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

[DrDad]

Excellent! Say hi if you get a chance!

 

[DisneyLover0610]

Hi! This will be my first time staying at Port Orleans! I'm really excited to try something new, but nervous since I don't know a thing about it! I'm traveling with my parents, and we are staying in a garden view room. Originally I had River View booked, but was told by a cast member that if I downgraded to a Garden View, we could still be located in buildings 14 or 15. Now, after doing research, that doesn't seem to be an option. Ideally, we'd like a room that is close to transportation (bus and boat) as well as the lobby. I know that's asking a lot!! Is there one building that seems to be equal distance between those three? The maps seem very deceiving. Any advice for room requests is welcome!
Thank you so much

 

[Venomhatch]

Just checking in online here resubbing I guess.

 

[siskaren]

I've been looking for pics of the alligator bayou rooms. On google I found pictures of beds made from rough wood, but haven't been able to find pics of an entire room. I only have internet on my phone so maybe that's why I'm not seeing them.

My question is this: are the rooms extremely rustic looking? We live in the country and I'm afraid my kids will be disappointed if it's over the top. Most of the places we get to visit are lodge/cabin themed. I'm hoping for something totally different for their first disney trip.

We have 3 kids so we would def need to be in alligator bayou.

You can see a 360 degree panorama here.

 

[SteviesDaddy]

Had to comment to Sheaboys n Ismo, we will be there Aug. 18-26. Family of 6 adults n 8 kids. Let the madness ensue!

 

[Sheaboys]

Had to comment to Sheaboys n Ismo, we will be there Aug. 18-26. Family of 6 adults n 8 kids. Let the madness ensue!

 

[princessanj]

We will be there Saturday! So excited! Now to finish all my school work so I can start celebrating our trip!

 

[jennthompson111]

Thank you! That's exactly what I was looking for. It's not too rustic at all. My kids will flip out over the Murphy bed because of the alligator and I'm pretty happy there is a ceiling fan . Now I'm totally excited about this vacation!

 

[czmom]

Question for Andre or Venomhatch:

Would it be okay to send a fax about room requests 1 week early? We will be on a cruise the suggested time.

Thanks!

 

[Venomhatch]

Question for Andre or Venomhatch:

Would it be okay to send a fax about room requests 1 week early? We will be on a cruise the suggested time.

Thanks!

I would think it be ok to send before the cruise!

 

[Just Love Disney]

We are looking at trying Boma for dinner our next trip. Wondering how much you liked it?

We had dinner at Boma on our last trip and it was just, meh. However, we really enjoyed Liberty Tree Tavern and Fulton's, FWIW. HTH

 

[Just Love Disney]

We had dinner at Boma on our last trip and it was just, meh. However, we really enjoyed Liberty Tree Tavern and Fulton's, FWIW. HTH

Oops, I don't know how I forgot O'hana - THAT was fabulous!

 

[andrewilley]

Originally I had River View booked, but was told by a cast member that if I downgraded to a Garden View, we could still be located in buildings 14 or 15.

Sadly, the CM lied (or let's be generous, wasn't very well informed). A Garden View booking would not normally be assigned to any of the preferred buildings (14, 15, 18 or 27). River View however could have been given to you in 14 or 27, as there are River View category rooms in both of those buildings (but not 15). See my building floorplan maps (link in post #4) for the categories of every room in every building. Of course you can always book Garden View and request 14 or 15 if available, and if there are any unbooked Preferred rooms then they might be able to help you out, but technically it's still an upgrade.

Would it be okay to send a fax about room requests 1 week early? We will be on a cruise the suggested time.

Sure, I keep trying to tell people that this is not a science, it's merely a request for a room location on vacation. You should be fine; if you can only fax 7 days beforehand, it's far better than not doing it at all.

The main reasons I suggest 3-5 days are:

• Too much before then and your fax might well end up on a "pending" pile, as other than major/medical/etc requests they don't really start blocking rooms out until about that time - and even then it's only multiple-room bookings that they'd be looking at to start with.
• They won't do anything which might involve a technical room-category change until 5 days out, when they know for sure what actual flexibility they have got.
• Finally, that was the timescale suggested to me by the Room Inventory Manager at the resort - and who am I to argue with the person who actually reads the faxes and runs the team which allocates the rooms?

Andre

 

[slzer0]

If I definitely want Magnolia, not Alligator, what's the best strategy to guarantee this? Is there a (non royal) room type in Magnolia only?

 

[dansdad]

If I definitely want Magnolia, not Alligator, what's the best strategy to guarantee this?

There is no way to guarantee a room in Magnolia Bend. But you can up your chances by adding a request of Magnolia Bend to your reservation and sending a fax with the same request.

Is there a (non royal) room type in Magnolia only?

No, there is no room type, other than a royal room, that is unique to Magnolia Bend.

 

[slzer0]

Gotcha.

I'm wary of a request. I really like the Magnolia but Alligator has raw log beds (a pet peeve that will definitively aggravate my pregnant brain lol) and I'd hate to gamble and spend $1k on a week in a room that I don't like. :/

 

[andrewilley]

I'm wary of a request. I really like the Magnolia but Alligator has raw log beds (a pet peeve that will definitively aggravate my pregnant brain lol)

The bed posts really aren't an issue, they are quite well smoothed and just decorative, nothing to worry about.

Andre

 

[DisneyLover0610]

Sadly, the CM lied (or let's be generous, wasn't very well informed). A Garden View booking would not normally be assigned to any of the preferred buildings (14, 15, 18 or 27). River View however could have been given to you in 14 or 27, as there are River View category rooms in both of those buildings (but not 15). See my building floorplan maps (link in post #4) for the categories of every room in every building. Of course you can always book Garden View and request 14 or 15 if available, and if there are any unbooked Preferred rooms then they might be able to help you out, but technically it's still an upgrade.

Thanks! I'll survive wherever I am, I'm in disney! But I'm traveling with my older parents...
I'll keep checking for a new category to open up

 

[michsig]

Oops, I don't know how I forgot O'hana - THAT was fabulous!

O'hana is one of my favorites!

 

[3Rouselings]

We have ddecided to go back to Disney!! Not until March 2015, but have already decided on staying at POR - I am SO excited. Let the countdown begin.