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

[su_A_ve]

We are booked for CSR but we might be getting an extra person coming with us. So I've been looking about availability for 3A/2Jr at POR without success. But just now I saw availability.

Instead of changing my existing res, I made a new one at POR garden view. Would this mean I will have 2 queen and the Murphy? I will try to call and adjust my original res as it was made before the price increase so I get the lower room and ticket prices.

Tia...

 

[Mom2six]

Anybody who is or has stayed in AB room know if the Murphy Bed mattress comes off to lay on the floor for a kid who rolls a lot?

Venomhatch or Andre will probably know this answer, but I had thought someone said bed rails were available for it. I hope so b/c my 7 year old will be sleeping there and she rolls around a lot and is used to a double bed. She'll roll right out.

 

[maxiesmom]

Honestly, I have been so happy to get into POR-R with free dining that I had not really checked out where these rooms are on the portorleans.org website map, (which is awesome btw). I just never got back to it until the kids went back to school. : ) I did not realize that ALL of the standard rooms are so very far out from everything! I sent my TA an email to try to upgrade to garden view if she sees anything available, so wish me luck! I thought about preferred or river view but I think that might be a little more than my husband is willing to spend on that upgrade. What is everyone else's experience with garden view rooms versus Riverview. Did you feel it was worth it, and why?
If anyone has pictures of the views from their common balcony, I'd love to see that too!

All of the standard rooms are not that far from the main buildings. It just depends on where you end up. I don't think changing to a garden view will up your chances of being close to the front. For that, you really need to book a preferred room.

 

[andrewilley]

Are the Royal Rooms only available in buildings 90 and 95?

Correct, see the map in the first post.

Hi everyone,
We'll be going down on Wed. We're wondering where we can get milk and bottled water at PORS. Also read it might be cheaper at the Hess Gas station if you don't have a car, and we won't have one this time.

You can get milk (up to half gal) and water (gallon) from the hotel shop, or as you say you could walk over to the Hess gas station in Downtown Disney - but it'd be a bit of a hike back carrying a couple of gallons of liquid on foot! For my money, the saving of a dollar or two just wouldn't be worth the hassle (especially compared to how much you are paying for your time in Disney overall).

Anybody who is or has stayed in AB room know if the Murphy Bed mattress comes off to lay on the floor for a kid who rolls a lot?

Yes, the murphy bed mattress can be removed if you wish. If it is attached at all, it is only with velcro.

Is the water in the machine filtered water?

Yes, and it appears to be less chlorinated than the water from the taps and drinking fountains. I sometimes fill my water bottle there before going to the parks (the CMs say this is okay for water by the way).

Thank you also. We are hoping with every day that we are granted!

Thinking of you and your family, I hope the treatment is successful, but I know it must be a very worrying time for everyone.

Andre

 

[brios86]

We checked in yesterday and got some major pixie dust sent our way. We had some issues with our KTTW but finally got it fixed. The first CM that checked us in was amazing and very kind.

 

[OneBadApple]

Yeah I believe ordering them from amazon would be fine. I have not heard of POR charging anyone for holding anything for a guest about to check in.

Thanks for the kind words also. Not to gain pity or hijack the thread. But My father in law was recently diagnosed with lymph node cancer. So everything has been directed to his chemo treatments and hoping he gets better.

Best wishes to your FIL, you and your family.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

All of the standard rooms are not that far from the main buildings. It just depends on where you end up. I don't think changing to a garden view will up your chances of being close to the front. For that, you really need to book a preferred room.

I don't know about that, if you pull up the map, standard rooms are all a lot further away from everything, at least they were in AB on the map.

 

[maxiesmom]

I don't know about that, if you pull up the map, standard rooms are all a lot further away from everything, at least they were in AB on the map.

Not all of them. The map shows standard rooms in all of the buildings. Even those buildings right next to the preferred buildings. Building #16 shows a lot of standard rooms! So it will depend on luck of the draw where you end up. Same as will happen if you book a garden view.

The only way to be sure you are close to the main buildings is to upgrade to a preferred room. Otherwise you can end up anywhere.

 

[mrsmomo]

Venomhatch: prayers to you and your family my mil had cancer it can be rough, keep your head up and try 2 stay positive

 

[jcemom]

I don't know about that, if you pull up the map, standard rooms are all a lot further away from everything, at least they were in AB on the map.

Almost every building (except for the preferred buildings) has some standard view rooms, so some of them are going to be far from everything and others aren't. I looked at the same map on Andre's site that I think you must be looking at. Did you click on each area/building number? The white rooms are standard and the green are garden view.

Building 16, for example...the closest rooms to the food court are standard and the garden view rooms are in the "courtyard" area. Magnolia building has some standard rooms all the way at the "front" towards the food court, and some are all the way in the back. The same goes for garden view, they run the entire length of the building.

 

[Venomhatch]

Good morning to you all. I would like to start off today to thank all of you, really, about all the prayers and support for this time and need of understanding. I am very sorry to those who have been thinking I was ignoring them in the Official Dates thread and here, for I have just had way too much on my mind. I did get caught up last night on everything I needed to. But I just felt like some may think I was ignoring everyone. If anyone continues to need help you may contact me, but if for some reason I don't see it or it gets covered quickly as most posts do. Fell free to PM me if you need something. I don't mind it, just understand I may be preoccupied.

Thank you all again for your support in this time.

D~

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Almost every building (except for the preferred buildings) has some standard view rooms, so some of them are going to be far from everything and others aren't. I looked at the same map on Andre's site that I think you must be looking at. Did you click on each area/building number? The white rooms are standard and the green are garden view.

Building 16, for example...the closest rooms to the food court are standard and the garden view rooms are in the "courtyard" area. Magnolia building has soom standard rooms all the way at the "front" towards the food court, and some are all the way in the back. The same goes for garden view, they run the entire length of the building.

Yes, I did click on each one. Building 16 really was the only one that had standard rooms that i consider to be close though. We are a family of 5 also so would have to be in AB. Since building 16 is the only close building with standard rooms, just seem to be MANY more close garden view rooms so I thought that would increase my odds.
I do know that paying for preferred rooms, or river view really, are the only way to guarantee a good location but I kind of allocated the extra $250 that I would have put into the preferred room, into getting a room at AoA for our last night. I promised DH I would keep this trip within budget, so I'm really trying my hardest. : )
I don't think I have heard of ANYONE getting free dining this fall in a preferred room in Alligator Bayou, so I don't think it is an option for us. This is probably just as well...I can stay within budget this way! : )
I am just hoping to increase my chances at this point, I do understand it is not a guarantee. : )

 

[jcemom]

Ah okay. It might increase your chances, statistically. There are lots of garden view rooms back in buildings 35 and 36 too though.

We didn't request anything this time because I wasn't sure what to request.

 

[Austinsmom068]

Staples has free delivery for purchases of $19.99 and up. I just bought two cases of water and a 4pk of milk for my son. It came a to $20 so I got free shipping.

 

[WyoMickey]

Yes, I did click on each one. Building 16 really was the only one that had standard rooms that i consider to be close though. We are a family of 5 also so would have to be in AB. Since building 16 is the only close building with standard rooms, just seem to be MANY more close garden view rooms so I thought that would increase my odds.
I do know that paying for preferred rooms, or river view really, are the only way to guarantee a good location but I kind of allocated the extra $250 that I would have put into the preferred room, into getting a room at AoA for our last night. I promised DH I would keep this trip within budget, so I'm really trying my hardest. : )
I don't think I have heard of ANYONE getting free dining this fall in a preferred room in Alligator Bayou, so I don't think it is an option for us. This is probably just as well...I can stay within budget this way! : )
I am just hoping to increase my chances at this point, I do understand it is not a guarantee. : )

We found the Garden View upgrade to be reasonable in price and we have that with free dining. I've requested building 16 or 17 and yes I know it's not guaranteed and yes i have five people. Anyway, if I end up far away I'd rather be facing the gardens than the parking lot.

 

[lmhall2000]

I think I must be part Cruella!! I actually would not mind being placed far out..more walking means I can eat more!!! Or eat more and not gain weight! Now, the cruella part comes in b/c my dh is not a walker, he will moan and groan and likely suffer some very sore feet! I have walked 18 miles in 4 days!! I LOVE to walk...he walks 2 on the treadmill and his legs feel like noodles. I think this trip will be a shock to him to get in shape! I think the kids will be good (all teens)...on this note...

Have any of you ever put on an accurate pedometer and tracked how many miles you walk a day at POR and a park? I don't think I'm out of the ball park to say it could be 10 miles a day if you spend 12 hours at a park and all the walking at the resort Now, if I had 2 kids in strollers and all that went with that, I'd beg to be close Or vice versa, a disabled guest...that has to be tough!

 

[maxiesmom]

Ah okay. It might increase your chances, statistically. There are lots of garden view rooms back in buildings 35 and 36 too though.

We didn't request anything this time because I wasn't sure what to request.

Ok, I'm a little confused. When I checked for the price difference between garden view and preferred view, on All Ears it states that the garden view rooms have a max occupancy of 4 people. Is that right? If so, that won't help CaraMiaBelle at all.

Do the garden view rooms not have the additional murphy bed in them?

 

[andrewilley]

Yes, I did click on each one. Building 16 really was the only one that had standard rooms that i consider to be close though. We are a family of 5 also so would have to be in AB.

Since they created all the new categories, the most 'basic' bookings are now generally in the less desirable locations (parking lot views for example) but as has been said, there are also some Garden View rooms a fair way back too.

Your chances of getting a request met within Garden View (e.g. buildings 16/17) are probably higher than for Standard View. That said, do remember that a lot of people book Standard View by default (that's what most regular travel agents do for example) so quite often Standard View is overbooked and some people will get bumped up to Garden View rooms anyway just from necessity.

Personally, if cost is a major factor, I'd suggest leaving your booking as it is and faxing a nice request for a room as close as possible to the main building 3-5 days before arrival and keep your fingers crossed. And do remember that even the further away rooms are still nice, and the walks can be really pretty, and especially fun for kids to explore and watch out for wildlife. Don't stress too much about it.

Andre

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

We found the Garden View upgrade to be reasonable in price and we have that with free dining. I've requested building 16 or 17 and yes I know it's not guaranteed and yes i have five people. Anyway, if I end up far away I'd rather be facing the gardens than the parking lot.

Yeah, I guess that's kinda what I'm thinking too. Better a nice view far away, than a parking lot view far away. : ) and I may as well increase my odds!
I have seen that some people were able to get garden view with free dining so I guess that why I started looking at that option.

 

[Sydnerella]

Wondering what the best non preferred mansion gardenview room request is in terms of bus stop and food court/pool proximity. I'm a POFQ person staying at POR possibly for the first time. Reading up is interesting and since it is a sister resort we have been and know a bit about how spread out it is compared to FQ and looking for convenience (like many others I am sure)
TIA
Sydnerella's Mama

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards