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

[justakrazymom]

I always say what have you got to lose by faxing?

What time are you arriving though, as the downside of having rooms 'blocked out' in advance is that unless they are both empty the night before, it's hard to guarantee in advance when they will be ready for to you occupy. It can sometimes become a choice between getting the best from whatever happens to be available when you arrive (i.e. "Ready Rooms") versus waiting for previously blocked out rooms to become available.

Andre

flight lands at 10:45am..so "late" for when we usually arrive ( 8am and have always had rooms ready but have never made a request). I think my only request will be not having to switch rooms...

 

[texnmickey]

our trip is oct 7-12th. our flight doesn't get in till 630 on the 7th what are the chances of us getting "upgraded" to a royal room just by asking? does this ever happen?

 

[Disney Diva Mom]

We are going to be planning an extended family trip to POR next August 2014 (15th to 22). The online system is not showing ANY rooms available. They aren't renovating POR next summer are they??? .

 

[LONES]

We're planning a trip in January with my parents. For the first time, I think my Dad will be renting a scooter with an off-site company. Our requests in the past have always been... close to main building, connecting rooms, ground floor or near elevator. Last time we were in a ground floor, connecting rooms in the inner courtyard of Magnolia Terrace. I thought it was a pretty good location, but that walk was still pretty brutal for my dad. I made a lot of runs to refill his mug, and get things from the food court for him.

This time, we're thinking my parents might do better with an accessible room (not wheelchair... just the ones with the higher toilet and grab bars). Is that considered a bookable category... or is it just a request like any other random request? Also, we are considering booking preferred location. We didn't last time, out of fear that we would get put on the 2nd floor. As much as distance has been a problem for my dad.... steps are out of the question. If we were to book a preferred room this time, would the fact that he has a scooter guarantee a first floor room? Thanks for any help!

 

[jsw1114]

We check in next sat the 14, should I fax my requests Monday? We r booked preferred but would like to b closer to food court building 14 would b the ideal place as husband has knee issues. Also what r the crowds like during that week? We stayed last week in September last year and crowds were great till end of week when food and wine started. Another question what r the odds our rooms (2) will b ready by 1ish that Saturday. Thanks!!!!!

 

[gipcrew4]

We arrive the 14th, too! There were no preferred rooms available when we booked, so we got a garden view. The countdown is on!!! And I still haven't told the kids :/

 

[merentha]

We arrive the 14th, too! There were no preferred rooms available when we booked, so we got a garden view. The countdown is on!!! And I still haven't told the kids :/

Lol same situation as us, no preferred only garden for FD, but we are in on the 19th. Wife and I are going to tell them the night before!

 

[andrewilley]

our trip is oct 7-12th. our flight doesn't get in till 630 on the 7th what are the chances of us getting "upgraded" to a royal room just by asking? does this ever happen?

You probably stand a better chance if you don't ask. I think they are more likely to randomly pixie dust upgrade some deserving-seeming family, rather than someone who is basically asking for something-for-nothing.

It wouldn't do any harm, if you are faxing in a general location request anyway, to mention how your "two little Disney Princess obsessed girls are looking forward to all the magical fun of staying inside Disney World...", or some such.

We are going to be planning an extended family trip to POR next August 2014 (15th to 22). The online system is not showing ANY rooms available. They aren't renovating POR next summer are they??? .

Not as far as I know, and I'm booked for 14-31 Aug and all room-types were available for that whole period a few weeks ago. Probably a glitch, they are doing a lot of work on the systems at the moment.

We check in next sat the 14, should I fax my requests Monday? Another question what r the odds our rooms (2) will b ready by 1ish that Saturday. Thanks!!!!!

Sounds a good time to fax. You might well have rooms by 1pm, but you'd stand a better chance if you're not too fussy about location; if you want two pre-assigned connecting rooms in AB #14 then you might have to wait until they are both ready.

This time, we're thinking my parents might do better with an accessible room (not wheelchair... just the ones with the higher toilet and grab bars). Is that considered a bookable category... or is it just a request like any other random request?

Yes, you can book Accessible rooms specifically, tick the box on the website when you search for your dates and they will be listed for you. You can get two types of wheelchair accessible rooms which have the separate 'open-plan' wash/toilet area (one type has a roll-in shower, the other has a tub). You can also get a "Florida Special" room which basically is the same as a regular room but with extra grab handles by the bath, etc.

If you book Preferred and one of those room types, you will most likely be on the ground floor, but add that as a request to make sure as a few of the Florida Special rooms are upstairs.

Andre

 

[babydoll65]

If you book Preferred and one of those room types, you will most likely be on the ground floor, but add that as a request to make sure as a few of the Florida Special rooms are upstairs.

Andre[/QUOTE]

We're booked in a wheelchair assesable room with a roll in shower. Are these rooms ALL on the ground floor? Can you ask for one on the second or third floors? I'm assuming this is a request you would need to fax in. My mother hates being on the ground floor due to traffic walking by. Personally, I don't really care but iv got to make her happy.

 

[Pirates life for me]

Hello everyone,

Stayed at POP twice first time to POR with my 7 and 9 year old girls and most likely will not be taking a trip back for quite a while...the girls are still into princesses and my question is do you think the Royal Rooms are worth the extra cost?

 

[Yellowstonetim]

We made reservations months ago for a standard room with dining then a few days ago faxed our requests and then asked this morning for a room closest to the main building. I said I was willing to pay for an upgrade if necessary. I had asked for as close as possible, King, corner. We got an upgrade without cost for a royal room just across the Bridge and a garden view corner room, to boot! Very nice. The royal rooms are much nicer than I expected and roomy enough. A hanging organizer an pop-up hamper both paid for themselves.

Off to bed. Long day at AK today, opening MK tomorrow!

 

[mousefan73]

We made reservations months ago for a standard room with dining then a few days ago faxed our requests and then asked this morning for a room closest to the main building. I said I was willing to pay for an upgrade if necessary. I had asked for as close as possible, King, corner. We got an upgrade without cost for a royal room just across the Bridge and a garden view corner room, to boot! Very nice. The royal rooms are much nicer than I expected and roomy enough. A hanging organizer an pop-up hamper both paid for themselves.

Off to bed. Long day at AK today, opening MK tomorrow!

We must be neighbors! We are in a RR now. Pool view. Just got back from MK. Was awesome. No lines in fantasyland from 8:30-close.

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Originally Posted by IamBelle
Good Morning!
We leave for POR in 9 days
On 1 of our days we would like to go to Downtown Disney in the morning. I see that the boat does not start running until 10. Does anyone know if POR will have a DD bus before that?
Thank you!

Remember that a lot of the shops and such at DTD do not open until 9 or 10am as well, so there is not a whole lot to do there before then.

 

[andrewilley]

We're booked in a wheelchair assesable room with a roll in shower. Are these rooms ALL on the ground floor? Can you ask for one on the second or third floors?

Most are (and ALL of them in the Alligator Bayou section, which has no elevators). In the mansion buildings there are some wheelchair accessible rooms on higher floors though, generally close to the elevators. See my floorplan maps for exact locations.

Stayed at POP twice first time to POR with my 7 and 9 year old girls and most likely will not be taking a trip back for quite a while...the girls are still into princesses and my question is do you think the Royal Rooms are worth the extra cost?

For girls of that age, definitely a fun thing to do. For us with an older child, she still really enjoyed the rooms (as did we) however while they are lovely, I think the extra cost will make them a one-and-done for us.

Andre

 

[karenlynn416]

So excited... leaving in 11 days for 1 night at All star sports, 2 nights at POR in a garden view room then 2 nights with my princess-crazy 5 year old niece in a Royal Room.

Just curious, I'm not super fond of the AB theming, do they generally save those rooms for families since it sleeps 5? Its just DBF and I until we switch to the Royal Rooms, and I'd like to stay in a room in one of the mansion buildings. Is that something reasonable to request? We've been thinking about calling and paying to upgrade to a king room, do you think that would give us a better chance at one of the mansion buildings?

Thanks for any help!

 

[andrewilley]

Just curious, I'm not super fond of the AB theming, do they generally save those rooms for families since it sleeps 5? Its just DBF and I until we switch to the Royal Rooms, and I'd like to stay in a room in one of the mansion buildings. Is that something reasonable to request? We've been thinking about calling and paying to upgrade to a king room, do you think that would give us a better chance at one of the mansion buildings?

There are twice as many regular AB rooms as there are regular mansion building rooms, so even allowing for taking out the Preferred Locations and any families of five, you could still easily end up in either (and switching to King won't make any real difference to your chances). I'd just put in a request for the mansion buildings (see first post in this thread for details) and keep your fingers crossed.

Andre

 

[POROct2013]

We have booked a RGR-River View. For those who have stayed at POR before, if you were in a RGR-River View room, would you request a specific area, floor or mansion? Are there any benefits to one section over the other? I have looked at the maps and I can't quite figure out if I should bother putting in any sort of request. The only thing I was thinking was a top floor (maybe less foot traffic in front of the room) or a corner room.

Any thoughts/recommendations?

 

[Sydnerella]

Is this a reasonable room request or too specific to be honored? We have garden view reservations.

Connecting rooms
Magnolia Terrace
2nd floor

My DD7 loves the mansion staircases thinking they are grand She SO wants to be on 2nd floor to use them daily. Mom wants to be close to the bridge between Acadian House and Magnolia Terrace as it sees a smooth walk to pool and FC while not being too too far from bus stops (any further than we have been at POFQ)

Thanks, Sydnerella's Mama

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[OneBadApple]

Is this a reasonable room request or too specific to be honored? We have garden view reservations.

Connecting rooms
Magnolia Terrace
2nd floor

My DD7 loves the mansion staircases thinking they are grand She SO wants to be on 2nd floor to use them daily. Mom wants to be close to the bridge between Acadian House and Magnolia Terrace as it sees a smooth walk to pool and FC while not being too too far from bus stops (any further than we have been at POFQ)

Thanks, Sydnerella's Mama

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I think that is a reasonable request. Mine will be similar:
Adjoining rooms
Mansions
1st floor and close to food court (for mobility issues)

 

[babydoll65]

Most are (and ALL of them in the Alligator Bayou section, which has no elevators). In the mansion buildings there are some wheelchair accessible rooms on higher floors though, generally close to the elevators.


I didn't know that most assesable rooms were in the ab section. I just assumed that they were in the mansons. I only say this because so many people request the ab section due to the fact it sleeps five and we have no need for that (party of three)