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

[wulfgeat]

It has been several years, but leaving the parks at night it seemed like the Deluxe Resorts had better bus service. They seemed closer, too. I would probably do that if I were Disney.

I remember the boats to DTD being better when catching it from POR. I think at least twice we waved at people on the POFQ dock because the boat was full. The captain(?) announced that there would be another boat along shortly, but it was a lot better to be on the boat than watching from the dock.

 

[angmarie]

We are stayed at the Port Orleans riverside in August and we have a Garden room. I am trying to figure out which building to request so we aren't too far from everything. I am a single mom taking my boys by myself so I am trying to keep the walking down if possible bc I don't want them to get to worn down. Any tips would be great!!

 

[angmarie]

That should say *we are staying

 

[andrewilley]

It has been several years, but leaving the parks at night it seemed like the Deluxe Resorts had better bus service. They seemed closer, too. I would probably do that if I were Disney.

I'm not sure they get a "better" service (as in Disney sending them extra buses because they are more expensive resorts), I think it's more a matter of size - the deluxes are generally a lot smaller than Port Orleans, and have proportionally less people using the buses.

Andre

 

[winterman]

I remember the boats to DTD being better when catching it from POR. I think at least twice we waved at people on the POFQ dock because the boat was full. The captain(?) announced that there would be another boat along shortly, but it was a lot better to be on the boat than watching from the dock.

During my stay at POFQ last Nov., I took the boat to DTD several times. Every time there were seats available when the boat came to FQ from POR. It appeared that they 'saved' a certain number of seats for people getting on at FQ. I assumed that the numbers were based on the relative number of rooms/guests at each resort. Pay attention when the boat is loading. At least once, I was able to get on because the groups in front of me in line were too large to fit. I was also able to ride in one of those 'saved' seats when traveling from POR to FQ, but I had to get the attention of the captain.

 

[mrstomrice]

We are stayed at the Port Orleans riverside in August and we have a Garden room. I am trying to figure out which building to request so we aren't too far from everything. I am a single mom taking my boys by myself so I am trying to keep the walking down if possible bc I don't want them to get to worn down. Any tips would be great!!

I was in the same boat when I was taking my boys in June. My friend was coming too with her child though. We needed the room for 5, so I could only request the Bayou. I asked for building 16. I faxed my request as well. When we got to check in our room wasn't ready. They asked why I requested that building and I explained that we wanted to be close to dining and buses. We were upgraded to a pool room in building 18. We booked a standard view.

 

[ElsaColon]

I'm not sure they get a "better" service (as in Disney sending them extra buses because they are more expensive resorts), I think it's more a matter of size - the deluxes are generally a lot smaller than Port Orleans, and have proportionally less people using the buses. Andre

True and some Deluxe resorts usually have more than one mode of transportation like boats and monorail. It also helps that most of the deluxe resorts are close to the parks. I will have to say at AKL it takes a while to travel anywhere since it's directly next to AK but a whole being 20 min at the most.

Overall I think the transportation is the same at all the resorts.

Though there are some instances in which a bus is going to more than one resort which can be a haste if there are people getting on and off at each stop. But hey, you're in the most magical place on Earth! Still better than being at work haha.

 

[ALD85]

We've stayed at POR a lot and never had any bus issues. It's just a matter of what bus stop you get to when. The south depot is usually a made house, so we usually avoid it and go to the next closest, usually the west depot.

 

[Mac4life30]

Are boats still running to DTD?

 

[jcyoung]

WOW! So I'm just messing around, looking at room rates, etc. and for the week that we are going in October, ALL of the POR room categories except Garden View and the four Royal Room categories are unavailable. It sounds like our vacation is going to be super crowded! And here I thought October was supposed to be one of the LESS busy times of year!

 

[ALD85]

WOW! So I'm just messing around, looking at room rates, etc. and for the week that we are going in October, ALL of the POR room categories except Garden View and the four Royal Room categories are unavailable. It sounds like our vacation is going to be super crowded! And here I thought October was supposed to be one of the LESS busy times of year!

A lot of schools have Fall break in Oct. We were there last Oct 18-25 and the parks were pretty crowded. POR is so big, you hardly notice if it's "packed" it not.

 

[Mac4life30]

WOW! So I'm just messing around, looking at room rates, etc. and for the week that we are going in October, ALL of the POR room categories except Garden View and the four Royal Room categories are unavailable. It sounds like our vacation is going to be super crowded! And here I thought October was supposed to be one of the LESS busy times of year!

Is it Halloween week?

 

[jcyoung]

Is it Halloween week?

No the week before. 18th through 25th.

 

[Millie12591]

So I was all set to send a fax this past Wednesday since we arrive July 2nd. However, my mother in law was recently hospitalized again and has since passed away (this past Wednesday). I am hoping to send a fax tomorrow since DH still wants to go on vacation (he needs a break from everything - she had cancer and it's been a rough year). Could definitely use any pixie dust we can get...do you think it will be ok that it's on,y a few days before we arrive?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I'm so, so sorry for your loss. I truly hope this trip was all that you needed it to be.

I know exactly what your husband is going through, I went through the same thing with my mom from Oct. 2012 to the end of Jan. of this year. It's a tough journey, and it's one of the hardest thing you'll ever go through.

I think going on your vacation was a great idea, hopefully it gave you all the time to decompress and have your mind on light and happy thoughts for a little while. There will be a few months of him needing some decompression time from all that he's gone through and seen his mom go through. I myself have felt like I've finally just come up for air and found myself (without thinking) wanting to call my mom the other day to see how she was doing. It takes a bit, but he'll come around to his normal self, the different emotions go in stages.

In the mean time I'll be praying for peace and rest for your family during this year.

 

[Storeyann]

Ok, this is my first stay at POR...and I need a little guidance. Boatwrights, yay or nay? I have heard a lot of mixed reviews on the food. We have a reservation there for the night by we arrive, but I am wondering if I should change it.

 

[Storeyann]

Koh1977, I am so very sorry for your loss. Thoughts are with you and your family.

 

[alyssa18o6]

Well we finally decided, and you can add me to the list! We will be spending our honeymoon at POR June 1st-8th!

 

[ttcl516]

Ok, this is my first stay at POR...and I need a little guidance. Boatwrights, yay or nay? I have heard a lot of mixed reviews on the food. We have a reservation there for the night by we arrive, but I am wondering if I should change it.

We loved our meal at Boatwrights. It was nice and quiet the night we were there...wait staff was very attentive and the food was delish!!

 

[Twin Princess Mama]

We are staying at POR with FD, will the rapid refill mugs work at POFQ too? TIA!

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

We are staying at POR with FD, will the rapid refill mugs work at POFQ too? TIA!

The mugs work at all the resorts.