Port Orleans Riverside Q&A Thread 2014 (Please read first post for FAQs!)

[disneymom1229]

Here now. Our first stay at POR. Checked in on thursday, booked a standard view room and lucked into building 14. Not even a 2 min walk to the bus depot!

Kids are loving the pool and slide. I was happy to have the hot tub (all to myself even!) last night after a busy day running around at MK.

Took the kids to see Yeehaw Bob. My 7 year old loved it, the older boys not so much. Dh and I had a drink and enjoyed singing and dancing along with our youngest. Haha.

The habanero lime margarita at the river roost is to die for.

How funny!! I checked out Thursday after a 10 night stay. I booked standard view as well and received a free upgrade to a preferred room in building 14. We could almost see the south depot from our room!! I am totally spoiled now! Enjoy your stay and your awesome location!

 

[ButWhyIsTheRumGone]

86 days until we're at POR!

Any experiences w/ the pirate adventure cruise for kids? I have an adventurous 4-year-old who would probably love it, but not sure it's worth missing park time?

 

[MC0810]

Has anyone stayed at POR during MNSSHP or MVMCP? We are going the 2nd week in november to MVMCP and staying at POR for the first time (SOO EXCITED!) and was wondering how crowded the resort busses are for these special ticket parties?

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Sounds like a wonderful idea! Do I call ahead of time to book the carriage ride? Could be a great thing to do our first night (non park day). Will be our first time at POR. The atmosphere looks amazing!

Depends on when you're going. We went in March & I just made arrangements when we got there. I've heard others say they called ahead of time.

 

[germ539]

All the way from the 3rd page

 

[fernfritters]

Hi, everyone! Best friend and I are going to be staying at POR first weekend in October. Our plans have slightly changed, and it's opened the opportunity for us to have Sunday brunch at Raglan Road! I understand the boats to DTD begin operating at 10:30am; if I have a reservation for 11:00am, will we make it in time, or should I go for 11:15/11:30am?

We'll be recovering from ToT 10-Miler the evening before, so we have no morning plans.

 

[Tiggr924]

Hi, everyone! Best friend and I are going to be staying at POR first weekend in October. Our plans have slightly changed, and it's opened the opportunity for us to have Sunday brunch at Raglan Road! I understand the boats to DTD begin operating at 10:30am; if I have a reservation for 11:00am, will we make it in time, or should I go for 11:15/11:30am?

We'll be recovering from ToT 10-Miler the evening before, so we have no morning plans.

If you're planning to take the boat, I'd recommend a later brunch time. 11:00 might be a close call. The boat will stop at FQ first, and then DTD.

 

[kbmartin]

Sounds like a wonderful idea! Do I call ahead of time to book the carriage ride? Could be a great thing to do our first night (non park day). Will be our first time at POR. The atmosphere looks amazing!

If you want to do it for sure, make a reservation. I made that mistake on our trip in August (crowd level was 6/10). We thought we would leave it to chance because normally we were in the parks during the carriage hours of operation. On the one day we weren't, we tried to book with the concierge but there were no time slots left. I really, really regret not making a reservation.

 

[fernfritters]

If you're planning to take the boat, I'd recommend a later brunch time. 11:00 might be a close call. The boat will stop at FQ first, and then DTD.

I didn't even think about the stop at FQ. I'll book a later time then!

Thank you!

 

[4under4]

We are recently back from a wonderful trip, staying at WL. I booked the bounce back on our arrival day and was soooo happy that POR was included in the offer (free dining). We have 12 days planned and I am already trying to figure out if 2 break days is really enough to enjoy the resort.

I've convinced my parents to come with us (my Dad came for the first time in 2013 and stayed with us at SSR, but my Mom hasn't been yet). I know they are both going to love the resort.

So, now the hard part... waiting! I already have my spreadsheet with expected meal/park plans started, but I won't really be able to do anything until the end of FEB! Well, I guess that's not entirely true... I can start ordering my gift cards via Target discount .

I'm on

 

[vbarry]

I have a question in regards to the Royal Rooms and which category to book to be closer to main dining, pool and bus stop. I am planning a last minute trip over Christmas. We are DVC members and have never stayed at a moderate but have stayed at OKW and POR kind of reminds me of that since it is larger resort, exterior doors etc. Does it matter with Royal category we book?? Also- we do have a smoker in our group . Are any of these closer to a designated smoking area. Are there connecting rooms?

Thanks for any info!

 

[andrewilley]

I have a question in regards to the Royal Rooms and which category to book to be closer to main dining, pool and bus stop.

Royal Room Pool View is your best option, as all of those rooms are conveniently located quite near to the footbridge over to the main building and South Bus stop (plus you're next to a quiet pool anyway, and also the East bus stop too).

The next best would be Royal River View, which has some of the very best rooms of all, but also some that are a little further away so it's not quite so guaranteed.

All areas have plenty of connecting rooms, and there are smoking areas fairly widely available too.

Andre

 

[RubySlippers]

Just recently got back from a stay at POR We booked a preferred room and had a corner first floor in building 14. Perfect Location!

Housekeeping was VERY minimal at best. Ask for an allergy cleaning due to my sons asthma and it was not done. Room was dusty , corners were disgusting but I just spent about a half an hour cleaning and we were good.

We received no housekeeping on Sunday and when we called about clean towels and TP they were sent over quickly. Honestly I didn't care about the beds being made or anything else.

We were told that there is no housekeeping available on weekends unless it was requested Out of 25 + trips this was the first time I heard that!

Food court was good. Not a clean as it normally is but passable. The little kids coloring table was always sticky but we just wiped it down each time my daughter wanted to color. Clorox wipes are your friend!

I am not the type of person to let little things ruin my vacation and we had a WONDERFUL time BUT as veterans it just felt like the little special things were missing..... you know those things that make a vacation at WDW magical not just a vacation.

I am not sure when we will be back... normally we book bounce back but we just didn't this time.

 

[disdream]

I'm at 132 days. Seems like a long time away but I know it will be here quickly. I have enjoyed reading all of your reports. Keep them coming.

Karen

 

[maxiesmom]

Just recently got back from a stay at POR We booked a preferred room and had a corner first floor in building 14. Perfect Location!

Housekeeping was VERY minimal at best. Ask for an allergy cleaning due to my sons asthma and it was not done. Room was dusty , corners were disgusting but I just spent about a half an hour cleaning and we were good.

We received no housekeeping on Sunday and when we called about clean towels and TP they were sent over quickly. Honestly I didn't care about the beds being made or anything else.

We were told that there is no housekeeping available on weekends unless it was requested Out of 25 + trips this was the first time I heard that!

Food court was good. Not a clean as it normally is but passable. The little kids coloring table was always sticky but we just wiped it down each time my daughter wanted to color. Clorox wipes are your friend!

I am not the type of person to let little things ruin my vacation and we had a WONDERFUL time BUT as veterans it just felt like the little special things were missing..... you know those things that make a vacation at WDW magical not just a vacation.

I am not sure when we will be back... normally we book bounce back but we just didn't this time.

Whoever told you they don't do housekeeping on weekends was smoking something. That is crazy!

Next time your room is not kept up to snuff, go down to the desk and complain. Don't call. You get much better results heading down to the desk and talking to someone face to face.

I'm sorry they were off their game. I love POR and had a great stay there last year. But then the room was clean (even cleaned on the weekend) and the food court was kept clean too.

 

[RubySlippers]

Next time your room is not kept up to snuff, go down to the desk and complain. Don't call. You get much better results heading down to the desk and talking to someone face to face.

The weird thing was when we checked in we were told our room was not ready due to the allergy cleaning.
We knew that could happen but we waited 3 hours for the text and the room was absolutely not allergy cleaned.
I did inform them at the desk. I was told it would be taken care of the next day but it was not. I chose to just take care of it myself and not waste another moment with this issue. My son was fine and we just went ahead enjoying our vacation.

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

Checking in at POFQ in 9 days!

 

[buzznina]

The weird thing was when we checked in we were told our room was not ready due to the allergy cleaning.
We knew that could happen but we waited 3 hours for the text and the room was absolutely not allergy cleaned.
I did inform them at the desk. I was told it would be taken care of the next day but it was not. I chose to just take care of it myself and not waste another moment with this issue. My son was fine and we just went ahead enjoying our vacation.

We had an issue with a room on one of our trips and first called mousekeeping(nothing), went to the lobby and talked with a CM, came back after the parks and nothing (found out that the CM just calls mousekeeping). The next morning I talked with the manager and he said he would correct the issue(which he did) and also mentioned that if we ever have issues with our room or cleaining... to ALWAYS ask to speak with the manager to get it resolved.

 

[maxiesmom]

The weird thing was when we checked in we were told our room was not ready due to the allergy cleaning.
We knew that could happen but we waited 3 hours for the text and the room was absolutely not allergy cleaned.
I did inform them at the desk. I was told it would be taken care of the next day but it was not. I chose to just take care of it myself and not waste another moment with this issue. My son was fine and we just went ahead enjoying our vacation.

I hope you sent of a complaint once you were home. Having the allergy cleaning not done upon arrival, and then not done when promised the next day is not acceptable. I'm glad your son was ok.

 

[atisikitabasket]

If you have 5 booked for a room will they automatically give you AB? My mom has decided to go with us which is awesome however our son has autism and insists on being on top floor and riding elevator to get to room. If we are in the AB there are no elevators and we will have a stroller with us so we would have to request ground floor mom also had knee surgery. DD4 has a portable bed she likes to sleep in so I thought if they would give us mansion if I requested it. Please do not think I am being silly but something like this can seem like the end of the world to my son and we are just trying to avoid it if possible. Also are there any AB sections that have a walkway attached to a mansion so maybe even if a little walk we could ride the elevator to the 2nd floor then make the walk over to our 2nd floor room at AB?