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

[Venomhatch]

waves hi to venomhatch even though probably remember me

I am sorry I have a lot of guests/members that come to me for help. May have to remind me.

 

[JamieLM]

I would like to surprise my family with an upgrade to the royal rooms. If I plan to do this, how soon in advance should I make the switch, and can I pay for the difference ahead of time so that they don't get it in their bill 45 days before?

As well, is it worth the upgrading if we don't plan to stay at the resort all the time, of course well be in the parks, etc. I just think my nephew and niece would love it, but I want to make the right decision, and financially. Thank you!

 

[QueenQuad]

Glad to hear the CMs were kind enough to give you a call back. But just so other members here know they do not call everyone back so please don't get scared if they don't call everyone else. Have a safe journey to us!

I had read here on these boards that it was rare to hear back anything after sending in a fax, I just sent it and went on about my business not expecting to hear from anyone. So I was quite surprised to get the call! The CM had the same first name as my son and even commented about it! It was pretty cool

Thank you Venomhatch! We are very excited for our Thursday arrival!

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[loftonflyz]

I'm glad to hear that someone got a callback about room requests! We just got back from our vacation at POR March 2-9. We made requests on the online checkin for first floor and connecting rooms, we called Disney reservations and made requests for first floor, connecting rooms, and close to the lobby since we have 4 special-needs children in our 2 rooms, one of which has mild Cerebral Palsy. We also faxed in these requests 5 days before we arrived. We get to the resort, and the ONLY request that was granted was connecting rooms. They had us on the 2nd floor, and not close to the lobby. And of course they were full and overbooked on the preferred rooms, so "there was nothing they could do for us", except got us on the first floor of the same building. Not a magical experience at all! And it's sad that Disney has gotten so big that they just don't care if they upset 2 families on their vacation. While I will say that POR was a GORGEOUS resort, my friends and I will not return to Disney any time soon after the cold way we were treated.

 

[Venomhatch]

I'm glad to hear that someone got a callback about room requests! We just got back from our vacation at POR March 2-9. We made requests on the online checkin for first floor and connecting rooms, we called Disney reservations and made requests for first floor, connecting rooms, and close to the lobby since we have 4 special-needs children in our 2 rooms, one of which has mild Cerebral Palsy. We also faxed in these requests 5 days before we arrived. We get to the resort, and the ONLY request that was granted was connecting rooms. They had us on the 2nd floor, and not close to the lobby. And of course they were full and overbooked on the preferred rooms, so "there was nothing they could do for us", except got us on the first floor of the same building. Not a magical experience at all! And it's sad that Disney has gotten so big that they just don't care if they upset 2 families on their vacation. While I will say that POR was a GORGEOUS resort, my friends and I will not return to Disney any time soon after the cold way we were treated.

I wish you had came through me. I don't put too much faith in reservation CMs and online check in requests. That is why I help guests with room request faxes. I am very sorry to hear about this experience.

 

[bbak3030]

I would like to surprise my family with an upgrade to the royal rooms. If I plan to do this, how soon in advance should I make the switch, and can I pay for the difference ahead of time so that they don't get it in their bill 45 days before? As well, is it worth the upgrading if we don't plan to stay at the resort all the time, of course well be in the parks, etc. I just think my nephew and niece would love it, but I want to make the right decision, and financially. Thank you!

I have 2 girls, ages 4 and 8. We enjoyed the royal rooms, but personally I wouldn't pay the extra for them again. They rooms are beautiful, but we weren't hardly there. I would likely booked preferred instead. In all honestly, the kids didn't really care about the theme of the room at all. Lol

 

[tjbjrjaj]

I haven't done this for awhile but is it still allowed to have items or water shipped to the resort? Is this the address i would use for Port Orleans Riverside? 1251 Riverside Drive, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-8514

 

[mommy2paisley]

I cannot wait for our late Aug/Sep trip!!!! First time at a moderate and DH let us upgrade to a RR! dD will just love it!!!!


Those of you who are very familiar with POR, are there any must-take pic areas? At the values, there is so much Disney theming and DD loved posing with all that crap!! Lol Just wondering of there's any good photo ops at POR?

 

[slzer0]

Sorry, I can't search... but am I understanding the FAQ that you can't use the boat to travel between resorts?

 

[dansdad]

Sorry, I can't search... but am I understanding the FAQ that you can't use the boat to travel between resorts?

Where did you see that? Unless something has changed, you sure can take the water taxi between the 2 resorts. The FAQ section at portorleans.org also states that you can take the water taxi between the 2 resorts.

 

[andrewilley]

I'm glad to hear that someone got a callback about room requests! We just got back from our vacation at POR March 2-9. We made requests on the online checkin for first floor and connecting rooms, we called Disney reservations and made requests for first floor, connecting rooms, and close to the lobby since we have 4 special-needs children in our 2 rooms, one of which has mild Cerebral Palsy. We also faxed in these requests 5 days before we arrived. We get to the resort, and the ONLY request that was granted was connecting rooms. They had us on the 2nd floor, and not close to the lobby. And of course they were full and overbooked on the preferred rooms, so "there was nothing they could do for us", except got us on the first floor of the same building. Not a magical experience at all! And it's sad that Disney has gotten so big that they just don't care if they upset 2 families on their vacation. While I will say that POR was a GORGEOUS resort, my friends and I will not return to Disney any time soon after the cold way we were treated.

I'm so sorry about your experience, POR is such a large resort that some of the buildings are a bit of a way out. Of course requests are never guaranteed, but usually they are pretty good at helping out guests with medical or special needs requirements (especially if you fax the resort directly) but it sounds like you slipped through the net this time.

I haven't done this for awhile but is it still allowed to have items or water shipped to the resort? Is this the address i would use for Port Orleans Riverside? 1251 Riverside Drive, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-8514

Correct, yes.

Those of you who are very familiar with POR, are there any must-take pic areas? At the values, there is so much Disney theming and DD loved posing with all that crap!! Lol Just wondering of there's any good photo ops at POR?

Where to start!!! Let's put it this way, you won't find yourself short of places to take photos. There's a Royal Throne just on the river-facing side of Parterre Place which is a fun photo spot that you might not otherwise find. The big Alligator figures over at French Quarter are fun too. See the portorleans.org Galleries at http://www.portorleans.org/gallery.php for more ideas (about 3,000 of them).

Sorry, I can't search... but am I understanding the FAQ that you can't use the boat to travel between resorts?

You can use the ferry boats between the two Port Orleans resorts, just get off at the next stop rather than carrying on to Downtown Disney. You can't go anywhere else but DTD though, where you can change for the Saratoga Springs or Old Key West services.

Andre

 

[hunmcbunny]

I have 2 girls, ages 4 and 8. We enjoyed the royal rooms, but personally I wouldn't pay the extra for them again. They rooms are beautiful, but we weren't hardly there. I would likely booked preferred instead. In all honestly, the kids didn't really care about the theme of the room at all. Lol

ditto

 

[hunmcbunny]

Princess and I convinced hubster not to wait until 2018....looks like we are going August 2015 or possibly 2016 if hubster cant get the full 2 weeks off.

Yay for princess for convincing daddy

 

[andreajb]

We are booked for POR riverside from May 18-22. My question is if we decide to stay an extra night and leave on the 23rd, is it possible to add that day once we are already there? I would go ahead and book it in advance, but we aren't yet sure if we will need to head home on the 22nd for another commitment (we won't know until closer to vacation time). I'm assuming that unless the resort is fully booked this won't be a problem, correct? Thanks!

 

[hunmcbunny]

I would think it would be easier to book the extra night now then to try to get an extra night while you are there.

 

[wdwguy50]

We are booked for POR riverside from May 18-22. My question is if we decide to stay an extra night and leave on the 23rd, is it possible to add that day once we are already there? I would go ahead and book it in advance, but we aren't yet sure if we will need to head home on the 22nd for another commitment (we won't know until closer to vacation time). I'm assuming that unless the resort is fully booked this won't be a problem, correct? Thanks!

Often the extra night will be at a different rate and they can't always keep you in the same room which can be a real hassle. I added an extra day last year and had to go to front desk and physically check out and check back in. Kept the same room but at a different rate.

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[goofy Jr. 88]

We are booked for POR riverside from May 18-22. My question is if we decide to stay an extra night and leave on the 23rd, is it possible to add that day once we are already there? I would go ahead and book it in advance, but we aren't yet sure if we will need to head home on the 22nd for another commitment (we won't know until closer to vacation time). I'm assuming that unless the resort is fully booked this won't be a problem, correct? Thanks!

On our reservation which is room only has the following...
CANCELLATION POLICY: In order to receive a refund of your deposit, including credit card deposit transactions, notification of cancellation must be received 5 days prior to your arrival date. To cancel a reservation, call (407)-W-DISNEY(934-7639).

So I would think it might be easier to book the extra night now and then if you need to cancel the extra night before you get within 5 days of arrival, that would be a safer way to go.

Maybe someone else here more knowledgeable can confirm this for you.

 

[ToyStory3]

For those who have stayed in the royal rooms....what was your impression? Were you glad you paid the additional $ for it? Just wondering how folks felt about the royal rooms who have booked them. They look like a lot of fun. I'm torn because we are thinking of moving from Beach Club to POR because it looks beautiful and will save a lot of money.

I'd LOVE to have a river view. It looks so peaceful and beautiful. I would love to be able to look outside my room and see that kind of a view. But, I know the kids would probably love the royal room (especially my 10 year old daughter). But, if I splurge on a RV RR I'm practically back up to deluxe prices. Just trying to get other opinions.

Thanks!

 

[AmyKat]

We booked a garden view room (not RR) but received major pixie dust and were upgraded to a river view royal room (rooms 9573 & 9574). The rooms were fabulous. I have no idea how much extra it would have cost, though. However, the river view was kind of pointless. It's not like you have a balcony to sit out and enjoy it. You only see that when you are leaving your room. So, for my family, I would say the price to upgrade to a royal room is definitely worth it, but the price for riverview would not be.

 

[ToyStory3]

We booked a garden view room (not RR) but received major pixie dust and were upgraded to a river view royal room (rooms 9573 & 9574). The rooms were fabulous. I have no idea how much extra it would have cost, though. However, the river view was kind of pointless. It's not like you have a balcony to sit out and enjoy it. You only see that when you are leaving your room. So, for my family, I would say the price to upgrade to a royal room is definitely worth it, but the price for riverview would not be.

That makes sense and that's exactly the kind of info I was hoping for. Thanks for you input!!!