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

[ldoogie]

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

I'm wearing my heart rate monitor/pedometer this trip bc I'm really curious how much we actually walk! I am so curious to see what it is.

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

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.

Many thoughts and prayers for your and your family!!! So sorry you are going through this.

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

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!

I think i've seen that people on average walk about 5 miles a day in the parks, some folks on the site were tracking it at one point.... I had a pedometer with me at Disneyland in March when we were there - it was indeed about 5 miles and that park is packed close together!

 

[mum2four]

DH and I will be visiting WDW the end of January. We are currently planning to stay at WL, but due to some financial obligations that have come our way, we may be switchng to a mod. I really love the look of POR.

I know that January is prime tour group season. This does not concern me so much in the parks, as we are planning a "go with the flow, don't need to see everything" type of trip. But, I would like to avoid crowds and noise at our resort (as much as is possible at WDW LOL!).

So, for you POR experts, have you ever stayed during January and did you have any experiences, good or otherwise, with tour groups at POR during that time? Just want to be fully prepared on what to expect.

Thanks!

 

[TooBoyz4us]

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.

Sending positive and healing thoughts for your FIL Venomhatch! Cancer and all of its ugly side effects and treatments can really take an emotional toll on extended family as well as the patient.(Unfortunately, I speak from experience) Take care of eachother during this trying time

 

[TDDisney]

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. : )

If it helps at all, we stayed in Alligator Bayou in Oct. 2010. The landscaping and layout of the resort is just so gorgeous that we didn't even realize the distance. On the maps, it seems far. However, when you're there, it doesn't seem so far. My kids were 4 and 10 at the time, plus we had my mom (around 60) with us at the time, and no one had any trouble with the walk at all. We actually enjoyed it (and we're not exercise people by any stretch of the imagination...lol!). It's hard to explain if you've never been there before, but it's not just like a long, boring walk...there are things to look at the whole time, and to the kids the walk was more like a fun adventure...Plus, it really wasn't that long to anywhere we went. Hope this makes sense and helps ease your mind .
Oh yeah....and our room in alligator bayou was a standard room....

 

[TDDisney]

DH and I will be visiting WDW the end of January. We are currently planning to stay at WL, but due to some financial obligations that have come our way, we may be switchng to a mod. I really love the look of POR.

I know that January is prime tour group season. This does not concern me so much in the parks, as we are planning a "go with the flow, don't need to see everything" type of trip. But, I would like to avoid crowds and noise at our resort (as much as is possible at WDW LOL!).

So, for you POR experts, have you ever stayed during January and did you have any experiences, good or otherwise, with tour groups at POR during that time? Just want to be fully prepared on what to expect.

Thanks!

One of the huge reasons we love POR is that we find it to be a very quiet and relaxing resort. We've done values before, but the noise makes us a bit crazy. POR is just so quiet and peaceful . We've stayed in Oct. 3 times now. We stayed at WL in Dec., but we found POR to be quieter than WL. If you enjoy those quiet times, I suggest a carriage ride around POR or a sleighride (still carriage, but you feel like it's a sleigh at the campground. Nice and relaxing, peaceful, and quiet. Have fun!

 

[KarenMac72]

Just got a letter from Disney regarding no refrigerators. I like the thought of using the space for additional storage, but we always used the frig for breakfast stuff. Bummer!

When we were there, the old fridge was still in our room, so there was no additional storage.

 

[siskaren]

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

I was just looking at the map on portorleans.org, and it looks like with the mansion rooms, you can either be close to a bus stop or the food court/pool, but not really both. However, if you want close proximity to the food court because you're going to be eating breakfast there every morning, then you can just use the south depot, which is closest to the food court. Just make your request general; if you try to be specific (like a building or even a room number), then if it's not available they're not going to know why you want it.

 

[mum2four]

One of the huge reasons we love POR is that we find it to be a very quiet and relaxing resort. We've done values before, but the noise makes us a bit crazy. POR is just so quiet and peaceful . We've stayed in Oct. 3 times now. We stayed at WL in Dec., but we found POR to be quieter than WL. If you enjoy those quiet times, I suggest a carriage ride around POR or a sleighride (still carriage, but you feel like it's a sleigh at the campground. Nice and relaxing, peaceful, and quiet. Have fun!

Thanks for the response. We stayed at AOA this year, and while the kids had a wonderful time, I did not particularly enjoy the crowds and constant busyness of the resort. We are looking for a different vibe for DH and I next trip. Thanks for mentioning the carriage ride, I'll have to keep that in mind!

 

[Venomhatch]

Thank you everyone for the Thoughts and Prayers we need every bit we can.

 

[CareHeartsDisney]

Thanks for the response. We stayed at AOA this year, and while the kids had a wonderful time, I did not particularly enjoy the crowds and constant busyness of the resort. We are looking for a different vibe for DH and I next trip. Thanks for mentioning the carriage ride, I'll have to keep that in mind!

My kids and I stayed at AoA in a Car's Suite and while we loved all the room and the theming was great, I agree with you, it was busy, especially at the bus stop. Next, we stayed at POR and we all liked POR a lot. We really loved the beautiful grounds and the peacefulness.

Thank you everyone for the Thoughts and Prayers we need every bit we can.

Venom, my thoughts and prayers are also with you and your family.

 

[disneymania0711]

How is the view in the standard RGR rooms??? From the pics I see even if it faces the parking lot the courtyard is still a pretty sight to look at. Also, what is the walk to the bus depot like??

Thanks!!

 

[Venomhatch]

How is the view in the standard RGR rooms??? From the pics I see even if it faces the parking lot the courtyard is still a pretty sight to look at. Also, what is the walk to the bus depot like??

Thanks!!

The courtyard views on the back side aka parking lot side are garden views. So if you have a standard you may be viewing cars and or obstructed parking lot views.

 

[Gorechick]

How is the view in the standard RGR rooms??? From the pics I see even if it faces the parking lot the courtyard is still a pretty sight to look at. Also, what is the walk to the bus depot like??

Thanks!!

We stayed in the center of Parterre next to the elevator and found South depot was most convenient.

 

[Sydnerella]

I was just looking at the map on portorleans.org, and it looks like with the mansion rooms, you can either be close to a bus stop or the food court/pool, but not really both. However, if you want close proximity to the food court because you're going to be eating breakfast there every morning, then you can just use the south depot, which is closest to the food court. Just make your request general; if you try to be specific (like a building or even a room number), then if it's not available they're not going to know why you want it.

Thank you, I should look at the maps and get the fax form that Venom posted as well. It would be nice to be more close to FC and pool I think, as you state, this way we can head to the south depot after eating breakfast.

I will request Mansions as Inlaws prefer those and then look for a building/bridge that would be helpful to be near. Thanks!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Dittz]

I believe I have read this here, and just want to double check.

We will be staying at POR

Thinking of going to Ohana for breakfast one morning, we will have our own car and would drive ourselves, then wanted to do Magic Kingdom

If we want to leave our van at the poly while we monorail to MK we would have to pay for valet correct, or else we can only park for 3 hours

If this is correct, how much is valet parking??

Thanks everyone. I love this thread.

 

[siskaren]

Thank you, I should look at the maps and get the fax form that Venom posted as well. It would be nice to be more close to FC and pool I think, as you state, this way we can head to the south depot after eating breakfast.

I will request Mansions as Inlaws prefer those and then look for a building/bridge that would be helpful to be near. Thanks!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

It looks like some of the rooms in Magnolia Terrace would be your best bet, but again, if you just ask for that building, you could end up on the opposite end of the building from the bridge. I would ask for mansions, close to the bridge.

 

[Gorechick]

I believe I have read this here, and just want to double check.

We will be staying at POR

Thinking of going to Ohana for breakfast one morning, we will have our own car and would drive ourselves, then wanted to do Magic Kingdom

If we want to leave our van at the poly while we monorail to MK we would have to pay for valet correct, or else we can only park for 3 hours

If this is correct, how much is valet parking??

Thanks everyone. I love this thread.

I think it was $14 or $15 when we did the same at dinner last summer. So worth it.

 

[KYDisneyDad]

Opinions on best RR river view?

POFQ veterans with first Riverside stay 10/2 to 10/12. We are doing a RR room with river view and thanks to Andrews excellent web site, we've checked out the room maps and such, but can anyone share their opinions on which of the two buildings and which rooms, levels may give the best view or be more convenient to main building based on your experiences? Just in case we have options for room requests when we check in I'd like to pick everyone's brain a bit......