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

[mrsmomo]

Arriving at por sept 7....just customized our magic bands!!!! So exciting!!! Still working on fast pass selections....

Woohoo hopefully I can soon!

 

[lmhall2000]

We check in on Sept. 1. Does this mean we will not be able to at least get FP+? If not, I will complain. We are staying until Sept. 10th, so people from the 3rd-10th will be able to get regular FP's and FP+ and we won't? It just doesn't seem fair. I understand there is a date they have to start the magicbands but getting less fastpasses does not seem fair.

Just to encourage those who are feeling the sting of non-fast passes...a couple of things...this is a relatively slow time....the last time we went in September with Free Dining..we walked on many rides especially in the mid-afternoon times (when many with young toddlers head back for that nap) and later in the evening when everyone is lined up for parades, we're going nuts riding Splash Mountain multiple times One night, they even let us stay on the ride about 4x in a row! So, if a family gets 2 fast passes for Splash Mountain, is it really that much better than hitting it on slow days/times of days and riding many times?
I've also found that my system of NOT going to the park that has Early Magic Hours (if that still exists now) is a good one! What happens if the Fast Passes/magic bands have huge blips and not a one works...that is the payoff for being a test group...it can stink...just don't think your trip will be diminished by missing an opportunity, you are going to Disney!!! IT will be AWESOME!!

 

[kandb]

Thanks Imhall, you made me feel better. I should be looking at the bright side, like staying at a great resort with free dining and great dinners planned all week. I just don't like to feel that we are "missing out" but everything you said is correct. Thanks again for taking the time to say it.

 

[Teri1]

Very excited to be a part of the test for the new magic bands. Arriving on the 3rd. Now I can arrive at the parks when I want and my favorite rides are on fast pass. I also was able to get fast-passes at MK for a linked reservation that happens to be a one night stay at the AOA resort and a 4th bonus FP showed up for the New LM ride.

 

[bhardy]

I need opinions for room requests. We are staying in a RR. And I was just curious which building people like better. Oak or Panterre ( don't know if that is spelled correctly). I know I would like near the pool, we have std view. Thanks for all the info thus thread has helped planning.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I need opinions for room requests. We are staying in a RR. And I was just curious which building people like better. Oak or Panterre ( don't know if that is spelled correctly). I know I would like near the pool, we have std view. Thanks for all the info thus thread has helped planning.

I would like this too!! We are also in a royal room, garden view.

 

[nannye]

4 more days!

can anyone tell me if Albert is still working at POR?

he was one of the best parts of our day!

 

[macadoo]

That will be the case once the system is fully live, yes. At the moment testers have been able to get regular Fastpasses too, but that won't last forever. They have also been able to book a new FP+ once the first one has been used in the park (from what's left for that day anyway) so they can keep up to three planned bookings active at any given time. I assume they will add a multi-park facility at some point in the future too.

Andre

Wonder how this will affect availability of fast pass for us who aren't part of the test , we are there until 5th and was hoping our last few days after labor day crowds have left were going to be quiet with less queueing but if everyone has 3 fast pass plus AND normal fast pass AND extra fast pass plus can't see there being many normal fast passes left

 

[andrewilley]

Do you need to "link your tickets" to a room/ticket package reservation to get the magic bands? Is it even necessary to link your tickets when you've booked a package? Because obviously I don't have the tickets yet?

Tickets do need to be linked for FastPass+ use, but not for Magic Bands as you will get those even for a room-only booking.

The magic bands are not available for customizing yet. They should be in the next few days.

I have a River View room plus FD booked right now and my question is, is it reasonable to request a Royal Room (even Standard, which is the exact same price point) and expect that request might be honored?

I have forwarded the comments about Magic Band customisation not working to the resort, as it seems to be a common issue (although one person has now said it worked for them).

As for swapping categories, you can certainly ask (as you say, regular River View is the same price as Royal Room standard) but there is no guarantee your request can be met. However at a quietish time of year you stand a better chance. Send a fax 4-5 days out (no more than 5 days, as 'pixie dust' category swaps are not available on the system until 5 days out) asking if this is possible.

the problem as I understand it is that we check in on the 2nd and the FP+ starts on the 3rd

It was suggested splitting the stay. I assume it means. Sept 2 and then sept3-8 instead of sept 2-8.

I am not sure how that is done but I assume I have to cancel and rebook everything and probably lose my free dining

You could get them to modify the 2nd-8th booking, removing only that first day but keep the rest intact. Then book a one-day for the 2nd (possibly with no free dining, depending on availability).

Remember that your park tickets might work out more expensive, as a one-day MYW ticket is a LOT more expensive than the difference between a 7-day and an 8-day ticket.

But is it really worth it, just to pre-book a few fastpasses which you can still do on-the-day when you are there anyway - just as you have for the past 10 years?


The fact that so many guests are arriving on 2nd Sept (the start of Free Dining) is the reason that the Magic Band launch isn't happening on the Monday by the way. The resort very sensibly doesn't want to launch a brand new system on a very busy checkin day.

We check in on Sept. 1. Does this mean we will not be able to at least get FP+? If not, I will complain.

For what? Sure, it is unfortunate that you check in two days before a new system is going to be made available for testing at your resort, but these things have to have a hard cut-off date somewhere. And the vast majority of Disney Resorts still won't have it at all as yet. I'm sorry it's happened to you, but it's really just one of those annoying little things that happen in life. And as I said above, the old system has worked fine for the last ten years, so it's not really too major a loss.

I need opinions for room requests. We are staying in a RR. And I was just curious which building people like better. Oak or Panterre ( don't know if that is spelled correctly). I know I would like near the pool, we have std view. Thanks for all the info thus thread has helped planning.

Don't request a specific building, just request a room close to the pool. There are rooms near the pool in both Oak and Parterre. If you really want to try to choose a building too, Oak would probably be marginally better - but make sure you mention the pool proximity first.

Wonder how this will affect availability of fast pass for us who aren't part of the test , we are there until 5th and was hoping our last few days after labor day crowds have left were going to be quiet with less queueing but if everyone has 3 fast pass plus AND normal fast pass AND extra fast pass plus can't see there being many normal fast passes left

I assume the more resorts they add, the more fastpass inventory will be allocated over to the new system and thus taken away from on-the-day guests. But FP+ people are still very much in the minority, so there should still be plenty available for regular guests.

Also, we don't know when the current ability for FP+ guests to also use regular fastpasses will be turned off.

Andre

 

[Patience]

Tickets do need to be linked for FastPass+ use, but not for Magic Bands as you will get those even for a room-only booking.

I have forwarded the comments about Magic Band customisation not working to the resort, as it seems to be a common issue (although one person has now said it worked for them).

Andre

Thank you for this Andre! You are quite remarkable to do this for everyone!

 

[Rach2109]

I was just able to customize our magic bands this morning! Still says I have 2 days left if I want to change them so I assume they will ship shortly after that? It's weird though cause first it shows it can't access my reservation but right under that it gives the correct reservation and my bands with my home address as the shipping address.

 

[Patience]

I just checked and I'm still not able to customize magic bands.

 

[NicolaFred]

I check in on sept 26th - oct 17th and can make fastpass+ until sept 28th. No band customisation yet.

 

[Three cats]

We were able to grab a Garden View room with the free dining discount for November. Normally i'd book a River view room but it wasn't available. We'd like to be close to the river front and Old Man Island bridge. Would you think thats asking too much for a room request? Would you phrase it any differently?

 

[andrewilley]

Thank you for this Andre! You are quite remarkable to do this for everyone!

I only passed on the Magic Band customisation issue in general terms, not on a person-by-person basis. Hopefully it will be working better soon anyway, as a few people seem to have had some success today.

We'd like to be close to the river front and Old Man Island bridge. Would you think thats asking too much for a room request? Would you phrase it any differently?

Sounds fine to me. AB might be a bit limited due to all the Preferred rooms there (although building #38 would work) but there are a number of mansion building rooms that would fit that request.

Andre

 

[mommy4]

Just had to share that I finally got more nights added to my free dining reservation!!! I have been trying several times a day for the past 2 weeks! 9 nights at POR!!!

 

[momofEAP]

Andre, quick question about the magicbands. We arrive on Sept. 2 so I know that we don't get the FB+ but does that also mean no magicbands? (Not a big deal just trying to clarify.) Thanks for all of your help!!

 

[andrewilley]

Andre, quick question about the magicbands. We arrive on Sept. 2 so I know that we don't get the FB+ but does that also mean no magicbands?

Correct, the first check-in date to get Magic Bands is 3rd September. Sorry.

As I mentioned earlier, the fact that a lot of guests are due to arrive on Monday 2nd Sept (the start of Free Dining) is the reason that the Magic Band launch isn't happening until the Tuesday. The resort very sensibly doesn't want to launch a brand new and still experimental system on an extremely busy checkin day.

Andre

 

[Patience]

I only passed on the Magic Band customisation issue in general terms, not on a person-by-person basis. Hopefully it will be working better soon anyway, as a few people seem to have had some success today.

Andre

Of course, but I am grateful for all of the information you provide so thanks!

 

[lazer]

Did online check-in and was able to customize bands immediately after. Arrive 9/13.