which overlook the parking lots (a few in building 14 and a few in 15) but even if you do get one it's not an unpleasant view anyway, there are tress and vegetation not just a mass of concrete. You could always request a garden view if you are concerned.

Oh, and remember that you are not guaranteed connecting rooms, but there are a lot about so there's a very good chance you'll get your wish if that's what you have requested.

It looks like they've started installing the RFID machines -- 3 of the 4 have the screens, but only 1 has the little platforms for the cups.

Interesting! Could you get a photo of the new dispensers in the food court? I expect they'll need to test them for a bit before going live for guests, but sounds like it's not far off now.

1) Should I do online check-in without putting in special requests? Should I call the resort?
2) Are there still rooms POR without a fridge? My son has Type 1 diabetes and we will require one for his insulin. I didn't mention it at the time of reservation because I assumed all rooms would have one.
3) Since our reservations are linked, will I be able to check in for both rooms? I want to check in early the first day, but I'm not sure my parents want to be up at the crack of dawn. I would like to make sure I can access the tickets for the 2 kids on my parents reservation.

Are you using the USA online checkin site (the new "My Disney Experience" version, with PIN numbers for your resort cards, etc) or the older international version? The current USA one offers other choices, so I'm guessing you are not connecting to the new site:

You can do online checkin for both reservations, but they may need to done separately unless they were both booked together by you in the first place. I wouldn't put any requests in at that stage to be honest, but send the resort a FAX about 5 days before your arrival. There are still a lot of rooms without fridges, so you do need to make sure that they know you need one as a medical requirement. See the first 'FAQ' post for more detailed answers, or www.portorleans.org/room-requests.php.

Andre

 

[4myboyz]

Does POR have rooms with connecting doors? We made a request to be NEAR family that we are traveling with but I prefer NOT to have a common door. Wondering if I need to reiterate that on my request but if its not an option I wouldn't need to.

 

[Patience]

Does POR have rooms with connecting doors? We made a request to be NEAR family that we are traveling with but I prefer NOT to have a common door. Wondering if I need to reiterate that on my request but if its not an option I wouldn't need to.

They do have rooms with connecting doors as far as I know. We requested a room without a connecting door. I don't like having a connecting door unless I know whomever is in the adjoining room and want a connecting door.

 

[joeswife1109]

For coffee, I bought Starbucks VIA and creamers (found in the coffee aisle) and all I plan to do is heat the water in the coffee maker and make my Starbucks each day.

 

[sweetnjmom]

I have a question for anyone who has stayed at POR with a River View room. Are the views actually good? Though I chose the category for the view and for the better odds of being in a mansion building (as only 3 AB bldgs have river views, I think). My TA has a request in, and we plan to fax the resort the week before our stay. But it would be nice if we can actually see the river from the room.

 

[Hulagirlie2003]

Hello! Does anyone know why POR seems to be so full for the 1st week of December? Is something going on that week? Thanks and have a great day.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I have a question for anyone who has stayed at POR with a River View room. Are the views actually good? Though I chose the category for the view and for the better odds of being in a mansion building (as only 3 AB bldgs have river views, I think). My TA has a request in, and we plan to fax the resort the week before our stay. But it would be nice if we can actually see the river from the room.

Yes, you will see it, but remember that the walkway to get to the rooms is also between you and your view. I, for one, have a big issue with leaving my curtains open, knowing that folks are constantly walking by and may glance inside my room while we are there.

Just my 2 cents on the matter

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Hello! Does anyone know why POR seems to be so full for the 1st week of December? Is something going on that week? Thanks and have a great day.

First, even if 1 night is sold out for your stay, it will show your entire trip as "unavailable."

However:

Earlier this year, several pin codes went out that offered free dining or room discounts for this week.

Also, Thanksgiving is late this year, so you may still have a few stragglers that are flying home on Monday instead of over the weekend

Lastly, Pop Warner football tournament is the 2nd week, and some folks might be flying in at the end of the first week/weekend to get some park time in before the games start. I know in the past that POR has been a participating resort for those groups.

HTH!

 

[sweetnjmom]

Yes, you will see it, but remember that the walkway to get to the rooms is also between you and your view. I, for one, have a big issue with leaving my curtains open, knowing that folks are constantly walking by and may glance inside my room while we are there.

Just my 2 cents on the matter

Thanks for the info! I'm hoping for the best here.

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

First, even if 1 night is sold out for your stay, it will show your entire trip as "unavailable."

However:

Earlier this year, several pin codes went out that offered free dining or room discounts for this week.

Also, Thanksgiving is late this year, so you may still have a few stragglers that are flying home on Monday instead of over the weekend

Lastly, Pop Warner football tournament is the 2nd week, and some folks might be flying in at the end of the first week/weekend to get some park time in before the games start. I know in the past that POR has been a participating resort for those groups.

HTH!

Thanks for the info - any idea if the heavy use of that pin also applies to early October's gap in potential discounts starting Aug 1 (if the other boards are to be believed)? Or do you think that's just because of Columbus Day weekend? Many thanks.

 

[candeeapril]

I would say yes if your children are young like mine. That was what I was originally planning. However, I doubt there will be any preferred rooms available with the FD promotion.

We are going in March. So far there are still preferred rooms available.

 

[bud14210]

No, if you try to do it in advance (a) they'll just get confused and (b) they'll most probably want to charge you $30/night for the extra two adults.

Just let the front desk know during your stay (no need to do it when you first check in). If you just let them know that you've got two local friends visiting to celebrate with you for a couple of days, I think it's very unlikely that they'll charge you any extra. But I think you're right in letting them know for all sorts of reasons (safety issues for one). Not sure whether they'll issue separate room keys or not though, they might.

I like the BC too, especially for the easy access to Epcot. Now if I could just walk to Epcot in 4 minutes from POR, life would be perfect.

'Preferred Location' category does not technically include the six 'Pool View' rooms in building 18 - but that said, there are a number of other Preferred rooms which are very close to the pool, just not having a full direct view of it (trees in the way for example). Just ask for a room as close to the pool as possible and see what they can do for you.

We fly from Birmingham via Newark, so we'll clear US customs and immigration at New York, and then have an internal flight onward to MCO, so we just get to step off the plane at Orlando and walk right on though to internal baggage claim in the terminal building. We live about 8 miles north of Birmingham, so it's our most convenient airport.

Maybe see you around the resort, you never know!

Andre

This our first visit to port Orleans riverside former(Dixie landings) in 20 years since honeymoon 1993 been to Disney 45x and finally convinced wife our old honeymoon spot any new things that you can recommend ?! Very much appreciated!!!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Thanks for the info - any idea if the heavy use of that pin also applies to early October's gap in potential discounts starting Aug 1 (if the other boards are to be believed)? Or do you think that's just because of Columbus Day weekend? Many thanks.

Free dining tends to be blacked out around holidays. Sometimes a room discount will cover it though.

Here is a thread on the codes board that discusses the upcoming rumored discounts. You will get better answers there

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3146492

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

We are going in March. So far there are still preferred rooms available.

Yes, I noticed there are preferred rooms now. I keep checking too. : ) when the FD offer comes out, however, there are only a set number of rooms set aside for FD in each category and the preferred rooms tend to go first.
I am still hoping for preferred but not hopeful.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

If you pay for a river view room you have a shot at getting a preferred building correct? 14 or 27? If you pay for preferred you won't get a river view, correct?

 

[andrewilley]

I have a question for anyone who has stayed at POR with a River View room. Are the views actually good?

Yup, the views can be pretty good:

While it's true that you don't have a private balcony, the way that the resort is laid out means there are many different routes into and around the buildings, so the foot-traffic past any individual room is not generally that bad (especially on the upper floors).

If you pay for a river view room you have a shot at getting a preferred building correct? 14 or 27? If you pay for preferred you won't get a river view, correct?

Correct. River View category includes more than 30 rooms within buildings 14 and 27, whereas Preferred Location does not technically include any river, or indeed pool, views.

Andre