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

[JamieLM]

That is what it is most likely. Its all about sharing the magic and helping the guests save money for their stay!

Wish that happened to me They upgraded me a few mths ago to MM and we are still in standard. Hmmm... Congrats though!

 

[Venomhatch]

Wish that happened to me They upgraded me a few mths ago to MM and we are still in standard. Hmmm... Congrats though!

Sorry to ask this but have you already went? My brain is somewhat cooked over easy right now. If you haven't went yet you could always call them and have them look into deals that open up before you arrive.

 

[lindap1]

I didn't think any free dining offers for Fall 2014 were out yet?

Oops, sorry.. we got a fd bounceback offer last year

 

[Vernie822]

I definitely didn't have a bounce back or a pin. First time planning a trip! So there may be hope out there for you if you call.

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

I definitely didn't have a bounce back or a pin. First time planning a trip! So there may be hope out there for you if you call.

I'm not sure if you are referring back to my post or not. When I said it was probably a bounce back or a pin I was referring to someone else who said they already had free dining. I am guessing you got the memory maker special with a discount on the room

 

[Vernie822]

I'm not sure if you are referring back to my post or not. When I said it was probably a bounce back or a pin I was referring to someone else who said they already had free dining. I am guessing you got the memory maker special with a discount on the room

Whoops - sorry! I was reading and responding from my phone. I guess there must have been some type of room discount I wasn't aware of. And I thought I was watching closely!

 

[Ravenne]

Wish that happened to me They upgraded me a few mths ago to MM and we are still in standard. Hmmm... Congrats though!

If you haven't gone yet, and you're not past your PIF date, just call and ask. What probably happened was, since the room Vernie wanted was all sold out, they had to pick another category room...typically a higher category which seems to be the case here. What happened was what they originally booked wasn't a package. When they added other stuff to it, it became a package and package prices can be cheaper than a la carte. Add that to the fact that they then qualified for the MM promo, that's how they were able to end up getting a better deal than they were originally going to pay. That's pretty much what happened to us. We were originally booked in a standard room at POFQ with the spring promo. POFQ only offered 5% off. When we decided to switch to POR, none of the standard rooms were available any more under the promo so we had to book a RGR if we wanted to keep the promo we were originally booked under. The room upgrade cost us less than $20 more than what we were paying over at POFQ because POR offered a 25% discount instead of POFQ's 5%. So room for room, we got one heck of a room upgrade for practically nothing (in the grand scheme of what the whole trip is costing us anyway.) I could have Disney switch us to the MM promo for about $115 more if we wanted to, which is still cheaper than the pre-purchase price of MM. The trick really is to just call them up and reshop your reservation to see what may end up being a better deal for you.

 

[mamaloya]

Paid in full and 44 days left to go. This is our second trip here. Last year our room was almost as far from the food court as possible and we still didn't find the walk long. We were garden view last time and standard this time. We are so excited.

I will be ground floor due to mobility issues and have requested the room be sterilized due to my being on immunosuppressants. I may be on an ECV depending on how I am doing.

Can't wait to go back!

 

[Koh1977]

Has anybody done a split stay with POR first then moved to another resort? How easy was the transfer?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[dansdad]

Has anybody done a split stay with POR first then moved to another resort? How easy was the transfer?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

We have done a split of POR then BC and it was a piece of cake. You have 2 options:

1. Check out of POR, grab your bags then take a cab over to resort #2 and check in. If your room is not ready, store your bags with Bell Services.

2. Call Bell Services at POR, tell them you want them to move your bags to resort #2 and leave your bags in your room. Check out of POR and hop a bus to a park for the day. Late afternoon head over to resort #2, check in, once in your room call Bell Services and have them bring up your bags.

We have done 3 split stays and much prefer option #2. We don't feel like we lose any park time. Just be prepared that it might be 3-4 PM before your bags get to resort #2. We usually stay at a park until at least 5 then head to the second resort and have never had an issue.

 

[Venomhatch]

Has anybody done a split stay with POR first then moved to another resort? How easy was the transfer?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

This is what I usually advise:

1. Check out of POR, take your bags to POR bell services. Notify them your doing a split stay and ask if they will either hold you luggage or send them over to Resort 2's bell services to hold there.

2. Check out of POR and then take a cab over to resort #2 and check in. If your room is not ready, notify resort#2 bell services you have luggage at POR and need it brought over, if its nort already on the way. You can have Bell Services at resort 2 hold your luggage until your room is ready and they can be sent to your room then.

*But the easiest is be really nice to someone at PORs Bell services and see if they can borrow a car from the motor pool to take you and your luggage over to resort #2. We do this, more than guests know. Again if your room isn't ready and you want to go to the park, then store your luggage at bell services there and let front desk know that your luggage is there and ask if they can bring it to your room when its ready.

We have vans, cars, and suvs to move guests and luggage.

 

[Koh1977]

This is what I usually advise: 1. Check out of POR, take your bags to POR bell services. Notify them your doing a split stay and ask if they will either hold you luggage or send them over to Resort 2's bell services to hold there. 2. Check out of POR and then take a cab over to resort #2 and check in. If your room is not ready, notify resort#2 bell services you have luggage at POR and need it brought over, if its nort already on the way. You can have Bell Services at resort 2 hold your luggage until your room is ready and they can be sent to your room then. *But the easiest is be really nice to someone at PORs Bell services and see if they can borrow a car from the motor pool to take you and your luggage over to resort #2. We do this, more than guests know. Again if your room isn't ready and you want to go to the park, then store your luggage at bell services there and let front desk know that your luggage is there and ask if they can bring it to your room when its ready. We have vans, cars, and suvs to move guests and luggage.

Thanks for the inside tip!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[JamieLM]

If you haven't gone yet, and you're not past your PIF date, just call and ask. What probably happened was, since the room Vernie wanted was all sold out, they had to pick another category room...typically a higher category which seems to be the case here. What happened was what they originally booked wasn't a package. When they added other stuff to it, it became a package and package prices can be cheaper than a la carte. Add that to the fact that they then qualified for the MM promo, that's how they were able to end up getting a better deal than they were originally going to pay. That's pretty much what happened to us. We were originally booked in a standard room at POFQ with the spring promo. POFQ only offered 5% off. When we decided to switch to POR, none of the standard rooms were available any more under the promo so we had to book a RGR if we wanted to keep the promo we were originally booked under. The room upgrade cost us less than $20 more than what we were paying over at POFQ because POR offered a 25% discount instead of POFQ's 5%. So room for room, we got one heck of a room upgrade for practically nothing (in the grand scheme of what the whole trip is costing us anyway.) I could have Disney switch us to the MM promo for about $115 more if we wanted to, which is still cheaper than the pre-purchase price of MM. The trick really is to just call them up and reshop your reservation to see what may end up being a better deal for you.

Thank you!

 

[goofy Jr. 88]

This is what I usually advise:

*But the easiest is be really nice to someone at PORs Bell services and see if they can borrow a car from the motor pool to take you and your luggage over to resort #2. We do this, more than guests know. Again if your room isn't ready and you want to go to the park, then store your luggage at bell services there and let front desk know that your luggage is there and ask if they can bring it to your room when its ready.

We have vans, cars, and suvs to move guests and luggage.

That is awesome information, and that is why I think this is the best thread on The DIS.

Dan

 

[Koh1977]

This is what I usually advise: 1. Check out of POR, take your bags to POR bell services. Notify them your doing a split stay and ask if they will either hold you luggage or send them over to Resort 2's bell services to hold there. 2. Check out of POR and then take a cab over to resort #2 and check in. If your room is not ready, notify resort#2 bell services you have luggage at POR and need it brought over, if its nort already on the way. You can have Bell Services at resort 2 hold your luggage until your room is ready and they can be sent to your room then. *But the easiest is be really nice to someone at PORs Bell services and see if they can borrow a car from the motor pool to take you and your luggage over to resort #2. We do this, more than guests know. Again if your room isn't ready and you want to go to the park, then store your luggage at bell services there and let front desk know that your luggage is there and ask if they can bring it to your room when its ready. We have vans, cars, and suvs to move guests and luggage.

Any with car seats at all? DD is 3.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Koh1977]

That is awesome information, and that is why I think this is the best thread on The DIS. Dan

I second that!!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Koh1977]

Hmmm...garden, pool, or preferred? I want the AB section for the extra Murphy bed anyway I think. Would like to be close to bus stop and quiet pool, 1st floor for ease of stroller. Which booking would be more likely to get me where I want? (Not as concerned with being close to main building as I am a bus stop)

You guys are great here!!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Venomhatch]

Any with car seats at all? DD is 3.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I don't think they have car seats actually, I have never seen them if they do.

 

[hunmcbunny]

Hmmm...garden, pool, or preferred? I want the AB section for the extra Murphy bed anyway I think. Would like to be close to bus stop and quiet pool, 1st floor for ease of stroller. Which booking would be more likely to get me where I want? (Not as concerned with being close to main building as I am a bus stop)

You guys are great here!!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I would book pool room and then fax your request to be close to a bus stop and first floor.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Hmmm...garden, pool, or preferred? I want the AB section for the extra Murphy bed anyway I think. Would like to be close to bus stop and quiet pool, 1st floor for ease of stroller. Which booking would be more likely to get me where I want? (Not as concerned with being close to main building as I am a bus stop) You guys are great here!! Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Preferred bld 14 or 18 gets you right there. That's where we always request & have gotten every time we get preferred. Close to everything.