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

[zabache]

Hi all We will be staying at POR for 2 nights before our cruise later this month. We will be getting a rental at the airport and my question is, if we drive the rental to MK do we have to pay for parking? I think I read that it is free if staying at a resort but I just want to double check. Also, where is parking in relation to the buildings with the royal rooms?

Last August we had a paper that we put on our dash board saying we were staying at POR. we got it after checking in. With the Magic Bands I'm not sure if they will scan your band.

 

[tweis]

Last August we had a paper that we put on our dash board saying we were staying at POR. we got it after checking in. With the Magic Bands I'm not sure if they will scan your band.

Thank you. I thought I had read that somewhere, but I just wanted to double check.

 

[Sue M]

I'm at WDW now, staying at CSR. I was able to apply the bounce back offer to my existing POR reservation in late September. I had a garden view booked, but all that was left for the bounce back offer were Royal Rooms. It was still cheaper than my existing reservation, so I saved money and now I'm guaranteed a mansion building, which is what I wanted, and I get to stay in a Royal room for my birthday!

Congrats! What is the BB discount?

Well not until September/October when the new iPhones come out to compete with the Note 3. I can't wait!

Yay! I hadn't heard that! Now I have to check to see when my contract is up!!

Hi all

We will be staying at POR for 2 nights before our cruise later this month. We will be getting a rental at the airport and my question is, if we drive the rental to MK do we have to pay for parking? I think I read that it is free if staying at a resort but I just want to double check. Also, where is parking in relation to the buildings with the royal rooms?

You don't pay for parking at parks, you get a parking paddle to put on dash. Parking for mansions are directly behind the building. Try and have them show you on resort map where exactly your room is so you can park near your room.

 

[masylimed]

We are booked for a one-night room at POR in May (going to cruise the next day). We are a family of 5 and have a river view room booked. Anybody have any ideas which buildings that we may be booked in?

 

[Ismo]

We are booked for a one-night room at POR in May (going to cruise the next day). We are a family of 5 and have a river view room booked. Anybody have any ideas which buildings that we may be booked in?

You will be in an AB room. I'm guessing one of the following buildings: 14, 18, 27, or 38.

But 14, 18, and 27 are preferred buildings so I don't know if you would get them. I think you have to request preferred separately. Not 100% sure on that.

http://www.portorleans.org/alligator-bayou.php

 

[andrewilley]

It's pretty cool that POR has character meet and greets as part of their Easter line up. Does this happen at any other time of year?

They do on occasional holidays, such as Christmas, Halloween, 4th July, etc. But not otherwise, no. Characters vary, often it'll be Mickey and Minnie, but Tiana has also made an appearance or two (e.g. at the recent Mardi Gras mini-parade).

A few pages back, someone had mentioned roofing being done on the mansion buildings. Does anyone know when is that projected to be completed? Especially for the Royal Room buildings?

Sometime in June/July. It's a six-month task, and the building that is being worked on is Oak Manor (one of the two Royal buildings). They are only doing one wing at a time though, so the rest of the building will still be open at any given time.

We will be staying at POR for 2 nights before our cruise later this month. We will be getting a rental at the airport and my question is, if we drive the rental to MK do we have to pay for parking?

Parking at the resort (and the theme parks) is free for resort guests, you will be given a parking pass when you check in to put on your dashboard. There are parking lots right behind both Royal buildings, so you can park fairly close to your room - see the map in the first post, or even have a look on Google Earth.

Andre

 

[andrewilley]

We are booked for a one-night room at POR in May (going to cruise the next day). We are a family of 5 and have a river view room booked. Anybody have any ideas which buildings that we may be booked in?

As you are a party of five you will be in Alligator Bayou, and a River View room would mean buildings 14, 27 or 38 - all of which are really nice locations. The only downside is that those rooms are a little way from the parking lots, but the resort can transport your bags for you if you wish.

Andre

 

[BebopBaloo]

They do on occasional holidays, such as Christmas, Halloween, 4th July, etc. But not otherwise, no. Characters vary, often it'll be Mickey and Minnie, but Tiana has also made an appearance or two (e.g. at the recent Mardi Gras mini-parade).
Andre

Thanks! We'll be there over New Year's, so perhaps there will be a couple that day. We'll be spending far less time in the parks than normal, so anything special at the resort will be a welcome find. Of course, it's our first time at POR and that within itself will be enjoyable.

 

[Venomhatch]

Yay! I hadn't heard that! Now I have to check to see when my contract is up!!

Yeah I have an inside source.

I feel like taking the family a day earlier to the hotel may check in tonight if possible.

 

[dreamseeker9]

Congrats! What is the BB discount?

30% off room only for moderates with some date restrictions. My dates fall in the August 17-October 4 block. And I'm getting 35% off my two nights at YC!

 

[sunnysideup3]

Hello everyone! I've stayed at POR twice in the past, but stayed in Oak Manor.
Because we're on a tighter budget, we won't be staying in a Royal Room and are hoping for the Magnolia building. I can see the distance on the map, but how much further is it really? It doesn't look too far on the map and you can go around Old Man Island, I just wondered if anyone had first hand experience.

Thanks!

 

[Ismo]

Hello everyone! I've stayed at POR twice in the past, but stayed in Oak Manor.
Because we're on a tighter budget, we won't be staying in a Royal Room and are hoping for the Magnolia building. I can see the distance on the map, but how much further is it really? It doesn't look too far on the map and you can go around Old Man Island, I just wondered if anyone had first hand experience.

Thanks!

It's not far at all. We stayed in the Acadian House last time. It took about 10 minutes top to get to the bus stop outside the main building. And we were strolling, never rushed. We walked over the bridge and through Ol' Mans Island to the main buildings. It's actually quite a scenic and pretty walk.

 

[Ravenne]

Sometime in June/July. It's a six-month task, and the building that is being worked on is Oak Manor (one of the two Royal buildings). They are only doing one wing at a time though, so the rest of the building will still be open at any given time.

Andre

Does that mean they close off the specific wing they are working on so no one can access or stay in that specific wing?
Thank you, Andre!

 

[hunmcbunny]

We are thinking of doing a 3 day disney cruise at the beginning of our vacation. Do you know if there is a "package deal" when you do both cruise and disney world?

 

[andrewilley]

Does that mean they close off the specific wing they are working on so no one can access or stay in that specific wing?

Yes, the section that they are working on will not have any rooms sold until they move on to the next area.

Andre

 

[Ravenne]

We are thinking of doing a 3 day disney cruise at the beginning of our vacation. Do you know if there is a "package deal" when you do both cruise and disney world?

There could be, but not too often and the deals are really no better. In fact, I highly recommend NOT booking a cruise and WDW vacation together. Book them separately. I booked a one night stay at a WDW resort through DCL and it's been such a headache to deal with. Neither DCL or WDW has real access to my reservation. DCL says I can't make requests through them because they can't access WDW reservations. WDW says they can't see the reservation because it's done through DCL. All I wanted was to put in a request for a bed rail! Ugh. It's a pain. Don't do it. Plus, DCL rarely run promos, unlike WDW and if a WDW promo comes up, you can't apply it through DCL. Book it separately and have control over BOTH reservations.

 

[hunmcbunny]

There could be, but not too often and the deals are really no better. In fact, I highly recommend NOT booking a cruise and WDW vacation together. Book them separately. I booked a one night stay at a WDW resort through DCL and it's been such a headache to deal with. Neither DCL or WDW has real access to my reservation. DCL says I can't make requests through them because they can't access WDW reservations. WDW says they can't see the reservation because it's done through DCL. All I wanted was to put in a request for a bed rail! Ugh. It's a pain. Don't do it. Plus, DCL rarely run promos, unlike WDW and if a WDW promo comes up, you can't apply it through DCL. Book it separately and have control over BOTH reservations.

thank you sooo much for the info & advice!

 

[Ravenne]

Yes, the section that they are working on will not have any rooms sold until they move on to the next area.

Andre

Ah, ok that's good to know. I currently have a RR booked and I had put in a request for Oak Manor...before they're scheduled to be done with the roofing project....not on purpose just so we can stay somewhere with construction or anything. Obviously, I'd rather NOT have to deal with construction but I don't want to be clear out in the sticks on the far end of Parterre either. Now I'm even more curious as to how it'll play out.

Thanks again, Andre!

 

[tabm01]

I'm at WDW now, staying at CSR. I was able to apply the bounce back offer to my existing POR reservation in late September.

Can someone explain "bounce back"?

 

[jseargent]

I'm at WDW now, staying at CSR. I was able to apply the bounce back offer to my existing POR reservation in late September. I had a garden view booked, but all that was left for the bounce back offer were Royal Rooms. It was still cheaper than my existing reservation, so I saved money and now I'm guaranteed a mansion building, which is what I wanted, and I get to stay in a Royal room for my birthday!

Birthday Pixie dust! I love it!!